First of all I should say that this is a very good initiative J. The consultants are doing a very good job J. Thnks for it J
Let me give you an overview of my profile before I start.
10th - 91.2% (TamilNadu Matriculation)
12th - 96% (TN State Board)
Engg - 75.4 (First class with distinction)
Work ex - Four and a half years in IT till date
Achievements
* State first in one of the subjects (Sanskrit) in 10th
* As can be seen from the results, consistently passed with first class with distinction
* A couple of awards at the workplace
Extra Curricular
* As mentioned above won awards as SPOC for a couple of activities at workplace
* Represented college in zonal level football competition and part of victorious department in Intra College football competition
* Won carrom competition within the company. Also participated in cricket and volleyball.
* Organised sankrit culturals in the school.
* Organised Paper presentation competition in college.
Apart from this I am a module lead at workplace guiding a team of 3.
I am yet to take GMAT.
I have admit for PGP from one of the institutes offering 1 year PGP (not ISB J). I am confused if I should take it or go for MBAs from abroad like NUS, NTU, AIM (as I have a budget cap of 25L ) or ISB or Exec MBA from IIMs or XLRI
I want to get into IT strategy Consulting in Telecom domain (I have been working in Telecom domain throughout my IT career J).
I know that the second option mentioned above will help me better. But I am new to this GMAT and the institutes I have mentioned above.
Could you please evaluate my profile for the institutes mentioned above. I am planning to apply for 2013-14 batch, as I want to get some international exposure. I will have 6 and a half years of experience then.
Thanks in advance J
Regards,
dare2try
Respected Consultant ,
I am preparing to give GMAT on may 2011.
My details are :-
:
Currently working as engineer in Power Utility in Kolkata , by june 2011 will have work ex of 36 months .
:
My questions are specific :-
:
Dinesh Saboo
>> Respected Consultant ,
Respected MBA Applicant, there's no need for formality on this thread. Sab apne hi log hain, Dinesh-bhai.
I like the background. I can already visualise some interesting stories that you might be writing about in your professional accomplishment, success/failure essays. But you'll have to live up to that expectation that you've built with this teaser.
>> I want to shift my career toward Finance , mostly capital market (investment banking / trading/ analyst ) in big banks or firms.
1.Which are the few colleges having good placements in this fields ??
Choose schools that are closer to the commercial hubs (London, NY, Singapore, Chicago). That way you'll be closer to all the action. Plus there are also several strong finance focussed schools that may not be close to these locations but their placements are pretty strong.
>> 2. I an skeptical about my chances to shift my career as i have heard that these finance firms only take experience candidates . Can you put some light on this.
I wouldn't agree with that. I managed to move into finance with zero experience in the field. yes, it can be very (VERY) competitive if you are looking for the plum roles in the top tier firms. But finance roles, in general and in various forms are plenty. You'll need to choose your niche.
>> 3. What are my chances towards few top B - Schools ??
Can we come back to this when you have your GMAT score? Or shoot across some mock-test numbers if you can get them before the actual test.
>> 4. Will any diploma in capital market /CFA prior to MBA be of any help??
It could help in demonstrating your interest in the field, but don't bank too much on it.
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
Let me give you an overview of my profile before I start.
10th - 91.2% (TamilNadu Matriculation)
12th - 96% (TN State Board)
Engg - 75.4 (First class with distinction)
Work ex - Four and a half years in IT till date
Achievements
* State first in one of the subjects (Sanskrit) in 10th
* As can be seen from the results, consistently passed with first class with distinction
* A couple of awards at the workplace
Extra Curricular
* As mentioned above won awards as SPOC for a couple of activities at workplace
* Represented college in zonal level football competition and part of victorious department in Intra College football competition
* Won carrom competition within the company. Also participated in cricket and volleyball.
* Organised sankrit culturals in the school.
* Organised Paper presentation competition in college.
Apart from this I am a module lead at workplace guiding a team of 3.
I am yet to take GMAT.
Some general comments about the profile:
1. School marks don't matter at all.
2. College marks matter but also depend on the ranking of the school you went to.
3. Stuff like winning carrom competition, and organizing paper fests don't matter much as it doesn't bring in a "wow" factor to it.
4. Module-lead in 4.5 years is considered on par with career growth in IT industry.
5. GMAT is a requirement in most schools - and the scores would affect your prospects substantially.
I have admit for PGP from one of the institutes offering 1 year PGP (not ISB J). I am confused if I should take it or go for MBAs from abroad like NUS, NTU, AIM (as I have a budget cap of 25L ) or ISB or Exec MBA from IIMs or XLRI
In other words you are wondering if you should drop the offer from that school this year.
See my take is very simple on this. You are at point X in your career, and you want to go to point Y. The question you should ask yourself is if that MBA program will help you traverse the line. If the answer is no for *any* school - even if it is Harvard - then you should not pursue it.
Since you have not mentioned the school I am assuming it will not help realize your aspirations which is why you are rethinking in the first place. Best place to ask is alums/current students. You can also use Linkedin to track people and check if their career choices and growth are similar to what you want to experience.
I want to get into IT strategy Consulting in Telecom domain (I have been working in Telecom domain throughout my IT career J).
I know that the second option mentioned above will help me better. But I am new to this GMAT and the institutes I have mentioned above.
Firstly IT Strategy Consulting in Telecom seems like a antithesis. I mean if you are into startegy consulting then well you are pretty much into strategy of anything. IT consulting on the other hand is implementing technology solutions in companies.
Maybe you are looking at specific Industry practices such as this McKinsey & Company - Telecommunications
For that though you are overall telecom background might help - it would be a broad understanding of the industry that will be needed. And as someone else pointed out earlier - you need to graduate from a top school to get into consulting in the first place. So my advice is don't shoot for a school less than the very top in the rankings (no more than 15 I would say).
Could you please evaluate my profile for the institutes mentioned above. I am planning to apply for 2013-14 batch, as I want to get some international exposure. I will have 6 and a half years of experience then.
Thanks in advance J
Regards,
dare2try
I think from a profile perspective you would need to think harder into the diversity factor. Some things you can work on:
1. Get some international work-experience - still better if you can start on a foreign language.
2. Pick 1 thing - something you are really passionate about. Something that you would do - MBA or no MBA. Pursue that actively.
3. Try to see if you can work your way up in your career i.e. faster promotions, different job profiles, different functions, greater roles and responsibilities. Either in the same company or in a different one.
4. Research more on your career options i.e. consulting. Can you get a job now as an analyst? That way you can return to the industry as an associate. Easier to make the switch that way.
5. Do due diligence on telecom sector - see if you can write some whitepapers, do some research, speak at any forum/seminar, write a blog etc. The base assumption is your *love* this sector.
With the above you should really be able to spit-polish your profile by the time you apply in a few years.
HTH,
Arun
Ask a Consultant - CrackVerbal
I am a Mechanical Engineering.I have real good calls this time. I have already attended some calls and some are in line to come. Among the attended calls I found a major hindrance in my profile - of a one and a half year drop after graduation which I did to give my full focus on Entrance exam studies. Though I regret it now but I cant really revamp my past.
During all my attended calls I was screwed on this aspect of one an half year drop. I think I am seriously losing my candidature because of this aspect. I consulted with many people for a proper justification for this thing but nobody yet conveyed me with a convincing answer.
I looking to somebody to really help me in this matter. I am already worried because I have already one reject in one of my best interview which I was certain of converting but the drop factor did me in.
Please Puys I really need serious help. I am ready to share any info of mine with you......
Helpless Soul.:o
I am really Happy to see such a thread in Pagalguy.
I am a Mechanical Engineering.I have real good calls this time. I have already attended some calls and some are in line to come. Among the attended calls I found a major hindrance in my profile - of a one and a half year drop after graduation which I did to give my full focus on Entrance exam studies. Though I regret it now but I cant really revamp my past.
During all my attended calls I was screwed on this aspect of one an half year drop. I think I am seriously losing my candidature because of this aspect. I consulted with many people for a proper justification for this thing but nobody yet conveyed me with a convincing answer.
I looking to somebody to really help me in this matter. I am already worried because I have already one reject in one of my best interview which I was certain of converting but the drop factor did me in.
Please Puys I really need serious help. I am ready to share any info of mine with you......
Helpless Soul.:o
Thanks! I read your plea in big-bold-red
Good news is that you admit you goofed up and you are owning up to it. Bad news is that but its still a DEAL BREAKER! Sitting around for 1.5 years without doing ANYTHING is going to be hard for you to justify anywhere.
See at the end of the day I don't think the schools are worried about your lack of employment. I would say they are more concerned to see that you did not constructively utilize your time. So can you look back and try to see if there was something that you did during that time - even if its not fulltime gainful employment - that can be used to showcase your talent.
Let us say you helped your friend setting up his business, or you taught somewhere part-time. Even if you spent that time learning a foreign language, or a musical instrument - that's fine. As long as you are able to showcase that you were using your time effectively.
Think about it!
Arun
Thanks Sameer for the insight.
Here is the break up & a bit about my profile
Verbal:37
Quant:51
Work Ex: 5.5 years (IT)
B.Tech CGPA: 8.25/10
12/10: 86%/91%
Some extra curricular to boast :)
Go ahead and apply sirji. Baaki uparwale ke haath mein.
Hello All,
Great to see such a space in pagalguy where in we can get experts speak!!
And it was lovely to see friendly atmosphere here.. Great going..
okies..coming to my problem wherein I need advice and suggestions from you..
I am Srikar from hyderabad and my profile is as below..(Apologies for the long profile.. I gave almost all the information down below to help you to have a clear assessment)
10th - 85% - First in School (AndhraPradesh SSC)
12th - 95% (AP Intermediate Board)
Engineering - Mechanical - 85% ( Was in top 50 of JNTU, Hyderabad across all the colleges and from Srinidhi Institute,which I think stands in the top 5 engg. cllgs in AP)
Highlights of my academics
Worked as an intern in a casting company and provided a solution to automate the process of carrying molten metal to the moulds. That was implemented by the company..
Won awards for several technical papers in national events
Got an early break in IT and am working for past 5 years.
Highlights of my career
1. Got promotions bit quicker than others and three-four awards at work.
Started as a technical analyst and then progressed to incident manager.
2.Over 2 years of international exposure wherein I was mainly doing interactions with client and handling a team of 5 at offshore.
3. Over 3 years experience as team lead.
4. Anchored an initiative for resource clustering in the project to extract more output from the current pool of resources and submitted a case study..and this worked :D
5. Numerous appreciations from the clients.
6. Head of Innovations cell with in the project for more than 2 years and this cell helped to achieved almost a million USD of BVA (Business Value Articulation).:)
Extra-Curricular
Bit low in this area but I am into blogging and photography. And started involving in NGO activities after I moved back to India recently.
I am aspiring for an admission into ISB and gave GMAT twice. 650 and 690 are the scores I could managed.
the recent score is 690 50Q, 32V and AWA stands at 5.5
Now, my question is will ISB consider my profile.. is it ok? or do I need to give GMAT again and try to get over 730? Is GMAT score above 720 must to get into ISB?
And am not sure on plan B as well. Nanyang and NUS looks good and some colleges in UK. I want to pursue 1 yr MBA. Post-MBA, am looking for a career in Business Consulting (It would be better if it would be related to IT due to my experience in IT) or Operations, Supply Chain Management, in automobile sector..(My mechanical engg experience might help). Kindly can suggest any good plan B colleges as well..
Thanks a ton in advance,
Cheers
Sri 😃
Now, my question is will ISB consider my profile.. is it ok? or do I need to give GMAT again and try to get over 730? Is GMAT score above 720 must to get into ISB?
Frankly if you had asked me this question a few years ago I would have been tempted to say that you can go ahead and apply with a 690. With each passing year, the competition to ISB has become more rabid than ever. This means each one of the applicants are dotting their "i"s, and crossing their "t"s. Would your excellent career progression eclipse a lower than average GMAT score- tough call.
In fact for any school you apply if your GMAT is lower than the median/ mean scores than you are on a backfoot. Having said this, would it be possible for you to realistically push your scores to a 730? I mean is that an "option" available - or are you speculating the "what ifs"? I would think it is the latter since given your career focus, I am sure you would have let no stone unturned on your second attempt at GMAT. Still if you see there is a possibility of improvement then go ahead.
And am not sure on plan B as well. Nanyang and NUS looks good and some colleges in UK. I want to pursue 1 yr MBA. Post-MBA, am looking for a career in Business Consulting (It would be better if it would be related to IT due to my experience in IT) or Operations, Supply Chain Management, in automobile sector..(My mechanical engg experience might help). Kindly can suggest any good plan B colleges as well..
Firstly I am happy you HAVE a plan B Most people tend to have a tunnel vision and forget that life must go on after bschool dings :splat:
Secondly you career choice of sticking to IT makes it easier for schools to justify selecting you. Also as long as you are not a closet I-Banker a 1-year MBA will work for you. So I think your choices are good.
Thirdly (gosh this is sounding like an AWA essay ) I would also recommend that you first do research on the available schools on 2 parameters (a) their fitment to your need such as fees, the class demographics, ease of getting work permit, companies that recruit etc (b) your fitment such as experience, GPA, GMAT etc.
After the above you can zone in on the schools you want to fit into plan B. Remember to spread your schools evenly across the application deadlines i.e a few for R1, few for R2 etc.
HTH,
Arun
Ask a Consultant - CrackVerbal
Thanks! I read your plea in big-bold-red
Good news is that you admit you goofed up and you are owning up to it. Bad news is that but its still a DEAL BREAKER! Sitting around for 1.5 years without doing ANYTHING is going to be hard for you to justify anywhere.
See at the end of the day I don't think the schools are worried about your lack of employment. I would say they are more concerned to see that you did not constructively utilize your time. So can you look back and try to see if there was something that you did during that time - even if its not fulltime gainful employment - that can be used to showcase your talent.
Let us say you helped your friend setting up his business, or you taught somewhere part-time. Even if you spent that time learning a foreign language, or a musical instrument - that's fine. As long as you are able to showcase that you were using your time effectively.
Think about it!
Arun
Thank you Arun You have given a new perspective to it. I will go on for a deep introspection on the last one and half years of my life. Even if I convert any call from now I will own that to you... Thank you Arun very much for this help....:D
Hi,
I gave my GMAT last year and got a score of 730. I had applied for schools such as Duke, Stern, Tepper, ISB, NUS, LBS and Boston University. I have been rejected by all the univs. Except for ISB, I did not even manage to get an interview call from any of these univs. I am a Business Analyst at TCS for a US based investment bank, with 2.5yrs of exp and with some very good extra curriculars. I had a pretty good application with decent essays. I am very disappointed and dejected, for all the time and money I had spent. I am planning to apply for next fall. Please suggest a strategy for me and also let me know the schools that I should apply for the next year. I am looking to do an MBA in Finance.
Hi,
I gave my GMAT last year and got a score of 730. I had applied for schools such as Duke, Stern, Tepper, ISB, NUS, LBS and Boston University. I have been rejected by all the univs. Except for ISB, I did not even manage to get an interview call from any of these univs. I am a Business Analyst at TCS for a US based investment bank, with 2.5yrs of exp and with some very good extra curriculars. I had a pretty good application with decent essays. I am very disappointed and dejected, for all the time and money I had spent. I am planning to apply for next fall. Please suggest a strategy for me and also let me know the schools that I should apply for the next year. I am looking to do an MBA in Finance.
Cheer up. I posted a link to a book on MBA essays a few days back. If you search my previous posts, you will come across that book. That will help you to write your essays. You are in the MOST competitive group IIM (Indian / IT / Male). Typically Engineering degree from IIT with 750 GMAT and good essays. You have to get selected from this group of applicants. The other problem could be your academic record. The main problem is that you are telling the adcom that you want to switch to Finance. They are not sure that they can place you in Finance without any Finance work experience. In your essays you need to say that you are interested in IT management position. After you get admission you can then switch to Finance and try to get a job (will be tough).
Please Note: I AM NOT A CONSULTANT.
Below pasted are statistics of Wharton class 2009 placements. Could you pls suggesst wht happened to remaining 110 (660-550) , ones who did not got placements, thts a whooping figure. were thy all international students, mostly Indians?
Actually listening to IIM's figures of every student getting 2-3 placements each gives a shiver , don't want to come back with a heavy loan.
I hv scored 98%ile in CAT currently working (3 yrs), will try to hit 740-750 in GMAT. The obvious question is "Is it worth going there"?.
Class of 2009 Overview
This information is as of September 30, 2009 and is collected and reported according to MBA CSC standards. #%Class of 2009 Students*765100%Students Seeking Full Time Employment66086.3%Students Not Seeking Employment7810.2% Company Sponsored/Returning to Company39 Self-Employer/Own Business26 Postponed Job Search 9 Personal/Other Reasons 4Students Not Responding to Survey
27
3.5%
Seeking Students Reporting Full Time Job Offers55083.3%Seeking Students Reporting Full Time Job Acceptances53080.3%* Total student population for this report includes those graduating between June 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.
P.S. I am not a pessimist but a Chartered Accountant and hence work on the conservative side.
P.S.2 Pls consider me a nascent and answer as an expert.
Students Seeking Full Time Employment660
Seeking Students Reporting Full Time Job Offers550
Frankly if you had asked me this question a few years ago I would have been tempted to say that you can go ahead and apply with a 690. ......
Arun
Ask a Consultant - CrackVerbal
Thanks Arun.. I can try and give GMAT a one more try.. but you are absolutely correct.. its very tough for me to stay out of touch from my work and concentrate on GMAT.. it will be a what if scenario only...
Below pasted are statistics of Wharton class 2009 placements. Could you pls suggesst wht happened to remaining 110 (660-550) , ones who did not got placements, thts a whooping figure. were thy all international students, mostly Indians?
Actually listening to IIM's figures of every student getting 2-3 placements each gives a shiver , don't want to come back with a heavy loan.
I hv scored 98%ile in CAT currently working (3 yrs), will try to hit 740-750 in GMAT. The obvious question is "Is it worth going there"?.
Class of 2009 Overview
This information is as of September 30, 2009 and is collected and reported according to MBA CSC standards. #%Class of 2009 Students*765100%Students Seeking Full Time Employment66086.3%Students Not Seeking Employment7810.2% Company Sponsored/Returning to Company39 Self-Employer/Own Business26 Postponed Job Search 9 Personal/Other Reasons 4Students Not Responding to Survey
27
3.5%
Seeking Students Reporting Full Time Job Offers55083.3%Seeking Students Reporting Full Time Job Acceptances53080.3%* Total student population for this report includes those graduating between June 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.
P.S. I am not a pessimist but a Chartered Accountant and hence work on the conservative side.
P.S.2 Pls consider me a nascent and answer as an expert.
It is safe to assume that most of the students who were not able to get jobs in USA were Indians. The Chinese MBA students prefer to return to China even if they get job offers in USA. If you go through my previous posts, you will find the detailed link to MBA salaries in India, China, USA, and Europe. China, USA, Europe MBA salaries are equal. In India it is about 40% of USA salaries. That is why the Indian MBA students prefer to try and get a job in USA instead of returning home with a huge $180 K loan and an Indian salary of Rs. 20 lakhs.
Please Note: I AM NOT A CONSULTANT.
...
I had applied for schools such as Duke, Stern, Tepper, ISB, NUS, LBS and Boston University. I have been rejected by all the univs. Except for ISB, I did not even manage to get an interview call from any of these univs.
:
Please suggest a strategy for me and also let me know the schools that I should apply for the next year.
Hi Sandheep,
Sorry to hear about the rejections.
From the information you've shared and without looking at the application it would be difficult to get an idea if it was something in any of the appln components that worked against you or rather (as is generally the case) didn't push your case as strongly as it should have.
There's also stuff that you couldn't have done anything about (for instance, competition).
For most first time applicants, the process is new and there are pre-conceived notions that candidates have about what Adcoms want to hear.
Sometimes it's just about not being able to share a story that makes an impression and (with due respects to Pink Floyd) ending up as just another brick in the wall.
Career changers aren't discouraged by Adcoms. In fact, most of the top business schools pride themselves about the fact that a large chunk of their graduating class manages a career change. What is more important is how you've pitched that idea to them. It's important that you believe in that vision before you want others to buy into your ideas.
Good thing is that you are planning to stand back up on your feet and prepare yourself for competition for the next season. Another silver lining is that you'll have 3.5 years work-ex and hopefully a few new stories that would impress Adcoms. Also with a shorter learning curve to scale, you'll be a stronger and more mature applicant.
Keep the faith, bro.
- Sameer
MBA Crystal Ball
I came across this article in FT about new visa regulations in UK
FT.com / Business education / Soapbox - Visa proposals threaten UK interests
These new visa regulations in UK is becoming a serious factor in selecting B-School. Do any of you guys have more data on it ? For example how it has been in previous years ? Do students use to come to India because of visa ?
How is the situation in other EU countries such as Spain & France ?
TraderJoe1976 SaysIt is safe to assume that most of the students who were not able to get jobs in USA were Indians. The Chinese MBA students prefer to return to China even if they get job offers in USA. If you go through my previous posts, you will find the detailed link to MBA salaries in India, China, USA, and Europe. China, USA, Europe MBA salaries are equal. In India it is about 40% of USA salaries. That is why the Indian MBA students prefer to try and get a job in USA instead of returning home with a huge $180 K loan and an Indian salary of Rs. 20 lakhs.
Are you suggesting tht even worlds no 1 management school faces placement challenges, rather its not able to clear the challenge????
Hi,
I am planning to work in a str. mgmt consultancy firm, left with XL gdpi, can you tell me how is XL in this field, 2. can you give me some gyan from MBA recruiters perspective as in wat all you look for etc..
dcprinceicai SaysAre you suggesting tht even worlds no 1 management school faces placement challenges, rather its not able to clear the challenge????
Well, in the recession period 2008-2010, even the top 5 Business schools were reporting that between 15% - 20% of the MBA students were not able to get jobs. Now it is down to about 13% rate of MBA students without jobs.
Now the Chinese MBA students in the top schools are all turning down the job offers from USA companies and returning to a booming Chinese economy with the same pay as what the USA companies were offering.
So who is unemployed. Is it the American MBA student who did his Bachelor degree in USA, then got 5 years work experience in USA before doing MBA and does not require any H1-B sponsorship for the Work Permit.
Or could the unemployed person be the Indian MBA student who did his Bachelors degree in India, got work experience in India which the USA employer cannot verify, and needs the company to sponsor the H1-B work permit which is very uncertain. Based on pure logic, if you were the American employer company would you hire the American MBA student who does not require H1-B sponsorship or would you hire the Indian MBA student who needs H1-B visa sponsorship. You can take an educated guess who those 13% unemployed MBA students are. The reason they cannot return home is that they cannot pay back the $180 K MBA loan with the Rs. 20 lakh salary which they will get in India and forever have the IIM boss.
Please Note: I AM NOT A CONSULTANT.
TraderJoe, please get in touch with me. PM or email (id in my profile) is fine.