Recently in MBA Category

Actually I noticed that Interviewbay.com linked to this blog a while ago, but it’s nice to receive an email acknowledgement from them:

Hi Vanessa

You have created a great resource for MBA applicants, and especially for people who are looking to get into INSEAD. We have added your blog as one of the best blogs to help INSEAD applicants. You can visit http://www.interviewbay.com/interview_resources.php for more information.

Read on for more info about Interviewbay, based on the email they sent me.

Over the past several months, I have been contacted by INSEAD applicants who have asked for advice on various topics. While I haven’t met them in person, I’ve replied to their queries as best as I can.

Now that I’ve resumed work, it has been harder to set aside time to help these people. Regretfully, I cannot promise to meet them in person or answer more than a couple of questions.

Since being contacted by several such applicants, I’m now wondering if it is possible to tell, after a single meeting or some email correspondence and a glance of the resume, whether a candidate has a chance of getting into INSEAD.

Surely the Admissions Board will be going over the applications with a finer-toothed comb, but perhaps a rough gauge is possible, if Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink theory holds true.

Firstly, from the type of questions asked, I can tell if a candidate has done his/her homework. Some questions are basic and you can find the answers on the INSEAD website or via Google or other students’ blogs. Thus if you ask that type of question I’d get the impression that you’re not a thorough sort of person and/or aren’t taking this seriously enough.

Secondly, I look at the person’s background, because INSEADers tend to have international experience. I also see if the candidate has some unusual interests that could help him/her stand out from the tonne of applicants. I’ve answered queries related to first round interviews, and predicted correctly that one candidate would most likely get offered a place (from how she described her first interview experience).

I have answered queries related to the culture of INSEAD versus other similar European business schools, because that is something more personal and not easy to suss out from corporate brochures. Also, it is very important to find the right fit. Even if you meet the academic and work experience requirements, the interviews will help assess if you can fit into our culture. For that, I cannot advise you to be anything other than yourself.

Whatever the case, I do hope that those who contact me via this blog have already read through my posts first as they give a deeper Insight into what I’ve experienced. If, after doing so, some queries remain, then by all means drop me a note and I’ll do my best to help, even if it may take me longer to respond now.

I do this because - being a typical ENFJ type - I have a genuine interest in people, generally. All the more when meeting (fellow) future business leaders of the world! Also, by publishing this blog and showing up in search engines, I am aware that people will contact me. However I do appreciate getting queries that are incisive, where the answers are not easily found elsewhere online.

Finally, I do get a little vicarious joy in hearing, several months later, that someone I advised has made it to INSEAD. This has just happened and I hope to hear more good news from a couple other candidates soon. It also reminds me of the time, over 2 years ago, when I received the acceptance phone call from France and could scarcely contain myself with happiness.

I hope many of you reading this, who are seriously intending to apply to INSEAD or another top business school, will experience that feeling as well.

So you’ve gotten into business school. Apart from sorting out the usual issues like accommodation and tuition financing, there’s also the tricky issue of telling your boss and colleagues that you’re leaving, period (for full-timers) or at least, leaving on the dot (for part-timers doing night classes).

For those doing full-time MBAs, leaving the organisation can be a sensitive issue. Management could have any of the following impressions:

“So…this place isn’t good enough for you.” Depending on the nature of your boss, he may be a little sensitive of your perception that he has been unable to help you move ahead the way you want to. Was he not good enough a mentor? Was it the environment you’re in? Somehow, directly or indirectly, your boss has been responsible for a good part of your work experience and it could reflect on him. So be tactful and positive, and thank your boss for the opportunities he’s given you.

“We could have worked out something if you told us earlier.” This is a tricky situation because you’re damned if you tell your boss about your MBA plans, and you’re damned if you don’t. One workaround for those in companies that conduct regular performance reviews is to mention in your personal statement of your intention to take further studies. This can be useful in diffusing accusations of any lack of transparency on the part of the employee.

“Go, with our blessing. Hope you come back one day.” This is the best reaction but it is hard to come by. If management is enlightened enough to tell you this, consider returning to the company at a higher position after getting experience elsewhere, because this is a place that trusts and respects its employees.

For those studying part-time, the issue is less sensitive. The most important factor is time management. You’ll still be working with the company, but remember that you may no longer be able to pull off a late-nighter in the office to meet a tight deadline. You’ll be in night class, and you need to focus completely on what the lecturer’s saying, not what the client’s demanding.

Explain to your boss that you need to leave the office by a certain time every day. Get him to agree to this at the very onset, so that no expectations will be mismatched. On your part, ensure that you also arrive at work early or punctually, so that colleagues will not envy you for clocking in less hours and getting away with it. You will need your colleagues even more so, now that you won’t be able to stay back late to finish any work.

It can also be mentally exhausting to work full time and head off to school every day. Make sure that you have support from your partner and family. Sleep regular hours, have a balanced diet and keep yourself fit. This is not the time to fall ill, because you’ll miss work (income, prospects) and school (knowledge).

Whichever MBA path you’re taking, be clear as to what your objectives are. Don’t use your MBA plans solely as a bargaining tool, because it may backfire. Don’t lie about the offers you’ve received because you may be found out - and that speaks a lot about your character. Stick to your chosen path.

Good luck!

I am one step closer to Fontainebleau, and I thank God for it. I was informed that I was shortlisted last week, and have just received further instruction as to who will interview me. Last weekend I met up with a newly-graduated INSEAD Alumnus who is currently going for job interviews.

I’m going to do a bit of research on my interviewers and contact them. Hopefully there will not be scheduling problems which other INSEAD interviewees have experienced.