General Management programs

In case anyone is interested, I did some googling of GM clubs at various schools (e.g. Kellogg) and found a few lists of companies that have GM rotational program/strategy type positions:
- 3M
- 3 Plus TV Network AG
- Abbott Laboratories
- Amazon.com
- Amphenol
- CIGNA
- John Deere
- Sony Corporation
- Walt Disney Studios
- Davita
- Colgate
- Kraft
- Toyota
- DuPont

Interestingly, most aren't located in big cities but in exciting places like...Bloomfield, CT.

I think P&G also has this program.Some european companies might also have this,ex Nestle,Unilever.

On that note, does anyone know of rotational programs that are located in big cities? The common stereotype is that these programs cater to older folks with families who are ready to settle down in the suburbs somewhere. Can someone dispel the stereotype?

Out of the list above, I know that DaVita, Disney, and Sony are in LA and Amazon.com is in Seattle. The rest I would assume are rural or suburban.

Are there any GM rotational programs in Downtown San Francisco or New York City?

I'm pretty sure Abbott is in Chicago, or close to it. You could always do a reverse commute. Many people I know working at big companies in San Jose do it from SF.

Abbott is actually in Evanston, right next to Kellogg!

Also, if the Sony program referring to is SONYBMG 1-Yr Rotation program, a friend of mine went through it and it's basically 2-six month rotation. First rotation is as a sales manager or marketing manager of one of their entertainment (movie or mosic) units. Then next 6 month is rotation in their London office doing similar thing. However, this is a contractual 1 yr program. depending on their evaluation, you are extended a full time offer or not.

Also for GE Finance rotation program....(specifically GE Commercial Finance)

My roommate went through that program right out of college. Apparently, they mix both undergrads and MBAs in same program. His first rotation was as investment analyst (only in title). Job description is basically - GE Capital has (or used to have - they are in so much trouble lately) triple A credit rating. They can borrow money at such low interest rate compared to others. Then there are mid size corporations with shakier credit rating.

GE Capital takes on these mid size corporations as their client. If the mid size corp can borrow money at 11% interest rate directly from banks, and GE can borrow at say 5%, GE will charge somewhere in between to the mid size corp. Mid size corporation now gets loan at (say) 9% interest rate. GE goes to bank to borrow this sum at 5% and profits off the interest rate difference. Role of investment analysts are to drive/travel to these clients (like auditors) and assess/value the client's liquid asset. If the client has suffient liquid asset and solid balance sheet, investment analyst writes up a good rec letter for the loan etc etc.

My roommate quit after one year due to excessive traveling and lower pay compared to others. He went to South Carolina to count (literally) cows because they were the client's liquid asset. He also went to Northern california and counted boxes/cases of frozen fish inside a large refrigerator.....

But he did this for a year and this background was good enough for him to get a job as risk management analyst at Bear Stearns. When Bear folded into JP, he ended up staying with JP and currently works there.

Ouch.

GM isnt as hard to transfer into as some industries but most aren't as hard as you might thing. If you are at a top school companies know you are intelligent, motivated, and at most schools you will have a track record of success.

My experiences with GM recruiting so far: Note not many people recruit for it heavily compared to marketing, finance, or consulting.
-Engineering and consulting backgrounds seem to be valued, they like analytical abillites. IB'ers do well too.
-Engineers and consultants often have more relatent work experience, which is very valuable.
-Prior leadership experience is good, especially if you led teams with diverse backgrounds...manufacturers value people who can interact with not only other highly educated managers but the hourly employees.
-GM also happens to be more popular with people with engineering and consulting backgrounds.
-Most programs want a minimum of 3 to 4 years of work experience.
-Very few programs accept internationals



The well known ones do tend to be in manufacturing space since these are a lot of the major companies that need GM. GE, Danaher, Deere, Eaton, Emerson...etc.
-CPG's have marketing as the feeders to the top of their companies
-Banks use their finance employees

If you look outside the box there are rotational programs in a large variety of industries such as energy, healthcare, services...and there are some international opportunities. If you look at companies that recruit at European schools it helps show there are companies overseas with programs such as Mittal, Rolls Royce, British Telecom, British American Tobacco...etc.


Also not all GM programs are rotational, some have more finance or strategy paths. Some great GM jobs aren't rotational at all. And some rotational programs arent strictly GM. Cargill is a strategy position and Chevron has a big finance program.

River,

Have you found very many GM programs that are located in big urban centers like NY, SF, LA, Chicago, or Boston?

There are enough that you can find them if you want. I am pretty focused on energy and know of GM opportunities at big name companies in LA, SF, Chicago, DC, Atlanta, and tons in Texas. Along with other nice locations in decent sized cities. Rotational programs often move you around the country but not always. Diversified companies like Danaher have locations all over like consulting companies. You could be in Seattle or Chicago, if you want but you could choose to be in Blacksburg Virginia.

If you want a specific large city you could find companies with GM positions there. Minneapolis, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, NYC...you might just have to do more looking.

Also just like consulting you may not get what you want though.

In a good job market (aka not now), some companies will probably "create" a GM rotational program of you if they don't have an official, established one. My company offers one, getting picked for it usually means you are from either a top 3 school or a top 7 school with extremely extensive experience (more than 5 years) in a relevant sector.

Yes please! Sign me up!

P&G has a rotation program based in SF. Apparently they are pretty selective and take people from Chicago, Haas, Wharton, Tuck, and Kellogg
https://www.pgecorp.com/aboutus/careers/ ... p_program/

I know Medtronic, Genentech, and Intel all have high quality MBA rotation program for their offices in Silicon Valley or SF
https://www.gene.com/gene/careers/univer ... /ordp.html
https://www.intel.com/jobs/usa/students/programs/mba.htm
https://www.medtronic.com/careers/studen ... /index.htm

Though P&G may hate Haas right now because last year they extended 9 offers and got 0 acceptances... I don't think those were rotational nor based in SF, but the ones based in the Midwest.

Midwest like Chicago? or midwest like rural parts?

as in, Ohio.

Note to those who dont know the difference. PG&E is pacific gas and electric, its a major utility (I do believe they recruit at Haas though Kry). P&G is a major CPG.

HUGE difference people. One generates and sells electricity...the other makes and sells swiffers.

LOL, I just realized that zh posted P&G in his post and PG&E in the link... haha.



Yes, PG&E does recruit at Haas and does have a rotation program based in SF.