Hey
gsgirija4,
I am an ISB alumni, CO15, and also an ex-ZSer (spent 3.5 years at ZS before doing MBA). I can relate to a lot of things you have mentioned in the brief.
Below is my take on your profile:
GMAT: Below Average
Academics: Average; if you have graduated from a Tier 1 college in India, it will add value to your candidature.
Work Experience:
Quantum: 4.5 years – Optimum for ISB application
Quality: Most of the things you have mentioned here are stuff, which any other ZSer with similar no. of years with the firm would be doing. I understand that you have probably been promoted to the role of Consultant, but to be honest, even an AC with 1.5-2 years of experience does a lot of things that a C in India does. Having said that, you will need to differentiate yourself from the pool of other ZS ers applying to ISB in R1 by highlighting something, which according to you others probably would not have got the opportunity to do. Ex. Business Generation, or, specific initiative/innovation you undertook (Note: Automating something resulting in higher efficiency is something a lot of people mention, so refrain from mentioning such an example). Focus on soft skills – delegation, project management (Calm Captain), motivation, etc. since ad com understands that certain hard skills come defacto with any ZSer.
Extra–Curricular: Average; nothing stands out here.
Short-term goal: Refrain from mentioning names of MBB as far as consulting firms are concerned since they look at your GMAT score as well as part of every other aspect. It will be difficult to justify your case for an MBB role and the ad com might make an impression that you haven’t done your homework in terms of research.
Please reach out to me (contact details in signature) in case you want a more detailed discussion and seek professional advice in your pursuit to draft a compelling application. Been there and done that .. literally!
Cheers and Best of Luck!