#careergoals2021 Archives

Day 13: Life in the MBA Program: Careers & Recruiting

Posted on November 3, 2021 | by Parul Bhatt | Leave a Comment

Ultimately, a better career is all you should be seeking from an MBA.

It might mean career acceleration or pivoting to a completely new field or becoming an entrepreneur. And B-Schools help you do this through so many ways.

From programming for finding true career paths to leadership development and making the connect with the right recruiters, the Career Services is at the heart of the recruitment process.

Let’s consider the Career Management Group (CMG) at Berkeley Haas.

The CMG at Haas has a dedicated team of Career Coaches to support with every aspect of the recruiting process. In addition to this, there are CMG Peer Advisors( graduating students to guide for internships & for industry- specific guidance), Relationship Managers (for connecting with specific employers or to know about the current hiring trends) and Industry Specialists (for the insider stories & tips). It does take a village!

I find the Career Tools at Haas fascinating- a very methodical approach that starts with discovering your strengths and framing your career goals. Then there are tools to help in execution – resume workshops, networking for career conversations, tackling interviews and negotiating total compensation. While this kind of continuous support is common, each B-School does the Career Services differently. Hence, factor this in when you shortlist your B-Schools.

Internships & Recruiters

Start with the employment reports- they will have a wealth of information. And B-schools aim for having many of their graduates placed within three months of graduation.

A staple for the 2-year MBA programs, the MBA Internship, is in the summer between 1st and 2nd year & lasts for anywhere between 8-12 weeks. Some can also opt for part-time internships throughout the year. A great way to gain practical experience, many internships also convert to full-time offers and maybe the only way to get into some consulting & finance companies. For career switchers, taking up an internship in the intended field will help in getting the necessary skills and for networking. There are many functional areas to try out in these companies. If you are trying to move from hard-core programming to marketing, landing the right internship would help. There is more flexibility when you choose to work with smaller firms and start-ups.

The management consulting Big three- McKinsey, BCG, and Bain ( MBB for short) hire about 1000 interns combined in a typical year. Amazon remains one of the largest recruiters of MBA talent. Not surprisingly, the top recruiters for MBA are from consulting, technology and finance. And recruiting for these industries is extremely competitive.

Recruiting activities include company briefings, research, informational interviews, applications, and a lot of networking calls and these are all year long! This can take up to 8-10 hours per week. For internships, recruiting can start from October onwards and maximum offers typically roll out by February. You may spend close to 6 months dedicated to the recruiting process.

For 1-year programs, actual recruiting starts from Day one itself. So be prepared for it and start the research on getting into your preferred industry really early.

Entrepreneurship

It is such an exciting time to be an entrepreneur- especially in B-School. where there is no dearth of ideas and tools. The encouragement for innovation and collaboration makes it is easy to find a co-founder and the core leadership team. From incubators to courses to specialized concentrations and practical projects, check out how Michigan Ross helps in grooming entrepreneurs. But balancing a startup and B-School will need some skillful juggling.

Grade non-disclosure policy

Some top B-Schools prohibit students to disclose their grades or transcripts to future recruiters before getting the offer (grade non-disclosure policy). Often the student body gets to decide this. This doesn’t mean that you can get away with bad grades (there are minimum cut-offs and other measures in place). But if you know that the grades don’t matter, then probably there is less pressure on you academically and you can focus on the other aspects of B-School experience like networking, experiential learning, trying out courses that you might have not otherwise considered, etc.

What’s next

For any of your targeted B-Schools, the first place to start your research is to spend a lot of time on the offerings of the Career Services and the employment reports!

The recruiting for your post-MBA role starts when you are thinking about the MBA.

Day 11: Tackling MBA Letters of Recommendation

Posted on November 3, 2021 | by lakshmi adithi | Leave a Comment

MBA application- there’s more? Yes, you need letters of recommendations – perfect ones at that!

Typically, recommenders for B-School would be people with whom you have worked closely, especially those in a direct supervisory role.

Imagine this- A nice AdCom member is sipping on their Earl Grey tea, sitting in their cosy office that overlooks the river and are giving your application a read. Through the resume and the essays, they will get a sense of all your accomplisments and may also know your story. But who’s to support all this?

Now enters the recommender with the Letter of Recommendation (LoR)!<Drum roll!>

The LoR provides the evidence, supports your claims with examples and gives reassurance to the AdCom.

So, the letters of recommendation (some programs need 2) carry a lot of weight in the MBA application.

The LoR horror stories

In an Indian setting (or anywhere for that matter), if you tell your boss about your MBA plans, it might not always go the way you want.

Many of my clients navigate a web of office politics to secure their recommendations.A client told me today- ” I don’t think I can ask my boss for a recommendation letter. He hasn’t done an MBA and frankly, I think he is jealous.”

That promotion that was rightfully yours might be withheld. A client lamented- ” She agreed but after I disclosed my MBA plans, I have been sidelined”.

Worse, you might get unfavourable or lacklustre (or god forbid, partially answered three-line) recommendations. From a reapplicant- ” I am changing my recommender this time. My CEO was extremely busy. I don’t think he had the time to do a good job”.

Which is why, you can always keep ex-bosses as back-ups (hopefully you didn’t burn any bridges). One suggestion is make sure that the recommenders were from your recent past (less than 3 years).

Getting the perfect Letters of Recommendation

Get the recommenders on your side.

Put yourselves in the recommender’s shoes.

Would they give you the time necessary? LoRs can take anywhere between 1-4 hours per MBA application. The first LoR takes the longest time. While the common LoR from GMAC is accpeted by many, still some B-Schools have their own formats.

How has the person responded when you had asked favors before? Given the stakes, before you approach your recommender, evaluate your relationship with them. Have they been timely? Did you have to follow up much or hand-hold a lot? Will they deliver?

Are they happy that you are leaving? Bad question. Chances are if you an A player, your boss won’t be happy.

Are they happy about your growth and ambition? Right question! Have they helped you seek opportunities for growth within and outside of your role? Have they mentored you? If they are your true well-wisher, then they will do everything to give you a good LoR.

Have you promised to undertake some key projects in your company? Depending on your relationship with the recommender and the nature of your role, you may approach your recommender as early as 3-6 months before the applications. If you are in a critical role, the earlier the better, as then you are giving your boss time for a replacement and playing a big role in succession planning (a big aspect of leadership).

In fact, some companies may expect and want you to go for the MBA. If the recommenders already have an MBA themselves, it is easier to get a LoR as they already know about the importance of it and have a sense of the expectations (hopefully, they don’t botch the execution).

Also, how you ask for the letters is a big deal! Give your recommenders some heads-up. I would advise an 1-1 with your recommender where you can probably discuss your MBA plans (and also succession plans clearly). Use the CareerLabs “The Ultimate Guide to a Letter of Recommendation ( LOR) for MBA/MIM”. With this, no recommender has to request you for a draft (link in the comment).

The future of the Letter of Recommendation (LoR)

Even now, some B-Schools need recommendation letters only after you pass the initial screening process. But then there are those others with many formats and requirements that costs time. This is why some recommenders may not help you for all the 10 B-Schools to which you to apply (another reason why selecting the right B-Schools and limiting the # of B-schools to which you apply is soooooooooo important).

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Maybe 5 years down the line, B-Schools might directly take in recommendations from LinkedIn profiles of prospective applicants (in a secure manner) or get video responses from them. This will ensure so much transparency and discourage applicants from influencing the LoRs a lot.

The perfect MBA LoR

Before I go, one other way to get a perfect LoR is to not write one yourself. Give all supporting documents & support to the recommenders, don’t write it.

Day 12: Life in an MBA Program-Academic Experience

Posted on July 30, 2021 | by lakshmi adithi | Leave a Comment

Knowing what will hit you when you start your MBA program could probably get you prepared for this academic roller-coaster ride!

Start with understanding the MBA curriculum. MBA Programs will have the ‘core’ courses and then the electives. I love Berkeley Haas new curriculum for its focus on teaching how to work with diverse teams and for preparing students for digital business through the Data Analytics& Data-Driven Presentation courses. Understanding the structure (this is where the 1-year or 2-year would come in) can also help you plan your roadmap ahead.

In B-School, the common methods of teaching would be a combination of case studies, lectures, team projects and experential learning techniques. Harvard, Darden, IESE and Ivey favor the famed case study approach for majority of the learning (and this reflects in their MBA applications). There is a lot of flexibility offered by B-Schools in how you will tailor the curriculum towards your career objectives. Like at Texas McCombs where 70% of the curriculum is self-selected. Or the fast-paced curriculum at London Business School(LBS).

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There is scope for specialization and to deepen your knowledge in many areas by taking up concentrations. For example, at Duke Fuqua, there are functional and topical concentrations and the sheer variety of options (Energy Finance, 3 other concentration in Finance, FinTech, Social Entrpreneurship, to name a few) is worth noting. Typically you will take six electives per concentration. In addition to this, there are two certificates (one in Finance & other in Health Sector Management) and a focus track in Management Science and Technology Management (MSTeM) with STEM designation giving international students the option to work in the U.S for an additional 2 years. Students can also bring in their own concentration – like how Giri Kesavan helped drive the the new Tech and Analytics concentration at London Business School. And there are interdisciplinary concentrations like the STEM Certified Clean Tech certification as well.

In addition to studying in a diverse class (LBS has 66 nationalities!), international experience you gain is a main attraction for MBA aspirants. Fuqua has Global Academic Travel Experience through which you can travel to another counttry and experience business first-hand from 6 weeks to a semester. Yale has semester-long Exchange Programs with IESE, LSE, HEC Paris, NUS and Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management. Many programs have courses that make international experience a mandatory part of the MBA program- check out the ‘International Experience’ course at Yale.

Leadership Development is one of the reasons you should consider an MBA. There are so many avenues for developing leadership skills and learning. Like the Texas MBA+ Leadership program where you work with career coaches at Texas McCombs or the integrated curriculum at Yale where leadership training is given through many courses throughout the MBA. At Carlson School of Management, there is a personalized Leadership Development Plan for every MBA student from Day One. At Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management, the Leadership Development Program is offered separately and is highly customizable and you get to choose from three different approaches.

Then there are other aspects that can make the MBA academic experience more fulfilling- especially experential learning components. Take the seven-week Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP) course at Michigan Ross which focuses on honing analytical, project management, and leadership skills. Or consider Student Teams Achieving Results (STAR) at UNC Kenan-Flagler for live consulting experience. There are many opportunities through academic challenges & competitions like the unique UNC Kenan-Flagler Real Estate Development Challenge or the Fellows programs at Texas McCombs to gain in-depth expertise to specific domains like Health Innovation, Clean Tech, Venture, etc. Students also get to manage investment funds focusing on social and financial goals.

And did I forget to mention the amazing Faculty in B-Schools? These rockstars alongwith your decorated and accomplished peers will make those 2 years of your life truly memorable.

What’s next?

Start researching thoroughly about the options available and identify what might suit your needs. That said, you just can’t get enough of the many ways to enhance one’s academic learning in B-School. No wonder many want the MBA experience!

Day 10: MBA Application Data Form

Posted on July 30, 2021 | by lakshmi adithi | Leave a Comment

To borrow from one of my favorite poems, “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos William, yes, so much depends on the MBA data form.

I always love it when people take a ‘big picture view of their MBA application. In my opinion, applicants spend an inordinate amount of time on the tests (and some on the essays). Giving sufficient attention to every element, especially the MBA Application Data Form should be your approach.

So what’s the big deal?

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As you can see from the table above, the MBA Application Data Form takes in personal & contact details, background information, details related to your academics, your career goals, test scores, transcripts, work history, and most importantly, anything related to extra-curricular activities, honors, awards, etc. In supplemental questions, you also find questions about where else you are applying or how many events you attended or alumni/ AdCom/ current students you connected with, and so on.

Together with the resume, the MBA application data form gives you an opportunity to paint the complete picture. What you couldn’t put into the 1-page MBA Resume, can go into the data form.

In the academics section, along with unofficial transcripts, coursework, and of course, your CGPA, you may be asked to list specific analytical, technical, and other skills.

Should you convert your CGPA to a 4.0 scale? If they want you to do it, they will tell you and also show you the method to do so. Some B-Schools may need reports from a credential evaluation service provider like World Education Services(WES) .

Sometimes, some of the questions might seem to be redundant. For example, the career goals question could feature both in the essay as well as in the data form (with a more concrete “short question” where you pick industries, functions, geography, et al from a dropdown and fill out a template). Be consistent in both places.

Mostly, there is a section to add more about your extra-curricular activities, your activities outside of work and hobbies- take complete advantage of this. You may also get a chance to rank activities done by significance. Here’s your true chance to showcase every aspect about yourself.

In the Work Experience sections, schools take in comprehensive details about your roles, salaries held, reasons for leaving the role, exact start and end dates of roles, and so on. This would be a great place to highlight your career progression.

Extra- fittings

For a school like MIT Sloan, there is an additional component- you will need to upload an organization chart.

Some schools use only the application form to get all the details and don’t need a resume- like the Indian School of Business (ISB)!

So, pay attention to the little things in life- like the MBA Admissions Data Form and make time for it.

In fact, I encourage every client to first start filling the application form first and then tackle the first drafts of the essays. Trust me, it will save you a lot of rework and time.

Happy writing!

Day 6: CV to B-School Resume in just 7 steps

Posted on July 29, 2021 | by lakshmi adithi | Leave a Comment

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an ambitious working professional in possession of just a good job, must be in want of a MBA- sooner or later (channeling Jane Austen here!). And hence will need a B-School Résumé as well!

In the 21-day MBA Plan, so far, you identified reasons why an MBA might be right for you, you learnt about the various types of MBA programs, weighed pros & cons for possible places to study and also got to know about the MBA Rankings. Now, let’s pause for a bit and take stock of where you stand in terms of your profile. And the first step to knowing yourself is to get your B-School resume ready.

Components of a B-School Resume

Yes, you might already have a “job” CV (a functional CV) that you used to get your current job. But the B-School Resume is different.

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Since the MBA program sees applicants from so many different spheres of life and the Admissions Committee (AdCom) members reading your application may not be from your field, the B-School resume is meant to be more impact-oriented. Whether you are a lawyer or a journalist or an ophthalmologist or someone from the highly competitive pool of Indian software engineers, all that the MBA AdCom wants to know is how you contributed to your employers and how you have progressed so far. The Professional Experience section is thus critically reviewed and much time is allotted to it in application reads.

In addition to the usual Education and Professional Experience sections, for the MBA Resume, you would also want to highlight leadership skills and other extra-currricular activities. These sections show evidence of your potential to create impact not only at work but also in your community, thereby signalling potential for success in an MBA classroom (and beyond!)

So what’s the big deal?

The challenge is to fit all of these ( your long list of professional & personal accomplishments) in just one page! Yes, you heard it right! Well, sometimes, in rare cases, 2 pages are acceptable.

Some considerations

I repeat- the B-School Resume is 1 page (TYPICALLY). So keep only the most important things. Use the MBA application form and other parts of the MBA application (essays, interviews) for showing things you had to leave out due to lack of real estate on your resume.
List your roles using reverse chronological order (meaning your latest experience first). If you are applying to B-School, typically education section comes first. After graduation, you will mostly put the professional experience section before education. But this is no hard-and-fast rule- the idea here is to put the most significant stuff first.
Showing a clear career progression (with all dates aligned either to the right or left) helps a lot. If there are gaps beyond 6 months, I typically suggest that you add it under a “Break” or a “Sabbatical”. The resume should show your career journey clearly but the transitions and the reasons for the job changes will all go elsewhere.
Show how what you did mattered. Impact- this is a word you will hear very often in the B-School world. I prefer usage (and practice) of “positive impact”. Typically, impact can be seen in the results and outcomes. ONE BIG NO- please don’t list down all your job responsibilities or regurgitate your job description.
Quantify your results as much as you can. This is one aspect that will make you stand out. It will also help the reader understand your background better and the complexity of the work you did.
Using the right action words (start your bullet points with these) can help to showcase the extent of your abilities and competencies.

Only 7 steps to your perfect B-School Resume!

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Download your favourite B-School format (like this simple but awesome Berkeley Haas Template– more details on their Career Services here ). Complete the details in your Education Section.
List down all your roles and responsibilities.
List down all the accomplishments. Think, given your responsibilities, what were some of the work you were most proud of? How much more have you achieved over your peers in similar roles?
Identify only top 3 accomplishments per role and add it to your B-School Resume.
Add Leadership Experience or positions of responsibility you held. Include instance such as leading teams or organizing events.
Add Extra-curricular Activities, Awards & Recognition, Volunteering experiences.
Format the Résumé as per your preferred design and you are done!

Work on your B-School Résumé today! Check out CareerLabs here to know more about how we can help you with crafting your best B-School resume.

#21dayMBAPlan #GetMBAready #CareerLabs #MBA #Resume

Day 3: Which MBA to choose?

Posted on July 29, 2021 | by lakshmi adithi | Leave a Comment

MBA programs, like the people for whom it is designed, are diverse and many. Having worked with so many candidates now (whose work experiences ranged from 0 years to 23 + years), I can assure you that there is definitely a suitable MBA or an MBA equivalent out there for you.

Let’s start by checking out the types of programs available based on the work experience range.

MBA: This full-time program (often flagship) is the most coveted (and hence highly selective). Meant for people who wish to move up the corporate ladder into leadership roles or for starting their own venure, the MBA is highly suited for those with 4-7 years of work experience. Check out the HBS MBA, yes THE Harvard MBA which is the holy grail for many. Sometimes, there is a minimum work experience requirement too.

Specialized MBA: Then there are accelerated programs designed to help you specialize in one field. Like the Johnson Cornell Tech MBA or the newly launched the Kellogg MBAi, programs designed for those wishing to succeed in the digital economy.

MBA for Executives: What the rest of the world calls MBA, in India, the equivalent will be the MBA for Executives likeaver the prestigious IIM-A PGPX. Do note the higher work experience range for this (typically average experience is around 7+ years).

Executive MBA (EMBA): These are part-time programs (mostly on weekends and evenings). So that you can continue learning while earning. Check out IIM-Bangalore’s PGPEM program.

Global EMBA: These are part-time blended programs with a few residential modules and mostly distance learning. The immersive experiences are a big attraction. IESE GEMBA would belong in this category.

Senior Leadership Program: If you are older (think 10+ years of experience) and are specifically looking to developing leadership skills and having peers from the C-Suite, then the senior leadership program is for you. I highly recommend the MIT Sloan Fellows Program which is a full-time residential program. You also have part-time blended options like INSEAD ILPSE.

Online MBA: It’s just the regular full-time MBA program delivered in an online fashion. These also have eligibility criteria similar to the full-time MBA programs. Check out the Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper Hybrid MBA Program.

Other alternatives

Masters in Management(MIM): Want to do an MBA but don’t have enough work experience? You want to gain entry to the management domain and looking to top up your undergraduate education? The MIM is actually meant for people with less than 2 years of experience. INSEAD MIM and LBS MIM are some of the most popular choices out there. I love the programme comparison tool from LBS.

Specialized Business Master’s: You might want to become a specialist by studying a focused program. For instance, consider the Vanderbilt Owen MS in Finance program. This is well suited for young graduates who wish to acquire a specific skill set.

Technical Master’s programs: Maybe you want to accelerate your career now and grow in the technical roles in your own domain. A Technical Master’s program like MS in Computer Science at Georgia Institute of Technlogy is an option to consider.

Masters in Engineering Management: Known as the engineer’s MBA, this is best suited for those who want to have a foot in both the technical and the business worlds. The Duke MEM might be a good choice for you.

Phew! So many options.

Like everything else in life, the work experience was just the starting point and there’s more. And always, profiles are evaluated on a case-by-case basis (thankfully!). So you may be the person with 22+ years of experience getting into the full-time MBA program meant for people with 4- 7 years. The Adcom just wants to know your reasons for the choice of that program and how the program could help you with your career.

How do you know which one is better for you?

If I give you the work experience, then you will ask me about the duration of the program (1 year, 2 years, flexible duration).

If I tell you about the duration, then you would probably wish to know about the mode of delivery of the program (part-time, full-time, online, hybrid/blended ).

If I share details on the mode of delivery, then you would want to check if the program curriculum will actually satisfy your goals (specialist, generalist).

If I actually guide you through the program fit, then you will ask me if you are eligible.

Well, you get the drift.

The decision around the program will involve many parameters and needs a deeper dive! More on all these in the days to come.

Till then check out the options above. What programs would you consider?

Day 4: Which Country for my MBA?

Posted on July 29, 2021 | by lakshmi adithi | Leave a Comment

“I am open to any country and just want to get into a ‘good’ B-school”. I hear this a lot from my clients.

My approach to answering this would be to help them define “good”.

If you have followed me in this 21-day series, by now you have listed down the reasons you want to do an MBA, you have identified your career goals and also, narrowed down programs you want to consider.

For example, you wish to become a product manager for a Big Tech firm and are considering a Specialized MBA like Tech MBA. Or you want 1-year GEMBA programs.

Now, let’s go one step further and consider the choices in the countries.

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As seen from the graphic above (Data Source: FT Global MBA Ranking 2021), the USA tops the list with the maximum number of B-Schools. Typically, these programs are for 2 years with an internship thrown in the summer. With promising employment opportunities and so much variety & innovation in program offerings, the USA is no doubt a highly popular destination.

Programs in Europe are popular too as they are 1-year programs and have truly international cohorts. Ranked #1, the 10-month program at INSEAD has students from 88 countries. With three schools in the top 20 (LBS, Cambridge Judge & Oxford Said), UK comes next. Germany, France, Spain with their competitive business education and with significant financial hubs like Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, etc. are top choices as well. Next up are Switzerland, known for its banking prowess (check out the unique IMD MBA program), and the Netherlands, famed for its focus on entrepreneurship (Rotterdam School of Management). Italy has SDA Bocconi and Denmark, Sweden and Finland also have a few great options.

Sometimes the choice for a program may be due to the fact that you wish to relocate to another country. Canada (Check out Schulich) & Australia (see Melbourne Business School) are great choices with the shortest times to getting permanent residency. In Asia, Singapore is a popular choice for Indians with some of the best B-Schools (see NUS and INSEAD has a campus here).

Here are some questions to answer when you are deciding on your country.

How does life look like after MBA? Are you planning to stay in the country or move elsewhere? If you need to come back, will the degree and brand name give you an edge over the others?
For career growth, what are potential opportunities? How long will it take for you to become a CEO or even start your own company in that country?
How easy is it to get a work permit, permanent resident status, or citizenship?
Does it fit your criteria for quality of life? Will you have the support system you need? Are you happy with the way society functions and the policies there?
Can you afford to move there?

There are many more such factors. Until next time, keep exploring.

For your MBA, which country do you plan to choose?

Day 9: English Proficiency Tests for MBA

Posted on July 29, 2021 | by lakshmi adithi | Leave a Comment

Are you a non-native English speaker (meaning is English your second language? )

Have you NOT studied fully in English or lived in an English-speaking country for at least two years?

If you answered yes to the questions above, then in your MBA Application, you will need to submit an English language proficiency test score. Typically, these tests are for assessing English used in academic study and will test your abilities in these 4 sections- reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Sadly, getting this English Language Test score adds about 20 -50 hours more of work to an already packed MBA Application Prep schedule. But, thankfully , unlike other tests that may require heavy prep (like the GMAT/GRE), for these English language tests, you mostly spend time familiarizing yourself with the test pattern and of course, work on mock & practice tests. Since mostly many take up English language tests after the GRE/GMAT, it also reduces the test prep time considerably.

Common English Proficiency Tests accepted

IELTS (International English Language Testing System): MBA Aspirants take the IELTS Academic.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): This test is more popular in the US.
DuoLingo: This gained popularity during the COVID-19 times. However not every university accepts this test though- like London Business School(LBS) for instance.

Some other tests:

TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)
CAE (Cambridge Advanced English) and CPE (Cambridge Proficiency English)
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)

I have done my entire education in English (a VERY common situation in India). Should I take an English proficiency test?

Yes, unfortunately, yes!

I have had a few folks who have found it difficult to squeeze in this test from a logistics perspective. Unsurprisingly, some even gave up on applying or even choosing the option to study abroad.

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For B-schools, it is necessary to have at least an intermediate/fair level in the 4 sections (out of a maximum 30)which means having the following scores: Reading (15-21); Listening(15-21), Speaking( 18-25) & Writing (17-23). As per the TOEFL iBT®Test and Score Data Summary 2019 report (see link below), for graduate students in B-School programs, the 76th percentile score is 100 (out of 120). Also, as per Table 16- TOEFL iBT® Total and Section Score Means, for India, the score is a respectable 95 (this includes all examinees and not just for graduate schools).

So, would it not be great if B-Schools could use other existing portions of the MBA application to gain proof of English language proficiency?

Yes, some B-Schools do (hope many follow!).If the B-School takes GMAT/GRE, then using that to assess reading and writing might be an idea. Of course, the MBA personal interview will be one of the best tools to assess for speaking and listening abilities.

MIT Sloan uses the verbal components of GMAT/ GRE and the personal interview section to assess English proficiency skills.
Some schools might ask for a TOEFL/ IELTS scores later and not at the time of application.
If your university degree was taught exclusively in English and your transcripts clearly show the language of instruction to be English, then you might get a waiver.

That said, in an MBA application, the AdCom relies on more than just one component to get a complete picture of your abilities. Hence, both the GMAT/GRE verbal scores and your English proficiency test score would provide useful insights.

So, till policies are changed, the English Proficiency test is here to stay. Do factor in time for the same in your journey to MBA.

Day 8: MBA Admission Tests-GMAT/GRE/EA

Posted on July 29, 2021 | by lakshmi adithi | Leave a Comment

At CareerLabs, in our experience with 1000s of GMAT & GRE candidates and MBA applicants, the main reason most quit their MBA plans are due to the dreaded B-School admissions tests!

So it came as no surprise, that even in the poll for Day 7 of the 21-day MBA Plan, the tests topped the list of hurdles!

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What makes the MBA Admissions tests so difficult?

If you ask a marathon runner about the hardest part of the marathon, you may think that is “hitting the wall”! But the truth is that the hardest part for many is training for the marathon. It is so so true for tests too.

What applicants don’t understand is that applying to an MBA requires one to set some dedicated time aside for it. You have to make space for MBA in your life!

One way to fall into this habit will be to start by preparing for the admissions test like the GMAT/GRE/ EA (think 1-2 hours of studying per day with extended hours over weekend for about 2-3 months). Later, this time could be used for either improving one’s analytical skills by taking additional certifications or other leadership initiatives or prepping for the essays.

Anyways, making time for the tests and getting into the “test taker” mode is what you need to do. Remember slogging it out for your college entrance tests? Back to being a student. Typical preparation time for these tests might be anywhere between 90- 150 hours.

Consider the test as a project, plan for it, track progress on it and take it as soon as possible. In fact, the moment you decide to do an MBA, it is better to start planning for these tests.

GMAT vs GRE vs EA- A Quick Look

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Which one to choose? Many may say that one test might be easier than the others. I say, pick your poison! You do you, always!

13 questions to help you decide between GMAT, GRE and EA

What is the preferred test for your targeted program? Like GMAT being a preferred test for management education. Check it first. MEM programs do not accept GMAT. Many B-School and Graduate School programs went test-optional or waived off the tests completely this past year. EA was recently accepted by a few schools even for their full-time MBA program.
If there are more tests being accepted, does one offer a higher validity over the others? This might be a good question to ask if you are unsure about when you want to start your program. But GMAT and GRE Test scores last for long- 5 years!
How often can you take these tests? This might be a concern if you are not confident about your preparation and especially if you definitely want to get into B-School at any costs and have limited time.
What is the mode of delivery of these tests? A paper-based test, computer-based test or a test that can be taken at home? Policies keep changing around these.
What does the test cover? Most of these will have a quantitative section, verbal section and a writing assessment. Of course, depending on the tests, the focus and emphasis on each of these sections change. How they get computed in the overall score also is different.
Does it matter to you that you have the ability to skip questions?
For each of these tests, questions will change based on your answers for the previous tests. GMAT, GRE and EA have different ways of adapting. Will this be a factor?
How strong is your vocabulary? How comfortable are you learning this? GRE emphasises more on vocabulary whereas GMAT is about critical reasoning and reading comprehension skills. GMAT does lay more emphasis on grammar.
Are you used to using a calculator for your tests? GRE allows it while GMAT doesn’t.
How comfortable are you with the GMAT’s Integrated Reasoning section? It is specifically designed for B-Schools and is an unique feature that tests for real world problem-solving skills. It is not computer-adaptive and is reported separately.
What are your strong points- quantitative or verbal section? For which section will you need more preparation?
How much time would you have to work on preparing for these tests? Depending on what you are good at, you may want to consider one over the other.
Are you likely to change your mind about the program? For example, you are deciding between MS in Computer Science and an MIM program. Or weighing pros and cons for MBA vs MEM. In this case, as GRE is accepted by both Graduate Schools & Business Schools, it might be a safer option.

Oh, did you change your mind now? Go back to Question 1!

What if I don’t get my targeted score?

At the end of the day, it is an one-time test and your performance on it is not everything.

There are programs and other MBA alternatives that do not need ANY tests.

Many programs that have gone test-optional this past year and some dis away with them altogether.

There are programs that offer their own (easier to tackle) tests. Like IE Global Admissions Test or the Warwick test.

So there is always a way out!

What now?

I recommend that you take a diagnostic test (of your favourite test) to understand where you stand. Then start the preparation.

P.S.

One thing though. After days of slogging away at a test while balancing the rest of your life, when you get that 760 on the GMAT or the 330 on the GRE, you are sure to feel top of the world. Happy studying!

Day 2: Post MBA Career Goals

Posted on July 29, 2021 | by lakshmi adithi | Leave a Comment

In every B-School application, there is one common question about your career goals.

On Day 1, we did find out the many reasons why you might want to do an MBA. Both for you and the B-School, the most tangible of these reasons would be what you intend to do after your MBA. The success of a B-School program is also measured by how many candidates they had placed within 3 months of graduation. While there is definitely more to an MBA than just the recruitment aspect, it is no doubt that a lot of importance is given to the employment statistics.

Short-term career goals:

What do you hope to do immediately after the MBA?

For answering these, you need to be as specific as possible.

Think of a specific role in a domain (sector/industry) and in a particular location. Like a VP of Marketing in Company ABC in the healthcare space in the US. Or Senior Product Manager at FinTech Firm XYZ in Berlin.

And the B-School will strive to help you in getting this dream job. Hence it is no surprise that a Career Services person might offer advice and inputs on your application and have a say in you getting an admit.

Often, many do an MBA for the triple switch- function/role, sector and geography.

Long-term career goals:

Where do you want to be 5-10 years down the line? What is the big legacy you will leave behind? How would you have made your alma mater proud? Would you be the next world leader or the CEO of the biggest tech firm?

Big questions. B-Schools do expect a lot out of their students and alumni.

So how do I figure out my career goals?

While no one is going to hold a gun to your head and make sure you exactly achieve these very same goals you mentioned, you have to make sure that these are realistic, achievable and something in alignment with your past achievements. What will you be willing to do to achieve these goals? WHY are these your goals?

This is the hardest part. How do you present your goals so that they seem genuine and not contrived? Here are some steps.

Thoroughly research your targeted role and domain. The best way for this is to schedule an informational interview with someone who is in this position in your dream company. Research on the hiring practices of the company.
Spend time on understanding the employment statistics. Get an understanding of what all does the B-School offers to help you with the goals. Check out HEC Paris Employment Report here- they do a great job in showing function and sector changes.
Read up more on how Career Services have been helping them. For example, Darden has the Pre-MBA &Year-long Career Skill Development & The Second Year coaching programs.
Show commitment towards your targeted career goals by taking steps to know your targeted domain/sector/industry better. For example, take that Google Adwords course or a professional certification like the CFA which could make you more attractive to prospective employers.
Follow the career paths of alumni and get first-hand information from current students to get more confidence in the B-School. If they did it, so can you.
Follow the trends in your domain.
Follow the trends in employment at the B-School. Some schools like IIM-B EPGP (now known as the MBA, one year full-time programme) have data right from 2010 in their EPGP Placement Statistics section.

Start your goal-setting today!

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