Hi Sameer,
Its crowded on BW forums, and this forum provides me a greater range of smileys. So I thought will post my query here.
I have been closely following your posts and advise on both BW and gmatclub. I think your advice has been super.
Its always better to stand on the shoulder of giant people to see farther than your average Munna goes a saying. I would like to stand on you.
I have my profile here. I would like to see where I fit.
M/26
Acads
10th 91%
12th 88%
Engg: First class, Mechanical Engg, REC Nagpur (It got rechristened to NIT after I joined).
GMAT: (this one is a dampener)
1st attempt : 620 (V29, Q47) Nov 2008 AWA 5.5
2nd attempt: 700 (V37/80% , Q 48/82%ile) AWA , Last week
Workex: Total (5 years as on Aug 2! Not counting the time I learnt hotwiring Autorickshaws)
- Started off as a Operations Management trainee with Cummins Diesel. Worked for 6 months
- Joined a very large fortune 500 company dealing in container shipping/logistics/Ports and terminals as a candidate in their very special (!!) program. Was recruited as one of 300 candidates from 84 countries (from a pool of 100,000 applicants).As the program wanted us to be trained in many facets of the business, we had many job roles in a span of over 2 years
- Worked in equipment operations, handling vessel releases of some of the largest container vessels calling India. Shipping Line division (11 months)
- Moved to Cochin and worked in their logistics wing, Sales and co-ordination, (8.5 months)
- Moved to Tuticorin, Key client Management (Clients handled included biggies like Walmart, Ikea, GAP etc.) (9 months)
- Moved to Bangalore, to ramp up the customer service desk, as I had some prior knowledge in systems and procedures. Successfully completed the program. Promoted and Managed a small team of 5 for a couple of months. (about 7 months)
- After program was over, was free to choose some postings. Decided to work for the ports biz. Quit the Shipping line, moved to another group entity which handled ports and terminals, Worked as Assistant Manager Projects for a few months in a 2 member team. Oversaw various projects (120 Million $ overall value) like delivery and commissioning of various cranes , container yard development, fuel pumps etc. Vey short time, very steep learning curve as we had some issues with delivery and were fighting battles with insurance. Exposure to contract negotiations (3 months)
- CEO of the older terminal shifted to a new terminal . Role was extremely challenging, He invited me to join, I moved over. Got a salary and job grade hike in the midst of a glaring recession. Moved to marketing and sales. Steep learning curve. Role was that of a wheeler dealer. From making new tariffs, to fixing contracts, to preparing budgets, to contract negotiation. Still doing it and liking it.
International experience:
- As a part of the program mentioned earlier, was trained in Copenhagen by CBS(Copenhagen Biz school) faculty and other professionals in 2 week modules carried out every 6 months. Therotical classroom training in Economics, Operations, Terminal operations, Logistics and other practical classes in negotiation skills, project management etc.
- Have had a vessel tour on board a container ship for a week, (Some middle east ports)
This is again a weak point as I skipped some overseas opportunities for better local action by joining ports and terminals. No real work experience abroad, only training modules etcetera.
ECs:
School:
State level:
Science quiz , ranked 1, ranked within top 5 in other quizzes conducted by KQA
Best nature exhibit award in state level philately exhibition.
Secretary of various clubs like science club, nature club etc.
Interschool:
Many awards in cultural events
UG:
National Level:
- Winner of an an event called brainstorm (puzzle solving) thrice conducted at our college tech fest
- Numerous quizzes and other events
- Unreal tournament was suddenly the best thing since butter naan and I ended up winning some gaming contests as well.
Others
- Student council leader as Cultural Secretary. Appointment defied convention wherein student council members were final year students, I was in my third year when I was appointed.
- President of Karnataka association
- Represented college upto university level in ball badminton
- Won some awards for best article in the college magazine (AWA scores do not reflect my talents! Or maybe they do...)
Others
- Worked with a NGO at Tuticorin, organising donations for an orphanage
- I have purchased an ancient Yezdi Roadking and restoring it part by part. Does it count?
- Photography is another hobby.
To sum it all up, I have identified my weaknesses
- Modest GMAT score
- Do not have conventional international workex
I am targeting the following,
- Tepper
- Cornell, Johnson
- INSEAD
- Sloan (Chulla... thats all .. I have been told not to apply but will try!)
- RSM
- Cambridge, Judge
- Oxford, Said
What I want to be once I graduate:
- I will take an entrepreneurial path. All my biz plans includes tapping into the container biz market and providing value added services. (very broadly). To give fundae, it includes live container tracking services, analytics on intermodal movement etc. There is a good market in India and other developing countries. Another concept which is still in ideation is ‘virtual container yards’ etc.
- I gave sustainability a serious thought and even worked on calculating carbon advantage of our port over others, but I realised my hypocrisy when I realised Yezdi’s and sustainability do not go well together!
Await your feedback on my profile. Schools with SCM as a core will work. I am seriously looking at MLOG program and Broad college(MSU) as well.
Guruji, need your margadarshan
Thanks.