What Careers Can You Have as a Harvard Graduate?

Every MBA program is different – and so are the careers that candidates can land once they’ve graduated from business school.

TopMBA analyzed data from the latest QS MBA by Specialization Rankings 2021 to find out which business schools offer MBA grads the best chance of landing a job in a specific industry.

This series will take a closer look at the careers MBA grads landed post-graduation in seven fields at a number of top-tier schools.

Here are the top fields Harvard Business School MBA graduates got their foot through the door to kickstart their career.

Financial services

Similar to The Wharton School, Harvard Business School – ranked third in our finance specialization ranking – is one of the most recognizable b-schools in the world for a career in financial services, with a whopping 29 percent of HBS MBAs landing jobs in the field in the past year.

Some of the financial electives MBA students can take at HBS include entrepreneurial finance, corporate finance, private equity finance and investment strategies. The knowledge developed on the MBA, combined with the school’s reputation, allows HBS graduates to enter competitive sectors such as banking, insurance, real estate and investing services.

Some of the highest-paid finance job roles HBS MBA graduates often get include:

• Vice President (VP) Finance: US$151,732
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO): US$135,741
• Investment Banker: US$100,783
• Senior Financial Analyst: US$81,081
• Private Banker: US$70,245

Consulting

Despite not landing a spot in our consulting specialization top 10, 21 percent of HBS MBA grads kickstarted a career in the field – a clear demonstration of the school’s research strength and reputation among employers.

Throughout the degree, HBS students have the opportunity to join a plethora of clubs, such as the Consulting for Impact Club and the Management Consulting Club, to network and develop their skills even further.

HBS graduates landed jobs at consultancy firms of all sizes, including Bain & Company, McKinsey & Company and Deloitte.

Here are some of the highest-paid consulting positions available to MBAs:

• Strategy Consultant: US$150,000
• IT Consultant: US$150,000
• Management Consultant: US$149,000
• Financial Advisory Consultant: US$130,000

Technology

Having ranked fifth in our technology specialization ranking, Harvard Business School is a top destination for candidates hoping to enter this competitive and dynamic industry. 20 percent of HBS MBAs went on to careers in tech – an increasingly popular choice compared with last year’s figure (16 percent).

Students can benefit from joining tech-oriented clubs, including the Tech Club; the Coding, Analytics, and Machine Learning (CAML) Club; and the Blockchain & Crypto Club.

Here are the highest-paid technology jobs available to HBS MBAs:

• Senior Product Manager: US$125,384
• Technical Program Manager: US$124,636
• Information Technology Director: US$120,788
• Senior Project Manager (IT): US$114,822