Finc, Mgmt, Mrkt: Top 10 function preferences for the MBA class of 2013

Our last look at this year's MBA profiles focuses on the functional job preferences of first-year students. Interestingly, the class of 2013 interests are right in line with previous MBA classes.

In fact, the top 10 preferences for this year's MBA1s appear to be the same top 10 functions in which all MBAs are interested. Take a look:

1. Finance
2. Management 
3. Marketing
4. Consulting
5. Business Development
6. Strategic Planning
7. Tech
8. Entrepreneurship
9. Corporate Development
10. Real Estate

Only one difference exists in the MBA1 vs. MBA2 comparison with this year's graduating MBA2s being slightly more interested in Accounting (2.33% of all MBA2s) than in Real Estate (2.25%). It's also worth noting that experienced MBA (EMBA) graduates are much more interested in Sales (top 12 with 1.45%) than current MBA students (top 19 with 0.61% of MBA1s and top 18 with 0.82% of MBA2s).

** click here for the complete function preference breakdown for this year's MBA1s **

5% of US Presidents Attended B-School

Okay. So only two people have actually gone from b-school to the President of the United States: George W. Bush got his MBA from Harvard Business School and John F. Kennedy attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business. But that's still 5% of all Presidents. And many of them studied business and economics as undergrads, including Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.

Law school is a much more common road -- 12 Presidents took that path including our current Commander-in-chief Barack Obama. And one President even attended med school -- William Henry Harrison.

Surprisingly, 10 former Presidents never even graduated college -- a list that includes 2 dropouts and 8 never-wents, including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Overall, most US Presidents have had a college education, including five of the first seven.

In total, the 44 Presidents have attended 31 different colleges. Here is the breakdown by school -- which includes 8 of our partners (26%) -- both grad schools and undergrad:

**please visit our blog for the complete list of Presidents by school**

You’ll “love” our exclusive network!

Since today is February 14th, I decided to take a more lighthearted look at our exclusive network of employers and talent to see just how much "love" we really have for you. The findings were particularly rosy and sweet.

The MBA Focus network currently includes:

• 29 MBAs with the last name "Love"
• 106 MBAs with "love" in their name
• 51 MBA-required job postings that mention "love"
• 3 recruiters with the last name "Love"
• 360 MBAs with "rose" in their name
• ... to view the full list visit our blog

And if you really do love our exclusive network, tell us why by visiting https://www.mbafocus.com/Testimonials.aspx.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Financial, Consulting and the top 10 industry preferences for the MBA class of 2013

The new class of MBA students are halfway through their first-year at b-school. By now, most of these 1st-year students have selected an industry preference, adding it to their developing MBA career profile.

The career profile process is mandatory at many of the world’s top-ranked MBA programs. MBA Focus powers the process, aggregating student profile information to help leading employers identify and attract their next business leaders. Students work with their school’s career service office to complete their profiles; taking advantage of other services including resume coaching and mock interviewing practice.

The data in these profiles offer enlightening trends on the MBA landscape and useful insight into what types of jobs the newest class of MBAs want to pursue.

This year's class of new MBAs is very similar to previous classes. In fact, the top seven (7) industries chosen by 2013 MBA1s are exactly the same as this year's graduating class of MBAs, as well as the 40,000+ alumni who graduated before them:

• 1. Financial
• 2. Consulting
• 3. Consumer Products
• 4. Tech
• 5. Energy / Utilities
• 6. Healthcare
• 7. Entertainment 

To see the 3 industries that round out the top 10 or view the complete breakdown visit our blog here.

Where did MBA students live and work?

Generally, MBA students currently attending top-ranked business schools are located on, near, and around those campuses. And after graduation, they spread across the globe.

The MBAs in our database are no different. They are currently attending full-time programs located on three different continents, including 24 of the top 25 b-schools in the US; 6 of the top 10 international programs; and a total of 69 schools globally. And when they graduate this summer or next, they will join the global workforce just like the alumni before them.

Ever wonder where these MBA students lived and work before attending b-school? Our data suggests pre-MBA life experiences extending well beyond their current geographical locations. The current first- and second-year MBA students in our database have worked around the world, including:

• 1. India 6.52%
• 2. China 6.51%
• 3. United Kingdom 4.41%
• 4. Mexico 3.29%
• 5. Germany 3.21%

<click here to read the full article>

Do MBA internships affect career paths?

Half-way through the graduate business schooling process most MBA students participate in an internship. By this time, many MBAs know what they want to do and where they want to work, but the MBA internship is the final confirmation -- for most! For some MBAs, the summer internship can be an enlightening experience that ultimately changes their career path.

Take the current 2nd-year class of MBA students preparing to graduate this summer for example. The majority of them spent last summer in an internship in the investment banking / brokerage industry:

1. Investment Banking / Brokerage 6.26%
2. Strategy 5.24%
3. Investment Management 4.89%
4. Internet Services / E-Commerce 4.86%
5. Private Equity 4.48%
6. Software 2.83%
7. Beverages / Food 2.71%
8. Management 2.51%
9. Hedge Funds 2.49%
10. Retail 2.44%

After completing their summer internships, however, the same class of 2012 MBA students now prefers a career in...

Please visit our blog to continue reading

MBA hiring is up across the board

Good news for MBAs and those currently attending a top-ranked graduate business school: MBA hiring is up across the board.

* yes, job "board" pun intended.


In general, MBA Focus saw a 65% increase in MBA jobs over the past year (2011 vs 2010). This increase is based on the number of MBA-required and MBA-preferred jobs on the graduate business school job boards powered by MBA Focus' Global Talent System. This includes schools like Columbia, Cornell's Johnson School, Harvard Business School, MIT – Sloan, Kellogg, Stanford GSB, UC Berkeley – Haas, Chicago's Booth School of Business and more.

But MBA hiring has prospered in some industries more than others, including a 440% increase in agribusiness and multiple technology industries with more than a 10% increase.

Here is the complete breakdown:

1. Agribusiness 440.00%
2. Engineering Services 172.73%
3. Manufacturing 171.43%
4. Financial - Insurance 139.53%
5. Nonprofits & Social Enterprises 107.14%

For the complete list and more please visit our blog by clicking here