MBA Crystal Ball

Hello Amit / Sameer /team,

I am hopeful, your team would be able to spare a few minutes on my query.
Now to the point - I will be 25 in another 2 months. When I quit my job as a Software Engineer I had an experience of 2.9 years inclusive of a 11 months onsite (Client side) role. Its 8 months since I quit. My basic idea was to crack CAT 14 and get into one of the top B Schools in India. My attempts at CAT, IIFT, XAT all turned out a failure. I do not want to get married without an MBA. I am determined to crack CAT 15, but do not want to spend another year without a job. I hope you will be able to provide me some advice on what are the options for me to change my career track so as to suit for my MBA .

1. Internships to suit a MBA career - I do not have any prior experience on the track, am ready to take up a course.
2. Volunteering in an NGO - I am interested in teaching rural kids.

Could you please provide some advice on how I can shape my career?

Many thanks,
Jay

Dear Amit (& the MBACrystalBall team),

Just want to begin by thanking all of you for the effort put in here- the information is never generic, and the level of detail and personal touch is commendable. This is why I've decided to share some information about myself here.

So I'm a commercial litigator from Singapore, and I've been working with a start-up in India for a year now. I received my LLB from the National University of Singapore, which is ranked 19th in the world and 3rd in Asia. I have a few questions, all regarding breaking into the consulting industry.

1) Having been academically trained as a lawyer, do you think it is possible to make the cross-over into Management Consulting-- and what are the key pitfalls/perceived weaknesses I need to shore up before attempting to break into consulting? (Law isn't quant-heavy at all!)
2) How important is it to have a GMAT score? It may be necessary just as a standardized test, right?
3) I plan to apply for an entry-level associate position, rather than as an experienced hire, due to my lack of experience. Is this the right approach?
4) How much travel can I expect were I to join one of the firms in India- would the work be very local, given the size of the Indian market? How it works in Singapore is that there is plenty of regional travel since we are a hub within SEAsia.

I have more details regarding my personal profile (which I feel make me a strong, or at least interesting, candidate) but have not shared everything here due to data sensitivity. I would greatly appreciate hearing from you regarding the above. Thank you!

Hi Amit
Thanks for this woderful initiative
I am in dire need for your advice.Here is my short profile:-
PROFESSIONAL GOAL:- To be in a highly motivated and ethical environment where i can grow not only as a professional but also as a person, an environment which provide me opportunities to use my intellect and skills.
I am a graduate with chemical engineering from HBTI with good marks
Have organized lots of fests in my college
Love to interact with new people and problem solving and learning new things
Hobbies:- Poetry, know palmistry and numerology
Currently employed at TATA Chemicals as Asst. Manager (1 year)
i want to swith over to business consultancy field as i find it more challenging, exciting and intellect demanding
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME. I really need your expert advice.
So please reply as soon as possible.
thanks

Hi Amit,

I am BE ( Elect Engg) having around 27 years of exp. First 16 years in Sales and Marketing domain.
Last 11+years, I am in IT working in JD Edwards ERP as Business analyst / Functional consultant for SCM / Distribution module.
Laste few years ( 3/4 years ), I am performing Lead /PM / Programme manager role.

I am interested in moving to consulting job / career in view of my rich experience wherein I have gained good experience/ knowledge in area of Business process reengineering, Change management etc.

Appreciate your inputs on correct steps to be taken.

Regards

HEMANT

Hi,

Thank You for this initiative.

I have completed by bachelors in literature and my Mba in human resources. I have worked for a few months in branding and recruiting. Its only been a year since I have completed my MBA , so i dont mind being a consultant at an entry level.

I am looking for a role more in terms of Human Resource Consultant .

What extra degrees/ qualifications would it take for me to get into such a role? Where do I start from?

Regards,

Hi Amit,

I want to get into the top tier strategy consulting firms. Following is my profile:

Educational Qualification: BBS(Finance) and MBA (Finance)
Total Work Experience: 6.5 years
Professional Experience:

Before MBA: 2.5 years as a trader
Post MBA: 4 years in one of the Big 4 consulting firms. I am into government consulting wherein I provide consulting services to government on implementation of its programs.

I would like to get into either:

a.) policy advisory but for this, I understand that the top tier firms hire PhDs in economics or Masters in Economics.
b.) private sector strategy consulting but for this I have no experience and I also understand that they prefer people from Top B-schools/Engg. Colleges

Request you to please evaluate my profile. Kindly also advise if going for a second MBA would add any value to my profile for the desired role.

Thanks & Regards
Drishti

Hi Amit,

I have a fairly good academics and 7.5 years of working experience across sectors and in banking domain. 4 years Btech in Electrical.
1.5 years of work-ex with Infosys as Software Engineer (worked on datawarehousing project (banking domain)of Amex using microsoft BI technologies).
2 years of working exp with SBI (PSU) in retail & branch banking & finance.
4 years of work-ex with Nabard (Govt-Development finance Institute) in rural infra finance, accounting,depreciation handling,closing,administration & procurement/purchase.

So, I have varied as well as unusual career choices. Now I am going for one year MBA programme ie. GMP of XLRI.

Please suggest....
1. what roles,business functions to target.
2. which companies to target.
3.what reading/prep/certifications can help me in landing with a good profile.
FYI:-I love mathematics & have been an above avrage studen of mathematics. Did electrical engineering with 70 % marks but never had hands-on exp on knowledge, hence, loss of interest.Find coding a bit difficult bcos of loss of connect after so many years of working in banking sector.So, I suspect my exp as software engg will help me further.I have interest in banking but do not know how much my experience in retail banking and rural finance and administration will help me in corporate set up either in banking or IT firms.

I a person with 3.5 years IT experience and presently studying in LBSIM delhi.Can you provide me suggestion how to get consulting jobs? I was not comfortable with coding so I decided to do MBA .I got admission in Tier2 institutes.Can you plz suggest me the methods how can I get good consulting jobs through campus recruitment or off campus ?
Eagerly waiting for your eesponse and kudos for great work you are doing .

Hi Amit,

I really found your site very usefully & happy to find what exactly what I was looking for..

Being management consultant always fascinated me. I always wanted to be front end management consultant at top consultancy firm. But I am not sure how I can get up to it.. here is my brief profile, request your advice on my search:

Education:
I am BE + MBA from tier II college.
BE with 70% & MBA with 8.8 CGPA

Experience:
-Initial 2 years after MBA in Capgemini as management analyst in business controlling team. Worked on revenue recognition, pipeline analysis, P&L analysis etc.
-1 year in TATA Motors in new product introduction & business Planning – doing again profitability analysis & commercials for new products for commercial vehicles
-Since past 3 years working in manufacturing firm (part of global MNC) & heading corporate planning and business development department. My company is small scale in India but part for big German group. I am part of senior management team in this company & have been working with top guns of group in fields related to strategy, business development & process improvements. This gave me opportunity to work closely in different areas of business on project basis. I enjoyed this work & now want to work in typical management consultancy firm.

How can I get entry in management consultancy? Considering my background what position & firms I should aim for? I would be soon turning to 30 yrs. For better prospects in my career I want to also pursue some course/ another MBA from top B school in US, but after 4/5 years from now. Which B school should be in my list ?

Thanks for your initiative, keenly waiting for your reply 

Regards,
Rashmi

Hi Amit,

My profile:

1.B.tech - Electrical Engg. (N.I.T Jamshedpur) - C.G.P.A- 8.62

2. Total Work Experience- 4 Years

a.)Work Experience 1 (2 Years)- Tata Motors Limited - Supply Chain Management -( Plant Operation)

-Worked in Integrated cost reduction Project achieving savings worth Rs. 57 Cr. in 1 financial year.( Actively involved with consultants from AT Kearney )

b.) Work Experience 2 ( 2 Years) - Teach For India Fellowship based on Teaching as Leadership Model.

-Simultaneously led a project called Just for Kicks. Expanding it from 12 schools to 27 schools across Pune impacting more than 700 kids directly. Currently working on registering it as a separate organization along with a couple of other people.

Achievements-
1. Successfully led a classroom of 58 kids from low income community showing remarkable increase in their learning levels as tested on the standard Indus tests platform.
2. Raised funds worth INR 1 Lakh to set up a community center as an after school alternative for the kids from low income communities catering to the needs of more than 100 kids currently.
3. Expanded the reach of Just for Kicks program from 10 schools to more than 27 schools and redesigned the entire working model to be set up as a separate entity and expand further in a more sustainable way.
4. Runner up for the Best officer award at Tata motors Limited in the year 2012-13
5. Top performing Trainee at Tata Motors Limited for the year 2011-12

General Info
I have just finished my fellowship and I am planning to get an MBA and work in the consulting sector more oriented towards handling projects in the Social Sector.

1.What should I do further in an year to enhance my chances for getting selected in a top B School? And also to get a job in the consulting sector as mentioned above after graduating?

2. What are some of the leading consulting firms that are currently operating in Social Sector Solutions?

3. What are my chances of being able to migrate in a consulting profile with the above mentioned work experience?

Regards,
Vikash