Beyond The Numbers: Interview With Tuck’s Career Services Director

Here at Tuck, we recently released our employment data for the class of 2022 which set new records for median total compensation. Median starting base salary for the class rose to $175,000—up from $150,000 a year ago—and the median signing bonus remained steady at $30,000 with 93 percent of the class receiving a sign-on bonus.

Demand for our Tuck MBA graduates is consistently high. Ninety-eight percent of the most recent class, for example, received a job offer within three months of graduation, and 96 percent accepted offers within the same timeframe.

For an inside look beyond the numbers and to learn more about how Tuck continues to set records for employment success, I sat down with Stephen Pidgeon T’07, executive director of Career Services at Tuck and author of How to Get a Job in Consulting and Case Interviews for Beginners.

What stands out to you about the industry breakdown for the class of 2022?

First, I’ll say that the employment mix is really driven by our students and what they want to do after Tuck. It’s always interesting to see what mix we end up with year after year—we generally see a good balance of industries and this year is no exception.

For the T’22s, we saw a jump in interest in consulting roles, and that data is consistent with what we saw in the employment results for the class. I think in general, consulting is always an appealing industry for MBAs, especially directly after graduation: For one, you see that high initial salary. Second, you really get to dip your toes into many different industries while learning and absorbing as much as you can. I talk to many students who really want to continue to explore and build on the foundation and leadership skills they developed at Tuck. Finally, consulting firms are very busy right now. In times of uncertainty, they are often at their busiest, and we continue to hear from them that they are eager to hire MBA talent.

In general, when I look at the industries our graduates are going into, I see a healthy mix that reflects the students’ interests and passions.

What was one of your top takeaways from this year’s employment report?

Our team gathers data on students’ target employers and industries before they even step foot on campus, and we continue to map their career aspirations and journey throughout their two years at Tuck. When we analyzed the data for the class of 2022 and compared it to their post-Tuck industries and companies, we found that our graduates are very much achieving what they set out to do. This theory is also validated by the high number of accepted offers we see.

What is it about Tuck’s approach that helps students get the jobs they most seek?

I think we can put our hand on our heart and say we have the most well-resourced career services team among our peers. Our career advisors have experience in the industries our students seek to enter, and many of us, as Tuck alumni, have gone through the process already. We meet one-on-one with students as many times as they’d like to and get to know them personally. We know what they want, what they don’t want, where they’re coming from, and how best to help them tell their story. When I’m with a student, because I know them personally, I’m not delivering feedback at arms’ length—I’m giving honest feedback.

The heart of Tuck is really its full-time, two-year MBA program. What that means in terms of Career Services is that, if you knock on my door, I’m not meeting with an undergraduate or an executive MBA student. Our focus is you, day in and day out.

What type of resources does Career Services offer?

Our work with students begins before they even step foot on campus. Those early conversations are focused on career exploration and what they want to get out of their Tuck experience. We love talking to students about their skills and passions and then mapping those to MBA jobs. Once you know what you want to do, the rest is all about helping you achieve that. That means getting your resume, your LinkedIn profile, and your cover letter in sparkling shape. It means preparing you for your interviews and the story you’re going to tell, which is a personal favorite of mine. It means exploring networking options and how to approach networking in a fun and non-stressful way. Finally, once the interview is done, and you have your offer, we work with you on negotiation to ensure you receive the best offer possible. So really, our work is from beginning to end—and even extends beyond Hanover.

In addition to Career Services, there are myriad other resources at Tuck that support students’ career aspirations—our famously loyal alumni network, our centers, and even faculty, for example.

In general, students join Tuck with a wide range of target industries and objectives. At Tuck, we get to know our students personally and help them chart a path for the career they want.

Learn more about the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Stephen Pidgeon T’07, executive director of Tuck Career Services, joined Tuck in 2010 from McKinsey in London where he focused on health care consulting with a functional specialty in organizational design. He is the author of the bestselling books How to Get A Job In Consulting and Case Interviews for Beginners. Before attending Tuck, Stephen directed and produced multiple television series and a movie.

Amy Mitson is director of admissions, recruitment and marketing, at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and has been at Tuck since 2000. Amy serves on the admissions committee and leads recruitment and diversity-focused initiatives. Her student services and admissions experiences have helped acquaint her with Tuck’s operations, history, vibrant campus, and alumni community. Amy’s favorite aspect of Tuck is the people; working with current and prospective members of the Tuck community is a consistent source of motivation and inspiration.