No Experience? Poor Grades? No Problem!
During the application process, many candidates may be anxious about discussing certain areas of their past background. Every applicant will have weak points. To many, a lack of work experience or mediocre undergraduate performance seem like deal breakers. However, experts say that such disadvantages can be overcome. Here are some strategies for doing just that.
Below Average Work Experience
A majority of the top MBA programs tend to seek applicants who have at least two years of workplace experience. For those who lack such experience, it may be helpful to highlight other areas of your application. Linda Abraham is CEO and founder of Accepted.com, a leading MBA admissions consultancy. In an article for Poets & Quants, Abraham says applicants lacking work experience should demonstrate the following characteristics in their essay, resume, and recommendations:
- Affirmative, practical reasons for applying at this specific time.
- Outstanding professional growth.
- Exceptional impact, leadership, achievement.
- Maturity.
- Ability to contribute socially and academically to the program.
Often, applicants lacking work experience can demonstrate their potential through extracurricular activities. According to Clear Admit, an MBA resource, utilizing extracurricular and undergraduate activities can demonstrate leadership experience and potential.
“As a younger applicant, it is important for you to use whatever experiences you have had thus far (internships, collegiate activities, part-time work, community service, etc.) to demonstrate your leadership and responsibility, displaying your experience as well as your potential for personal growth and ability to benefit your target MBA programs,” Clear Admit reports.
Lack of Rigorous Undergraduate Coursework
A stellar academic background can demonstrate to admissions committees that you have a strong working knowledge. Stacy Blackman, a contributor at US News and founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, says MBA admissions committees often assess trends in an applicant’s transcript to look for an applicant’s experience in quantitative coursework. For applicants who lack rigorous quant coursework, it may be helpful to show initiative in improving quant skills.
“If your undergraduate academics are lacking and you’re a few years removed from student life, your best course of action is to show awareness of these weaknesses and enroll in a calculus or statistics class at a local community college,” Blackman says in a recent US News piece. “You want to show that you can handle the heavy math right now, despite what your transcript may lead the committee to believe. As a busy professional, adding to your workload in this way shows your ability to multitask – a strength worth highlighting.”
Rigorous coursework and workplace experience are two critical factors MBA admissions committees will look for in an applicant. If you lack these two, showing initiative and commitment to overcoming these weaknesses will demonstrate that you are a worthy candidate for admission.
Sources: US News, Poets & Quants, Accepted.com, Clear Admit
Using LinkedIn When Applying to MBA Programs
For any business professional, networking is a necessary path to building connections. Now, virtual networking through online networks like LinkedIn have proven to be just as important as in-person networking.
Making Yourself More Personable
Sharon Joyce is a director at MBA admissions coaching firm Fortuna Admissions and former Berkeley Haas associate director of admissions. In a Poets & Quants article, Joyce says MBA applicants should ensure that their LinkedIn profile reflects their MBA application.
“Look to amplify your LinkedIn profile as part of your business school application process,” she writes. “And as you do, consider your key audiences, which are now MBA admissions and alumni, as well as students and faculty of your target programs.”
More than simply a resume, LinkedIn offers MBA students the opportunity to illustrate a more personable image of themselves.
Libby Graves is an executive coach who works with McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. In a Financial Times article, Graves says LinkedIn can help differentiate candidates from one another.
“The LinkedIn profile gives you an opportunity to go beyond that historical, chronological event-based resume and say more about who you are, what you do and why you do what you do,” Graves tells Financial Times.
Networking, Connecting, and Publishing
In addition to reflecting your application, LinkedIn can also help you connect with target schools and alumni.
“Take it a step further by following the people or groups leading conversations in arenas you’re passionate about, such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy or social innovation,” Joyce writes. “If you can demonstrate you’re a subject matter expert engaged in the issues, it can help to differentiate you from others with a static profile.”
Following topics and discussing issues you’re passionate about can demonstrate initiative to admissions committees. Derek Pando is an MBA graduate who gives professional advice on his personal blog, Tech Waffles. In a Financial Times article, Pando says MBA students can differentiate themselves by publishing content on LinkedIn that they are passionate about.
“Whether that’s publishing long-form content on LinkedIn, sharing a blog post they wrote or just giving their commentary on things that are happening,” he tells Financial Times.
Like anything regarding social media, it’s wise to exercise good judgment. If used right, LinkedIn can serve as a powerful tool in differentiating yourself to admissions committees.
Sources: Poets & Quants, Financial Times
How Social Media Influences MBA Admissions
In the internet age, nearly everyone has a presence on social media. Yet, MBA applicants and students needs to be especially careful when it comes to social media activity.
Social Media is a Reflection of an Applicant’s “Personal Brand”
Over a third of admissions officers say they look at a candidate’s social media profile when reviewing at an application, according to Kaplan Test Prep survey data.
Paola Eicher, an MBA recruitment manger with IMD, recently told Financial Times that reviewing an applicant’s social media offers a more authentic portrayal outside a traditional application.
“Some applications are too polished, too similar,” Eicher tells Financial Times. “Often, admissions coaches don’t help candidates edit their social media profiles, so they can provide an unfiltered view.”
Lisa Bevill is a director at Fortuna Admissions and former MBA Admissions Director at IE Business School in Madrid, Spain. In a Poets & Quants article, Bevill says an applicant’s social media presence is a reflection of his or her personal brand.
“They want to know if the profile presented in your resume and application is consistent across your personal and professional identities,” she writes. “This means your social media imprint should be aligned with how you perceive your personal brand.”
Watch Your Activity and Update Privacy Settings
When applying to business schools, it’s important to be mindful of what kind of activity is present on your social media platforms. Experts advise applicants to update their Facebook privacy settings to ensure there aren’t any visibly embarrassing photos.
Karen Marks is the founder of North Star Admissions Consulting. In a Poets & Quants article, Marks says a good rule of thumb regarding photos is to not have any that “you wouldn’t want your boss to see.”
In terms of social media activity, Marks advises applicants to be cautious about what they “like” – including schools you may be interested in.
“It’s better not to telegraph your complete list to admissions officers or students, and you definitely don’t want them to think that you prefer another program,” Marks writes. “It’s also a good idea to avoid participating in online discussions about highly controversial topics.”
Positive Impact of Social Media
While social media may negatively impact an applicant’s admission, it may also have positive effects. According to Kaplan Test Prep, nearly 48% of business schools say they found something on an applicant’s social media that positively influenced their chance of admission. If an applicant has a hobby or an interest they are passionate about, actively demonstrating that interest on social media may leave a positive first impression on admissions committees.
“We got a better understanding of the student. We got to learn more about their hobbies, and ambitions,” one admissions official reported.
With anything on social media, it’s important to be mindful about what you share. Anything is fair game and if you’re unsure about something may fare among admissions committees, it’s best not to post it.
Sources: Financial Times, Poets & Quants, Poets & Quants, Poets & Quants
Bain consultants meeting in a lobby
Bain & Company Is on a Hiring Spree
Bain is hiring more MBA interns than ever before.
Consultancy.uk – a news publication that covers the consulting industry – reports that Bain & Company expects to recruit 500 MBAs who will, in turn, be converted to full-time employees.
In the past five years, Bain has had a record level growth of interns. Consultancy.uk reports that 90% of intern placements end in full-time offers at the firm.
“We are the only one of three management consulting firms that make a consistent, concerted effort to hire second year MBAs,” Keith Bevans, Bain’s Global Head of Consulting Recruitment, tells Consultancy.uk. “Our competitors didn’t hold second-year recruitment events on-campus in 2017. Our business is strong enough that we need to hire second-year MBAs and our largest summer intern class ever as well.”
MBAs Report Positive Experiences at Bain
For MBAs, it seems the relationship is mutual. A number of MBAs at Bain who spoke to Poets & Quants say that they are treated as future leaders at the firm.
“It’s an extremely supportive environment,” says Raiko Shareef, an INSEAD grad who works out of Bain’s Sydney office. “The first thing we do on a case is talk about individual working styles, and how best we can work with one another, followed by a discussion of our non-work commitments, and how we can help each other keep to those.”
Margaret Munford, a Duke MBA from the Atlanta office, tells Poets & Quants that Bain is “a place to come if you want to solve big harry challenges with people that you really enjoy.”
Seeking to Instill Company Values in the Top MBA Students
Bevans says that Bain strives to instill the firm’s values through modeling and mentorship.
“We can train you really well, but you’re going to learn a lot from the mentors and the people you work with,” he says. “Having a home office model that allows you to see the world and get international experience while still being part of one group makes it feel very different to work here.”
According to Consultancy.uk, Bain mostly recruits MBAs from the top-20 ranked business schools including Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, Chicago Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and IE Business School.
Want to learn more about what Bain seeks in MBA hires? Click here.
Sources: Consultancy.uk, Poets & Quants, Poets & Quants
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