how should i improve my profile?

[mansi690]

hi,

i recently wrote the GMAT and scored 690. I have done Electrical Engineering with a GPA of 3.0. My extra- curriculars in college were quite good as in i have experience in managing a number of college events like technical festivals, dance workshops, seminars etc. I was also a member of worldwide technical organisations such as the Institute of Engineers.

Right now, I am working as a Technical associate in TCS( An IT Services Consulting Company) and will complete a year in this company on 1st August, 2008. The company is within the top 10 companies in the field of IT services.

My role is that of a Clinical Data Analyst in a team of 55 members working on a data management project for Eli Lilly(pharmaceutcal company). To be more clear, we create standard web-sites for their investigators to enter clinical data in. This mainly involves coding of validation checks for the data while it is being entered.

I am looking forward to doing an MBA in marketing from top 20-30 business schools. I want to apply for the 2010 session. How does my profile look as of now and what more can i do to improve this.

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear mansi690,

You should be working on a few things in the next 1-2 years to improve your candidacy:

1) seek out leadership opportunities, whether at work or in the community
2) thoroughly research schools to determine both which programs are the best fit for you and how to best position yourself for each program you apply to
3) might retake your GMAT to increase your score at least 30 points; your profile is abundant in the global MBA applicant pool and thus you have more of a challenge in distinguishing yourself
4) seek out opportunities at your firm to develop solid, managerial skills that you can reference in your resume and essays

The fact you have started thinking about your application this far in advance bodes well for you to gain admission. I would encourage you to read through previous posts to gain further insight to the MBA admissions process and what you need to do.

Best of luck,
Lisa

[mansi690]

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for your advice. Actually, i wrote the GMAT day before itself and was quite disappointed with my score. i had expected to score atleast 20 points more. Therefore, i was in a bit of a quandary whether it would be worth it to retake the test to improve the score.

Another point that i needed clarification on is whether a managerial profile or a research analyst profile would fare better than my current profile of a technical IT Consultant as i am also contemplating a job change. So your answer would greatly help me to decide the direction in which i need to orient my job search.

Thanks for your inputs. They were of great help!

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear manis690,

What matters is that you do well in whatever job you do and show evidence of progression in that job. For example, you are given a budget increase or a larger project/staff to manage. Likewise, promotions in your tenure with a company speak well to your leadership potential. If you are doing well in your current role and believe you will have these types of opportunities, then it is best to stay on your current path. Changing jobs within a year of business school only makes sense if you feel the new job gives you good experience for what you want to pursue post-MBA.

Regards,
Lisa