Getting to an Internship as an Evening MBA Andy Kleeman

Understand the Journey It takes a lot of work. A lot. It takes a lot of work. A lot. This work takes time. It cannot be accomplished in a week. This work takes time. It cannot be accomplished in a week. This work requires feedback, which means you need other people. This also adds time to the process. This work requires feedback, which means you need other people. This also adds time to the process. You have some disadvantages compared to full time students, which you must overcome. You have some disadvantages compared to full time students, which you must overcome.

Is an internship for me? I used an internship as a transition to the full time program. I used an internship as a transition to the full time program. Companies will expect you to be one year or less from graduation. Companies will expect you to be one year or less from graduation. Companies do pay during internships, but do not offer health or dental plans to interns. Companies do pay during internships, but do not offer health or dental plans to interns. Are you prepared to go full-time, or will your company allow you to return to your job after an internship? If the answer to these questions are no, then you are probably not in a good position for an internship. Are you prepared to go full-time, or will your company allow you to return to your job after an internship? If the answer to these questions are no, then you are probably not in a good position for an internship.

Resources Office of Career Development Office of Career Development Eun Ja Yu Eun Ja Yu Jan Malas Jan Malas Talk to these people soon. They will help you. Talk to these people soon. They will help you. Career Counselors Career Counselors You are allowed to sign up for one appointment per week. If you aren’t using them, you will fall behind. You are allowed to sign up for one appointment per week. If you aren’t using them, you will fall behind.

Resources, continued Professional Clubs Professional Clubs Most are specifically oriented to getting MBA’s internships. Most are specifically oriented to getting MBA’s internships. Offer free resources and advice, if you go to meetings to get it. Offer free resources and advice, if you go to meetings to get it. “extra-curricular events” “extra-curricular events” Day in the Life Day in the Life Alumni Panels Alumni Panels Random speakers Random speakers Workshops (Intel real options workshop for example) Workshops (Intel real options workshop for example)

Other important resources Professional development Professional development Executive Skills Seminars Executive Skills Seminars Reading Reading Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal Fortune, Forbes, Harvard Business Review Fortune, Forbes, Harvard Business Review This stuff will actually help you with your classes as well (hard to believe, but true) This stuff will actually help you with your classes as well (hard to believe, but true)

The Recruiting Chain A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. There are four links in the recruiting chain: Knowing what you want to do. Resume. Networking. Interview Skills. If any of these links are weak, it will limit your recruiting effectiveness.

The Basic Process 1. Figure out what you want to do. 2. Get your resume and cover letter together. 3. Network. 4. Network. 5. Network. 6. Mock interviews.

What do I want to be when I grow up? Alumni panels (last Friday) Alumni panels (last Friday) OCD resources OCD resources Self assessment Self assessment Career counseling Career counseling Read the WSJ, Fortune, etc. Read the WSJ, Fortune, etc. Get a realistic picture of what you are aiming for. Get a realistic picture of what you are aiming for. This step actually requires a lot of reflection. It will continue as you proceed through the next few steps. This step actually requires a lot of reflection. It will continue as you proceed through the next few steps.

Resume MICHIGAN FORMAT! MICHIGAN FORMAT! Enter it into the system. It is the only way. Enter it into the system. It is the only way. Take the resume writing workshop. Take the resume writing workshop. Get resume reviews (3-4 minimum). Get resume reviews (3-4 minimum). Context, Action, Result Context, Action, Result A poor resume goes right into the trash. A poor resume goes right into the trash.

Cover letters Just as important as the resume. Just as important as the resume. See OCD website for some good examples. See OCD website for some good examples. Make sure you are professional. Make sure you are professional.

Networking Corporate presentations are a great place to start. Corporate presentations are a great place to start. Don’t go stupid. Read the annual report and review their website before you get there. Don’t go stupid. Read the annual report and review their website before you get there. Don’t ask dumb questions (either too detailed, or simple enough you could find the answer in three minutes on the web). Don’t ask dumb questions (either too detailed, or simple enough you could find the answer in three minutes on the web). Proper etiquette: Proper etiquette: Attire Attire Cell phones Cell phones Arrival and departure Arrival and departure Get business cards or contact information of the people in the area you are interested in. Get business cards or contact information of the people in the area you are interested in.

Networking, phase 2 A week or two after the presentation, the one of the people at the company, and request a few minutes to ask some questions. Now you need good questions: A week or two after the presentation, the one of the people at the company, and request a few minutes to ask some questions. Now you need good questions: Company strategy Company strategy Job specific Job specific Personal views Personal views After the phone call, send a thank you note via . After the phone call, send a thank you note via . Get the name of someone else in the area you are interested in as well. Get the name of someone else in the area you are interested in as well.

Networking You have to make contact more than once, without being annoying. You have to make contact more than once, without being annoying. These are the people who will help HR decide who to interview… These are the people who will help HR decide who to interview…

Interviewing You need to practice. A lot. You need to practice. A lot. Career counselors are a fantastic resource. Career counselors are a fantastic resource. Professional clubs are a great resource. Professional clubs are a great resource. Work together in teams. Work together in teams.

The Evening MBA disadvantage You cannot drop your resume through the B- school system. You cannot drop your resume through the B- school system. Send it directly to recruiter. Send it directly to recruiter. It helps if they know who you are. It helps if they know who you are. If you get on the closed list, you cannot accept the interview through the system. If you get on the closed list, you cannot accept the interview through the system. Contact the company, explain the situation, and tell them you will interview anytime they can. They don’t care if you are an Evening MBA at this point. They want to meet you! Contact the company, explain the situation, and tell them you will interview anytime they can. They don’t care if you are an Evening MBA at this point. They want to meet you!

Why don’t evening MBAs get all the advantages of Day MBAs? Limited internship spots Limited internship spots Fewer internships than full time jobs Fewer internships than full time jobs Poor performance by past MBA’s Poor performance by past MBA’s They hand out resumes not in Michigan format, they are not prepared to interview, etc. They hand out resumes not in Michigan format, they are not prepared to interview, etc. The back out problem: The back out problem: John gets four internship offers and decides to keep his full time job and not take any of the internship offers. John gets four internship offers and decides to keep his full time job and not take any of the internship offers. Companies feel cheated, Day MBAs really feel cheated. Companies feel cheated, Day MBAs really feel cheated.

Bottom Line It takes a lot of work, and it has to start now. It takes a lot of work, and it has to start now. Don’t do it half way. Any “damage” to the Michigan recruiting brand hurts all of us, and you have Michigan on your diploma as well. Don’t do it half way. Any “damage” to the Michigan recruiting brand hurts all of us, and you have Michigan on your diploma as well. Use all of your resources. Use all of your resources.

Questions?