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Seth
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Please help to calrify with this question. 01 Jan 2007, 10:08
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What are your specific short-term career goals immediately following the MBA program? Describe the job, industry and/or function that you plan to obtain.

For the bold part, do I need to specify which industry I would like to work in? How deep should I specify?

For example, if I would like to work in international marketing field, do I need to tell that I would like to work in the food and beverage industry or just International marketing is ok.

Thanks for your help.
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EconGirl
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Please help to calrify with this question. 01 Jan 2007, 12:29
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I think that the more specific, the better. This question is different from any career Q I have answered that mostly ask for short/long career goals. There is probably a reason for this...
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aaudetat
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Please help to calrify with this question. 01 Jan 2007, 19:22
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yes, and you might even talk about the kinds of skills you need to succeed in that job. then you can tie it in nicely to what you'll get from the program.
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rhyme
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Please help to calrify with this question. 01 Jan 2007, 20:55
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EconGirl
I think that the more specific, the better. This question is different from any career Q I have answered that mostly ask for short/long career goals. There is probably a reason for this...
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But not too specific. There's a balance.

Saying that you want to be a analyst focused on blue-dye sublimination techniques at Goldman Sachs in their Midtown NYC office will come off as short-sighted. Saying you want to be a analyst focused in "CPGs" with an investment bank or private wealth management firm, will sound focused, but broad enough that your goals are achievable. Similarly saying you want to be an investment banker is too broad.

In your case, I'd suggest talking about the food and beverage industry (and be SURE to explain WHY this is an area you want to be in) - not just international marketing.

For instance: I want to be a brand manager with a CPG firm focused on the low-caloire food and beverage industry, or with ad agency in the same space. I want to do this because of.........

Which brings me to my last and equally boring point: if you have more than one goal, make sure they are reasonably related - i.e. brand manager at a CPG firm, or an advertising manager at an ad agency. Don't say "either an investment banker" or "management consultant" - for these are two entirely different paths, and anyway, only one of them is a good idea anyhow.
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Please help to calrify with this question. 02 Jan 2007, 21:21
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I have a related query, one of my essay questions is:

"Discuss challenges & opportunities currently facing the industry/functional area in which you plan to work after MBA . As a change agent and visionary leader, how would you approach these issues to have a positive impact on business and society?"

Post MBA I really want to work in Strategy consultancy at a higher level across industries and not limited to a particular industry. In that case do i need to pinpoint a particular industry for approaching this essay.

Another questions is how will overcoming challenges at work result in an impact on the society?

Any advice/suggestions will be appreciated.
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Seth
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Please help to calrify with this question. 03 Jan 2007, 07:04
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Thanks for all your suggestions.
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rhyme
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Please help to calrify with this question. 03 Jan 2007, 07:44
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imjimmy
I have a related query, one of my essay questions is:

"Discuss challenges & opportunities currently facing the industry/functional area in which you plan to work after MBA . As a change agent and visionary leader, how would you approach these issues to have a positive impact on business and society?"

Post MBA I really want to work in Strategy consultancy at a higher level across industries and not limited to a particular industry. In that case do i need to pinpoint a particular industry for approaching this essay.

Another questions is how will overcoming challenges at work result in an impact on the society?

Any advice/suggestions will be appreciated.
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Who asks this? Thats a horrifically difficult question for someone who isn't already in that field. They are looking to see that you've done some research, but jeez, common.

Forget the society part as an explicit area, rather think of it as implicit. You dont' need to pinpoint an industry in terms of "Manufacturing" etc (the industry in question is consulting).

The challenges facing the strategy consulting arena are especially hard to discuss - precisely because it isn't focused in one particular area. I can think of a few things to say, but I have to admit thats a heck of a challenge.
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imjimmy
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Please help to calrify with this question. 03 Jan 2007, 10:31
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Thanks Rhyme. I agree that's a hard question. That's why i asked.
The guilty school is Owen Vanderbilt. Would you believe it..!

Infact they have only 2 essays.
1) Career goals essay 2) This essay (challenges in the industry)..

No essay for Contributing back to the community, no essay on Leadership skills, nothing on team work and absolutely nothing on achievements/challenges and personal background.

I have no idea as to how one might go about painting a complete picture of himself for the adcom in these 2 essays alone( word limit for each =500 words!)..

I guess Strategy consulting career goal makes the essay even harder especially for someone who wants a career change to this field.

Frankly, i am having 2nd thoughts about applying to this school.
rhyme
imjimmy
I have a related query, one of my essay questions is:

"Discuss challenges & opportunities currently facing the industry/functional area in which you plan to work after MBA . As a change agent and visionary leader, how would you approach these issues to have a positive impact on business and society?"

Post MBA I really want to work in Strategy consultancy at a higher level across industries and not limited to a particular industry. In that case do i need to pinpoint a particular industry for approaching this essay.

Another questions is how will overcoming challenges at work result in an impact on the society?

Any advice/suggestions will be appreciated.

Who asks this? Thats a horrifically difficult question for someone who isn't already in that field. They are looking to see that you've done some research, but jeez, common.

Forget the society part as an explicit area, rather think of it as implicit. You dont' need to pinpoint an industry in terms of "Manufacturing" etc (the industry in question is consulting).

The challenges facing the strategy consulting arena are especially hard to discuss - precisely because it isn't focused in one particular area. I can think of a few things to say, but I have to admit thats a heck of a challenge.
Show more