Dear Cindy – If I Get an MBA …

I have a degree in human nutrition (BSc), and now I am interested in pursuing an MBA, but I have some concerns regarding my career path. What kind of opportunities do you think it would open up for me? For instance, would I be able to be hired by a company that does not have anything to do with food and nutrition to a managerial position?

Sincerely,

D

Yes, you would be able to be hired by a company that has nothing to do with food or nutrition, but there are two things to keep in mind.

One is that having an MBA does not guarantee a management job – it's typically gained by a combination of education and experience (and, of course, being better than the competition). Another is that while having a background in a field that is different from the field in which you're applying doesn't prevent you from being hired, it puts you at a disadvantage when compared to those who do have experience in the field. "Industry experience" is usually very important in the MBA world.

Moreover, when one has experience in an industry (particularly when the person has good supervisory/management experience in that industry) and obtains an MBA, the person can typically apply for higher positions than they could when applying for a job in a different industry. For success in cross-industry placement, individuals typically have majored in or taken elective courses relevant to the new industry during their MBA program, have transferrable skills the employer is seeking, and start in entry-level or manager-trainee positions.