Many students come to Booth to pivot their career. Some are looking to change functions, some are looking to change industries. Whichever path they choose, the journey is great a learning experience.
I came to Booth with the intention of recruiting for product management. After revamping my resume, applying for a number of jobs, and interviewing with a handful of companies, I landed a Product Manager (PM) internship at Levi Strauss & Co. I spent my summer developing new features for the e-commerce platform and learning what it’s like to be a PM. As part of the experience, I explored Levi’s archives and learned about retail technology – from customizing denim to smart sizing tools. Outside of the internship, I spent my time exploring San Francisco and the surrounding areas which included hiking Muir Woods, volunteering at a nearby elementary school, and hanging out at Crane Cove Park. To help pay it forward, I would like to share five things I learned throughout the first year recruiting process:
- Come to Booth with a recruiting plan. The MBA recruiting process can be fast paced after school starts. Starting the school year with an understanding of the recruiting timeline and process can help you stay ahead. It’s helpful to follow the Career Services programming over the summer and talk with current students who have gone through the process.
- Industry knowledge and/or functional expertise can help a candidate stand out. Booth provides access to resources like Pitchbook, IBISWorld, and Bloomberg to help build industry knowledge. I learned a lot from my fellow classmates and Booth professors who have extensive experience in different industries. There are also multiple opportunities for academic year internships that can help build functional experience.
- Many skills are transferable. While I did not have experience in bringing e-commerce features to market, I did have project management experience prior to the product management role. I could leverage those skills to drive product development and launch features on time.
- Reflect on your internship experience. Pivoting a career can be an iterative process. It’s good to reflect on what you liked about your experience and what you may want to change for your next role or full time recruiting.
- Have fun. Navigating career changes is a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s good to enjoy the process. Some activities I really enjoyed at Levi’s were having outdoor meetings, getting fashion inspiration, or getting lost in conversation around how e-commerce may be innovated in the future. Outside of work, I spent time with Boothies enjoying great food, hiking, and exploring the surrounding areas like Napa Valley and Big Sur.
In short, changing careers can be hard but an MBA at Booth can help. Booth provided access to resources and connections to remove ambiguity and provide support. In my next article, I can talk through resources and strategies that Boothies have used to accomplish their career goals.
