Hi there, let's be honest, I wasn't doing a lot out of my life until 21 y.o. study wise (but still managed to get a 1st class degree from a 3rd tier university though). Then, I joined a graduate scheme in the FS industry and stayed there for a year and a half. That was enough to make up my mind on what I wanted to do with my life and I decided to join a small niche consultancy for another year and a half. I did well there, but opted for a master degree at one of the top 10 university in Business Management with a view to get into a rather good consulting firm - MBBB if possible or second tier (because it's just human nature to be ambitious and always aim for the top, isn't it).So my question is pretty straight forward, and I would image a lot of people are in a similar situation, have I got a chance to get there or did I just wasted a year of my life (figuratively speaking) as well as all my savings (literally speaking)?Any comment welcome. Thanks in advance. P.

I'm sure you havn't wasted your time or savings but......The problem with MBA courses is not the course itself but the expectations the institutions sell against. In my experience many ( particularly younger ) MBA graduates think that they will start earning the big bucks or be accepted into positions well beyond their years just because of the MBA. It just doesn't happen. Of course the colleges quote amazing salary statistics as part of the sell but one must remember that the statistics are historical and MBA's are a little more common these days. The brutal truth for many MBA grads is that the ROI for the course is not always achieved within a 1 or even 5 year period.

I did an MBA and it certainly did help me to get into consulting. I'm still in consulting and although I rely much more on my experience these days I reckon my MBA was one of the best investments I ever made. However I reckon consulting teams profit most from a mix of people with a variety of experience and qualification backgrounds. If I think of the better consultants I've worked with some have had MBA's, others have not. The days where an MBA gave you carte blanche to progress in consulting are over, if they ever existed, but a decent MBA is still about the best management qualification in the world. If I was you I would not simply sell my applicability based on my Masters (MBA or other) but emphasise your FS sector experience as well. Dont pitch yourself as a know-it-all (nobody is, least of all those starting out). Rather try and demonstrate that you have what it takes to become a decent consultant (a Masters degree and your experience so far are simply examples of that which you need to leverage in order to make your case in your application and at interview).Test the market - see what the response is - if you get second interviews then you're on the right track - if you are rejected many times without being asked to interview then you are obviously either on the wrong track or your CV application is flawed.

Karen, Your message is depressing, partly because I am afraid that you may be correct. I am 25 and currently pursuing a Global MBA from a US university (same school where I earned my BS in Accounting). I have one year of Big 4 experience in Eastern Europe, and I had a 8-month contract with Raytheon (in the US) last year. I have also authored and co-authored several articles about the effects of property taxation on society and carried out the first socio-economic study concerning the issues of implementing a new property taxation system in a Eastern European country based on market value.I am also fluent in five languages, but my qualifications don't seem to be all that attractive to employers. I am scheduled to complete two resedencies as part of my second year of graduate studies (one in India in the Fall, and another in either Argentina or China in the Spring). To me, all this should present an interest to employers. I am obviously omitting something in my quest for the perfect job. Could anyone point out what exactly that is? I am applying from entry-level to mid-level positions, depending on the nature of the job. Respectfully,Olga

Olga,Treat your job hunt as a marketing plan. First you need to make sure you are targeting the right market - one that values your background. Second tailor your CV to demonstrate what you can offer.For entry level roles you should find lots of employers interested. So my guess is that your CV is not focused on these roles. For entry level they will want generalist skills. Languages - great. Have written articles - great. Property taxation - not of interest to anybody except perhaps property taxation consultancies.Also keep the CV to 1 page ideally, 2 pages maximum. It only has to excite their interest to talk to you - make yourself sound interesting person and they will want to meet you.

3 years of experience a top level MBA, I think you'll be fine. You may end up being hired at the cusp between MBA and usual hiring. Key is to research thoroughly as to where your industry experinece will be relevant. I may be able to advise directly, please put an email address or a means of contacting you.

JJ,Thanks for your feedback. My resume is probably too long. I have to find a way to summarize the relevant information.Thank you,Olga

Don't Worry Be Happy,Your message did make me feel a little better. :-) I still have about a year until I receive my MBA, but I would rather explore all the options now to ensure that I have a place I can transition to upon graduation. My e-mail address is olgagutu@hotmail.com.Best,Olga