MBA Recruiter Interview: Jeff Vijungco, Adobe

Jeff Vijungco, Adobe’s vice president of talent selection, on what the software and marketing giant is looking for in its MBA hires.

Adobe is ranked 60th on the Universum Ideal MBA Employer list. Why do you think so many MBAs want to work for Adobe?

There are many reasons, but our culture and brand top the list. We have a big city brand but small town values. Many of the MBAs whom we’ve met tell us that they applied because they’ve heard about our ‘art & science’ culture from previous interns or alumni.

We’ve also successfully reinvented our business to become a SaaS/Cloud company; we’re still in the early stages, so there are tons of opportunities to make a huge impact. Our broad portfolio of industry-leading products across both our businesses and the diversity of opportunities make Adobe an attractive employer for MBA grads.

At Adobe, we invest in developing employees at all levels whether you’re an intern, individual contributor, manager or senior leader. For a candidate, this is reassuring because it means that you can drive your career in partnership with your manager.

What are the most common job roles for MBA graduates at Adobe? Are most of these jobs located in Silicon Valley?

We hire MBAs mostly for marketing, product marketing, product management, sales strategy, and corporate strategy positions. We do also have a two-year rotational program where MBA grads rotate between three different teams within specific business units or functional groups; the MBA then decides which team suits him/her best.

The majority of MBA grad positions that we hire for are based in Silicon Valley, with some hired for our office in Lehi, Utah.

What do you look for when evaluating a candidate's résumé and experience?

Digital experience is preferred, but we look for raw hunger, the desire to make an impact, passion for technology and individuals who can truly be global players. We aren’t looking for ‘know-it-alls’ but ‘learn-it-alls’. We appreciate candidates who are curious about every aspect of the business and market; individuals who ask us better questions in the interview than maybe we asked them!

For Adobe, having high IQ alone isn’t sufficient. We look for individuals who have strong emotional intelligence or self-awareness, and individuals who showcase ‘athleticism’. By athleticism we mean individuals who demonstrate resourcefulness, goals-driven behavior, team player mentality and relentlessness.

What technical skills, if any, do you look for in MBAs?

From a technical perspective, we look for individuals with a computer science or technical background. We are also interested in individuals with a keen sense of data analytics and insights – quantitative individuals with a creative touch. Experience in the software industry is definitely a plus.

How many MBA students do you typically recruit each year from the US? How about globally?

We recruit approximately 40 MBA graduates per year in the US.

How many MBAs intern at Adobe? Of these interns, how many leave with full-time job offers?

This past summer (2014), we had approximately 40 MBA interns and our goal is to convert as many as possible – that are a fit for Adobe.

Is MBA hiring up or down this year? By how much?

We’ve stayed consistent year over year with about 40 MBA hires each year.

Which business schools and MBA conferences do you recruit from and why?

We typically recruit from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business, UCLA Anderson School of Management, University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, and Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management.

We hire from these schools because the individuals here are extremely talented – high IQ and EQ – and we have a successful track record with these universities. The talent from these schools seems to get stronger and stronger each year, largely contributed by our employees, who are alums, who consistently build Adobe’s brand on campus.

What steps should MBAs take in order to make a good impression? Conversely, what are some common mistakes MBAs should avoid when contacting recruiters?

While we’d love to tell you all about Adobe’s journey, we’d rather hear your thoughts. What do you think about our journey, our business and what excites you to be part of our innovative culture?

Don’t be shy. Take on a consultative approach and tell us how you’d solve our problems and the opportunities you see for the business. For example, if you’re applying for a product marketing position for our Creative Cloud business, we’d love to hear your ideas on how you would improve marketing our products.

What are the biggest misconceptions that MBAs have about Adobe and the technology industry?

Many MBAs are not aware of our digital marketing business. Today, Adobe provides marketing intelligence to two thirds of Fortune 500 companies. Not many of them realize the importance of Adobe being the leader for the entire content lifecycle from creation to monetization.

Is there anything I did not ask that you think MBAs should know before applying for jobs at Adobe?

Adobe is focused on building high-performing teams. This means that we hire for diversity in terms of work skill and work style. If you’re looking for diversity of ideas, Adobe’s the place for you.