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My story
It's hard to believe that the school year is almost over. I'm looking forward to my summer internship at Glooko, a start-up based in Palo Alto, CA that makes a mobile app for diabetes patients that help them manage their condition. I'll be an MBA Strategic Marketing Intern. It's a role I'd never have had I not gone back to business school.
I'm very lucky in a way: As a dual degree student, I had the luxury of not having to have an internship. (Of course, that wasn't really an option for me since I wanted a unique experience. Making money again wouldn't hurt also.) Consequently, I had a lot less pressure. I could take my time to explore and not put a lot of weight on each interview.
I did just that. I conducted informational interviews with varied people. I learned to ask great questions (helped get me a couple offers for academic internships). I was able to develop my stories for interview questions. I was able to concentrate on school more. I got advice from the Parker Career Management Center and from my other school: The Fielding School of Public Health was wonderful in providing me with additional support.
I went through the actual interviewing process. Had a couple hits, a couple misses. It's all part of the process, the highs and the lows.
I recruited from the end of September (with Orientation and ACT) to mid-April (to my offers and final acceptance). I'm probably not giving the process justice, but it's hard to know until you've gone through it. It's definitely more intense than undergrad recruiting and b-school interviewing. I learned a lot about myself in the process, so there's intrinsic value in it.
Afterwards you pat yourself on the back and take yourself out for a celebratory dinner. I went to Grilled Cheese Night at Literati Cafe and topped it off with a Coke. Maybe not the most exciting but hey I'm a student, it's healthier than a steak and baked potato, and my girlfriend wasn't in town so I thought I'd have myself a bachelor's meal.
My trusty Anderson recruiting manual and recruiting materials
My advice (primarily for incoming first years)
1. Be focused.
Some of my friends were exploring different functions AND different industries. It's hard enough trying to recruit for corporate finance and preparing for companies as diverse as Mattel, Amazon, and Warner Bros. Try adding consulting, where you have both external (think McKinsey, Bain) and external consulting, and your life will quickly disintegrate into a recruiting nightmare. If you can, try to limit yourself.
2. Utilize the Parker Career Management Center.
It's a great resource. As Alejandra pointed out, you should go once a week. I didn't do that, and I regret it. Interviews are (at least in my opinion) more about getting reps than anything. Which leads me to my third piece of advice.
3. Develop relationships with two of the advisors at Parker.
Set up an appointment with every advisor and see who you jive with most. I'd develop relationships with two of them to get a different perspective on your resume, cover letter, etc. and to make sure you have someone to talk to in case your preferred advisor isn't available.
4. Don't compare yourself to others.
Easy to say, hard to do, I know. It's very difficult not to feel pangs of jealousy when you hear your friends getting offers. Of course, you're happy for them, but you still feel a heightened sense of anxiety. Also, remember that many internships are found outside of Parker and on-campus recruiting. It may seem that the whole class has gotten internships in January and February, but that's not true. I got the offer I wanted in January.
5. Keep an open mind.
It seems antithetical to my first piece of advice, but it's not. And let me explain. You may be dead-set on a particular company. But there could be an even better company experience out there for you if you just keep an open mind.
6. Take the long view.
You never know how things may turn out. That dream internship you got may not have turned out so great. Or maybe there wasn't enough funding for a full-time offer. Whatever the reason, you may need to re-recruit. Again, I had an advantage as a dual degree student: I knew I was going to have another summer internship, so I made sure to keep in touch with everyone I met along the recruiting process. I'm more primed to begin again next year.
That's it for now.
~Dwight Asuncion, MBA/MPH '15
