Berkeley / Haas - 10-09-2019 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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October 9, 2019 12:05am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Cornell / Johnson, Duke / Fuqua, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, U. Chicago Booth, UCLA Anderson, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2020

Pre-MBA Career: Sales consultant

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: AT Kearney , Bain , Ernst & Young , McKinsey

GMAT: 730

GPA: 3.32

Years of Work Experience: 4

Location: London, United Kingdom

Post MBA Location: New York

Notes:

I’ve been listening to wiretaps whilst going to work every time there’s a new episode, so I would be honoured to be featured if you deem it necessary. I would especially like to know how Sales people are seen by adcom members as i’ve read a lot of negative stuff online.
As for my background, I went to a low tier undergrad and only really picked up school during my final years, reason why my GPA is low. I then joined a small (c. 100 people) sales outsourcing firm that helps American companies expand in Europe. I find my job great but I want to be involved in much more operational and analytical work, reason why I want a top mba to transition into strategy consulting. As I asked, I am very curious to know how adcoms perceive sales consultants as I do not just make cold calls all day but also attend trade shows, make market entry strategies and implement the strategies over a period of time.

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Show Comments (6) Last: October 14, 2019

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1693 You'd want the strategy-related work to come to the forefront, as you articulate your experiences. Potentially its this type of work that has helped you recognize your goals, need for MBA. Hopefully you're also able to demonstrate impact, both from your strategic work, but also growth in sales etc. Strong GMAT helps. Having experience in Europe should help. You've a good mix of target programs. Are you applying in Round 1, 2 or both? Any activities, outside of work? (0)

anon11622 Likes Earned: 20 Thanks for the perspective, I'm applying in Round 2. Outside of work I give language courses to refugees and I am part of the local Global Shapers Community here in London, which involves several pro-bono projects. I was also thinking about targeting Wharton and Harvard but do you think it's a stretch considering a sales background or what else do I lack? (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1693 If you can demonstrate you're impact, in and outside of work, then Wharton might be a good reach school. Harvard, always tougher, but it's worth trying, as long as the effort to apply to Harvard doesn't diminish your other apps. As you'll see, on the next episode of Wire Taps, we weren't certain whether you're originally from the UK, or US? (0)

anon11622 Likes Earned: 20 Oh I am from the UK but I want to move to the US sorry I forgot to mention. I look forward to the wiretaps episode. I didn’t think I could into wharton and harvard cuz of my sales background, I think i’ve been reading the wrong blogs maybe which made me less confident that I could attempt those schools. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1693 Rather than focus on the label, 'sales', focus on the impacts you've had, through your work experience. Sales vs business development, for example? (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1693 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2019/10/episode-57-wire-taps-accounting-sales-harvard-stanford-wharton-and-more/ (0)