Advancing your Career with an MBA

This is a transcript summary of the Expert Chat that TopMBAScorecard runs at regular intervals throughout the year. This is a live expert chat that took place on 6th March 2007 with Ms. Michele Gorman, assistant dean of Corporate Relations, American University, Kogod School of Business. Questions were sent in by respondents from all around the world.

Q: What is your preference: general or specialised MBAs?

A: The MBA degree in itself is a generalist degree. I think you are safe doing either, but my preference would be to add both breadth and depth. The concentration, or in our case career track, would add the in-depth knowledge of a specific area of study.

Q: I am a mechanical engineer working in the mining sector. I want to switch my career to the automotive industry. Which specialization should I follow when taking my MBA?

A: When you are evaluating what concentration or career track to take in your MBA, you really want to think through what your next step in your career is. Depending on what you would like to do in the automotive industry, you could specialize in corporate finance, international and trade, global supply chain management.

Q: I currently work at a consulting firm in the transfer pricing department. What MBA concentration would be best for me if I wanted to go back to this field after my MBA?

A: There are many options for our career tracks that would be relevant to you. You may select two areas to specialize in, including: corporate finance, international business consulting, leadership, etc.

Q: I have done an MBA (2.5 years) with a two year bachelor degree. I am working in a non-profit organization and my GMAT score is 460. I know improving GMAT score requires hard work. Should I go for another MBA after such a difficult process? Will I be at a disadvantage already having an MBA? What will be the benefits of another MBA except salary increase? Or am I just wasting time being bogged down in reading comprehension?

A: In order to assess if another MBA would be beneficial to you, I would recommend taking some time to think about what your next career goal is. If you want to work in the United States or another country, an MBA would contribute to advancing your career.

Q:Do you only count work experience after undergraduate degree or is work experience while doing undergraduate degree also counted during which I was working in my family business while doing my undergraduate degree.

A: The admission committee looks at all factors when they are making their decision. Your complete professional history, your education, your leadership, GMAT, and recommendations all make up the profile of your candidacy.

Q: Will my experience be validated after I obtain a MBA even if it is not related to the field I am trying to switch to?

A: Of course! Employers always look at the entire professional history to evaluate your potential. I would spend some time with a career services professional to talk about how to leverage those experiences in your resume and communications process. Identify what your transferable skills are and play those up.

Q: I am working in the domain of business process mapping in IT. Could you suggest me some colleges/universities where I can do a course on this subject?

A: I would recommend that you look at the strong IT markets. Washington, DC (for example) has an incredibly strong IT industry. As a result, the Kogod School of Business offers a MBA with career tracks in IT consulting or global emerging markets. With the strong educational programming and lots of opportunities to network with local industry executives, DC is a great place to enhance your career.

Q: Do we need to report the GMAT score directly from GMAC, or would a photocopy of the official scorecard suffice for your application requirements?

A: We need the official GMAT results sent directly to us from GMAC.

Q: a) MBA in finance management b) MBA in strategic management (what is taught under these streams and which course leads to recruitment in which industry?) Do consulting people pick students who have consulting experience or do they pick talented students regardless of whether they have consulting experience or any other experience?

A: Our career tracks include consulting, asset and money management, global emerging markets, and international trade. The consulting industry looks at the entire portfolio of an individual. For the MBA program at the Kogod School of Business approximately 30% of our students leverage their experience into some kind of consulting career.

Q: Could you guide me after doing an MPH? I would like to pursue an MBA. Is part-time available for international students. Which specialization should I opt for an MBA in?

A: Due to visa requirements, international students cannot pursue a part-time MBA in the United States. Depending on your career goals, there are many specializations that would contribute to your MPH expertise.

Q: Could you guide me to which schools offer an MBA in general management and their average score range?

A: I would encourage you to evaluate your top priorities in pursuing the MBA. Once you determine your individual criteria for the program, you can then research institutions that match your goals and interests. For example, if you are looking for an institution that offer an interdisciplinary education and a global focus, the Kogod School of Business offers the opportunity to combine business and law, or business and international services.

Q: If I were interested in finance, would you say it is better for the advancement in my career to do an MBA with concentration in finance or a MS in Finance?

A: The answer to your question really depends on your career goals, both short-term and long-term. It is difficult to answer this question with validity until I better understand your specific career goals. If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].