Clemson University: Rob Etheridge
Rob graduated from Clemson University in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in science. He gained valuable management experience in the civilian sector before enlisting in the Army with the Infantry Corps.
He tried out and was selected for the reconnaissance platoon, the most elite platoon in the battalion. Rob spent the majority of his four years in the army in Fort Richardson, Alaska, where he received training in cold weather survival and demolition as well as in escape and evasion tactics. His last job was as a Vehicle Commander for his platoon.
Why did you choose to get an MBA?
I did not want to go somewhere just to add the MBA on my resume. I chose to get an MBA because I have an interest in finance and I wanted to be exposed to different ideas within this field. I decided to pursue an MBA because I believe that it can be applied to a variety of job situations. On the military side I felt that if I decided to stay in the Army, any additional civilian education would help me become more well-rounded. Since starting the Master’s program I have had the opportunity to work on several projects for large companies and although I have used my finance skills, I believe that the ability to manage projects has been a far more useful skill. I think that this is what the MBA brings you, an opportunity to be exposed to different ideas as well as different ways of pursuing a successful career.
How was your experience with the GMAT® exam?
I had a great experience with the GMAT. I was able to find out everything I needed in terms of the exam from the GMAT website (mba.com) and I was able to do a lot of my school research there as well.
I used a couple of different study books for the exam. I was able to find some of the study material at my post library so that was definitely useful. Overall, I believe the fact that I continued to read a lot after undergraduate school was a big reason for my success on the exam.
I think the GMAT was very different from exams taken in the military because I was in control in terms of preparation. I have taken military exams where you are only given a certain amount of sleep and food before you take the exam. How you react to that additional stress has a big impact on your score. With the GMAT, I knew what I needed to study for several months before the test. I was able to take advantage of that time and I was able to be completely focused the day of the exam by eating a good breakfast and getting plenty of sleep the night before.
How was your transition from the military into the school environment?
It was a fairly easy transition for me to get back into the school environment. I have been a part of many overnight and 24-hour missions, so losing sleep is nothing new. Also, it was nice to get into a less stressful environment. I probably work as hard or harder now than I did when I was on active duty, but there is definitely less risk.
A lot of emphasis is placed on completing your mission when you are in the military. This applies whether you are in a battle zone or in an office environment. I apply this attitude to school as well, and it gives me the ability to get the most out of each assignment. I also believe that I turn in higher-quality work than I would otherwise because I do not count the hours towards each assignment—I simply work until I believe my standards have been met. You are also asked to do things in the Army that you may not have done before. In order to accomplish a task, you not only have to be able to think creatively, but you must also know how to search for answers. I have faced these kinds of situations while at school as well.
Why does the type of school you attend matter?
There are a lot of reasons to be selective when looking at schools. I chose the Clemson MBA program for several reasons. The network of graduates was a major reason. This can be very important if you want to live in a certain region. I received my undergraduate degree here and did not have a problem getting a job out of school. I also wanted to attend a school where there was a lot of substance in the curriculum. I think this is important if you do not have a lot of experience in the civilian sector. Clemson’s MBA program offers an intense curriculum, as well as assistantships, and that gives students real world experience by working with real companies.
How did your military background help in your job/internship search?
I am still in the Army for the next three years so I have not had to search for a regular civilian job. However, while pursuing my MBA, I also have an assistantship that has allowed me to teach undergraduate management labs as well as participate in research projects for several large companies, including a Fortune 500 firm. I was chosen for these assistantships and later selected to be a team leader for my current assistantship partly due to my military career. The faculty members who asked me to take on these positions all mentioned my leadership skills and goal-oriented work ethic as reasons for choosing me. From a personal standpoint, I believe that my military background has given me significant experience in solving problems using little information. This has provided the confidence needed to seek employment and opportunities that may be outside my current knowledge base.
