3 Good Questions

Chantale Pierre-Louis, Director of Student Relations for the New York Metro Chapter of the National Black MBA Association talks it up with Jannie Pilgrim, Director of Mentoring about some of the pitfalls MBAs create for themselves and other MBAs seeking employment.  Read the interview to find out the best job seeking practices and what you may be missing by not putting your best foot forward.

Chantale: Jannie, what do you think is the biggest misconception about job seekers attending a MBA conference or approaching a potential employer at a conference or recruiting even?

Jannie: One big misconception job seekers have is, they assume they are prepared and the MBA is enough. The MBA is only a ticket to admission.  This assumption causes them to be ill prepared.  When MBAs show up not knowing anything about the company and not having a 30 second pitch prepared, they become forgettable very quickly.

Chantale: Why is doing research and the 30 second pitch so important?

Jannie: First, you want to look like a serious contender.  There's a lot of competition out there and without doing your homework on the company, you don't come across as seriously as other applicants.  Secondly, don't make the manager or recruiter work so hard.  They should not have to try to figure out why you are a good candidate.  You have to tell them you are a good candidate and why.  Doing your homework and having a tight 30 second pitch is one of the best ways to show them you are the best candidate for the job.

Chantale: Can your answer be overstated? MBAs hear this all the time.

Jannie: Great question Chantale.  I don’t think we can say it enough, “Be Prepared.” I can’t tell you how many times I have attended MBA conferences and candidates (students and professionals) walk up to the table, put their resumes in the recruiter’s hand and say, “What jobs do you have?” It’s unfortunate but true. The reality is the best candidates set up interviews prior to attending the conference. They ‘show up’ prepared and they are on-site with multiple interviews scheduled.  Generally speaking, many candidates (not all) that come up to the table have not prepared themselves with the A,B,C’s of interviewing:

• Always do your homework. Know something about the company….Stock quote, what industry they are in, what goods or services they sell. Look online to educate yourself about job opening within the organization and the kinds of jobs they recruit for.
• Be on top of your game. If you are speaking to a senior person, share something you learned about the company and how you can add value. Be careful not to come across as overconfident - just share the information in a respectful way.
• Create opportunities where there seems to be no opportunity. There may not always be opportunities that are obvious. Do a little digging. Don't be afraid to reach out to senior people within the organization.  That said, make sure you have a strong cover letter and resume. You only get one time to make a good first impression.

For more information about leadership check out the NBMBAA's website.