How Do I Get MBA Work Experience?

The most common way to gain work experience while pursuing a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) degree is to apply for an internship in the summer between your first and second academic years. Traditional MBA degree programs often have structured internship recruitment events that help students find summer employment. Companies are invited to present information about their work environments and can interview students on campus. Obtaining MBA work experience when you are enrolled in a non-traditional degree program tends to require a personal search for an opportunity that fits your particular needs and schedule.

A traditional MBA program takes two years or four semesters. Like undergraduate students, MBA students do not ordinarily take classes in the summers between academic years. Since there is only one summer between the start and end of an MBA degree program, it is important for the traditional student to use it to obtain MBA work experience.

Many large corporations offer MBA internship programs that recruit students to work six or eight weeks during that summer. This temporary employment opportunity allows the student to gain MBA work experience in his chosen business field and enables the company to decide whether the student would make a suitable permanent employee. The company may make the student a permanent job offer after graduation based on his performance in the internship program.

For the traditional student, the way to obtain this type of MBA work experience is to get top grades in the first academic semester. The recruitment process for internships usually takes place in the middle of the second semester, so there is often only one grading period for a company to review to distinguish candidates. It is also important to demonstrate leadership ability by being involved in the extracurricular activities that define the academic experience for the class.

Perhaps one of the most important ways for a traditional student to position himself for a prominent internship is to develop good relationships with school faculty and staff. In many instances, companies that have a history of recruiting from certain schools will rely on the recommendations of the people who work closely with the students. For example, a professor for one of your core classes can recommend you to an internship program. This recommendation can put you ahead of other applicants.

Non-traditional MBA students often have a harder time obtaining MBA work experience through internships. Students who are taking courses at night, online or who take a condensed course schedule that has students in classes over the summer months must do additional legwork to obtain relevant MBA work experience. Many students who take a non-traditional path do so because they already know where they will be working after graduation. Those who will be looking for work after graduation should make use of the school's career services office and apply directly to executive training programs and entry-level positions at companies that have these sorts of hiring tracks.