Find Your Perfect Program:
Internships Can Help MBA Students Secure Full-Time Positions After Graduation
By Chris Hassan
Posted October 24, 2011 03:19 PM
For students, taking part in an internship while pursuing a master's degree has many benefits. This opportunity allows interns to gain professional experience in their chosen field and put the knowledge they have acquired in the classroom to good use. For those who are enrolled in Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other advanced business degree programs, internships also have the potential to lead to full-time employment after graduation.
In a press release, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) highlighted the results of two recent surveys that shed some light on the positive role internships can play in students' post-business school job search.
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Internships can lead to jobs for MBA students. GMAC Global Management Education Graduate Survey revealed that 42% of specialized master's and MBA degree graduates took part in an internship while they were enrolled in business school. Of these former students, 26% were more likely to be employed after earning their diploma than those who were not interns.
Michelle Sparkman-Renz, director of research communications at GMAC, said in the press release that the value of an internship cannot be underestimated.
"Whether or not a candidate has work experience, internships are effective in helping students realize their career ambitions," Sparkman-Renz added. "And in a hyper-competitive job market, an internship is a great way for a student to shine and get their resume put on the top of the pile when applying for a full-time job at the company."
The results of the GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey showed that many employers view internships as one of the best ways for job seekers to prove themselves in the industry they wish to work in.
MBA students who would like to increase their chances of being hired in their ideal industry following graduation should know that there are a few ways for them to find and take part in an internship. One of the best ways to learn about these opportunities is to visit an institution's career center.
Tyler Beck, an MBA student who is enrolled in the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business and set to graduate in May 2012, made a visit to his institution's Business Career Management Center, according to a press release. This led him to secure a summer internship as an assistant brand manager with Proctor & Gamble, which has already offered him a full-time position after he completes his studies.
