Hi
BNabs88,
If my scrolling is correct, it looks like you never received a proper response to your Haas post from a few weeks back. If you applied in Round 1, then I realize some of this is after-the-fact. Though if you're invited to interview, these points will definitely still hold value.
GMAT & WORK EXPERIENCEYour GMAT score is strong and there's a lot to like about your work experience and advancement. I'd be sure to unpack the value there. Progressing from contractor to middle office to top-tier hedge fund / asset manager and work directly alongside leadership is compelling and can reveal a lot about you. I'm curious to know more about your role. "Trade support specialist" seems to dilute some of the more powerful, frontline (working alongside CIO/COO) and investment / analytical (portfolio optimization) references you make. I'd also be curious to unpack your impact and leadership experiences.
CAREER GOALSThe main challenge I see relates to your career goals. Perhaps you explained the logic and preparation behind this in great detail in your 300-word goals essay (if you've already applied), but whether it's for Haas or any other program, you will really need to develop the rationale and credibility behind that goal. Going from a multi-year career in different corners of financial services to "product management" in one broad stroke of the brush is likely to fall flat or read as unconvincing. On top of that, "product management" is one of the most commonly cited post-MBA goals. Without proper development, it can read as though you simply picked it off of the "what do people say they want to do post-MBA" list.
If product management is indeed your post-MBA goal, then you will really need to unpack why, how that interest developed, and what you've done to this point to make it believable that you can land a product management job at one of the companies you cited post-MBA. For example, folks with a long career in finance who want to transition into product management might have worked on tech-oriented initiatives along the way, or taken a coding class outside of work to build out their baseline tech skills. On its face, I don't quite see the relevance or preparation for you, and I think that such a stark "financial services to product management" narrative feels a bit unsubstantiated for you.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WRT YOUR GOALS, WHY MBA, WHY XYZ SCHOOLKeep these questions and frameworks in mind as you break down, build up, and articulate your goals: How does who I am and what I've done to this point PLUS the MBA equal or lead to my specific short- and long-term goals? What knowledge, skills, and experience do I already have that are relevant to these goals? What knowledge, skills, and experience do I lack toward these goals, and therefore wish to acquire via the MBA? How exactly will I acquire those things at each MBA program to which I apply (very specifically... courses, clubs, extracurriculars, special programs, location, community, culture, career opportunities, etc.)? What are the "goals within my goals"? What specific products would you want to work on at these companies and why are those best suited for your skills and desired impact? What is the passion and purpose behind these goals? You can read more about goal and school specificity here:
https://www.avantiprep.com/blog/the-mos ... on-processOTHER CONSIDERATIONSTwo final observations. I'd be curious to know more about your involvement, as a total lack of engaged community citizenship beyond a couple of hobbies and sports should be addressed. And from a work experience perspective, you are seemingly on the higher side of the range for most U.S. programs. Haas tends to be more open-minded toward "older" candidates, so that helps, but you should be super proactive in conveying "why MBA" and "why now" for you. (Connects back to your goals, too.)
[For what it's worth, I'm a Berkeley-Haas grad and originally came out of finance myself. Happy to chat with you or anyone else interested in Haas. Please feel free to sign up for a Free Consultation any time via this link:
https://www.avantiprep.com/free-consultation.html]
Thanks,
Greg
BNabs88 wrote:
Hey guys, seems we're all piling in here now! Hoping I can get some feedback on my profile:
Background and nationality
English, based in UK - recently turned 30
Undergrad Information
BSc Economics - University of Bath - Second Class Honors First Division (roughly converts to 3.4 GPA I think)
GMAT: 740 (Q49, V41, IR 8, AWA - Not yet received)
Work experience and leadership:
(I have removed organisation names for sake of anonymity, but they are all internationally recognised)
Associate at Segregated Hedge Fund within top tier Investment Bank/Asset Manager (London, UK), 1.5 years, will be 2.5 by the time I start MBA:
• Running monthly meetings with the CIO and COO on portfolio optimisation
• Implementing and monitoring controls to meet the latest industry regulatory standards
• Trade support specialist to portfolio managers covering a wide range of financial instruments
• Achieved the highest possible grade on latest year end evaluation
Analyst at Middle Office in top tier Investment Bank X (London, UK), 3yrs:
• Primary support contact for the department’s highest revenue-generating clients – received top service rankings from two of the world’s largest institutional investors
• Unofficially supervised/mentored junior members of the team
• Escalation point for off-shore teams regarding trade matching, trade confirmations, and cash settlements
• Worked with our trading desk, sales desk and clients to resolve post-trade disputes
Contractor at top tier Investment Bank Y (London, UK), 1yr - this was only ever a short term role while I was looking for good permanent opportunities:
• Daily trade reports and reconciliations
• Manual entry of trades into risk capture and cash payment systems
• Communicated daily with the trading desk in order to ensure my team were meeting their needs.
Full-time Internship (post-university) at top tier Investment Bank Z (New York, USA), 1yr:
• Played a key role in a revenue reconciliation and recovery project, resulting in the firm recouping over $350,000 in missed revenue over a six-month period.
• Created detailed reports for sales teams enabling them to monitor revenue streams, and identify new business opportunities.
• Produced a daily Profit & Loss report and developed it into an easy to read snapshot for sales and trading teams, and senior management.
Full-time Internship (third year of degree was year long industry placement before returning for final year) at top tier Investment Bank W (London, UK), 1yr:
• Managed clients with the assistance of senior colleagues
• Created and delivered informative monthly presentations on key topics to senior management and peers.
• Supported senior colleagues to provide high level service to our focus clients
Community and others:
Amateur soccer player, fitness training, tennis, skiing, athletics, and stock market investing.
Severe lack of volunteering, although have previously done very minor fundraising for charity
Post MBA goals:
I aspire to work in a Product Management role at a large and innovative technology company based on the West Coast, such as Amazon, Microsoft or Google. My ultimate goal is to use my experience to launch a consumer focused financial technology company.
Thanks in advance all!
_________________
Greg Guglielmo
Founder | Avanti Prep
MBA Admissions Consulting
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