Career change into consulting, or stay in static job before MBA?
Hi guys, I'm trying to figure out what to do to maximize my chances of getting into a top MBA program next year, and would appreciate some advice.
I'm 24 now, and will have 3 years of full-time working experience when I apply to business schools next year. I work in a fairly unique field, analyzing corporate governance at Russian companies and providing recommendations to western investors that hold stakes in these companies on how to vote their shares, which directors to support, transactions to approve, etc. Only a handful of firms do this, and ours is #1, and I'm the main Russia analyst. I want to pursue a career in management consulting in Russia after my MBA.
My current job is interesting and unique, but it A. has no room for career growth (the main drawback), and B. is not consulting.
So I'm wondering what would be better for getting into a top MBA program: 1. Stay put where I am, or 2. Try to get into consulting now, before applying for an MBA, to get a foothold in the industry, and show "growth" on my MBA app.
My thinking is that it's better to stay put and try to leverage my experience with this Russian corporate governance thing (putting me in the "oddball" pool of applicants), rather than casting myself into the middle of the highly competitive pool of "consulting" applicants, where I will not really stand out, and which does not fit with the overall Russia line I'm trying to take.
But how bad is that my job is static, from an MBA admissions perspective?





If you can switch now, why not?
I don't see how moving into consulting now could possible detract from your applications... especially if that is your long-term goal anyhow. Like you said, at the very least it will give you a future network in the industry for you to move back into it easily after graduation. Your Russian experience will still be on your resume, no one can take that away from you.
That said, IMO you have more than enough experience already to compete at the very best schools (assuming you score well on the GMAT/GRE) so if you do not have a great opportunity to switch to consulting now, I wouldn't let it bother you too much.
To be honest, it sounds like
To be honest, it sounds like you have a pretty interesting job - certainly moreso than the cookie cutter consulting jobs that you seem to want. I know, grass is always greener...
I'd stay put. Switching to consulting isn't really "growth" but may seem that way if you yourself perceive consulting as a step up from your current industry (which may not be what adcoms will perceive).
Alex Chu
www.mbaapply.com
Cool. Thanks for the advice,
Cool. Thanks for the advice, guys.