If you intend to switch careers post MBA

Plan to change career is a valid reason to go for an MBA, almost 50% of the MBA degree seekers look at changing careers. Career changers report that an MBA provides them the opportunity to get more challenging work and switch among industries/functions. Reference

As a career changer, you need to showcase your genuine interest, understanding and fit for your desired industry. To show that your goals are well thought of, you should prove that you understand your industry thoroughly.

• What you need to tell them is that you have developed the understanding of your chosen function based on certain facts. Talk about your growing awareness and mention about the insightful discussion with your friends in that specific industry and show how you have developed interest towards this new function.
• You should tell them about the efforts that you have taken to know more about the field. You may talk about some courses that you have taken, people you have met to know more about the same field, industry specific information sessions that you may have attended or journals and magazines you have subscribed to. You can also mention if you have started some free lancing work in your area of interest.
• In the process, you can also mention the difficulties that you are facing or expect to face while pursuing this field and how you plan to handle them. Tie this with what the particular school has to offer and how will you gain from the experience.
• It is worth mentioning that your present job has groomed you in some ways and you bring special skills to the new job profile. Carefully select the skills which will help you in your new profile.

As a career switcher, keep in mind:

• Switching careers is always easy when the economy is booming
• Do not limit your options by aiming a narrow concentration or a specific location
• Work hard towards securing an internship in your choicest field and half the battle is won
• Networking is the key, make the right contacts in your field of interest