Career Guidance

[anshulgoel.work]

Hello

I would like to know what all would I be required to do so as to secure a seat in a top B-school for MBA but before that I want to brief you about my background.

Presently I am an undergraduate student doing Bachelors in Technology (Computer Science & Engineering) from a not very renowned university in India with a CGPA of 8.3/10. I have done a six months internship at CERN(European Organisation for Nuclear Research,Geneva,Switzerland) as an Associate Computer Scientist. Recently I have secured a job as Software Engineer in Capgemini (In Capgemini in 2-3 years one can become an IT consultant).

Although I am pursuing Computer Science & Engineering but I have always been interested in finance. It's not just for the sake of saying finance but I have got my financial proposal worth INR 2 million implemented in my university.

I have also taken many leadership roles that include
1. Senator in my university Students Senate for 2 consecutive years.
2. Presently Advisor to Dean(Student Affairs) in my university.
3. Founding Member of the Entrepreneurship Cell in my university.
4. Teaching Associate in Software Engineering Course at my university.

Moreover as far as Co-curricular activities are concerned I have achieved the following

1. Stood first in Inter-house football tournament at my university and second in the consecutive year.
2. Stood second in Intra-University programming contest.
3. Selected amongst 35 students all over India for Channel Discovery's RKRA camp.


I have got to know about the Indian IT Male phenomenon and hence I am worried. I am planning to apply for B-schools after I have a working experience of 5-6 years.

Can you please suggest me what all avenues/options I can pursue that will help me in making my candidature unique which I think eventually will help me in bagging a seat in a B-school. Should I join Capgemini? Or what all firms should I aim at? Or should I go for courses like Masters in Economics?

A reply would be highly appreciated.

Anshul Goel

[mili]

Hi Anshul,

It's great that you are thinking ahead. I would say that it might make sense to take the role at CapGemini, but really work to position yourself in a non-IT and more business-oriented role over the next several years. Alternatively, you could try to get a job in a non-IT role immediately (if it's possible to do this, you might be able to gain much more valuable experience than you would otherwise, since your first few years at CapGemini would likely be very technical). If you can get onto the consultant track, at least, that would help.

Outside of professionally orienting yourself towards business roles, it is important that you continue the leadership that you've demonstrated in school. Join a nonprofit/community organization - take a leadership role, make a difference. Keep active in extracurricular activities - coach a football team or something like - whatever you're passionate about.

Being active outside of work in meaningful activities and demonstrating team leadership through them is going to be very important.

Beyond that, try to do well on the GMAT!

I don't think that taking business or econ courses is necessary to be competitive at a top MBA (unless your GMAT score is low). It's much more about your professional, community and social leadership.

Good luck,
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
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[anshulgoel.work]

Thanks Mili for your advice.

I also wanted to know that when we talk about the role of consultant, is IT consultancy also a part of it or is it pure Management consultancy. Moreover would going for the role of an analyst in a technical firm make sense or should it be totally inclined towards a business firm.

In fact I am thinking of incepting a startup that would side by side cater to the betterment of the society by helping the under-privileged people. Would that count as social-work since a startup is generally for the sake of making profits.

Thanks again!
Anshul Goel

[mili]

Hi Anshul,

Unfortunately, the more you can separate yourself from IT, the better. However, working in the tech industry isn't necessarily bad, it's more important that your role be business oriented. Hope that helps - of course, there are no hard and fast rules.

Yes, I think your social enterprise would count as community work, assuming you'd demonstrated meaningful impact on the community through it. If it's just an idea, I don't think it'll count. But if it's operational and making a difference, then yes!

Good luck,
Mili