Where Does Career Services Come in During MBA Admissions?

It is well-known that the Career Services Department at Business Schools is tasked with developing the job potential of students through mentoring, counselling and helping in finding good placements. However, very few MBA aspirants realise the major roles played by this particular office in the Admissions Committee accepting or rejecting their applications.

This is not very surprising as the aspirant’s main purpose of joining an MBA program is furthering the career prospects and earning potential. The business schools are also interested in getting 100% placement for the graduates with high starting salary figures and top positions, an essential requirement for moving up the rankings.

The MBA essays should highlight your well-thought-out career goals. Give details about your plans to make use of every opportunity from specific classes or concentrations to student clubs, study abroad options and competitions to further your career goals.

Thus, it is essential for the Admissions Committee to spot and weed out any candidate with a lower than average career prospects. This is where the Career Services step in to assess the applicant’s worth in terms of being significantly above the average years of work experience if his or her stated professional goals matching previous experience and whether the career ambitions could be achieved through the school’s available resources.

The Career Services folks would also be able to inform the Admissions Committee about the latest trends in the job market and the exact requirements the recruiters are looking for. With these inputs, the Committee would be able to put together the most competitive and diversified class.

So, what does this hold for the MBA applicant? You have to prove to the Admissions Committee your post-MBA employability. How does one go about it?

Simple. Just list out clear, logical and realistic career goals. Give particular instances about how your contributions at the workplace had drawn appreciation from the employers. Every part of your application, the resume, essays and references and interview should be geared towards displaying this particular aspect.

The resume should ideally show a healthy career progression with multiple promotions and great recommendations from supervisors.

The MBA essays should highlight your well-thought-out career goals. Give details about your plans to make use of every opportunity from specific classes or concentrations to student clubs, study abroad options and competitions to further your career goals.

Brushing up your communication skills is important. Many of the rejections of even candidates with sterling academic and job backgrounds take place on this single shortcoming. Considering the fact that the increasing number of applicants and tight acceptance rates at top schools, soft skills play a major role in the Committee deciding between equally qualified candidates.