Hey guys, I'm thinking to apply for MBA this year (2018 Class) but few of my friends think it's too early. My background/bio(?) is like below. Asian male Current Career: Analyst of mid-cap PE since '16 Jan -> 2.5 year work experience before getting into MBA Goal: relocation to H.K. or N.Y. I'm wondering whether my work experience is enough to get a post-MBA job or not. Thx.

If you have to add decimal points to your years of work experience to make it look more substantial, then you're probably not ready. Most finance folks will have 4 years at matriculation (3 yrs analyst, 1 yr PE/HF/VC/IM/corp/startup, or 2 yrs analyst, 2 yrs PE/HF/VC/IM/corp/startup; basically 3+1, or 2+2). Your chances with less experience are slim when you're up against these applicants. Work at least another year. Those post-MBA jobs you're looking at are irrelevant if you can't get into b-school in the first place at this point in time.

There's a million thread on this topic so I would advice you to check up on those, but in summary, PE (at least in the US, I'll admit I know less about HK, but I doubt it's much different) is an industry that has a fairly structured career path where the immense majority of people come in either pre-MBA (as associate or analyst) or immediately after their MBA (as senior associate or VP). There's limited recruitment done outside of those channels and when there is, firms typically will get lateral candidates (ie. people already in PE).

Mar 01, 2017

Too early for MBA?

Hey guys, I'm thinking to apply for MBA this year (2018 Class) but few of my friends think it's too early.
My background/bio(?) is like below.

Asian male
Current Career: Analyst of mid-cap PE since '16 Jan -> 2.5 year work experience before getting into MBA
Goal: relocation to H.K. or N.Y.

I'm wondering whether my work experience is enough to get a post-MBA job or not.

Thx.

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HiWSO

Senior Baboon

FYI, I joined the firm right out of college. I've involved in few buyout deals so far and am currently participating in monitoring portfolio companies.

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mtnmmnn

Almost Human

I think the issue is that you'll be competing for jobs with people that did a 2+2 (and often and 2+3 or 3+2) and I think it will be hard to overcome the fact that you have a year and half or more less of experience.I would wait at least an extra year.

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disabledaccount

Senior Neanderthal

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mtnmmnn:

I think the issue is that you'll be competing for jobs with people that did a 2+2 (and often and 2+3 or 3+2) and I think it will be hard to overcome the fact that you have a year and half or more less of experience.I would wait at least an extra year.

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Less than 2yr preMBA here, this comment is pretty true. Quite intimidating to have the median 5yr classmates.

But honestly I think I could crank it out as-is, with some more extra work. Maybe not all options are open, but a good number of things would if I work a bit harder during breaks.

All in all, it depends on if you're ready.

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HiWSO

Senior Baboon

Understood, but then how about getting into IBD in HK/NY as of stepping stone just out of MBA? Think the competition is lower than PE position. I'd like to relocate through mba as soon as possible considering opportunity cost...

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mtnmmnn

Almost Human

You would be fine for IBD, but you shouldn't think of it as a stepping stone, it would be incredibly difficult to come back to PE after going this route.

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Ehmerica

Senior Neanderthal

I always thought 3 years was the minimum.

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Only two sources I trust, Glenn Beck and singing woodland creatures.

MBAApply

Almost Human

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Alex Chu www.mbaapply.com

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