MBA Advice for Engineers Who Are Interested in Obtaining an MBA
Combining a technical or engineering background with a top MBA is a great choice that could launch you into a wide range of careers in different fields. More than 16% of new MBA students at Stanford GSB and 11% at HBS come from the tech and engineering fields. If you're an engineer or work in tech, you'll need a plan that's specific to your field for your MBA application. So, how do you set yourself apart? Here are seven tips to help your MBA application stand out:
1. Stay away from industry jargon.
Working in technology means you learn industry-specific jargon, which may not sound like jargon to you, but don't assume the admissions reader will understand what you're saying. When writing your application essays, keep your audience in mind and avoid using technical jargon. Even though the jargon might have helped you get a job, it has nothing to do with applying for an MBA. Also, don't worry too much about the technical parts of your role in the story, because they aren't important to what you can bring to business school.
2. Elevate your transferable skills.
The problem for engineering applicants is that their job and work may not have much to do with what they will learn in an MBA class. Look at the skills and abilities you've gained at work in a bigger picture, outside of your job. Think about the skills you've learned that can be used in other situations, such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and presenting. This might not be clear at first, and it might be very different from how you see your skills now in terms of everyday tasks. Think about the patterns of behavior that led to your professional success and how they apply to the roles you played and the things you did for the community.
3. Make extracurricular investments.
The admissions committee thinks that your activities outside of work are just as interesting and important as your work. It informs them what kind of student and graduate you will be. It's common for engineering candidates with a lot of extracurricular activities in college to drop out because of the 80-100 hour work week. But things outside of school are important. It's a key part of making your application come to life.
The committee that decides who gets in looks at your extracurricular activities, your impact, and how you've led in the past. Joining a club or spending the holidays helping out at an animal shelter won't be enough. Instead, choose one or two things you've always been interested in that best show who you are. Don't forget that extracurricular activities are another way to show that you are a leader, whether it's by mentoring others or leading an initiative.
4. Allow your personality to come through.
The goal is to give the admissions committee a real look at who you are and show that you have more to offer than just your professional identity. When you focus too much on work, you seem less human. Think about why you've done what you've done, the events and interactions that have shaped you as a person, your values, and your outlook on life. The more personal you can be about why you do what you do, the more intriguing you will be and the more the admissions committee will remember you.
5. Outline a logical career path.
Compared to consulting or banking, the tech sector moves forward faster. Because your industry is more agile, the admissions office is accustomed to seeing great programmers leave to work for competitors. It's important to make sure that the professional story you tell is logical.
You'll want to give the impression that you've had the time and opportunity to really take ownership of a project and see it through, rather than looking like a "hired gun" who works for a lot of different companies. Get right to the impact you've made. Focus on it. You should be able to talk about what you learned from your experiences beyond what you did, and you should be able to connect what you've learned to what you'll bring to the MBA classroom.
6. Be an enthusiastic visionary.
The admissions staff gets excited to see that you have a clear and ambitious plan for your future. It is their job to bring together a diverse group of smart people who will represent the school in the future, so they are excited to see that you have one. Do you have a well-thought-out strategy? And is it ambitious enough to be interesting without being impossible?
You could start your own business or use your skills and knowledge to make a difference in your community or field. Make a link between your past and your future goals if you want to change careers, so it doesn't look like you just made it up for your MBA application. Your ability to be honest and real may set you apart from another engineering MBA candidate who wasn't able to get their point across as clearly.
7. Guide your recommenders.
Even if your recommenders are experts in their fields, don't assume that they will know exactly what you require. Contrary to the consulting industry, where senior leaders often have an MBA, it is not a given that your supervisor went to business school. Set your recommenders up for success by walking them through the process and letting them know how important depth, specifics, and stories are when talking about specific situations and your contributions. You want your recommender's perspective and honesty to lead; this does not mean you should tell them what to write. But if they haven't done it before, you don't want them to jump in without knowing what to do. Make them understand that business schools are looking for depth and stories that really show how impactful you are as an individual, how great you are as an employee, and the boundless potential you have.
10 Tips to Help You Acquire Exceptional Letters of Recommendation for Your MBA Application.
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