When I started the Kelley MBA program two and a half years ago, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t repeat the same mistakes I made when I graduated from undergraduate school when it was almost impossible for me to find a job. As I enter into my final semester as an MBA student, I find myself in a much better position than I was when I was entering my final semester as an undergrad. For starters, I actually have a job, but even more important, I used the experience that I gained from all those failed interviews to structure my MBA experience. While the degree is essential, it is important to have substance to bring with it, which is something that I lacked as a new college graduate. All of the internships, volunteer experience, and extracurricular activities that I had during my undergraduate career gave me the opportunity to interview, but I didn’t have what it took to close the deal. I was more focused on adding to the list of things I have done, than taking the time to really think about and express what those experiences taught me and how they can relate to the job market.
While this was a tough lesson to learn at the time, it was something that stayed in my mind even after I found a job. That is why, throughout my time in the MBA program, I have continually asked myself “what can I talk about in a job interview?” Potential employers are going to look at my resume and see an MBA from the Kelley School of Business, one of the best business schools in the country, and be impressed enough to take the time to interview me. However, what am I going to say in the interview that will give me an upper hand? What can I say about my time at Kelley that will close the deal? An interviewer is not going to want to hear about what specifically I learned in class, or the formulas that I have memorized, they are going to want to hear about my experiences and, more importantly, how I can apply these to the job. Simply following the class schedule required to get the MBA credential and completing the degree as quickly as possible really wasn’t going to provide me with the story I want to tell. Instead I looked for opportunities to give me something I could talk about…”interview fodder”, if you will.
For instance, I took the opportunity to participate in DIVE, the entrepreneurship enterprise. DIVE was a valuable learning experience, and the type of “outside of the classroom” learning I was looking for. In addition, my DIVE project is a perfect example of something I did in business school that would be interesting to talk about in a job interview, something that a potential employer would like to hear about. The same can be said about why I joined the Student Advisory Board (formerly the Evening MBA Association). Not only do these things add to the list, but they will be what will lead my conversation about getting an MBA.
The Kelley School of Business provides countless opportunities to enhance a students experience in the program, from the enterprises, to overseas study opportunities, to mentoring and facilitation sessions. It is important to take advantage of these and begin to create interesting stories to tell in a job interview. Simply following the schedule to get the degree will only provide a credential that opens a door; it is the experiences you create and can relate that will give you the ability to land the job.
While this was a tough lesson to learn at the time, it was something that stayed in my mind even after I found a job. That is why, throughout my time in the MBA program, I have continually asked myself “what can I talk about in a job interview?” Potential employers are going to look at my resume and see an MBA from the Kelley School of Business, one of the best business schools in the country, and be impressed enough to take the time to interview me. However, what am I going to say in the interview that will give me an upper hand? What can I say about my time at Kelley that will close the deal? An interviewer is not going to want to hear about what specifically I learned in class, or the formulas that I have memorized, they are going to want to hear about my experiences and, more importantly, how I can apply these to the job. Simply following the class schedule required to get the MBA credential and completing the degree as quickly as possible really wasn’t going to provide me with the story I want to tell. Instead I looked for opportunities to give me something I could talk about…”interview fodder”, if you will. For instance, I took the opportunity to participate in DIVE, the entrepreneurship enterprise. DIVE was a valuable learning experience, and the type of “outside of the classroom” learning I was looking for. In addition, my DIVE project is a perfect example of something I did in business school that would be interesting to talk about in a job interview, something that a potential employer would like to hear about. The same can be said about why I joined the Student Advisory Board (formerly the Evening MBA Association). Not only do these things add to the list, but they will be what will lead my conversation about getting an MBA.
The Kelley School of Business provides countless opportunities to enhance a students experience in the program, from the enterprises, to overseas study opportunities, to mentoring and facilitation sessions. It is important to take advantage of these and begin to create interesting stories to tell in a job interview. Simply following the schedule to get the degree will only provide a credential that opens a door; it is the experiences you create and can relate that will give you the ability to land the job.
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