Great profile! I would recommend you to look at your immediate post-MBA goals - career switch is one defining reason for an MBA but you will need to address certain concerns potential recruiters or adcoms may have given you background. You will need to specifically address these issues in your application:
Consulting:
- trading is a very individual-driven job while consulting firms are paranoid about recruiting team players
- you will have to show your motivation for a career in consulting when, as a CFA charter-holder and an ex-trader, you have an option of other higher-NPV options of joining a Hedge Fund
- personality-wise, and at the risk of generalising, traders are perceived to be more aggressive whereas consultants are expected to have a high degree of empathy because they often work on with very sensitive client problems where diplomacy and interpersonal skills are very crucial
PE:
- a very transaction oriented business environment and notoriously difficult to break into without prior PE or IB (M&A, Corporate Finance advisory) experience is needed and a sector specialisation is desirable
- commercial acumen in evaluating and valuing a business is very important
If you are looking to start a business, you should highlight your prior start-up experience and the fact that you have exhibited entrepreneurial traits on the trading floor and a fast paced, high-pressure environment. You have the skills to survive the uncertain world of start-ups and need the MBA to develop General Management skills that you'll need to run a business.
Good luck!
mbatrading wrote:
Any feedback/evaluation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so very much. Any othr school recommendations would be handy too.
Top Target schools: Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, LSE, Stanford and Chicago; Safety: Stern(I realize all of them are tough to get into but would be difficult to leave current job for anything not regarded as a top school)
Age: 26
GMAT: 760
Nationality/Race: Australian Born Chinese (lived in Kuala Lumpur for 10 years and rest in Sydney where I currently reside)
Work Exp: 5 years as a Rates Trader (5 years trading forwards and short term swaps) at European Investment Bank (top 3 in Rates Trading) and 1 year at Goldman Sachs as an accountant
Education: CFA Charterholder (completed L3 exams at age 21) + 3.8 GPA + Best Student 3 yrs in a row + Full Scholarship etc.
Extracurricular: Nothing outstanding. Own a few small businesses (a bar, a small restaurant in Malaysia) - passive involvement currently but was involved heavily when starting up. Play soccer competitively, used to be a lot better when I had the time - played for State.
Motivation for MBA: To go into a full time entrepreneural role - to open my own biz. Would be interested in Private Equity or Consulting. Trading has been good to me but I now want to chase my dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur.
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23 Nov 2010, 21:38
