Among the questions I’ve been asked by MBAs, there are a number that tend to revolve around a set of common, universal concerns. Here are some of the most frequent:
Is working for a big company better than working for a small boutique?
Is it more important to work for a name-brand employer, rather than a niche, boutique firm that may lack equivalent credential-boosting power?
Is it wise / necessary to undertake a couple of years, or more, of banking or consulting work post-MBA, even if that’s not my long-term desired industry choice?
Is there any universal rule that allows you to label one job or company as “better” than another?
The answers, of course, depend on the circumstances, on the student’s background and goals, and on a range of other factors, but that doesn’t mean that the questions above can’t be solved at least to some extent. There is, in fact, a single method and key one can use to help unlock these related questions: the concept of sequencing.
Earlier in this weekly series, I discussed the role that evaluating industry, function, and organization plays in deciding which job is “better,” and/or the right one for you (see Three Categories for Choosing the Right Job). Adding the element of time – of sequence – to this model is an additional way to cut through the clutter and to arrive at a good career path decision.
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