Career Change and the

MBA


2











3
4
6
10
12

14


CONTENTS
3

Introduction


Read on to find out:









4

The Attraction of a Career
Change

What is a career change?



5

Contemplating change in your professional career

Considering a
career change?
6

Switching Careers with
an MBA Degree


The MBA is a very flexible qualification, so its very good for career
changes roughly 40-50% of the people who take an MBA do so to
bring about a career change.
7

An MBA qualification is usually effective at bringing about a change in
up to two of the big variables either in industry, function or geography
but rarely in all three.
What defines a career change?
8

The importance of planning in engineering career change
Time is scarce during an MBA so the further you are in the process of
career planning before diving into the MBA waters, the betterWe see
that the best success stories come from students who from day one had
a clear idea of their target (country, field, role, type of company) and
who never missed an opportunity to work on their job search or to
network.
Switching careers with MBA specializations
9



Take advantage of emerging industries
Whether its sector, industry or function or country or region, this
[switching careers] seems to be driving a greater proportion of
candidates.
Aside from changing careers, what other reasons do students have for taking on
an MBA? Find out in from the TopMBA.com e-paper, Why Get an MBA?
10



Career Change Ideas



Source: QS Applicant Survey 2013
11






Post-MBA career change ideas among MBA applicants by industry

Source: QS Applicant Survey 2013


Download our QS Applicant Survey 2013 for more insights.

Industries of interest post MBA by % of applicants in each sector


Starting
industry







Consulting

76.9

15.1

4.3

13.3

9.0

41.0

11.4

9.0

4.9

3.1

3.7

19.1

5.6

Consumer
Goods

43.1

61.3

4.4

10.2

11.7

31.4

9.5

20.4

16.8

3.6

11.7

14.6

2.2

Education


27.1

8.7

45.4

5.0

7.3

33.0

20.6

11.5

14.2

1.8

2.8

17.4

4.1

Energy/
Environment/
Utilities


41.4


3.4


2.8


75.2


20.0


33.1


10.3


13.1


4.1


1.4


0.0


17.2


4.1

Engineering


36.3

6.4

5.6

23.1

62.9

22.7

7.6

13.9

2.8

2.4

1.2

25.5

3.2

Finance

49.0

9.6

6.9

10.2

5.2

76.2

13.3

7.1

6.0

3.5

3.1

12.1

2.9

Government/
Public Sector


36.8

8.5

7.7

8.5

7.7

41.0

57.3

11.1

7.7

1.7

2.6

14.5

3.4

Manufacturing
/Production

39.1

12.6

8.2

19.8

18.4

32.9

8.7

54.6

5.3

2.4

2.4

16.9

3.9

Media/
Advertising


38.1

22.9

7.6

7.6

3.8

17.1

2.9

3.8

68.6

2.9

9.5

16.2

5.7

Other

33.3

10.2

7.0

10.2

13.4

31.7

16.7

15.6

10.8

2.7

4.8

12.4

6.5

Retail/Wholesale

45.5

9.7

6.2

9.0

13.1

25.2

8.3

9.0

11.4

3.4

12.8

60.0

13.1

Technology

55.6

9.5

4.9

10.3

19.3

26.3

7.4

7.4

9.9

3.3

3.3

60.5

20.2

Telecoms

24.9

12.2

8.4

7.6

9.3

32.1

11.4

11.4

14.3

13.5

3.8

20.7

17.7
12

The Career Switch:
Case Studies

I realized it was time to broaden my horizons. After working for a steel
company for two years, the learning curve was flat.
HEC Montral alumna
13



Career switching and entrepreneurship

London Business School alumnus

14

Have your say in the
TopMBA.com
community forum.




More information on career trends,
as well as detailed reports, admissions
advice and resources to help you
choose the right school is available at
TopMBA.com

TopMBA.com
TopMBA.com



Join us on