MBA Program Portfolio Approach to Assist Students in Career Transition

Many MBA students aspire to make a career change upon the completion of their graduate degree. In fact, these "planned for" and "hoped for" career transitions are often a leading motivating factor driving MBA program... [ view full abstract ]

Many MBA students aspire to make a career change upon the completion of their graduate degree. In fact, these "planned for" and "hoped for" career transitions are often a leading motivating factor driving MBA program enrollment. MBA program design can facilitate this transition by helping students tell their individual stories of where they have been, what they have done, and what they hope to do in the future. By using tools for career discovery during orientation and presenting a portfolio model at the start of their MBA studies, students are encouraged to consciously create a comprehensive set of experiences throughout their coursework which will enable their eventual career transition. Specifically, students are encouraged to strategically choose projects and opportunities throughout their MBA education which will build their network of contacts in their chosen field, add to their portfolio of practical learning, and advance their career preparation. Rather than thinking of each project as a stand-alone course requirement, students are instructed to design these experiences to build on each other. In the middle of the MBA program, students enroll in a management course where they are provided with additional opportunities for career exploration. In the final capstone course of the MBA program, the portfolio model is revisited as students present their individualized portfolios to their classmates. This approach serves to connect student experiences throughout the MBA program. Graduates are able to maximize the value of the choices they make within individual courses to attain their career goals upon completion of the MBA degree.