MBA pursued her dream job with intention - and some good career advice

On the first day Maitri Taneja started working full-time at tech giant Nvidia, she was put on a large project and asked to make a presentation to 300 people. 

It was one of those times when she realized how much she gained from doing the Full-Time MBA Program at Rutgers Business School. “My fear of the stage went away,” Taneja said, recalling the public experience she gained as president of the Rutgers Association of Marketing and Strategy. “I actually enjoy the spotlight now,” she said.

Taneja, who graduated in May, came into the MBA Program “very zoned in” to learn and gain the skills that would help her succeed in getting her dream job. She took the advice of Dean Vera, director of the Graduate Office of Career Management, who regularly tells students that they will not be handed a job, they will have to work for it.

Taneja networked on social media, made friends with other stand-out Rutgers MBA students, gained public speaking experience, took on a student leadership role, did well in her classes, and when she got an interview for a summer internship, she said she spent “so much time” prepping.

“Nvidia was my dream company,” she said. “I achieved what I set out to do.”

Taneja was nominated by Rutgers MBA Program leaders to represent the school on the list of Best & Brightest MBAs compiled by Poets & Quants. As she completed the program, Rutgers Business School also awarded her the Dr. Rosa Oppenheim Leadership Award. Read more about her experience as a Rutgers MBA in a piece she submitted for the Best & Brightest MBA feature. See the entire feature.

 -Susan Todd