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Home > Career Resources > Students > Career Preparation > Career Tools > Resources > MBA Career Checklist

MBA Career Checklist

Get Started

Here at the School of Management, your career development process starts before you even begin your first class. Use this online MBA Career Checklist to get this process started. 

Follow the outline and deadlines in each section to plan and prepare for your career. The summer and fall semester activities will also ensure completion of CRC requirements during the MBA program. Access the necessary online tools and resources in each section to accomplish the semester objectives outlined.

Summer (before starting the MBA program)

There are two major requirements to complete prior to beginning the MBA program this fall.

  1. Complete the CareerLeader™ online assessment. Follow the instructions on how to access this assessment (PDF file). Review and print the Narrative Report. (CRC Requirement)
  2. Build and submit your résumé using the tools below.  Email your updated résumé for critique by July 15, 2009 as a Word document to som-mail@buffalo.edu. For the most effective feedback on your résumé, please indicate your functional area of interest and industry preferences and briefly explain your career interest and goals (CRC Requirement)

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First-Year Fall Semester

  • Begin reviewing MBA concentrations available, your career goals and also various self-asssessments.  Review the MBA concentration selection resource.
  • After attending the résumé session at MBA Advantage, make any final adjustments to your résumé.  Upload your approved résumé through the BizLink system by Friday, September 11, 2009. It is extremely important that your résumé be error free and in professional business format. (CRC Requirement) Please note that your résumé will be available for employers to view online through BizLink unless you specifically set that privacy setting.
  • Update your profile, experience and job preferences in the BizLink system by Friday, September 11, 2009. Incoming MBA students will receive a welcome e-mail message from BizLink once you have been added to the system. This usually occurs in the second week of your first semester at UB. Important Note: Keep your profile up-to-date. The CRC staff uses the data from these profiles to effectively communicate with students and market UB's MBA talent. (CRC Requirement)
  • Schedule your first-year appointment with a CRC associate director in 308 Alfiero by Friday, September 11, 2009. Appointments can occur after this date, however they should be scheduled by September 11. Review, print out and bring your CareerLeaderTM Narrative Report to this appointment. (CRC Requirement)
  • Sign-up and attend an Advanced Interviewing Skills workshop (CRC Requirement)
  • Schedule a CRC Practice Interview after attending the Interviewing Workshop. To sign-up for an interview time slot you will need a résumé and job posting (both must be Word documents). You are required to bring a recordable DVD (or VHS tape) to your Practice Interview appointment or plan to purchase a DVD from the CRC office for $2. (CRC Requirement)
  • In addition to the requirements listed above, you should also use the following resources to prepare for your job search
  • Become familiar with the CRC Web site, the BizLink career system and the Job Fairs and Events sites
  • Be prepared: Some companies recruit students in early fall, so it is important to monitor the CRC Job Opportunities site as well as company Web sites. Some résumé deadlines are as early as September. The BizLink career system also lists Employer Information Sessions 
  • Review cover letter/job search correspondence resources. Any letter or e-mail message sent to a potential employer must be error-free, appropriately formatted and tailored to the company's needs and the desired employment opportunity. Check the CRC workshop schedule for the Job Search Correspondence workshop. (optional but recommended)
  • All MBA students, but especially those in Information Systems and E-Business, and Supply Chains and Operations Management programs should also register with UB Career Services, the university-wide career office

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First-Year Spring Semester

  • Attend MBA Advantage in January. Session topics include: Business Etiquette Seminars, Career Competition, and Realistic Job Previews with alumni. (CRC Requirement)
  • Check your CRC profile information on BizLink and update it if necessary (for example: change of concentration, geographic/ industry preferences). Also, confirm you have your most up to date résumé on file within BizLink 
  • Get involved, and build your résumé and network. Join student organizations and local professional associations that relate to your functional area of interest. Volunteer to serve as a CRC practice interviewer to develop your interviewing skills
  • Conduct information interviews with alumni working in positions, companies or geographic areas of interest using the Telementor program
  • Attend on-campus job fairs and networking events within the community. However, don't rely solely on on-campus interviewing for summer positions. Before leaving for the summer, don't forget to register for MBA consortium events that will take place next fall. Be aware of all deadline dates
  • Research and identify a list of companies to target for internship opportunities. Go directly to company Web sites for information about how to submit your résumé to them. Conduct a targeted direct mail/e-mail campaign to companies of interest. Also, network with second-year MBAs, professors and alumni, as well as friends and family
  • Review the School of Management's Credit-Bearing Internship Program Web site (formerly known as LEAP). MBAs who have one full year of managerial experience may apply for a waiver of the internship requirement. Review the program's requirements, application process and orientation session schedule.  Internships posted through the Credit-Bearing Internship Program will appear on BizLink for students who have applied for and been accepted to the program.
  • Make the most of the summer. If you do not find a summer internship, work hard during the summer to secure a fall internship

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Second-Year Fall Semester

  • Attend MBA Advantage in September (CRC Requirement)
  • Update your résumé with your summer internship experience and submit it to the CRC résumé database. Also update your CRC registration information if necessary (for example: change of concentration, geographic or industry preferences)
  • Secure a fall internship to add to your résumé, especially if you did not complete a summer internship
  • Be aware of and prepared for fall on-campus interviewing opportunities. To be eligible to participate, candidates must be registered with the CRC and have completed all CRC requirements. Many top companies will recruit early in the fall for full-time positions. Fall on-campus recruitment begins in early October and résumé deadlines are as early as September. Closely monitor the CRC’s Job Opportunities Web page for these opportunities and résumé deadlines for each position
  • Identify geographical, industry and career preferences. Use this information to target companies and develop networks for your job search strategy. Do not rely exclusively on on-campus interviews for your full-time position. If you haven't started already, you should begin your self-directed full-time position search now and explore career options
  • Make time to foster relationships within your personal, social and professional networks. When you initiate communication with a contact, refer to your “common connection.” Make sure to explain that you are not asking for a job, but are looking to explore ideas and gain insight for your career planning. Before you meet with a contact, do your homework and learn networking tips. Keep in mind the two basic goals of networking are to gain greater visibility for your job search and increase information about the hidden job market and industry trends

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Second-Year Spring Semester

  • Make an appointment with a CRC associate director to review your job search strategy. It is important to review and evaluate the effectiveness of your search. During your appointment, discuss your progress and adjustments to improve your efforts
  • Determine your "market-value" by researching salary statistics by degree, location, career and industry using a number of resources. Begin with the School of Management's Employment and Salary Statistics; also, collect a few data points to determine your salary expectations and range
  • Complete the interactive Managing Job Offers and Compensation Negotiations modules. Whether you are job-hunting in a tight job market or one that is plentiful with opportunities, knowing how to manage and negotiate offers is critical to the job search process. These modules address key topics and also test your knowledge. When evaluating offers of employment, we encourage students to demonstrate their professionalism during the decision-making process. Your acceptance of a job offer is binding. Do not accept a job offer, even verbally, until you are certain you are committed. Do not back out after accepting; that's called “reneging,” and is unethical. It will negatively affect your professional reputation as well as the program's
  • Complete the School’s Job Offer and Employment Update Survey before the semester ends. It is very important to inform the CRC of your employment status whether you are still searching, accepting employment, returning to a sponsoring employer, or postponing your search. If you are still searching, we are here throughout the summer and will continue to assist with your search after graduation. By completing the survey, we can collect your new contact information (this includes a non-UB e-mail) to keep in communication with you. Once you secure employment, you can update your employment status online. If you have accepted employment, we want to be able to congratulate you and ensure your aggregate data is reflected in our reporting to national sources that rank business school programs. As you may know, providing this information is critical to the services we provide to both our students and employers. It also plays a strong role in the School of Management’s efforts to improve our national rankings and the value of your degree. (Information collected, including salary information, remains confidential and is only used in aggregate form)

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