Babson attracts a high number of entrepreneurial students who are interested in carving out a career path that is relatively unique for MBAs. Often, they are seeking to add strong management skills to their background in a discipline other than business.

Recognizing that many of our graduates choose jobs that do not fit easily into the career contexts that we have defined, we are providing a “self-design” option. Areas that are popular with self-design students include:

• Energy/Environment
• Non-Profit (e.g. education, theater/arts, human services, fundraising)
• Real Estate

Graduates have also pursued careers in architecture/construction, government, healthcare services, manufacturing/engineering, media/entertainment, publishing, sports, and travel.

Self-Design means that you are choosing to define and articulate what you want to do for yourself. Your ability to do so is critical for finding the job you want – it is the only way that others who are less familiar with your chosen path can understand what you are seeking and provide you with help. This will also be important when you are talking with prospective employers, if having an MBA is less common in your industry. Other recommendations:

• Create your own community:
  • Talk with fellow students. On average, Babson has 1,600 students enrolled in its part-time and full-time MBA programs in a given year. Odds are there is at least one other person who has similar goals and you can help each other!
  • Seek out and attend local networking events that are specific to your field. For suggestions, see Networking. Also check the networking sections of the other career categories.
  • Look beyond the MBA program – their may be faculty and staff who work primarily with the Babson undergraduates who have expertise in your area of interest.
• Give yourself a reality check. Talk with experts in your field to make sure that your goals are attainable. Is there a defined need for the skills that you are developing as an MBA? What are your options? What types of organizations would be more likely to hire you and why? How can you market yourself to employers?
• Research companies that interest you, create a list of the ones you want to target and identify contacts.
• Be confident, patient and persistent. Your unique interests and background are a strength, not a weakness.
• Stay open to new people and ideas. Opportunities to connect with those who can help you land your dream job often happen unexpectedly.