Career Resources for MBA Students

Pursuing your MBA is an accomplishment that will help you achieve your personal and professional goals. While you gain practical skills and boost your knowledge about your industry, you will also have the ability to move up in your career of choice. As you prepare to put your MBA to the test in the workplace, Dr. Michael Scharff, Professor of Management at Limestone College, created a series of video career resources for MBA students to use. Designed to get you thinking about important questions as you prepare for the next step in your career, these videos are helpful as you prepare for the interview process, evaluate your current position, and explore salary expectations.

So, You Got the Interview!

In this video, Dr. Scharff discusses your next steps after obtaining an interview for a new job. He reviews three major things you should do:

1. Review your resume. So far, this is the only thing that your prospective employer knows about you! It may have been some time since you last wrote, updated, or closely reviewed your resume, so take a second look at it. Most initial questions in an interview are about items on your resume, so ensure that you’re acing these questions with flying colors. Don’t make the mistake of looking like you don’t know what’s on your own resume!
2. Do your research. Visit the company’s website and learn more about what they do, their products and services offered, and their overall mission. If you prepare background information about the company, you will be able to show that you are familiar with what they do in your responses to questions. We’re not saying that you need to memorize and recite their mission statement, but you should know enough about the company to talk about how you can help them further their goals.
3. Prepare your own questions. Asking thoughtful questions is an excellent and easy way to stand out from other candidates. During your research, you should craft two or three that you can ask towards the end of your interview. Most interviews end with, “So, do you have any questions for us?” and you don’t want to be the candidate that has nothing to ask.

What Questions Should I Ask in an Interview?

Similar to preparing for an interview, this video covers the types of questions that you should ask during your interview. Dr. Scharff recommends 10-20 questions ready to ask at the end to show that you’re engaged and interested in the position. Don’t be intimidated – asking questions not only helps you determine whether or not you’ll fit in at the company, but it also shows your interviewer that you are serious about wanting to work for them. 

What Accomplishment Are You Most Proud Of?

As an MBA student, you probably have some work or internship experience under your belt. Whether you’re pursuing your MBA right after Undergrad or you’ve been working for a number of years, you most likely have accomplished something significant to you in your work history. This important question tells your interviewer what kind of job you’ve been doing in your previous positions, and also allows you to talk about what you’re most proud of. In this video, Dr. Scharff discusses what you should avoid when answering this question as well was what is important to include.

What is Your Greatest Strength?

This is a classic interview question. Don’t let this seemingly simple question trip you up. In this video, Dr. Scharff discusses how you should answer it to increase your chances of getting the job! While most folks may say that their biggest strength is also their biggest weakness, Dr. Scharff cautions against using that in an interview. Keep watching to hear him discuss how you can discuss your strengths and present yourself in a confident, poised way. 

What is your Greatest Weakness?

Often the follow up to the strength question, when interviewers ask what your greatest weakness is, they are trying to determine how aware you are of what personal weaknesses you may have. This difficult question can trip up even the most confident candidates, so pay close attention to Dr. Scharff has he discusses what you should avoid and what you should highlight when talking about your weakness.

Whether you’re landing your dream job, moving up in your company, or looking for a different position to grow your skills and abilities, all of these resources and more will help you achieve your goals. Building a resume, applying for jobs, navigating the interview process, and everything else that accompanies a successful career can be tricky to navigate, but with our resources, it doesn’t have to be. For more, check out our MBA Career Resources page.