Questions to ask current students

Question

Questions that can be asked to current students in an informational interview or while cold calling: 
  
 Is the school a good fit for me with such career goals and background? 
 What are the opportunities (specific companies and roles) available for a career in XYZ? 
 Has there been any student who has joined the XYZ industry of your target firm? If yes, then what’s the proportion? (If there is just one student who has joined your target firm in the last 4 years, then it doesn't make much sense.) 
 Can you please name some start-ups in our target industry? 
 Can you briefly mention how the MBA helped you develop those skills to land XYZ internship/job? 
 Can you share something about your internship experience? 
 Can you please mention one professor in XYZ concentration whose subjects/electives I should not miss? 
 How easy it is to get the choice of electives in the second year? 
 How can a student contribute to XYZ club/wing to make it a better place? 
 Though the school takes a holistic approach while evaluating applicants, is there any criteria (Leadership, Team skills, etc) which is valued the most in the entire application? 
 Can you please tell something about alumni activities? 
 What are the strengths & the biggest challenge/areas of improvement of the program? 
 How is the environment/culture at the school (competitive, collaborative)? 
 Is there anything else you would like me to know at this stage? 
 Would you recommend me any other student or faculty to speak to know more about the program?

Questions that should not be asked: 
 
 Can you please share the magazine or newsletter or anything official from their job portal? 
 About employment statistics, resume format, TOEFL requirement or any other information that has been covered on the website or that can show lack of research/commitment on your part. 
 What do you think about my chances of an admit/scholarship (unless the person has read your application)? 
 Should I apply in Round 1 or Round 2?

Before asking any query give them a brief about your background & post MBA goals. Try to keep it as a conversation rather than an interview.

pytha1gurus · Answer

Hi,

There is a dedicated video for networking at the bottom of this page. Definitely explore that. It will help you in creating the context of networking, and why to ask WHATEVER you ask. The idea is to be able to have a conversation

https://pythagurus.in/admission-consult ... dmissions/

Hope this helps.

Also, sharing an older post very relevant to "NETWORKING"

Hi Guys,

I got a very important insight from all of you- and wanted to share it with you and reciprocate it by giving it back to you.

KNOWING SOMETHING DOES NOT HELP. AND OUR BRAIN STOPS US FROM TAKING MANY ACTIONS DESPITE KNOWING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO ADD VALUE.

Despite knowing that Networking is important- most of you will not have started this activity till late November. DO IT ( I am writing DO IT despite knowing that only 5 to 10% will ACT and the rest will relegate this to a Distant Future.

Wanted to share a defining step for the people targeting the first round applications. If you have not started networking yet, please do so now….I hope you follow these. You will take time to understand the differences between different programs only with time. Without the right networking approach- a TOP TIER ADMIT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN-

Here are some of the easy steps that can get you started on networking.

1. Build an excel sheet with different tabs for different schools. In Every Tab, have the name of the contacts listed ahead of time.
2. Create two separate emails *( first intro email and the second follow up email) to reach out to the target masses.
3. Having a very VERY Strong equation of employability. It is important to have your Past +MBA=Short term + Long Term goals fixed before you speak with the alumni and the existing students.
4. The Equation of employability has to be woven around the past skill sets( transferrable skill sets) + the AHA Moments.
5. Create an Elevator pitch that will allow you to introduce yourself to the target masses within 100 to 120 seconds. Once you start the interviews, you can have longer introductions, but in the networking conversations, the intro has to be limited to less than 120 seconds.
6. Have the right set of questions.
a. Internship related questions( not fact based but Intention based. Do not ask what is already available on the website)
b. Questions related to the electives and the architecture of the curriculum- Be specific when you are trying to understand how the curriculum has transformed their ability to perform in their post MBA Job.
c. Questions related to the professors, and some of the rockstar faculty-
d. Questions related to percentage of internationals securing jobs within your target industries and functions
e. How approachable are the alumni of your target school? How many times do you get to meet McKinsey before submitting the resume for interviews? ( Or whatever employer you had in mind)

Ajaysoni · Answer

Hi my name is ajay soni working as section officer( deputy manager) in finance department , govt. Of punjab. I m a CA. My job has involved duties of audit, court cases, pay fixation of employess including IAS officers, working on outline of projects with director,etc. ( will explain job responsibilities after wards). Now i want to do mba (1 year executive program) to enhance my profile as i want to become a controlling authority/decision maker. I know there r some vacancies in govt departments especially corporations such as ongc,etc where i may get a job profile i want after mba. My question is whether i have any option in private sector as consultant,etc after a 1 year mba from good college in india. Kindly reply asap. also tell me other options please

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

PSU-TO-PRIVATE · Answer

Hi Ajay, You can very well get a job as a consultant in top MNCs after One year MBA from IIMs/ISB. Having a non-engineering background, specifically, finance background (CA) will be advantageous for you both during admission as well as placement. IIMs/ISB prefer CA candidates as they add to the diversity of the MBA cohort. During placement, many companies look for past work experience in BFSI sector which very few in the batch posses as most of them are engineers. Big 4 audit firms such as EY, Deloitte, PwC & KPMG look for candidates like you. For more information regarding MBA and career switch from PSU to Private sector check the free resources at https://psutoprivate.com/. All the best! Team PSUtoPrivate (Exclusive career counselling platform for Govt/PSU professionals ) https://psutoprivate.com | https://www.linkedin.com/company/psutoprivate | https://www.facebook.com/Psutoprivate-104553174573802/

MBAbot · Answer

Hello from the GMAT Club MBAbot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

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