9 answers
Rupesh
Student
1
Question
Updated
725 views
i am 35 year old and doing freelancing business for assisting in career forms from past 15 years. I habe mba in intrrnational business. No corporate experience. I think i have stagnate and didnt go above my current ability. I want to learn and grow work like corporate do. Help me how to change my career path
I want to get more in management studies and work
9 answers
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
705
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Rupesh. With 15 years of freelancing experience and an MBA in International Business, you already have valuable skills. The challenge is not a lack of experience, but how to position your experience for management roles.
Running a freelance business for 15 years has given you experience in client management, communication, problem-solving, operations, and business development. These are skills that many managers use every day. If you want to work more like professionals in corporate environments, start learning modern management practices. You can study project management, leadership, business strategy, operations management, and data analysis through online courses and certifications.
You should also consider applying for positions such as Project Coordinator, Operations Executive, Business Analyst, Customer Success Manager, or Administrative Manager. These roles can help bridge the gap between freelancing and corporate management.
Running a freelance business for 15 years has given you experience in client management, communication, problem-solving, operations, and business development. These are skills that many managers use every day. If you want to work more like professionals in corporate environments, start learning modern management practices. You can study project management, leadership, business strategy, operations management, and data analysis through online courses and certifications.
You should also consider applying for positions such as Project Coordinator, Operations Executive, Business Analyst, Customer Success Manager, or Administrative Manager. These roles can help bridge the gap between freelancing and corporate management.
Anuj Gupta
Software Engineering
468
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Anuj’s Answer
Rebrand your 15 years of freelancing as "Consulting Business Ownership" on your resume to emphasize your transferable skills in operations, client relations, and financial management.
Bridge the corporate knowledge gap by pursuing modern certifications like Project Management Professional (PMP) or Agile/Scrum to master current corporate workflows.
Target mid-level corporate roles in Talent Acquisition, HR, or Operations Management where your extensive background in career processing and business management offers a unique advantage.
Bridge the corporate knowledge gap by pursuing modern certifications like Project Management Professional (PMP) or Agile/Scrum to master current corporate workflows.
Target mid-level corporate roles in Talent Acquisition, HR, or Operations Management where your extensive background in career processing and business management offers a unique advantage.
Steward "Tony" Pacheco
Minister, USMC Vet, John C. Maxwell Cert. Coach, Trainer, Speaker, Teacher, Straight Shooter
207
Answers
Kyle, Texas
Updated
Steward "Tony"’s Answer
Stop Thinking Like A Student And More Like An MBA. Get Your Foot In The Door & Start At The Bottom If You Must, As You Must Prove Yourself & Develop Your Real World skills. Stop Looking For Prestige Because That Is A Fleeting Dream. Become The SME In Real World Applied Skills. I'm No Rocket Scientist But I Sure Have Hired A Heavy Number Of Them. Get In The Door! Invest Some Time Climbing! Reap The Rewards Of Being The "Go To"
Anuj Gupta
Software Engineering
468
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Anuj’s Answer
Start with research and real conversations. Reach out to professionals on LinkedIn, attend events, and take a course to get a real taste of the work. Then make decisions based on evidence, not assumptions.
Navneet Kashyap
Software Engineer
418
Answers
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Updated
Navneet’s Answer
Quick Highlight: The Corporate Value Reality
Your 15 years of freelancing isn't 'just freelance'—it is business operations, client management, and self-discipline. Corporations will pay a premium salary and management fee for an MBA graduate who already knows how to deliver results without hand-holding.
The Real-World Answer:
Hit the reset button on how you view yourself. You haven't stagnated; you have just outgrown your current business model. Running a business for 15 years while holding an MBA in International Business means you already possess the exact raw skills corporate leadership teams look for. You just need to translate your experience into corporate language.
Here is your direct pivot strategy to break into corporate management:
Reframe Your Resume Into "Operations"
Why: Corporate hiring managers don't value "assisting with career forms," but they highly value "Client Relationship Management, Workflow Optimization, and Service Delivery." Rewrite your 15-year history to focus on how you managed clients, improved turnaround times, and handled business financials.
Target "Bridging" Roles (Project or Account Management)
Why: You cannot easily jump straight into an Executive Corporate Director role without corporate ladder experience. Instead, target Project Manager, Operations Supervisor, or Account Manager roles. These positions act as a bridge, valuing your autonomous execution skills while teaching you how corporate structures function.
Get a Modern Corporate Certification
Why: To complement your MBA and prove you understand modern corporate workflows, invest a few weeks into getting a PMP (Project Management Professional) or a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) designation. This instantly signals to corporate HR that you speak their language (Agile, sprints, stakeholder mapping).
You have a massive head start compared to a fresh graduate. Stop viewing yourself as an outsider, update your narrative to reflect your true business ownership value, and start applying for mid-level corporate management tracks.
Your 15 years of freelancing isn't 'just freelance'—it is business operations, client management, and self-discipline. Corporations will pay a premium salary and management fee for an MBA graduate who already knows how to deliver results without hand-holding.
The Real-World Answer:
Hit the reset button on how you view yourself. You haven't stagnated; you have just outgrown your current business model. Running a business for 15 years while holding an MBA in International Business means you already possess the exact raw skills corporate leadership teams look for. You just need to translate your experience into corporate language.
Here is your direct pivot strategy to break into corporate management:
Reframe Your Resume Into "Operations"
Why: Corporate hiring managers don't value "assisting with career forms," but they highly value "Client Relationship Management, Workflow Optimization, and Service Delivery." Rewrite your 15-year history to focus on how you managed clients, improved turnaround times, and handled business financials.
Target "Bridging" Roles (Project or Account Management)
Why: You cannot easily jump straight into an Executive Corporate Director role without corporate ladder experience. Instead, target Project Manager, Operations Supervisor, or Account Manager roles. These positions act as a bridge, valuing your autonomous execution skills while teaching you how corporate structures function.
Get a Modern Corporate Certification
Why: To complement your MBA and prove you understand modern corporate workflows, invest a few weeks into getting a PMP (Project Management Professional) or a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) designation. This instantly signals to corporate HR that you speak their language (Agile, sprints, stakeholder mapping).
You have a massive head start compared to a fresh graduate. Stop viewing yourself as an outsider, update your narrative to reflect your true business ownership value, and start applying for mid-level corporate management tracks.
Avinash Ghule
i am AI engineer
126
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Avinash’s Answer
Rebrand your 15 years of freelancing as "Consulting Business Ownership" on your resume to emphasize your transferable skills in operations, client relations, and financial management.
Bridge the corporate knowledge gap by pursuing modern certifications like Project Management Professional (PMP) or Agile/Scrum to master current corporate workflows.
Target mid-level corporate roles in Talent Acquisition, HR, or Operations Management where your extensive background in career processing and business management offers a unique advantage
Bridge the corporate knowledge gap by pursuing modern certifications like Project Management Professional (PMP) or Agile/Scrum to master current corporate workflows.
Target mid-level corporate roles in Talent Acquisition, HR, or Operations Management where your extensive background in career processing and business management offers a unique advantage
Kumar Rishav
Engineer
49
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Kumar’s Answer
Navigating college majors in the age of AI can feel daunting, but the key to future-proofing your career is to look for fields that either build the AI, apply AI to complex data, or rely on human traits AI cannot easily replicate (like empathy, complex physical manipulation, and high-level strategy).
The highest-paying, most resilient bachelor’s degrees generally fall into four distinct pillars.
1. The Builders: Computer Science or AI Engineering
If you want to be the one designing the future rather than just using it, this is the most direct path. While routine coding is becoming automated, the demand for high-level system architects, cybersecurity experts, and machine learning engineers has skyrocketed.
High-Paying Roles: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Architect, Cybersecurity Specialist.
Average Starting Salaries: $90,000 – $115,000+
2. The Analysts: Data Science or Quantitative Economics
AI thrives on data, but it needs human oversight to turn that data into profitable business strategies or scientific breakthroughs. Combining a background in mathematics/statistics with business or economics makes you highly valuable to tech firms, Wall Street, and consulting agencies.
High-Paying Roles: Data Scientist, Quantitative Analyst, AI Risk Modeler.
Average Starting Salaries: $85,000 – $105,000+
3. The Translators: Robotics or Biomedical Engineering
AI is incredibly powerful in software, but connecting it to the physical world is a massive growth sector. Robotics combines mechanical and electrical engineering with smart automation, while Biomedical Engineering merges tech with healthcare (e.g., AI-driven drug discovery or medical imaging), an industry highly insulated from full automation.
High-Paying Roles: Robotics Engineer, Biomedical Tech Consultant, Automation Engineer.
Average Starting Salaries: $80,000 – $100,000+
4. The Human-Centric Strategists: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) or Finance
As technology becomes more complex, businesses need people who understand human behavior to design intuitive tech interfaces or lead cross-functional teams. A degree in HCI (which blends psychology, design, and computer science) or a traditional Finance/Management degree specialized in tech implementation ensures you sit at the executive table.
High-Paying Roles: AI Product Manager, UX/UI Architect, Technology Consultant.
Average Starting Salaries: $85,000 – $110,000+
The highest-paying, most resilient bachelor’s degrees generally fall into four distinct pillars.
1. The Builders: Computer Science or AI Engineering
If you want to be the one designing the future rather than just using it, this is the most direct path. While routine coding is becoming automated, the demand for high-level system architects, cybersecurity experts, and machine learning engineers has skyrocketed.
High-Paying Roles: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Architect, Cybersecurity Specialist.
Average Starting Salaries: $90,000 – $115,000+
2. The Analysts: Data Science or Quantitative Economics
AI thrives on data, but it needs human oversight to turn that data into profitable business strategies or scientific breakthroughs. Combining a background in mathematics/statistics with business or economics makes you highly valuable to tech firms, Wall Street, and consulting agencies.
High-Paying Roles: Data Scientist, Quantitative Analyst, AI Risk Modeler.
Average Starting Salaries: $85,000 – $105,000+
3. The Translators: Robotics or Biomedical Engineering
AI is incredibly powerful in software, but connecting it to the physical world is a massive growth sector. Robotics combines mechanical and electrical engineering with smart automation, while Biomedical Engineering merges tech with healthcare (e.g., AI-driven drug discovery or medical imaging), an industry highly insulated from full automation.
High-Paying Roles: Robotics Engineer, Biomedical Tech Consultant, Automation Engineer.
Average Starting Salaries: $80,000 – $100,000+
4. The Human-Centric Strategists: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) or Finance
As technology becomes more complex, businesses need people who understand human behavior to design intuitive tech interfaces or lead cross-functional teams. A degree in HCI (which blends psychology, design, and computer science) or a traditional Finance/Management degree specialized in tech implementation ensures you sit at the executive table.
High-Paying Roles: AI Product Manager, UX/UI Architect, Technology Consultant.
Average Starting Salaries: $85,000 – $110,000+
Anuj Gupta
Software Engineering
468
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Anuj’s Answer
A good next step is to pair self-awareness with small real-world experiments. Identify 2-3 career paths you are curious about, then run short tests: informational interviews, mini projects, internships, and skill sprints. Track what gives you energy, where you perform well, and what opportunities are growing. This method turns uncertainty into evidence and helps you make confident decisions. Build communication, problem-solving, and digital skills in parallel, because they transfer across almost every field.
Dawn Patillo
Risk Management
7
Answers
Manassas, Virginia
Updated
Dawn’s Answer
You've accomplished more than you realize. Running your own freelance business for 15 years and helping people with career forms has given you strong skills in client management, service delivery, and self-discipline. Your MBA in International Business is a valuable asset. The challenge isn't your ability; it's getting familiar with corporate environments.
Here are some steps to consider:
Highlight your freelance work as business experience. On your resume, emphasize that you ran a 15-year service business, focusing on client acquisition, retention, and process management. This language is important when applying for corporate jobs.
Look for corporate roles that match your skills. With your background, consider positions like career services coordinator, HR/recruitment support, client services, account management, operations coordinator, or roles at staffing or consulting firms. These positions value the work you've been doing, just within an organization.
Close the gap in corporate knowledge. If you feel unfamiliar with corporate norms like meetings, reporting structures, and teamwork, consider short certifications in project management, HR fundamentals, or tools like Salesforce. These can show employers that you understand the corporate world.
Use your MBA network. Connect with your business school's alumni network and career office. They can help you transition, and an International Business MBA can open doors to multinational firms and consultancies.
Consider a bridge role. Taking a contract or entry-level corporate position might feel like a step back in autonomy, but it will provide structure, mentorship, and corporate experience for your resume. After 1–2 years, you'll be in a great position to advance.
Here are some steps to consider:
Highlight your freelance work as business experience. On your resume, emphasize that you ran a 15-year service business, focusing on client acquisition, retention, and process management. This language is important when applying for corporate jobs.
Look for corporate roles that match your skills. With your background, consider positions like career services coordinator, HR/recruitment support, client services, account management, operations coordinator, or roles at staffing or consulting firms. These positions value the work you've been doing, just within an organization.
Close the gap in corporate knowledge. If you feel unfamiliar with corporate norms like meetings, reporting structures, and teamwork, consider short certifications in project management, HR fundamentals, or tools like Salesforce. These can show employers that you understand the corporate world.
Use your MBA network. Connect with your business school's alumni network and career office. They can help you transition, and an International Business MBA can open doors to multinational firms and consultancies.
Consider a bridge role. Taking a contract or entry-level corporate position might feel like a step back in autonomy, but it will provide structure, mentorship, and corporate experience for your resume. After 1–2 years, you'll be in a great position to advance.
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