To pursue an international MBA, any counsellor worth his or her salt will tell you that experience matters. On an average minimum 2-3 years of managerial level work experience is what MBA schools look for. But it varies from college to college and school to school. But not all experience comes under the umbrella term of good experience. We try to clear out this for you but sub categorizing fields of experience and their relative stand in the B-school arena.

Leadership and Skill set

It is not exactly quantifiable but by leadership we mean in a professional workplace. But it is not possible for everyone to reach a level of leadership within a few years of your under graduation. So, it falls upon you to show your leadership skills in other areas, showing allegiance and incentive for work. You must be forthcoming and ask for additional responsibilities in your current workplace to deepen your learning curve, so that even on a smaller level, your influence would be greater and more palpable than your position in the workplace. Also, one needs to work on developing a skill set which includes both soft skills and technical skills, and to prove that these skills have been internalized by you.

We answer some common queries that we get:

I’ve managed my family business. Does that count for experience?

Well, it could work for you if you show leadership skills and a pursuance of excellence. While in our country, managing your family business might not be a big deal, internationally it’ll do you justice, depending on your level in the rung of seniority and experience. The onus to explain the importance of the task you undertook lies on you. If it’s a big industry then it’s great, you have your work cut out for you. But if not, you must supplement your experience with a great essay. Do not, and we mean do not, try to concoct a story because it will fall apart like a house of cards in the interview.

Does the size of the company matter?

So, there is no right answer here. It is much like the metaphorical question of big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond. While a global brand or company makes things easier for you, it is also imperative to realise that you could add more value to a smaller company in a bigger way. It is because of this multifocal approach that students these days opt for start-ups, as they make you do everything. So again, at the risk of being repetitive, we will say that the onus of choosing your field of experience lies on you. If it checks all your boxes, well go for it!

Do internships count?

Well, nothing is writ in stone but most colleges do not consider formal or informal internships, unless it is something specific like CA articleship. It is best to confirm this with the college’s website or communications dept. But we would recommend including this in your resume nonetheless. If it’s something substantial, you must mention it. Similarly, part-time experiences do not count in colleges when they calculate your years of experience. But if you had an impact in a workplace, you must include that in your essay.

With experience you will have a developed personality, and managerial skills, so as to say. You will be able to work under high pressure situations and within deadlines. This is hard to explain on the resume and the magic usually happens through application essays and recommendations!

Need further guidance? Come visit us and understand over a cup of coffee, how we can assist you in your MBA admission process!