Part time MBA for career switchers

Dear pink_08,

Part-time MBA programs are not designed for folks wanting to make significant career changes; however, more and more part-time MBA students are desiring career services and looking to use the MBA program to redirect their careers. While it is not impossible to make a career transition, it is a bit more of a challenge and you want to find the right part-time program for you as there is great variance in the resources available to part-time MBA students in this regard. Be sure to research what career services are available and be realistic in your expectations. Since you will not be able to do an internship or have that clean break on your resume, nor the time to devote to a job search while in school and working full-time, you might have to wait and start your job search once your degree is finished. You will want to be sure and select a program that continues to offer some assistance to you after graduation and where there are strong connections to the sports industry. With such a significant change, networking will be critical for you in your job search--being able to sell yourself and demonstrating how your past experience will transfer to the new industry/function--so it is imperative you have a good alumni network and company connections as a place to start.

Good luck,
Lisa

Wanting to make a career change is not a reason to reject an otherwise qualified applicant. However, it will lead to questions around why you are applying to part-time instead of full-time. So, you will want to address that in your essays and your interview, even if not asked explicitly, to ensure the admissions committee understands your rationale for the program choice. I think pursuing some part-time or internship options in the sports industry is a good idea to start redirecting your resume.

Good luck,
Lisa