Master of Business Administration: Using an MBA to Change Careers

Beyond the business knowledge that you'll gain through pursuing your Master of Business Administration, receiving your MBA can certainly help you to make a career change. However, an MBA is not a "golden ticket" to the career of your choice. You'll need to think about how to market yourself to future employers if you intend to use your MBA degree as a lever in changing careers. Before you start this process, here are five tips for using your MBA to make a career change:

1. Don't completely divorce yourself from your past career: For example, if you are an engineer looking to transition into a career in finance, make sure to play up your keen analytical skills in making a successful career change. Corporations want to know what you can offer them and your new MBA education is only part of the overall package that you want to present.

2. Be willing to take a pay cut: If you are planning on using your MBA for a career change, then you will be starting your career over again in some ways. If your previous job had a fairly lucrative salary, you need to prepare yourself for a potential pay cut to take a new role (not exactly what you want to hear when you're paying off your MBA loans, but it's something to consider).

3. Think about doing an internship: This is a great idea for full-time MBA students, or for those that are serious about making a career change. An internship will allow you to gain great experience in your new field and make contacts at a new company that will hopefully offer you a job upon graduation.

4. Prepare yourself for starting out at the entry level again: Many MBAs feel that receiving an MBA degree will propel them to the top, even if they are completing a career change. If you are starting over again, you will most likely have to start at the bottom rung of a company, even if you've received your MBA.

5. Keep an open mind: Using your MBA to make a career change is a fine idea, and you may think that you know exactly what kind of career that you want to change to. However, it's a good idea to attend lots of career seminars and open houses during MBA school to expose yourself to the wide range of opportunities that are out there.