Page 21 - Carlson School GBCC Career Guide

Experiential Research
Whether you are considering a progression or a transition,
you will want to begin the task of learning in detail about the careers on your short list. One of the best ways to gain first-hand knowledge of a career is by conducting a series of informational interviews with people who work in your desired function, industry, or company. Chapter 3 on Networking covers this
topic in detail.
Another great way to begin the process of engaging in your possible career choices is to experience it yourself. Test out different aspects of the careers on your short list, and get a real feel for these careers. To do this, find opportunities in your career or careers of interest. You can do this by:
• Participating in your desired enterprise (if you are a Full-Time MBA student)
• Asking to work on cross-functional teams at your current job (if you are a part-time student)
• Shadowing someone on the job
• Finding project or consulting work (Graduate Volunteer Consultants is a great way for students in all of our graduate business programs to get hands-on experience doing consulting work for a local non-profit)
• Engaging in case competitions
• Taking classes with large experiential learning projects in your area of interest
• Doing an independent study
• Doing volunteer work
• Joining professional organizations
• Joining student organizations or clubs
• Doing an internship
After experiencing the work first-hand, you will be able to assess your fit with it and readjust your goals as necessary.
Assess and Reflect
As you continue to research your short list and engage in the work, take time to reflect and assess your chosen careers. Ask yourself if a specific career matches your self-assessment of what you want and need. If the career would be a transition, it is also particularly important to ask yourself, “Can I make this career work for me?” In your assessment, consider location(s): Are there jobs in this industry or career field in the location where you want to live? Do you want to work in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, or are you open to other areas of the country? Are you looking to possibly work in another country? Also consider
CAREER EXPLORATION
if there are specific companies whose cultures or products are particularly appealing. Self-assessment is a continuous process and it's important to reassess your desires frequently to validate that you are on the right path.
Building Your Plan
After careful thought, it is helpful to prioritize what specializations, industries, locations, and companies are right
for you. It is also a good idea to conduct an honest assessment of how you stack up against the desired qualifications of the position you are seeking. By doing this, you can easily identify gaps and build a plan to close them. Once your process of exploration and assessment is complete, it’s time to put your plan into action. The remainder of this guide will walk you through each of the key elements of communicating and presenting yourself to the market.
CAREER EXPLORATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
While many international students would like to find a job in the United States after graduation, others may want to go back to their home country. Of all these options, returning to your home country is likely the easiest, although it still requires a concentrated effort. Securing a job in the US is not an easy process and certain functional areas might be more difficult than others, but students who put time and energy into the search can be successful.
If you are considering finding a job in the US, your career exploration might look a little different than a domestic student. As an international student, complete career changes can be more challenging, so it is crucial that you identify your strengths and what you bring to a prospective employer. Think about doing the following:
1 Complete a thorough self-assessment of your international marketability at the beginning of your program to identify your skills, strengths, competencies, key experiences, and achievements. Leverage the multiple tools outlined in this chapter to do so.
2 Relate your strengths to specific companies and industries. Ask yourself “Which companies and roles will value my previous experience complemented with my current degree?” Look at job descriptions and leverage your networking meetings to learn more.
3 Create a list of target companies and start your networking efforts early.
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Carlson School of Management