Profile Evaluation

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Profile Evaluation

by nitmba » Tue Jul 16, 2013 4:34 am
Last year I didnt apply to MBA schools as one rejection was enough and I thought i need to build on my profile. I hope to apply this year.

Educational Background:

I graduated from IIT (one of the premier institute in the country for engineering) in 2008. However my gpa was a bit on the lower side, and that's why I particularly made sure I score well in my GMAT (760)

Professional Background:
In 2008 when I passed out of IIT, I joined an outsourcing analytics startup Mu Sigma (which has become really successful now). I had two offers with Mu Sigma being the less paying but I still opted for Mu Sigma cause, I was interviewed by the CEO of the company and I was impressed by him.
While I started my career being a Business Analyst, I wanted to learn more about how to grow a business, so I joined the Sales team to work with the CEO. I was the only non MBA person selected for the role and later I helped to grow the team to a 4 member team (by showcasing the success that can be achieved)

Parallel, I was also Core Team member of an NGO called the Indian Youth Climate Network, being their Funding Coordinator (tenure being 1 year). We finished with 3 flagship project during my tenure. During my tenure with IYCN I realized the solving India's social problems was much more complex than the corporate problems and I realized that this is what I would want to do in the long run. I figured that these problems can be solved either by creating jobs or by designing effective policies
Hence joined an entrepreneurial venture with a technology focused team to help them in their sales and business development effort. I wanted to implement what I learnt at Mu Sigma and help another similar company achieve growth using my skills. (however this venture didn't pan out well and I quit the job in 8 months much to the dislike of the CEO) but at the same time I wasn't being fully utilized and I didn't see myself as a right cultural fit for the organization.

I was looking for a job but none excite me as much, so I decided I will explore my other interest policy making. Hence I worked as a Swaniti Fellow with a Member of Parliament helping him plan how to use his capital for maximum benefit of his constituency. This is a 3 month fellowship. Post fellowship I worked with Swaniti as a Volunteer for 3 months to help in BD proceess. In January I joined TechnoServe( international not profit promoting business solutions to poverty). In my current role I am working with Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board to help catalyze investments in the agriculture space.

Mu Sigma (July 2008 - Apr 2011) Sr. Sales Executive and Business Analyst IYCN (Nov 2009 - Apr 2011)
Kuliza ( May 2011 - Feb 2012) Solutions Specialist
Swaniti (May 2012 - Sep 2012) Fellow
Swaniti ( October 2012 - Dec 2012) Volunteer Business Development
TechnoServe ( Jan 2013 - present) Sr. Associate working with Uttarakhand State government to create entrepreneurship cell for the state)

Concerns:
"¢ Career path seems to be a little unstructured (Analytics - social media startup- Fellowship - TechnoServe)
"¢ There is a gap of 3 months between my last job and my starting the fellowship ( I was working as a freelancer, I don't want to mention that, its something I did for cash)

Why MBA :

Short term goal - work for a consulting firm preferably in the social sector or public sector arm or internal consulting arm of a Food&Beverage company.
Long term goal - create a social venture in the healthy food space to serve globally.

Schools - Ross, Booth, Cornell & Fuqua
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |

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by GeneralEducation » Tue Jul 16, 2013 5:52 am
Hi,

You have impressive and diverse profile with good work experience, make it stronger by adding 700+ GMAT. I am sure you have great stuff to write in your essays so focus on them, its very challenging to put your story meaningfully and convincingly in just 300-500 words so it takes more time and number of iterations for a final draft. Application essays and recos along with GMAT are crucial part in your case. Your career path is little unstructured however if you can align it with your career goals and restructure your career goals then it makes sense.

I think this webinar session might help you - Alumni of top global business schools like Harvard, Emory, Oxford, ISB and INSEAD are teaming up to deliver an exciting and expert webinar on helping MBA aspirants prepare for global B-School applications on 28 July 2013. Discuss your profile with the alumnus of top school like Harvard, Emory, ISB, Oxford, INSEAD and few others during the webinar on 28 July 2013.

For registration and details visit https://www.general-ed.com/workshops-and-seminars

Regards,
Manish

GMAT/MBA Expert

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by CriticalSquareMBA » Wed Jul 17, 2013 6:23 am
Hey man,

Firstly, I am sorry we haven't responded to this post earlier! You posted it more than a month ago and I missed it entirely.

Ok, let's get to your overarching question (and hopefully you'll like my response, because I'm pretty optimistic about your profile!).

You have a really different profile and I LOVE that. Look, I'm not going to write a paragraph on all the things I like about it - just suffice it to say I think you've got a lot to work with here. Not to mention your GMAT is solid (good job!) and you're a graduate from a top ranked university. Ok, your GPA isn't the highest but that isn't the end of the world.

Your goals don't have too logical a flow to them (non profit consulting to health foods) but they're honest and we can work with that! Your school list for the most part makes sense given your goals. There are others to consider here and I think it is worth a discussion around not only enablement, but fit. Let me know if you're interested in chatting about that.

You mentioned you got dinged last year and, given all the information you've provided, if I had to guess I would have to say it came down to communicating your story. I don't mean that harshly just that it could very well have been your downfall.

You've definitely strengthened your application over the last year too so that'll help. Overall, you're in a good spot mate so chin up, this will be a good season for you :)

Let me know if there's anything in specific you want to discuss - I'm happy to answer any questions you might have!

On a side note, if you have a 3 month gap and were self employed, you ABSOLUTELY should include that in your resume. Not doing so would just be shooting yourself in the foot.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Bhavik
Critical Square | MBA Admissions Services

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