Individual development, personal fulfillment and lifelong learning are of higher value to many than the employer’s image or other environmental factors. And while manythe majority of MBA graduates seek to enter traditionally high payingindustries, such as consulting, the financial sector, banking, IT and marketing, more and more graduates

In contrast to other Masters courses, which endow the graduate with a more theoretical and specialized skill set in often very specific fields like psychology, history or politics, the MBA provides its graduates with a broad and a more easily transferable skill set. It is the breadth of these skill sets that make an MBA graduate so attractive to employers. Reports suggest that MBA hiring will remain strong in the years to come and MBA recruiters are battling it out to hire the best and the brightest amongst MBA graduates. Increasingly, non-traditional MBA sectors aim to benefit from the skills an MBA curriculum can convey. Intercultural competences, language skills, a global outlook, paired with specific and general management skills make for a strong applicant in all sectors the world over.

The opportunities are copious. It is therefore recommended that the graduating MBA consider all possible options carefully. Ask yourself in which sector you can might best be able to build on your strengths, where you might be able to further develop your skills, which field might best be suited to allow you to grow in the long run. If you have little work experience pre-MBA, a graduate training program in the industry or sector of your choice might be an ideal way of building a career in your chosen field. International employers in particular are always looking for globally

oriented and internationally savvy employees with a high level of skills and a proactive attitude. Graduate training programs offer on-the-job experience and development with the goal of developing the recent graduate into being able to take on a key role in the organization.

The choice of MBA program can also make an impact on your career prospects after graduation. If your previous employment has provided you with a specific skills set in a specialized area, you might benefit more from an MBA program that conveys general management skills and a broad knowledge of leadership skills and social competencies. For instance, if you are a lawyer seeking to enter the management consultancy arena, you might benefit from the general management modules offered on the curriculum. If your previous experience is general and broad and you are seeking to enter a specific sector in a high-level management position, a specialized MBA track might be of greater advantage to your career development. Knowing your mid and long-term goals can help you plan your MBA education and career track more effectively.

Before you embark on your MBA career path, ask yourself some basic but very important questions:

- What matters most: advancement, money, development or job-satisfaction?

This is, of course, just a short list of questions and many other considerations may factor into your future careerplanning but it does provide you with a good start for your research and should support more informed choices, which, in turn, will allow you to realize your goals.