Earning an MBA can be a great way for engineers to expand their technical skills and grow into a management role. Many tech companies prefer MBAs with engineering or computer science backgrounds for product manager roles. Engineers can bring their problem-solving ability to business by breaking down challenges, identifying root-cause issues, and developing innovative solutions.
Here are eight steps engineers should take in their pre-MBA journey:
1. Answer the question, “Why an MBA?”
First, why do you want an MBA? Do you want to leave your technical role and enter another part of the same business or industry (e.g., engineer to product manager)? Do you want to gain a better understanding of business functions to grow in your current technical role and take on a leadership role in the future (e.g., engineer to manager)? Or do you have an idea and need the skills and team members to start your own business (e.g., engineer to entrepreneur)? Make sure you explain where you want to go and what skills you need from an MBA to get you there.
2. Articulate your post-MBA plan.
MBA admissions committees want to have a clear picture of your post-MBA plans. Identify an ideal post-MBA role, and then find a job description for that position. If you are planning to change industries, identify skills from your background that will serve you well in your new position.
For instance, if you are shifting to banking or consulting, you could leverage your technical knowledge by working on the technical side of the industry. If you want to grow in a technical field, what skills do you need to grow to be a stronger manager? If you want to be an entrepreneur, do you plan to work in the industry before you start your own business, or will you be following a personal or side passion? Or will you look for partners at business school so you can start your company while you are there?
3. Assess your gaps.
Now, reverse-engineer to identify what skills you need to reach your goal. Articulate what gaps an MBA will fill to help you be successful. Although analytical and quantitative skills are often less of a concern for engineers, think about what type of cross-functional team-building or global exposure you might gain from an MBA. Do you want to be able to speak both technical and business languages to help serve as a bridge between these groups? Do you want to learn how to build and motivate high-performing, innovative teams? Or do you want to understand enough of each part of a small business to start your own?
4. Find the right school.
Once you’ve identified what you need from an MBA, RESEARCH! If you’re looking to change from engineering to another function, reach out and connect with current students who have made a similar transition. Leverage your undergraduate engineering alumni network or other professional engineering networks to find others who have transitioned to business.
If you want to stay in technology and grow within a technical company, reach out to technology clubs and find tech-focused students or identify individuals within your organization who have earned their MBA. And if you want to start your own business, connect with entrepreneurial clubs. Identify case or business plan competitions where you could take advantage of pitching and learning about the startup process. If you’re staying technical in nature, look for strong partnerships between the business and engineering programs. Perhaps you might consider a joint degree.
5. Choose your recommenders wisely.
In many technical functions, it’s less common to obtain an MBA. Think about who would go to bat for you and identify you as the best of your peer group. If it’s not possible to ask a direct supervisor, as it may hinder your career options, choose an indirect supervisor or someone a level above you with whom you have worked closely. It’s important to help recommenders understand that this is not a performance review but advocating for your candidacy. Provide your recommenders with reminders of the key projects you worked on together, along with your resume and future career goals. Specific examples can be very powerful in giving an admissions team a sense of how you perform.
6. Avoid technical jargon.
When writing about your accomplishments in your essays, make sure you have someone who doesn’t know your work review them. Beware of getting caught up in company or technical terms. A friend or family member who is not an engineer should be able to read and understand your essays and resume.
7. Share your activities outside of work.
Talk about your outside activities and show that you are not just a high Q score on the GMAT. Demonstrate how you have leveraged your skills and expertise to help others, such as by tutoring in STEM classes at your local school or volunteering with Engineers Without Borders or Habitat for Humanity. You can also talk about your work outside of your specific role. Are you involved in employee resources groups, university recruiting, or mentoring of newer employees? All of these activities will help show that you will be an active member of your MBA community.
8. Understand and demonstrate emotional intelligence.
Although your technical skills will inevitably show through, make sure to also highlight how you work with others. Demonstrate that you are a team player and that you understand and care about others. Have you mentored an intern or new associate? Can you talk about a team experience where you brought individuals together to overcome a challenging task? Help the admissions committee see the personal side of you.
When applying to business school, leverage your engineering skills by taking a structured approach: identify the problem (how to get into school), break it down (school selection, test preparation, essay writing), and solve each part of the problem as you go!
Our Stratus team has lots of experience helping applicants, such as engineers, plan their transition to a new industry through an MBA degree. We are available to start a conversation about your profile with a free consultation. Schedule yours here!