Which Career Path Do I Choose (Pre-MBA)?

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Which Career Path Do I Choose (Pre-MBA)?

by oceanview421 » Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:38 am
Hello All,

I am planning on beginning an MBA program within five years. I am about to graduate from grad school and am on the job hunt.

I have an opportunity to be a sales rep for a major food corporation with many large brands in its portfolio, or I can pursue a career in supply chain management for a large transportation company.

As a sales rep, I see opportunities for advancement to senior sales rep, then brand manager.
With supply chain, I suppose there are different paths to advancement.

Both companies have paid for employees to pursue MBA's. I definitely see this as a plus. I am not leaning one way or the other, I just want the job that will have progression opportunities and that will look good on an MBA application.

Which career path do you think would be most beneficial to pursuing an MBA?
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by Ashim88 » Wed Jun 16, 2010 8:44 am
oceanview421 wrote:Hello All,

I am planning on beginning an MBA program within five years. I am about to graduate from grad school and am on the job hunt.

I have an opportunity to be a sales rep for a major food corporation with many large brands in its portfolio, or I can pursue a career in supply chain management for a large transportation company.

As a sales rep, I see opportunities for advancement to senior sales rep, then brand manager.
With supply chain, I suppose there are different paths to advancement.

Both companies have paid for employees to pursue MBA's. I definitely see this as a plus. I am not leaning one way or the other, I just want the job that will have progression opportunities and that will look good on an MBA application.

Which career path do you think would be most beneficial to pursuing an MBA?
Hi ocean, either one of those career paths would be beneficial for an MBA. Since there are many different MBA programs that cater to different careers, you have a number to choose from. My suggestion would be to choose(or try to, at least) the career path that would make you feel most satisfied- a place where you can accumulate strong connections, and good recommendations, so when you DO apply for business schools, your recommendations will be heart-felt and well deserved.

Your MBA program should cater to you, not the other way around.

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by Tani » Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:00 pm
The advice to consider your interests is sound. You say you are about to finish grad school? What field is your graduate degree in? Building on your education should give you a head start versus others in whatever job you choose. If you are looking to pursue a career in a direction very different from your education you will want to be able to clearly explain that decision.


Also, I would look carefully at the career paths in both companies. Many Product/Brand Management operations pull from MBAs, not from field sales. You may be able to get input from the Human Resources department or from current employees at either company. Supply chain management has been increasingly a focus of research and B-School courses over the last few years. You might want to check out some of the publications in that area to see whether the direction of research is appealing to you.

If you can, talk to people currently in similar positions to find out the rewards and challenges of each position and see which would best fit your interests and abilities. The best job is going to be the one that you enjoy and will do well in.

Tani
Tani Wolff