Work For the Right Reasons

July 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Why do you work as hard as you do?

  • Do you feel angry? - Are you “proving yourself” to all of those that doubted you early in your career?
  • Do you feel compelled? - Do you feel a responsibility to the world at large?
  • Do you feel obligated? - Does your family require you to work to maintain your standard of living?

Clearly, you are motivated to do great things.  Your motivations took you back to school to pursue professional advancement. But does your motivation come from the right place?  Are you fueled by negative or positive ambitions?

Do you work because you want to or do you work because you have to?  Do you work solely for the money or is there another benefit to the amount of time you spend at work?

I’m sure you have heard the point of work/life balance.  There is nothing original about that.  We all nod our heads when someone talks about it, but do you have it?  Did you invest in an MBA degree just to get another “job”?  Did you choose that “job” because you wanted it or because you felt like you had to have it?

Why did you go back to MBA school?  Did you want to:

  • Have a greater effect on a certain cause?
  • Expand your network?
  • Make over 100K/year?

What was the impact you were looking to have?  Is that impact happening?  Or are you allowing something else to impact you?  What drives you to work the way you do?  Are you driven by positive or negative ambitions?

Posted by Alzay | Filed Under mba graduate 

2 + 2 = MBA?

July 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment

The Harvard Business School (HBS) has created a new program that allows college juniors to get on the MBA track. They call it “HBS 2+2″. Students accepted into this program are guaranteed a future place at HBS as long as they follow the program.

Here are the highlights. The accepted student:

  • Must graduate from their college institution
  • Must complete two years of approved work experience
  • Will participate in on-campus summer academic programs
  • Receives a dedicated career coach
  • Has access to a website connecting them to both current HBS students and their program peers

…interesting concept isn’t? These students will have a guided experience into MBA school. They will have direct access to the kind of preparation you are looking for. Make sure you are as prepared as they are.

The article
The 2+2 MBA application

Posted by Alzay | Filed Under mba applicant 

Which School is Best For Me?

July 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment

You have decided to pursue an MBA degree, but which schools will you apply to? There are many good schools both in the US and abroad. Every school has its specialties and unique qualities. Choose a school that is best for your personality. Here are three tips to help you simplify your decision making process before you start working on an MBA application.

  • Where do you want to work? Think about your list of schools as it pertains to your geographical, industry, or functional preference. Some schools are excellent at placing students in the banking industry. Other schools have a reputation for placing students in companies with local headquarters. Still, there are schools with national recognition for their functional strength in supply chain management. In any case, consider the important elements of your post-MBA job and choose a school with strength in that area.
  • How do you learn? Do not forget that MBA school is an academic experience. You are going to be asked to learn and apply information. In that spirit, reflect on how you absorb information best. If you prefer to let the professor talk while you take notes then the lecture style works for you. If you would rather get out in the field to problem-solve then experiential learning is better. If concepts feel more concrete after in-class conversation, then you will enjoy the case method best. Think about taking finals at the end of the semester. Which method would help you feel most prepared?
  • What does your total MBA experience look like? Think about your entire two year MBA experience. Would you prefer an active night life? Will your spouse need to work? What is the big social event on campus? Do the undergrad and MBA school share resources? For each person these questions are a little different and they have varying levels of importance. Review your list and consider how your target schools fair on those questions that mean the most to you.

What other questions can you think of? What issues top your list of importance?

Posted by Alzay | Filed Under mba applicant