Using GMAT score to get an internship/job?

Question

I will be starting at a "Near Elite" school this fall with pretty weak WE but a good GMAT score (760). I heard that M/B/B ask for GMAT scores, but do the mid-range consulting firms and other industries also use the GMAT for recruiting? Can I use my GMAT score to get a good internship somewhere?

bakfed · Answer

I believe most, if not all, mid to top consulting firms will ask for GMAT scores. The GMAT score itself will not help you land a job but it can get you the interview that you need. Once you're in the interview room, little has to do with your GMAT than your ability to crack the case.

bakfed · Answer

And to answer your other question - generally speaking, only consulting and ibanking will ask for your GMAT score. Most other fields couldn't care less about it.

forsale · Answer

What can I do to get one of these interviews? I go to a school that has 1 or 2 of M/B/B at OCI, but we aren't really a target school. Should I just make my GMAT score stand out on my resume and hope for the best? Do these places consider candidates with weak WE if they have the requisite potential? What about the ones who don't interview at my school? Do I just submit online and hope for the best?

Jerz · Answer

Network, network, network. No matter how high your GMAT, there will be plenty of other candidates who have equally impressive scores so there's no way to stand out purely because of your score. Use any connections you have with people at the firms - friends, friends of coworkers, alumni of your school, firm employees recruiting at your school, etc. - to talkto as many people at the firm as possible. More than anything else, you need to recruit people inside the firm to bang the table for you that you deserve to work there, especially coming from a non-target school.

linwqiu · Answer

Jerz, would you share more on how to do effective networking. My network is quite accidental. I enjoy meeting people, but I can become very awkward when I network with an agenda. When you connect with people at the firms that you are interested to work in, what do you talk about? Are you trying to become friends or to market yourself? Thanks Thanks!

Jerz · Answer

Think of it almost like dating. You're not trying to overly sell yourself, but at the same time you want the person to like you. An easy place to start is asking them about themselves: how long have they worked with the firm, how do they like working there, where did they go to school, how do they like living in X city, etc. If the person is at all social they'll probably ask you about yourself too. Then, hopefully you've identified some areas of common interest and you can talk to those. The purpose of this conversation isn't explicitly for you to give them an elevator pitch about why you should work there (unless they ask), but to get them to like you and see that you're the kind of person they want on their team.

neevedu · Answer

Great guys.

Using GMAT score to get an internship/job?

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