Hello

Please help to evaluate my profile:

GMAT- not taken yet. Plan to give in mid May 2016. My target is around 710-720.
Age -29 Yr. (01.03.1987)
Indian male.
Work experience 7year (6 yr. abroad, Europe)

My goal for doing an MBA: I am currently holding a position in middle management in a small scale industry. I have managed projects. I am a good technologist, but i feel myself lacking in skill set as a manager.
I wish to broaden and enhance my skills so that i can take up more responsibility in a larger firms. Also change the field of work and move towards Strategic management or consultancy.

I wish to apply for ‘1 year programs’, Sept-2017 intake and Round 1.

Education
2005-2009: B.Tech (pulp and paper engineering.) From Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. GPA 3.2/5

2008: The summer internship project, a 10 weeks and fully sponsored activity, at the Scion, Rotorua, New Zealand – a research facility for forest industries.

Work experience
Since July 2010:- Working with Horizon Pulp and Paper ltd., Estonia (Tolaran Group, Singapore)

- Since Dec2015:- Supervising a team of 53 people as a Department head of the pulping unit.
• Youngest in the company to hold a managerial position and youngest in the department, which i am heading.

- Dec 2014- Dec 2015:-Energy saving coordinator: Implemented 19 energy saving initiatives.

- April 2013-Dec 2014:- Project manager: “Wood yard project”.
• Conceptualized and spearheaded the project from the scratch.
• Supervised a team of 32, belonging to 5 nationalities and 7 organizations

- May 2012-March 2014:- Assistant project manager for “The Lime Kiln Project”.
• Supervised a team of 35 belonging to 9 nationality.

- July 2010-March 2012:- Assistant project manager for “The Cooking Plant Project”.

July 2009-June 2010:-Worked with Yash papers Ltd, India as project manager.
• Conceptualized eucalyptus pulp line project
• Supervised a team of 25 employees for 6 different processes as production executive.

Hobbies and extracurricular activity
• During the college years, I had organized festivals, and worked on various responsible positions which involved communication, organizational and leadership skills. For example, pioneered a cultural festival for our campus.
• Hobbies: adventure activities such as sea-kayaking, White water rafting, hiking & cycling, photography and Aurora watching.

I know my EC are not very impressive. would it help my case if i participate in some volunteering works now.
_________________

- Saurabh Prabhakar
MBA@ IE business school. GMAT 690/Q49/V35
Providing guidance for MBA aspirants here: https://www.fiverr.com/sauprabhakar/help-you-navigate-the-mba-application-journey

While your profile is diverse, it cuts both way:

i) Diversity will work to your advantage, in a highly competitive pool
ii) ISB has to also be convinced of your employability, post MBA

So, make sure you utilize the second essay to articulate how your skills are not just relevant to paper and pulp industry, but also to a larger gamut of industries (for example, you can show that your skills can be leverages across process manufacturing).

International experience and demonstrated experience of leading multi-ethnic projects will also help. Focus on GMAT, on getting a 700+ for now.
_________________

http://www.ISBeacon.com

For ISB Aspirants, by ISB Alums

Free First essay
Free Profile Evaluation
Free ISB Essays Best Practices Document


ISBeacon: Your Beacon to ISB

A string of 77's there but overall, your academic profile is pretty decent. The M.Tech. also helps, even if it is in a non-business field. Your work is quite differentiated as well - do list out your work responsibilities too for a deeper evaluation. In ECA, the NGO contribution helps, but you will need other planks too to show a well-rounded profile. You are at the relatively lower end of the work-ex spectrum, so aim for 700+, if not 720+. Apart from that, you will need to bring out the strength and differentiation in your profile through your essays. Overall, though, if you can hit that GMAT mark and do justice to your essays, you should be well placed in terms of your ISB application. Focus on the GMAT for now.
_________________

GyanOne | Top MBA Rankings and MBA Admissions Blog

Top MBA Admissions Consulting | Top MiM Admissions Consulting

Premium MBA Essay Review|Best MBA Interview Preparation|Exclusive GMAT coaching

Get a FREE Detailed MBA Profile Evaluation | Call us now +91 98998 31738

Aiming for the 2017 - 2018 batch at ISB. Can someone guide me on what would be an ideal score:

Profile:

Indian, 26 yo male

Education
10th: 76% (ICSE)
12th: 65% (Science, HSC)
Graduation: Mass media, 78%, first in class

Work ex: - Will be 5 years this October.

2 years 2 months in qualitative market research with a start up
6 months of freelance in market research
Currently working in advertising with the largest agency in India and the second most effective agency in the world: Will complete 2 years 4 months (by October) in advertising.

Worked on leading brands across categories and currently working on one of the largest marketers in the country.
Wrote a case study for my campaign that won a bronze trophy at the Indian Effie awards and a silver trophy at the APAC Effie awards (the most coveted effectiveness award in the region). Another campaign I worked on won a bronze trophy at the Indian Effie awards (no proof other than a screenshot of an email sent by the department head congratulating the winners, hope this counts)

Got 2 promotions in my 4 years of work ex and above average bonuses/ increments at both my organisations.

Extra curics (please tell me whether these even matter/ are worth mentioning):

1. During college, was the chairman of an independent student body that organised an inter-college festival. Organised the festival without any college funding us. (since this was an independent body and I was the signatory authority for participation certificates, I have no proof for myself, other than Facebook posts or testimonials from co-students)

2. Too part and won in many solo elocution competitions in school (intra-school competitions)

3. Avid traveler - Traveled across length and breadth of India for work. Went on a solo Eurotrip on a shoe string budget. again, no proof for either, not sure whether it even matters


What would be an ideal score for me?

Hi, can you please evaluate my profile for ISB 2017 batch?

Nationality- Indian
Age- 26
Gender- Male
GMAT- 680(Q49, V33)
- 710(Q50, V34)
Graduation- Mechanical Engineer with 2.76/4 GPA

Work Experience- 4 years, will be 5 by the time of enrollment
Owner of Polymer India- We deal with various types of industrial packaging products(like Pail Containers, Hdpe bottles, Pet bottles, Hdpe Drums) & Recycling plastic raw material(HDPE, LDPE, PP). Our suppliers are companies who deal with pesticides and chemicals, so quality has been one of our trademark from the very first day.
P.S- This is not a family business. It's an enterprise started solely by me after my graduation.

Key Responsibilities-

Maintaining relationships with suppliers as well as distributors.

Held numerous training seminars to teach as well as learn from the staff of manufacturing unit as well as office staff- These seminars not only increased the knowledge of everyone but increased productivity and led to better team work and understanding in everyone.

Ensuring product specifications and quality remain up to date.

Devising new promotional activities and schemes for marketing the products.

Ensuring all the billing and paperwork is done in a systematic way.

Achievements-

Increasing the product portfolio from five products in 2012 to more than fifty products today.

Improved designs and high quality increased the turnover by more than 200% in three years(In the first year, i designed a mold of pail container which not only reduced the weight of the container by more than a 100grams but also maintained the same strength- a design which is followed by all our competitors today)

Reducing the manufacturing costs by more than 50% in the span of two years.

The growth of the team from five members in 2012 to more than thirty members today.

Other Activities-

Presently learning French- course A1
Worked on a project titled "Benchmarking Automobile Industry" for Mahle Filters India for 4 months
Stood first in Junkyard competiton organised by our University.
Organised "Treasure Hunt" in our University annual fest.

Active member of Kreyan- an NGO which aims at working towards underprivileged and blind children since the last 2 years. Primary responsibility includes teaching the kids.


Thank You
Ashutosh Aggarwal

Hi Karthick,

The way I see it..You started off in the manufacturing industry, got your hands dirty with core manufacturing, then moved to data analytics, but continued with the same industry. This is great, since all your experience thus far ties up neatly ( except the 5 month edu startup stint, but you can probably just focus on the analytics portion of it).

I'd say that you'd be well positioned to work as a consultant in the same industry, post your MBA. Do not worry about which 'pool' you fall into. So long as your post-MBA goals align with your experience thus far, and you are able to convey this to the AdCom effectively, and you tick the other boxes ( EC, overall personality, leadership potential) it shouldn't matter.
_________________

For more info on GMAT and MBA, follow us on @AskCrackVerbal

Hi,
I am yet to give my GMAT. I am a working Management Consultant with 8yrs of experience with average academics.
Extra Curriculars - 12th- Sports - Played Table Tennis- Won District Level Championship,
Engg. - (Mech) -Played Football for College Team participated in Unversity chanmpionship,
NGO-Along with my parents started an NGO for aged people
MBA- 2009-2011 ADOBE 2010 Summit- Represented Esberi Technologies as a Marketing Executive. Branding activities at the booth to attract customers


Can anyone tell me how much time will it take from getting the application form to submitting it (the process of recommendations, essays etc - Total time)

I fear I might miss the deadline as after 3 mocks I have reached 600. I am targeting 730- 740 and I have plans by end of June to get this on the real GMAT

You should aim for a GMAT score of 700 and above. Your chances of selection are bright, as you bring in not just IT experience (more common), but also consulting experience (more valued). The extra-curricular part will need to be addressed too, and remember that you need not state only achievements - participation is fine as well. Try and take up CSR activities/firm contribution activities at work as well.
_________________

GyanOne | Top MBA Rankings and MBA Admissions Blog

Top MBA Admissions Consulting | Top MiM Admissions Consulting

Premium MBA Essay Review|Best MBA Interview Preparation|Exclusive GMAT coaching

Get a FREE Detailed MBA Profile Evaluation | Call us now +91 98998 31738

Hi, Please evaluate my profile.

I am 33 yrs Old. I am yet to give my GMAT. After 3 mocks I have reached 600. I am targeting 730- 740 and I have plans by end of June to get this on the real GMAT.

Acdemics: So So
MBA (2011)- Marketing- ICFAI- 7.26 CGPA
BE (Mech) (2007) - 55%
12th CHSE State Board (2001)- 56%
10th ICSE (1999) -63%

I am a working Management Consultant with 8yrs of experience with average academics.
Extra Curricular - 12th- Sports - Played Table Tennis- Won District Level Championship,
Engg. - (Mech) -Played Football for College Team participated in University championship,
NGO-Along with my parents started an NGO for aged people
MBA- 2009-2011 ADOBE 2010 Summit- Represented Esberi Technologies as a Marketing Executive. Branding activities at the booth to attract customers

Yes this would be my 2nd MBA. I did my first one from ICFAI Business School Kolkata. I did a Marketing Specialisation. I was working in steel plant (1yr) with 18hrs a day work schedule. Somehow after 7 months I realised I can't be doing core Engg. work. Not my cup of tea. So decided to go for an MBA, tried getting through CAT but failed miserably to balance my studies with work. Quit my steel plant job joined start-up in Bangalore as a marketing executive for a print media magazine ( 1yr). Gave my CAT got a humiliating score but got through IBSAT and got a seat at Kolkata. I was lucky to have a phenomenal Mentor cum Teacher (Currently he looking after IIM Ranchi Executive Batches), due to whom, even after having lost 2years during ENgg (Due to financial troubles with my father's business. He went Bankrupt) I was able to get into Management Consultancy.

Currently working as a Senior Consultant- Corporate Advisory- Management Consultancy Practices, Mott MacDonald India. I have worked across 12 different sectors (Including Renewables- Solar). Executed over 40 plus consulting projects for SMES, Maharatnas like GAIL etc, International Clients like Meyer Burger, UB Ostan etc in the following specialities- Technical Due diligence| Viability & Feasibility Study| Market Strategy | Strategic Market Assessment and Entry strategies | Competition Analysis| Data Analysis | Market/Business Plan | Go-To-Market Strategy| Market Research | Market Sizing & Demand Estimation | Market Forecast | Market Estimation |.

My key responsibilities- Project Management | Report writing and communication with client | Proposal preparation | Presentations | Client Management | Technical & Market Analyst | Training and Mentoring

Now, coming to WHY 2nd MBA
We prepare reports which are a requirement for Banker's to fund various projects. Implementation part we don't do hence we have no control on the outcome. Just Excel models and in-depth analysis but whether it will work- WE PUT IN CAVEATS if it doesn't(This is something which is frustrating at times. Have to be blunt here). Having been associated with Management Consulting for last 6 years and having been through various facets off consulting assignments- this has always been limited to Market and sometimes Technical aspects like Right sizing, Capacity planning; I have come to realise I need to upgrade my skills in-order to break into STRATEGY CONSULTUING where they actually see the OUTCOME of their work. This struck me when I wanted to change my Job and applied to the likes of BIG FOUR and gave interviews. Though I was considered but it was more to do with Internal teams and not the client facing ones. I thought to myself and asked what was the issue. I realised I didn't have two Things
1) Finance Knowledge. It easy to say I can learn on the job, which I am doing but it is in limited capacity. With project Life cycle of 3 to 4 weeks and timeline crunches it is rare that I get opportunity do a through and through financial assessment. Even If I do learn I will take few years and that's not adding any value to my career progression
2) During the course of my interviews, I interacted with many people and then I realised that my Current CTC was very low in comparison to my peers in similar role - as low as 56% lower. So if I were to get hired in the CONSULTING DOMAIN I needed to justify my demand for this 56% hike and that is possible if I can give a holistic view points on businesses but that's not possible without understanding the financial nitty-gritties. Honestly, I didn't expect anyone to give me this.

Now, question- Why not Executive - (Those Monthly or weekly certification courses). Personally I feel it will not add value to me because these courses are job specific and mostly funded by Employers. So the personal perspective is out of the window. What if some one like me wants to do Strategy Consulting and my Company does only a part of it and not the whole. If I were to look for jobs based on certification and no real experience then it defeats the purpose of the certification.

That's why in my opinion a fulltime 1year MBA is a good option I believe.

These points drove me to seriously consider a 2nd MBA and that to it had to be a 1year MBA from a prestigious B school and specifically in the domain of Finance (Major) plus Marketing (Minor). Here I am only considering ISB and IIM PGPX, rest 3 options I am yet to decide.

I am open to criticism
Regards,
Ritesh

Hi Guys,

Please evaluate my profile .

GMAT 530 Q 43, V20, IELTS 7.5 , EXPERIENCE - 13 years. I did very bad in GMAT verbal . Moreover my computer got stuck during verbal sections.

Here is my experience :

I have 13 years overall experience in Telecommunication Industry. Currently working as Deputy General Manager and handling role of Product management, Strategy planning etc. I am leading a team and responsible for their performance appraisal , setting goals , review etc.

I extensively do customer interaction and worked on IT/Telecomm tools and systems in my professional career. I have worked on strategic project which provided breakthrough for the organizations.

Currently leading a team on a strategic and entrepreneurial project for the organization.

Career Progress : till 2010 ...Engineer

2010 ...Assistant Manager
2011--- Manager
2013---Senior Manager
2015---- Deputy General Manager.

Education :

BE. ( EXTC )......1st in third year of engineering , 2nd in 2nd year in the college....Passed exam with 66.79 %....2003 pass out.

Part time Masters in Information Management : Completed from University of Mumbai.


Extracurricular: singing, reading, writing, sports -participated in cricket competition and won.

volunteering : social cause, education for all , conducted sessions for the village students about education and career guidance.


Target : 1 year full time program ( ISB, IIMA, IIMB, INSEAD, HEC, etc etc..)..pls suggest.


Please suggest me suitable course based on experience. My only problem is low GMAT score I think.

regards
Rajesh