consulting analyst prestige/advantage?

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>i have an opportunity for a general management job (with supervisory responsibilities) at a large company right out of college, which i’d THINK would look good to top MBA programs. however, such jobs don’t really seem too prestigious to seniors at my college, who’d prefer getting an analyst position at a top consulting firm. </p>

<p>i’d prefer to be managing people than crunching numbers, but i ultimately don’t want to disadvantage myself from getting into a top MBA program. </p>

<li><p>in terms of getting into a top MBA program, which one would be better? </p></li>
<li><p>is the analyst experience and prestige worth it to pass up the general management opportunity? or can i wait to try for an associate consultant position after my MBA? </p></li>
<li><p>when the collegeconfidential generation starts filling the business leadership ranks, do you think not having a prestigious consulting (or ibanking) firm on your resume would be a huge disadvantage?</p></li>
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2

<p>
[quote]
1. in terms of getting into a top MBA program, which one would be better?

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</p>

<p>I don't know, I'm an engineer and I didn't get into a top MBA program. However, with a low gpa, 8 years technical engineering experience, and an excellent GMAT score I got into a top 25. Still, you will probably get generic responses from those around here that it's not just your job, but what you do in it. I won't give you that. Though my knowledge is based on my own research and limited real world experience.</p>

<p>IMO, if everyone is doing it (the analyst job) then in 2-5 years time, or whenever you are applying for school, there will be a lot more applications with analyst experience, probably a majority. Assuming that a majority of the applications get rejected from the top 10 schools than what would make yours any difference? They will have the same education, same experience, same GMAT, same GPA, etc. What will make yours stand out?</p>

<p>
[quote]

  1. is the analyst experience and prestige worth it to pass up the general management opportunity? or can i wait to try for an associate consultant position after my MBA?

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<p>It seems to me that business schools look for real world experience creating leaders, they want the cream that rises to the top, regardless of the industry, field, or job. Business school transform, reshapes, educates. While it may be 50% prestige and networking, it is also a springboard of skills and confidence that opens doors that previously didn't exist. </p>

<p>Looking at consulting companies and their career path pages they seem to pull into the associate position from MBAs, not "MBAs with previous consultant experience". You write "pass up" as though it would be your first choice. I think people do better in jobs they enjoy and see the benefit for. If you take the analyst job just for experience and presitgue you will hate it and probably not do as well, because it sounds like you hate number crunching, and that's not a big deal. It's not every one's talent.</p>

<p>If you want to get into consulting and want to avoid the number crunching for now than I don't see what the big deal would be to get into the management position. It's easier to tell managers what they are doing wrong and how to improve if you've actually been one.</p>

<p>
[quote]
3. when the collegeconfidential generation starts filling the business leadership ranks, do you think not having a prestigious consulting (or ibanking) firm on your resume would be a huge disadvantage?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Depends. If you don't have one make sure to have a very strong network of powerful people, since that is probably all prestige is worth.</p>

<p>Granted, I'm speaking from having only watched the movie The Skulls, and no real world experience.</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
1. in terms of getting into a top MBA program, which one would be better?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If you are aiming for consulting jobs at M/B/B and get an offer, take it. These three firms have a ridiculous acceptance rate to top 10 MBA programs. Additionally, having one of those 3 names on your resume makes you golden and an excellent candidate for management positions a Fortune 500 companies.</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
They will have the same education, same experience, same GMAT, same GPA, etc. What will make yours stand out?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>problem is, i get the impression that top ibankers and top consultants are who the elite b-schools are really impressed by (and get a lot of apps from), and entrepreneurs, managers, career-changers, and others are added for diversity after they get their fair share of ibankers and consultants. granted, this isn't from looking at their class profiles, but more from this website and other business-oriented students. </p>

<p>
[quote]
You write "pass up" as though it would be your first choice.

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<p>yes, you are correct, the general management position would be my first choice based solely on job responsibilities. but plenty of people are willing to make a sacrifice for a resume boost early in their career, and the benefits of a career jump-starting job are attractive too, therein lies my dilemma </p>

<p>
[quote]
Additionally, having one of those 3 names on your resume makes you golden and an excellent candidate for management positions a Fortune 500 companies.

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</p>

<p>what if i am offered a level 1 management position in a management fast-track position at a fortune 500? (scenario is possible since i interned for this company and interviewed for the position... for background: MBAs also interview for the same position, and it's straight to level 1 w/o the pre-management rotations that most big companies have). still go for M/B/B? what if my options were booz allen, deloitte, accenture, LEK, etc? </p>

<p>i guess a better question to ask is: would being in a level 1 management position in a F500 for 3 years followed by 1-2 years in a 2nd level management position in the same company be good enough for top 5 b-schools? </p>

<p>on the one hand, this question looks stupid bcuz some non-management ppl can get into top b-schools, but on the other hand, most people on this forum associate F500 jobs as not prestigious or high-powered enough compared to elite ibanks and consulting firms</p>

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<p>Now you got me wondering.</p>

<p>I'm doing a part time MBA in a non-top ranked school, so I don't really care, and am contemplating taking a manager position in a Fortune 500 while I get it.</p>

<p>What I am now thinking is that if you go to the consulting gig there will probably be a higher chance that your boss will have gone to a top 10 school and that will help with recommendations.</p>