7 answers
Rupesh
Student
1
Question
Updated
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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
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7 answers
Wong Loke Yuen
Dean; Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
788
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.
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
John Woollard
General Manager
58
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
John’s Answer
Corporate hiring managers look for progression, and fifteen years in the same narrow service without expanding scope reads as one year repeated fifteen times. That is the perception you need to break, which certainly can be done.
Two paths worth considering:
First, reframe rather than restart. You have run a business for fifteen years, which means you have handled clients, pricing, delivery, and everything else with nobody else to lean on. That is real operational experience and most people applying alongside you have never done it. The problem is that your resume probably describes tasks rather than outcomes. Rewrite it around results, meaning clients served, revenue, growth, retention, and problems solved. That alone changes how you read.
Second, get some current credentials. Your MBA is fifteen years cold, so something recent signals you are active rather than stale. Project management certification is the most practical option if you want to move toward management work, and it converts your existing experience into a language corporations recognize.
On expectations, be realistic. Your first corporate role will likely not be management, and it may pay less than you expect. That is the cost of entry, and it is temporary if you do well once you are inside.
Do you want corporate work itself, or do you want the growth and challenge you are not getting now? Those are not the same, and scaling your own business into something bigger is another way to get the second one, so I would give this some genuine thought.
Two paths worth considering:
First, reframe rather than restart. You have run a business for fifteen years, which means you have handled clients, pricing, delivery, and everything else with nobody else to lean on. That is real operational experience and most people applying alongside you have never done it. The problem is that your resume probably describes tasks rather than outcomes. Rewrite it around results, meaning clients served, revenue, growth, retention, and problems solved. That alone changes how you read.
Second, get some current credentials. Your MBA is fifteen years cold, so something recent signals you are active rather than stale. Project management certification is the most practical option if you want to move toward management work, and it converts your existing experience into a language corporations recognize.
On expectations, be realistic. Your first corporate role will likely not be management, and it may pay less than you expect. That is the cost of entry, and it is temporary if you do well once you are inside.
Do you want corporate work itself, or do you want the growth and challenge you are not getting now? Those are not the same, and scaling your own business into something bigger is another way to get the second one, so I would give this some genuine thought.
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.
Kumar Rishav
Engineer
48
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+
AnnMaria Hassan
8
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
AnnMaria’s Answer
Be willing to start in an entry-level role where you can learn by doing and observing others. This is a great way to begin your career and gain experience. Consider contract jobs or projects that involve global travel, as they can enhance your resume and skills.
Steward "Tony" Pacheco
Minister, USMC Vet, John C. Maxwell Cert. Coach, Trainer, Speaker, Teacher, Straight Shooter
208
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"