Need suggestions from mentors

Question

Hi,

This is Puja Chakraborty from Kolkata. I am an MBA aspirant and to be more specific I'm targeting PGPX - IIM A course. I am aspiring to join 2017 session. Please find given below some of my details.

Could you please help me understand, what do I need to do to increase my chances of getting selected for the course?

Academic Details:

B-Tech (Computer Science and Engineering, 2008 batch): 89%

Class-12 (CBSE, 2004): 79%

Class-10 (CBSE, 2002): 83%

GMAT Score Details (20-01-2016): 680 (Q49, V34)

Professional Details:

Joined Mjunction Services Limited (an e-commerce company of TATA Group) in 2008 as a Software Developer. Gradually expanded my area of work, acquired domain(e-commerce) knowledge and tried to work on my Business Acumen. After 3-4 years of core IT experience, I started working as a Business Analyst and then as a Functional IT consultant for the Business Lines. I was picking up business understanding fast and that encouraged me to move into Corporate Strategy.

After 6.5 yrs of Experience, I joined Ericsson Global India's internal Business Strategy team. I got exposed to Corporate Strategy as well as Business Strategy Cycles and their execution. Business Engagement and Development gave me an opportunity to work on a project with them, wherein I got exposure to Business Development and Sales cycle. With the technical knowledge and business understanding that I have acquired through all these years, I work as a Strategy and Business Engagement Consultant these days.

I have worked as a certified Tata Business Excellence Model's External Assessor and also as a certified CMMI ML 5 External assessor.

Volunteering Experience:

I have worked for the intitiative called "Ejunction" for 6 years, wherein I have regularly devoted time to teach underprivileged students and then looked for their placement opportunities. I am an active member of an NGO - LUCY, wherein we l look into educating homeless children.

Standing today my total professional experience is 7.5 years, and I'm targeting 2017's session.

Probably my post is a little elaborate, though I did try to cover my profile highlights very briefly. Requesting you to go through it and revert with your suggestions.

gautammalhotra5 · Answer

Can you please evaluate my profile.
i am Gautam Malhotra residing in India
GMAT : 650
Undergraduate degree: Marine engineering
undergraduate university : Bits, Pilani
GPA : 9.22/10 or 4/4
I am sailing as a chief engineer on board oil tanker ships. (Merchant Navy officer)
i have 11 yrs of work experience
Please evaluate and give me an honest opinion whether i should go with my present score for application process or retake GMAT .

Your valuable inputs awaited Thanks in advance.
Regards 
Gautam Malhotra

GyanOne · Answer

Hi Puja

Your overall profile is excellent so congratulations on that. Your professional experience is certainly pretty strong, and you have differentiated yourself in a competitive IT pool through your work in corporate and business strategy at Ericsson. Your overall academics are pretty good, and extra-curricular contribution is decent as well.

In terms of things you could improve, here are two things to consider: 
a) Your GMAT score, at 680, is not low, but you could look at it as one potential area of improvement. The average GMAT score at the IIMA PGPX, IIMB EPGP, and IIMC PGPEX is more than 700 each. 
b) Team leadership experience is not clear from the description you have provided, though you may well have it. At this point, if possible, you should try and take up a more leadership-oriented project in your organization. This is just a thought - sometimes, these aren't really options in your control

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with further questions as needed.

GyanOne · Answer

Hi Gautam

Your overall profile looks good - differentiated experience, good level of seniority (first mate), and of course strong international experience (through your work in in the merchant navy). The only slight negative here is your GMAT score - at 650, it is well below the average at IIMA, IIMB, and IIMC. That does not mean that you necessarily need to meet or exceed the average, but that you should try and push your score closer to it if possible .

Other than that, you seem in good shape. From our experience, the IIMs really value merchant navy profiles and that should stand you in good stead.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with further questions as needed.

biswa1987 · Answer

Hi,
Here goes my profile
1.Academics
10th:85%
12th:86%
Graduation:81%(B.Sc)
Post-graduation:71%(2yr full time PGDM from XIMB)

2.Work experience:
5+yrs(till now) across FMCG/Telecom industry in Business development through channel & Sales Management.Handled business with turnover upto 60cr/annum with an on-roll team of 9 members

I am planning to take GMAT early next year and would like to know the strengths/weaknesses of my profile in the context of being considered for admissions to IIMA PGPX(assuming i manage a GMAT score at par with present batch average).Also would be helpful to have some insights on the career prospects(campus placement opportunites considering my present work-ex).

Cheers,
Biswa

GyanOne · Answer

Hi Biswa

Here is our assessment: 
- Your work experience and academics are decent, and so is your professional experience. Assuming that you get a decent GMAT score, you should be ok in terms of the numbers. 
- Explaining the need for a second MBA, after having one from a fairly good institution, will be key here. You are probably looking for a change of role, and justifying why another MBA is the right way to get that will be important. 
- The results you have achieved in sales and the leadership experience you have will be definite pluses. 
- Campus placements wouldnt be a worry for you at all. You are at the right experience level to aim for a majority of positions that will be offered at IIMA. Its a small program, though, and the number of companies coming corresponds to that, so make sure you look at their placements to see how recruiting in your (future) sector is shaping up for PGPEX students. 
- At this moment, though, focus on getting a great GMAT score, possibly well above the IIMA average. That will help your chances further. In case they suit your aspirations, look at IIMB, IIMC, and ISB as well.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with more queries as needed.

bb · Answer

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