US Economy slowing down

[jaiBoloh]

I agree with the comments made by some of you in regard to the "international" nature of job-seekers and it's effect on recruitment process.

One of my friends is graduating this year from Ross school , and she tells me that 60% of the companies require a green-card at the minimum to be eligible for the job. That's a bummer, when those 60% of companies consists of many large-scale top companies. I have lived in the US for more than 7 years (took a Master's deg from a reputed school), but still battle to get to the top of the hierarchy in my company. These people would not want "outsiders" to assume those jobs with greater responsibility. Thats a fact, and comes as no surprise as we are 'outsiders".

Anyways, some of the other friends tell me the same about MBA graduates - they can go upto only a certain level in the hierarchy. The two main reasons for this -
1) Non-immigrant status (H1-B), which puts the employer in a state of dilemma whether the employee can stay in the country after the stipulated 6 years. Furthermore, the ever changing immigration-laws cause unprecedented delays in obtaining a green card. (I am working/waiting for my green card since 4 years).
2) Lack of network - This is not India, where you can chill out with every other person. When it comes to drinking a beer these people are your best dudes.. but with money no one is with you. "International" nature.

In any case, if you are dreaming about top-level jobs in a top company in IB / consulting (even after graduating from a tier-I school), then better prepare for a long ride (green card is a major stumbling block, unless govt does something about the current pathetic backlog situation).

[kgkid]

Originally Posted by inblue

I guess, the real problem with getting a job post MBA is not getting the job but getting the permission to work. Most industries, ( barring Consulting and IB) have no experience in filing the Visa and getting people the work permit and stuff and that's one reason they refrain from offering /accepting international students.

You need to find out more about that bolded statement. You cannot get a brand management job even though they sponsor visa. You simply dont have the language/ accent that an american has. If you think getting into a BB IB firm or top consulting firm is really a function of what YOU are then think again.
Do one thing, reach out to current students and see where the indian students end up going. People in finance typically end up going to Merill Lynch and people in consulting typically go to Deloitte and Diamond Cluster. Those who dont get into either of these end up in Dell. You would see a very natural trend.

Yes, I met an indian guy who got into Bank of America Securities but he had an MBA from JBIMS in India and was working with Citibank Global Services in finance at Calcutta.

That is why i now wonder why people tell me that whichever top school you do an MBA, you would get the same companies recruiting and the same opportunities.

[kgkid]

I think everybody should reach out to the current students in their target schools and talk to students who came from their background. With the exception of few deviations, most would end up having the same companies opening up.

[iday]

Originally Posted by kgkid

You need to find out more about that bolded statement. You cannot get a brand management job even though they sponsor visa. You simply dont have the language/ accent that an american has. If you think getting into a BB IB firm or top consulting firm is really a function of what YOU are then think again.
Do one thing, reach out to current students and see where the indian students end up going. People in finance typically end up going to Merill Lynch and people in consulting typically go to Deloitte and Diamond Cluster. Those who dont get into either of these end up in Dell. You would see a very natural trend.

Yes, I met an indian guy who got into Bank of America Securities but he had an MBA from JBIMS in India and was working with Citibank Global Services in finance at Calcutta.

That is why i now wonder why people tell me that whichever top school you do an MBA, you would get the same companies recruiting and the same opportunities.

Well,

I did speak to current students of some of the schools i was interested in - specifically students from Chicago GSB and Kellogg. I am focussed on a IB job after my MBA and hence i had specific companies in mind (you'd know what the list would be ). I asked questions about these companies and generally abt consulting companies (fin consulting is plan B - havent done a lot of investigation here).

Lot of international students in Kellogg go the consulting way. You know the issue with obtaining a marketing job with a brown skin and fin jobs seem to be pretty unimpressive at Kellogg (their fin department/faculty is good though). The Kellogg students admitted this right away. But they said "when it comes to consulting, all the top firms have no issues recruiting internationals including Indians".

Speaking about Chicago GSB - all top IBanks and Consulting companies recruit here. The students i met said there will be absolutely no issues in getting a job in the company of ur choice if u do the necessary homework.

These were the words i heard from current students of these "top" schools. I had checked the placement stats of Chicago GSB and found Indians in the list of many of the top companies (GSB has lots of us - so there were enough of us to make it to all the lists )

I believe that the situation might be different in schools that are ranked lower in the eyes of the companies - i really have no clue! But if you get into a top school, i guess being an international doesnt affect your chances.

cheers.

[imjimmy]

But they said "when it comes to consulting, all the top firms have no issues recruiting internationals including Indians".

Please tell us which kind of consulting do you refer to. Strategy Mgmt Consulting, Fin Consulting, process/operations consulting... What?

[kgkid]

Originally Posted by iday

Well,

I did speak to current students of some of the schools i was interested in - specifically students from Chicago GSB and Kellogg. I am focussed on a IB job after my MBA and hence i had specific companies in mind (you'd know what the list would be ). I asked questions about these companies and generally abt consulting companies (fin consulting is plan B - havent done a lot of investigation here).

Lot of international students in Kellogg go the consulting way. You know the issue with obtaining a marketing job with a brown skin and fin jobs seem to be pretty unimpressive at Kellogg (their fin department/faculty is good though). The Kellogg students admitted this right away. But they said "when it comes to consulting, all the top firms have no issues recruiting internationals including Indians".

Speaking about Chicago GSB - all top IBanks and Consulting companies recruit here. The students i met said there will be absolutely no issues in getting a job in the company of ur choice if u do the necessary homework.

These were the words i heard from current students of these "top" schools. I had checked the placement stats of Chicago GSB and found Indians in the list of many of the top companies (GSB has lots of us - so there were enough of us to make it to all the lists )

I believe that the situation might be different in schools that are ranked lower in the eyes of the companies - i really have no clue! But if you get into a top school, i guess being an international doesnt affect your chances.

cheers.

well you are right but some consulting firms such as Accenture Business Strategy Group just dont take without GC or citizenship. You will definitely find names of many indians on the list but find out whether they have GC or citizenship.
Another thing, I dont know a $hit about IB and neither i am interested but consulting firms such as McK, Bain, BCG are top shots. I dont know whether you are from an IIT but an IIT brand would play a big role. Top brand consulting companies typically see your undergrad institution/ pre-MBA workex company and then the school they are recruiting. These consulting companies really worry about the resume they would put forward in front of the client. This is just the fact. Not that the task is impossible to persuade them but i am just telling some ground realities.

[iday]

Originally Posted by imjimmy

Please tell us which kind of consulting do you refer to. Strategy Mgmt Consulting, Fin Consulting, process/operations consulting... What?

I did not particularly enquire about these. Strat consulting and fin consulting came up very frequently and i dont remember hearing about proc/operations consulting during both the meets.

Originally Posted by kgkid

well you are right but some consulting firms such as Accenture Business Strategy Group just dont take without GC or citizenship. You will definitely find names of many indians on the list but find out whether they have GC or citizenship.
Another thing, I dont know a $hit about IB and neither i am interested but consulting firms such as McK, Bain, BCG are top shots. I dont know whether you are from an IIT but an IIT brand would play a big role. Top brand consulting companies typically see your undergrad institution/ pre-MBA workex company and then the school they are recruiting. These consulting companies really worry about the resume they would put forward in front of the client. This is just the fact. Not that the task is impossible to persuade them but i am just telling some ground realities.

Okay - i failed to add that i dont know about the PR or Visa status of these people in "those" lists
also - i wasnt able to figure out their profiles. The list just had the names and the mail ids.

Yeah - i do accept that the "brand" could be a factor during recruiting.
The ever optimist i am, i can only say that lack of brand would only make the process difficult and not impossible

The same "undergrad brand" factor kept cropping up in the admissions scene as well, and i am sure many ppl in the admitted students list are not from the IITs. To look at this from a diff perspective, the schools wouldnt have admitted ppl like me (from a not IIT undergrad institute) if they had such a huge problem with it

As internationals, we definitely have to work a lot harder than the localites - agreed. But i'd never take "impossible".

PS: These views are from a to-be-job-hunter who has never been to the US. So take them with a pinch of salt, as they might change after i go through the job hunt process. I hope it doesn't

[pagalguy]

Accenture requires a GC. But most of the top strat cos don't. Now I don't think all of them look for a top notch undergrad as well. Sure, the IIT tag does come up often, but that isn't the only way to make it to a top strat company.

Interview invites are trickling in @ Wharton and an average soul has over 6 or more invites .. provided they applied to as many companies and yet it is pretty competitive.

I have invites from McK, BCG & Booz and I don't think I have the kind of undergrad college pedigree lots of junta here have. But then some of the biggest undergrad name folks haven't received an invite at the consulting cos.

Just a note to inform you guys that not everything is one dimensional and this year is a good year to graduate

Originally Posted by kgkid

well you are right but some consulting firms such as Accenture Business Strategy Group just dont take without GC or citizenship. You will definitely find names of many indians on the list but find out whether they have GC or citizenship.
Another thing, I dont know a $hit about IB and neither i am interested but consulting firms such as McK, Bain, BCG are top shots. I dont know whether you are from an IIT but an IIT brand would play a big role. Top brand consulting companies typically see your undergrad institution/ pre-MBA workex company and then the school they are recruiting. These consulting companies really worry about the resume they would put forward in front of the client. This is just the fact. Not that the task is impossible to persuade them but i am just telling some ground realities.

[iday]

Originally Posted by pagalguy

This year is a good year to graduate

Oh - you can say that again and again...

[kgkid]

Originally Posted by pagalguy

Accenture requires a GC. But most of the top strat cos don't. Now I don't think all of them look for a top notch undergrad as well. Sure, the IIT tag does come up often, but that isn't the only way to make it to a top strat company.

Interview invites are trickling in @ Wharton and an average soul has over 6 or more invites .. provided they applied to as many companies and yet it is pretty competitive.

I have invites from McK, BCG & Booz and I don't think I have the kind of undergrad college pedigree lots of junta here have. But then some of the biggest undergrad name folks haven't received an invite at the consulting cos.

Just a note to inform you guys that not everything is one dimensional and this year is a good year to graduate

Yes Sir and that is why i said that it is not impossible but a little difficult.

btw congrats and when you go to these firms please PGites ke baare mei thodha sochke..thodha madad shadad kar dena.