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

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

buy a shirt

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

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

I wouldn't touch that in a million years.

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.

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.

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.