Profile Evaluation + Career change. Advice please?
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14 May 2018, 00:43
Hi FT,
Answering your questions :
"Will an MBA allow me to more easily jump into one of those industries?"
Career changes are possible and doing an MBA is a proven method of pivoting a career change. So you are on the right track here. That said, you will need to align your present strengths and capabilities with the skills needed in your future jobs/roles and present a solid case that you will easily make the transition.
Also, a powerful tool for a job change, before or after MBA, is networking. You will have to network with your target industries and build connections that will help in securing jobs.
"Is it vital that I do an MBA at a prestigious school or could one in SA still provide me ample competitiveness/opportunities?"
I'd replace the word "prestigious" with "international". Your SA b-school could be highly prestigious and may provide you ample opportunities, but may not give you an international experience.
If you wish to work abroad, atleast for a few years after MBA, you should do the MBA in the region where you will work post MBA (say the European region or a specific country in Europe). Your network in South Africa, although valuable, may have limited access to companies abroad.
You may also want to do an MBA abroad just for the international experience, the chance to step out of your comfort zone and to learn in a more international surrounding. The option of going back to your country a few years later will always be open.