50 Y/o Recently Obtained An MBA In Marketing but No Job Prospects, Advice?

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I've recently obtained and MBA with the hopes of kick starting a new career. My Bachelors Degree is unrelated (biology). However without having any experience in advertising, PR or marketing I haven't been able to get more than 2 job interviews. Is there anything I can do? perhaps computer programs, certifications, a specific marketing branch that would be easier for me to start? Also it seems like the "entry-level" jobs are anything but and practically non-existent. Should I just accept count my losses and get used to the idea of getting job in a nice neighborhood store for my remaining days?
When I started my MBA it didn't even cross my mind that age would be a problem and just recently this horrible idea began to fester in my brain.
PS
My school was no help in any kind of placement of internship.
#advice #job #marketing #mba #obtained #prospects #recently #y or o
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  • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
    Originally Posted by Jose Suarez View Post

    I've recently obtained and MBA with the hopes of kick starting a new career. My Bachelors Degree is unrelated (biology). However without having any experience in advertising, PR or marketing I haven't been able to get more than 2 job interviews. Is there anything I can do? perhaps computer programs, certifications, a specific marketing branch that would be easier for me to start? Also it seems like the "entry-level" jobs are anything but and practically non-existent. Should I just accept count my losses and get used to the idea of getting job in a nice neighborhood store for my remaining days?
    When I started my MBA it didn't even cross my mind that age would be a problem and just recently this horrible idea began to fester in my brain.
    PS
    My school was no help in any kind of placement of internship.
    OK. You have the MBA. What did you do for the 30 years prior? Was it biology related? What are your work experiences.

    My advice (and as an opinion at WF, should be taken with a grain of salt)...is to begin by writing the STORY,

    of why you went back to school, and WHY did you go for the MBA?

    You are in an age group, where millions of people are at, too old for entry level, too smart for floor sweeping at minimum wage, facing an uncertain future, and being able to eyeball a pretty sad looking older age, with a chance of working at Walmart as a greeter because you don't have enough money..

    So, WHY did you go back to school? What were you thinking? How did you see the outcome a couple of years ago, when you got started? What were your expectations?

    THIS is the foundation of a story you can share with untold numbers of people in a similar situation.

    THEN, YOU make a discovery. Perhaps via a savvy post at a forum, and you have a light bulb moment explode in your head, and you decided to APPLY some of that MBA knowledge you gained.

    What that would be is up to you. BUT, as for your hero's journey, you wanted a change, you accepted the call, you had disappointments, and you are at the point in your journey where the "mentor" or adviser, or wizard appears and shows you the yellow brick road, but doesn't tell you about the wicked witch or other scary things facing you.

    What you do next will determine how YOUR story comes out, will you chuck it all and go to Walamart and be an old parking lot cart wrangler, probably the most educated person in the store?

    OR will you pick up the broken sword tossed at the edge of the battlefied by the cowardly prince, and run into the frey, doing battle to the end.

    ONLY you can write your story, from this point forward.

    However, take a few moments to answer the questions I asked above, and you may find some help, guidance, direction...or you may not.

    YOU have to make the MBA valuable, because there are thousands of them, who have not...it isn't about education or what you know, but about what you DO.

    So what are you prepared to do, today, to gain control of your life?

    GordonJ
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    • Profile picture of the author Jose Suarez
      I really appreciate your encouragement for me doing a little soul searching but it seems that I wasn't clear with my statement. I need advice on what should I do in order to become competitive. I mean hard skills": more training, complement my education with computer programming etc.
      "WHY did you go for the MBA?" Because I got tired of working customer service, in clothing stores and answering phones for minimum wage even though I had a Bachelors Degree.
      "What were you thinking? How did you see the outcome a couple of years ago, when you got started? What were your expectations?" I was optimistic that I would at least be able to get out of sh*ty jobs and obtain something that would at least pay more than minimum wage and offered a retirement plan. How do I make my MBA valuable? That is exactly what I wanted to ask. I need a better job and I'll do what ever necessary to get it and I am out of ideas. My "my story" seems to be irrelevant because no one is going to give me a job based on my life story.
      PS
      Assistant Marketing Brand Manager, Electronic Media Marketing, or anything that will get me a job. "Beggars can't be choosers".
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Get really clear on what you clearly want to do with your MBA Jose. Few job offers means you lack the clarity to find the right offers in the right spots. Always an inside-outside thing buddy. Pick 1 specific niche you feel passionate about, and your search goes smoothly.

    Ryan
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    Ryan Biddulph helps you to be a successful blogger with his courses, manuals and blog at Blogging From Paradise
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    • Profile picture of the author Jose Suarez
      I think that lack of job offers means I lack "hard skills" and experience. I was hoping for solid ideas at this point in life passion has to take a back seat and do anything I can actually do (short of selling my soul to the devil).
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      • Profile picture of the author Odahh
        Originally Posted by Jose Suarez View Post

        Everything you said is true, you've restated my fears and that is exactly why I am writing here. I don't think that what was said by other addreses the problem. It isn't a journey to find myself I need advice on what should I do in order to become competitive. I mean hard skills": more training, complement my education with computer programming etc.
        . I need a better job and I'll do what ever necessary to get it and I am out of ideas.
        Assistant Marketing Brand Manager, Electronic Media Marketing, or anything that will get me a job. "Beggars can't be choosers".
        Originally Posted by Jose Suarez View Post

        I think that lack of job offers means I lack "hard skills" and experience. I was hoping for solid ideas at this point in life passion has to take a back seat and do anything I can actually do (short of selling my soul to the devil).
        i can't give you advice i have no idea your skills and experience .. and if you see your self as a beggar .. that is what you will be ..

        you are fifty.. do you have anyone to support but yourself at the moment ..i'm not talking about following your passion.. i'm talking about figuring out what you want to do.. then you can get the skills and training to do that .. how has being a begger and talking what you can get turned out for you so far ..

        simple you are 50 you should know what you want by now .. and start working to get that.. but if you are just looking for more skills and education to be a better beggar ..i can't help you ..or won't ..

        walmart may have fully automated greeter in 15 years ..

        but im full of crap..have no clue about you .. just I'm not a beggar no mater how bad things get.. so i can't tell you how to be a better beggar ..

        I will tell you that maybe it is time to start choosing

        but just ignore me .. i'm someone on a random forum who does not know you ..

        i'm an ass on this.. you had a bachelors degree .. and could not do better than minimum wage jobs in your 30's and 40's ...so you thought the answer was a better degree .. which so far is not helping .. and you are still thinking the answer is better education .. and maybe that will get you a better job .. how many times are you going to do what doesn't work..

        what industry do you actually want to work in ..and get the skills you need to work in that industry .

        I'm 40 no degrees and i've never worked a minimum wage job longr than a few weeks or months ..minimum wage here is 10 dollars an hour ..and even if i wanted a job right now i could probably relearn to drive a forklift and make at least 15$ an hour ..but my back can't handle that anymore because there is lifting involved .

        i would probably get a minimum wage job if i had to . and learn to thrift .. or flip different kinds of items .. no student loans to pay off then
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        • Profile picture of the author Jose Suarez
          Well I suppose everyone's circumstances are different. I do thank you for taking the time to help me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Odahh
    I'm not going to repeat Gordons post .. but it was spot on .. if you understand it of course

    you now have a piece of paper ..and it looks like you have no real skills of any value after all the time and money getting your MBA ..

    you are 50 now with the mba you are to educated for most people to be willing to higher .. and to old with to little experience as an mba ..for anyone to be willing to hire ..

    so what would you actually want to do with the next 20-25 working pre retirement years.. and the many years after that you will still be working because the 1,200 dollat ssi check..doesn't go that far
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    • Profile picture of the author Jose Suarez
      Everything you said is true, you've restated my fears and that is exactly why I am writing here.

      I need advice on what should I do in order to become competitive. I mean hard skills": more training, complement my education with computer programming etc.
      I need a better job and I'll do what ever necessary to get it and I am out of ideas.
      Assistant Marketing Brand Manager, Electronic Media Marketing, or anything that will get me a job. As the old saying says "Beggars can't be choosers", meaning, I am in no position to be picky or entitled.
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  • Profile picture of the author Immortal Fascist
    I wouldn't touch that in a million years.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jose Suarez
      Well at least you recognize the seriousness of it!
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    I was hoping for solid ideas at this point in life passion has to take a back seat and do anything I can actually do (short of selling my soul to the devil).
    What if the devil isn't buying?

    There's no magic advice that will turn this around quickly. The MBA might have been useful to move into management in biology or education - but seems you haven't worked in the field of your undergrad degree...is that correct?


    Unless I'm wrong you are in an area with high unemployment - that's another hurdle. Where I live the age wouldn't matter at all but don't know what is true in your job market. Four people I know very well (3 in my family) have recently completed an MBA (in past 2 years)...the three who are in their 50s have been able to leverage it better than the one in her 20's. Go figure.

    But - an MBA is often accomplished to move UP in your career. If you have been a good employee with a specific company in retail or sales you might leverage the degree to a better job and salary. If you have job hopped for years, won't be that easy. If you change industries - you'll likely start near the bottom.

    But - you should have the ability to start your own business...and the computer skills to work online. Maybe you need to think about not working for someone else - and look into working for yourself using the knowledge of business you've acquired.

    As for 'jobs' a commissioned sales job might be the fastest way to reach a management position...if you are good at the sales job. Look into food brokers and similar companies who work between the brand manufacturers and the retail stores/groceries/military bases/etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jose Suarez
      Thank you for your advice and yes unemployment in Puerto Rico is horrible. Regardless of having a bunch of pharmaceutical companies here there are too many factors at play for me to get into. But I strongly believe that in the end two major factors are at play, hard skills and nepotism. I strongly believe that when push comes to shove hard skills will win.
      Food brokers is an excellent advice I was hoping to find here! Never even heard of such career path. I'll look into it!
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      • Profile picture of the author Odahh
        Originally Posted by Jose Suarez View Post

        Thank you for your advice and yes unemployment in Puerto Rico is horrible. Regardless of having a bunch of pharmaceutical companies here there are too many factors at play for me to get into. But I strongly believe that in the end two major factors are at play, hard skills and nepotism. I strongly believe that when push comes to shove hard skills will win.
        Food brokers is an excellent advice I was hoping to find here! Never even heard of such career path. I'll look into it!
        well you might want to move to the mainland..you will probably be able to find many more opportunities than in puerto rico ..

        i have had to move around the country.. and seems you have the ability or at least the legal ability ..and you may pay more in rent but not have to pay 400 dollars a month on air conditioning

        forget a company with a retirement plan .. create your own retirement plan
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    I worked for the company below in their Atlanta office - great company and it's grown even more since then. It is a global company.

    https://www.eurpac.com/
    Eurpac Strategic Partners
    https://www.eurpac.com/careers

    Also worked for this one for 3 years

    https://www.acosta.com/

    https://acosta.jobs/atlanta/georgia/usa/jobs/

    You need to be pro-active. Yes, the unemployment rate is high in PR BUT how many of those unemployed have graduate degrees? If you are desperate for work - move to a region with better employment opportunities. It may come down to that.

    bunch of pharmaceutical companies
    Pharma sales is a profitable career - as is selling medical equipment,etc.
    If nepotism is involved - be smart about it. Make the 'privileged person' look good - don't try to visibly outdo him/her. You can't fight family connections - but you can make yourself valuable to them....

    Don't focus on finding a great job or a dream job - focus on getting your foot in the door in an industry that you have interest in. Where you start isn't important as the degree and hard work (and life experience at 50) can help you move quickly into a supervisory or management position.

    I know it sounds much easier than it is when you are doing it. You have to work as smart and hard to get a job - as you do to keep that job or be promoted.
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    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    My ducks are absolutely not in a row. I don't even know where some of them are...
    ...and I'm pretty sure one of them is a pigeon.
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    • Profile picture of the author Odahh
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      I worked for the company below in their Atlanta office - great company and it's grown even more since then. It is a global company.

      [d to be pro-active. Yes, the unemployment rate is high in PR BUT how many of those unemployed have graduate degrees? If you are desperate for work - move to a region with better employment opportunities. It may come down to that.
      the great part about living in the USA or a territory and being a legal resident .. is the ability to get on a plane and move thousands of miles away ..to get better jobs .. with very little paperwork..

      heck if that was on his list .. he could be looking for jobs around the country and have a job lined up before moving ..

      I'm currently moving around to develop skills i want .. to build the life i want.. it is so easy to do ..
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