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($) Changing careers? Think through how you’re ready, even if you think that you’re not

November 26, 2019 by EssaySnark Leave a Comment

The trend throughout all of education is practical, experiential learning. You may have even talked about this in your Round 1 applications. If you mentioned HBS FIELD or Ross MAP or any such immersive, real-world, go-out-into-industry-and-do-something type program or project in your essays, then you were likely referencing this category of learning.

This 2018 article from the Washington Post talked about how colleges are introducing more hands-on projects into their undergrad curricula. The common example is building a robot. It’s about learning how to literally do something. They call this transfer learning and it’s about taking the kid out of the classroom and making them put the pieces together. Applying what they have learned, to perform a function.

The value it provides for a student is this: How will what I have done HERE apply when I work THERE. The goal is to make these college grads more attractive to employers, and more employable. They can get spit out of college with their fancy degree, and actually be able to DO something. It’s more than just book learning.

You’ll get opportunities for experiential learning in any bschool you attend, too, though it’s unlikely to be building a robot. It’s more like those case competitions, or pitching a panel of VCs with your business plan to take over the world with your startup idea. Or it’s through the collaborative environment of the d.school on the Stanford campus, or maybe you go whole hog into design thinking and try for the MMM program at Northwestern. Even if you’re “just” in a regular ol’ MBA, such opportunities abound, and they tend to be super fun! You’re going to enjoy learning in a whole new way when you can get your hands dirty like this (sometimes literally!). These experiences will give you more to talk about to the recruiters when you’re interviewing for that post-MBA job.

But guess what: The same type of “transfer learning” approach actually is valuable to consider now, as you’re thinking about your strategy in applying!

As we shared recently with that brainstorming guide from Berkeley Haas on thinking through your MBA goals, the schools do want to see how you’ve got the beginnings of a plan already in place.

They want to be convinced that you’ll be able to make this jump into the fancy new career path you’re pitching them.

So for you MBA applicants:

Think through what you’ve done in the past and see if you can describe how to angle that existing experience towards your future career interests.

This is the essence of our Career Goals App Accelerator, by the way — with a lot more detailed explanation, of course.

You need to show that you have a foundation to build upon, that demonstrates you’ll be successful in the ambitious new thing you’re now going to try for.

You don’t have to have literally done that future job already; obviously. That would defeat the purpose of saying you need an MBA in order to go do it.

But there has to be SOMETHING in your background that you can latch onto, and show that you’ve been successful HERE, which can give a hint or a whiff of your existing skillset or strengths, that will convey confidence to your admissions reader that you’ll be successful THERE.

This is where robust, compelling, and practical MBA career goals are born.

It’s also one flavor or implementation of the advice we constantly harp on, to “show, don’t tell.” In this case, you will be SHOWING that you bring something to the table that’s relevant — even if it’s from totally outside the industry and function you’re aiming towards. You’ll be demonstrating that you understand what that future career is about, and that you have given thought to what you can offer that will let you hit the ground running, come up to speed fast, apply what you know and have in your arsenal today. Bringing this type of self-reflection and practicality to your pitch can help you stand out from the crowd.

Got questions on this? Hit us up here in the comments, or let us know through My SnarkCenter and we’ll be happy to help!

Filed Under: career changer

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CLASS OF 2023 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

     
    The 2020 Berkeley-Haas MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2023 application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Berkeley Haas - refreshed and updated, with brainstorming exercises and structured maps to help you focus your stories!
   
    The 2020-2021 NYU Stern MBA Application Guide that covers the main essay, the EQ Endorsement and Pick Six!
SnarkStrategies Guide for NYU - discusses your requirements for the Class of 2023 essays!
   
    The 2020-2021 Columbia MBA Application Guide
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2020-2021 applications
   
    The 2020 Harvard MBA Application Guide - completely overhauled and updated for the coronavirus era!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School!
   
    The 2020-2021 Duke Essay Guide - covers the 25 Random Things essay and all the rest too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Duke Fuqua - up to date for the current season!
   
    The 2020-2021 MIT Essay Guide covers the org chart, the contacts for two references, and additional tips for the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video -- and everything else you need to know!
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for the Class of 2023!
   
    The 2020-2021 Tuck Essay Guide has been refreshed with latest insights and advice for your essays about "investing generously" and "why Tuck"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Dartmouth Tuck MBA - completely overhauled for 2020, to help you demonstrate how you are nice, aware, etc stuff!
   
    The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for Class of 2023 candidates!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for 2020-2021
   
    The 2020-2021 Chicago Booth MBA Application Guide - ready to go to support your Class of 2023 essay strategy!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Chicago Booth for this year's MBA app!
   
    The 2020 Wharton MBA Application Guide - even more advice on how to get to a win with those essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for The Wharton School - with new tips for 2020!
   
    The 2020 Kellogg Essay Guide - with a full methodology to identify your 'lasting impact' and your 'values' -- plus tips on 2020 world events and applicability to your essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Kellogg MBA - updated and revised for the new realities of 2020!    
      The 2020 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2023
   
    The 2020-2021 UCLA Anderson MBA Application Guide - updated for Class of 2023 on "impact"!
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  • 2020: ($) What to consider with your Kellogg (or other school's Rd 3 Flex) app: Recs, timing, optional essay
  • 2020: ($) Coronavirus and the MBA: Kellogg changes the game
  • 2019: Is your GMAT good enough?
  • 2019: Volunteering and MBA applicants from the non-profit world
  • 2018: ($) If you took the GMAT while you were in college and now X years later you're applying for an MBA
  • 2016: Success Story! Deciding between two offers: "I was surprised by how the more I thought about it..."
  • 2015: ($) Continued from yesterday: When will Harvard release their MBA app? And which app should you do first?
  • 2015: Which schools release MBA essay questions when?
  • 2014: Bschool is all about food.
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