[分享]Maximizing your post-MBA employability 增加你MBA后的就业机会（别等到毕业后）

newvalleygirl

个人想法：别等到毕业才开始增加就业机会，尤其是在职MBA学生，很多在就读期间就遇到很好的机会，很多重视MBA的企业或老板也看重这些有上进心还有Potential的员工！别等机会错过了你才发现你原来可以。。。


Source:
http://www.topmba.com/articles/employers/maximizing-your-post-mba-employability?utm_source=Newsletter&partnerid=3400&utm_medium=email-qs&utm_campaign=November2012&utm_content=SubHead4&dm_i=8GW,12VX3,11RZ61,3C5B2,1

原文分享：
Friday, November 30, 2012


Richard Macauley looks at ways that you might improve your post-MBA employability before graduation.Marcel Kalis, head of career services at ESMT European School of Management and Technology, is realistic with prospective students about graduation prospects. “One of the biggest misconceptions might be the famous silver-plate job,” he says. “That does not exist.”
Job figures and routes to employment have been scrutinized to an incredible degree in recent years, due to ongoing financial woes, and the MBA has not escaped the spotlight. There is still little doubt that an MBA itself improves employability, but while studying and even after graduating, there are still plenty of ways for students to branch out and increase their own attractiveness to employers.

Make the most of networking opportunitiesBusiness schools regularly stress the importance of building a network through which one can then learn about, apply for, and secure jobs. “85% of our graduates find jobs via [their] network,” says Kalis. “It is important to start early, build a strong network and get active.”
This strategy applies to all industries. Employers in most sectors will feel more comfortable hiring someone who is not only qualified, but also familiar to them, or recommended by someone they trust.
Business schools often offer network-building opportunities. “At Durham Business School we give students the opportunity to undertake a business project with a company,” says Ieva Eksts, the school’s career development manager. “This sometimes leads to future career opportunities.” Being proactive throughout the academic year and not treating the search for employment as a year-end activity will also increase the likelihood of an MBA student finding employment, Eksts adds.
The resources offered by the universities themselves, asserts Kalis, together with preparedness on the part of the student, can prove invaluable if put to good use. “We advise students to start thinking about a personal development plan early in the year. This means spending time on exploring ideas, having conversations with a personal career coach and following the suggestions of peers and career advisors. Experience shows that people who are prepared find jobs more easily, [and] designing a career strategy at an early stage is crucial.”
Alumni networks can be invaluable in terms of building a network, acting as a ready-made set of connections. A well-managed network will allow current MBA students to track down graduates currently working in the companies they themselves hope to join after graduation.

Building a relationship with recruitersIn addition to utilizing alumni networks, becoming familiar with recruiters and headhunters is also important. “MBA graduates should build key relationships with recruiters so the latter understand the graduate’s needs and future ambitions,” says Fiona Ward, career consultant at Durham Business School. Without a personal connection, recruiters will be able to learn only hard facts about a graduate from their CV, and while this may be enough to secure employment, it could limit your options.
Social media can be a powerful tool in this regard, says Ward. “A well-written profile on LinkedIn which clearly states the graduate is interested in employment opportunities is very useful. LinkedIn and Social Hire are regularly used by recruiters and headhunters to source candidates, [so] it is vital that the graduate’s profile is professional and up to date.”

Realistic expectationsThis must be coupled, however, with an accurate picture of the employment market. “The most common issue in placing some graduates is their expectations after graduation, particularly in the current market,” says Ward. A large number of MBA students make plans not only to switch industries and try something new once they have completed their MBA, but also try to combine this switch with moving to a new country.
This ambition needs to be matched with slightly more realistic goals, Ward suggests. “A student who was previously employed as a marketing executive in the food industry in Egypt, for example, may express a desire for a career change to an investment banker in the City of London.”
There are a range of reasons why this may not be achievable, at least in the short term, chiefly a lack of experience in the chosen sector or role.  “Employers are still largely cautious about employing individuals who cannot demonstrate previous experience, even though they possess an MBA and transferable skills,” Ward adds.
That is not to say though that over the long-term, such a transition can’t be achieved.If you wish to work overseas, remaining in an industry in which you’re experienced will smooth the transition. Alternatively, performing the same role in a new industry could eventually open up the chance to switch to the desired career path.


Appealing to MBA employersIf switching industries is the end-goal, then gradually shifting careers, as Ward suggests, can be an effective method of highlighting transferable skills.
The ability to work in or with a range of cultures is also an increasingly powerful selling point. Most fast-growing markets are not in the West, meaning a global perspective is important to work at any major international operation. “At ESMT we ‘check’ the global mindset,” says Kalis. “We are looking for diversity; speaking different languages is certainly an asset, and in some positions a must. The same goes for traveling.”
Ward, too, says that Durham University considers this to be of rising value. “Once an individual has reached a certain professional level, the ability to travel is to an extent expected,” she says, adding that, “although a large proportion of our full-time MBA students are from overseas, the MBA is taught in English and they are [still] expected to learn another language.” Understanding how various countries do business is also key to building professional relationships, Ward adds.
On which note, she concludes by returning to an old theme to give one final piece of advice: “Network, network, network!”

shbaobei

别等毕业后。。。
其实很多资源不在课堂上

newvalleygirl

校友资源和社交活动都很重要的哦！我觉得最重要的还是心态。。。

顺便说一下，UBC和Sauder在上海的校友会很活跃，每年在北京，上海和香港都会有很多活动的，不止能认识在上海读IMBA的同学校友，还有很多从本校毕业回国或外派的UBC校友哦！！

如果你是UBC校友，别忘了去校友网站跟新你的联络资料；且mailing address要在中国才能收到中国的活动讯息哦！

newvalleygirl

Realistic expectationsThis must be coupled, however, with an accurate picture of the employment market. “The most common issue in placing some graduates is their expectations after graduation, particularly in the current market,” says Ward. A large number of MBA students make plans not only to switch industries and try something new once they have completed their MBA, but also try to combine this switch with moving to a new country.
This ambition needs to be matched with slightly more realistic goals, Ward suggests. “A student who was previously employed as a marketing executive in the food industry in Egypt, for example, may express a desire for a career change to an investment banker in the City of London.”
There are a range of reasons why this may not be achievable, at least in the short term, chiefly a lack of experience in the chosen sector or role.  “Employers are still largely cautious about employing individuals who cannot demonstrate previous experience, even though they possess an MBA and transferable skills,” Ward adds.
That is not to say though that over the long-term, such a transition can’t be achieved.If you wish to work overseas, remaining in an industry in which you’re experienced will smooth the transition. Alternatively, performing the same role in a new industry could eventually open up the chance to switch to the desired career path.

总会听到申请者希望读完MBA可以马上转专业，其实如上文，转专业还是要有从头开始的心里准备。因为对招人公司来说，你完全没有经验，学校的知识只是以后的参考，但完全没经验又希望进中高管理层会有相对的困难，但很多MBA毕业生自认为已经有很多年经验又不愿意从头来，所以成功的相对不多。。。
其实我个人的经验和看很多同学的经验是要在同一间公司转部门是最容易的。所以如果可以读在职MBA并同时掌握点人脉，遇到机会也许就可以转专业/部门了！！
个人经验与观点而已，也许不是每个人都适用的！