Hello,
I am 2000-04 class Mech engg grad currently working as a Business analyst with an IT firm.
My role involves designing or improving business processes(of a Telecom SP client of UK), the need for which is triggered by IT changes among other things. I also have experience in Product Rationalization (of client's telecom products)where I talk to client's Product Managers to understand their products and come out with most generally ordered configurations; I would then pre-price them and aide the coding team in preparing a tool that essentially help sales teams in responding to RFPs quicker.
I currently have 7.5 years of experience, 2 years is Process Consulting and 3 years is Product Design.
I'd given GMAT twice before (last was 2008 ) and my scores were 660 both times, but by the time I started applying there was recession in US (2009) so I did not dare any further.
I now feel that I should do an MBA to give my career a push. While strategy and consulting remain my favorites, I am not too sure how much I could put forth them as the logical next step of my career. And if they are not what would be?
Also, I am aiming only at ISB for 2013-14 class, which means I would have 8.5 years of experience by then, would that give me an edge? What are the chances that it could become a threat for me?
Finally, what GMAT scores should I aim at? I am sure 660 is not good enough (or is it?)
To summarize:
1) What course would be the logical next step of my career so far?
2) Would my work experience give me an edge or could it be a threat?
3) What GMAT score should I be aiming at?
P.S:
1) My extra curricular activities are more personal oriented like movie script writing (I did try to make a movie along with a few friends but it did not materialize, not yet)
2) My professional achievements are very few which are like internal quarterly awards.
3) I have always been in a client facing role for last 5.5 years, but my onsite experience was limited.
4) My acads 77 in X, 79.1 XII and 68 in Btech.
Hi,I have a very basic question.. not sure if there is a thread already running for this.. if yes, please gimme the link..
I am IT professional working for Oracle India..I have around 6 years of experience.. been a team leader for 2.5 years now.. I gave my gmat yesterday and got a dismal 650.. I have decent extra curriculars and have won the best employee award once..
My aim is to stay in the IT industry and grow faster.. I plan to start my MBA applications this year.. I want to know which b school and what course will best help me achieve my goals.. i have no intentions of becoming a business analyst or a financial analyst.. i just want to get into the managerial roles..
I am pretty confused in choosing from thousands of options and countries.. I am sure its difficult to get into Indian b schools.. I dont mind Canadian/US/Australian b schools.. please help me decide what would be best for my profile and goals..thanks in advance
Just a quick reply to one very common question asked(hope the consultants wont mind) , what is the GMAT score I should target?
To quote Sameer sir get the highest score that you possibly can.It really cannot get simpler than that.If you feel that you can get that something extra from a retake go for that as well as long as it does not impact the other parts of your application.
Hi,I have a very basic question.. not sure if there is a thread already running for this.. if yes, please gimme the link..
I am IT professional working for Oracle India..I have around 6 years of experience.. been a team leader for 2.5 years now.. I gave my gmat yesterday and got a dismal 650.. I have decent extra curriculars and have won the best employee award once..
My aim is to stay in the IT industry and grow faster.. I plan to start my MBA applications this year.. I want to know which b school and what course will best help me achieve my goals.. i have no intentions of becoming a business analyst or a financial analyst.. i just want to get into the managerial roles..
I am pretty confused in choosing from thousands of options and countries.. I am sure its difficult to get into Indian b schools.. I dont mind Canadian/US/Australian b schools.. please help me decide what would be best for my profile and goals..thanks in advance
Hello Dear,
Congratulations on your GMAT score!!!
These are the colleges you may target.
1. York (Less Difficult)
2. Queens (Less Difficult)
3. UT Austin (Less Difficult)
4. TAMU (Good Chance)
5. Smeal (Good Chance)
6. UIUC (Good Chance)
How to select right schools, Check list
1. Do you have 15 or 16 years of education
2. What is your Budget
3. Geographic location (ROI factor)
4. Specialization
These are the few things important to understand before you select any school. I hope this will help you in deciding which school you should go to.
Once again Congratulations on our GMAT score and Wish you Best of Luck, keep posted.
thanks
ashwani kaushik
Just a quick reply to one very common question asked(hope the consultants wont mind) , what is the GMAT score I should target?
To quote Sameer sir get the highest score that you possibly can.It really cannot get simpler than that.If you feel that you can get that something extra from a retake go for that as well as long as it does not impact the other parts of your application.
Try scoring 20-30 points more than 80% median range of your target B-schools.
Hi,
2 Years of full time experience, with 6 months of experience in the family business.
Currently Working in Telecommunications at a Major Global MNC
Gmat - Will take with an Aim of 700+
Extra Curricular Activities - I am good with photography, and planning to build on it.
Chesto, your query about target b-schools is far too broad. Your school list will depend on multiple criteria: location of b- school, concentrations/ electives offered, Clubs, networking opportunities, proximity to an industry (for e.g. NY for finance), kind of recruitments (like INSEAD in Europe for consulting) etc. etc.
Make a list of factors that matter to you and match them to the programs (you can use BusinessWeek, US News, FT rankings to get started).
In another of your post I read that you want to get back to your business after finishing your 18 month bond period. Please be sure of your career goals. It may be a challenge for you to demonstrate your interest in business with little exposure to it. From this perspective, it will be good if you can build some experience in your business for another year or so and then apply.
Your interest in photography- Something less than a passion is hard to impress. So I hope you have a story to build which speaks " passion for photography".
Namita at MBA Decoder
Admission Tips for Re-applicants
Sorry, double post
Hi,
My Profile :
Workex- 4+ yrs
Currently employed with British Petroleum working onboard ship as 3rd Asst engr.
As its a core techincal field would u advice how should i boost my profile for ISB ?
Monster Bhai,
Its hard to comment on how you can boost your profile for ISB, as there is not enough information on your profile. However, when you begin to work on your application (ISB essays are out), use examples that demonstrate your leadership qualities, team-skills and communication skills.
My assumption is that in your industry, there are certain skills that go with your job- quick decision making, working under pressure, attention to details, risk taking ability to name a few. If you excel in any of these skills or others, you can use them to differentiate yourself from other candidates.
As i read through the previous class profile i find quite few of guys from shipping background so i think i stand a chance too though its a complete switch over of carrier.
Yes, candidates with profile similar to yours do apply to b-schools, but they are not as common as the IT or the finance guys. Having a shipping background alone will not differentiate you.
If you are interested in switching over your 'career', be sure of what you want to do, research it well, and articulate it even better in the career goals essay. A lot of applicants are just able to say they want to change tracks, but don't know, to what! That leads to a ding.
& be careful of spelling mistakes in your essays.
Namita at MBA Decoder
Get Essay Writing Tips
Sir
Maybe you missed my question by mistake.Or probably it was too generic.I'll add a few more details here.
My question was
"Hello Sir
My profile is as follows
10th: 81.2
12th: 87.6
Btech: BITS Pilani 6.9 C.G.P.A
Work Experience: 4 months in Analytics
7 months as a Management trainee in a construction firm(Ongoing)
GMAT:730
Extra Curriculars : Very good
How strong is the profile for a top notch foreign MBA or ISB? What are the points I can work on before applying.And will the work experience as a management trainee at a construction firm at all relevent and useful or should I look for some other kind of work experience.Also If you can answer,Is the profile strong for an MBA from India through CAT.
I am planning to apply for MBA programs in US and India starting 2013.
In addition to that I want to eke out a career in Buisness Consulting.Any feedback on my profile would be highly appreciated.Specifically a feedback on my work experience.Also what kind of role shoul i take or look up for in a construction company which maybe beneficial to my profile and add some weight to it.
I am aspiring to do MBA from an international B-School of repute. A little about my background: Presently I am 38 years old and I did my engineering from one of the NIT in 1996 apart from also doing a full time PGDBA from a lesser known place (1998-2000). Also I have worked for 13 years into the corporate sector, presently working with a large global engineering house, General Electric, as a Business Manager (Sales & Business Development role) based in India (no overseas experience).
I am planning to take GMAT soon and hope to score in the range of 700. I have also written articles in national newspapers in the past as a freelancer writer apart from being involved in some NGO activities as an active volunteer.
Given my background and higher age vis-a-vis median age of other aspiring B School candidates, which international B-School will suit best with me for a full time MBA program?
I shall eagerly look forward to hear from you. Thanking you in anticipation....:)
Hi,
I am having admission offers from Laurier Waterloo and SFU(Beedie) MBA both for 1 year full time MBA and i am confused between the two offers. Would really appreciate if some consultant can help me in gauging the pros/cons of both the institues.
My Profile :
X:79%
XII:76%
Btech : 74% ( Mech Eng )
GMAT : 600
Workex- 5 yrs Software Testing with BT and Barclays
Average extra curriculars.
Currently employed with Barclays as Test Analyst.
My goal after completing MBA would be to work as Test Manager/Business Analyst in an IT company specifically in Canada itself.
Hello dear mentors,
Please find my profile below for your valuable comments.
Education :
Xth - ICSE - 81.6%
XIIth - ISC - 80.0%
Btech - Mech Enggr - 72.8
WorkEx:
Infosys Tech. - 2.7 years ( Senior Software Developer )
Quit Infy to join Family Business - 2.1 yrs (current) ( Engineering Automation )
Achievements/Extra-Curricular
1. Active participation+winning in literary competitions.
2. Active participation+winning in cultural competitions.
3. Plays guitar and was member of college band, Infosys band.
4. Branch topper in second year of engineering.
5. Pretty much into music,photography,cooking as my hobbies.
I have just started preparing for GMAT, I am 28 and currently holds close to 5 years of workex. Kindly advise how much score I need to apply to elite schools globally and in India too.
Sir
Work Experience: 4 months in Analytics
7 months as a Management trainee in a construction firm(Ongoing)
GMAT:730
Extra Curriculars : Very good
Prash, I understand your full time work experience is 11 months? In my opinion that's too less to enter an MBA class unless you are looking at the Masters in Management type of programs (outside India, or PGDBM courses in India).
If you plan to take CAT and apply to institutes in India, its a different case. But if you plan to use your GMAT score to apply, then you should get atleast two years of work experience.
And will the work experience as a management trainee at a construction firm at all relevent and useful or should I look for some other kind of work experience
I assume you are getting good exposure to your business/ industry as a management trainee. Eventually, you should do what is of interest to you, not what others will perceive as relevant experience. You are at an early stage in your career. Keep your mind open and make the best use of opportunities available to you.
Namita at MBA Decoder
I am aspiring to do MBA from an international B-School of repute. A little about my background: Presently I am 38 years old and I did my engineering from one of the NIT in 1996 apart from also doing a full time PGDBA from a lesser known place (1998-2000). Also I have worked for 13 years into the corporate sector, presently working with a large global engineering house, General Electric, as a Business Manager (Sales & Business Development role) based in India (no overseas experience).
Given my background and higher age vis-a-vis median age of other aspiring B School candidates, which international B-School will suit best with me for a full time MBA program?
Hi Sumit,
You would be better suited for an executive MBA. If you are keen on a full time course, consider the Sloan Fellowship program, which runs at 3 campuses: London Business School, MIT, Stanford GSB.
Also check out the Nanyang Fellows MBA.
Other than that, you can check out the programs for mid level/ senior executives, run by IIMs, but you will be at the upper end of the age spectrum here.
Best,
Namita at MBA Decoder
Hi,
I am having admission offers from Laurier Waterloo and SFU(Beedie) MBA both for 1 year full time MBA and i am confused between the two offers. Would really appreciate if some consultant can help me in gauging the pros/cons of both the institues.
My goal after completing MBA would be to work as Test Manager/Business Analyst in an IT company specifically in Canada itself.
Hi,
Consider these questions, they will help you make a decision:
1. Which of the two schools sends more students to the kind of companies you want to work at, and at the roles you are seeking?
2. Compare the electives list.
3. Compare the social aspects: the community, Clubs, events etc.
4. talk to current students at both schools to understand their perspectives.
Namita at MBA Decoder
Hello dear mentors,
Infosys Tech. - 2.7 years ( Senior Software Developer )
Quit Infy to join Family Business - 2.1 yrs (current) ( Engineering Automation )
I have just started preparing for GMAT, I am 28 and currently holds close to 5 years of workex. Kindly advise how much score I need to apply to elite schools globally and in India too.
800 will be perfect.
Seriously, score your best. B-schools do not follow a cut off range, but its beneficial to score a little above the class average GMAT score of the b-schools you are targeting.
Namita at MBA Decoder
Dear All,
I am a C.A. with 7 years of exp in IT(ERP Consulting) with 2 years of foreign exp. I want to do a 1 year PGPX course to take my career to the next level. What next level would mean is, currently, I am at the execution side(implementation of project), later I would to be at the management side, managing project, account, client, region.
While this is my obvious option in the same industry, I also want to understand my options to move to other industry (banking, FSI, Equity) or to Consulting or Corporate Finance. Given an option, I would like to move out of IT.
I am also confused with the BSchool's I should be applying. Right now I have ISB and IIM (pgpx) courses in mind.
Could you please help me with the career options that I can explore after pursuing one year post graduation program and which Bschool's I should be applying for.
Also, I have recently joined a coaching Institute and started preparing for GMAT. I am unable to decide when should I book the slot for taking the exam. As I am currently working, I can only spare couple of hours per day.
Thanks in Advance for your expert advise.
Regards,
SK
Hi All ,
My profile is as below :
I took the GMAT a week back and scored 750(50-Q, 40-V, awa -5.5).
10th - 85%
12th - 87%
BE IT - 60% :-(
Work Experience :
2 yrs in Software Development in Finance domain in an MNC.(It will be 3 by the time my MBA starts). Have received a couple of kudos and was individually responsible for development and delivery of some modules. However, i haven't been in a lead role 😞
Was team lead in a mini project done as a part of the training program but thats it.
extra curriculars:
1.Was a committee lead in the National Level Technical College Festival
2. Part of school and Jr. College volleyball team. Won the title at district level once
3. Few awards in Project and paper presentation competitions.
4. participated in large number of activities but no great results.
I was thinking of applying for fall 2013 and I am extremely confused and searching for the answers to the following questions :
I am looking to move out of IT into other sectors and towards the business side. Would like to do consulting or strategy after an MBA. Is prior experience in such roles necessary before applying ?
With this profile what range of ranks should i target ? Which schools will be happy with this kind of profile ?
Also how can i elevate my profile to make it suit the schools standards ?
Will my less work ex be a negative point? Is working for one more year and then applying a better idea ?
Your advice would be of great help in narrowing down my options.
Thanking you in advance.
regards,
Varun
Hello,
Please evaluate my profile and highlight some schools where I have a realistic chance of admission.
Indian Male, 25 Years
GMAT Score: 700 (Q50 V34)
Undergrad Degree: B. Tech. Computer Science (IP University, Delhi)
Undergrad performance : 71.64%
Work Experience : 3 Years till date
Details about Work Experience
1) Started a venture that combined online marketing, search engine optimization and online promotion of businesses. The venture specializes in improving the online presence of offline businesses and products and consulting them. Encountered lots of challenges of a startup and managed the risks well.
2) The business grew well and flourished as we enhanced our services, domains and options.
3) The business is still going strong and we have around 80% international clients and 20% local clients.
Extracurricular
1) Have played hockey for 5 years in school, from 2000 to 2005. Have played at North India level (in 2002 and 2004) and placed third in 2004. Other than that, loads of achievements in city tournaments and interschool tournaments.
2) Most of my extracurricular activities in college revolved around competitive e-sports. Apart from winning lots of tournaments at city level and across different colleges, have lots of experience in organizing competitive e-sports tournaments. Have organized e-sports tournament in different colleges around the city.
3) Due to my passion for competitive e-sports, an upcoming field in India, I still mentor teams and guide them during tournaments. I also sponsor teams and help them achieve their potential in this field.
Post-MBA Plans: I would either want to work as a consultant for upcoming businesses and entrepreneurs (due to my experience) or engage in online marketing after MBA. I also wish to continue creating new businesses.
Thanks!
Dear All,
I am a C.A. with 7 years of exp in IT(ERP Consulting) with 2 years of foreign exp. I want to do a 1 year PGPX course to take my career to the next level. What next level would mean is, currently, I am at the execution side(implementation of project), later I would to be at the management side, managing project, account, client, region.
While this is my obvious option in the same industry, I also want to understand my options to move to other industry (banking, FSI, Equity) or to Consulting or Corporate Finance. Given an option, I would like to move out of IT.
Hi Target800,
I guess 800 is the target for GMAT - I hope you are somewhere close to that.
Regarding your career options, getting into a consulting role where you are using your finance domain and IT knowledge makes sense. You can also explore options within BFSI, in a role that utilizes your finance/ IT background. Given your 7 years of work experience, a Corp. finance role may not come at a lateral position.
Also, I have recently joined a coaching Institute and started preparing for GMAT. I am unable to decide when should I book the slot for taking the exam. As I am currently working, I can only spare couple of hours per day.
Most GAMt takers are working, so like them you would have to juggle your time well. I would suggest you to get some comfort with the test format and test taking. You can book a slot once you feel you have reached your potential in the the practice scores. However, If you are applying to the IIMs, they have their application submission dates in July end/ August, so you'll have to take the test befor that.