Profile evaluation Request

Question

Hi,

I will try to keep it short. 
Xth : 96.8% (Zone Topper)
XII: 92.8%
B.Tech in Mining Engineering: 8.73/10 ( Gold Medalist and Institute medal for exceptional academic record )
GMAT 740 (Q50, V39, AWA:6, IR:6)
3 papers (2 National conference, 1 International Conference) , 1 Book Chapter (Springer, Introduction chapter)

Have held some good position of responsibility during my college time such as Placement Representative, Departmental Undergrad committee Senior Representative and have also participated and led my team in some National level competitions such as CIMA Global Business competition etc.

I had my startup during my final year but sadly it could not take off and I ended up joining TATA STEEL.

I am currently working in TATA STEEL India as a Manager, Mining Operations and have about 1 year of work expn (2 at time of joining the school). During my time here, I have undertaken about 3 improvement projects (on critical issues of Mining). I will be having two when I will join a MBA Program next year and am thinking of applying in R1 this year.

I have some good amount of voluntary experience, not just normal contributing stuff but some real projects ( 2 ) and participatory rural appraisals.

My question is should I be actually thinking of applying this year in schools such as Sloan,Booth, Yale, Columbia?  Do I have a chance or should I bide my time and apply next year that is in 2017.

mbaMissionKate · Answer

Hi there-

Excellent GMAT and GPA stats! Your entrepreneurial experience will help but with only one year now, I recommend waiting another year to apply. Perhaps that would give you time to secure a promotion, gain some international work experience (not sure if that's possible), or demonstrate more leadership on projects. You could also spend time researching / engaging with your target schools which will help a lot when it comes time to prepare your applications.

Keep us posted on what you decide!
Kate

akashboi · Answer

Thanks! Will surely do!

mbaMissionKate · Answer

Good luck!

akashboi · Answer

Hi,

I am posting some additional info. I request you to have a look at it and please suggest me ways to improve my candidature for the next year!

I had already mentioned about my school stats, just to add one thing to it, I was the student president of my school and just a few months I took an initiative and went back to school to form an Alumni association for our school so as to guide the incoming classes w.r.t. career choices and also pooled some money for funding education of 1 student on a need basis.

In my college time, except the positions, paper, projects that I have already mentioned, as a senior representative of Undergrad committee, I was instrumental in framing of a new constitution for the institution in a very sensitive situation when the whole institute had sat on a protest (I am sure I will not be writing it in this way in my application, but I think that experience of handling a 4000+ voices changed me!)

I did my internship at a TATA STEEL (5 selected among 300, it's kind of a choosy company!) and was subsequently offered a Pre-placement offer (company generally offers a Pre-placement interview!) and joined it as a Management Trainee Technical. Now while Mining is a very tough profession, it's also a very interesting one with a lot of opportunities for improvement and innovation.

At TSL, first and foremost, I decided to follow up on my internship work, took the responsibility on myself and implemented the improvement measures in the mine which while a having a great deed of good short term effect also saved company from immediate expenditure of 20 million INR in expenditure on new Mine fan installation. (They can forget about it for next 5 years)

Next, I was off to an Open cast coal mine of TSL, which was struggling with the Industrial relations issue of workers actually not wanting to work because of which there were huge production losses. I realised that the officers were actually most of the time in fire-fighting mode, trying to solve issues as they arose with no sense of planning and implementation. I suggested a performance based incentive to the Dumper operators (subsequently worked upon by HR division) and took to the measures to implement scientific mining methods in the mine which led to vast improvements in productivity and production.
In the same mine, I also worked out on a new mining method by tweaking the existing technology and using my previous expertise of underground mining which actually increased the life of mine by 10 years. I was the Team lead to investigate in this new mining method with other 4 Management trainees of various expertise.

In other open-pit iron ore mine of TSL, I investigated in the fuel related issues that were being faced by the mine. I suggested the implementation of a Fuel Management system which is being done now and am part of the team that is overseeing the process. Also, I was asked by Top management of the mine to look into the operator issues and see if any scope of improvement is there and am working on this, as well as, am working on the operational aspects of fuel consumption and intend to benchmark the fuel consumption by various vehicles in the mine. I am also working on the digitisation of the production reporting in the mine with my colleagues so as to well ,save paper

, and making the process of reporting and action making more streamlined.

I have been recently promoted to Manager, Mining Operations, a job that holds me responsible for production of 250 million $ worth of Iron ore and its desptach (and in supervision of 100+ people, both company and contractor). The job also entails looking into various aspects of implemetation of TQM, ISO standards and safety standards. Its a statuory post (required under Mining Act of India, 1957) and involves constant communication with government authorities over various aspects of Mining and related issues.

POST- MBA : work in consulting with focus on metals&minerals and steel industry.

PS: Promotion is out of question (for the next 2 years) due to company rules etc.

, and making the process of reporting and action making more streamlined. I have been recently promoted to Manager, Mining Operations, a job that holds me responsible for production of 250 million $ worth of Iron ore and its desptach (and in supervision of 100+ people, both company and contractor). The job also entails looking into various aspects of implemetation of TQM, ISO standards and safety standards. Its a statuory post (required under Mining Act of India, 1957) and involves constant communication with government authorities over various aspects of Mining and related issues. POST- MBA : work in consulting with focus on metals&minerals and steel industry. PS: Promotion is out of question (for the next 2 years) due to company rules etc.

mbaMissionKate · Answer

Hi again, thanks for the additional info!

Mostly my advice is just to keep it up! Great exposure you are getting at work, and the recent promotion is excellent.

I would focus on:
-Gaining even more leadership experience
-Making sure you can point to results and measurable impact of your work when it comes time
-Gaining international experience / exposure (if it's possible)
-Seek out mentors who can coach you, provide you feedback, and hopefully serve as recommenders when it comes time 
-Expand your role in extracurriculars, like the alumni organization, because business schools will care mostly about post-college activities
-Research consulting firms and roles and what's required in them so you can show evidence of some transferable skills when you are ready to make the transition, perhaps even trying to gain some consulting exposure, via freelance consulting or pro bono projects, etc.

Good luck!

akashboi · Answer

Thanks Kate for your wonderful and descriptive guidance!

I was thinking to pursue FRM or CMA certification. Though both of them are world apart, FRM will actually be sensible since my profession is actually filled with lot of risk mitigation activities both financial and operational. However, considering that I want to make it into consulting (metals and minerals though), cma may make more sense. Considering I am working in a remote location getting hands on pro bono project will be difficult. So, what do you advise in this aspect?

Thanks a lot again!

mbaMissionKate · Answer

Great, I think either certification would help so choose the one that either you'll get more support from your current employer on, or the one that you think will be most valuable in the future.

That's OK if you're not able to get on a pro bono project-- just make sure that you are developing skills that are transferable to consulting through your on-the-job projects.

Kate

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