MBA Career Services
Developing Your Career – from Opening Residency to Graduation and Beyond
Career Development and Coaching
Career advising is available throughout the year with our MBA Executive in Residence, Moira Lethbridge, and our MBA Mentors. They support your CareerLeader self-assessment and career exploration offering insights into your career decisions and job search strategy. Debbie Fisher, associate director for graduate programs, and Amy McCracken, associate dean for graduate programs, are available for career conversations along with UR Career Advisors, Keith Webb, and Becca Shelton.
Exploring Your Career Options
Beyond the personal satisfaction of attaining your MBA, this moment in your career and professional development offers a unique opportunity to align your passions and unique skills with your work. Making informed career decisions is a critical part of your personal and professional development. The Richmond MBA offers a range of resources and events to support your career exploration. Whether you are seeking your first job, making a transition to a new career, pursuing advancement in your current field, or launching a new business, we can support your decision-making. Take advantage of career coaching, the CareerLeader assessment, networking events, guest speakers, industry events, and alumni and corporate connections to help you determine the next steps in your career.
CareerLeader Assessment
In an increasingly diverse and porous global economy, self-awareness and a career vision are sources of competitive advantage. The CareerLeader’s data-driven insights help business students and rising executives make better career choices and decisions.
The assessment:
- Guides students and rising executives to career success and satisfaction
- Identifies your core business interests, motivators, and skills
- Predicts career paths you are likely to enjoy and succeed in, and
- Predicts cultural fit
All students will complete the CareerLeader assessment prior to attending Opening Residency. Once complete each student will meet with Debbie Fisher, associate director, to discuss results and career planning.
Prepare for the Market
Once you identify your career focus, we will work with you to support your market readiness. The ability to tell your story and promote what you can offer to an organization is critical to career advancement. Since your story will initially be told through your LinkedIn profile and resume, we can assist you in effectively communicating your experience and aspirations. You’ll also need to effectively introduce yourself to new contacts when networking, exploring, and interviewing. Your communication strategy is critical to the job search process and we will help you think through your professional presence and brand. Finally, your story plays out in your e-communications and cover letters that support your job search and networking outreach. Our goal is to ensure you are prepared for the market on all these fronts, in order to open as many doors as you can to explore your career options.
Networking Opportunities
Many jobs never reach an online job posting site and are instead filled through referrals from current employees. Effectively networking within your target industries and organizations will be essential for your job prospects. Many industries increasingly rely on networks to identify new talent for their organizations. They expect potential candidates to be proactive in reaching out to industry and company contacts even before being offered an invitation to interview. The Richmond MBA provides programs and events that facilitate the opportunity to build and leverage your professional network.
University of Richmond Career Services
Richmond MBA students and alumni have access to UR Career Services free for life, meaning you will never be charged, and there is no limit on access to a career advisor. Becca Shelton and Keith Webb are available for in-person and virtual appointments and can assist with many professional development topics, including resume and cover letter reviews, job search strategy, networking assistance, mock interviews, and more.
You can easily schedule an advising appointment, register for Career Services events, and access resources through Handshake. Visit Career Services for more information on scheduling an advising appointment.
Specific topics you can discuss with a Career Advisor:
- Resume/Cover Letter Review
- Job Search Strategy
- Networking
- Interview Preparation
- Mock Interview
- Informational Interview
- Behavioral Interview
- Case Interview
- Salary Negotiation
- Career Transitioning