Forum Home > GMAT > Quantitative > Problem Solving (PS)
Events & Promotions
|
|
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
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Dec 1408:00 AM PST
-11:30 AM PST
Join us for an exclusive Admit Weekend designed to help you navigate the exciting yet challenging process of choosing between multiple MBA offers and provide valuable guidance on financial aid, scholarship negotiation, visa processes, and more.
Dec 1308:30 AM EST
-09:15 AM EST
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.
Dec 1511:00 AM EST
-11:30 AM EST
Meet Tuck at an informal student or staff-hosted coffee chat in a city near you!- Dec 16
08:00 AM PST
-11:59 PM PST
GMAT Club 12 Days of Christmas is a 4th Annual GMAT Club Winter Competition based on solving questions. This is the Winter GMAT competition on GMAT Club with an amazing opportunity to win over $40,000 worth of prizes! - Dec 18
10:00 AM PST
-11:00 AM PST
Here is the essential guide to securing scholarships as an MBA student! In this video, we explore the various types of scholarships available, including need-based and merit-based options. 
Dec 2007:00 PM PST
-08:00 PM PST
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
Dec 2111:00 AM EST
-12:00 PM EST
Save 20% on your subscription to onTrack by mbaMission, a first-of-its-kind on-demand MBA application experience. Use code 20OFFDEC until Dec 31!
Dec 2109:00 PM IST
-10:00 PM IST
Dreaming of a successful post-MBA career? Explore the 2026 career pathways in consulting, tech, finance, and dive into the exciting opportunities and the potential ROI these industries offer, helping you make informed decisions and more.
27 Jun 2019, 04:12
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi,
So basically, I graduated from University of Warwick in 2017 with a 2.1 (GPA 3.3) and joined my father in his company. It is a private limited company in Bangladesh, exporting garments products to all over the world with about 5000 employee. I am planning to apply for my MBA for 2020 in Canada. My dream school is University of Toronto.
Is working in a family business going to put me in a place of disadvantage? Additionally, who should I use as reference?
Thank you
So basically, I graduated from University of Warwick in 2017 with a 2.1 (GPA 3.3) and joined my father in his company. It is a private limited company in Bangladesh, exporting garments products to all over the world with about 5000 employee. I am planning to apply for my MBA for 2020 in Canada. My dream school is University of Toronto.
Is working in a family business going to put me in a place of disadvantage? Additionally, who should I use as reference?
Thank you
27 Jun 2019, 04:44
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi Lithe,
thank you for your post.
Working in a family business should not put you in any disadvantage. As a matter of fact, it could actually give you an advantage.
What kind of role do you have in this business? Are you leading people? Have you had any direct impact on the business?
Do your career goals involve at some point getting back to your family business with a leadership role (e.g. CEO)? Are you part of your father's succession plan?
Regarding references, obviously it would be better not to ask your father to write a recommendation letter. I don't know how the org chart looks like at your company, but you could use as referee anyone who is more senior than you and knows you well. This does not necessarily mean only your direct boss (if this is your father), but someone you work with and that is at a more senior position than yours. Alternatively, you could ask peers as well as clients or vendors with whom you work closely and can comment on your career progression, strengths, areas of development and leadership potential.
I hope this helps.
Good luck
Alex
thank you for your post.
Working in a family business should not put you in any disadvantage. As a matter of fact, it could actually give you an advantage.
What kind of role do you have in this business? Are you leading people? Have you had any direct impact on the business?
Do your career goals involve at some point getting back to your family business with a leadership role (e.g. CEO)? Are you part of your father's succession plan?
Regarding references, obviously it would be better not to ask your father to write a recommendation letter. I don't know how the org chart looks like at your company, but you could use as referee anyone who is more senior than you and knows you well. This does not necessarily mean only your direct boss (if this is your father), but someone you work with and that is at a more senior position than yours. Alternatively, you could ask peers as well as clients or vendors with whom you work closely and can comment on your career progression, strengths, areas of development and leadership potential.
I hope this helps.
Good luck
Alex
GMATin
Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Last visit: 09 Feb 2022
Posts: 102
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 35
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Finance
Schools: Instead Sept 20 Intake (A)
Products:
27 Jun 2019, 12:10
Kudos
Bookmarks
Lithe
Hi,
So basically, I graduated from University of Warwick in 2017 with a 2.1 (GPA 3.3) and joined my father in his company. It is a private limited company in Bangladesh, exporting garments products to all over the world with about 5000 employee. I am planning to apply for my MBA for 2020 in Canada. My dream school is University of Toronto.
Is working in a family business going to put me in a place of disadvantage? Additionally, who should I use as reference?
Thank you
So basically, I graduated from University of Warwick in 2017 with a 2.1 (GPA 3.3) and joined my father in his company. It is a private limited company in Bangladesh, exporting garments products to all over the world with about 5000 employee. I am planning to apply for my MBA for 2020 in Canada. My dream school is University of Toronto.
Is working in a family business going to put me in a place of disadvantage? Additionally, who should I use as reference?
Thank you
Working in a family business is a wonderful angle to take when applying to business schools. Following are my thoughts around your situation:
1) Business schools LOVE family businesses. Family businesses are the backbone of any economy and you joining yours show great entrepreneurial skill. The scale of your family business is also big which is another attractive point for the schools
2) It would be important for you to show your story well when writing your essays or during interviews. Be sure to take a track of all your roles in the family business (where roles are often not specific and structured)
3) Prepare short stories where you displayed leadership, managed conflicts & expectations, rectified a failing situation, brought in new initiatives, expanded any units and dealt with people coming from varied cultures & backgrounds.
4) Quantify EVERYTHING. Your impact is of no use to the school if you can't make it easy for them in terms of quantifiable bullets.
5) Be careful on recommenders: Could be clients, suppliers, independent consultants who have seen your work. Do not take a family member who supervises you as a recommender!
All the best!
