Think of your MBA as a gateway to an unlimited number of Career Paths. Most Owen graduates follow one of the Career Paths already described, but you may also choose to blaze your own trail and pursue a career in another area. Some of the more common areas where you’ll find MBAs include environmental studies, government work, non-profit leadership, and entrepreneurship.
The types of jobs available vary widely and could be tactical or strategic. For example, the government does employ MBAs in the State Department, the Defense Department, the Interior Department, the Department of Education, the FBI, and the CIA, to name a few. Foundations and non-profit organizations need finance and marketing expertise just as for-profit companies do. Some MBAs have particular interests or experience that they may be able to use to find or create a career outside a Fortune 500 company.
Whatever your goals are, we want to help you achieve them. However, you should be aware that alternative Career Paths may require special consideration. For example, small companies, foundations, and non-profit companies usually do not interview on campus; therefore, you will need to develop a network. Government jobs may require special security clearances that you will need to investigate. Pay in non-traditional jobs may be lower than average, depending on the industry. It is important to clearly identify your goals at the beginning, take stock of your interests and expertise, and then develop a plan for filling any gaps.
Typical Concentration(s)
Depends on student interest.
Typical Primary: General Management, Finance, Marketing, or Operations
Typical Emphasis: Entrepreneurship, Environmental Management, or Real Estate
Companies in which Vanderbilt MBAs have found post-graduate positions
- CIA
- Colliers, Turley, Martin, Tucker
- InnoVest
- National Park Service
- Net Impact companies/Universities/Academic Institutions
- Prologis
- Trammell Crow
- U.S. Government (DoD Business Fellows, Dept. of Labor)
- Willis North America
Owen Extras
Clubs, activities, events, and programs to help build your résumé:
- 100% Owen
- eBusiness and Technology Club
- Entrepreneurship Club
- Net Impact
- Owen School Student Association
- Owen Entrepreneurship Center (OEC)
- Vanderbilt Center for Environmental Management Studies (VCEMS)
- Cal Turner Center for Moral Leadership
Your Own Path Key Competencies
Do you have or can you build the following competencies as an MBA?
- Willingness to take risks
- Gregarious personality
- Passion for chosen field
- Drive to succeed
- Flexibility
- Acceptance of ambiguity
- Strong personal/business network before business school
- Ability to identify and pursue career opportunities on your own
- Previous experience in chosen field
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- General business understanding
Does your résumé reflect these experiences or accomplishments?
- Discipline-specific expertise
- Directly relevant experience
- Successful initiatives
Answers to self-assessment
The more you can honestly answer “yes” to the above, the greater the likelihood of success in charting your own Career Path. Not as many as you’d like? Although you may use your two years at Owen to continue to build your skills and your résumé, we encourage you to seriously consider and develop your plan for a post-MBA career. We will certainly do everything in our power to help, but the primary responsibility for “this path less traveled” will rest on your shoulders.
