Career Management

From the moment students begin their MBA program, they receive career guidance and training. So when it is time to put the skills they have learned to work in the job market, Kellogg students find they are well prepared. The staff of career management professionals in Kellogg’s Career Management Center (CMC) is ready to assist with one-on-one strategy sessions and job search advice so each student can find the best fit for his or her skills and interests. Resources for career searchers includes self-assessment workshops, résumé critiques, videotaping of simulated interviews, access to an online job posting system called the Kellogg Career Network and an extensive career resource center. In 2006, many students also took advantage of workshops for off-campus job searches, cross-cultural communications, specialized networking events and an executive-in-residence coaching program.

The CMC prides itself on its accessibility to students and its team-oriented approach to the job-search process. The entire Kellogg School community — administrators, faculty and staff — helps students develop career plans and make valuable contacts in their fields. Students with similar interests often form teams to help each other in their searches, sharing leads, opportunities and resources. The Kellogg School’s diverse alumni base also proves an invaluable resource for students each year, helping job searchers cast a wide net among top executives globally. This team-oriented approach is one explanation for Kellogg School students’ success in their career searches, even in unfavorable economic times.

Students considering switching fields or entering a new industry also find the Kellogg approach to the job-search process valuable. Half of all on-campus interview schedules are set through an open bidding system; students use a given number of “points” to bid on interviews with the firms in which they are most interested. This policy gives students the opportunity to meet with and “market themselves” to employers in fields not strongly represented on the student’s résumé.

The CMC is highly successful in bringing organizations and students together. Most Kellogg School graduates are employed by the fall of the year they receive their degrees. (See recent Kellogg School Employment Reports.)

A note for international students: Although the success of individual students depends greatly on their relevant skills and experiences, many U.S. companies require permanent work authorization for international students who wish to work in the United States. This requirement may make it difficult for international students to find full-time employment in the United States after graduation. The CMC has developed a series of programs to support international students with all aspects of the job search process.

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