Last visit was: 29 Apr 2026, 12:04 It is currently 29 Apr 2026, 12:04
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
richrat69
Joined: 11 Jul 2012
Last visit: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 10
Posts: 10
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Accepted.com
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Last visit: 18 Dec 2022
Posts: 6,466
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Posts: 6,466
Kudos: 859
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
richrat69
Joined: 11 Jul 2012
Last visit: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 10
Posts: 10
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Accepted.com
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Last visit: 18 Dec 2022
Posts: 6,466
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Posts: 6,466
Kudos: 859
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
richrat69
Hello Team,

Please evaluate the following profile and provide guidance.

Personal - Indian/Male/29 yrs

GPA, major, school
67%, Computer Science Engineer, College ranked 35th in India including IITs & NITs

GMAT with breakdown
Scheduled coming September. Targeting 720+

Resume highlights, including company name, job titles and promotions
Worked with India's second largest software exporter for 7.3 yrs

Career Progression - Software Engineer -> Module Lead -> Programmer Analyst -> Domain consultant
Moved into consultant role (Domain consulting group) through internal gating process with multiple interview rounds. Recommended by previous project leaders

Worked with four major clients (Fortune 500) in financial services space. Lead consulting side of the engagement with two clients

International exp - 3 yrs US Geography (Durham, Minneapolis, NYC, Richmond)

Activities in addition to my performance measures-
Took part in recruitment drives
Anchored one of the presales RFP
Published POV (organization level) - Retirement services
Developed a case study (project level) - Ramping up resources
Devised targeted communication for one of the practice with audience 1500+

Extracurricular involvements
IEEE member in Undergrad
Active member of Toastmasters International
Member of NGO dedicated towards teaching and healthcare of children in need
Donations to multiple programs including World food program

Awards, patents, publications, etc...
Certifications -
Association of Mutual Funds India (AMFI) - Mutual Funds Basic
NSE’s Certification in Financial Markets (NCFM) - Securities Market Basic

Presented paper in IIT Roorkee (while in undergrad)

Interesting personal facts - countries lived in, challenges faced, unusual interests
Countries lived in - India & US. Also visited Canada – Quebec French cultural fest
Challenges faced - Took care of undergrad funding myself
Interests - Cooking, Dancing (Bollywood & Salsa), Yoga. Joined Language exchange program (in Minneapolis)

B schools targeted
i) Duke Fuqua - NC
ii) ISB Hyderabad India
iii) UNC Kenan Flagler - NC
iv) UCLA Anderson - CA
v) McCombs UT - TX

Reasons
i) Ranking - Under top 25.
ii) Geography - SE, SW. From long term perspective, I prefer job opportunities in these regions.
Iii) Relatively Fair chances of getting scholarship
iv) Plan to major in Sales/Marketing/General management

Additional background info
I moved out of previous employer in Dec 2011. Since then I haven't joined any other employer.

My aspiration of moving into client facing group (IT sales/key account mgmt/engagement) looked like a farfetched dream due to lack of qualification ie. MBA and experience. Didn't want to move to any other IT mammoth simply because they all run in same fashion and I would have ended up in same function and position

Tried for client servicing opportunities with budding organizations but to my hard luck they all either asked for qualification or core business dev experience. Got just one chance but got rejected for same reasons

Jan-June 2012 was kind of break period. I waited for right opportunities. Did some freelancing work. Also, made some personal plans, which were on back burner for long, priority.

Now I am preparing for GMAT and planning to apply for 2013-2015 class

Questions
i) Is the targeted school list good enough or should I research for some more schools also?
ii) Do I need to write an optional essay explaining my move out from previous employer?
iii) Any additional thoughts to help me in my application process?

Regards
Vish

Vish,

1) Assuming that you get the GMAT score you are aiming for, I think you have put together a reasonable list, but ISB is a stretch and I am concerned about the effect of your unemployment when you apply. I encourage you to get a job so that you can say you are employed. or at least that you are self-employed currently. If your "free-lancing" was self-employment, you may be OK, but just being unemployed for the last 9 months while you wait for the right opportunity and prepare for the GMAT puts you at a competitive disadvantage in the application process.
2) An essay explaining how you have used the last 8 months productively and as a growth opportunity might be a good idea. it really depends on what you have done.
3) While not exactly your situation, please see https://blog.accepted.com/2008/09/18/lai ... plication/ . You have good work progression, decent grades from a not-so-well-known school, hopefully a high GMAT, and a gap in employment since December. I would need to know more about what you've been doing to advise on on that, but how you handle that gap will be critical.

Best,
Linda
avatar
richrat69
Joined: 11 Jul 2012
Last visit: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 10
Posts: 10
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Linda,

Thanks for the guidance. Regarding your quote-

Quote:
I would need to know more about what you've been doing to advise on that, but how you handle that gap will be critical.
i) I did a lot of self study on sales cycle, strategies, pricing/engagement models, commercials & bidding, solving case studies etc....knowledge required to perform the role, I was looking for

ii) I worked with a friend who is in a startup - Mobile app dev and content mgmt. He needed my help to define sales plan and strategy to project his company. Also provided directions to restructure his website and to increase his company presence through social media.

iii) I knew that I need to work on public speaking and presentations skills. So I joined Toastmasters club.

iv) I had the realization that there is a lack of career counseling for kids, who are from low economic background. So I specifically joined NGO towards this cause. I attend this NGO every week, where I teach and provide career guidance to the kids.

Pursuing an MBA or starting my own business were fallback options for me. When I moved out, I kept a deadline (6months) to wait for the opportunity. After June end, I had to chose between MBA or start something of my own. To start a firm, I needed a solid business plan to sell it to investors, lot of professional connections, right set of tools etc. MBA program seemed to be right choice to satisfy all these needs.

Additional Questions:
a) Can I project effort in point ii) above in my optional essay? How will I provide the proof that I did this work? It was just a friendly support.
b) As I mentioned in my profile, I utilized initial break period for Personal time out to visit places, spending time with family & friends etc..Would it be wise to be honest and mention "personal time out" in optional essay?

Regards
Vish
User avatar
Accepted.com
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Last visit: 18 Dec 2022
Posts: 6,466
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 92
Location: Los Angeles CA
Posts: 6,466
Kudos: 859
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
richrat69
Hi Linda,

Thanks for the guidance. Regarding your quote-

Quote:
I would need to know more about what you've been doing to advise on that, but how you handle that gap will be critical.
i) I did a lot of self study on sales cycle, strategies, pricing/engagement models, commercials & bidding, solving case studies etc....knowledge required to perform the role, I was looking for

ii) I worked with a friend who is in a startup - Mobile app dev and content mgmt. He needed my help to define sales plan and strategy to project his company. Also provided directions to restructure his website and to increase his company presence through social media.

iii) I knew that I need to work on public speaking and presentations skills. So I joined Toastmasters club.

iv) I had the realization that there is a lack of career counseling for kids, who are from low economic background. So I specifically joined NGO towards this cause. I attend this NGO every week, where I teach and provide career guidance to the kids.

Pursuing an MBA or starting my own business were fallback options for me. When I moved out, I kept a deadline (6months) to wait for the opportunity. After June end, I had to chose between MBA or start something of my own. To start a firm, I needed a solid business plan to sell it to investors, lot of professional connections, right set of tools etc. MBA program seemed to be right choice to satisfy all these needs.

Additional Questions:
a) Can I project effort in point ii) above in my optional essay? How will I provide the proof that I did this work? It was just a friendly support.
b) As I mentioned in my profile, I utilized initial break period for Personal time out to visit places, spending time with family & friends etc..Would it be wise to be honest and mention "personal time out" in optional essay?

Regards
Vish

a) Sure. If you are accepted and the schools ask for proof, then you would need to give your friend's name. Obviously you can provide the web site URL .
b) Mention it yes and especially travel. That's fine. But you will probably want to focus more ii. iii, and iv when addressing the employment gap.

Best,
Linda