Age of MBA graduates

Question

I was wondering what kind effect age has on MBA students/graduates (not applicants) in terms of recruiting. Personally, I will be almost 32 when I get out of b-school. How does that play into all the recruiting and everything? I guess if you're planning to go into IB or Consulting, they're probably looking for younger people. I'm a little iffy about consulting, because top-tier consulting companies may look down on my age, and I'm also not too crazy about the hours, so it's a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts. But what about other jobs? How does age figure into all of this? Do rotational programs prefer older folks who are looking to stick around a bit? Thank you.

milias · Answer

Anyone?

snipertrader · Answer

Interesting question. Even i am in the same boat.

a11c99 · Answer

I've discussed this issue with an ex-colleague working now at McKinsey and he said the age is not an problem per se in consulting. They will question your will to put on extra hours and forget about the life-work balance, considering that over 30's one might want to start a family and has other commitments. As long as you could convince that there are no issues to work like hell, age is not an issue.

In industry a higher age might be an advantage, if it is associated with more experience is beneficial if one's wants to remain in the same industry or function.

In industry a higher age might be an advantage, if it is associated with more experience is beneficial if one's wants to remain in the same industry or function.

milias · Answer

It's good to know that, as that's what I'm considering. Thanks for the info.

solaris1 · Answer

Age has virtually no impact on the recruiting opportunities business school will provide you. I know plenty of 25-year olds as well as 31-32 year olds from my class who landed the same summer internships with top consulting firms and bulge bracket investment banks. Ditto for stuff like brand management.

Jerz · Answer

I agree with solaris1. Looking at the company where I'm interning this summer, they hired about 20 interns from a range of MBA programs into the same internship program. The age distribution of the interns pretty well mirrors the age distribution of MBAs, so I don't think age played any factor at all.

lordspace · Answer

maybe you could start your own company

mba7211 · Answer

Go for distance learning or modular MBA. I was in the
same boat with you, I was 30+ with post graduate 
degrees and more than 10 years of work experience.
I wanted to do MBA but I did not want to face that 
fate - which bother you - at the mercy of recruiter 
in the job placement or career office after graduation.
And I cannot afford the opportunity cost of staying
out of work for one or two years. Also I do not want
to change my industry, although I wanted promotion. 
So distance learning MBA was my option.

There are distance learning MBA programs from some
FT top 50 and EIU Which MBA top 50 b schools altough 
they may not name theirs as distance learning MBAs.

If you can afford go for Duke MBA that offers DL MBA.
That was about 100K. Alternatively, you can go for 
affordable but still excellent MBA programs those can
be pursued via DL mode. For me, I chose Warwick and 
I will recommend it to anyone.

bfman · Answer

If you're in North America and want to go distance then top choices are Duke, Kelley, Florida.

YourDreamTheater · Answer

I've heard that age isn't necessarily a factor, but general stage of life can be. My uncle (on the exec board at a top international bank) says that his firm generally tries to hire people without a strong desire to have a substantial life outside of work (in the IBD, at least) to minimize complaints about the long hours

Not sure about consulting; though...

Posted from my mobile device

Not sure about consulting; though...

Posted from my mobile device

shadow · Answer

i think that advanced age is actually a plus if you're looking at the some of the leadership development positions / gen. mgmt. programs. many of the ones i'd like to apply to require 5-7 years experience, which puts me on the outside looking in.

as far as banking and consulting, i think as long as you can show your commitment to long hours / travel then you should be fine. after all, ive met quite a few ex military officers who are in their early 30s and have started careers in both fields post mba.

byanmorales · Answer

I totally agree that age will not matter at all. What counts is your ability and flexibility of working long hours since consultancy has a very erratic schedule. If you are on with the challenge, there would be no problem even if you are 40 or 50 out of the graduate school.

yog888 · Answer

you are right!

Ivan91 · Answer

I will be 27 or 28 when I am out of b-school, providing I graduate college at 23, work 2 or 3 years and then enroll in b-school.If, however, I work 2 years and attend a b-school in the UK , I will be just 26

I think that the general consensus i that 27-29 is the perfect age to graduate from b-school.

nink · Answer

Age is not really a big factor for most opportunities.

However I've seen few awkward cases where few interns in my program are in 30-35 range and the issue is:

Age of Supervisors @ Internship < Age of Interns

....................

Kaye · Answer

Age is in the eye of the beholder.

Some will see being under 32 as too young, others will see it as perfect.

Whatever your age, always worth getting an MBA.

2010Tim · Answer

I know from many recruiters and especially top-consulting firms such as McKinsey or BCG that the age-experience ratio is key. In other words, not age per se plays a role but the relation between age and your experience before, particularly education. If you finish your MBA with 32 I wouldn't worry. If you finish it with 34 or 35 I would go for an Executive MBA (and wait one or two years if they don't accept you now).

Michmax3 · Answer

Just curious if you guys think the age doesn't really matter thing applies to women as well? Is it more likely a woman in her 30's would have a harder time convincing recruiters that she is not prepping for a family right now and can give a full committment? I will be 30 when I finish, although looking to go into product managment, which may skew a bit higher than investing?

MBAUncle · Answer

Could you please explain which differences between 32 and 34-35 candidates make them suitable for FT-MBA and EMBA ? How employers would be able to "categorize" them (assuming it is in the US) ?

Age of MBA graduates

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