The Huffington Post
“Top Skills MBA Grads Need for Success”
Dec. 5, 2011

An MBA alone may not be enough to land a job in this tough economy.

Amid fierce competition for employment, experts say that MBA graduates who focus on building key skills can improve their chances of landing a job.

Eric Hirst, associate dean for graduate programs at McCombs, spoke to The Huffington Post about what traits MBAs should focus on developing, and put character at the top of the list.

“The world is looking to business leaders to take the high road, not to feed at the trough, but to hold politicians and each other to higher standards," comments Hirst. But it won't be easy. "Leaders will need to be able to work with others, appreciate that others may hold very differing views, and know that change is tough to implement," Hirst adds.

According to Hirst, it’s also important for MBAs to be creative. He says that:

"Innovation and creativity can help us solve problems in energy use, food, water, transportation, health care and more, but it will take special leadership skills."

Other experts also stressed that MBAs should be able to communicate well both verbally and in writing, saying it matters not only when leading a team, but also when interacting with co-workers or business associates who reside in a different country or who have a different culture.

For the complete list of skills that experts say MBA graduates will need, visit The Huffington Post.