Summary

The provided content outlines key components of an MBA applicant's profile, emphasizing the importance of a well-defined career plan, extracurricular activities, and honesty about past infractions, as well as how these elements align with an MBA program's offerings and objectives.

Abstract

The text, "MBA Admissions: Chapter 2, Part 2 — Assessing Your Profile: Career Goals, Extracurriculars, and Infractions," serves as a guide from a former MBA recruiter, detailing the significance of having a clear career plan that aligns with the MBA program's capabilities. It underscores that MBA programs are interested in candidates with a plan, as it reflects on the program's rankings and success in placing graduates in desirable roles. The guide advises applicants to thoroughly research their desired industry and job functions before applying and to be prepared to articulate their post-MBA goals. Additionally, it suggests that extracurricular activities can enhance an application by showcasing leadership and unique qualities, though they are not the primary factor in the admissions decision. The text also addresses the necessity of disclosing any past professional or academic missteps, advocating for honesty and demonstration of personal growth as crucial to maintaining integrity and gaining the trust of the admissions committee.

Opinions

The author believes that failing to plan your career trajectory is akin to planning to fail, both in the eyes of MBA programs and in personal career development.
MBA programs are invested in their brand and reputation, which is why they prefer candidates with clear goals that can be achieved through their program, ultimately leading to successful job placements post-graduation.
Applicants without a solid career plan are encouraged to conduct thorough research on job market trends and requirements before applying to MBA programs.
Extracurricular activities are viewed as a way to add depth to an application, but they should not overshadow the fundamentals such as work experience, academics, and career goals.
The author advises against gimmicks in applications, favoring a natural presentation of extracurricular activities.
Honesty about past blights, such as academic dismissals or professional dishonesty, is crucial, as MBA programs conduct background checks and value integrity.
Applicants should not only disclose past infractions but also demonstrate how they have grown from those experiences.

MBA Admissions: Chapter 2, Part 2 — Assessing Your Profile: Career Goals, Extracurriculars, and Infractions

The MBA Admissions Guide from a former MBA recruiter.

Photo credit: Nattakorn Maneerat from Getty Images Pro

Component #3: Goals/Career Plan

My father once gave me some advice that has always stuck: “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Guess what? MBA programs subscribe to this advice.

There are two points to be made here. The first is that you need a plan. We’ve covered this previously, but it bears repeating. You must have a plan, even if you later deviate from it. The second point is that your plan must fit with what the MBA program you’re interested in can offer. Your job is to convey that you have a plan and that it fits with what the program can offer. The admission committee’s job is to assess whether they agree. If you don’t convey both your plan and how the program fits, be prepared for a rejection.

What if I don’t have a plan?

Not having a plan (and not making a crystal clear link between that plan and the program) lets the admissions committee know that you’re really NOT prepared just yet.

When I advise would-be candidates that are lacking solid career plans, I usually suggest that they go to company and job sites and start looking at job postings. Do the position titles and job duties seem like a foreign language? If so, perhaps you don’t understand the function or industry that you want to work in well enough yet. This is fine, as long as you do the work to come to that understanding PRIOR to applying or even seriously considering any programs. This will sound like a broken record, but again, an MBA program is not the place to go to find all of this out.

Why is my plan so important to programs?

In a word: rankings. We’ll go into this further in the next chapter, but for now, what’s important to realize is that the school has a brand and product to protect. Unhappy alumni who can’t find jobs after graduation or perform poorly in the job market diminish the value of both. This is reflected in overall rankings, as both alumni and employers are surveyed during the ranking process.

Believe it or not, you and the MBA programs have the same objective: to get you trained and ready to join the marketplace as a successful MBA. Schools take a huge gamble if they don’t know what they’re getting into, and the more selective the program, the less willing they are to take on the risk.

Questions you should be able to answer:

Here are some questions you need to be able to answer and convey to the admissions committee:

What are your immediate post-MBA plans?
What function and industry do you want to work in post-MBA? Is there a specific position or company you’re ultimately targeting?
What is the connection between your current job and the job you want post-MBA?
Do you intend to change function, industry, or geographic location (e.g. perhaps a move abroad)?
How does an MBA from the school you’re applying to fit into your immediate post-MBA plans?

If you are vague on any of these, you need to do some more homework on where you see your career going, and understanding how (and if) the school can help.

Imagine the dissatisfaction of investing all of your time, money and energy applying (or actually attending) a program that will in no way be able to fulfill your post-MBA expectations.

You owe it to yourself to know 1-where you’re going and 2-which program can best help get you there.

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Component #4: Extracurriculars

Extracurriculars are like the garnish of your profile. Their function is more to round out your profile and help you stand out. Here you can demonstrate leadership skills and other qualities that programs look for, but on average, extracurriculars will not usually make or break your application. That said, don’t let this section of your profile go to waste.

There are a few examples of candidates using extracurriculars to distinguish themselves, which I still remember today. One involved a candidate who loved making sourdough bread. He incorporated the bread making process into his application essay, drawing parallels to how the steps where similar to steps he takes everyday in his role in marketing. (There are also memories of “Sushi Girl” and the “Tie Guy.”) The point here is that though extras won’t make or break you, they can certainly help you stand out in the admissions committee’s mind.

One word of advice, however: don’t be gimmicky. Don’t go out of your way to try to be remembered as the “____” guy or girl. Just present these things in a manner that comes across as natural, if you have the opportunity to do so. Better to have the basics (work experience, academics, career goals) well covered than try to be overly entertaining.

Component #5: Blights and Infractions

We’ve all heard the clichés: “nobody’s perfect” and “honesty is the best policy.” In this area of your profile, this is definitely true. If you’ve had any blemishing marks in your background, this is the time to come clean.

Did you know that MBA programs regularly perform background checks on incoming candidates? As surprising as this may sound, it shouldn’t be. Remember again that one of the goals is for you to snag the dream job once you graduate. Guess what? Neither business schools nor the companies that recruit from business schools want any surprises.

If you have any blemishes on your record, you want to be honest and admit them. More than just admitting them, you should show growth and convey to the committee that you’ve grown and learned from the experience. You’ll definitely want to explain, but don’t make excuses. These blights can be anything from criminal charges, academic dismissals, firings, or even being dishonest about your professional background (gaps, positions held, etc.).

Being able to see and admit mistakes is much better than trying to pretend they don’t exist or outright denying them. If you don’t have the capacity to do this with yourself, no one is going to trust you to have the capacity to do this at the helm of a department or company.

It ultimately boils down to integrity, either you have it or you don’t.

Conclusion

Hopefully by now, you have a better understanding of the components of your profile, and why they are important to MBA programs. You should also be able to figure out what your next steps should be. These next steps could include further defining your career goals, mitigating or making some aspects of your profile stronger, or simply moving on to the next step of assessing which schools fit your needs. If the latter, stay tuned for Chapter 3, which is all about assessing MBA programs and finding the right program for you.

Did you miss Chapter 1 of the Business School MBA Admissions Guide? Check it out here: