How to Get in: Finance Pros

by , Sep 6, 2010

You've got a few years of work experience in investment banking (or private equity or venture capital), a 3.7 GPA from a top university and a 720 GMAT. Nobody would doubt that you're a qualified applicant for any top MBA program.

But are you a competitive applicant?

With the abundance of investment banking analysts and associates filling up the applicant pool, if you want to be seen as qualified AND competitive, you're going to have to work pretty hard to distinguish yourself from the overflowing pool.

The plus side

Your quantitative skills and impressive career history are indisputable. Admissions committees will probably recognize companies and positions on your resume, and as such, you won't have to waste precious space in your application essays clarifying these points. Instead, you are free to use your essays fully as a platform to differentiate yourself to prove to the adcoms that despite your straightforward finance background, you have a compelling profile and are an engaging, unique individual with much to offer your target program, future employers, and the industry.

How to distinguish yourself effectively

You can distinguish yourself in two areas: your work experience and your non-professional activities.

When it comes to distinguishing yourself in work, your main point should be how your experience as an investment banker was not simply a run-of-the-mill experience, but something special, different that truly shaped who you are as a person and that reflects your potential as a future business leader. Try and address some of these questions when distinguishing yourself in this area:

• What motivated you to enter this field? How did you interest evolve?
• What continues to drive you on a day-to-day basis to continue pursuing this career path?
• How does your chosen career path define you?
• How have you impacted your chosen field? How do you hope or plan to impact it in the future?
• How will you contribute to your particular company?
• What have you learned during the course of your career so far?
• What have you achieved?
• What sort of insight have you acquired on the job?
• How have you grown from your experiences at work, both work-wise and personally?
• How have your work experiences influenced your personal and career goals? How have they shaped your perspective on life?
• What is your professional personality? Do you have special qualities, talents, or strengths? Are you creative? A natural leader? Can you instinctively "read" people? Are you a born teacher? Discuss one or two of your talents or qualities that most set you apart from other professionals in your field?

When it comes to distinguishing yourself in the area of non-professional activities/experiences, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is an extra-curricular activity that you're passionate about? How do the skills or talents associated with that activity relate to investment banking or finance?
• What does your chosen non-professional activity say about you as an individual?
• What have you learned from your extra-curricular activities that you can apply to your professional life?
• How does your non-professional life prove that you're not the stereotypical investment banker?

Finally, make sure your essays are written concisely and thoughtfully. Why is this particular program the right program for you? Be passionate in your responsea boring response about some world-renowned department won't likely impress. Use stories to illustrate your points to help bring the words on your page alive. If you need help finding your voice, seek the advice of family, friends, or admissions consultants.

If you'd like more tips on applying to b-school as a finance professional, check out September's featured ebook, The Finance Professionals Guide to MBA Admissions Success. Enter coupon code GUIDE at checkout to save 20%!