Monday, April 9, 2007

MBA from Europe - Some imp points

I recently had a conversation with a friend who joined HEC this Jan. He presented a very grim scene of the job prospects in Europe post MBA. According to him (and many others whom I have spoken with), it is not easy to find job in Europe post MBA (if one is not from INSEAD/LBS). The school can help you only to an extent as most of the recruitment in Europe is through networking. Thus, it becomes a problem for Indian students who, having seen(or heard/read)about the placements from b-schools in India think that the scene would be similar there. It is not the case. Getting an admit from a good b-school in Europe will not guarantee a good job post MBA.
Based on the discussions I have had with many people, these are my tips for people who are considering MBA from Europe:
1. Learn the language of the land – If you are not going to UK, it becomes an absolute necessity to know the local language. It increases your employability manifold. Even if you are going to UK, learning another language (preferably French) will help.
2. Figure out what you want to do post MBA – This is an exercise you are supposed to complete before you apply to a b-school. Well, many people do it just for the sake of getting in a school. They actually are not sure what they want post MBA. If you are one of this kind, then sort this out before joining the school. Most of the European MBA programs are 12-16 months which means you don’t get sufficient time to do this during MBA.
3. Once you have figured out what you want to do, start learning about the industry and its main players. E.g. if you want to be an Investment Banker, then learn about the industry and the main IB firms in Europe. Start visiting their websites and reading about the deals they make. Read their mission and vision statements. It will help you when you get interviewed -one of the main traits companies look for during recruitment is the interest of an individual. If you are able to demonstrate your interest in the company, then the job will be much easier.
4. Start networking – This is another must do for Europe in particular and MBA in general. Once you have figured out the career you want to pursue and researched on the main players in the sector, it is time to find contacts in those companies. Start interacting with people and ask them about the job profiles their companies offer. You can also seek advice about tips to boost your CV.

3 comments:

MBAstarter said...

Its true that finding a job in Europe is tougher than in the US. However, networking and figuring out your post MBA goals is very essential anywhere you study.

Anonymous said...

thanks for your comment rahul. have you already started at HEC or will begin later this year ?

Forrest Gump said...

the feeling is mutual my friend. good luck at HEC.