New in the forum.. want to tune my profile

[renascence]

Hi Stacy, Hi Amy,
I have recently started looking through the posts by various people and your answers to those were impressive. So I thought I shall brief you about my profile so that you may guide me to shape up my profile holistically. The post is quite long but hope I get an answer to it
I plan to write GMAT and aim at around 700. I know that its already late for 2008. So I target for 2009 by when I shall be having 5yrs of workex.
25yrs, Indian with Btech in IT from one of the top 10 universities of India
CGPA in my UG - 9.27/10
acads have been good throughout - state rank, rank holder in UG course
Workex - first 2 yrs with Lucent technology and thereafter in Microsoft (since a yr) : total workex is in software.
International exposure: worked with teams in US, Spain, Ireland, Germany & China.
Leadership: worked in leading roles of feature design, delivery and customer interfacing in Lucent. In Microsoft, have been actively involved in team efforts and resource allocation types of work. Have acted as a POC for team in the absence of a lead. Have mentored juniors and new joiners throughout my career.
Non-work leadership: in college days, took the leadership of starting the hostel mess. Efforts involved starting and managing it to high levels of satisfaction of all.
Extra-curricular - my interests have been in the field of fine arts and have couple of prizes for the same in my school days. I lead the placement committee of our UG programme and handled responsibilities like brochure making(end-to-end), external interactions, etc I have also participated in dramas and skits. ALso have been part of off-stage support teams.
Charity - i m more into adhoc charity. Have been member of Lucent's youth programme that worked on charity. In MS also, I have been involved in promoting one of the charity organisations in the campus for donations. But never was an active member consistently and hence proving these might be difficult.
Languages- apart from English, I know 2 more Indian languages. Am planning to learn French after i write GMAT
Reason for MBA - am interested in polishing my mgmt skills to superior levels to enhance my innate mgmt skills. I wish to take the path of a mgmt consultant and further into the line of strategic/operations planning. Also I think my current tech skills augmented by managerial refinement will be great for any industry as most of the current work is software dependent.

With the above profile, pl. let me know which areas to polish and what else to start putting my efforts in. Learning French, taking dance classes or anything else- shud it help? If it may, then I may learn another language too as I have time for that.
For recos, generally how many are preferable? I was planning one from univ, 1 from lucent mgr and 1 from MS mgr. or 2 more would add to it? Will taking a PMP course from a PMI(Proj Mgmt Insti) help?
Though I m from India with a high count of apps, yet I belong to a state from which there are not many apps. Will a mention of my origin from there help me?

Thanks in advance,
Naresh

[Amy]

Hi Naresh,

Your overall profile definitely has potential. Rather than picking up hobbies at this point, I would focus on more consistent volunteer activity, preferably in a leadership position.

I'm not sure that being from an underrepresented state in India will do you much good, most US schools are going to look at overall nationality.

Good luck!

Amy

[renascence]

Thanks Amy for the quick and meaningful response. This has instilled a lot of confidence in myself.
I have few follow up questions:

• By leadership activities, should I concentrate outside the sphere of my work? Or i should concentrate within work but all the same should grab opportunities outside too (though not work hard in getting such opportunities)?

• Voluntary activiites - does it mean charity stuff or other regular things like extra curricular stuff of learning new langs, dance, etc

• my last concern was "would my profile be like just another Indian IT guy? can i do something to stand out? since i have time, I may spend some in this regard to make my profile impressive.

Thanks
Naresh

[Amy]

Hi Naresh,

Focus on outside of work activities. You need to demonstrate that you have interests outside of the office.

I would consider taking up dancing or a language or something to be more of a "hobby" whereas volunteering your time to a charity is more of an activity. Hobbies are great, but activities like volunteering that will allow you to meet new people who are different from you, learn something and practice leadership and teamwork outside of work are much more meaningful.

The best way to stand out is to be your unique self. I find that many candidates from a typical Indian background are very logical and focused on metrics, etc. which is a strength, but it's important to tune into your more qualitative and visionary side to really stand out.

Good luck!

Amy

[renascence]

Hi Amy,
Thanks a lot for the help..
I will relook into myself and get back to you later. Your points have given me a lot of confidence and quite some direction. Hope I am able to follow that
Currently, I will be more focussed on my GMAT prep and i understand that starting of the voluntary activities may not be delayed further.
thanks again
Naresh