Graduation is just weeks away and Tippie second-years are gearing up for the next stage in their careers. Finance student Deepak Rohida talks about his MBA job search and how he learned to maximize every opportunity.
Networking. It did not take me long to realize how important this word would be in my job search. I started networking early on when searching for an internship, connecting with alumni and employers using Linkedin and Tippie’s online recruiting system. I interned in Financial Planning & Analysis at Waste Management in Houston, and the idea was reinforced during my internship when all interns were encouraged to network with different divisions of the company. I took advantage of this benefit and continued networking for my full-time job during the internship.
My internship experience also led to the decision to pursue a corporate finance job post-MBA, because I had greatly enjoyed my work at Waste Management. I kept in touch with the alumni I had contacted during my first year and continued to reach out to other new alumni in corporate finance careers. One alumnus connected me with the Head of Finance for ESS at Hewlett Packard, and I reached out to introduce myself. Although it took time for him to respond, he replied and asked for my resume. Soon after he invited me to interview (this invitation included six interviews with six different people at HP and lasted two months).
While in the process at HP, I was still focused on a robust full-time search. I attended two national MBA career fairs and one Midwest-regional fair. I listened to companies presenting on campus to learn more about their businesses and what they offer for MBA job opportunities. I worked closely with Career Services to review my resume and cover letters and to discuss job search strategies.
Staying focused on my job search paid off. After a long time of networking efforts and a couple months of tough interviews, I received the happiest news of my MBA career – an official job offer letter during Thanksgiving! I will join HP after graduation as a Finance and Strategy Analyst III.
I sincerely believe that networking is one of the most important skills every MBA student should embrace, develop, and foster. Not only will it lend itself to a more successful job search, but networking is a necessary skill for success throughout one’s professional life.
My additional advice for future Tippie MBAs: Be clear about your goals and start early. Getting started early on a focused job search strategy will likely lead you to more opportunities.
