Is my current job profile good enough?

Question

Hi,

I am an IT professional(10 yrs exp.) and has been working in a developer, at times Team Lead roles. Recently I have taken up an Application Support Officer role, because I was not able to find an analyst developer role. 
My previous roles in India have been:
Software Engineer
Module Lead
Technical Lead
Lead Software Engineer
Technical Project Lead

Then I moved to Melbourne, Australia and got a job of Analyst Programmer. But after the contract ended, I couldnt find another Analyst Programmer role and instead landed one with Application Support officer role. Being a mother of 2 year old, its a less stressful one and gives me to time to prepare for my GMAT.

I have started my prep and still need to take my GMAT.

But my overgrowing concern: Is my current job profile(Application Support) going to limit my entry to top B-Schools. I am targeting INSEAD, IIM-Ahmedabad(Gujarat,India) or ISB(Hyderabad, India).

Any quick response is appreciated.

MBADecoder · Answer

Hi there,

You should find it easy at IIMA and at ISB. INSEAD- they stress a lot on international work experience (as does IIMA) and on LEADERSHIP examples- while you do have the international experience, what about leadership? Are you leading teams and making some kind of business impact?

Selaginella · Answer

Hi,

Will my leadership experience in India not count? I had been a Team lead, Project lead and in other leading roles there.

MBADecoder · Answer

Yes they will count. B-schools will also like to see your career progression since then. Feel free to share your resume with me for a more fruitful discussion.

whiteshields1830 · Answer

I think its realistic to your targets, but it really depends on how you go with the GMAT. INSEAD as mentioned emphasise on international experience, however, its not a necessity. I have barely had any international experience (2-3 months in Singapore and a few months in London on secondment), but I guess they also seem to like people who are independently driven while being a manager or sorts (I think my experiences managing an international team in Asia Pacific and globally helped).

You do mention you were project leads, but this is where you have to sell yourself very hard in what you did, difficulties and achievements you had in that role. Potentially personal conflicts, not just difficulties in getting the project done.

I havent interviewed for IIM or ISB, so I wouldnt know for them, but for INSEAD, you REALLY REALLY need to know what you want to do after the MBA and how the MBA will help you get there. Questions will be asked like: So you can do x, y and z, instead of a MBA to get you there, so why not that option? Cause its a 1 year program they want you to be 100% sure how youll get there logically and how INSEAD can help.

Is my current job profile good enough?

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