Can anyone shed some light on recruiting for Associate positions while being in an EMBA program?
I currently work in corporate finance as a Sr Financial Analyst, and do not want to stop working to attend grad school....
Obviously if you are in an EMBA, you have a full time position, and can not participate in the summer internship programs. I am in the Charlotte area so would most likely attend UNC or Duke...
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At my school, a couple of the EMBAs were able to navigate the full time recruiting and nab jobs. But it was like 2 out of the entire class and it was he best of the best. For the most part the banks won't talk to you as a career switcher if you aren't in the full time program.
My plan is to stay with my current company. I work in corporate finance. I don't think that would label me as a career switcher. I've been in The industry for 4 years. Just trying to figure out how to get into IB at the associate level without having to stop working
You're not doing investment banking or anything M&A related, correct? In that case, you are labeled a career switcher. If you're already a banking analyst, you don't need an MBA to get promoted.
You say your plan is to stay with your current company, are you at an investment bank now? If that's the case, it may be slightly easier to switch within the firm. It'll take massive networking. If you aren't, see my first post.
If you're 4 years out from undergrad, you are too young for EMBA and should just go for part time. Either of these programs are difficult to transition and Allday is correct with his comments.
I worked full time in underwriting for the bank through UG. I'm only 23. My first 3.5 were in small Business underwriting, recently networked into a role within finance sitting my banks CFO group.
You're years away from either a regular MBA or an EMBA. Part time work during undergrad and internships aren't going to count towards years worked when applying. Keep networking and working hard for another few years, then decide what's right for you.
I appreciate your input, but it was not an internship or part time work. I literally worked full time through undergrad with my bank. I worked 40-50 a week M-F and utilized night and online classes. I was able to get into the bank since I had some family in my office. I have~3.5 years in underwriting small business credit products, and recently networked into a role within corp. finance at my banks HQ down south. As is, I am 23 years old, have 3.5 yrs in small business UW and .5 yrs in corporate finance. In a few years, I want to either attend Duke or UNC (part time or EMBA) - while still working in corporate finance. At this point I would be about 25-26, and have about 6-7 years of work experience. I have never had some half ass unpaid internship. All real work experience...
Again, for clarity...I want to attend the get the MBA so I could then try and break into IB at the associate level, without having to stop working. I plan on staying with my bank.
Work experience = post bachelor's work experience for this discussion. You are 6 or 7 years min from having enough of that for a good EMBA program that opens up doors to IB (to the extent that EMBAs, do, because they don't really). Being at BAML or WF may help some with that networking, but quite frankly, if you can make that internal move with an EMBA you could make it without. You are a career switcher. You need a good full time MBA to make a switch likely. You are about 2 years away from having enough work experience to make yourself competitive for top MBA programs.
If that's not clear enough for you, it seems maybe you should ask someone you know who will give you the answer you clearly want.
I have experience in this, not an EMBA program but a fully employed MBA program. I also know plenty of people who were successful getting in to IB at BBs, EBs, etc. from similar programs.
Anything is possible but your process will include a bit more work and heavy networking. You also need an easy way to explain the program to bankers because if it sounds too different, they may write you off. When looking at schools, make sure that the program you're interested in gets you access to career resources, ideally the same as the FT MBA program. BIWS has a good article about a guy that broke in from a non-target part time program while working through school, look it up.
As I said, it's possible but you're going to need to put in more work all while juggling school and your job. At least when you're asked to give an example of when you worked extra hard or long hours in an interview, you've got a good answer.
I am in a similar situation as this, looking for a PTMBA and looking to make a switch from a SFA role to management consulting at one of the larger firms(Preferably Big4 or even the likes of ATK/OW/LEK, since I know MBB is out of reach). I also live in a tier 2 city which only has one local top 20 part time MBA school so I have been struggling with what to do. I am a bit older than you at 28 but I am probably going to take the risk and go for it. I know people on this site say its impossible and not likely but its worth a shot for me. I am married and we can't really afford to just quit our jobs, sell our house and up and move to a city with a top 20 full time MBA program. So hey maybe in ~two years when I'm done I'll be able to be one of those ppl to come back and share a good story or if not than I still gained some knowledge at a good program that will I am sure still help me in my current line of work.
Best wishes to you in what ever you choose!
Currently doing an EMBA program that allows the access to on campus recruiting.
Pros: - In my experience doing an EMBA while working full time is impressive to employees if you frame it right (ie: Making career progression while spending 25-30 hrs a week on school shows grit) - You have more experience than the full time candidates. This really comes out at networking events, some people just don't know how to handle themselves.
Cons: - Networking events, informational interviews, and interviews are often during the day, so you have to decide if it's worth burning a vacation day - The easiest way for employers to eliminate resumes is to see if candidates committed enough to go to the networking events (see above).
It's doable and possible to switch careers. But for the big name firms that have structured recruiting processes, you're fighting up hill. If you're sticking with your firm, I would think internal networking would serve you better.
Wait.....
You spend 25-30 hours a week on an executive MBA? That is a multiple of what I would've thought.
Depends on the program and what you want to get out of it (Course load, difficulty of courses, social activities). You can get by and pass with 10-15, but you'd be missing out on the value of the program.
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Thanks for the insight. Did anything pan out for you?
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