How I Navigated My Job Search in the Master of Supply Chain Management Program at Michigan Ross

Having applied in round one and received the admission decision much earlier than the program's start date, I had a plethora of questions related to the career development opportunities and recruiting process. The One-Year Masters Group Launch Sessions conducted by Josh Milligan, a career coach from the Career Development Office (CDO), made me realize the importance of networking and the type of career support I can expect from the CDO. These sessions are offered frequently from February through May, and specifically talk about what students can do to be best equipped to succeed in the program from a career standpoint.

Without any delay, I started reaching out to the alums and Class of 2022 students not only in the MSCM cohort but also in the Full-Time MBA and other One-Year Master's cohorts. I was fortunate to receive tremendous support from most of them, which helped me know the exact nature of career support I can expect from the CDO and other professional development resources on campus. Unlike many of my peers in the MSCM Class of 2023, I had an MBA degree before joining Ross, which gave me a head start when the classes began in the summer of 2022.

The various fun activities and surveys conducted by the CDO, Center for Positive Organizations, and Sanger Leadership Center during our orientation made me discover my professional strengths and areas of improvement. Though every event that I participated in during the three-day orientation was eye-opening, the Reflected Best Self Exercise (RBSE) was my personal favorite as I received the most insightful responses from the diverse storytellers, who were comprised of my family, friends, teachers, work colleagues, and clients.

To work on my areas of improvement, I made sure to schedule regular coaching appointments every week with the staff and career coaches from CDO, who are experts in various industries. These one-on-one customized sessions helped me prepare for my job search as an international student and crack the behavioral as well as case interviews. Apart from these appointments with the CDO at Ross, I have also scheduled numerous meetings with the University Career Center (UCC) staff through Handshake.

I am also thankful to Josh for organizing multiple workshops and professional development events, such as ‘Two-Hour Job Search’ and ‘Creating Impactful Resumes.’ The Two-Hour Job Search session motivated me to follow a structured approach focused on reaching out to my target employers and finding advocates who can support me in finding my dream job. The career fairs and coffee chats provided me with a platform to network effectively with the companies recruiting on campus. Our class’s elected corporate/alumni relations co-chairs, Seshu and Pooja, have been instrumental in sharing any supply chain-related job postings in a timely manner. 

The LinkedIn networking tips given by the CDO career coaches and alums have enabled me to use LinkedIn optimally and develop connections with the recruiters and leaders working in my target firms. Coming to a prestigious B-school like Ross, my class expected great job opportunities. What I learned was that it was my personal effort that made me successful. All of the support from the CDO and the proactive efforts I put into sharpening my professional skills helped me get into my dream role in a reputed organization that frequently recruits from Michigan Ross.

My major advice to prospective students would be to utilize all the available career resources proactively, believe in the process suggested by coaches, and go the extra mile to sharpen your skills rather than expecting to be spoon-fed. Doing this will prepare you for success in both on-campus recruiting and off-campus searches. Go Blue!