Articles

How To Market Yourself After Obtaining An MBA

2010-09-30

Whether you've completed an online MBA program or gone to a brick and mortar university, if you're close to or past graduation it's time to look for a position. Despite the current unemployment statistics, you can get a great job by putting together a self marketing plan.

Use the skills you learned getting your degree; analyze the marketplace, do your research and know exactly what you can offer an employer. Find a market that needs you but also one you'll enjoy working in. If your first love is art you probably won't be happy in an IT environment. You can't self market effectively in a job niche that doesn't appeal to you.

Plan your campaign as an advertising agency would and prepare your "sales" materials. Be sure that your resume has detailed descriptions of your accomplishments and shows what you've achieved in your career including the benefits you've brought to companies you've worked for in the past. If you saved them money or changed the way they operated make sure that is listed on your resume. Be sure you're able to talk about your experience complete with dates and employer names so that you can converse with your interviewer. Sell yourself.

The best way to self market your skills is through networking. Continue friendships with alumni; even if you got your degree through an online MBA program you'll have made some contacts so stay in touch and help each other. Attend conferences and any other activities related to your degree to add to your contacts. Be helpful to your contacts and they'll return the favor. Don't forget about friends, relatives and former employers-even if they don't know of any open positions they may know someone who does.

Another way to self market is to find temporary consulting jobs. These types of positions are rich sources of contacts; if you make a good impression they'll be sure to recommend you if they know someone who is looking for someone with a degree through a university of online MBA program. Word of mouth and personal recommendations have been responsible for a great many positions filled, especially in such a specialized field.

Finally, don't be defeated. If you don't get the job, learn from the interview and pick up techniques to use next time. Learn from your mistakes as well as interviewers' techniques. Instead of focusing on how you didn't get a job, look at the positives. Keep your schedule full of interviews and if there are none in your field, apply for other positions.