Career building for INSEAD MBA application

2 for competitive edge, 1 if you're willing to take your time and explore more options in the future

Hi Kimkim1303 HEC Paris MBA alum here.

Both options are interesting from the perspective of applying to INSEAD. Let's consider the potential advantages and how they might be perceived by the admissions committee (other factors being equal, i.e. GMAT/ GRE scores, GPA, application strength, etc.):

Option 1: Working at a small consulting company can offer you significant learning opportunities, including within domains (if the firm specializes in one/ some), and the potential to have a tangible impact on the firm/ clients, in addition to the prospects of a promotion. Running a boutique consulting firm myself, I see candidates that intern with us, learn about consulting, highlight their learnings/ strengths, and go on to secure MBA admits.

Consulting experience can demonstrate your ability to analyze data, solve complex problems, provide strategic insights, and work with diverse clients. Working in a small company requires an entrepreneurial spirit, which is another valuable trait to differentiate your B-school application. If your clear post-MBA goal is consulting, this can be the better choice.

Option 2: INSEAD admissions committee would be familiar with a globally recognized brand such as Coca-Cola. Working in a strategy role at Coca-Cola can demonstrate your ability to think analytically, make data-driven decisions, and contribute to the overall direction of a major company. Although the size of your impact in this role would likely be less than at a boutique firm (due to the mere size of these organizations).

If you can secure a manager position within 3 years, it showcases your leadership potential and ability to manage teams effectively. These can be valuable traits when applying to INSEAD.

In a nutshell, what matters most is the impact you make in your role, the skills you develop, and the achievements/ traits you can highlight during the application process. Since both options provide their advantages, it's important to choose the one that aligns with your short-term/ long-term post-MBA goals, personal interests and past experiences.

Hope this helps. If you provide more info on your background and goals, I can provide more specific feedback.

All the best!

Regards,

Arvind Kumar (HEC Paris alum, Admissions interviewer)
admitStreet
admitstreet[dot]com | Message: +91 9741263950| Email: consultingteam[at]admitstreet[dot]com

Hi Kimkim1303,

If you are not from Japan or already working in and around that geography, option 1 can provide good opportunities for you and allow you to take on bigger responsibilities given that it's a small company.

Working at Coca-Cola, a globally recognized brand and a large multinational corporation, can be valuable. This work experince can help you showcase an understanding of the global business landscape, which is important for Insead

In summary, it is not just about the name or size of the company, but the scale of your contributions and impact wherever you are. You need to be able to show leadership potential and an ability to create global impact through your work.

For a more detailed 1-1 strategy session, please write to contactus@admitexpert.com or fill the form at http://www.admitexpert.com

Good luck!