A Rather Rudimentary Attempt at Choosing a Post-MBA Job

Okay, TheLadiesChoice is in the doldrums of the MBA matriculation process. I know I should be neck-deep in preparing the paperwork for my visa but I can't seem to find any inspiration in filling-up tedious F-1 forms, I-20s and SEVIS fees. So I've decided to try to determine what would be the best career for my post-MBA. Here's the simple exercise that I did during my last week at work (you can see that I had way too much time on my hands). As mentioned previously, I find myself inclined to join the typical MBA bandwagons of management consulting and investment banking. I'm such a sucker for peer pressure. Of course, I really enjoy marketing and do believe I have a natural knack for the job so I've included going back to industry as part of my options. I listed the job-related concerns that I have and gave weights in order of importance. Then I rated each career option on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the most favorable. The first table looks like this:














Multiplying the weights to the ratings gives the the final table below.






Some caveats: I have absolutely no first-hand knowledge about management consulting and investment banking. The ratings above are a reflection of the impressions I've gotten from people I've talked to, message boards I've read, and of course Hollywood's portrayal of the said professions. A lot of people will have different job-related concerns but these here are my own. The weights I hope are representative of an afternoon's worth of deep soul-searching in front of my office PC at the expense of course of my previous employer, ThePlaceToBe.

For me Compensation is 30%. I have a family to feed, places to see and Ferraris to drive so shoot me.

Work Hours is also a concern; I've never heard anyone who actually enjoys being cooped up in a cube 20 hours a day.

It may come as a surprise, but I hate travel. I hate the anxiety of long lines, delayed flight schedules and I hate flying.

I'll give in to my inner prestige whore and allocate 15% to wow-factor.

Entrance difficulty is also a concern. As an international student with no finance or consulting background I have a gnawing fear of not having a job at graduation due to my lack of prior work experience. My demons keep me company.

Exit strategies to industry are also a concern. Eventually I do want to go back to industry and hopefully be fast tracked to a C-level position. I'm a corporate ladder kind of guy and I can't help it.

The last 15% goes to all the other self-actualization factors that go into job search. Will I fit in? Will I have find meaning in my work? Will I enjoy doing what I do? Basically at the end of the day, I still want to give props to all the values and principles I learned UpOnTheHill.

Looks like it's Investment Banking for me for now. Will let you know TheLadiesChoice's thoughts on this startling development soon.