It’s arguably the most popular and sought-after degree today, and most companies are rushing up to sign MBA graduates who’re hot off the block from the best universities in the business. But there are some students who hold an edge over their counterparts, simply because they’ve had the sense and foresight to sign up for an internship or two during their breaks between semesters. Some of them do this so that they’re able to gain a toehold in the industry even before they graduate, others do it for the experience, and yet others take up internship positions because they want to test the waters before diving into them completely once they leave school.
Employers are most likely to be favorably disposed towards graduates who have completed an internship because they are perceived as being more committed to their cause. Of course, you need to have luck on your side as well if you want to intern at a reputable and well-known organization. But what happens if you work at an internship in finance only to apply for a job in marketing after you graduate? Does your indecision show that you’re flighty or does your foresight show prudence in trying out the options available before you settle for the one you’re most suited for?
It’s hard to second-guess employers in this regard; some of them may applaud your forward thinking while others may be hesitant to offer you employment because they fear you may be using the job as another testing ground. But in general, internships make a solid foundation for an MBA’s student quest to land a good job. When they apply for and secure a position at a company that has a reputation for churning out effective interns, their value rises in the job market, more so if they’re able to garner accolades from their temporary employer.
Most students seek employment with the companies they’ve interned in if they’re satisfied with the workplace, the nature of the job and the salary offered. Only a few prefer to move on to a different organization of their own accord; the rest of course are unable to make the grade as full-time employees.
An MBA graduate’s greatest assets are the fact that he/she is able to think analytically, make the right decision using the information at hand, and most important of all, learning from experience as time goes by. With an internship, students gain experience, something that is invaluable in the business world. So no matter if you’re undecided about your chosen field of work in the business world, no matter if you have no intention of staying on with the company you’re interning with for the long term, and no matter if you think it’s a waste of time that could be spent doing something more worthwhile, it pays to complete an internship program before you graduate from B school.
By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Anna Miller, who writes on the topic of online degree . She welcomes your comments at her email id: anna.miller009@gmail.com
