I’ve spent quite a lot of time researching MBA programs, specifically to execute a transition to investment banking.
I’ve read plenty of discussions suggesting that IB and MBB are industry agnostic for MBA graduates. The idea is that an MBA is a reset button, and as long as the school is reputable enough, banks and consulting firms will give you a chance.
But is this really the case? Searching through LinkedIn shows that a large majority of post-MBA investment banking associates at BB/EBs worked in finance prior to enrolling in an MBA. The rest had jobs in consulting/strategy. I imagine a lot of this is due to self-selection bias, but I don’t know for certain.
So what about future applicants like me who have a software engineering or other non-traditional background? Would we most likely strike out during recruiting even if we attended a top MBA?
Does it help to have worked in finance prior? Sure. With that being said, I’ve seen former teachers break into IB.
What would you recommend someone with a non-traditional background do before recruiting at an MBA program? I’ve heard about pre-MBA internships but I imagine those are tough to get.
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