After four years of working in supply chain management in the retail industry in Costa Rica, Gabriela Miranda (McDonough, ‘20) decided to attend Georgetown University and pursue an MBA to transition into a more strategic-oriented role. In this interview, Gabriela shares her advice on how international students can utilize resources at MBA programs to identify internships and full-time opportunities for their career.
MBASchooled: What did you do prior to Georgetown, and why did you choose to attend business school?
Before coming to business school, I was working in supply chain management in the retail industry. My job was mostly technical, but I got to participate in strategy development and process improvement. These opportunities helped me realize that I was prepared to move from a technical position into a more strategic one.
To achieve this goal, I knew I needed to gain more knowledge about other business functions and hone my soft skills, such as communication and leadership, thus, I decided to get my MBA to advance in my career and achieve long-term success.
MBASchooled: What were some of the adjustments you had to make to attending business school in the United States?
I was very familiar with the US culture because I worked for an American company before coming to business school. I came to the US with an open mind and willing to adapt to the culture and enjoy it. I recommend that during the MBA, spend time meeting people and enjoying the American culture as well as sharing your culture with others.
MBASchooled: During your first year at Georgetown, what resources, programs, etc were most helpful to you?
During my first year, the most valuable resource was the Georgetown’s Career Center. As an international student, I knew it was going to be extra challenging to find an internship that could then translate into a full-time offer. Coaches and peer advisers helped define a recruiting strategy targeting specific companies that aligned with my interests. Moreover, through coaching sessions they helped me prepare for networking events, behavioral interviews and case interviews. Their support and guidance helped me to successfully get offers from two consulting firms and one tech company.
MBASchooled:What are some things international students should think about or pay attention to in the recruiting process?
International students should have a diverse list of companies to which they apply for an internship and always prioritize the companies that offer sponsorship, if they wish to stay in the US after graduating. Moreover, they should adapt to the US recruiting culture as quickly as possible to be successful when the recruiting season starts. For example, to achieve this, I attended many recruiting events and scheduled coffee chats with people working in the companies I was interested in applying.
MBASchooled: What did you do for your summer internship, and what was that experience like? Are you re-recruiting? If so, what are you hoping to target?
I interned with Ernst & Young in the PI-Supply Chain practice. I really enjoyed my summer internship with this firm. It was exactly what I was expecting: a challenging and engaging project in which I learned something new everyday. The team that I worked with was amazing too, everyone was very talented and always willing to help me. I do want to work with EY after I graduate.
MBASchooled: What advice do you have for other international students who are looking to find careers post business school in the United States?
When recruiting, keep an open mind about which industries and functions you are targeting. Not all companies are recruiting international students and some companies are hiring international students only for specific functions. Thus, I know many internationals are disappointed about the limited options there are to stay in the US after graduating.If you are interested in something specific, I recommend you to do some research to find out if the career path you wish to pursue is available for international students in the US. For this research, your best resource is the career center from the business school you wish to attend.