Top MBA Recruiters: Starbucks
American coffee behemoth and casual status symbol Starbucks has become one of the most well-known companies in the world with over 27,000 stores and a massive headquarters located in Seattle, Washington. The company is known its quality service, customizable drinks, and pre-packaged items. As it continues to grow, so does the appeal for a Starbucks corporate career.
The company got its start in 1971 when the first store was opened in the Pacific Northwest. However, it wouldn’t be until 1987, when Howard Schultz took over and re-branded the company that they would open their first location outside of Seattle. By 1989, it had 46 stores and were roasting over two million pounds of coffee.
In 1992, Starbucks released its initial public offering (IPO) with a revenue of $73.5 million and a market value of $271 million. By the end of the year, the share price had risen over 100 times the earnings per share of the previous year. Now, the company earns more than $22.3 billion per year and employs over 238,000 people worldwide.
You can’t talk about Starbucks without talking about the location of its headquarters in Seattle. Located in the city’s SoDo neighborhood, Starbucks can be found in the largest multi-tenant building in the city with over 2,200,000 square feet of space. But while the building is impressive, it’s the city that really stands out.
Washington was ranked as “America’s Top State for Business in 2017,” by CNBC, and Seattle is the city to be in. According to Outside Magazine, Seattle is one “America’s Best Towns Ever,” and a PWC survey considers it one of the nation’s most innovative cities. There’s much to love about Seattle from its opportunities for adventure, laid-back culture, and strong economy, which grew 3.7 percent last year—almost 2.5 times the national average.
MBA Recruiting at Starbucks
Starbucks is a major MBA recruiter. It looks for MBA students who understand who Starbucks is as a company. As well, it recommends reading former CEO Howard Schultz’s book, Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul and following the company on social media including LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. The company wants to know why you want to be a part of it and how you fit in with the Starbucks Mission Statement.
Other required qualities include:
- Strong analytical and technical skills
- Ability to analyze business trends
- A strong team player who can collaborate cross-functionally
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Great communication skills orally and in writing
- Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to balance priorities and meet deadlines
You may also be required to have a deep understanding of financial planning, forecasting, and inventory management. You should also have a strong understanding of marketing fundamentals and be able to understand sales, return on investments, and profit and loss.
As for where Starbucks recruits, many MBA programs feed into the company including:
- The University of Washington Foster School of Business
- Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business
- The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
- Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business
- The University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Salary & Benefits of Starbucks Employment
According to PayScale, MBAs hired at Starbucks are paid well:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business Administration – $128,500
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Accounting – $65,111
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Marketing – $109,823
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), General Business – $89,000
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), Global Management – $77,419
As for benefits, Starbucks offers a tailored benefits package that’s called “Your Special Blend,” which includes Medical, Dental and Vision coverage as well as life insurance, disability, adoption assistance, paid vacation, a 401(k) Savings Plan, stock investment, one free pound of coffee per week, and more. There are also perks that include in-store merchandise discounts, matching gifts programs, etc.
Interning at Starbucks
Every year, Starbucks offers an exclusive ten-week internship program in Seattle that is designed to provide a robust and meaningful experience. MBA students who are chosen to participate can expect to participate in high-impact, business relevant projects that have well-defined goals and expectations. Interns also have access to mentorship and leadership opportunities. Graduate internship applications open from January to February each year for the summer program.
According to Peter Kazarian, a ’16 UW Foster MBA graduate who interned at Starbucks, the intern program is very deliberate and well laid out.
“With part MBAs and the rest technical and undergrad interns, there was a formal on-boarding program, weekly meetings with SVP/C-suite leadership, and great experiences like a Sounders game or fancy catered dinners at museums,” Kazarian explained in a blog. “My department was under the Channel Development arm of Starbucks, which included consumer packaged goods and anything else not in a Starbucks retail store, like grocery bottled fB2brappuccinos, licensed stores, and in my case, bulk B2B customers like airlines, hotel chains, restaurants, and campus cafes. As part of the Digital and Loyalty team, my main project involved e-commerce enhancements to our B2B team’s website, and forecasting new sales revenue and cost savings from these changes.”
As for what Kazarian enjoyed most about his experience, he enjoyed the free pound of coffee each week. He also loved getting to know his fellow MBAs who are now good friends of his. “I had a great experience … and I’ll be returning to Starbucks … as a Product Manager,” he said.
How Can You Earn a Career at Deloitte?
In 2017, Deloitte placed 11th out of “Fortune’s 100 Best Companies” to work for. It achieved its top slot thanks to the company’s focus on work/life balance where “you decide how fast paced/slow paced you want to take it.” In fact, 91 percent of Deloitte employees say their workplace is great with:
- Great challenges (96 percent)
- Great atmosphere (95 percent)
- Great rewards (94 percent)
- Great pride (97 percent)
- Great communication (95 percent)
- Great bosses (94 percent)
So, it’s no wonder that Deloitte is a top career choice for many MBA students. The company fits the 33 percent of 2016 post-graduate MBAs who want to work in consulting according to the 2017 Prospective Student Survey conducted by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC). And Deloitte also falls into the Big Four—KPMG, EY, PwC, and Deloitte—a prestigious place to be.
In addition, Deloitte is a major MBA recruiter with a depth of different career opportunities including Strategy & Operations, not just consulting. According to Transparent Career—a GlassDoor for MBA students—Deloitte ranks as the seventh best consulting company to work for with a composite score of 81/100.
Why You Should Consider Deloitte
So, why should you consider Deloitte as your next career move?
- Culture: For 18 years, Deloitte has been on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. That indicates consistency.
- Giving Back: Deloitte supports more than 5,000 nonprofits each year through its workplace giving program. Plus, workers gave more than 440,000 volunteer hours in 2016.
- Inclusion: Approximately 2/3 of Deloitte’s new hires were women and minorities, and DiversityInc ranks it as one of the “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and has done so for 13 years.
Deloitte also pays very well. In fact, according to a recent Business Insider article, Deloitte is ranked as the fifth best paying consulting firm for MBAs. Deloitte Consultants can expect a total compensation package of $221,250. The break down is as follows:
- $25,000 signing bonus
- $149,000 base salary
- $2,500 relocation local or $10,000 relocation out-of-state
- Up to $37,250 in performance bonuses
As for what working at Deloitte is like, according to efinancialcareers, “People say they love working for Deloitte because of its ‘dedicated workforce, dynamic and exciting work environment [with] opportunities for professional growth and advancement,’ as well as its ‘flexibility and mobility’ and ‘interesting assignments.’”
And one current employee described Deloitte as “invested in learning and development” saying that “partners and directors are very approachable” while coworkers are “well-educated and professional.”
Life at Deloitte
What’s a day in the life of a Deloitte new hire look like? It depends on where you work. Deloitte isn’t just a consulting company. MBAs can work in a variety of industries including banking, energy, national defense, real estate, and entertainment and in a variety of functions from mergers and acquisitions to audit and assurance, tax, and financial advisory.
Your career path at Deloitte will depend on where you’re hired. If you’re thinking of a career in management consulting, then joining the Strategy & Operations program as a Business Analyst is a smart move. As an MBA, you’ll start at the senior consultant level for two to three years. From there, you’ll move to manager for three to six years, senior manager for 406 years, and then finally reach principal/director. Within this career path, you’ll help market-leading client organizations tackle their complex business programs to drive results. You’ll be exposed to a variety of industries, clients, and projects.
There are quite a few other options as well. You can join Deloitte as a:
- Senior Consulting in Technology, where you’ll make strategic decisions where technology intersects with business strategy. In this position, you’ll use technology to help companies grow and evolve.
- Human Capital Consultant, where you’ll help clients develop solutions across their enterprise looking beyond human resources.
- Audit Staff Assistant, where you’ll work with a team to navigate the difficult landscape of auditing first-hand.
Depending on your previous experience, MBAs at Deloitte can work in one of eight divisions:
- Audit
- Consulting
- Financial Advisory
- Internal Client Services
- Real Estate
- Risk
- Tax Consulting
- Technology
Landing a Deloitte Career
Landing a job at Deloitte starts with their Deloitte Consulting Immersion Program, Client Service Internship, and various competitions. In each of these programs, MBA students will have the opportunity to interact with higher-ups at Deloitte who are responsible for hiring.
During the internship, MBA students will spend eight to ten weeks working in one of four business functions: risk and financial advisory, audit and assurance, consulting, and tax. On the other hand, the Immersion Program is just three days in length but provides MBAs with the opportunity to evaluate the depth, breadth, and quality of the job opportunities at Deloitte. As for the competitions, the National Case Competition and the National Consulting Case Competition are held at Deloitte University each year—inviting top students from MBA programs around the world.
Still, landing a job at Deloitte isn’t easy. Heidi Soltis-Berner, the Managing Director for talent at Deloitte, told efinancialcareers:
“We’re always looking for the best talent, and we’re pretty selective in who we hire. Overall, our applications were very similar to last year—we got around 500,000, and in the fiscal year 2016 we hired approximately 18,000 individuals, about 50 percent to 60 percent were from a campus setting, which equates to about a 4 percent hiring rate, pretty close to what it was last year.”
Specifically, at the graduate level, Deloitte added 6,400 new hires in 2016—most of those post-internship. According to the Deloitte website, qualified MBA candidates looking to earn a Senior Consultant position should have:
- 3-5 years work experience (preferably in a large company)
- A high level of personal and professional experience and history
- Superior analytical skills
- Willingness to travel
- Leadership capabilities and solid teamwork skills
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
How To Break Into the Tech Industry: Intuit Inc.
Since 1983, Intuit Inc.—the Mountain View, CA software company that spearheaded the creation of products like TurboTax, Quickbooks, and Mint—has effectively changed the way the average person manages their money. And with more and more MBAs shedding their finance industry aspirations for a role in tech, a job with one of the most well-regarded tech organizations is looking especially ideal.
Why Should I Join Intuit Inc.?
Intuit Inc. was ranked 13th overall on Fortune’s 2017 list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For,” and 30th overall on Glassdoor‘s newest “Best Places to Work” list. The company takes a holistic approach to ensuring company well-being. Intuit has 24-hour onsite gyms, and even provides a certain amount of bicycles for employees who bike to work. Fortune listed job perks like telecommuting, compressed work weeks, college tuition reimbursement, daily free time to pursue other projects, and paid time off for volunteering.
Many of the positions at Intuit are, unsurprisingly, tech-based, so an MBA may not be as advantageous in getting an engineering position. However, according to PayScale data, MBAs are typically the highest earners at Intuit, with the average MBA earning nearly $125,000 per year.
What Internships are Available?
Intuit Inc. has a specific internship for MBAs: the MBA Intern Marketing Manager position. This internship is offered in Intuit’s California locations in Mountain View and San Diego, as well as in Plano, Texas. In this position, MBAs help the company gain insight into the needs of customers and the effectiveness of current marketing strategies, through research and testing. According to the company website, these interns also have the opportunity to partner with teams working in, “Product Management, Development, Finance and Care.” This is a paid summer internship, so students can cover the cost of living while observing and contributing to innovations at a leading software company.
Intuit is currently offering a variety of other internship positions that might be appropriate for MBAs, such as a Marketing Intern position in London. MBAs specializing in Supply Chain Management can apply to be Supply Chain Specialist Interns, and work closely with Intuit’s Supply Chain Finance team.
At the company, it is not uncommon for intern’s to parlay their positions into full-time jobs after graduation. The company’s website says that its internship program, “is truly an ‘early identification’ program, focusing on identifying and investing in high potential university students really to encourage them in their early careers and potentially to bring their talent back to Intuit after graduation.”
How to Get Hired at Intuit
In recent years, Intuit has moved from a traditional interview process, to an innovative method of vetting candidates that incorporates virtual reality. Their hiring program, Assessing for Awesome (A4A), requires that candidates: “Speak for five minutes about themselves; speak for 15 minutes about two or three projects of which they’re proud; prepare a 15-minute presentation on a case study or coding exercise; participate in a 25-minute question and answer period.” The interview is conducted by an advanced staff member who works closely with the position in question. The company uses virtual reality to allow candidates to demonstrate their skill sets.
Intuit Inc. hires graduates and interns from a number of the top-rated business programs in the country, including the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in Chicago, Illinois, which brought in full-time employees and interns from the most recent graduating class. Some of the most highly-regarded MBA programs offer various tech industry advantages, including the recently introduced Tech MBA at NYU Stern, and the promising new Cornell Johnson Tech MBA, offered at the school’s new New York City campus.
For more information on which school’s provide the best opportunities to join the tech industry, head on over to our sister site Clear Admit, which recently took a look at programs from other established institutions like the UCLA Anderson School of Management and MIT Sloan.
The Not-So-Secret Way To Land a Job at EY-Parthenon
After the hard work and sweat of earning an MBA degree, you’ve probably thrown yourself into searching for the perfect job to match your new found expertise. Luckily, some of the world’s top companies are also looking for you.
Companies like EY-Parthenon are always looking to recruit top MBA talent seeking careers in strategy consulting. A division of Boston-based EY (formerly Ernst & Young), one of the world’s top professional services firms, EY-Parthenon is a strategy consultancy which aims to combine innovative thinking with clients’ smarts to create actionable strategies that can cause a real impact in today’s business world.
MBAs Love EY-Parthenon
For MBA graduates looking for a career in strategy consulting, there are few places that can provide the unique combination of diverse clients and rewarding entrepreneurial work that EY-Parthenon offers. Comments from Parthenon’s MBA-holding consultants on why they love their job range from the incredible relationships they get to build with clients to the competitive benefits package they receive (including a night at the EY suite at Yankee Stadium).
“There is certainly an attitude in the New York office that we work hard but ensure that we find that balance necessary to enjoy the great benefits of working with wonderful colleagues in the best city in the world,” commented a graduate of NYU’s Stern School of Business and current Senior Consultant at EY-Parthenon.
For Adam, a graduate of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and current Vice President at the Shanghai office of EY-Parthenon, working at the company has given him the opportunity to use his industry specific expertise to benefit a diverse set of clients.
“[A]t any given time, I may be leading a two-week diligence for a private equity client while also working on an eight-week corporate strategy engagement,” he says. “Having such a variety of engagements while still being able to be focused on very strategic work within a single sector practice is what I think sets EY-Parthenon apart.”
Life at EY Parthenon
As a consultant at EY-Parthenon, MBAs will play a critical leadership role in the company. Serving as the primary contact for clients, MBA graduates will have the chance to get their hands dirty right away, developing and executing work plans for a diverse client set. Consultants will use their knowledge of teamwork, leadership, analytics and communications to excel in the role.
The consultant career track at EY-Parthenon consists of various phases, beginning with work stream leadership—a focus on gaining the crucial analytical skills needed to best help clients—and ending with client management, the final stage before moving into a role as a partner or managing director. EY-Parthenon accelerates individuals through their careers and have no official timetable for new consultants outside of their own ambition and ability to take on responsibilities.
According to anonymous profiles on Glassdoor, consultants at EY-Parthenon make an average of $173,814 annually.
Landing The Job
Anyone can apply for a consultant role at EY-Parthenon, but the company also actively recruits at a number of undergraduate and graduate business schools. The MBA programs the company recruits from are spread throughout the world, and include some of the United States’ top programs, such as Harvard Business School, Kellogg School of Management, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. The company also heavily recruits at international schools like INSEAD and the London Business School.
MBA students in their second year may apply directly for a full-time consultant role with the company, and first year students are eligible to apply for the summer consultant position. Any student attending a school that EY-Parthenon directly recruits from should check for the specific instructions on how to apply to these roles, typically through their university’s career services. The interview process for these schools typically takes place over two rounds, with the first round taking place on campus and second round interviews at the one of the various global Parthenon offices.
For more information on the company and job opportunities for current MBA students and graduates, check out the official EY-Parthenon MBA job page.
Tech Grads Surge in New Northwestern Kellogg Employment Report
The Kellogg School of Management released new employment data and statistics from the Class of 2017. According to the school, 94 percent of Kellogg’s full-time MBA Class of 2017 received an offer within three months of graduation.
“Kellogg leaders take a multidisciplinary approach to solving complex business challenges,” said Matt Merrick, Associate Dean of MBA Operations. “The versatile skills they hone at Kellogg enable them to make an immediate impact across all types of organizations.”
MBAs were hired by a wide variety of companies across all disciplines and industries, shapes and sizes. Some of the top companies hiring Kellogg students include McKinsey & Company, The Boston Consulting Group, Amazon, Bain & Company, and Microsoft.
Employment data shows that the most popular industries were consulting (33 percent), technology (25 percent), finance (13 percent) and CPG (12 percent). The Kellogg Career Management Center helped students establish relationships with more than 50 technology companies in order to help secure these employment opportunities. Overall, the Career Management Center works with employers to create custom recruiting strategies, forging deep relationships with employers of all sizes, from all industries and regions.
According to our sister site Clear Admit, the 25 percent of Kellogg grads that landed jobs in the technology industry was a school record.
Jeanette Brown writes:
“Amazon hired 32 Kellogg grads, making it the third largest recruiter in 2017, behind only McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). But Amazon was far from the only tech firm to hire at the school. ‘It’s not only the big employers like Amazon, Apple, Google—but the small companies as well, the ones that hire just one to two MBAs,’ explains Liza Kirkpatrick, Senior Director of the full-time MBA program at Kellogg’s Career Management Center. ‘We had over 50 unique tech employers that hired our students this past year, which demonstrates that we really have that depth.’ Kirkpatrick further noted that the types of jobs for which tech firms are hiring Kellogg grads is widely varied, including product management, sales, marketing, business operations, supply chain, product development, and others.”
Kirkpatrick notes that the surge in tech jobs stems from a concerted effort from the business school, which was also reflected in the number of technology industry internships for the Class of 2018.
“‘We started developing relationships in the tech space many years ago,’ acknowledges Kirkpatrick. ‘It has taken a while for firms to recognize that when an MBA comes on board, it really adds value.’ But they certainly have, which can also be seen reflected in the number of tech firms that now take on summer interns. ‘They have really organized themselves to bring on an MBA class as interns as a result,’ Kirkpatrick adds. The most recent employment report reveals that 26 percent of the Class of 2018 interned at technology firms.”
In a press release from the school, Jodi Washington, a Program Manager for the Networking and Security Transformation team, said, “Kellogg’s curriculum builds leaders who are strong analytical thinkers and are confident collaborating across organizations. The Kellogg graduates we hire jump in on day one, but also continue to mature at Cisco.”
2017 statistics/photo courtesy of Northwestern Kellogg.
The statistics show that the number of Kellogg MBAs to accept job offers on the West Coast has also increased (31.4 percent) from last year, a direct correlation to uptick in tech hires. Meanwhile, 30 percent of 2017 MBAs stayed in the Midwest and 33 percent accepted jobs on the East Coast.
You can read more on Kellogg’s latest employment stats and the Clear Admit interview with Kellogg Senior Director of Career Management Liza Kirkpatrick here.
Verizon is on the Lookout for MBA Students and Grads
Telecom giant Verizon Communications provides wireless and wired telephone, internet and television service, in addition to cloud-based services to businesses. One of the largest wireless service providers in the United States, and among the largest communications technology companies in the world, Verizon employs nearly 200,000 employees—including a large number of MBAs.
Working at Verizon
Working at Verizon has its perks. In addition to competitive salaries and performance-based incentives, benefits include 401(k) savings with company match and discounts on Verizon products. Some Verizon offices also feature in-house gyms, or discounted gym memberships. The company is also committed to lifelong learning, providing training, development, and tuition assistance
Other worthy benefits Verizon employees can take advantage of include:
- Adoption expense assistance
- A matching gifts program
- Military discounts
- Employee Relief Fund for victims of natural disasters
- Best-in-class health and insurance benefits
- Healthy Pregnancy Program for expectant mothers
Verizon was also recently recognized as the top company for diversity leadership by Diversity MBA Magazine.
“Being good at diversity and inclusion is not an option at Verizon. With more than 180,000 employees serving customers in more than 2,700 cities spanning more than 150 countries, Verizon is privileged to serve a very vibrant and diverse marketplace,” said Magda Yrizarry, Verizon Chief Talent and Diversity Officer.
“Being successful with a customer base like this is not possible without a diversity of people, ideas, and experiences,” Yrizarry added.
According to Diversity MBA Magazine, Verizon recruiters maintain close relationships with organizations like the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, and Hispanic Business Students and Professionals. The company also has a fantastic track record of hiring women and minorities, with women and people of color making up about 60 percent of the company’s board of directors, while women specifically make up 37 percent of senior management.
Verizon was also one of the first major companies to offer benefits to same-sex couples in domestic partnerships and provide free preventative care services to women, such as on-site mammography screenings. The company is also well-known for its practice of recruiting veterans.
“Verizon is a diverse company in its people, ideas, services, and the communities it serves,” Yrizarry said. “Our workplace culture ensures that everyone, no matter their ethnicity or background, has opportunities to contribute to the solutions required to stay relevant and competitive in the marketplace, grow professionally and advance their career.”
Joining the Verizon Team
Verizon offers a number of internships and MBA Leadership Developmental Programs to graduate business students. According to MBA Exchange, these programs offer MBAs a first-hand rotational learning experience focused in different aspects of the company. With so many different paths and career opportunities at the company, these programs are an opportunity to build strong leadership skills in a particular division of Verizon.
MBA opportunities include:
- Marketing MBA Internship
- MBA Business Transformation Internship
- MBA Finance Leadership Developmental Program
- MBA Marketing Leadership Developmental Program
- MBA Product Management and Strategy Internship
- Supply Chain MBA Internship
What Are These Jobs Like?
Let’s take a look at some of these Leadership Developmental Programs. The Supply Chain MBA Leadership Development Program is a two-year rotational program designed to develop future Supply Chain leaders at Verizon. MBAs work on projects that develop skills in supply chain, operations, strategic planning, and sustainability. Students in the Supply Chain MBA Leadership Development Program may be assigned to any of the following focus areas:
- Supplier Management
- Strategic Supply Chain Planning
- Inventory Management and Logistics
Meanwhile, the Marketing MBA Leadership Development Program challenges business students with high-impact projects that develop their skills in branding, product management, and marketing strategy. The two year rotational program is designed to develop skills in:
- Business or consumer product management
- Marketing strategy
- Marketing operations
- Branding
- Promotions
Who is Verizon Looking For in New Hires?
Verizon specifically states the type of candidates they are looking for in various job descriptions on the web. These jobs call for “a motivated self-starter” who is “never satisfied with the status quo.” The telecom giant seeks candidates who are always trying to beat a personal best and thrive in fast-paced environments where new challenges come up every day. Prospective hires should be flexible, dependable, and work well in varying environments.
It’s also a plus if any MBA internship candidate has:
- Proven record of academic, professional and leadership achievement
- Excellent organizational, analytical and critical thinking skills
- Strong quantitative and technical skills
- Great verbal, written, communication and presentation skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
You can find more Verizon job opportunities here.
