ac8706 wrote:
1) Are there any backgrounds that tend to feed into GM programs? I got the sense from speaking with some current Fuqua students that really anyone can transition into GM, it's more about showing that you can learn easily. Is that what y'all have seen/heard?
GM isnt as hard to transfer into as some industries but most aren't as hard as you might thing. If you are at a top school companies know you are intelligent, motivated, and at most schools you will have a track record of success.
My experiences with GM recruiting so far: Note not many people recruit for it heavily compared to marketing, finance, or consulting.
-Engineering and consulting backgrounds seem to be valued, they like analytical abillites. IB'ers do well too.
-Engineers and consultants often have more relatent work experience, which is very valuable.
-Prior leadership experience is good, especially if you led teams with diverse backgrounds...manufacturers value people who can interact with not only other highly educated managers but the hourly employees.
-GM also happens to be more popular with people with engineering and consulting backgrounds.
-Most programs want a minimum of 3 to 4 years of work experience.
-Very few programs accept internationals
ac8706 wrote:
2) It seems that most of them are in the manufacturing space (e.g. GE, John Deere). Is there a reason why? Is it just because it's easier to learn the skills associated with those programs in that type of industry?
The well known ones do tend to be in manufacturing space since these are a lot of the major companies that need GM. GE, Danaher, Deere, Eaton, Emerson...etc.
-CPG's have marketing as the feeders to the top of their companies
-Banks use their finance employees
If you look outside the box there are rotational programs in a large variety of industries such as energy, healthcare, services...and there are some international opportunities. If you look at companies that recruit at European schools it helps show there are companies overseas with programs such as Mittal, Rolls Royce, British Telecom, British American Tobacco...etc.
Also not all GM programs are rotational, some have more finance or strategy paths. Some great GM jobs aren't rotational at all. And some rotational programs arent strictly GM. Cargill is a strategy position and Chevron has a big finance program.
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