Ready. Aim. Hired. - & Company, Inc.* Boston Consulting Group, Inc., The (BCG)* Deloitte Consulting Ernst & Young LLP* ... Mars & Co McKinsey & Company* Parthenon EY* Peer Insight

Ready.

Aim.

Hired. Career Guide 101

Updated May 2016 2014

Career Guide 101 |2

Table of Contents

Introduction .............................................................................................. 3

Overview ................................................................................................................................................... 4

Are You Ready? ......................................................................................................................................... 5

The MBA Job Market ................................................................................ 6

Employment Statistics at Darden .............................................................................................................. 7

Class of 2015 Full-time Hiring Companies by Industry .............................................................................. 9

Class of 2016 Internship Hiring Companies by Industry ......................................................................... 11

The MBA Job Search ............................................................................. 13

Meet the CDC ......................................................................................................................................... 14

READY. AIM. HIRED ................................................................................................................................ 17

Career Education .................................................................................................................................... 18

Process and Tools ................................................................................................................................... 24

FY Timeline ............................................................................................................................................. 27

The MBA Student Perspective .............................................................. 30

Testimonials ........................................................................................................................................... 31

Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................................... 57

Getting Started - Your Checklist ........................................................... 64

Career Guide 101 |3

Introduction

Introduction

Career Guide 101 |4

Overview

Welcome to Darden. You have come to Darden to take the next step in your career and we are here to

help you do just that.

At Darden, you will have a number of competing priorities, including classes, friends, family, and giving

back to the community. The Career Development Center supports you in conducting a job search that

minimizes distractions, keeps you on track, and helps you accomplish your ultimate career goal.

You will be Ready with an understanding of who you are and your unique value proposition;

You will take Aim by developing a set of realistic targets; and

You will get Hired by effectively marketing yourself to your targets.

MBA recruiters will be on-Grounds as early as September. This Career Guide will provide information and

set the foundation needed in order to be successful in your search.

Start now and take control of your search – so you can be Ready. Aim. Hired.

Introduction

Career Guide 101 |5

1 During my two years at Darden, I will have ample time to explore a variety of career options.

2 The first step for a job seeker is to update his/her resume.

3 Storytelling in the job search is telling someone what they want to hear, even if it is not true.

4 With the proliferation of LinkedIn, some Darden students no longer need a resume.

5 Networking is a nuanced, but effective, way of asking someone for a job.

6 I don’t need to spend too much time selling myself. My strong track record speaks for itself.

7 Applying to multiple job postings at the same company is one of the most effective ways to get an interview.

Are You Ready? Answer the questions below. Don’t spend too much time on each question. Go with your gut.

# Question Answer

True or False

True or False

True or False

True or False

True or False

True or False

True or False

Answers: All are FALSE. Are you surprised? If yes, keep reading!

Career Guide 101 |6

The MBA Job Market

As you know, your admission to Darden provides you with a wide range of career opportunities to explore in the MBA job market. Though the financial crisis of 2008 led to dramatic changes in the market, growth across most sectors means your classmates and you will be sought out by companies needing top MBA talent to help achieve their strategic and tactical goals. Your success in taking advantage of the growing market will be based in large part on understanding companies' specific needs for MBAs and how your skills, abilities, and qualifications will meet them. Whether that company is a well-known, global corporation that has hired MBAs for decades or a start-up that you discover, the market requires that you meet the "buyers' needs" and showcase how your talents will help them.

The following provides an overview of the Darden MBA market over the past year and where Darden graduates and interns work to meet companies' needs. Note: Employment data for the Class of 2016 will not be available until late September.

Career Guide 101 |7

The MBA Job Market

Employment Statistics at Darden

Class of 2015 Full-time Compensation by Industry

INDUSTRY PERCENT AVERAGE BASE

SALARY AVERAGE SIGNING

BONUS

Consulting 29 $137,039 $26,073

Consumer Packaged Goods 7 102,632 21,875

Energy 3 111,400 18,750

Financial Services 30 119,215 38,733

Investment Banking 19 122,358 45,288

Investment Mgmt/Portfolio Mgmt 4 111,444 15,714

Other Financial Services 7 113,529 27,500

Government 1 90,374 15,000

Manufacturing 5 107,642 22,917

Nonprofit/Education 1 101,250 N/A

Pharma/Biotech/Health Care 4 95,000 16,929

Real Estate 1 106,667 30,000

Technology 15 113,005 30,763


TOTAL 100% $119,819 $29,634

Class of 2015 Full-time Compensation by Job Function

JOB FUNCTION PERCENT AVERAGE BASE

SALARY AVERAGE SIGNING

BONUS

Consulting (includes internal) 32 $133,929 $26,656

Finance 31 118,177 38,945

Corporate Finance 9 113,884 32,159

Investment Banking 16 122,609 45,444

Investment Management 3 110,625 22,000


General Management 21 110,861 22,678

Business Development/Strategic Planning

4 106,859 14,875

Executive Development/Leadership Program

10 114,929 25,020

Operations 2 120,600 31,200

Other General Management 6 102,107 17,143

Marketing 10 105,180 23,482

Other 6 108,636 24,000

TOTAL 100% $119,819 $29,634

Career Guide 101 |8

The MBA Job Market

Class of 2016 Internship Compensation by Industry

INDUSTRY PERCENT AVG WEEKLY INCOME

Consulting 22 $2,484

Consumer Products 11 1,516

Energy 1 1,457

Financial Services 30 2,121

Investment Banking 16 2,372

Investment Mgmt/Portfolio Mgmt 3 1,919

Other Financial Services 11 1,604

Manufacturing 7 1,633

Media/Entertainment 2 992

Nonprofit/Education 2 671

Pharma/Biotech/Health Care 3 1,398

Real Estate 1 569

Technology 16 1,600

Transportation 2 1,419

Other 2 1,860

TOTAL 100% $1,900

Class of 2016 Internship Compensation by Job Function

JOB FUNCTION PERCENT AVG WEEKLY INCOME

Consulting 26 $2,296

Finance 31 2,098

Corporate Finance 8 1,698

Investment Banking 16 2,370

Investment/Portfolio Management 4 1,836

Other Financial Services 2 2,044

General Management 23 1,468

Business Development/Strategic Planning 6 1,116

Executive Development/Leadership Program 6 1,978

Operations 3 1,646

Other General Management 9 1,320

Marketing 14 1,556

Other 4 1,470

TOTAL 100% $1,900

Career Guide 101 |9

The MBA Job Market

Class of 2015 Full-time Hiring Companies by Industry

*Hired at least one student who does not have permanent U.S. work authorization.

If company name is blue, the company recruits at Darden through on-Grounds interview

Consulting A.T. Kearney, Inc.* Accenture Avalere Health Bain & Company, Inc.* Boston Consulting Group, Inc., The (BCG)* Deloitte Consulting Ernst & Young LLP* Everest Group* Fidelity Business Consulting (FBC) First Annapolis Consulting inCode Consulting* Mars & Co McKinsey & Company* Parthenon EY* Peer Insight PwC* Schlumberger Business Consulting* Strategy& (formerly Booz & Co.) ZS Associates

Consumer Products Anheuser- Busch InBev (ABi) Campbell Soup Company Colgate-Palmolive Company* E. & J. Gallo Winery General Mills, Inc. Johnson & Johnson L'Oreal* Mattel, Inc.* New Balance Vipshop* Whirlpool

Energy AES Corporation* Chevron PPL Electric Utilities UGI Corporation / AmeriGas

Financial Services Bank of America* Bank of Montreal Barclays* Citi* Confidential* Credit Suisse

Crestline Investors Deutsche Bank* Eastdil Secured Fortress Investment Group Goldman, Sachs & Co. Harris Williams & Co. Houlihan Lokey J.P. Morgan Jefferies LLC* Lazard Middle Market Legal & General Investment Management Liberty Mutual M&T Bank Manulife Asset Management MetLife Investments* Morgan Stanley MUFG Americas Nomura* PEAK6 Investments* Pimco Prudential RBC Bank* Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc. Rothschild, Inc.* Starr Companies* T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Tenaska Capital Management The London Company of Virginia UCAP Investment Advisors* USAA Vanguard Wells Fargo Securities World Bank, The*

Government Federal Bureau of Investigation Mexican Federal Electricity Commission* U.S. Department of Treasury

Manufacturing 3M Cargill, Inc. Celanese* DuPont Eastman Chemical Company* Eaton Corporation EBSCO Industries General Motors Company* Tranlin*

Pharma/Biotech/Healthcare Amgen BD* Bionexo* Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield CIGNA Corporation DaVita Mayo Clinic Medtronic University of Virginia Health System

Real Estate

Caves Valley Partners Inspirato Jones Lang LaSalle Retail Home Depot, The* Target Corporation

Technology

Amazon.com, Inc.* Cisco Systems, Inc. Danaher Corporation* Dell, Inc.* Evolution Finance Expedia.com Google Hewlett-Packard Inc. (HP) IBM LQD WiFi MasterCard* Microsoft Corp.* PsiKick Samsung Global Strategy Group* Twitter Uber

Transportation

American Airlines, Inc.* HD Supply UPS (United Parcel Service)

Career Guide 101 |10

The MBA Job Market

Class of 2016 Internship Hiring Companies by Industry

*Hired at least one student who does not have permanent U.S. work authorization.

If company name is blue, the company recruits at Darden through on-Grounds interview

Consulting A.T. Kearney, Inc.* Accenture Bain & Company, Inc.* Boston Consulting Group, Inc., The (BCG)* Censeo Consulting Group Deloitte Consulting* Ernst & Young LLP Fidelity Business Consulting (FBC) FTI Consulting Interbrand L.E.K. Consulting McKinsey & Company* Promontory Financial Group Prophet PwC* Schlumberger Business Consulting* Strategy& (formerly Booz & Co.) STS ZS Associates

Consumer Products American Juice Company Anheuser- Busch InBev (ABi)* Campbell Soup Company Caribe Juices Coca-Cola Company, The Dr. Pepper Snapple Group E. & J. Gallo Winery General Mills, Inc. Johnson & Johnson Land O' Lakes L'Oreal* PepsiCo PureMadi Seventh Generation Under Armour Walmart eCommerce

Energy DreamPower LLC* Exelon ExxonMobil Corporation NextEra Energy, Inc.

Financial Services Admiral Group (Admiral

Group/Elephant Insurance/Compare.com)* Aetna, Inc. American Express Co. Arpex Capital* Bank of America Bank of America Merrill Lynch Barclays* BNY Mellon Corporation Citi Institutional Clients Group Citi* Clearview Investments Credit Suisse* Deloitte Investment Banking Deutsche Bank* Eaton Vance Investment Managers Evercore Partners Fidelity Investments Goldman, Sachs & Co. Harris Williams & Co. HBM Holdings Houlihan Lokey Invesco Itaú Unibanco* J.P. Morgan* Jefferies LLC* Liberty Mutual M&T Bank Macquarie Capital* MetLife Investments Moelis & Company Morgan Stanley New City Capital* Nomura* PlusTick Partners Progressive Insurance Raymond James Financial, Inc.* Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc. Rothschild, Inc.* Scottish American Sirios Capital Management SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Thornburg Investment Management UBS Investment Bank VRA Partners, LLC Wellington Management Company LLP Wells Fargo Securities

Government Federal Financial Supervisory

Authority U.S. Department of Treasury

Manufacturing 3M Amcor* Cargill, Inc.* Corning Inc.* Crane Co.* Cummins, Inc.* DuPont Eastman Chemical Company* Ford Motor Company General Motors Company Gulfstream Aerospace Tranlin* WestRock (formerly

MeadWestvaco)*

Pharma/Biotech/Healthcare Cavion* Celgene Eli Lilly and Company* Gilead Sciences* Harpoon Medical Medtronic Pfizer Inc. (Consumer Healthcare)

Real Estate

First Potomac Realty Trust West End Capital Partners Retail Cencosud SA* Coach* Home Depot, The* VinConnect Inc.* Technology Adobe Systems Inc. Amazon.com, Inc.* BVIP - HiComm* Danaher Corporation* Emerson* Fitbit Google* IBM* LeadGenius* MasterCard Microsoft Corp.* myFinancialAnswers Playphone


PsiKick Red Hat, Inc. Shutterfly* Symantec TypeZero* Uber* VMware WillowTree Apps

Transportation

American Airlines, Inc. UPS (United Parcel Service) Voyage Control


The MBA Job Search


The MBA Job Search

Meet the CDC

Darden’s Career Development Center (CDC) is dedicated to enabling career success, one opportunity at

a time. The CDC takes a unique approach by delivering an integrated, relevant slate of career education

programming and resources to meet MBA students’ needs. We offer resources that are personalized,

flexible, and provide active learning and practice opportunities, including one-on-one career advising, a

CDC Second Year Coach, workshops, and extensive recruiting preparation and support.

CDC Mission

To enhance Darden’s leadership position by:

• Helping students develop a foundation for career management success;

• Building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with companies;

• Aligning student, company, and Darden enterprise goals.

Career Advisors

Why do I need a Career Advisor?

A Career Advisor helps you establish career goals and develop a career plan for which you will be held

accountable. Career Advisors offer unbiased advice.

What can I expect from my Career Advisor?

A Career Advisor guides you through the job search process but does not place you in your next role. He

or she provides a confidential and non-judgmental environment in which to give you direct constructive

feedback while remaining supportive of your career goals. A Career Advisor supports you in:

• Increasing self-awareness;

• Exploring career options;

• Developing a career plan;

• Making career decisions; and more.

How often can I meet with my Career Advisor?

On average, MBAs meet with their Career Advisor three to five times (depending on job search needs)

during the first year. Meetings are typically 45 minutes long. Below is a sample meeting schedule. Each

session begins with objectives setting and often ends with an action plan and tangible next steps.

Session/Date Focus Desired Outcomes

Meeting #1 Ready: Career Kick-off Career Objective

Target Company List

Career Plan

Meeting #2 Aim: Marketing Materials Finalization of Your Story,

Resume, or Cover Letter

Meeting #3 Hired: Interviewing Interview Feedback


The MBA Job Search

The Career Advising Team

Nine members of the Career Education and Advising team, plus the Assistant Dean for Career

Development, stand ready to support you in your job search.

Chequeta Allen

Assistant Dean for Career Development

Education: B.S., Carnegie Mellon University; MBA, Mason School of Business

Kristen Davis

Program & Office Manager

Education: B.S., Old Dominion University

Denise Karaoli

Career Advisor: International & Diversity

Education: B.S., California Polytechnic State University; M.A. University of Kent

S. Kellogg Leliveld

Career Advisor: Consulting, Strategy, Non-Traditional

Education: B.S., University of Michigan; MBA; University of Chicago

Jeff Leopold

Career Advisor: Executive MBA & Global MBA programs

Education: BSE, Wharton School of Business; MBA, Kellogg School of Management

James Collins, Ph.D.

Career Advisor: Executive MBA & Global MBA programs

Education: B.A., University of Notre Dame; Ph.D., Weatherhead School of Management

Amanda Panarese

Career Advisor: Marketing, Technology

Education: B.A., University of Virginia; MBA, Georgia Southern University

Margaret Weeks

Career Advisor: General Management & Operations, Mission-Driven

Education: B.A., College of Wooster; M.Ed., University of Virginia

Ed Yu

Career Advisor: Finance, Investment Banking

Education: B.A., University of Pennsylvania; MBA, Booth School of Business

Reid Thompson

Career Advisor: Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Private Wealth, Private Equity, General Management

Education: B.A., Washington & Lee University; MBA, Darden School of Business

Employer Relations Managers

Six members of the Employer Relations team manage relationships with Darden recruiters. Debra Rizzo

Director of Employer Relations & Business Development

Education: B.A., Mary Baldwin College

Angela Antenucci

Assistant Director, Employer Relations


The MBA Job Search

Education: B.S., California State University

Pamela Cline

Employer Relations Manager

Education: B.A., Mary Washington University

Shavone Dudley

Employer Relations Manager

Education: B.S., Radford University

Tiffany Gutshall

Assistant Director, Business Development

Education: B.A., Hollins University; M.A., Hollins University

Jeffrey Bean

Technology and Corporate Communications Manager

Education: B.A., University of Virginia


The MBA Job Search

CDC Second Year Coaches

All full-time MBAs are paired with a CDC Second Year Coach. Having just completed the job search and a

summer internship, Second Year Coaches:

• Are qualified by the CDC and work closely with Career Advisors;

• Serve as a “go-to” person for career advice;

• Bring recent, real-world experiences in the job market; and

• Offer constructive feedback that is tailored to you and your job search.

EMBAs and GEMBAs do not receive CDC Second Year Coaches but are encouraged to form career

teams with classmates who are also conducting a job search.

Getting Started: Career Kick-off Meeting

You have the opportunity to engage in your first conversation with a Career Advisor during your Career

Kick-off meeting which can be held as early as June 13th. The purpose of this meeting is to share your

career goals, set direction, and develop a plan for achieving them. If you have career-related questions

that you need addressed prior to your meeting, email your question to

[email protected].

mailto:[email protected]


The MBA Job Search

A key theme runs throughout the comprehensive set of career services at Darden: Ready. Aim. Hired. Ready

Darden strives to develop graduates who are ready to lead and that starts with you. What does it mean to

get ready?

• Career Advisors meet with you within two months of Orientation to help plan your career course.

• A CDC Second Year Coach1

is provided to help you during your FY job search.

• Career Discovery Forums and Industry Panels allow you to explore different career paths and industries.

• Core workshops enhance foundational skills and provide specific, actionable results.

Aim

When crafting your career, it’s important to focus in order to hit your target. How can you take aim?

• Tools like CareerLeader help you select areas of interest, identify strengths, and discover (or reaffirm) where you should focus your search.

• Vault, WetFeet, Glassdoor, Hoovers, Bloomberg and other tools enable you to research industries, functions, companies, and positions in order to narrow your options.

• Some Darden Alumni are available to conduct informational interviews and gauge your fit.

• Second Year Coaches and/or Career Advisors help you tailor your story, resume, or cover letter to your audience.

• Choice workshops provide more insight and expertise in the areas in which you’re passionate.

Hired

You’re ready, you’ve taken aim. How does Darden help you get hired?

• Company Briefings and Networking Nights provide ample opportunities to network with on- Grounds recruiting companies.

• Core workshops on interview skills help you make a great impression and communicate your value. Career Advisors and Second Year Coaches hold mock interviews to help you practice.

• Dedicated on-Grounds recruiting weeks provide the opportunity to solely focus on recruiting.

• Select companies post job opportunities with Darden to recruit top MBA talent.

• Career fairs, that are held in different locations nationally, provide opportunities to network and interview with top companies.

• Job Treks including Week on Wall Street give you an in-person opportunity to visit companies, network with company representatives, and get a taste of life in a particular location.

• The Batten Venture Internship Program (BVIP) matches entrepreneurship-minded students with start-up companies to provide summer internships in the world of entrepreneurship and venture capital.

1 For MBAs, not EMBAs or GEMBAs.


The MBA Job Search

Career Education

When you graduate from Darden, we know that you will be ready to take on the challenges and

opportunities of the business world. Career Education at Darden is designed to help you prepare for your

future and take charge of your career.

Darden’s Career Development Center (CDC) takes a unique approach to Career Education. This

approach is rooted in deep involvement and input from students, delivering an integrated, relevant slate of

career education and preparation resources.

Program Design

Career Education is driven by students’ voices and is delivered with your needs, your career, and your

time in mind, offering:

• Personalization: workshops and resources that are tailored to your unique needs and search

• Flexibility: workshops offered at multiple times and in various formats for in-person or on-the-go

engagement in order to fit your demanding schedule

• Navigation: a roadmap to guide you through the specialized world of MBA recruiting, as well as

tools to track progress along the way

• Accountability: a clear picture of expectations and milestones for success in career search

• Active Learning: workshops that are hands-on and provide an opportunity to actually get work

done while in the classroom

Program Offerings

A series of sessions cover both necessary skills and specialized knowledge for your search.

• Core W orkshops are strongly encouraged for all students in the job search process, and build

skills in foundational areas of career search such as networking, resumes, cover letters, and

behavioral interview prep. These workshops are delivered by CDC Career Advisors and CDC

SY Coaches.

• Choice W orkshops are designed with specific industries, functions, or competencies in mind that

allow you to build more specific skills in addition to those acquired in the core workshops. These

workshops are delivered by a combination of CDC Career Advisors, students, clubs, and outside

experts. Choice workshops allow you to enhance and customize your career education according

to your interests and needs.

• All W orkshops have been developed to foster engagement and deliver tangible results; for

example, you’ll come out of the resume core with a working copy of your resume, or have your

30-second pitch completed after the telling your story core.

• Online Resources, such as Canvas and the CDC portal, are available with tutorial videos and

resources, so you can manage your career learning anytime, anywhere.


The MBA Job Search

Core

Core workshops are designed to meet the needs of all students and provide the foundation for building

effective job search skills. The seven core workshops are strongly encouraged for all Darden MBAs,

regardless of career objective, and provide a foundation for additional Choice workshops.

The Core workshops are offered to full-time MBAs in the fall to align with on-Grounds recruiting.

Executive MBAs will have Core workshops in the spring to best align with the academic calendar and

first-year program demands. Both schedules are provided below.

The MBA Job Search


The MBA Job Search


Choice

In addition to the Core workshops, you may select from a variety of Choice workshops across four

categories. These Choice workshops will be led by a combination of Career Advisors, career clubs and

topic experts. Please note that Choice workshops are subject to change, based on student interest and

instructor availability.

The MBA Job Search


Darden Career Clubs

In addition to the Choice workshops listed above, student clubs and companies hold various events on-

Grounds that will provide additional support for your job search. Find a list of the Career Clubs below as

well as a list of events that have been offered in the past , but could be subject to change. Connect with

the clubs and/or companies to find more information about the specific offerings.

Career Clubs

Career Club

Business Design & Innovation

Business & Public Policy

Consulting Club

Darden Capital Management

Darden Emerging Marketing Development Club

Darden Private Equity Club

Darden Technology Club

Education Club

Energy Club

Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club

Emerging Markets Development Club

Finance Club

General Management & Operations Club

Health Care Club

Marketing Club

Media, Entertainment and Sports

Net Impact

Real Estate Club

Retail & Luxury Goods Club

Toastmastmasters

Turn Around & Restructuring Club

The MBA Job Search


Clubs and Company Events

Club-led Company-led

Various Industry Conferences Deloitte Case Challenge

Darden Journey Map BCG Case Interview Workshop

Pitch & Concept Development AT Kearney Case Interviewing

Stock Pitch Competition Bain Case Interview Workshop

Off-Grounds Networking Pfizer Product Management

Crafting Your Portfolio Campbell’s Brand Management 101

Ohrvall Crack the Case Target Buyer’s 101

Mock Interviews GE B2B 101

Women & Business Dinner General Mills First Wednesday’s

Training the Street J&J Retail Day

Consulting Boot Camp Citi Interview Prep.

Brand Challenge Danaher Interview Prep.

Venture Capital 101 Deutsche Bank Anatomy of a Deal

Chevron Oil & Gas 101

Schlumberger Industry Review

Booz Energy Lecture

Harris Williams PE 101

The MBA Job Search


Process and Tools

Where are you going? What is your passion? How will you

obtain your career goals?

With a Darden MBA, you are ready for anything.

The Typical Process

Darden employs a comprehensive three-step approach to

career decision making.

Job Search Process

Step 1 Know Yourself

Purpose Who are you, and what kind of career fits you the best? Having a concise answer to this question is the first and most important step in the career search process. If you do not have a specific professional goal in mind, finding a job will be very difficult – and no one can efficiently assist you!

Questions to Ask Yourself

• Who will support me in making career advancement decisions?

• What cultures are strong fits for me?

• What is my potential future career objective?

Results Career Advisory Board CareerLeader Self- Assessment

Career Objective

Job Search Process Step 2

Know the Market

Purpose The purpose of Phase 2: Know the Market is to better understand where you can achieve your career objective. The number one complaint from recruiters about students in general is that students don't do enough research to understand their company and the opportunities within that company.


• In which industries should I work?

• Which function is a good match?

• Which companies would be engaging?

• Which positions offer a strong fit?

Results Research Data Informational Interviews

Career Plan

The MBA Job Search


Job Search Process

Step 3 Market Yourself

Purpose The key to effectively marketing yourself is to put yourself in the mind of the hiring manager and/or recruiter. What problem is he/she trying to solve? What are the job requirements? What are your most relevant skills and experiences? How will you best convey these transferrable skills to the potential employer?


• How do I effectively network?

• How do I position my resume and cover letter?

• How do I master the interview?

• Do I (how do I) negotiate a job offer?

Results Networking Encounters

Targeted Resumes and Cover Letters

Interview Preparation

Offers

Job Search Tools

Four primary career tools enable a successful job search at Darden:

1. Canvas is Darden’s learning

management system for courses,

including Career Education. Career

Core and Choice workshop materials

can be found here along with other

career resources.

2. Employment Data System (EDS) is

Darden’s system for capturing student

employment information. This database

has rich employment information for

students including hiring company

information, salary and compensation

data, and interview questions and tips. All Darden students are required to create an account

and report their internship and full-time offer information.

3. Career Management System (CMS) is your application for signing up for recruiting events and

Career Education workshops, submitting your resume and cover letter for on-Grounds job

opportunities and researching on-Grounds companies.

4. The Darden CDC Portal is your gateway to the information you need to effectively conduct a

MBA job search. The portal houses the process described above and the most relevant job

search tools.

In addition to the tools described above, a comprehensive job search toolkit is available to you as a

Darden MBA. In the table below, you will find a subset of the toolkit – the tools that are the most relevant

to you today. The table includes the tool names, descriptions, and recommended uses.

The MBA Job Search


*If you plan to conduct a job search during the first year of the program, you are encouraged to

complete CareerLeader and format your resume according to the preferred Darden style prior to

the end of First Week.

Know Develop a Get Local or Deepen Prepare for Research a Research Yourself List of Regional Industry an Interview Company Salaries

Employers Information Knowledge

Name of Tool Description Recommended Use(s)

CareerLeader* Assesses your interests, skills, and motivators and maps them to potential MBA career paths (Darden registration key is “virginia-snapshot”)

Career Vision Image Gathering Exercise

Evokes images of your career vision and invites clarity around what’s next through a 20-minute exercise from Dr. Tim Butler of Harvard Business School

Darden’s Employment Report

Analyzes employment by function, industry, and geography as well as provides salary statistics (for full-time MBAs only)

Glassdoor.com Shares information about jobs, salaries, company reviews, and interesting interview questions for thousands of companies, worldwide

Going Global Provides country-specific and USA city-specific career and employment information in both online and printed guidebook formats

LinkedIn Is the largest online professional network, connecting you to Darden students, staff, faculty, and alumni around the world

MBA-Exchange Enables industry research, company research, and networking while searching for jobs and creating job alerts

WetFeet Provides job search articles and guides for specific industries and functions

Vault Delivers employer profiles and rankings, industry blogs, and a job board, plus over 120 print and digital career guidebooks

http://www.careerleader.com/

http://www.careerleader.com/gettingunstuck/gu_more_exercises_01.html

http://www.careerleader.com/gettingunstuck/gu_more_exercises_01.html

http://www.darden.virginia.edu/uploadedFiles/Darden_Web/Content/Rec_Co/Hire_an_MBA/Employment_Report_15-16.pdf

http://www.darden.virginia.edu/uploadedFiles/Darden_Web/Content/Rec_Co/Hire_an_MBA/Employment_Report_15-16.pdf

http://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm

http://www.goinglobal.com/

http://www.linkedin.com/

http://www.mba-exchange.com/Candidates/mba_jobs_job_search.php

https://www.wetfeet.com/

http://www.vault.com/

The MBA Job Search


Vault Guide: Sample Report Below is sample page of a Vault Guide report. Vault is a great resource for researching MBA career

paths and gaining additional insight on what it is like to work in a given field and/or role.

The MBA Job Search

FY Timeline

Two great years of your

life begin. You are

settled in Charlottesville

and school has begun.

Companies will be

visiting Grounds in just

a couple of weeks.

Attend the “Networking”

Career Education

session to prepare for

success.

Ready to talk with

someone about your

A lot of your peers are

scheduling 20-minute

networking calls every

other afternoon. Are

you?

Club conferences

are taking place.

Attend!

You are meeting people every

day. Attend the “Telling Your

Story” session to ensure you

make a great first impression.

Career Search? Attend

your CDC Kick-off

Meeting with a Career

Advisor.

Polish your resume and cover

letters with SY Coaches and at

various CDC / club events.

AUG SEPT OCT NOV

The first few weeks are

intense, but attend the

various industry panels to

soak up as much

information as possible.

Do I really want to

join clubs and pay

dues? YES!

Your CDC SY

Coach is assigned.

Work on your 2-

minute pitch.

First briefing week

begins. Don’t spread

yourself too thinly, and

remember to use this

Closed list events

begin. Are you

tracking well with

your firms? If not,

you need to start

making some calls

and/or backup

plans. Great time to

meet with your CA.

Invaluable resources time wisely even if you

aren’t attending

company briefings.

Arrive at Darden. Have

your Darden-formatted

resume complete and

Career Leader results

ready. Time to get

serious about what you

want to do.

Need some additional help with your

search or certain skills? Attend

Career Education Choice sessions.


The MBA Job Search


Not doing on-Grounds interviews? Spend your time

networking and contacting companies. Use your

time wisely. Remember, everyone’s search is

different. Not every company will hire in January or

February.

Notice how this part of the

timeline is unique? That’s

because everyone’s search is

different!

Time to get serious

about interview prep.

Schedule a mock with a

CA and work with your

peers! Don’t wait until

you get back from

break.

Stay calm if you haven’t landed

your summer job yet–you are

not alone, and this is not a bad

thing. Your time will come.

DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY

Drop resumes and

cover letters for on-

Grounds companies

in which you are

interested.

On-Grounds interviews take

place for summer

internships. Remember that

there are different interview

timelines for each function.

This is not going to be the

same for everyone.

Everyone is breathing

and smiling again. You

have completed your first

year at Darden. BE

PROUD of yourself!

Enjoy some downtime

before your internship.

Take advantage of the job

treks, especially if you are

interested in non-traditional

companies–go make some

connections.

No offers from on-

Grounds? That’s OK. Put

your Plan B into action–it

will work out.


The MBA Student Perspective

Now that you have seen at a glance what to expect from your job search at Darden, read these

testimonials from students who have completed their first year at Darden and provided their perspectives.

As always, remember that while aspects of the job search will be the same for everyone, each search is

unique and it is up to you to take charge of your career goals and make your search what you want it to

be.



Testimonials SOUMIT BANERJEE, DARDEN ‘15

Age | 33

Relationship | Married

From | Gurgaon, India

Undergrad | Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi ‘05

Degree | Bachelor of Technology (Civil Engineering)

Prior Work 1 | Senior Analyst (5 years)

Prior Work 2 | Analyst (2 years)

Prior Work 3 | Associate Engineer - UNIX (1 year)

Summer | Microsoft (Seattle)

Darden | President – Darden Photography Club, VP Alumni and

Corporate – Darden South Asia Society, Marketing Club,

Consulting Club

ARRIVING

PREPARED

In my opinion, it helps a great deal to have a good grasp on the short term

career objective even before classes begin. Having worked as an IT services

industry analyst for more than seven years before business school, I was

clear that I wanted to stay close to technology. Before coming to Darden I had

multiple conversations with students and alums on tech recruiting at Darden.

Through those conversations, I learned of the importance of networking on

my own in order to ensure a broad range of technology opportunities.

BRACE

YOURSELF

Darden FY curriculum is tough! There is a lot to absorb and it takes a very

diligent daily cadence to stay abreast of coursework. With three cases a day,

each taking multiple hours to prepare, plus recruiting, and not to mention the

social calendar, one’s hands are more than full. I would echo pretty much

everyone else in saying that good time management is the key and trade-

offs will need to be made. That said, I felt these first few months at Darden,

prepared me for a busy career in the near future, perhaps like nothing else I

have ever experienced.

DARK

NOVEMBER

November was tough indeed, but maybe not as “black” as January. The

coursework picked up pace, with advanced concepts and more complex

business cases. I decided to recruit with technology firms as well as

consulting firms with technology as a core practice area. That meant

attending scores of briefings, networking sessions, office hours, and

corresponding with several key contacts at those firms through email and

telephone calls. Just juggling the calendar became a part time job. January

on the other hand was “interview season”. Tech interviews continued well

into the curricular calendar, but my helpful learning team members pitched in

for me, greatly helping with the stress.



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

Winter break was a mix of fun and networking. I went on the West Coast Job

Trek – Seattle and Silicon Valley, and visited companies such as Google,

Microsoft, Amazon, Expedia, EBay, and Yahoo. Walking the hallowed

corridors of such pioneers of innovation really motivated me to get back to the

west coast for the summer. I began preparing for case and behavioral

interviews as these formats are popular with consulting as well as technology

firms and I was recruiting for both. It helped a lot to schedule time with SY

students and Career Advisors for mock cases, as I found these sessions

closely resemble the actual experience.

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

January is really the big crunch at Darden. For companies that follow the

CDC mandated structure on campus, Round 1 interview experiences are

hassle-free, just go to the designated room. For the Round 2 interviews, one

usually needs to travel to the recruiting offices. The real challenge, though,

is managing your emotions and keeping calm. Going by the conversion

ratios of job-application to offers, chances are very high that you will have to

court disappointment at times. The key is to pick yourself up, pat off the dust

and keep going. It is way easier said than done, but I made myself realize

that being rejected by a company was not reflective of my true abilities, but

merely a case of better mutual fit with one of my peers. My second year

career coach also provided necessary guidance and emotional support

helping me stay on course.

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

It was not until the middle of February that I had my first job offer at Microsoft.

It was for a role that I had envisioned myself playing, so I was very happy with

the development. Soon afterwards, I was lucky to get my second offer from

Google. I had to decide fast and chose to go with Microsoft for two reasons.

One, the role at Microsoft fit me like a glove, and two, Microsoft has a

structured internship program with the possibility of the summer role

converting into a full-time offer.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

Again, knowing early on what role you want to play after business school is a

big step in the right direction. This alone helped me be careful and keep my

basket of networking targets manageable. You run the risk of spreading

yourself too thin if you choose to keep postponing this crucial step. Tons of

companies visit campus, and networking and later interview prep could

become a significant drag on time. On the other hand, knowing who you are

and what you want to do helps you best position yourself during networking

and interviews. Also, Darden is a network of people. Give yourself the time to

socialize and develop those deep bonds for life.



BRANDON CHINN, DARDEN ‘15

ARRIVING

PREPARED

Age | 27

Relationship | Partnered

From | Richmond, VA

Undergrad | Brown University ‘09

Degree | Commerce, Organizations and Entrepreneurship

Prior Work 1 | ZocDoc.com Senior Enterprise Associate

Prior Work 2 | Actor

Summer | Prophet Consulting (Atlanta)

Darden | GLAD President, Darden Blogger, Marketing Club, GLAD

Section Rep

Over the spring and summer, I had several honest conversations with myself

about what I wanted out of my life and career. I took all the personality

assessments the CDC offers to jumpstart that thinking. Being able to cross

options off your career list, is just as valuable as circling options. Crossing off

finance, and traditional management consulting firms saved me hours! I was

able to decide I needed a creative element to my work, which helped me

narrow down roles and companies quickly.

BRACE

YOURSELF

You can’t do it all and will have to prioritize. Each week, I found myself able to

focus on only two out of these three things: academics, career work, and my

personal life. Warn your family and friends about how busy you’ll be for those

weeks when ‘personal life’ sits on the back burner. I started reading industry

blogs, newspapers, magazines etc. on the weekends as fodder for interview

questions.

DARK

NOVEMBER

My recruiting timeline was pretty spread out. Marketing roles don’t seem to

“bunch-in” November the way other industries do. I had one recruiting heavy

week every month from October to February. I felt the effects of the ‘dark

months’ in learning team though. Tackling a tough finance case when all your

finance experts are at a recruiting event for the night means you’ll have to

spend another hour in your learning team room working through your

spreadsheets. They returned the favor in February when I was busy and they

had offers.



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

You can have plenty of frills over your winter break! Spend time with your

family and friends and be sure to unplug from Darden-life so you can

recharge. I took one week for myself to rest, and then the week before my

first on-Grounds interview, I started getting back into the interview mindset. I

did company research, rehearsed my stories for behavioral questions, and

crafted my responses to technical questions. Be sure to use the STAR format

and be brief with your bullet points. I practiced with friends over dinner and

beers. It’s a great way to break the ice and get over the awkwardness of

talking about yourself for half an hour.

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

If you’ve adequately practiced with other people (not by yourself) then

interviews should be a breeze. Take a breath and relax. Stressing only

makes the process more painful for everyone. A confident, relaxed and

congenial demeanor served me well in interviews. Also, hour long interviews

can stack up and become especially difficult once third term classes start.

Deciding not to drop resumes or bid on some companies gave me more time

to focus on the companies I really cared about. Waiting to hear back can be a

pain and stressful, but try to sort what you can change and what you cannot.

Focus on the former and forget about the latter.

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

I was lucky to receive a decent off-Grounds offer over winter break, which

helped me shake that feeling of desperation heading into January interviews.

That offer also gave me a baseline to compare and weigh other offers and

opportunities. For me, the decision over which internship to accept was by far

more stressful that the interviews, and the calls I had to make thereafter were

much more challenging. Once I signed paperwork I did notice a significant

weight off my shoulders. It then came right back once I realized how behind I

was with Term 4 classes.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

Practice talking about yourself. Find your passions and learn to talk about

them passionately. Being interested makes you interesting. A summer improv

comedy class is better practice for interviews than an accounting class. Think

about that before you pay hundreds of dollars for any prep classes over the

summer. The MBA recruiting process has many implicit rules and norms, but

between your career coach, career advisor, the rest of the CDC, your

professors and all the second years, you’ll have plenty of advice and

guidance. Lastly, practice with people and ask for feedback. You’ll interview

for the rest of your life, so get good at it here. Also, take it easy.



ADAM D’LUZANSKY, DARDEN ‘15

ARRIVING

PREPARED

Age | 27


From | Flagstaff, Arizona

Undergrad | Claremont McKenna College, ‘08

Degree | B.A. Economics, B.A Government

Prior Work 1 | Management Consultant (2 yrs)

Prior Work 2 | Public Affairs Consultant (3 yrs)

Summer | The Vanguard Group (PA)

Darden | Honor Support Officer, Job Trek Co-Lead, UVA Undergraduate

Mentor, Darden Christian Fellowship President

Before I came to Darden, I spent two years debating whether I should even

go to business school. When I finally decided, I approached the transition

with a clear sense of purpose. My goal was to transition from consulting into

a general management role, but I didn’t have a strong affinity for any function

or industry. I spent hours using LinkedIn Premium to reach out to Darden

alumni and was able to arrange an average of two informational interviews

per week throughout the summer. I spoke with alumni in roles I thought I

would like as well as those in roles I wasn’t attracted to in order to test my

assumptions. By the end of the summer, I had a clear idea of the companies

I wanted to pursue.

BRACE

YOURSELF

I arrived at school ready for a punishing schedule. During the first two weeks,

I met with every Second Year who interned at one of my target companies. If

I liked what I heard, I asked them to put me in touch with alumni at the firm.

Every phone call with an alumni ended with a request to be put in touch with

another person at the firm. While I remained focused in my one-on-one

networking, I attended a variety of company briefings. My strategy was

guided by a Second Year who advised focusing on 3-5 companies during the

fall. Although risky, I had the entire spring to recruit off-Grounds if I came up

empty.

DARK

NOVEMBER

For many Darden students, November is the hardest month for recruiting, but

this was not true for me. One reason recruiting is so arduous is because

many students cast a wide net, either because they do not know what they

want or because of risk aversion. The dozens of informational interviews I

had over the summer helped me discover what I wanted, and as described

above, I chose to focus on 3 companies. My extreme focus afforded me the

opportunity to attend off-Grounds, invitation-only recruiting events in October

with two firms. One of those opportunities resulted in an unexpected early

internship offer at the end of October.



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

While I was very grateful to have received an early internship offer in

October, I was given only a few weeks to accept it or it would be withdrawn. I

would have to commit to this firm before finishing my recruiting process.

Afraid I was going to settle and miss out on something better, I spoke with

many Second Years and the CDC about my situation. Ultimately, I decided to

accept the offer, knowing that I could still re-recruit in my Second Year.

Toward that end, I chose to lead a Darden Job Trek to Minneapolis during the

first half of winter break. I also focused on giving fellow First Years recruiting

support and held dozens of practice interviews with my classmates.

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

Although I did not experience interview purgatory with the rest of my

classmates in January and February, I did have to navigate winding down my

recruiting relationships with my other target firms after accepting my

internship offer. At times, I found this to be challenging and a bit awkward.

However, the CDC and my Second Year coach helped me practice those

conversations and even read email drafts. Ultimately, I felt like I had

communicated adequately with all relevant parties and was well positioned to

begin recruiting in my Second Year.

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

I’m not sure relief ever truly comes to the Darden First Year student. Although

I was fortunate to have signed an internship offer early, I still was consumed

by participating in case competitions, leading a job trek, and mentoring

undergraduate students. I continued to meet weekly with my Second Year

coach for help processing these experiences, many of which I saw as

essential to strengthening my recruiting candidacy during my summer and

into next year.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

I strongly recommend beginning your recruiting process before you come to

Darden. The Admitted Student Portal has many helpful materials to begin

your search. You hear a lot about polishing your “two-minute pitch” during

your first few weeks, but if you spend the summer doing informational

interviews, you will have already been forced to practice it thoroughly.

Second Year students and alumni made my recruiting success possible.

Meet with as many of them as you can, as early as you can. I also made it a

point to always take 24 hours off each week, typically Saturday night to

Sunday night, which really helped me stay sane.



WILL FORSTON, DARDEN ‘15

Age | 28


From | Cincinnati, OH

Undergrad | University of Virginia ‘09

Degree | B.S. Finance

Prior Work 1 | Financial Analyst (1 yr)

Prior Work 2 | Project Manager (2 yrs)

Summer | Harris Williams & Co.

Darden | Energy Club, Finance Club, GMO Club, Real Estate Club

ARRIVING

PREPARED

I worked for a large energy company in a variety of roles – finance,

operations and strategy - before I came to Darden. As a result, I knew what I

was looking for in a job and was able to focus my recruiting efforts on

investment banking early on in the process. While it’s not absolutely

necessary to arrive with an idea of exactly what you want to do for the

summer, it doesn’t hurt. From an academic perspective, I was a finance

major in undergrad and felt adequately prepared entering Darden. I will say

that those with non-traditional backgrounds found it very helpful to take the

accounting and Excel classes offered by Darden in the summer.

BRACE

YOURSELF

I remember a guest speaker referring to the first year at Darden as “learning

to drink from a fire hose.” In the first few weeks, you find out exactly why this

is true as school and recruiting activities start to pick up. Even though I had

prior academic and work experience that helped me in some classes, you

soon find out that even experts in a given subject struggle to keep up with

every case. Once recruiting activities pick up, you have to learn to lean on

your learning team since it’s not feasible to prepare every single case.

Establishing a good relationship with your team is a crucial part to balancing

everything at Darden.

DARK

NOVEMBER

If you plan on recruiting for investment banking, know that it’s very intense

and starts very early. As a result, October is really the month that you need

to worry about. It’s important to use your free time wisely and plan ahead.

Learn to lean on your learning team as well. You will likely finish recruiting

earlier in the process and will be able to return the favor. My second year

coach did a great job of helping me navigate the recruiting process and the

sooner you can develop the recruiting relationships, the better.



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

By the time winter break rolls around, you should have a good idea of where

you stand with most companies. If you’re recruiting for investment banking,

plan on attending Week on Wall Street and use the break to recharge your

batteries. I started seriously preparing for banking interviews early in

January, but depending on your previous experience, it might be worth

starting earlier. The Finance Club offers interview prep through Training the

Street and various other recruiting guides that are crucial to the process.

Additionally, you should plan on doing as many mock interviews as you can

schedule before interviews start. Both my second year coach and the CDC

were extremely helpful in providing candid feedback on my interview

performance. Once interviews start, you won’t have time to address any

shortfalls, so make sure you put in the time before interviews start.

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

Investment banking interviews start early in January and typically completed

before classes start. Some companies take one or two days, while others will

drag out the process for weeks. The first few days can be especially intense

and stressful, so arriving prepared will make the process much easier. As

long as you use the resources at your disposal, you will make it through the

process. It’s important to keep things in perspective as well. Not every

interview will go perfectly and don’t let one bad interview distract you during

other interviews, others may have had the same experience.

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

I was fortunate enough to secure two offers early on in the process. I

cancelled the rest of my interviews and thanked the companies that recruited

me throughout the process. If you use these resources effectively and trust

the process, you will be successful in landing a job for the summer. Stay

focused and don’t get discouraged, you will make it through everything and

will be able to relax once it is all over.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

The combination of school, recruiting and social activities can be very

intense. It’s important to take a balanced approach and develop a focused

recruiting plan early on in the process. Understanding your “story” and

communicating this effectively is an important part of the interview process

that is often overlooked. Use the early recruiting events to determine which

companies are a good fit and focus your efforts on the companies that are

aligned with you interests. Leverage the CDC resources and your second

year coach and you will do great.



SASHA FRIEDMAN, DARDEN ‘15

ARRIVING

PREPARED

Age | 26

Relationships | Single

From | Aurora, CO

Undergrad | New York University ‘10

Degree | B.A. Individualized Study

Prior Work 1 | Corporate Paralegal Coordinator (3 yrs)

Summer | UPS (Atlanta)

Darden | GMO Club President, West Coast Job Trek Lead, UVA Mentor,

Board Fellow, Section B Net Impact Representative

I knew that I was coming to Darden with more limited work experience than

most of my classmates, so I took the summer as an important time to think

about my career plans. Throughout the spring and summer, I kept a notebook

with me to jot notes about what I liked from my job and which industries and

functions seemed attractive. Even though the preparation can seem a little

daunting, I actually enjoyed taking time to really sit down, do research and

think about what I wanted out of my career. You’ll have few other times in

your life with the time or luxury to really consider your career.

BRACE

YOURSELF

As you’ve heard and will hear many times more, the fall workload starts with

a vengeance and doesn’t let up for 4 months. This is why it’s extremely

important to get all of your ducks in a line before Black November. Establish

good practices with your learning team so you can support each other for

your respective recruiting. Plan on how/when you’ll set aside time for

networking calls and company research. Most importantly though, use this

time to find people who you trust to review your resume/cover letters, give

you advice in the job search and bring you back to reality when you get

overwhelmed with the process.

DARK

NOVEMBER

If you are recruiting for GMO or Marketing jobs, you may think November is a

breeze because the beginning can be fairly calm compared to your banker

and consulting friends. Fear not, though, the pace picks up around

Thanksgiving and continues through resume drops. Throw in any additional

activities, like planning a job trek, and November can go from busy to

overwhelming. This is when your trusted group comes in handy to look

through your cover letters when you’re bone tired or help you navigate

another networking call. I relied heavily on my 2nd

year coach and members

of the CDC who were always happy to help, understood what I was going

through and gave great advice.



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

My winter break was challenging since I had the job trek on the front end, a

week at home and then a family vacation. Since my time was limited, and I

hadn’t done much interview prep before break, I knew that I needed to use

my time at home wisely. I set up a call with another first year every day to

cover different types of behavioral and technical questions. I also met up with

a fellow first year from Colorado to spend several hours talking through

interview techniques in a local coffee shop. The CDC and career clubs were

also great for setting up mock interviews when I got back. Second years were

especially helpful in sharing their tips from interviewing at some of the same

companies.

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

Enter January with the mindset that GMO and Marketing interviews are a

marathon and not a sprint. This is important to remember because: 1) some

first years will get jobs very early on – don’t panic, your process takes longer

and that’s completely normal; and 2) expect to balance school work and

interviews. School of course comes first, but be open with your learning

team, professors and CDC about your schedule, especially if you have

conflicts. Be prepared to fine tune your interviewing techniques throughout

the process, but be careful not to stray too far from your original approach.

Just like for your Darden interview, being yourself is the most powerful and

important technique you can use.

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

I had my eye set on one particular company from the beginning of the

process, but kept thinking about pursuing other job opportunities. The

interview process though was really a great opportunity for me to get to know

these companies much better, from the dinners to the actual interviews. This

was when I confirmed I was set on my initial company and was not afraid to

share that with them in the process, which they appreciate hearing if it is

genuine and true. I was lucky enough to get an offer from them and signed

immediately, which was a great relief, especially after so many months of

hard work!

THE BOTTOM

LINE

For GMO and Marketing, be careful not to overextend yourself. Unlike

banking and consulting, not all companies are high touch, so it is easier to

focus on more companies than you may have time for or interest in pursuing.

Remember that this process is about finding the best fit for you and the

company. As an advocate for their products and services, the company

wants to ensure you fit the company culture extremely well and believe in

their mission. If you are honest with yourself and with them about what you’re

looking for and your personality, then that will go a long way to making the

process easier for the both of you (not to mention getting you a job offer you

really want!).



ALYSSA HEILMAN, DARDEN ‘15

Age | 29

From | Alexandria, VA

Undergrad | University of Virginia ’07

Degree | B.A. History and Sociology

Prior Work 1 | Alumni Relations and Fundraising (1.5 yrs)

Prior Work 2 | Project Manager, Startup Consulting Firm (1 yr)

Prior Work 3 | Department of Justice (1.5 yrs)

Prior Work 4 | Covington & Burling (2 yrs)

Summer | Land O’Lakes (Marketing)

Darden | Marketing Club Brand Challenge Co-Director, Honor Committee

Representative, Section C Honor Rep

ARRIVING

PREPARED

Since I’d taken a pretty circuitous route to business school—via four very

different jobs—I had a good idea of what I was interested in and what I found

unappealing. I spent some time over the summer talking to friends and

current and former colleagues about industries and functions, and I narrowed

my focus down to GMO and marketing. I also spoke to a rising SY and recent

Darden grads about how they handled the combination of recruiting, social

life, and classes, which helped me get a better feel for the process and

competing priorities (more on that later).

BRACE

YOURSELF

Adjusting to the frenetic pace of FY at Darden can be very overwhelming—

especially if you’ve been out of school for a while. After six years in the

working world, I had become accustomed to making my own schedule and

working at my own pace; since FY is essentially the opposite, it helped to

accept that it was a ton of a work and that there wasn’t enough time to do

everything. The way I handled the impossible trinity of socializing, classes,

and recruiting, was to focus on recruiting first, since I knew that being a

career switcher with an unusual background could make it more challenging.

The important thing is to figure what’s most important to you and make that

your priority when things get hairy.

DARK

NOVEMBER

Personally, I thought December was far more stressful than November.

Since I was recruiting for marketing and some GMO roles, my recruiting

events consisted of company briefings, the occasional happy hour, and office

hours, which meant that November wasn’t that bad, especially compared to

banking and consulting. Early December was rough because I’d neglected

my cover letters and had quite a few resume drops right before the start of

exams and winter break. Luckily, I had a great SY coach who pushed me

through that. In hindsight, I should’ve taken advantage of the time I had

during the relatively manageable month of November to prepare for resume



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

I went on the Minneapolis Job Trek during break, which was helpful for

networking and meeting directly with Darden alums. The trip also cemented

my interest in a company that I had been unsure about earlier in the fall.

Over break, I found out that I was lucky enough to get on interview lists for

my top choices, so that directed my winter break preparation toward

marketing technical questions. The Marketing Club held an interview prep

workshop right before break, which I found useful in guiding my prep

strategy. My interviews were early, so I came back to school right after

New Year’s and had a mock interview with the CDC, which was critical

because I hadn’t mocked with anyone prior to that (note: I’d recommend

mocking sooner rather than later, even though it’s easy to put off). Since I

knew that I was struggling with my marketing technical interview skills, I met

with a number of SYs who’d interned or interviewed with the companies I

was interviewing with, which was helpful in polishing some of my weaker

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

I had interviews for four straight weeks, starting with the first week of

interview season in early January and ending in early February. The first few

interviews were easier to manage because classes hadn’t started yet and I

could continue to prep, but once classes started, it was quite exhausting.

Luckily, after having a number of interviews, it became second nature and I

didn’t need to prepare as much, though it was still a tiring process.

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

I received my first offer mid-way through my interview process, which was a

relief. I still had a few more companies that I was scheduled to interview with,

so I continued with the ones I was still interested in. In the end, I had offers

from two very different companies and went with the one that I’d had a strong

feeling about from the beginning.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

While recruiting and interviewing can be a very draining process, it’s

important to remember that there are a lot of awesome resources and

support systems to lean on. My SY Coach was great, and I also found that

talking to SYs (who know what you’re going through and have come out on

the other end), my classmates, and the CDC was hugely helpful and kept me

sane. Another thing to keep in mind is that everyone’s interview process has

different timelines so, for example, resist the temptation to measure your

progress against all of your friends in banking when you’re recruiting in

marketing.



RADHIKA KANUGA, DARDEN ‘15

Age | 26


From | Bangalore, India

Undergrad | Singapore Management University ‘09

Degree | B.S Information Systems and Business Management

Prior Work 1 | Project Manager, Barclays Bank PLC (Singapore)

Summer | Bain & Company (Atlanta)

Darden | Net Impact Board Fellow, Community Consultants of

Darden, VP Recruiting – Consulting Club, Second Year Coach

ARRIVING

PREPARED

I came to Darden with the express purpose of switching to a career in

consulting. I knew the academic course work was going to be demanding,

and there wouldn’t be a lot of time to explore various industries. I also did not

want to spread myself too thin with recruiting, which I was told would be very

networking-intensive. If you come to business school undecided about where

you want to go after, it’s a great idea to spend the first three to four weeks

talking to the second years and your CDC advisor in order to focus your

internship search better.

BRACE

YOURSELF

Its hard balancing academics, recruiting, having a social life, and participating

in club activities – but it has to be done, and it’s all worth it in the end! I rid

myself of FOMO right at the start of term, knowing I couldn’t possibly do

everything I wanted to do, and realized that it’s okay to let a few things go.

Recruiting was top priority for me, but I don’t feel like I missed other aspects

of life at business school. What did come as a surprise was how involved the

networking process was. The firms need to know you in order to invite you to

interview with them, so be prepared for several hours spent on the phone and

at recruiting events.

DARK

NOVEMBER

I started networking with firms in September and picked up traction in

October, and so November wasn’t really black for me. You’ll have a

reasonable idea of how you’re doing as the invites for closed-list events start

going out. If you haven’t gained traction with firms you’re interested in, do

your best to put yourself on their radar. I did find myself struggling to find time

to be prepared for class on occasion, so sleep was scarce some nights. My

career coach and learning team were supportive, and my friends were going

through the same things I was. Darden has this incredible support system in

place for you, and if you tap into it and work hard, you will be just fine.



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

I spent my winter break in Charlottesville, practicing case interviews with

friends who were also recruiting for consulting. Not the most exciting winter

vacation, but it paid off for us. October and November were all about dealing

with academics, networking events and internship applications – so

December was really the only time we had to ramp up on case prep. The

Consulting Club had a ton of resources that helped, and we did practice

cases with second years, who are great with giving feedback. I also had

‘practice’ case interviews with company representatives from the various

firms I had applied to, which I sensed were evaluative – so you’ll want to be

prepared for those as well!

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

First rounds began around the first or second week of January, and then we

were flown down to various offices for our second round interviews with

partners. I found the interview process enjoyable, particularly the interviews

with partners. I got to meet some incredibly smart individuals with very

interesting backgrounds. The key is to keep calm even if things don’t go

entirely your way, because you’re not going to crack every case that comes

your way. Also, it’s important to pay attention to the behavioral component of

the interview process. In addition to assessing your analytical skills, your

interviewer is trying to decide if you are someone he/she can spend time

working with.

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

January and first half of February were very intense – with travelling each

weekend for interviews, and the nail-biting tension that accompanied the

second round decisions. Landing an offer from Bain, though, was a dream

come true! I had developed a good rapport with a bunch of people from the

Atlanta office, and I knew that that’s exactly the firm I wanted to go to.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

You really need to know yourself well – your strengths, your weaknesses,

your long-term goals and aspirations, and whether you’ll ‘fit’ into the culture of

the firm(s) you’re interested in. Know your story inside-out and be prepared to

convey it well. Also, if you’re recruiting for consulting, be completely invested

in the process from day 1. What really helped me was having a laser-sharp

focus, building meaningful connections with company representatives, and

putting in considerable time and effort into preparing for case interviews.



MANU KUPPALLI, DARDEN ‘14

Age | 31

Relationships | Married

From | Baltimore, MD

Undergrad | University of Maryland, 04’

Degree | B.S International Business

Prior Work 1 | Senior Consultant (5 yrs)

Prior Work 2 | CEO, Consulting (2 yrs)

Summer | Goldman Sachs (NYC)

Full-Time | Goldman Sachs (NYC)

Darden | SY Coach, Darden Social Committee, Section D Social Rep, Soccer

Club, Finance Club

ARRIVING

PREPARED

I had been away from school for a while, so I knew that getting back into the

“groove” of studying and school was going to be a bit harder for me. To get

prepared I took a few community college courses in accounting and finance

the summer before school. While I felt prepared for the classroom, I had

neglected the recruiting side of business school, and was totally unprepared

for the recruiting process and had to get ramped up fairly quickly. I don’t think

recruiting before arriving at Darden would have made a huge difference,

especially since the Banking recruiting process is so structured.

BRACE

YOURSELF

Nothing can prepare you for the course load at Darden; it is unbelievably

hard. It’s one of those things you think you’ll be ready for, and then “WHAM”

it hits you square in the face. You’ll learn quickly that it is IMPOSSIBLE to do

everything at Darden, and you will be forced to prioritize things. Some people

will avoid social events to study, and others will do the opposite. It is really

important that you find the right balance for you. I personally have a terrible

case of FOMO, so I tried to do everything. It was incredibly stressful, but I

don’t regret it one bit. Darden did a great job of sheltering us from the

recruiting process in September while we get into the swing of things, but

early in October the informational sessions start, and recruiting season

begins with a fury.

DARK

NOVEMBER

I thought Black November was a bit overrated. I personally found October to

be much more trying in terms of prioritizing social events, school, and

recruiting. I took a different approach than the CDC recommended; I

recruited for Consulting, Investment Banking, and Corporate Finance. This

meant that I had multiple informationals, cocktail events, and dinners every

night. I found myself running between events, and explaining why I was

recruiting for so many different industries. Luckily, I had a great 2nd

year

coach whole helped me craft my story, as well as an amazing learning team

that kept me up to speed on schoolwork while I was recruiting. If you start

out hot in October, develop relationships and traction, November will not be

that bad, and you will be in great shape going into interviews.



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

When winter rolled around, I was lucky enough to have one banking

interview, four consulting interviews, and five corporate finance interviews.

While it was great to have so many different interviews, I quickly realized

that preparing was going to be a terrible challenge. I realized I had to

prioritize finance or consulting, so I decided to prioritize finance, hoping I

could fall back on my previous consulting experience to get through case

interviews. I attended training the street, and spent the week after New

Years Eve cramming everything finance into my head. Everyone recruiting

finance had become extremely close over the months, so we all spent

countless hours together in learning team rooms quizzing each other and

getting ready for interviews. This of course came at the expense of my

consulting prep and I ended up having to cancel interviews for lack of

preparation. My classmates who recruited consulting did 50-60 case

interviews each, and only after the fact did I realize that recruiting for both

was too demanding for me.

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

Investment Banking 1st

round interviews typically happen early the

first/second week of January, and are followed up by 2nd

rounds shortly after

(most likely at the regional offices). My classmates who had multiple banking

interviews typically had 3-5 a day and I know that many of them found it

incredibly stressful. The banks want to see how you deal with pressure, and

will push your limits. As long as you have prepared and are confident in

yourself you shouldn’t have any problems.

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

I was incredibly lucky; my first interview was with Goldman, and I received my

offer the day of my 2nd

round interview in New York. I cancelled all the rest of

my interviews and got to spend the next two weeks enjoying my winter

vacation before school started. It is definitely one of the perks of recruiting in

banking, it’s incredibly fast, and is a huge weight off your shoulder once you

are done.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

Be yourself and know your story. Every time I went to a networking event I

made sure that I was interviewing the company representatives as much as

they were interviewing me. I took that very seriously. I was always myself, and

if that was something they weren’t interested in I was OK with that. Just

remember, this is only a summer internship. If you don’t land the internship of

your dreams don’t worry, the same companies recruit again in the 2nd

year for

full time, so maintain those relationships you made throughout the summer!



JOHN REYES, DARDEN ‘15

Age | 29


From | La Marque, TX

Undergrad | University of Houston, ‘08

Degree | B.A. Mathematics, J.D. Baylor ‘13

Prior Work 1 | Lawyer – Securities & Business Transactions (1 yr)

Prior Work 2 | Various entrepreneurial ventures (6 yrs)

Summer | Think Finance – Data Scientist (CA)

Darden | HAND – President, Soccer Club, Entrepreneurship & Venture Club,

Tech Club, Jewish Students Association

ARRIVING

PREPARED

I was two weeks removed from sitting for the Texas Bar when I started at

Darden. The whole concept of preparation seemed to be illusory at that point

because my life was moving at breakneck speed since I graduated from law

school in May until classes started in September. Luckily though, I did take a

week in there to attend the Consortium and Toigo conferences which is

where my recruiting journey began. I quickly realized that weaving my

background into a cogent recruiting story would be a significant challenge

moving forward and that finding the right fit for me culturally and opportunity-

wise would be equally arduous.

BRACE

YOURSELF

After law school, I didn’t find the course load too terribly burdensome. In

addition to law school, I think two things contributed to my experience. First, I

generally wrote off social life, it was the lowest of my priorities. I still went out

plenty, but much less than most. Second, I had an amazing learning team.

We managed our meetings very well and we were blessed with a balanced

set of individuals who all worked to teach each other their areas of expertise.

I leveraged this free-time by participating in case competitions – one of which

was in banking big data and was likely the impetus for the internship offer I

ultimately accepted. In sum, these contributed to a thoroughly enjoyable first

year.

DARK

NOVEMBER

By November my summer recruiting had already resulted in a very attractive

offer from a Fortune 500 company. So I was able to relax a bit, take in more

of the social life, and explore wildly divergent companies and ideas. I spent

most of November planning my own custom “job trek” of sorts. Through

phone and email I was able to coordinate meetings and tours with about 10

venture-backed companies in Texas over the holiday break and even

arranged a one-week consulting engagement with a growing small software

company in Houston.



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

Texas is a big state, and I made my way across half of it meeting with

companies and reconnecting with friends, family, and business associates

over the break. I really appreciated the power of the Darden brand over that

break when companies threw open their doors and spoke with me about the

most intimate inner workings of their operations and future plans. I was also

impressed at how quickly and easily I was able to apply my Darden education

by consulting with a company over the break; I assisted with marketing,

staffing, and strategy issues working hand-in-hand with the CEO of the

company.

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

I was 100% committed to taking my existing offer heading into the interview

period. So much so, that while my classmates were preparing for a million

different interviews, I was preparing for a legal conference. When my

classmates were flying out to final round interviews, I was flying back to

Texas to present my legal research and network. Then, as luck would have it,

one of the companies I met with over the break and continued talking with

invited me for back for a formal interview. It was reasonably informal and

unstructured as it was the ground work for their first MBA intern in the

company and the first intern in the big data department.

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

The entire process came to a close on the eve of the deadline of my offer

from the Fortune 500 company. It took two weeks and countless negotiation

phone calls, but I started March and then spring break with my summer plans

resolved. Luckily, I maintained such a close relationship with the Fortune 500

company’s recruiters, that when I broke the news to them they understood my

decision and informed me that it would not have any negative impact on any

full-time employment prospects.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

Work with what you’ve got. I stayed very honest throughout my recruiting

process. I articulated my struggles and concerns openly. I communicated

excitement and interest to companies that I was legitimately interested in. I

used my pre-existing networks and background to tie into new opportunities I

was interested in. In the end, I was able to sell my passion for a discipline

and raw skill set for a unique opportunity in a very exciting and fast growing

company. Pursuing an opportunity in an entrepreneurial venture will require

lots of leg-work, applicable high-value skills, communicable passion, and a

great deal of luck.



LEE ROBERTSON, DARDEN ‘15

Age | 26


From | Waynesboro, VA

Undergrad | University of Virginia, ‘09

Degree | B.A. Foreign Affairs, M.S. Commerce

Prior Work 1 | Accenture – Consultant (4 yrs)

Summer | J.P. Morgan (NY)

Darden | DSA Executive Vice President, Finance Club, Private Equity and

Venture Capital Club

ARRIVING

PREPARED

I took a couple weeks off from work before arriving at school and that helped

give me some time to “reset” and get back into the mode of learning rather

than just turning around deliverables. During that time, I did all of the required

and suggested reading, which really helped me re-learn at least some of the

vocabulary and concepts for Finance, Marketing, and Decision Analysis. I

took the pre-matriculation Accounting and Excel classes, which helped

immensely. I hadn’t done anything related to Accounting since my Masters

and spending three days in the classroom was hugely helpful. I can’t

recommend the pre-matriculation classes enough, even if you’re familiar with

BRACE

YOURSELF

The first couple weeks of learning team were comically inefficient. We tip-

toed around each other and tried to make sure no one got their feelings hurt.

This meant we were staying at Darden late every night the first few weeks.

Once the workload picked up after week two, we realized it would be

impossible to keep our sanity without becoming more efficient. We laid some

ground rules and assigned firm roles for the cases. In my opinion, it’s

impossible to do every single case by yourself and actually learn the

material…you HAVE to rely on your learning team. In addition to academics,

there are many social opportunities in the first few weeks. Every one you

miss, you feel like you’re missing the best part of Darden. It takes a couple

weeks, but you start to fall into a groove of balancing the workload.

DARK

NOVEMBER

I thought October was much darker than November. The last week of

September is when the company briefings started, and initially I felt a lot of

pressure to make multiple network calls every day. In addition to calls, there

were generally one or two events every evening and in the beginning, you’re

trying to cast as broad a net as possible. This makes it pretty tough to

balance with school, but again, relying on your learning team is absolutely

critical. As we got into November, I had a better feel for the banks, and a

better idea of where I was getting some good traction. Thankfully, those

banks lined up with where I felt the most comfortable, and from there I



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

I got engaged the day before we went to NYC for Week on Wall Street, so I

had some personal commitments over break competing for my time with

interview prep. I set aside one week where I didn’t do anything for interviews

and just dealt with the various family commitments. I was back in

Charlottesville on Dec 29th

and was basically studying every day until

interviews started. A couple of us formed a really good team with people who

had different strengths (technical vs. behavioral) and spent the first half of

the time learning our answers and the second half of the time practicing

interviewing. Spending the time rehearsing and doing mock interviews was

HUGELY important. The 2nd year coaches were very gracious with their

time and doing a couple mock interviews helped me focus my studying.

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

The Banking interview process is an emotional roller-coaster. No matter how

much you try to guard yourself for the inevitable let-down, it still doesn’t feel

great when you don’t get a second round interview. However, usually within

an hour or so, or at the most by the next day, you’ll find success somewhere

else and be feeling good about yourself again. I would say the most important

thing is to quickly review why one interview might have resulted in a setback,

learn from it, and apply that learning to your next interview. Let go of your

failures quickly, but hold on to the confidence you feel from your success.

Confidence goes a long way in the banking interview process.

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

I was extremely lucky because the interview process for my top two banks

moved very quickly. I had only gotten one second round interview on the first

day, but on the second day I got a second round interview for all three banks

I interviewed with. Goldman had their second rounds that night and I got a

call with an offer about an hour after the interview. That was the first sigh of

relief. The next came about 15 minutes after my J.P. Morgan interview the

next day when I got an offer there. Since they were my top two banks, I was

ecstatic about having both offers. It was one of the harder decisions I’ve had

to make choosing between the two, but both banks were very patient and

gave me some time to fully consider my options. I was very fortunate to have

good relationships on both sides and everyone was very respectful of my

THE BOTTOM

LINE

Everyone will tell you fit is important and you’ll probably shrug it off in the first

few weeks. Then you learn that the banks you like the best are probably the

banks that like you the most and you start to understand the best thing you

can do in the whole process is to be absolutely genuine the entire time.

Being humble throughout and keeping an open mind about your options will

help you stay level-headed and happy about any opportunity that comes

your way; but you also have to be discerning with your time and efforts. If

you find a bank where you’re comfortable talking to them on the phone, at

happy hours, or in the interview, chances are you’ve found a good fit. If you

can enjoy the time with the people when they’re grilling you in an interview,

you’ll probably enjoy working with and for them over the summer.



SARAH RUMBAUGH, DARDEN ‘15

Age | 26

Relationships | In a Relationship

From | Takoma Park, MD

Undergrad | University of Pittsburgh, 09’

Degree | Dual, B.S. Business Management, B.A. Rhetorical Process

Prior Work 1 | Associate, Consulting (1 yr)

Prior Work 2 | Senior Consultant, Consulting (2 yrs)

Summer | UVA i.Lab Incubator (Charlottesville)

Darden | EVC VP Communication & Careers, GWIB Club, Technology Club,

GMO Club, Adam Smith Society, Outdoors Club, Darden Tour Guide

ARRIVING

PREPARED

My last day of work was about two months before Darden started. This time

allowed me to prepare by taking the Darden accounting and excel online

modules, completing the assigned reading, and having a summer break

before getting into the fast paced groove of Darden life. I had received advice

from Darden admissions and career development to get a head start on

career objectives. I knew I wanted to work in an entrepreneurial environment,

but also felt that a continued career in consulting or a career transition to

industry in General Management could be fulfilling. Keeping these objectives

in mind, I began writing down possible opportunities and connecting with

BRACE

YOURSELF

When you arrive at Darden, everything begins really quickly. All at once, you

are meeting a lot of people, taking challenging courses, and soon after

recruiting begins. It’s impossible to do it all, so you’ll have to find the right

balance between school, a social life, and recruiting. For me this meant

setting time limits for working on cases, limiting the number of social events

per week, and eliminating career options that I knew wouldn’t be a good fit.

For those interested in entrepreneurship, the first competition is in October,

and it sneaks up on you really quickly. All of a sudden you need to be

prepared to submit business plans and pitch your ideas in an organized

DARK

NOVEMBER

At Darden, November is known as the most intense time for first year

recruiting. For me, I didn’t think November was any more intense than

September or October. This is partly because I wasn’t recruiting with

consulting or investment banking and partly because I began my recruiting far

before November. I had quickly realized that an internship in consulting

wouldn’t be a good fit, so I spent the majority of my recruiting time working on

entrepreneurial ideas and networking for general management options.

Entrepreneurial competitions are spaced throughout the year. No matter what

industry(s) you’re recruiting with, try to start early to limit the craziness of



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

I spent the majority of winter break writing my i.Lab Incubator application as

well as working on my startup. Winter break was a really busy time for me. I

took about a week to visit with family and friends. The rest of the time I was

working on forming a startup and trying to ensure that my i.Lab application

was the best it could be. I also took one interview on campus for a general

management internship opportunity. This interview didn’t require case

preparation, so to prepare I did behavioral interview prep, reviewed the

company’s annual report, and researched the company online.

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

I was done early with interviews. The i.Lab application was due at the end of

winter break. This allowed me to begin the school term after winter break with

somewhat of a relief. The majority of my classmates were balancing many

interviews with school work in January. Having completed the majority of my

“recruiting” I was able to spend my time focusing on school and forming a

startup, so with that said it was still a really busy time. At this point though,

you’re familiar with the Darden intensity, so while it is still difficult, you’re at

least used to it, and it’s still incredibly fun!

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

I got accepted to the i.Lab Incubator! And I pretty much accepted immediately

as this was my top choice. While this certainly was incredibly exciting as the

program has become much more competitive, I was also still trying to form

the startup I would be brining into the Incubator this summer. Startups may

have moments of relief with promising progress, but true relief comes when a

startup becomes a successful startup.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

Think about who you want to be and what interests you before you get to

Darden. You don’t need to know exactly what you want to do before arriving

at Darden, but it will make your life a lot easier if you have an idea and you

know what the recruiting looks like for those options. For entrepreneurship, it

helps a lot if you know what you want to do rather than simply wanting to be

an “entrepreneur”. If you have startup ideas and want to be in the Incubator,

start working on those ideas and networking with people who can help as

soon as you get to Darden. The more you recruit, the less time you’ll have to

work on startup ideas, but it’s important to figure out what path makes sense



KYLE STRONG, DARDEN ‘15

Age | 27

Relationships | Married

From | San Diego, CA

Undergrad | Northwestern University, ‘08

Degree | B.A. English, Art History

Prior Work 1 | High School Teacher (2 yrs)

Prior Work 2 | For-Profit Education Start-Up (3 yrs)

Summer | Johnson & Johnson (Philadelphia)

Darden | International Student Advisory Group, Diversity Student Advisory

Group, UVA-Darden Mentor, Minneapolis Job Trek Co-Lead,

Marketing Club, Consulting Club

ARRIVING

PREPARED

I did all of the summer reading—the required books, of course, along with all

of the optional books, no matter how redundant some of the reading was. In

particular, getting more familiar with finance jargon and basic accounting

concepts proved helpful in the classroom. I also took both the Excel and

accounting prep courses at Darden. I can see how doing even more

preparation could have made the transition smoother, but the FY courses are

well-designed and do not put people with non-traditional backgrounds at a

disadvantage. Know that if you work hard on the cases come September,

Darden’s recommended preparation will suffice.

BRACE

YOURSELF

If you were to live a kind of monastic life from September to December,

working only on the cases, recruiting, and doing little else, then you’d be able

to get everything done. Unfortunately, you’re going to want to go to the gym,

take a weekend trip, spend time with friends, or watch a movie. I’m sorry to

say so, but any deviation from academics or recruiting will require a sacrifice.

Occasionally, you’ll have to rush through a case or two. You’ll have to cancel

your attendance at a potentially interesting company information session.

Everything will turn out fine if you’re comfortable weighing these trade-offs.

DARK

NOVEMBER

I’m not sure why November itself gets a bad rap. October and early

December were trying times as well, though for different reasons. The people

who got hit worst were those who didn’t have a clear recruiting plan. I knew in

September that both consulting and marketing were appealing career paths,

so for a while, I was trying to attend all of the events for both. I eventually

settled on recruiting for a handful of diverse marketing roles along with

consulting positions at two firms that had a strong marketing/retail/CPG

practice. This focus allowed me to keep up my case work and not get bogged

down in cocktail hours and info sessions.



NO-FRILLS

WINTER

BREAK

Marketing interviews require you to have a deep well of ideas, opinions, and

industry knowledge to draw upon. I think the key to my success during the

interview process was immersing myself in marketing campaigns over winter

break. I watched commercials, read Twitter feeds, and read long-form articles

about everything from sales tactics to trends in product photography. You

can’t just roll in with two or three commercials that you like. The interviews

will keep throwing questions at you, seeing how deep your knowledge goes.

Yes, consulting interview prep is a bear, but do not underestimate the

marketing interview.

INTERVIEW

PURGATORY

Johnson & Johnson was (I think!) the first company to interview on-campus,

thus their offers came out very early. Consequently, I wasn’t in interview

purgatory for long. Because J&J was a top choice, I made the decision to

cancel almost all of my interviews that were scheduled in the upcoming

weeks. Freeing up interview slots for classmates seems like the “Darden”

thing to do: it ensures that the class as a whole has a successful recruiting

season. It’s better when everyone wins!

A SIGH OF

RELIEF

The sigh of relief was truncated by T4, which ratchets up the difficulty and

does not let up. Also, not everyone has a job by late January, so it’s still

incumbent on those with offers to help peers with interview prep. Celebrate

the job offer, but be prepared to continue working hard through all of T4. And

then finally, in mid-March, take a deep breath. You’ll have earned it.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

Approach both cases and recruiting with real energy and passion. This

attitude can pay real dividends during the recruiting and interview process.

When you are speaking with company reps, don’t just ask about mundane

stuff (typical working hours, weather in the city, number of projects per year).

Talk about the industry—big ideas that are reshaping both the firm and its

competitors. Be curious. Don’t speak to recruiters as if they are just people

making hiring decisions. Pretend that you’re at Davos and you are trying to

learn something from someone really brilliant. And then when you get into

the interview, just be buzzing with positive energy. Considering my non-

traditional background, I feel confident that it was passion and enthusiasm



STEVE VAN COTT, DARDEN ‘14

Age | 36

Relationships | Married, 2 children (2.5 yrs., 1 yr.)

From | Now Johnson City, TN; Raleigh, NC at start of EMBA

Undergrad | U.S. Naval Academy

Degree | B.S. Electrical Engineering

| M.S. Engineering Mgmt., Old Dominion University

Prior Work 1 | Systems Engineer, Logos Technologies (5.5 yrs.)

Prior Work 2 | Submarine Officer, U.S. Navy (6.5 yrs.)

Current | Project Manager, Eastman Chemical Company

Darden | EMBA

ARRIVING

PREPARED

Try to prepare psychologically for the workload, and try to come into the

program with a plan for how you will allocate your time. The best advice I

received from previous cohorts was to be sure I touched the course material

every day. I would add that it is also a good idea to try to have a general plan

for what new career possibilities you would like to explore over the course of

the program.

BRACE

YOURSELF

The amount of time and effort required to find a new job can be daunting,

particularly if you are intending to change industries. However, the process of

personal assessment and aligning your professional goals with the right

company cannot be rushed. The most important thing is to apply yourself

consistently to the process of reaching out to new people, learning about new

opportunities, and finding the right career path for you.

DARK

NOVEMBER

This is not a concern with the MBA for Executives programs. More generally,

I would try to remember that the process takes time. Be patient but

persistent.



THE POWER

OF THE

EXECUTIVE

MBA

You get a great diversity of professional experience among the cohort in the

MBA for Executives program. Everyone views case questions and problems

through the lens of their own experiences and I found these widely varying

paradigms incredibly valuable. You gain a fresh perspective by viewing a

problem from angles you had not previously considered.

LEVERAGING

RESOURCES

Alumni are usually very quick to return phone calls and willing to take time to

talk with students. As you explore potential new career paths, the Career

Development Center guidance and coaching are invaluable. Lastly, cultivate

relationships within your cohort. These are one of the most rewarding

aspects of the program and can also yield insights into the career search

along with professional connections.

INTERVIEWING

INSIGHTS

As you look back on your professional background there will be some

dominant themes expressed through stories from your professional past that

highlight aspects of your unique personality. Those themes and the stories

around them will resonate more with some employers than with others. As

you tell the stories in interviews, showcasing who you are, a potential

employer’s reaction to the story will tell you whether this organization would

be a good match with your personality.

THE BOTTOM

LINE

Be true to yourself and take the time to truly understand what you value

professionally. As you begin to understand that, reach out to potential

employers who share those values. Don’t be afraid to highlight those values

and your unique personality to potential employers. You have something

uniquely valuable to offer. The key is to find the right match with your values

and personality.



Frequently Asked Questions RECRUITING BASICS

How much preparation is needed? Business school is like having two full-time jobs: academics and recruiting. It is important to understand from the beginning that much preparation is needed in order to successfully land your dream job. While there will be many resources available, securing a job is up to you; no one will hold your hand through the process, and time management is a necessity for success.

What is a company briefing? What other events do companies host and when? In September, companies will start coming to Grounds to share information about their organizations and culture, market job opportunities, and network with students. In order to get to know students better, companies schedule additional brand-building opportunities (office hours, partnering with clubs) in conjunction with company briefings. As the process continues, many companies come back to Grounds for additional networking opportunities, coffee chats, interview prep workshops, and smaller “get-to-know- you” events.

What is a career fair or an interview forum? When should I start thinking about these? Many Darden students attend career fairs and interview forums around the country in support of their recruiting strategies. The three biggest MBA Career Fairs (NAWMBA, NBMBAA, and NSHMBA) take place in the fall at different locations. These events are great opportunities to connect with companies, research job opportunities, and build rapport with companies that do not currently recruit at Darden.

What is a job trek? Why is it important for me to think about this now? Each year, students work with the CDC to plan a series of job treks around the country and abroad. Job treks are a way for Darden students interested in a specific industry and/or city to visit and network with companies. Job trek visits typically occur during breaks (i.e., mid-December, early January). The largest job trek each year is the "Week on Wall Street," which is scheduled in mid-December in New York City. This trek provides an opportunity for finance-focused FY students to visit Wall Street. If you are buying roundtrip airline tickets for winter break, please make sure to keep the timing of job treks in mind for your travel plans.

What is the difference between on-Grounds and off-Grounds recruiting?

While many great companies come to Darden to recruit MBAs, many firms don’t come to Charlottesville/UVA to hire the talent they need. When you matriculate at Darden you will hear a lot about “on-Grounds” and “off –Grounds” recruiting. These two types of recruiting represent two different channels to access companies. Depending on your career interests and objective, you will likely recruit through one or both of these channels. Students are encouraged to target both on-Grounds and off- Grounds companies as part of their job search to help ensure they find the best match for their interests and skills set.

The table below outlines the differences in recruiting through these two channels.

RECRUITING TOPIC

On-Grounds

Off-Grounds

School Support

Companies that recruit on-Grounds at Darden have a relationship with the school and are actively targeting this talent pool.

Recruiting/hiring managers may or may not be familiar with Darden/UVA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L347ykGHnHQ&feature=BFa&list=PL4F176CA495950AF7&lf=plpp_video



RECRUITING TOPIC

On-Grounds

Off-Grounds

Company Types

All different types of companies and organizations recruit at Darden. The majority of recruiting companies are Fortune 500 firms that have formal MBA programs.

There are endless opportunities to explore when your search is not limited to on-Grounds firms. Small firms, start-ups, west coast companies, and organizations that hire on an “as needed” basis are typical targets for students searching off-Grounds.

Networking

Many networking opportunities are planned and scheduled for you including briefings, office hours, and club-related events.

Opportunities to connect with off- Grounds companies are largely generated by the individual student. Some formal recruiting events (career fairs, job treks) help facilitate introductions.

Timing

Company presentations and networking events are held throughout the fall (Sept-Nov). FY interviews take place in the winter (Jan-Feb).

Timing depends on the company, their needs and how they hire. Companies that hire MBAs from other business schools will be on the same recruiting cycle as the companies that recruit at Darden. Firms that do not formally hire MBAs, will typically engage in recruiting on an as needed basis.

Roles/Offers

Companies that recruit on-Grounds have typically hired MBAs before. They value MBA talent and know they have to pay a certain salary to attract this type of talent. On-Grounds companies often have formal programs.

Companies that don’t formally hire MBAs may offer roles and/or salaries that are not aligned with MBA market norms. This could be a positive or a negative. Students should be prepared to articulate the value they can bring to an organization and their salary expectations.

Considerations

Many great companies recruit at top business schools. There are lots of opportunities to explore different roles, industries and career paths.

When you recruit off-Grounds you get to experience the “real world” job search and develop more sophisticated networking skills.

JOB SEARCH SKILLS How important is networking? Out of all the skills needed during the job search, networking is probably the most important component holding everything together. Over the next two years, you will realize that every day you will be presented with multiple networking opportunities, be it through a classmate, company visit, conference, or even standing in line for coffee. Practice your story and share it with as many people as possible. It is important to get your name out there because you never know where it will lead. Don’t worry—the CDC will provide you with resources that will help you understand how to network…for now, it is just essential for you to understand the importance.



What is /How do I build a personal networking database? Networking—meaning building connections—with classmates, alumni, and recruiters is key to your success. To kick-start recruiting, we recommend you build a “networking database.” You can do this in whichever format you find helpful (most people use Excel). The objective is to populate the database through the course of the next two years with contacts you make in different industries and companies. A basic networking database can include a contact’s name, company information, date of last correspondence, jobs he/she is recruiting for, and recommendations of other folks you should speak with.

Why do I need a LinkedIn profile? In addition to the career resources provided to you by the CDC and internal job postings, employers almost always look at LinkedIn profiles to source candidates. If you have not already joined LinkedIn, please set up a profile as soon as possible – visit www.linkedin.com for information. In addition, take some time to explore LinkedIn’s job boards as they are a great resource for career exploration and job searching. Follow your target companies to gain further insight. The goal is to have recruiters find you.

What are career clubs? When can I join? In addition to the CDC, Career Education, and coaching programs, a large part of the recruiting resources are provided by student-led clubs at Darden. With 40+ career and affinity clubs, you will have the opportunity to meet companies, Darden alumni, and other students in your chosen field or fields. Be sure to utilize the clubs to help support your job search. The career-focused student clubs host a variety of networking events, conferences, and other important recruiting activities. Once you arrive on Grounds in the fall, you will have an opportunity to attend a Club Fair and Kick-Off Meetings to learn more.

What are informational interviews? How do I secure them? An informational interview is an interview to learn more about a job, industry, or field. It is NOT a job interview. Information interviews allow you to learn more about an industry or function you may be interested in, make connections within that industry and/or company, and get your name out there. Utilize LinkedIn or the Darden alumni database to research potential professionals. When setting up the interview, be sure to respect the interviewer’s time and clearly state your objectives: learning more about the job/company and that you would only like a limited amount of time with them.

EXECUTIVE MBAs

What types of career changes do executive MBAs typically seek? Approximately 50% of executive MBAs advance their careers while enrolled at Darden. Executive MBAs tend to make one of three types of career change:

• Climber – earning a promotion with your current employer

• Switcher – moving to a new employer in a similar or different role

• Entrepreneur – starting or growing your own business If you are unsure about the type of career change you seek, we can help. Through visioning, self- assessment, and market research, you can determine what’s next.

How do executive MBAs leverage career services at Darden? Darden’s Career Development Center employs a proven approach and comprehensive resources for

executive MBAs in transition. Five pillars form the foundation of executive MBA career services:

1. One-on-one Career Coaching – your personal guide through the job search process 2. Career Education – the knowledge and skills you need to advance your career 3. CDC Portal – relevant resources for all stages of your job search 4. Networking with the Darden Community – fellow students, staff, faculty, and alumni who want to

help 5. On-Grounds Recruiting – opportunities to submit resumes and potentially interview for full-time,

entry-level MBA positions

http://www.linkedin.com/

http://www.darden.virginia.edu/web/mba/student-life/organizations/



May executive MBAs participate in on-Grounds recruiting? Yes, EMBA and GEMBA students may engage in on-Grounds recruiting in the second year of the

program. During on-Grounds recruiting, companies travel to Charlottesville to network and interview for

full-time, entry-level MBA positions. On-Grounds recruiting runs from August to December. View Darden’s

Employment Report to learn more about the industries, functions, locations, and salaries offered through

on-Grounds recruiting.

May executive MBAs recruit for summer internships? No, EMBAs and GEMBAs are not eligible for summer internships. Both programs require that students

are fully employed while enrolled.

CAREER CONSIDERATIONS—GETTING HIRED CONSULTING

Does having a lower GMAT score (< 700) hinder me from recruiting with the top consulting firms that recruit at Darden? A great GMAT score does not guarantee anything. MBA schools screen for academics. Having a GMAT

lower than 700 does not hinder you from getting consulting interviews. Although the consulting recruiting

process is highly competitive, the selection criteria do not solely depend on your GMAT score. Going to

recruiting events, meeting with recruiters, and networking effectively is just as important, if not more

important, than your GMAT score in the selection process (but keep in mind that having a high GMAT

score definitely helps). There is no cut. Make a good impression.

What other career paths should I explore to gain skillsets that would be applicable in consulting?

You should target business development opportunities that focus on strategic or marketing management

roles (i.e. Leadership Development/Rotational Programs) and entrepreneurship (i.e. BVIP opportunities).

Client-facing roles are desirable and also offer a great way to develop communication and project

management skills. How challenging is the consulting recruiting process for international students? To get a US-based consulting position as an international student is really tough. Not only do you have to

understand the social mores here, but your English must be near-native fluent. Oftentimes, the

international students who are successful in the consulting recruiting process have either worked for a US-

based consulting firm or are recruiting for a position to work back in their home country.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

What internship options are available for students who want to pursue start-ups or begin work

on starting their own company?

Darden offers a number of possibilities for students who are passionate about entrepreneurship. The iLab

Incubator offers students the opportunity and resources to begin working on their own venture during the

summer after their first year. Darden also offers the Batten Venture Internship Program (BVIP) which

pairs MBA interns with start-up companies and early-stage venture capital firms around the world.

Students can respond to BVIP job postings or create their own BVIP with the company of their choice;

they can also work with a fellow student who is working in the Incubator over the summer.

FINANCE

http://www.darden.virginia.edu/web/mba/entrepreneurship/practicum/incubator/

http://www.darden.virginia.edu/web/mba/entrepreneurship/practicum/incubator/

http://www.darden.virginia.edu/web/mba/student-life/organizations/entrepreneurship-venture-capital/batten-venture-internship-program/



What do investment banks do and what are some differences between investment banking and corporate finance? At the most basic level, investment banks help companies raise capital and provide financial-related

advice. In other words, investment banks match parties that have capital with those that need

capital. This may mean equity offerings, debt offerings, M&A activity, or securities trading.

Corporate finance Corporate finance is what most people think of when they hear “investment banking.” Investment

bankers in corporate finance advise senior management at corporations on a variety of

transactions: raising equity capital (i.e. an IPO), raising debt capital, acquiring or selling a

company or division, or defending against a hostile takeover attempt.

Finance within a company, which is different from corporate finance within an investment bank There are various divisions within corporate finance (finance in a company). Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) provides financial leadership for key business unit decisions and evaluates the business unit’s profitability, returns, and growth strategies. FP&A professionals also analyze investments to launch new products, expand capacity, and drive cost savings. Treasury management advises CEOs and CFOs on key financial policies such as capital structure (debt versus equity), dividends to shareholders, targeted credit rating and debt offerings management.

I heard that investment banking recruiting is very intense during the fall; what can I do to prepare for networking for investment banking recruiting? Investment banking recruiting is intensive in the fall because investment banks expect a certain level and

type of networking with the firm. In order to be successful, you MUST pay attention to detail in every facet

of communication with banks. The CDC will provide a helpful timeline that will walk you through the

communication process with banks. Leverage your Career Advisors and Second Year Coaches to

understand how to effectively network with banks and the best techniques for interviewing.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

Is GMO only a Plan B when other functions do not work out?

No. While it is true that many students treat GMO as a Plan B, General Management and Operations

represents serious opportunities in many very strong companies around the world. General Managers

are those executives who have overall responsibility for managing both revenue and cost elements of a

company’s income statement. As such, General Managers are typically responsible for multiple functions

(e.g., marketing, sales, finance, operations, human resources, manufacturing).

What is a Leadership Development Program (LDP) and why are LDPs an important component

of the GMO conversation?

LDPs are typically rotational programs within companies usually lasting 18-24 months. During this time, a

person contributes to and learns from multiple functions and situations. From this well-rounded exposure,

a person is able to take on increased and accelerated General Management responsibility as a leader in

the company. LDPs are a very strong point of entry for a General Management career.

MARKETING

Do you need to have a marketing background in order to successfully recruit for marketing positions?



While recruiters appreciate candidates who have previous marketing experience that experience is not

required to successfully recruit in marketing. A number of students with backgrounds in finance,

operations, and other functions successfully recruit for marketing positions. Marketing recruiters are

looking for candidates with a “marketing mind.” For example, can you demonstrate the ability to translate

analytics and data into creative, actionable marketing campaigns? That ability is more important than a

candidate’s previous professional background.

What marketing roles do MBAs typically go into? For internships, most CPG (consumer packaged goods) companies are seeking Assistant Brand

Managers or Assistant Marketing Managers, with the plan being to move them into Brand or Marketing

Managers roles full-time after graduation. Technology companies typically hire interns into product

marketing roles such as Assistant Product Manager. Companies also hire marketing-focused MBAs into

business development and marketing analyst roles.

SOCIAL IMPACT

What opportunities are available for MBA students interested in social impact careers?

Darden has seen an increasing number of MBA students interested in social impact careers — focused

on areas such as sustainability, education, renewable energy and more. A host of

companies/organizations across a variety of industries come to Darden to recruit students for jobs in

education, energy, resource management, and sustainability. Endless other opportunities are available to

MBAs via off-Grounds recruiting and networking. Darden’s CA team and SY Coaches partner with FY

students to help them explore this career path and opportunities for MBAs. Social impact job searches

are no different than other job searches, students need to determine what they want to do (i.e., what role,

what job) and where they want to do it (i.e., what type of organization, what industry). Starting with a

clear objective in mind creates the focus necessary to land a job with a social impact focus.

There are many ways to explore your interest in sustainability and social impact passion. The school has

a number of student organizations including Net Impact (20-25% of the student body are members) that

you can join to connect and learn with other students that share your interest. Net Impact is dedicated to

using the power of business to positively impact social, environmental and economic concerns across the

world. The Innovation for Sustainability concentration (available in the Second Year) prepares students

to design and implement sustainability strategies such that their future organizations not only expand their

positive impact on society, but also realize revenue growth, cost savings and/or brand enhancement.

Currently, Darden offers 17 elective courses that solely or partially focus on sustainability and ethical

leadership/decision-making.

TECHNOLOGY

I don’t have previous work experience in technology. Do I stand a chance in tech recruiting?

Yes! As with other industries, technology companies recruit many MBAs who are career switchers without

a background in technology. The technology recruiters who work with Darden tend to look for an

analytical mind, a strong passion for technology (especially the company’s particular technology), strong

leadership and teamwork skills, creative problem-solving skills, and an entrepreneurial mindset. If you can

communicate those qualities to technology companies, you’ll be an attractive candidate.

What areas and/or roles do MBAs typically find in technology?

Most technology companies hire MBAs for strategic roles in areas such as Product Management, Product

Marketing Management, Relationship/Account Management, Operations/Supply Chain, Corporate



Strategy, Sales/Business Development, and Finance. For Product Management roles, almost all major

technology companies require that candidates have a background in engineering.

What’s the timeline for recruiting in technology?

For most MBAs, tech recruiting involves a mix of on- and off-Grounds recruiting. While a number of

technology firms recruit on-Grounds, students interested in a variety of companies (or interested in start-

ups) will also network and recruit off-Grounds. The timeline for technology recruiting can also extend from

January through April; keep in mind that a number of these companies employ just-in-time hiring

practices and won’t look to fill intern positions until they have a clear idea of the number of interns they’ll

need. However, if you are interested in specific companies, you should begin networking as soon as

possible as companies begin to identify potential candidates for spring recruiting.

ALUMNI CAREER SERVICES What types of career services are available to Darden Alumni? The Armstrong Center for Alumni Career Services’ (ACS) mission is to provide quality career

management services to all Darden School alumni throughout their lives. ACS counseling services are

free to graduates of all Darden MBA programs. ACS offers:

• Personalized career counseling, starting with self-assessment and covering all aspects of a job

search

• A comprehensive website dedicated to all phases of career planning, including job- and resume-

posting services

• Network connections, including how to connect with fellow Darden alumni

• Special events, including annual Career Transitions Workshops for alumni who are thinking about

or are in the midst of a career change, as well as workshops to assist those Returning to the

Workforce

Getting Started - Your Checklist Are you ready? For a successful start, be sure to have the following completed by the end of

First Week.

1. Check Your Expectations Watch a short, introductory video that features

Chequeta Allen, Assistant Dean for Career

Development, and answers two questions:

1. What can you expect from us?

2. What do we expect from you?

2. Spend Time on Self-Assessment Take Career Leader, a self-assessment that identifies the career paths and work cultures which are best aligned with your interests, skills, and motivators.

1. Go to www.careerleader.com and click

“Sign in” in the top right corner 2. Under NEW USERS, enter your email

address and the registration key virginia- snapshot

3. Purchase your subscription to CareerLeader for $30

4. Register your account, complete a brief demographic profile, and then complete the assessment

3. Ready Your Resume Format your resume according to the preferred Darden style.

• 1-page Darden resume for full-time MBA students and executive MBAs who plan to participate in on-Grounds recruiting for entry-level MBA roles

• 2-page Darden resume for executive MBAs Sound tricky? Darden offers a number of resources to help you get started. Visit Canvas, the Admitted Student Portal, or the CDC portal to learn more.


http://www.careerleader.com/

CONTACT US: [email protected]

+1.434.924.7283


mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Ready. Aim. Hired. - & Company, Inc.* Boston Consulting Group, Inc., The (BCG)* Deloitte Consulting Ernst & Young LLP* ... Mars & Co McKinsey & Company* Parthenon EY* Peer Insight