Hi folks, A few questions about general management rotational programs: 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? 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? Thanks for your insight ac.

Last visit was: 22 Apr 2026, 14:01

It is currently 22 Apr 2026, 14:02

Toolkit

Business School and MBA

Career Forum

2009 - 2014 Archive

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Back to Forum

Create Topic

General Management programs

1 2 3 4 5 6

olive

Joined: 31 Dec 1969

Last visit: -

Kudos: 0

18 Jan 2009, 10:26

Kudos

Bookmarks

unhedged

agold

I believe Big 4 accounting firms, Tech consulting firms, etc. are notorious for starting MBAs (typically from lower-ranked schools) a rung or two above undergrads because they have no idea how to utilize their talents.

Depending on the type of work and the hiring pattern of the group, I can confirm this to be true. Either they are all MBAs and choose to continue that pattern or MBAs are grouped in with everyone else.

This is true at my firm - tech consulting, pay is not guarenteed to be great and they lump you with everyone else who is at your relevant year of experience level.

isa

Current Student

Joined: 04 Dec 2007

Last visit: 21 Jan 2010

Posts: 1,687

Own Kudos:

224

[4]

Given Kudos: 31

Concentration: Healthcare, Strategy, MC

Schools:Kellogg '11

Posts: 1,687

Kudos: 224

[4]

18 Jan 2009, 12:17

Kudos

Bookmarks

PPT from the Haas GM/Strategy Club website detailing the different GM roles:

https://www4.mbafocus.com/careernet/resources/cp/cp_gm_050707.pdf

kryzak

Major Poster

Joined: 04 Jun 2007

Last visit: 10 Aug 2013

Posts: 5,452

Own Kudos:

751

Given Kudos: 14

Status:Um... what do you want to know?

Location: SF, CA, USA

Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment

Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010

GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE

WE 1: Social Gaming

Posts: 5,452

Kudos: 751

18 Jan 2009, 16:46

Kudos

Bookmarks

isa, impressive find. I didn't even see that (then again, I'm not in GM). Kudos!

Jerz

Joined: 09 Dec 2008

Last visit: 28 Jan 2017

Posts: 1,221

Own Kudos:

254

Given Kudos: 17

Concentration: Health Enterprise Management, Marketing, Strategy, Finance, Analytical Consulting, Economics

Schools:Kellogg Class of 2011

GMAT 1: 770 Q49 V47 Verified score

Posts: 1,221

Kudos: 254

19 Jan 2009, 05:29

Kudos

Bookmarks

Great find, and very helpful, isa!

terp26

Current Student

Joined: 22 Oct 2006

Last visit: 06 Apr 2020

Posts: 1,210

Own Kudos:

386

Given Kudos: 12

Schools:Chicago Booth '11

Posts: 1,210

Kudos: 386

19 Jan 2009, 08:29

Kudos

Bookmarks

good stuff ! +1

togafoot

Current Student

Joined: 18 Dec 2007

Last visit: 29 Jul 2014

Posts: 983

Own Kudos:

145

Given Kudos: 10

Location: Hong Kong

Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Technology

Schools: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) - Class of 2010

Posts: 983

Kudos: 145

19 Jan 2009, 16:52

Kudos

Bookmarks

excellent +1

Omne

Current Student

Joined: 09 Feb 2008

Last visit: 07 Apr 2010

Posts: 148

Own Kudos:

Schools:Georgetown, UNC, UCLA, Duke, Wake Forest

Posts: 148

Kudos: 8

10 Feb 2009, 18:19

Kudos

Bookmarks

This thread represents all that is right and good with GMATClub. Excellent work all!

I'm probably not attending a top 20 school, and I know my career options might be limited a bit (though nothing is impossible). I was wondering what the GM rotational programs would be like in the travel/leisure/media/entertainment industries? Anyone happen to know any info on that?

Maybe a better question, where's a good resource to find out about GM programs?

prude_sb

Joined: 12 Mar 2006

Last visit: 13 Jul 2020

Posts: 189

Own Kudos:

264

Given Kudos: 3

Concentration: Management, Strategy & Finance

Schools:Kellogg School of Management

Posts: 189

Kudos: 264

31 Oct 2009, 13:43

Kudos

Bookmarks

usually what is the starting salary at the GM programs ?

do starting salaries vary based on which school you attended and your previous experience ?

fluidian

Current Student

Joined: 26 Nov 2008

Last visit: 03 Jan 2011

Posts: 76

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 3

Concentration: Strategy, Finance, Entrepreneurship

Schools:Chicago Booth, Class of 2011

Posts: 76

Kudos: 7

31 Oct 2009, 19:42

Kudos

Bookmarks

Salaries can range from about 90K to about 150K. While some programs do vary pay depending on what school you are coming out of, the biggest difference is which companies recruit from the school you're attending. I recently got a very extensive list from Booth that shows the feeder schools for each program. Looking at the list, it's pretty obvious that you want to be at an M7, but more notably, H/S/W/K/B...for some reason, MIT, Columbia didn't get the lovin'. For instance the GM programs at Dow Chemical sound amazing...well, at least from a career growth standpoint, not because it's Dow. They only bring in 8 per year, and only recruit at HBS, Wharton, and Booth...they claim that you'll be in the top 2% of their employees within 5 years and that you're essentially positioning yourself to be a C level exec. That program pays pretty well - definitely on the high end for GM programs, but you have to be attending the right school. As has been hinted elsewhere in this thread, GE recruits a lot of people from all over the place...their pay is about 95-100K.

prude_sb

Joined: 12 Mar 2006

Last visit: 13 Jul 2020

Posts: 189

Own Kudos:

264

Given Kudos: 3

Concentration: Management, Strategy & Finance

Schools:Kellogg School of Management

Posts: 189

Kudos: 264

31 Oct 2009, 23:51

Kudos

Bookmarks

fluidian

Thanks Fluidian !

Do the salaries for the incoming candidates depend on their prior experience as well ?

fluidian

Current Student

Joined: 26 Nov 2008

Last visit: 03 Jan 2011

Posts: 76

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 3

Concentration: Strategy, Finance, Entrepreneurship

Schools:Chicago Booth, Class of 2011

Posts: 76

Kudos: 7

[1]

01 Nov 2009, 11:49

Kudos

Bookmarks

Do salaries vary depending on previous work experience? Kind of, many of these programs have previous work experience requirements...and some of the requirements are extensive, essentially disqualifying the bulk of MBAs. For instance, there is a program at Genentech where they want 5 years of experience in biotech prior to getting your MBA or PharmD. In that sense, the work experience is frequently priced in, as they won't really look at you unless you come close to the program's demands. Aside from that, I don't really have enough background in this area to say whether or not there is salary differentiation based on previous work experience. I'd guess that if there is some differentiation, that it's not huge. Probably the biggest problem would be that if all of your peers have a lot of experience in the industry that the firm is in, either you'll struggle to get the offer, or else you'll be faced with a much steeper learning curve once the job start - meaning the potential for a slower career trajectory is increased.

aaudetat

Joined: 01 Nov 2006

Last visit: 10 Jan 2016

Posts: 1,854

Own Kudos:

233

Given Kudos: 2

Concentration: Social Enterprise

Schools:The Duke MBA, Class of 2009

Posts: 1,854

Kudos: 233

01 Nov 2009, 15:07

Kudos

Bookmarks

Some GM programs pay everyone the same thing - it's the same program and you all get the same pay going in...at least, that's the official word. Citi does that, and BofA does to a certain extent.

I got a little extra love from going into what is arguably the same industry I was in before school, but I doubt it was much. My employer recruits at a wide variety of schools - from the ultra-elites to places you may never have heard of. The word on the street is that the higher-ranked schools get better pay. But I can't imagine ever confirming that.

prude_sb

Joined: 12 Mar 2006

Last visit: 13 Jul 2020

Posts: 189

Own Kudos:

264

Given Kudos: 3

Concentration: Management, Strategy & Finance

Schools:Kellogg School of Management

Posts: 189

Kudos: 264

01 Nov 2009, 18:32

Kudos

Bookmarks

cool .. thanks guys !

pm4553

Joined: 27 Jun 2008

Last visit: 10 Apr 2012

Posts: 329

Own Kudos:

136

Given Kudos: 92

Concentration: General Management

WE 1: Investment Banking - 6yrs

Posts: 329

Kudos: 136

04 Feb 2010, 05:41

Kudos

Bookmarks

bumping this for folks interested in GM. This thread has heaps of valuable information. You'll enjoy!

isa - kudos for the find! (better late than never)

nary

Joined: 26 Feb 2008

Last visit: 31 Aug 2020

Posts: 16

Kudos: 0

04 Mar 2010, 08:38

Kudos

Bookmarks

great information in here, thank you to everyone for providing their insights.

question for RR, aaudetat, etc. - i will be starting my MBA studies in the Fall 2010 at a 'near-elite' program, with a focus in finance and strategy. i would very much like to end up in a management rotational program for a company post graduation, with the hopes of focusing on finance within the company after the rotation is over.

a couple of questions:
1) do these GM programs prefer MBA's with management/strategy concentrations? in other words, would my finance/strategy concentration preclude me from entering a GM rotational program?
2) in connection with question 1, would it be better for me to look at GM programs with a finance type focus, if that's the area i would like to focus in?

thanks in advance for any help. this field/area sounds great for anyone who wants to maintain a semi-normal life and still get paid really well. in my opinion, there's not enough emphasis placed on the intangibles such as family and personal life. a great salary with these intangibles baked in beats anything in IB or MC, but that's just my opinion.

nary

Joined: 26 Feb 2008

Last visit: 31 Aug 2020

Posts: 16

Kudos: 0

16 Mar 2010, 17:09

Kudos

Bookmarks

bump

Praetorian

Joined: 15 Aug 2003

Last visit: 27 Dec 2017

Posts: 2,867

Own Kudos:

1,728

Given Kudos: 781

Posts: 2,867

Kudos: 1,728

19 Mar 2010, 08:14

Kudos

Bookmarks

emaichbe03

bump

you may want to send them a private message.

riverripper

Major Poster

Joined: 10 Apr 2007

Last visit: 20 Aug 2022

Posts: 4,306

Own Kudos:

806

[2]

Given Kudos: 5

Location: Back in Chicago, IL

Concentration: General/Operations Management

Schools:Kellogg Alum: Class of 2010

GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V42 Verified score

Posts: 4,306

Kudos: 806

[2]

30 Mar 2010, 09:08

Kudos

Bookmarks

Sorry for the delay...been crazy busy with school for the last say 6 months.

There are definitely finance programs that are somewhat GM but there are also a bunch of corporate finance positions that would be up your ally. Traditionally GM is a broad based skill area, I have taken a courses in every area of study here at Kellogg: accounting, finance, strategy, operations, marketing, etc...My majors will actually be strategy and international business. Since I have taken so many classes in different areas am one course short of a few others.

GM programs are drastically different and there is far from being a one size fits all description. Some of the best opportunities are actually outside of traditional GM recruiters. I have found some amazing career paths at some fortune 500 companies who dont have programs but are willing to bring on top talent with MBAs. Not always the sexiest industries or locations but some have great jobs. Some pay better than you would think. Average GM is probably in the 100k range (I have heard of offers of 85k-140k) and sign-on bonuses are less common than MC or banking. However, you probably wont travel 80-100% of the time and working 50hrs is more common than 100 like IB.

Since there is such a wide variety in both the type of work, culture, location and career path/prospects its very hard to judge different programs without doing lots of research. If there is something you want to do you there will be a few companies that fit your goals...sometimes its not the easiest thing to find. You also may be surprised what opportunities you end up liking the most and what you decide not to follow.

nary

Joined: 26 Feb 2008

Last visit: 31 Aug 2020

Posts: 16

Kudos: 0

30 Mar 2010, 09:16

Kudos

Bookmarks

thanks so much for the reply.

my main concern was that a focus in finance might cause some trouble for being too specific, but that does not appear to be the case.

i understand exactly what you are saying about the companies and management programs. i'll have to do my research, interview, and just get a feel for a company that is a good "fit" and is willing to invest in me (via a formal or informal management rotation).

thanks again!

2012dreams

Current Student

Joined: 02 Jun 2009

Last visit: 08 Jun 2011

Posts: 332

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 12

Concentration: Finance & Entreprenuerial Management

Schools:Wharton Class of 2012 w/ fellowship

GPA: 3.4 - Top 5 UG

Posts: 332

Kudos: 61

07 Apr 2010, 12:20

Kudos

Bookmarks

I'm wondering how these programs are adjusting to schools going younger? Seems like Tuck is the only school that is steadfastly staying older. Wharton and Kellogg have inched down to about 27, HBS and Stanford are around 26. With so many good GM programs wanting 5-9 years, do you think they will bend for what is becoming an increasingly younger pool of MBA's or will they just shut the door to 80% of each school's class?