Will an impressive job title and a number of years of work experience get the MBA admission officers to offer you a seat?
Well, it really depends on the type of work and your performance on the job, says business school officials. For instance, those who have worked in companies like Amazon, Google or General Electric may enjoy a certain advantage, Nikhil Varaiya, director of graduate programs at the San Diego State University’s Fowler College of Business is quoted as saying by U.S. News & World Report.
The type of work experience you have also matters. Somebody with 2 years of work experience in the Peace Corps stands a good chance of making the grade as compared to another person having the title of Vice President but with little to show by way of having contributed to the company’s growth, he points out.
Amanda Karr, executive director of student enrolment services at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, says the school accepts candidates with two to three years of experience.
In other words, admission officers look for “compelling professional success stories” that translate to having shouldered a significant amount of responsibility in the company.
Regarding the number of years of work experience, three to five years’ experience would be ideal. In some rare instances, persons with exceptional academic credentials, directly out of college, are accepted. However, it would be better to gain some work experience before planning to enrol for MBA, Varaiya says.
This is because, having gained some work experience, they would gain more clarity about their career goals.
Amanda Karr, executive director of student enrolment services at Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, says the school accepts candidates with two to three years of experience. The admission committee looks at the resume to see whether the candidate has had a significant career progression and if his or her career is on an upward trajectory.
However, what happens to those with considerably longer years of experience who want to enrol for the MBA? For senior executives, the accelerated 1-year MBA program or Executive MBA would be a better fit as the traditional two-year MBA programs generally cater to junior level executives in their 20s.
For instance, Shakti Kanade, an MBA graduate from the Indian School of Business (ISB) had enroled for the 1-year program with roughly eight years of work experience. He says, at this level, job openings are fewer. The schools also screen applicants based on their employability.
Regarding the work profile, Karr says she prefers business-related posts in finance or technology. The professional experience should display quantitative expertise, as math skill set is much needed in MBA programs.
Varaiya says the schools also look for applicants who had participated in or completed management training rotations. They would have been exposed to multiple aspects of the business. They also would be more aware of their profile and would be able to easily choose an MBA concentration that meets their career goals.
Applicants with experience in startups where the work demands versatility and those having served in the military or government with leadership experience are also ideal candidates for MBA, he says.
Candidates with a background in science and biotechnology stand a good chance of being accepted at Fowler College while Graziadio has kept the door open for those from tech companies.