NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 25 Apr 2024, 03:22 It is currently 25 Apr 2024, 03:22
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

Graduate of 09's economy... No "real" work experience

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
User avatar
NoobSaibot
Intern
Intern
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Posts: 7
Own Kudos [?]: [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Graduate of 09's economy... No "real" work experience [#permalink] New post   19 Jan 2010, 10:21
Graduted with a B.S. in the spring of 2009 and I work two part-time jobs at minimum wage. So I want to go back to school and get a MBA. Would I be looked down at for not having a business related full-time job? I've looked and looked for a good job for the past year and there is NOTHING out there. All of my friend's that are in the same graduating class as me can't find anything either. My #1 choice is Mizzou Business School btw. Would I need an outstanding GMAT score to compensate for the lack of work experience?
User avatar
DrSatisfaction
Current Student
Joined: 05 Nov 2009
Posts: 171
Own Kudos [?]: 95 [0]
Given Kudos: 5
Location: Toronto
Concentration: Finance
Schools:Oxford
 Q44  V49
Send PM
Re: Graduate of 09's economy... No "real" work experience [#permalink] New post   19 Jan 2010, 11:45
NoobSaibot wrote:
Graduted with a B.S. in the spring of 2009 and I work two part-time jobs at minimum wage. So I want to go back to school and get a MBA. Would I be looked down at for not having a business related full-time job? I've looked and looked for a good job for the past year and there is NOTHING out there. All of my friend's that are in the same graduating class as me can't find anything either. My #1 choice is Mizzou Business School btw. Would I need an outstanding GMAT score to compensate for the lack of work experience?


i'd say so yes. for higher ranked schools, even a high gmat might not be enough. but for mizzou you might be able to convince them with an outstanding gmat.
User avatar
MyMBAAdmit
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 05 Jan 2010
Posts: 194
Own Kudos [?]: 99 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Location: New York
Concentration: Finance, Marketing, Strategy, Entrepreneurship
Schools:University of Chicago, Columbia, Wharton, Stanford, Harvard, Cornell, NYU, Duke, Indiana
Send PM
Re: Graduate of 09's economy... No "real" work experience [#permalink] New post   19 Jan 2010, 11:57
Dear Graduate,

Although you might be able to get into Mizzou with a high GMAT, having a career plan after MBA is equally important. Not being able to find a job post-degree is not limited to those graduating with a bachelor's degree, it happens to MBA graduates as well.

Before deciding to apply for a MBA (and take on the additional loans if you are admitted), I would urge you to think about what you would do with your MBA. Then, research on what kind of experiences those industries look for. Do your career research before taking the GMAT. Although it might seem a good decision due to lack of job opportunities, MBA is a significant investment of time and effort. If it still seems the right decision, you will be in a stronger position to answer application essays, the first of which at many schools focuses on what you would do post-MBA, as well as get a job (the real point of a MBA) in your area of interest.

As for the lack of "real" work experience, the point in any experience is how strong of an impact you were able to make at what you did, regardless of whether it was at an actual corporation or weekend charity.
User avatar
nink
SVP
SVP
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
Status:Burning mid-night oil....daily
Posts: 2396
Own Kudos [?]: 779 [0]
Given Kudos: 548
Schools:Yale SOM 2011 Alum, Kellogg, Booth, Tuck
 Q44  V50
WE 1: IB - Restructuring & Distressed M&A
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: Graduate of 09's economy... No "real" work experience [#permalink] New post   19 Jan 2010, 12:37
I think you should consider something other than a MBA degree.

If you go to a second or third tier school that will accept you without much work experience.....after 2 years, you are not much better than undergrads with a BBA degree graduating in the same year.

You will most likely end up with a mountain of debt, but lower wage than what traditional MBA grads are expected to earn after graduation.

I understand the situation that you are in, but other options should be considered:

1. Teach for America or Peace Corp
2. Other graduate programs such as law school, MS Accounting, MS Finance, etc (prominent graduate programs for individuals without much work experience and well established recruiting/career route)
User avatar
MyMBAAdmit
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 05 Jan 2010
Posts: 194
Own Kudos [?]: 99 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Location: New York
Concentration: Finance, Marketing, Strategy, Entrepreneurship
Schools:University of Chicago, Columbia, Wharton, Stanford, Harvard, Cornell, NYU, Duke, Indiana
Send PM
Re: Graduate of 09's economy... No "real" work experience [#permalink] New post   19 Jan 2010, 14:15
NoobSaibot,

nink offers valuable suggestions. Ultimately, it depends on your career plans. I would reiterate finalizing those (or at least having an approximate idea) before making the commitment for a MBA.

Also, if you are really keen on a MBA at the present time for personal reasons, part-time programs could be an option. These will give you additional time to figure out your career plans and be less of a financial burden since you could keep working. Also, part-time programs start three times a year, versus full-time programs that start once a year, making them slightly less selective and more adaptable to an applicant's needs.
User avatar
NoobSaibot
Intern
Intern
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Posts: 7
Own Kudos [?]: [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: Graduate of 09's economy... No "real" work experience [#permalink] New post   19 Jan 2010, 15:03
Thank you all for the feedback! I haven't really looked into part-time programs but that sounds like a great idea. Looks like Mizzou doesn't offer a part-time program but WashU does. Would part-time programs want full-time work experience as well? Or could I just explain that I want to find full-time experience (and work full-time somewhere) as I'm in the part-time program.

Edit: I forgot to ask... if it takes a full-time program two years to be completed, how many years does it take for a part-time program to be completed?
User avatar
MyMBAAdmit
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 05 Jan 2010
Posts: 194
Own Kudos [?]: 99 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Location: New York
Concentration: Finance, Marketing, Strategy, Entrepreneurship
Schools:University of Chicago, Columbia, Wharton, Stanford, Harvard, Cornell, NYU, Duke, Indiana
Send PM
Re: Graduate of 09's economy... No "real" work experience [#permalink] New post   20 Jan 2010, 07:52
Noob,

Generally, part-time program tend to be easier to get into than their full-time equivalents. However, when you apply to these, you will be competing with applicants who have significant full-time experience.

If you are really keen on a university such as WashU, you should research it further to understand if it meets your career ambitions and course requirements to be able to better convince AdCom of your fit even though you have a different professional profile than your peers. Part-time programs take 3-5 years, depending on how many classes you take in a year.
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: Graduate of 09's economy... No "real" work experience [#permalink]
20 Jan 2010, 07:52

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions