How Five MBAs Made the Most of Career Support at Michigan Ross

The Career Development Office supports MBAs from the moment students enroll through graduation, providing tailored guidance every step of the way. In addition to offering an extensive summer recruiting prep course to get students started on the right path, CDO also facilitates connections with employers and alums, ensuring students have the opportunity to network with people who can help them get ahead. Through workshops, panels, one-on-one coaching, and treks to employers on both coasts and destinations in between, CDO works to set MBAs up for success in whatever path they choose. 

One of the most popular CDO resources among MBAs is the Functional Accountability Career Teams program, or “FACT groups.” These groups offer weekly support, clustering students with first-year peers and pairing second-year MBA coach leaders to help them stay on track throughout the recruiting process.  

To further explore the many ways students take advantage of CDO’s offerings, we spoke with five MBAs about their experiences so far.  

Sneha Kannan, MBA ’25

What is your post-graduation career goal?

My immediate goal is to combine my love for technology and business by becoming a consultant. In the long term, I aim to become an industry expert and drive strategy for high-growth tech companies.

What CDO recruiting prep resources did you utilize?

Two of the biggest resources I leveraged from the summer course were the career assessment and the two-hour job search. Coming into my MBA, I didn’t know exactly where I wanted to land, but the career assessment helped me understand my motivations and consider jobs that weren’t initially on my radar. Additionally, the job search document was my ultimate source of truth for my recruiting goals. When you recruit for tech, there are a thousand companies, and having an anchor or a priority list really helps.

I joined a tech FACT group, which was probably the most useful resource for my recruitment journey. This helped me follow the tech recruitment timeline and understand exactly what I needed to do at every stage — from resume prep to networking, all the way to job interviews. The FACT group was helpful in laying the groundwork.

Have you worked with a staff career coach or peer coach? How has that experience helped you with recruiting?

I worked extensively with peer coaches throughout my recruitment preparation, and it was invaluable. I must have spent at least 50 hours with peer coaches on fine-tuning my resume and mock interviews. Through these meetings, I got my reps in, heard detailed feedback, and also got to gather tips from different people.

How was your internship experience, and how did CDO help prepare and support you?

I interned with Dell as a product manager in their gaming business. It was such a rewarding experience but also challenging. I needed to bring my A-game to the workplace — doing extensive research, creating a story with data, networking, and presenting to stakeholders.

A key part of my internship was connecting with new people across various functions. The CDO's networking tips and practice really prepared me for this. Additionally, I ended up using a lot of frameworks and storytelling with data for my work. CDO resources on interview prep helped me learn the basics, and I was able to hit the ground running.

What are the most important career support resources that you would recommend new FTMBA students take advantage of?

The biggest resources I recommend are the FACT sessions and peer/staff coaches. This is the collective knowledge of your senior cohort at your fingertips. Leverage your two sessions per week and tailor that experience to your needs. The other advice is to identify your weaknesses and work on them through workshops, volunteering experience, articles, etc. Identify your strengths and double down on them. An interview is successful when the recruiter walks away thinking, “We need this candidate.” Be that candidate. We all have strengths — polish yours, and you will shine!

Lindsay Tracy, MBA ’25

What is your post-graduation career goal?

I will work as an associate marketing manager at Molson Coors Beverage Co. in Chicago.

What CDO recruiting prep resources did you utilize?

I joined the general marketing FACT group. It was an essential resource for recruiting and career prep. We workshopped my resume, refined my professional story, practiced behavioral questions, and constructed frameworks for casing. 

Have you worked with a staff career coach or peer coach? How has that experience helped you with recruiting?

Absolutely. Throughout the fall semester, I had twice-weekly peer coach meetings. We conducted many mock interviews and worked together on every aspect of my recruiting prep. 

How was your internship experience, and how did CDO help prepare and support you?

My internship was fantastic! I worked at Molson Coors in brand marketing, specifically on a hard tea strategy project. Everyone was welcoming and supportive, and I learned so much. CDO and Michigan Marketing Club resources provided me with knowledge, practice, and feedback to prepare for training during the internship. 

What are the most important career support resources that you would recommend new FTMBA students take advantage of?

As I mentioned, FACT groups and peer coaches are critical resources for recruiting and internship preparation, as well as the on-campus coffee chats facilitated by the CDO. Michigan Marketing Club is also an essential resource between weekly education sessions and advice from second-year MBAs. The Chicago Marketing Trek was a fantastic opportunity to tour some of the firms in the city and discover a day in the life of a marketer. The Ross Connect Conference, organized by MMC and other clubs, was also a great way to practice interviews in a real-world situation and get individual feedback from the companies I eventually interviewed with.

Zoe Qin, MBA ’25

What is your post-graduation career goal?

My immediate post-graduation goal is to work as a consultant, leveraging my analytical skills and international business experiences to solve complex challenges. I wish to be a trusted advisor for corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and non-governmental organizations, helping a diverse set of clients navigate change, seize opportunities, and make a positive social impact.

What CDO recruiting prep resources did you utilize?

Over the summer, I used CDO’s recruiting prep course to guide self-reflection. The career assessments helped me further understand my strengths and weaknesses, which proved useful later for interview preparation. The course also helped me understand the workload I must prepare for during recruiting season, including continuous company due diligence, resume customization, and informational interviews.

Joining a consulting FACT group in my first year was incredibly valuable. My group leader was resourceful, patient, and very responsive. He created a welcoming culture where I felt safe asking questions, learning, making mistakes, and exchanging feedback with my group on a weekly basis. I also learned a lot from my group, who came from very diverse backgrounds and were very generous in sharing their experiences and perspectives.

Have you worked with a staff career coach or peer coach? How has that experience helped you with recruiting?

I went to a CDO virtual drop-in office hour over the summer. As an international student, I was unfamiliar with the dynamics of informational interviews and coffee chats. Speaking with Career Coach Becky Shark helped me overcome my fear of small talk and made me feel more comfortable showing up as my authentic self. I also interacted with Randy Albert regularly throughout the recruiting process. Whenever I started fixating on details, Randy helped me zoom out and see the bigger picture. His best advice was to consciously “manage your mental health as a separate project” (his original words), which was exactly the reminder I needed at the time.

I actively sought out peer coaches from different cultural and professional backgrounds to review resumes and conduct mock interviews. Throughout the semester, I worked with 16 peer coaches and found their feedback valuable.

How was your internship experience, and how did CDO help prepare and support you?

I attended CDO’s online workshop on how to succeed in MBA internships, which helped me realize that MBA internships come with different expectations compared to other internships I had done earlier in my life. It was a good reminder that securing the internship was just the first step. This motivated me to actively practice my analytical and communication skills during my Multidisciplinary Action Project, which made me feel more confident going into the summer internship.

I learned a lot through my summer internship. My responsibility was coordinating with eight department leads at a Fortune 400 company to launch a new project on a tight timeline. It was challenging to get up to speed on unfamiliar tasks in an industry I knew little about, collaborate with clients with different personalities and work styles, and work with a completely new team. However, from day one, I received mentorship from my team lead and others at the firm and strong support from my teammates. Their generosity helped me overcome imposter syndrome and integrate quickly into the team. Together, we helped the client launch the project on time and exceeded our targets.

What are the most important career support resources that you would recommend new FTMBA students take advantage of?

I recommend working with peer coaches from diverse backgrounds. They just experienced the latest recruiting process and understood the challenges at each step. I also recommend regularly checking in with CDO staff, as they have extensive recruiting data accumulated over the years, and their high-level perspective can often guide you in the right direction. Last but not least, consulting FACT groups and the Consulting Club at Ross are great resources. Having those dedicated weekly spaces for everyone to learn from each other was really helpful for me.

I’d like to underscore that everyone’s recruiting journey is unique. Regularly reflecting on your own journey will help you make the most of these resources.

Abbey Stanley, MBA ’25

What is your post-graduation career goal?

I came to business school to pivot into healthcare investment banking. Ross helped me accomplish this transition, and I will join J.P. Morgan in New York.

What CDO recruiting prep resources did you utilize?

I diligently completed the CDO recruiting prep course with the mindset that building a strong foundation would allow me to quickly perfect things like my story and resume using on-campus resources once I arrived at school. When I got to campus, I joined an investment banking FACT group that consisted of six MBA1 peers and an MBA2 FACT group leader. We met weekly to discuss upcoming events, where the group was in the recruiting process, and technical and behavioral interview preparation.

The FACT curriculum provided the structure and blueprint for a successful recruiting process, whereas the members fostered a collaborative learning environment, allowing us to gain insights from each other’s questions and experiences while providing a sense of support as we navigated the process together. Additionally, my FACT group leader was not only a cornerstone in my recruitment process but also continued to provide support and insight to ensure I was able to have a successful internship.

Have you worked with a staff career coach or peer coach? How has that experience helped you with recruiting?

I worked closely with the staff career coach and peer coaches throughout my recruitment preparation. With the staff coach, who has extensive experience in interview strategies and preparation, we focused on structuring clear, efficient, and impactful responses. Our sessions helped refine my ability to deliver well-structured answers while ensuring my key points were easily digestible for interviewers.

I also worked with a diverse range of peer coaches. Each peer coach brought unique strengths and perspectives, whether in technical questions, behavioral responses, market trends, or the overall recruiting process. By integrating insights from various coaches into my approach, I built a well-rounded skill set that allowed me to enter interviews with confidence and present my best self.

How was your internship experience, and how did CDO help prepare and support you?

A consistent theme that the CDO emphasizes is the importance of taking time to reflect on what you truly want. It’s essential to discover what you want from your career, what you value, the environment in which you can thrive, and what fulfillment looks like to you. The recruiting process, internships, and full-time employment are all two-way streets.

During my internship, I was exposed to a challenging, fast-paced environment. Because I had taken the time to reflect on what I was looking to get out of this experience, I felt energized by the learning opportunities this setting provided. This clarity also gave me confidence and composure when navigating various situations. I was exposed to many new experiences, developed valuable skills, and grew in meaningful ways. Knowing my goals allowed me to advocate for myself when opportunities arose. I clearly communicated what I hoped to gain from my summer experience, and my team responded with strong support, recognizing my initiative and commitment to growth and the group.

What are the most important career support resources that you would recommend new FTMBA students take advantage of?

I am the biggest believer that people are the most valuable resource. There is so much knowledge and value that can be provided from CDO’s human capital base. Take the time to have conversations with people, be prepared, show humility, and demonstrate a willingness to learn and a desire to work hard, and the people at Ross will go beyond the extra mile to support you.

It is absolutely incredible how meaningful this impact can be on your growth. The earlier you start these conversations, the better. Entering the program with a foundational understanding of what to expect and how to prepare will help set you up for success, and it’s an extra bonus to come onto campus with a few extra familiar faces.

Ximena Munoz, MBA ’25

What is your post-graduation career goal?

I plan to work in product marketing management in the tech industry.

What CDO recruiting prep resources did you utilize?

The CDO recruiting prep course provided insights into the recruiting timeline and gave me the opportunity to engage with various CDO staff members. This was especially beneficial at the start of the program when I was actively exploring different career paths.

Joining the Tech FACT group was key in my recruiting journey. It provided dedicated time and space to refine my resume, craft my odyssey, practice mock interviews, and learn casing frameworks. In several of my FACT group meetings, second-year MBA students shared their experiences, offering invaluable insights. Additionally, the opportunity to exchange my own recruiting journey with peers made the process smoother.

Have you worked with a staff career coach or peer coach? How has that experience helped you with recruiting?

Yes, I had the opportunity to work with both. The staff career coach provided guidance on resume reviews and career exploration, while peer coaches played a crucial role in interview preparation, offering feedback after each mock session.

How was your internship experience, and how did CDO help prepare and support you?

I interned with the Product Marketing Management team in security for AI at Microsoft, and the experience was incredibly rewarding. Not only did I gain deeper insights into the industry, but I also received constant support and guidance from my team. The preparation I did — practicing my odyssey and refining my interview skills — helped me build the confidence to network and

collaborate with multiple teams throughout my internship. Ultimately, the hands-on learning workshops organized by the CDO positively impacted my performance, allowing me to contribute meaningfully.

What are the most important career support resources that you would recommend new FTMBA students take advantage of?

I highly recommend taking advantage of staff and peer coaches for one-on-one sessions, signing up for coffee chats to connect with professionals at your target companies and start building relationships, and joining FACT groups to engage with second-year MBAs who have recently navigated the same path.