This is a recording of the webinar with Cass Business School held on January 30th, 2019, represented by speakers Alex Jones, MBA Recruitment Manager; Jenny Portalska, Head of MBA Careers; and Alexander Cross, Head of Leadership & Career Development. The talk focused mostly on career development, and how an MBA can help speed up the process.

 

  1. Define your career ambitions. Most MBA applicants fall into 3 categories: those who are looking for career progression, a career switch, or those who hold entrepreneurial aspirations.

Consider the location of where you will study for your MBA. Would you like to live in a more tightly knit small town community or in a bustling city? Cass Business School is located in central London, making it easier to form new and exciting professional relationships. Alex says:

Location is very important, especially when it comes to networking—to logistically be able to meet companies for a coffee, or a presentation on campus. Studying, and living in a central location is vital. The kind of people who will get you a great job tend to be the ones who are based in London headquarters.

  1. Explore the career support the business school offers. At Cass, their purpose and passion is to partner with students to develop lifelong employability skills in preparation for diverse careers within business. The career center sits down with students and helps them plan their next career move—whether that’s growth from their current position, or an entirely new professional path. From a recent survey, 91% of Cass MBA grads made a career change, 35% made a triple jump change (function, sector and location). 33% of grads went into consulting, 29% into financial services, 10% into technology, and 15% decided to run their own business. The professional development workshops Cass offers are designed to focus on a few key aspects. Firstly, through conversations with employers, in order to understand what exactly they are looking for in candidates. Second, through employer surveys, presentations and conferences. Finally, through working closely with students and analyzing their job targets, and the application processes they must go through.
  2. Check out the networking, clubs and networking events the school hosts throughout the year. Extra-curricular involvement will enrich your MBA experience and will help you build long-lasting strong connections. These events may be a similar format to Cass Business School’s Careers Beers and alumni-led talks, guest lectures, company presentations and panel discussions on topics such as retail, consulting, technology and sustainable innovation.

For further reading on the role an MBA plays on your career check out: An MBA Experience: Propelling Your Career (Quick Reads)