THis is more an MBA exit question than an admissions question, but I will try to answer it anyway.

The key for using an MBA to changing careers is twofold:

1) The MBA has to be relevant to your new career. Obviously, an MBA will not help you become a doctor or lawyer. It could and frequently does help one transition from a technical position like engineer to more of a general management role.

2) Secondly, the most successful career changers can show that their previous work is relevant to their new career. Sometimes, particularly in a tight job market, they do so by moving into a related field -- from software development to product management to general mgmt. Other times, especially if the job market is a little more favorable to the job seeker, then the MBA can talk in terms of more general qualities and newly learned skills. But the key again, is to show that what you have done in the past is preparation for what you want to do in the future.

Not surprisingly, the qualities sought by employers in career changers are similar to those sought by adcoms too. The one difference is that adcoms, having been through the recession of the last three years, want to see in career-changing applicant the ability to analyze his or her strengths and experience and match those to realistic career options. Our article on "MBA Admissions: Application Advice for Career-Changers" has additional suggestions for this type of applicant.
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Linda Abraham
Accepted.com
labraham@accepted.com
310-815-9553

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