Getting a C-Level Job: A Guide for Business Students
So, you’re an MBA student, which means that you’ve already done a lot to advance your career. You’ve got a bachelor’s degree, expertise, and years of work experience. But is all this – plus an MBA degree – enough to get you to the top of the corporate ladder? Probably not.
What else can you do to land a C-level job, then? Many business students don’t have enough time to find out… If you’re one of them, you might as well use an online essay service from professional essay writers and take care of your future career instead. You can start right now – from reading this very guide.
Essential Skills for C-Level Candidates
Entry-level employees typically need hard skills more than anything else because their jobs are specific. But when you progress up the corporate ladder, soft skills become essential. Eventually, top executives have more in common with other C-level employees than with the specialists from their departments.
For the C-suite, soft skills are crucial. That’s why an MBA is so valuable, as business programs traditionally focus on this set of competencies including:
- leadership and management;
- communication;
- critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision making;
- strategic thinking.
In school, you train these skills via many activities, including essay writing. Yet, some MBA students prefer more practical experience, and here’s where writing services come in handy. Read this Essay Service review by NoCramming to learn why it’s a great place to order an academic paper, and try outsourcing. Sometimes, it’s the best decision, you know.
How to Land a C-Level Job (with an MBA Degree)?
Your future MBA degree makes you one step closer to the C-suite. But you still have to put in a lot of effort to end up in that top executive chair. Here’s what you can do.
Network While in School
Business schools are perfect for networking – i.e., building connections with people who can help advance your career. Prestigious MBA programs have a rigorous selection process that ensures that people you meet at a business school have a high status and some connections of their own. So, a cup of coffee with a fellow student can result in a promising interview.
However, avoid using people: being ready to help others is as important as seeking help from them. Networking is a give-and-take relationship, not a one-gate play.
Nurture Old Contacts
There are no contacts like the old contacts. As you build new connections, don’t forget to maintain the existing ones: a former colleague can often help more than a dozen new acquaintances.
Yet again, maintaining connections means staying in touch regularly, and not only for egoistic purposes. If you call once a year to ask for a favor, there’s a little chance that anyone will go out of their way to help you.
Determine Your Goals
Before you start making calls to your new and old friends, take your time to determine the goals. What is it that you want, exactly? The clearer you communicate your career goals and expectations, the easier it will be for people to aid you in your job search.
However, don’t write off an opportunity just because you suppose it’s not your cup of tea. It’s usually wiser to clear out all the details first and make up your mind after giving that opportunity some consideration.
Revise Your Work Experience
At an entry-level, you can try different career fields and see how you fit in. But when you approach the C-level, there’s little room for experiments as the employers look for candidates with sufficient experience in a specific field.
So, applying for a position that doesn’t correspond with your previous career path will most likely be fruitless. To understand which C-suite jobs you can aim at, revise your career path carefully. If you’re planning to make a career pivot, be ready to explain your motivations.
Write an Impressive Resume/CV
You might rely solely on networking, but at a certain point, you’ll still need an impressive resume to corroborate your credentials. You can write one yourself or outsource the task to an expert, but either way, the document should be as good as it gets.
It’s also vital to remember that if you’re going to apply to a C-suite job, you should target your resume to meet the demands of a particular company. No generic CVs at this level!
Build a Solid Online Presence
The internet has always been powerful, but during the pandemic, its influence has increased tenfold. It’s almost safe to say that if you’re not present online, you don’t exist at all – at least for the employers.
That may be an exaggeration, but the more you promote yourself as an expert, an influencer, and a thought leader, the more chances you have of getting noticed. So, an impressive LinkedIn profile is a must. It also won’t hurt to have a blog on your official website and a popular Twitter account.
Prepare for an Interview
Last but not least, applying for a top-level job is no excuse for coming to an interview unprepared. Even if you believe that you’re brilliant and irresistible, you yet have to prove it to an executive recruiter!
Bottom Line
Getting an MBA degree is a serious step toward landing a prestigious C-level job. But a degree alone doesn’t guarantee anything. There are many more steps to take before you eventually make it.
In this article, we’ve shown you the path to the C-suite, step by step. Use it as a guide to building your strategy, but remember: in the end, every way to the top of the corporate ladder is unique, more or less.
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