Still Considered a Post-MBA Hire?

I recently wrote an entry in the introduction forum that I think pretty well sums up my situation, but understandably more people seem to lurk around here than pursue random intros. In the spirit of not double-posting, I’ll throw out a few quick questions here, but feel free to take a gander over there for more info.

-Have two undergrad degrees from top 25 Liberal Arts College with terrible GPAs (BS, E. Engineering, and BA, English)

-Global MBA from flagship program of large public university. Studied in 60 countries, 6 continents (okay GPA).

-Currently Army Infantry Officer getting out next year as a CPT.

-Army is my only work experience

-Assume I’m accepted into the MA/PhD program at Oxbrdige which I just applied to. I’d be low 30s when I finished.

1) Would I have a shot getting hired as a post MBA at MBB or Tier 2?

2) Would they hire me at the same level compensation as the post MBA folks?

3) Would they be able to get over the fact that my MBA was not after work experience, nor was it MBA business schools<br /> ">M7 etc?

4) Is a low UG GPA able to be overcome considering all the factors and ten years of accomplishments?

5) Any additional advice into making this trajectory work?

 

Why are you collecting degrees instead of getting relevant work experience.:

2 BA's, MBA, MA, PHD...

Your chance of getting post-MBA consulting offer, at MBA pay scale, is slim. Almost all hiring at tier 1/2 firms is through on-campus recruiting from top 20 business schools, which you wont have access to. You can try to network your way in, which will be possible, but it'll probably be consultant not senior consultant.

 
Best Response
opsdude1:

Why are you collecting degrees instead of getting relevant work experience.:

2 BA's, MBA, MA, PHD...

Your chance of getting post-MBA consulting offer, at MBA pay scale, is slim. Almost all hiring at tier 1/2 firms is through on-campus recruiting from top 20 business schools, which you wont have access to. You can try to network your way in, which will be possible, but it'll probably be consultant not senior consultant.

1 BA, 1 BSEE actually. haha I get your point, though.

I did two undergraduate degrees because I wanted to study both engineering and english, and there was an odd New York regulation that allowed me to do this in 5 1/2 years (I was the first to do so at my school). I went for the MBA right after undergrad because it was a new trial program that allowed me to see the world for two years...an experience I will be thankful about for the rest of my life. PhD is a life goal of mine...and Oxbridge requires the MA prior. Both can be done in 4 years total, and is funded from the GI Bill I received for my service.

I'm much more concerned about life experience and living without regret than anything. If I'm 5-6 years behind in the pipeline (for my age group) when I transition to working for the rest of my life so be it...at least I'll have these experiences I've built over the past ten years.

My current goal is to figure out how to get there when I'm done with all this. One benefit to my experiences is they have provided pretty strong networks and after quick linked in searches, there is a pretty large presence at both MBB and the Big 4. I'm hoping to network my way into an internship or two over the next few summers to attempt to bridge the gap of experience and start speaking the same language.

I'd like to think that having a PhD from a target school would help bridge the gap and I could obtain the Post MBA hire flat rates, but if I have to start our a rung below I would. Perhaps I'll be making 200k at 36 instead of 30...there are worse choices that I could have made.

My main goal now though is figuring out how to get in the door with these credentials/goals

 

I went back and read many of your previous posts and I can see that you are speaking from experience here (being a PhD holder, and in the business). Certainly makes your input much more valuable. I’m guessing you either came out of industry yourself after a short stint or pivoted directions sometime during your studies. You’re probably right that the value added by the degree (in the hiring process) is not worth the huge opportunity cost. While my costs would undoubtedly be less with a 3 year funded process vs a 5-7 year US school, your point still remains.

I’m wondering if a compromise could be achieved. If I’m accepted into the Oxbridge Masters next month I could always just complete the 9 month funded degree and move right into consulting from there, rather than attempt to stay on for the PhD. This would allow me to learn a little more about something I’m passionate about, spend one more year abroad, receive a target school brand name, and hopefully\probably achieve distinction in my grades to help offset some possible fears about my abysmal undergraduate transcripts.

Additionally, I exit the Army in FEB16, so I have to defer the Masters one year to OCT16. This might allow me to lock down a summer internship and possibly even a return offer during Summer 16. I would then be available for FT Summer 17. This puts me at 31 years old starting as a post MBA hire (hopefully) ...not that far off my peers I’d imagine. Key to this would be figuring out how to get such an internship as such a nontraditional candidate.

This adds:

Stronger Brand Name Stronger Grades Internship Experience

Vet or not, I worry someone with a 2.95 EE Degree is going in the trash even with solid networking opportunities. I feel like I need to offset this.

Any thoughts?

 

I think a more relevant question should be why you would want to do consulting when you are done with your studies. With that experience and the backgound I imagine there are many more fulfilling careers than MBB, and from what you've done in the past, you don't seem to be the type who values money / career progression over all the other important aspects of a job.

Also, if you dont mind me asking, which MBA lets you study in 60 countries and how did this work? 2 weeks in each country for 2 years?

 

Ditto on the 60 countries... is that a typo? If not, that is crazy and amazing all at the same time. Kudos to you for your resume... and I don't think I've ever met a military person with an MBA...who wanted to get into finance. Maybe I am just ignorant? I would agree - no need to collect 294928 degrees and your compromise with just the Oxford Masters sounds feasible to me. Just my two cents. ;] Good luck.

 

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