The MBA, being a professional degree sought by a whole lot of accomplished people seeking to boost their career all the way up to the C-Suit, needs careful preparation lasting several months, if not a year or two in some cases.

Nowadays, you have a plethora of MBA programs to choose from. Apart from the two-year full-time program, there is a one-year MBA that covers the same subjects, in a lesser timeframe. The traditional MBA that offered in-depth knowledge of general management principles and practices, is also gradually giving way to specialization, especially at a time when technology is increasingly coming into play in all aspects of business.

That being the case, you have to make up your mind at the very outset about your career trajectory and how an MBA would help you achieve your goals.

How to prepare for One Year MBA: Early footsteps

Plan Ahead for MBA Even Before Selecting the School: Job, Function, Industry and Geography.

Most MBA aspirants consider the degree as an essential tool to change their job, function, industry or geography. This calls for some deep thinking on your part. Whether you want to change your profile to take up something new or to acquire more knowledge about your current job to help you climb the career ladder quickly.

Soniya Ghosh, an MBA Candidate at Cambridge Judge Business School, says in a blog post on the school website that you could select one or two options. The next task is to identify the job profiles and firms. Also, start collecting all the information that you could for your cover letter and informal interviews. Make sure that your application stands out, as you would be competing against achievers.

Finding More about the School, the Program and Career Prospects

Apart from the information about the program on the school website, it would be worthwhile to get in touch with the alumni, arrange meetings with them and ask about their experiences during the program and career post-MBA. The focus should be on developing a deeper understanding of the industry, jobs and company culture rather than on getting a referral from them at a later date.

The current students would be an excellent source of information about what to expect in the class, projects and immersions. You could also utilize any opportunity to contact the faculty and admission officers during the MBA Tours conducted by the various colleges to ask questions and clear your doubts.

The Importance of Updating Your Resume and Cover Letter

Your resume is needed not only for admission but also for submitting to prospective employers, especially in the case of the one-year MBA program where recruitment events begin within weeks of the program start.

Unlike the resume that lists your academic qualifications and achievements in chronological order, the Cover Letter is more of a personalized statement to convince the recruiters that you would be an asset to the company. It should draw attention to the relevant aspects of your resume, highlight your knowledge about the firm and convey interest and enthusiasm for joining it. In other words, it is not a duplicate of the resume.

It also provides you with an opportunity to explain any gaps in your employment history, changing career focus or wanting a change in geography.

Signing Up for Case Competitions and Clubs

Since the MBA is more about acquiring practical knowledge rather than merely attending classroom lectures, be prepared to sign up for various Case competitions and Clubs. Soniya says her participation in Women in Tech Challenge, Adobe Pitch and Prototype Challenge and current work on HULT and L’Oreal Brandstorm has given her first-hand experience of learning new concepts and meeting industrial leaders.

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