MBA Careers Q&A: Ivey Business School

While your current focus might revolve around getting into business school, the careers team at Ivey Business School is focused on getting you a job. Career management associate at the school, Danielle DeVries, explains that her team provides “students with the tools to create and navigate opportunities successfully throughout their entire career, not just to get their first post-MBA role.” Read on to find out more about the integral role Ivey’s careers office plays for those who enroll in its MBA, from admissions to recruiting and beyond!

Does the Ivey Career Management team work with the MBA admissions team during applicant assessment?

The Career Management department plays a critical role in our admissions process, interviewing candidates to ensure that their career goals and expectations are defined, realistic, and achievable. In addition, our executive director of career management and corporate recruiting represents the career management team in decision meetings held by the school’s admissions committee.

When do on-campus corporate recruitment events and interviews typically take place at Ivey?

The mandatory in-class portion of the career management programming culminates with a three-day event in Toronto called ‘Get Connected’. This event is our MBA students’ first introduction to the market after only 12 weeks in the program (the full-time program begins in March). Formal on-campus recruiting events and interviews typically take place throughout August, September and October with some ‘real-time’ events and interviews occurring throughout the late winter (January – February) and spring timeframe.

Are there any particular skills that career services helps students to accentuate during job fairs and recruiting?

Our focus has always been to provide students with the tools to create and navigate opportunities successfully throughout their entire career, not just to get their first post-MBA role. Our core career management curriculum focuses on reputation management and the habits of executive presence. We host mock networking events and mock interviewing through our professional clubs.

How do career services help MBA students prepare for recruitment events? In what ways does the careers center help match students with companies that will be a good cultural fit for them?

We begin our work with students in the first week of their MBA journey and have programs designed outside of class time so that they can self-select into small group clinics, mock interviewing sessions, and one-on-one meetings. These activities prepare students for their critical first introduction to the market at the aforementioned ‘Get Connected’ event. Our work during class time is devoted to developing the skills required to plan students’ approach to the market and their reputation management strategy. In addition to these more strategic activities, we cover the typical career skills of building a solid résumé, preparing for rigorous interviews, finding hidden career opportunities and networking effectively.

To help students define a goal that aligns with their skills, interest and values, we provide access to career coaches. They work with students in an individualized way so that the students can launch and accelerate their career path. Research suggests that the ‘typical’ career of a young professional spans three radically different industries with eight distinct functions – our students’ career success will depend on their ability to manage this change and pivot with the market over the span of their entire career - not just their first job after the MBA.

Are there any new companies recruiting on campus? Have you seen a change in industries?

We frequently have new companies recruiting on campus, both with a formal presence and in more informal ways (for example, connecting directly with students through club events).

We have seen an increase in technology as both an industry and as a function. At Ivey, technology roles including those focused on digitalization and disruption, appear to be an area of growth for many of our recruiting partners and with our students’ stated interests.

Are there any changes to the way in which companies are recruiting?

We have not seen a significant change in the way that companies are recruiting. We have very few companies who opt to host a webinar vs. coming to campus. Our recruiting partners value the opportunity to network with students and recognize the importance of face-to-face conversations. This aligns with the focus of our classroom and coaching work.