Current ESMT Berlin Student: Ask Me Anything

Question

Hello Everyone!
Greetings from beautiful and winter-y Berlin!
I am an MBA Student at ESMT Berlin and should you have any questions about the program, I would love to answer them, for at ESMT, we keep teamwork and collaboration at its peak!
Looking forward to your questions.

Regards
Nikhil Bajpai
MBA Candidate - Class of 2018

MJBINGA · Answer

Guten Tag Nikhil. ESMT has a Jan intake so how can one do summer internship as there will be a gap of 5 months post course completion to do an internship?

Posted from my mobile device

nikhilbajpai · Answer

Hello,
The thing with 1-Year programs, not just ESMT, is that you do not have time to do an internship. The reason is that what people learn in a standard 2-year program, you do it in 1-year. So, there is a lot of pressure, and thus, the program is SUPER intense!
This is another reason why 1-year programs (again, not just ESMT) are not recommended if you wish to change the field of your career (For example, from Finance to Engineering)
Hope that answers the question.
Please feel free to reach out should you have any further queries.

Regards

MJBINGA · Answer

Vielen Danke Nikhil

But I think you have written the opposite. Aren't 2 year programs good for career change due to internships and electives as compared to a 1 year program?

I saw the companies coming at ESMT. I think the diversity of sectors they come from is very less. Mostly technology and operations sector. I feel for Indian engineers with good German it is impossible to get into Consulting and Marketing

What level of German is required for jobs post MBA? Since Germans are specialists, would they prefer a Generalist MBA over a, say MS in Finance, for a Finance job?

Regards

Posted from my mobile device

nikhilbajpai · Answer

Hello,

My apologies. I made a typing error. Yes, 1-year programs are NOT recommended when you want to make a career transition. There is a simple rule with any 1-year program. You have THREE variables - country, sector (Energy, Banking, Engineering etc) and role (Analyst, Strategy Manager, Sales etc). In a 1-year program, you can change maximum 2 of these. Sounds simple? So if you want a career change, go for a 2-year program. If you can somehow work out to convince yourself with the 3-parameter theory I told above, then nothing like a 1-year program because you save on tuition money as well and the returns are better than a 2-year program.

Now, answering your questions about ESMT and the companies that visit. ESMT's Career Services has undergone and MAJOR change and we expect a lot of diverse companies to show up this year. As far as the German language is concerned, doesn't matter which level certificate you have. The companies do not even see the certificate. What's important is - CAN YOU SPEAK FLUENTLY like you speak your mother tongue, especially for CONSULTING.

There is no minimum level of German required. There have been instances when people have got jobs with absolutely ZERO knowledge of German. But all said and done, knowing the local language is always helpful.

You are correct, German industries prefer specialists, and thus the popularity of PhDs here, even at the level of MD and CEOs. But the scenario is changing. We had a Board Member visit the school for a seminar and he made it pretty clear that Germans need to move away from this Ph.D. mentality and take a more general approach and that is what his company is doing.

This sounds good? Please feel free if you have more queries.

Regards

nikhilbajpai · Answer

Posting an update from ESMT Berlin. Research, and its application, is what makes ESMT Berlin a top-notch school to learn. Please check out the R&D Annual Report 2017

https://press.esmt.org/alle-pressemitte ... smt-berlin

nikhilbajpai · Answer

Posting an update from ESMT Berlin

Insightful lecture on the role of Germany for our students yesterday with Mark Suzman, President & Chief Strategy Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Lars-Hendrik Röller, Chief Economic Advisor to the Chancellor and former President of ESMT, here with ESMT President Jörg Rocholl.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/ur ... 224367104/

ImAnkitKaushik · Answer

Thanks for the great initiative Nikhil. I am applying to ESMT for next intake.
Do ESMT provide scholarships based on GMAT score? What is the avg living expense in Berlin?

Thanks & Regards,
Ankit Kaushik

OrlandoYurivilca · Answer

Hello Ankit,
I am also current student of ESMT MBA18, I would say that ESMT considers your profile as a whole and that GMAT Score is a Factor but not alone.

The avg living expense, I would describe as an average of 950 euros.

*I describe some basic expenses:
Housing:  
Transp: 45
Insurance:   if under 30 years old, if not is more than 100.
Food:  
Extras...Mobile/Internet:

Regards,
Orlando Yurivilca

ImAnkitKaushik · Answer

Thanks,  OrlandoYurivilca . You have been a great help. How much salary can I expect after MBA?

I am planning to for consultancy. Overall, I have more than 5 years of experience. I am joining German language classes from next month.

OrlandoYurivilca · Answer

Joining German lessons is a good step. Advance as much as you could... and if possible take the pre MBA which is intensive German lessons (for that you have to analyze cost/benefit, maybe is cheaper in your country... also considering the time that you are not going to work).

About your question, I think it really depends on your seniority and previous work. I think that the rankings are helpful to provide information about salary after MBA, check the ranking of FT, there is info about salary.I would recommend u contact the admissions team as they could connect with some people of your preferred path and profile.

ImAnkitKaushik · Answer

Thanks, Orlando.

SANGBEED · Answer

Hi. I have applied to ESMT MIM. But after submitting the application i realized I had to change some information. The information is "field of work" for my internship. The website read that for any changes after submission I have to contact the ESMT MIM admissions team. Will they allow me to edit that? Is it a good idea to approach them or does it give a bad impression?

Please help me out.

Please help me out.

amitpassionate · Answer

Dear All, Thank you for this initiative 
 I applied for MBA Jan 19 Intake at ESMT. Fingers crossed for the process !!

ak4031 · Answer

Hi Nikhil, 
I wanted to know which German Universities should I apply to for MIM. I want to know about Universities where I have fair chance of making it to. Here’s about my profile:
10th: 80%
12th 93%
B.COM. (DU): 57%
Internships: 4 internships in marketing/content/PR and communications in decent companies. 
German Level B1 cleared
Appearing for IELTS and GMAT this month and expecting 8+ and 600+ respectively. 
Please reply at the earliest. I’m hoping I get into one of the best colleges, although I know my grad scores are bad. 
Thanks in advance.

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

shubhaditya1 · Answer

Hi Nikhil! Thanks for starting this thread. I want to ask about job opportunities post an ESMT MBA? For someone with 2-4 years of work experience in strategy consulting (hence a generic field), how easy is the transition to a job in Germany? How important is German for a non core general management role there?

Thanks in advance,
Shubhaditya

rkhimani · Answer

Hey Nikhil,

How good are job opportunities for people with management background belonging to the software/IT Industry post MBA from ESMT? I mean for roles like Software Product Manager or Project Manager and not for a programmer

arybery · Answer

Hi, 
I am planning to apply to this program. I want to know if it is good for a person with a family enterprise background. I am looking for a well rounded general management MBA which will help me in my business.

Thank You!

Shruti29 · Answer

Hi  nikhila ,

I am planning to start for GMAT. i HAVE 5 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS Agile coach and business analyst. What do you think are the chances for scholarship for indian students also the admission requirements.

If i move, can i have people visiting me? Can you please also give insight on hows your everyday life at ESMT and your day after that?

Thanks!

omgeyhan · Answer

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