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Kelley School of Business Indiana University Bloomington
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How to Prepare for an Unknown Future Economy

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By: Terri Cramer, Associate Director with Kelley Graduate Career Services

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus wrote, “Change is the only constant in life.” It’s a potent quote to apply to your work life these days as a growing percentage of the workforce suffers job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it’s the market, your responsibilities, the tools you use to do your job (e.g. working from home), satisfaction with your boss, your stakeholders’ expectations, or the organization itself, you are constantly going to be in a position where you will need to decide whether it is time for you to create change, or if it is time for you to react to a changing situation. In order to be ready when change happens and action is needed, you need to have an exit strategy.

What is an exit strategy? It’s the combination of activities you can engage in now to equip you to make a job change on short notice. We are all seeing the daily headlines illustrating the dynamism of the economy—companies who are implementing layoffs and others who need to ramp up their hiring at a jaw-dropping pace.

If you find that you need to change jobs, you do not want to start your search from the ground up. Most searches can take three to six months, even if you are staying in the same function, in the same industry, and in the same city. Landing a new job will take even longer if you are trying to move to a new city, and/or if you are trying to pivot to a new industry or function. So even if you have job stability now, be proactive, so that if you do need to switch, you can shorten the timing.

What does an exit strategy look like? Preparation in these three areas can ensure you will be ready for change: 1) Make networking a habit; 2) Keep your resume current and stay active on LinkedIn; and 3) Stay open to new possibilities; stay connected to the outside world.

1. Make networking a habit. No doubt about it, people get new jobs through networking. If you find yourself cringing at the idea of networking, then you should broaden your definition. Most people don’t like networking because they feel like they are asking other people for help or asking people to give them things that they otherwise have not earned. That’s not networking. Networking is about building strong relationships that create mutual value over time.
Think about connecting with people who are in jobs that you want to have, or who work for companies that you are interested in. Broaden your thinking to include alumni from all the institutions you’ve attended, vendors you work with, colleagues who have moved on, friends-of-friends and people in your various communities. You likely have a lot of people in your network already that you may just not be thinking about.

2. Keep your resume and LinkedIn profile up to date. It’s so much harder to recall the results of your performance after time has passed. Make your resume a living document that contains a running master list of your achievements, outcomes, and deliverables, updated as they happen.

You can avoid worrying about whether being active on LinkedIn signals your company that you are seeking a new job by always being active. Follow thought leaders, “like” the posts that your connections put out there, share articles and quotes that you think people in your network might want to read, or that really resonate with you. If you are knowledgeable about a topic, write an article and share it. You might be surprised at just how many people are interested in what you do. These activities are a great way to build your reputation in the open marketplace and to get noticed by recruiters.

3. Stay open to new possibilities; stay connected to the outside world. It is important to know what your market value is. Stay connected to the world outside of your organization. LinkedIn is a great way to learn what is going on in an industry, to learn about training opportunities, to learn about and understand your competition, and to stay in touch with your professional colleagues.

Terri Cramer is an Associate Director with Kelley Graduate Career Services. She helps alums figure out their next big thing by providing help with search strategies, feedback on resumes, and practice with interviewing and negotiating skills. For a listing of career services resources available to alumni and details for setting up an appointment to talk with Terri, send an email to tlcramer@iu.edu.

My First Semester at Kelley and Abroad

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Kazu Maeda, MBA’21

After my first semester at Kelly, I’ve found that it has provided me with a bunch of great opportunities that I have never had before. Everything I have experienced here so far is far beyond my expectations. Among them, Integrated Core and Study Abroad.

Integrated Core Classes

In the first semester, we learned basic knowledge and skills about business overall (called Integrated Core). Each topic is made to mutually connect one another, so we could gain a holistic understanding of the entire business process, which is practical for our future jobs.

Throughout the Core classes, each student is assigned to a fixed group of four or five members. Kelley is well-known for its collaborative culture, and it was especially true for my Core team members. My team was quite supportive, and I believe we are the best Core team among all groups. In the final case competition, we got an award for our presentation as a team.

Exchange program in Winter break

This winter break, I went to Singapore as part of study abroad program. It was a one-week immersive program where I learned about technology, entrepreneurship, and the economy in Asia. We took great classes by NUS faculty, visited companies in Singapore, and interacted with 40 students coming from 15 different business schools around the world. It was a great opportunity to get a look at the business world from a different perspective than the U.S.

The Spring term of the first year is off to a busy start. We have classes, events, GLOBASE, Academy project, and of course recruiting. I enjoy every moment in the busy days.

I look forward to continued learning and challenge in the next semester!

Welcome to the Kelley MBA family

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Sam McFadden, MBA‘21

One of the hardest parts of leaving my former job to enter the Kelley Full-Time MBA Program was saying goodbye to the people I had spent so much time working with. Over the course of ten years working in a small government office, my coworkers came to feel like a sort of second family. While I had heard that Kelley had a very close-knit and collaborative feel, I wondered whether I would be able to find the same level of connection and support I was leaving behind. Now just a few weeks into my second semester, I can emphatically answer “YES!”

At Kelley, I have found myself surrounded by students, faculty, and staff whose mission is to be their best selves while helping others become their best selves at the same time. For example, during the CORE in the fall, several students organized study tables that were led by fellow students volunteering their time just for the sake of helping each other get through challenging classes. Kelleys also sought to help one another and the community during the Faculty Auction put on by Kelley Women this fall. For this event, students, faculty and staff donated their time and talents to be auctioned off in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington and raised over $25,000 in the process.

As I listened to the debate between the two potential MBAA Slates (student leadership groups) running for student government election, I noticed that within each of their platforms was the idea that Kelleys are best when we work together – that we are a family. I couldn’t be happier that I have found this home, and I will forever be proud to be a member of the Kelley family.

The Kelley MBA: a program designed for the career changer

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Amanda Sharpe, MBA’19

When I was first thinking of getting my MBA, I was a financial analyst for a semiconductor company in the Bay Area. I was budgeting, conducting product analysis, creating PowerPoints, and using Excel a lot. Fast forward 2 years and now I am an Associate Brand Manager at E&J Gallo managing two large wine brands. You might not think these two jobs have a lot in common, but through the help of my Kelley MBA, I was able to see the similarities and skills that were transferable to help me achieve my dream job and successfully make a career switch.

Me, Inc.

Me, Inc is a special time during the first 2 weeks of your first year of the Kelley MBA program where you start to dig into your prior experiences to develop an in-depth understanding of your personal story and how it connects to the next steps in your career even before classes begin. Regardless of where you want to go after school, Me Inc challenges you to uncover the amazing things that shaped who you are before you got to Kelley. People sometimes forget how important that piece is when uncovering where you want to go next. Me Inc helped me understand the invaluable skills I learned my three years in finance that would ultimately help me excel in marketing as well. During Me Inc, I also discovered the career path that I wanted to pursue. Like most people, I was a little unsure of where I wanted to go post-MBA, and the programs in Me Inc are designed to helped guide you to answers. I was able to talk to classmates in these industries prior to school, faculty that have seen countless students enter these jobs after school, and even representatives from companies that recruit at Kelley. Between all of this, I was able to narrow down my search and begin transitioning into my new career path!

 

Academies

While the classes at Kelley help shape your overall business skills, the academies dive deeper into the various roles you can begin post-grad school. The academies probably helped the most in my career search because not only did it open doors to companies to network with, but also we discussed brand roles in detail and I really got to imagine what life would be like in this new career path. In the Consumer Marketing Academy, we had the opportunity to speak with and hear from top CPG companies in the country. We visited offices in Ohio, Chicago, and Indianapolis and were able to uncover various roles in consumer marketing. I also did a “mock” internship project with Proctor & Gamble that helped me tackle my summer internship project at E&J Gallo. The academies were a very helpful tool and gave me a leg up while applying to internships and landing that full-time offer. It is something unique the Kelley MBA offers that enables students to understand specific industries before your summer internship.

 

Ultimately, Kelley helped me realize all the transferrable skills to highlight when speaking with new industries and companies. Kelley also prepared me with the necessary industry skills to completely change careers. I went from being a financial analyst budgeting for semiconductors to managing wine brands for the largest winery in the US. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at Kelley or a better job post-MBA!

Managing the Most Valuable Resource – Your Time

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Allison Lawler, MBA 2020

During my first week at Kelley, my Me Inc. facilitator noted that our most valuable resource during the next two years would be our time. She was candid that we would need to be selective in deciding what to become involved in, balance the demands of a full-time MBA with personal life responsibilities, and how to most effectively structure your schedule, commitment, and goals to take full advantage of the two-year program. In full transparency, this introduction made my stomach spin – – I have notoriously been a “yes” person throughout my life in hopes of growing and learning as a person. Although this mentality has given me cool experiences, I have not always been intentional in how I choose to spend my time and made a commitment to myself to be more deliberate in the experiences I wanted to have at Kelley. Reflecting on the past year, my key priorities were:

  1. Studying abroad experiences: When I applied to Kelley, I knew that I wanted to be a part of Globase, a program that lets students complete a global consulting project. During my first year, I was a part of Globase China and had a unique, fun, and rewarding experience traveling throughout China. From working with our client to market a new hotel in the foothills of the Himalayas to riding camels in the Gobi Desert and feeding pandas in Chengdu, Globase China has had a great impact on my Kelley experience. I am so excited to continue this travel focus as I complete my second-year Capstone in Sports Marketing and Management at the University of Bayreuth in Germany in March.
  2. Maintaining wellbeing and “balanced” focus: The people I have met at Kelley have had the largest impact on my MBA experience, and prioritizing time to build strong connections with my peers and maintain a wellbeing focus has helped me find balance during a fast-paced program. From 6am morning workouts with the unofficial Kelley Swim Club, to game nights, hot yoga, and going on hikes at Griffy Lake, the people have made this experience. I have found that maintaining close connections with my family and life-long friends has been crucial for me to keep a clear perspective and to support important relationships during this program.
  3. Giving back to the Kelley community: A key part of the Kelley community is the sense of giving back. My past work experience in HR has made me passionate about the recruitment and interview processes, so when I had the chance to apply to be a Hoosier Host and an Admission Counselor, I knew that these were groups that I wanted to join. Whether I am welcoming candidates at Experience Weekend or helping select the upcoming Kelley class, giving back to the Kelley community in this way has been a highlight.

Along with my new-found confidence being intentional with my time, I am assured that the decision to pursue my MBA and be a part of the Kelley community was one of the best choices I have ever made.

Embrace What You Don’t See Coming

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Bill Murphy, MBA’20

When I made the decision to go to business school, I knew what I wanted out of it; a career shift that would bring me more job satisfaction and more money. I’m fairly certain that I’m not the first person to attend B-school with those simple goals in mind. I’m also pretty sure that I’ll still achieve those goals.

What I’ve come to learn though is that I should have set my sights higher, because now – a little more than halfway through – I realize that I’ve gotten a lot more out of the decision to pack up my life and move to Bloomington, Indiana than I expected. Here are a few things that I appreciate, but definitely didn’t see coming:

  1. Accounting and Finance can actually be really interesting. Okay, maybe I should have prefaced that by mentioning that I’m a marketing major who remembers daydreaming about the next tailgate during those classes in undergrad. My point is, don’t dismiss a course or subject just because it doesn’t fall into the wheelhouse of your perceived strengths. Shout-out to professor Billett for keeping Finance interesting enough that I signed up for more.
  2. The application of what you learn can be an experience like no other. One of the first places that I got to put my newfound skillsets to use was on the other side of the planet. This past spring, 24 of my classmates and I traveled on a GLOBASE experience to Jakarta, Indonesia to meet with a group of clients to present consulting projects. I’ve known for years that travel is a passion of mine but getting exposed to industry and business culture while doing so is a twist that I couldn’t have found more rewarding … (spending spring break in Bali didn’t hurt either).
  3. Faculty and staff can really enhance the experience if you make them a part of it. Getting a master’s degree differs from getting a bachelor’s degree for a number of reasons. The most impactful reason for me is that this time, you’re an adult interacting with other adults. They understand some of the challenges that come with that. I’ve been fortunate enough to establish relationships with a few members of the staff at Kelley that have given me a lot to be thankful for when it comes time to look back on my time here. The wisdom and kindness that I’ve received will go a long way as I progress through my career and my life.

All in all, I’m confident that my decision to get an MBA from the Kelley School of Business will be well worth it; both for the reasons that I intended for it to be as well as for the reasons that I didn’t know existed.

Alumni Spotlight: Paul Alfaro Valle, MBA’2019, our first MBA/MSIS joint degree recipient

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Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background and what brought you to Kelley?

I am from Lima, Peru and have a degree in computer science from PUCP University (Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru). Before enrolling in the Kelley MBA program, I worked for several international organizations in their subsidiaries in Lima, where my work experiences were always focused on data analytics and business intelligence. What brought me to Kelley was first and foremost the passion and the pride with which fellow alumni spoke about their experiences with the program. When I was accepted into the MBA program, I felt the school really wanted me there, which was very important to me. And to be honest I did not feel the same when I was accepted into other school’s MBA programs. Furthermore, the prestige in Marketing that the school has, as well as the focus that the school was giving the analytics major were also important deciding factors. Kelley’s values strongly resonate with me and my personality—especially being in a collaborative environment, always striving for excellence, and becoming a better version of myself. Finally, the fact that it was a top 25 MBA program in the US, had relatively small classes and close faculty‐students relationships, and a beautiful campus were additional reasons to make up my mind.

Why did you decide to pursue the MBA/MSIS joint degree?

My decision to pursue an MBA was mainly to validate my business experience and solidify my career. However, I was not planning to completely switch careers—I wanted to remain in the data analytics field,  perhaps with a more marketing-oriented profile. That is why the MBA/MSIS came to me as a surprise at first but was exactly what I had been looking for. I knew the school-work burden would be heavier than just doing the MBA, but after analyzing the situation, I decided that the benefits of the program would greatly outweigh the sacrifices. And with my background in IT, I felt the program would reinforce the areas I had already studied and would update my knowledge of new technologies, practices, and frameworks. Moreover, the possibility of getting a STEM degree was very appealing since I was planning to remain in the  Data Analytics field and in most cases these roles require are STEM-oriented. Lastly, I  saw it also as an opportunity to network with people in the tech industry—a sector I wanted to break into after finishing my degree.

What sticks out to you most about how the joint MBA/MSIS prepared you professionally for your current role?

What sticks out to me the most is being able to understand how different technologies are coupled together to leverage business initiatives—whether to provide the organization flexibility, agility, efficiency or new capabilities in developing new products/services to their customers. The joint MBA/MSIS degree gave me the additional and necessary tools to speak both IT technical and business languages and to become a bridge between those two worlds, which is something many organizations are looking for in future employees.

Do you have any advice for students pursuing or considering pursuing the joint  MBA/MSIS? 

My main advice to students pursuing the joint MBA/MSIS degree is to seize the moment, learn as much as you can, and really grasp as much knowledge as you can from your professors. Talk with them, share doubts and ask for advice. And I would emphasize that they should be strategic in deciding what roles they want to pursue and how they want to get those roles and prioritize what they need to focus on to obtain them.

A Crash Course on Senior Leadership Thought Process

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Javier Angulo, MBA’20

My first week back on campus for my second year is an exciting time: catching up with old friends and making new ones, usually accompanied by, “How was your summer?” It is amazing to hear what my classmates were up to this summer – product management at big tech companies in the West Coast, weeklong assignment in London for a consulting project, designing digital strategy for a Fortune 150 subdivision, and even a post-internship trek to Machu Picchu! As I continue to answer this question myself, one theme keeps coming up: senior leadership thought process.

During my summer internship, I had the opportunity of being part of a working group which consisted of half a dozen Executive Director Level leaders. I was not only presenting my recommendations, but also we were building the project together and I got to see how these leaders approach a complex problem, what questions they ask, and equally as important, what information they discard. While a challenging experience, it was certainly the highlight of my summer. These insights are nothing new and are topics we put in practice during the MBA Program, but seeing them put in action masterfully, was impactful. Here, I would like to share three: (more…)

Pondering a Dual Degree? My JD/MBA Adventure

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Scott Miller, JD/MBA’2020

 

I have a confession, for most of my life, I never knew what an MBA was. I had heard the letters strewn together before, knew that it was an upper-level degree, I had even taken some courses at the Carlson School of Business while getting my Bachelor’s in Sport Management from the University of Minnesota. I did not fully understand (or so I thought) what an MBA degree was and what it could do for me until I was in my first year at Mauer (Indiana University, School of Law) and I made a friend enrolled in the joint JD/MBA program. I then spoke with some other friends in the law school who had considered going to get an MBA and were considering the joint program. I heard that getting an MBA would be punching your ticket to management level in business, that I better get comfortable talking to anyone about anything at any time (a.k.a. networking), and that it was going to be a lot of work.

Yes, having the initials “MBA” after your name will usually mean that you have been deemed eligible to lead others, but only because most top-programs will only accept you if you have already been a part of the workforce (i.e. 5+ years work experience) before applying.
Yes, there is a lot of networking going on in business school—with your classmates, your professors, and recruiters from company after company that you would love to work at. Although every company knows you are shopping around for the best fit, you should still treat each networking encounter and interview as if they are your #1—you never know who you will meet, intentionally or unintentionally, at b-school events.

Now that I have been through a year of B-school I can confidently say that I know what an MBA is. It’s a lot of hard work, it is more group meetings than you can count, a lot of late nights studying, while eating plenty of junk food, and it is an opportunity to realize what your potential is and who you want to be for the next chapter of your life.

For those of you contemplating a graduate degree, I would like to leave you with a few tips. Do not be afraid to be yourself; there can be a lot of pressure to mold yourself into someone you feel you are expected to be—do not succumb and remember who you are. Work hard, in everything, and you will get so many opportunities to lead, network, and to learn from your peers—take every one that you feel you can manage successfully. Lastly, please have some fun. While your future employers will appreciate that you know how to run a regression and that you understand what the words “market penetration” and “vertical integration” mean, they will also appreciate someone they can stand to work with for 40+ hours a week, so do not forget how to have a good time!

*Scott is currently interning for Walmart in the Merchandise Operations Department.

How Kelley Prepared Me: First-year to Internship

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Whitney Hamilton, MBA’20

This time last year, I was preparing to start a new chapter of my life at the Kelley School of Business. I had just quit my job in Chicago and celebrated at my going away party with friends and family. An entire year later, I look back with CORE behind me, new lifelong friends, and global experiences.

Now that I am 5 weeks into my summer internship, I get the chance to reflect on my first-year through a new lens: how it prepared me to succeed as an intern. I am thrilled to be spending my summer at Conagra as a Brand Intern. The top three things that helped me put my best foot forward during my internship are:

Professor Jonlee Andrews & Academy Projects
I was involved in the Consumer Marketing Academy (CMA) led by Jonlee Andrews. During 2nd semester we participated in an Academy Project where my classmates and I got the opportunity to work with top CPG companies (i.e. Nestle, E&J Gallo, P&G, and Scott’s) on real challenges that they are facing and deliver a recommendation. Between the practical Academy Project, and lessons from Jonlee on how to approach any project, I really got the chance to think outside the box and preview what to expect as a summer intern. My Academy Project experience really set the stage for me to succeed and I have even referred to my notes during my internship. (more…)

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