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Hi,

1. I need some advice from you. Planning to apply this year to IIM's 1 year mba program, Following is my profile. Could you please evaluate this and suggest?

2. Also, want to know whether professional certification such as PMP holds any weight in apps?



GMAT: 660( Q47, V34)
Education: B.E(Electronics and Telecommunication) 65% Mumbai University
10th : 76.26%
12th : 79%

Awards: 1. Performance recognition - 2013
2. Project Star- Q4 2012
3. Award from client- winning INR 25,000/-

Certification: 1. Six Sigma Yellow Belt
2. Planning for PMP certification by June 2015.

Got promoted in my current company. Consistently rated top performer and received above average salary hike.


Work profile:
10.5 years of experience in IT Datacenter support.
Currently leading the initiative of introduction for introducing automation in IT Datacenter space for my group i.e. sub-SBU for 15+ accounts.

Achievements:
Took various initiatives to improve service delivery using automation and Six Sigma methodologies, leading to approximately 5000+ hours of effort saving and substantial cost saving.

Extra-curricular:
Trekking and reading
Part of CSR initiative of my organization.
Won 1st prize in 9th std in inter-school essay competition


Thanks

Dear BeattheVerbal,

Consider the following points:

1. From years of experience perspective, you are in a good situation. Your work related achievements are not clear however. This doesn't necessarily mean awards - but also about career progression and things that differentiate you. IT Support otherwise can be a pretty tough area to show differentiation/big impact in. So make sure you can project this well. Have you spent the entire decade with one company? The brand name of your company can help too
2. GMAT is the obvious sore point here. This coupled with your apparently non-stellar undergrad performance can be a big snapper when it comes to the top 3 IIM programs. If you can, I would strongly recommend a retake
3. Certifications such as the PMP will add definite weightage though working in a project manager role shows more credibility. If you start now, I don't think you can complete the PMP well before the applications isnt it?
4. The other aspect that is not clear is your ECs. Being part of CSR doesn't really explain much - so bring it out in terms of actual work done, time contributed and impact achieved. Ditto for Trekking

Hope this helps

Hi Manish,

Thanks for your response.

1.I have changed jobs and in each handled different roles and responsibilities but related to my domain. Have worked for big firms. From career progression perspective, experience has been purely technical but have taken few of the service delivery improvements,mentored new joiners in my previous company, assisted my colleague in technical article publishing etc. Moved to SME level over the years.. Currently, leading a group level initiative(generating 50+ millions in revenue), involving coordinating with multiple client teams, vendors, senior management etc.,requirement gathering,making sure achieve each of the milestones etc.

2. Planning to retake GMAT but I am not sure how much difference will it make by few points increment.

3. Since I have independently handled the few assignments involving implementation of applications and transition, decided to take up the certification for moving full fledged in project management role.Planning for in next few months.

4. EC is the weakest part for me. Though I have taken up few activities but haven't showed much leadership in that. Those are purely for fun. So, wondering how I can strengthen this element in such short time.

How this other element apart from work, I can tackle?

BeattheVerbal,

If you haven't tried it yet, consider professional help for the GMAT. Online/physical classroom, whatever works for you.

You do seem to have leadership experience at the workplace. Between now and the application, concentrate your focus on one activity on the ECs front that you really have interest in - see if you can create some impact. But this should not really be a deal-breaker in my opinion.

Cheers,