Career Services: The Most Underrated his Factor When Choosing a Business School

One often overlooked factor when choosing an MBA program? Considering the quality of a business school’s career services.

Experts say a business school with strong career services resources can be instrumental in helping students throughout the job search process—from interview prep to career planning. US News recently highlighted the top questions to ask when visiting a business school to gauge the quality of their career services.

“Business schools are not just about academic learning but also about preparing students for the real world of work,” Kim Lewis-Collins, executive director of full-time MBA career services at New York University’s Stern School of Business, tells US News. “A well-staffed career center helps students develop their career goals, identify their strengths and align their educational experiences with their professional objectives.”

WHAT TYPE OF CAREER SUPPORT IS OFFERED?

Every MBA student has different goals. Some may be attending B-school to advance up their current industry, while others want an MBA to jump to an entirely new career. A business school with strong career services will offer personalized support depending on each student’s goals and ambitions.

“There are some students that just want some help in reviewing their resume or their profile,” Mark Noonan, associate director of market readiness and engagement at Wake Forest University’s School of Business, says. “There are students on the other end of the spectrum that are wanting to leverage their MBA to do something completely different.”

IS THERE JOB DATA AVAILABLE?

Another way to gauge the quality of a business school’s career services is to ask for data on job growth and market trends. For example, at San Diego State University’s Fowler College of Business, alumni are surveyed twice a year and data is collected on job title, starting salary, and job switches. Experts say accessing this data can help prospective MBAs understand what types of connections a business school can offer.

“If you want to go into tech, the people in a tech company you might want to work for might not be MBAs,” says Susan Cera, director of MBA admissions for Stratus Admissions Counseling

and former admissions committee member for the Duke University Fuqua School of Business. “They might be people from the engineering program and be equally willing to help you.”

WHAT UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU PROVIDE?

One of the biggest benefits of attending business school is gaining access to a diverse network of professionals. A business school that invests in a variety of networking opportunities is a good sign that their career services are top-notch. For instance, at Wake Forest University, the business school partners with the local corporate community to host workshops from business leaders. MBA students also get access to on-on-one consultations with business executives to learn about the job and industry.

“It’s those sorts of events where you might make a personal connection with someone that’s going to set you up to find the job that you want,” Cera says.

Sources: US News,  San Diego State University