Pre-MBA career advice (Re: Procurement, industry)
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29 Jan 2011, 10:01
Longtime lurker, first-time poster. Love the website and the intelligent contributions (and contributors!)
I'm currently towards the end of a rotational, two year procurement/SCM program in the public sector of a foreign government. I've really enjoyed the experience and I feel like procurement and SCM is a good business environment for me that I'd like to continue in. That said, advancement is incredibly slow in my country's PS at the moment so I'm considering switching to a similar (though hopefully more senior) role in the private sector for a few years (maybe 3-4) before I apply for an MBA.
So here are a few questions I have:
1) I want to focus on a specific industry before my MBA so I have a better focus when applying and also to help me land a job afterwards (either in industry or in consulting). Are there any industries that currently put a heavy emphasis on procurement functions where I'd be more likely exposed to interesting opportunities?
2) As a social science grad (B.A) are there any industries where I would have trouble breaking in or progressing (before or after my MBA) due to my lack of a technically oriented degree (i.e Oil and Gas)? Conversely, are there industries where the lack of a technical background is less of an issue?
Thanks in advance for the advice and if anyone wants to add anything, please feel free to do so.