I remember applying for several paid and non-paid internships with various companies like Whirlpool, Equinor, BP and others, only to receive disappointing news or no response at all. Whether the issue was the type of MBA or my background, this was not communicated to me. My GPA at the time wavered somewhere between a 3.5 and 3.8. Nevertheless, I quickly brushed that off and decided to focus on volunteer opportunities and my personal projects while completing my studies.
Utilizing Your Learned Skills
Throughout this time I was accepting writing jobs from several companies, locally and internationally when an Indeed search led me to a mental health non-profit that was looking for volunteers. I applied, interviewed and was accepted. This was a completely remote position and having had experience in the healthcare field and a passion for helping others, it was the perfect fit. The company needed someone to assist with research and e-course development, thus I took on the role of Curriculum Developer. My research skills that I learned and practiced throughout the UoPeople MBA program came in handy and also my knowledge of Project Management. I soon found myself not only conducting research but creating research templates for new researchers, as well as setting milestones and timelines. The good thing about this being remote is that I had a lot of flexibility, not only that but I had to build my Excel and MS Project Tracking skills in the process to better do what was required of me. I am still a part of this non-profit and thoroughly enjoy the work.
Be willing to start nowhere. Having an MBA does not guarantee you a ticket to management or an internship. Sometimes it's just about attitude and consistency. Start somewhere and constantly look for new opportunities to get to where you want to be.
I continued to apply to several companies and received interview offers, some of which I declined. The reason was always due to compensation issues or scheduled working days. The positions ranged from Assistant Store Manager at Walgreen's to Account Manager at various insurance companies. While it might seem counterproductive to decline potential offers, I had my own goals and standards to keep in mind. Regardless of how hard a situation becomes, the instance you compromise on your beliefs and standards, you will definitely compromise again later. The goal should be to negotiate, not compromise.
From my course in Human Resources, I knew what a decent job advertisement should look like. At times I found that job ads that were poorly written were a true reflection of the company itself. It is important to take note of these things because while you are being interviewed by a company, you should also be interviewing them. Do your own assessment and use your knowledge of Business Law & Ethics. Ask sensible questions like "why are you hiring for this position?" etc., Get a sense of the culture and how people feel about working there
Does the money add up? Is the schedule practical? What are others making in a similar role at a different company? This is basic accounting and if it does not meet your bottom line, negotiate or move on. Always market yourself well. If you do not have the experience, equip yourself with knowledge about the different functions of the role. Personally, I have no banking experience but I decided to apply for a Personal Banker opportunity at a local bank. At this time I had convinced myself that I could branch into investment banking after a year or so but I knew that Finance was not my forte. Not to say I did not do well in Finance Management, I got an A minus but it was just not an area of interest for me. I thoroughly did my research about the bank and its various portfolio's, passed my first round of interviews and then made it to the second and final interview. A day later I was offered the full-time position of Personal Banker. I must say that the knowledge I gained throughout my MBA really helped me to understand the role better and create a possible career trajectory. While it was a fair start, I had to decline yet again due to scheduling.
Check out Part 1 of my Post MBA Series. Stay tuned to hear about my current position and new developments in my volunteer role. Remember to like, share, comment and subscribe!
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