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Ozmba
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 05 Oct 2006, 14:34
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Rhyme

what will be your approach/advice for Career goals essays from an applicant who is planning to switch career ( say from IT to Media & Entertainment - totally diverse ) with the help of an MBA...

Any inputs from seasoned pros much appreciated

cheers
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 05 Oct 2006, 14:48
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I am struggling with for the same reason also.
Except I am hoping to go from IT to finance (equity research or I-Bank).

I can see myself taking one of the following approaches:

1) Just be totally honest and try to give my best reasons for the career change. and Emphasize why I think I need an MBA and why I think I will succeed in my new career.

2) Go for a safer approach and claim that the MBA will help further my career in IT. Show my need for an MBA in my current career path. Although this is not my #1 reason for getting an MBA, this is my backup reason.

It seems to me that #2 is much easier to justify and is the safer approach. Just as long as there is nobody that will come and catch me after I grad and say "Hey! you are not going to continue your career in IT! you lied!"
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gradschoolapplicant
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 05 Oct 2006, 15:18
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Rhyme you should skip b school and become an admissions consultant.
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Ozmba
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 05 Oct 2006, 18:02
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fluffydot

2) Go for a safer approach and claim that the MBA will help further my career in IT. Show my need for an MBA in my current career path. Although this is not my #1 reason for getting an MBA, this is my backup reason.

It seems to me that #2 is much easier to justify and is the safer approach. Just as long as there is nobody that will come and catch me after I grad and say "Hey! you are not going to continue your career in IT! you lied!"
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hey by going through the second option, we will be less convincing or passionate ..or it can sound like a very generic reason...
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays Updated on: 19 Mar 2007, 19:35
Originally posted by rhyme on 05 Oct 2006, 18:13.
Last edited by rhyme on 19 Mar 2007, 19:35, edited 1 time in total.
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citalfo
Rhyme you should skip b school and become an admissions consultant.
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I keep hearing this again and again.
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rhyme
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 05 Oct 2006, 18:22
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Ozmba2006
Rhyme

what will be your approach/advice for Career goals essays from an applicant who is planning to switch career ( say from IT to Media & Entertainment - totally diverse ) with the help of an MBA...

Any inputs from seasoned pros much appreciated

cheers
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I would suggest you find something that has drawn you to Media and Entertainment.

Make the adcom forget you are in IT. I myself am technically in IT but I don't much mention that in the essays, in fact, short of reading my job title, you probably wouldnt know.

I focus on the business oriented things that I do. I focus on how I find the industry interesting, etc - (of course I'm saying I'll stay in the industry just switch to a more business oriented role), but still.

I think the key here is to tie this back to something you've done to show the adcom that

1) You are passionate about media
2) You have some exposure to it
3) You understand it, at least somewhat
4) You know why you want to pursue it
5) You know the hurdles you will face

So, it might go something like this:

"In 2001, I ended up working on [SOME WEBSITE OR SOMETHING YOU WORKED ON THAT HAD TO DO WITH IT], a website focused on commercials from advertising agencies..... [OPEN UP THE STORY AS TO HOW YOU FOUND MEDIA] .... It may seem a little strange that commercials could be interesting, but when I overheard the client speaking about [SOMETHING] I couldn't believe how much really goes into marketing, and found myself extremely surprised. Even more astounding, I spent the rest of the night browsing commercials with this "new eye". I was instantly hooked. [OK, SO YOU ARE NOW A MEDIA JUNKIE AND I BELIEVE YOU BECAUSE YOU TOLD ME A STORY].

Since then I've taken steps to reach my goal of [POSITION X] in a firm such as [TYPE X], by my activities in [SOMETHING]. I have however, come to realize that my experiences and background, while valuable, have not prepared me for this short term goal."

Something like that.

It also need not be a work related thing. Other options include

1) You met a friend who works in the industry and became passionate
2) You know someone who works for an ad agency
3) etc.

Just something that shows the adcom why you are passionate and why you want to pursue it. Don't even worry about tying it back to specifically to your IT experience, but you do need to tie it back at least a little bit. Try to find something youve done thats even remotely related - even if its just a very specific aspect - and talk about how you did that, and how it brought you closer to your goal.

Extracurriculars are usually an easy place to pull this off - assuming of course, you have something related to the field as an extra.
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 05 Oct 2006, 18:29
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fluffydot
I am struggling with for the same reason also.
Except I am hoping to go from IT to finance (equity research or I-Bank).

I can see myself taking one of the following approaches:

1) Just be totally honest and try to give my best reasons for the career change. and Emphasize why I think I need an MBA and why I think I will succeed in my new career.

It seems to me that #2 is much easier to justify and is the safer approach. Just as long as there is nobody that will come and catch me after I grad and say "Hey! you are not going to continue your career in IT! you lied!"
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Ever worked on a financial application? Who do you work for? What do they do? Do you invest? Do you play in the stock market? What do you know about equity research?

The same general things apply:

1) Show the adcom you are passionate
2) Show them you understand what equity research or ibanking is
3) Focus on something you can tie back.

For example,

"While a developer at X, I worked on a financial modeling tool for our client. In so doing, I met XYZ who was the client's CFO. In speaking with him one evening, he told me about his experiences working for [SPECIFIC EQUITY RESEARCH FIRM] as a [POSITION].

That was X years ago, and I remember the conversations today. I found it fascinating because X AND Y and also because of Z. In light of that, I began investing my own money in X bonds and Y, and last year beat the S&P 500 by X%. Compared to major market funds, like, say, PIMCO's emerging markets fund [SHOW YOU KNOW THE INDUSTRY AT LEAST], I performed quite well and am particularly proud of how I did so without any formal bla bla.

Then maybe tie it back "I remain in contact with XYZ constantly, and over hte last two years my apssion for the subject has only grown."

"However, in order to bridge the gap between my knwoedlge and my needs, I need to deepen key skills in X and Y. An MBA education from XYZ will help me achieve this through X and Y and Z."

Something like that.

Again, remember - most everyone who goes to graduate school switches gears -- you just need to focus on WHY you want finance, and CONVINCE me you UNDERSTAND IT, WANT IT, and NEED IT NOW. (not later).
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 19 Mar 2007, 19:13
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Rhyme: Consultant, B-school student, admissions consultant? Sounds extremely stressful :shock:
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 19 Mar 2007, 19:20
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Phokus
Rhyme: Consultant, B-school student, admissions consultant? Sounds extremely stressful :shock:
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This is not to discourage anyone, but members are advised to please avoid digging up old threads unless they have something specific to contribute to it.
:)
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 19 Mar 2007, 19:32
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Phokus
Rhyme: Consultant, B-school student, admissions consultant? Sounds extremely stressful :shock:

This is not to discourage anyone, but members are advised to please avoid digging up old threads unless they have something specific to contribute to it.
:)
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Lol, sorry, i didn't know how far i went back... been reading old threads today.
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 19 Mar 2007, 19:34
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Phokus
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Phokus
Rhyme: Consultant, B-school student, admissions consultant? Sounds extremely stressful :shock:

This is not to discourage anyone, but members are advised to please avoid digging up old threads unless they have something specific to contribute to it.
:)

Lol, sorry, i didn't know how far i went back... been reading old threads today.
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To give you an idea .... its so old that I read the first post and started thinking up my response... only to find I'd already written it.
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 19 Mar 2007, 22:06
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Thanks Phokus, for digging it out.
Rhyme has answered a few questions I actually wanted to ask him. :P
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To Rhyme --Career Switchers--how to approach the Essays 19 May 2020, 07:04
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Hello from the GMAT Club MBAbot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.