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Career plan and drafting an MBA career goals essay
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Updated on: 04 Feb 2019, 00:06
Updated on: 04 Feb 2019, 00:06
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Building your career plan and drafting an MBA career goals essay
In general, a strong career plan is one that brings the candidate to a very successful future, and one that is very likely to happen. This translates to 9 foundations for a strong career plan:
9 foundations for a strong career plan
1. Specific industry
- Specific enough to make it unique and concrete.
- For example, banking is “too broad” an industry, whereas Project Finance or Biotech Finance is more specific and therefore more unique and concrete.
2. Specific positions
3. Connection to past
4. Assured first step
- Rather senior position
- A company you work with / worked with
- Impressive company description (i.e. largest…)
5. Unique career plan
6. Rich, famous or both in the long term
7. Likely and natural connection of goals.
8. Community agenda
9. Sexy industry
In general, the more specific and personal the essay is, the better.
The key to the Career Essay:
Connect most sentences with the future goals and the industry name.
- Most of the sentences should relate to the goals.
- For example: Why School X? Because Professor X is the world's best in Y, and I need Y to achieve my goal Z.
Necessary to have:
- What are the short and long term career goals?
- If the first step is assured – a VERY clear statement of this fact. Because some admission readers may skim the essays, you want to make sure this paragraph is very noticeable (make it a separate paragraph), and to mention it twice if possible.
Nice, but not necessary, to have:
- Repeated mention of the exact same industry name.
- Why are these your goals (why do you feel they are the right goals for you)?
- When/how were your goals conceived?
- Why these goals of all possible goals in the world? Should be personal, deep.
OK to have:
- How did your goals, once conceived, drive your actions/career choices up to here?
- What elements/experiences in your past make you feel that these goals are realistic?
- Any other details that a. promote and candidacy and b. answer the question: "what are my career goals and why these are my goals". It needs to be clear how these details are connected to explaining your goals.
Usually not OK to have:
- Descriptions of the candidate's past/resume/background which are not clearly connected to the career goals - unless the essay question specifically asks for it.
Here is a good example of a strong career goals essay, written by an HBS admitted candidate:
Question: What are your career aspirations and why? How will you get there? (300 word limit).
Long Run Objective:
My long-run objective is to achieve a senior managerial position in a large multinational corporation that markets, or preferably manufactures, commodities. One of my highest aspirations is to be one of those who establishes, or significantly advances, such a corporation. Therefore, I intend to develop within the scope of one firm. I believe that on my way to achieve my goal I will express my talents and interests and contribute to society’s prosperity.
Short Run Objectives:
Looking ten years back, I view my interdisciplinary experience in business management, army service, political and public positions, and traveling as a part of the solid background that can generate a successful senior manager in a multinational commodities corporation. To complete my preparation process, my short-run objectives are:
HBS - a Measure and a Target In Itself
I wish to say, sincerely, that in my opinion HBS will fulfill my first short-run objective optimally. HBS has the qualities that best fit my expectations, objective, and background. The more I hear and read about HBS - the more I feel I belong there; it is considered the best school in the world for developing general management skills and acquiring management tools in the marketing and consumption areas. Graduates gain excellent placement services and leading positions. HBS has no competitors in academic level and in world-wide fame (I learned that from talking to people in China, Eastern Europe, and Arab countries).
In conclusion, I believe that studying at HBS will be a great experience. Moreover, it will provide the optimal accomplishment for my first short-term objective, as well as a significant advancement towards achieving my long-term goal.
Question: What are your career aspirations and why? How will you get there? (300 word limit).
Long Run Objective:
My long-run objective is to achieve a senior managerial position in a large multinational corporation that markets, or preferably manufactures, commodities. One of my highest aspirations is to be one of those who establishes, or significantly advances, such a corporation. Therefore, I intend to develop within the scope of one firm. I believe that on my way to achieve my goal I will express my talents and interests and contribute to society’s prosperity.
Short Run Objectives:
Looking ten years back, I view my interdisciplinary experience in business management, army service, political and public positions, and traveling as a part of the solid background that can generate a successful senior manager in a multinational commodities corporation. To complete my preparation process, my short-run objectives are:
- First - to acquire quality general academic education in business administration while also mastering the English language.
- Second - to develop within the scope of one firm.
HBS - a Measure and a Target In Itself
I wish to say, sincerely, that in my opinion HBS will fulfill my first short-run objective optimally. HBS has the qualities that best fit my expectations, objective, and background. The more I hear and read about HBS - the more I feel I belong there; it is considered the best school in the world for developing general management skills and acquiring management tools in the marketing and consumption areas. Graduates gain excellent placement services and leading positions. HBS has no competitors in academic level and in world-wide fame (I learned that from talking to people in China, Eastern Europe, and Arab countries).
In conclusion, I believe that studying at HBS will be a great experience. Moreover, it will provide the optimal accomplishment for my first short-term objective, as well as a significant advancement towards achieving my long-term goal.
- For more MBA goals essays: https://www.aringo.com/Career_Goals_Essay.htm
- Check out our recent blog post regarding drafting your career goals for MBA application: https://aringo.com/hacking-the-mba-appl ... plication/
Summary of key comments/ discussion happened in the following replies
- Question from farhanc85: From most of the articles that I have read online and also websites of my target schools, adcom usually likes to know where you see yourself going post your mba, can it be 2 places? or may be just may be I can figure out the real option during my 1 or 2 year at school.
- Reply by CrackVerbalGMAT: It is definitely okay for you to figure out where you want to go during your 1 or 2 year course - in fact, most aspirants look at the MBA as a means to expand the opportunities available to them. However, it is not a good idea to show this ambivalence in your application. This is because admission committees evaluate potential candidates on their employability - and showcasing excellent clarity of goals is one way to demonstrate your employability. (If you don't know where you are going, etc. etc.
) And don't worry about sticking to the goal you mention in your application - B-schools know very well that your goals may change during the program, when you get exposure to many new functions, industries and experiences. So, nobody is going to question you about a discrepancy in what you said you want to do and what you actually end up doing! - CrackVerbalGMAT, Some simple do's and dont's for talking about career goals:
- Your goal must strike the right balance between 'ambitious' and 'realistic'. Don't cite a goal that is too low-hanging or something impossibly difficult to achieve in the time frame mentioned.
- Your goal must be something that is in line with your past experience. i.e. you should be able to cite some experience or knowledge or transferable skills that will help you achieve this goal after a 1 or 2 year MBA.
- Your short and long term goals must be logically connected. You should be able to defend how this short term goal will give you skills or exposure that will let you achieve your long term goal. Or why this short term goal is necessarily the first step to achieve your long term one.
- Be as specific as possible - in terms of role, function, industry and even company. When you mention company names, make sure these companies recruit alumni of your target school.
- Always always have a good idea about what the role entails - so if you say product management, make sure you know what a product manager does on a daily basis, what would he be responsible for, what his career progression is like, and so on.
- Erjan_S: I found this post to be quite helpful, my gratitude to the author. However, I was quite surprised that the essay cited in the post actually won acceptance to HBS, seriously? It seems to be quite a banal one, I would not call it too bright.....
Current Student
Joined: 14 Jul 2013
Posts: 272
Given Kudos: 131
Re: Career plan and drafting an MBA career goals essay
[#permalink]
26 Oct 2013, 07:53
26 Oct 2013, 07:53
Hello,
I am in the middle of my application. Your article has been really helpful to put some filters in my thought process for my career goals.
My current dilemma is related to number of short term career goals.
i understand that clarity of goal is required in these essays and I would be taking a huge risk if I write 2 short term goals.
One goal is related to an upward movement in my current industry and the other one is a lateral movement in different industry.
Honestly, both these options are lucrative for me. I would love to have the flexibility to be in one of these positions. I understand my MBA will be a means to attain the end goal but can it be a means which can give me flexibility of pursuing either of the goals.
From most of the articles that I have read online and also websites of my target schools, adcom usually likes to know where you see yourself going post your mba, can it be 2 places? or may be just may be I can figure out the real option during my 1 or 2 year at school.
I am in the middle of my application. Your article has been really helpful to put some filters in my thought process for my career goals.
My current dilemma is related to number of short term career goals.
i understand that clarity of goal is required in these essays and I would be taking a huge risk if I write 2 short term goals.
One goal is related to an upward movement in my current industry and the other one is a lateral movement in different industry.
Honestly, both these options are lucrative for me. I would love to have the flexibility to be in one of these positions. I understand my MBA will be a means to attain the end goal but can it be a means which can give me flexibility of pursuing either of the goals.
From most of the articles that I have read online and also websites of my target schools, adcom usually likes to know where you see yourself going post your mba, can it be 2 places? or may be just may be I can figure out the real option during my 1 or 2 year at school.
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 03 Oct 2013
Affiliations: CrackVerbal
Posts: 4914
Given Kudos: 221
Location: India
Re: Career plan and drafting an MBA career goals essay
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26 Oct 2013, 22:47
26 Oct 2013, 22:47
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farhanc85
Hello,
I am in the middle of my application. Your article has been really helpful to put some filters in my thought process for my career goals.
My current dilemma is related to number of short term career goals.
i understand that clarity of goal is required in these essays and I would be taking a huge risk if I write 2 short term goals.
One goal is related to an upward movement in my current industry and the other one is a lateral movement in different industry.
Honestly, both these options are lucrative for me. I would love to have the flexibility to be in one of these positions. I understand my MBA will be a means to attain the end goal but can it be a means which can give me flexibility of pursuing either of the goals.
From most of the articles that I have read online and also websites of my target schools, adcom usually likes to know where you see yourself going post your mba, can it be 2 places? or may be just may be I can figure out the real option during my 1 or 2 year at school.
I am in the middle of my application. Your article has been really helpful to put some filters in my thought process for my career goals.
My current dilemma is related to number of short term career goals.
i understand that clarity of goal is required in these essays and I would be taking a huge risk if I write 2 short term goals.
One goal is related to an upward movement in my current industry and the other one is a lateral movement in different industry.
Honestly, both these options are lucrative for me. I would love to have the flexibility to be in one of these positions. I understand my MBA will be a means to attain the end goal but can it be a means which can give me flexibility of pursuing either of the goals.
From most of the articles that I have read online and also websites of my target schools, adcom usually likes to know where you see yourself going post your mba, can it be 2 places? or may be just may be I can figure out the real option during my 1 or 2 year at school.
Hi Farhan,
It is definitely okay for you to figure out where you want to go during your 1 or 2 year course - in fact, most aspirants look at the MBA as a means to expand the opportunities available to them.
However, it is not a good idea to show this ambivalence in your application. This is because admission committees evaluate potential candidates on their employability - and showcasing excellent clarity of goals is one way to demonstrate your employability. (If you don't know where you are going, etc. etc.
)Therefore, my suggestion is to pick one of the 2 options you have mentioned and elaborate on that in your goals essay. Whatever option you pick, make sure that you bring out the following 3 aspects very clearly:
1. Why do you need an MBA to achieve this position (progression or shift)?
2. Why is NOW the best time to do this?
3. How can B-school X help you get there?
As long as you are able to answer these 3 points effectively, you are good.
And don't worry about sticking to the goal you mention in your application - B-schools know very well that your goals may change during the program, when you get exposure to many new functions, industries and experiences. So, nobody is going to question you about a discrepancy in what you said you want to do and what you actually end up doing!
Gowri N Kishore
Admissions Consultant
