In the latest Forbes list of highest paid actors, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson outdid more established actors, such as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Robert Downey, Jr, finishing second on the 2017 list after topping it for the previous 2 years.
This is an amazing feat for “The Rock”, who was once a struggling and depressed football player. He was able to successfully transition into pro wrestling, and eventually into a big-time movie star with leading roles in blockbuster hits such as Jumanji and The Mummy Returns. Time and again, he was able to convince producers and stakeholders to take a chance on him as he tried something new.
For MBA applicants looking for a career switch, you would also need to convince the admissions committee that you have what it takes to achieve your goal.
Identify a Target Market
As you research on post-MBA jobs, take note on which sectors, companies, and even roles that would be a good fit for your background. Share how you can provide value and why these companies look for them. It would be even better if you can cite colleagues who have taken a similar path before you - just as “The Rock” had Arnold Schwarzenegger as a template of an athlete who leveraged his physique into demigod movie roles and later on into family-oriented movies. Showing that it has been successfully done before by somebody who resembles your profile helps demonstrate how doable it is.
Perhaps, a recommender, who had taken a similar path, could help convince the Admissions Committee that you have what it takes and that there is a viable market for your profile. Showing that it has been done before assures that you have done your research and that you would benefit from an MBA at your target program.
Showcase Transferable Skills
With his father and grandfather being wrestlers, “The Rock” was able to leverage his pedigree and knowledge of the industry to move from a failed football career into wrestling. Given this platform, “The Rock” brought something new – comedic talent behind the microphone!
Showcasing his wit, timing, and speaking skills, this allowed talent evaluators to see that he could host Saturday Night Live, and eventually expand his range as an actor. Similarly, an academic or scientist can share ability to lead and collaborate not only at work, but also in the community or in industry organizations. This would help show that she can transition into a project manager, and later on into C-level roles.
Display Character Traits
Showing that you possess traits, such as resilience, adaptability, and work ethic serves the purpose of convincing the admissions committee that you would have what it takes to conquer challenges and succeed as you encounter initial difficulties while you transition. It also helps them identify with you as a person, and want to root for your success. Share previous obstacles that you encountered, the way Johnson did with his struggles as a football player, battling injuries, and depression.
You are not expected to be perfect. Instead, demonstrate self-awareness and authenticity by identifying failures and weaknesses, and how you have dealt with them, and why an MBA at this time would help your personal and career development.
Hopefully, integrating these tips into your application package would help you be seen as bringing familiarity and uniqueness that would show your potential to fit in, while contributing to enrich the school community.