Frequently Asked Questions

The MBA CSC recommends that students "diversify" the places they seek job leads to ensure they find all possible opportunities. Students should expect to spend time each day identifying, evaluating and pursuing job leads. These job leads can come from employers that select MSU MBA’s as students of choice. In this instance, the MBA CSC works closely with employers so the employer can post jobs, conduct informational sessions and interview on campus. Student's also generate job leads from national MBA career fairs, professional networks, alumni connections, previous colleagues, current faculty, fellow students and through the vast opportunities available on the internet. Students select their job sources based on priorities such as industry, function, opportunity or location. These priorities are unique for each student and reflect their specific career aspirations. In other words, no one job source is best for everyone and the MBA CSC is glad to help students develop a plan that is best for them.

An MBA internship takes place the summer between the first and second year of study for full time MBA students. A typical internship will be 12 weeks in duration and will give the student hands on experience working closely with professionals in the field of their choice. These internships are paid and not for academic credit. Typically, the majority of MBA students have an internship (employment rates for internships are over 95%). While it is not a requirement of the full–time program, internships are highly encouraged for any student that wishes to pursue post-graduation employment.

To help students and employers frame competitive compensation packages, individuals can query employment and salary information of recent full-time program graduates and interns. The database contains functional, geographic, industry and salary statistics for users to query. The Career Services Staff offers additional guidance on navigating offers and the negotiation process.

MBA Career Services professional staff will meet with you to talk about your short and long term career goals and interests, based around a Harvard-developed career assessment tool students take, called CareerLeader. Staff will also meet with students to help them develop a resume competitive for the MBA market, based on their career goals. There will be several "assignments" to help the competitive MBA candidate learn to conduct a successful job search: a company research project, a tutorial for the on-line career management system, writing a convincing cover letter for a company of choice and developing a verbal pitch. The CSC team will also offer a mock career fair, individual mock interviews, and workshops on negotiating offers, understanding compensation and navigating work authorization/immigration.

There are several opportunities for companies to connect with MBA students at MSU. Many of these interactions help students create relationships with companies to leverage during their search. Companies typically recruit MSU MBAs via eRecruiting (online job posting board), corporate presentations held on campus, corporate workshops, company site visits (students are selectively invited), student organization networking events and mentor programs. While recruiting continues year round, the fall tends to be most popular recruiting period utilized by companies.