According to the 2024 GMAC survey data of prospective North American MBA candidates, 39% of MBA applicants were seeking to change their role or function, while 30% expected to change industries. A key element of the MBA application is to convince the admission committee of the feasibility of one’s career plans. Thus, MBA candidates seeking a career pivot are encouraged to evaluate their future career path and current skill set, and assess ways to strengthen their profile before applying.
But one of the most consequential questions is whether they should change jobs before applying to better align their background with future career aspirations. When faced with this dilemma, applicants should carefully weigh their current profile, timeline, and, most importantly, the potential impact a job change could have on the strength of their profile. Let’s discuss some important questions to ask yourself when considering a job change, as well as some other impactful alternatives.
Does it Align With Your Career Goals?
When seeking to change roles, industries, or both, moving to a role or industry that matches their intended career pivot indicates that the applicant is committed to their stated career goals. Even if the role is not a direct match, such as a consulting role for people aiming for management consulting post-MBA, a new job with overlapping core competencies or industry/project exposure could be beneficial. For example, a pharmaceutical salesperson who wants to pivot into tech product management might first move into a tech sales role as a way to begin learning about relevant products and to gain exposure to product managers in the new industry.
Do You Have Time?
Balancing one’s professional workload with the task of earning solid test scores and, subsequently, meeting application deadlines is one of the most challenging aspects of the MBA application process. Even those who are not changing jobs often find their timelines slipping from Round 1 into Round 2, despite their best efforts and intentions. So if you are considering a job change, you must add job hunting, onboarding, and training to the list of things that are filling up your schedule and headspace. This is why a job change would best be done before the application process begins or very early in the process. On top of the job search, it’s also wise to consider whether there will be enough time in your new role to achieve any significant accomplishments or add new skills or specialized knowledge before the interview.
Could a Promotion Be Just as Impactful?
Career advancement and increased responsibility are strong signals of career success that MBA admission officers look for. That’s why time-conscious applicants – and those seeking advancement in the same field or role – might try to level-up without risking a time consuming job hunt by seeking a promotion or making a lateral move to a different department at their current company. One example of this might be someone seeking to work in management consulting – one of the most common MBA career pivots – by moving into a role that contributes to strategic planning as a way to prepare themself to advise business leaders as a future consultant. Another case could be someone working in a relationship management role in corporate banking who wants to move into investment banking. They could offer to support the credit analysis team to gain exposure to financial statement analysis, credit risk assessment, forecasting and stress testing.
Would a Class or Certificate Help?
If you are feeling pinched for time and a promotion isn’t on the horizon, you might consider adding a new skill or credential by taking one or more classes. While you may not have a chance to add data-related projects to your current company, you could add real analytical skills by taking Python certificate courses on Coursera or DataCamp, for example. Similarly, a PMP certificate could be beneficial for aspiring product managers. College or online courses can also be helpful, especially if you feel you need to level up your math or other specialized skills.
[Conclusion]
While your available time and the timing of your decisions are crucial in job change decision-making, there are many ways to bolster your profile in advance of the MBA application. Being open to all possibilities will reveal the best and most feasible options for you, which can significantly reduce the stress of this months-long process. But the simple truth is, if you’re considering a job change as a way to augment your upcoming MBA application, the time to start is now.