Today’s question is from a Management Consultant who asks:
Q) A lot of my peers are targeting Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, and Kellogg MBA programs. I have a good career progression, but I am struggling to find ways to differentiate myself from my peers.
Atul Jose (Admissions Consultant, F1GMAT): It is a good thing that you are aware of the challenges. That in itself is a great quality. If you need help in branding your profile, reach out to me
As an applicant targeting a competitive M7 application pool, you must look at your profile from 4 angles.
1) Promotions
How many promotions did you get in the past three years? If it is one per year, you are as competitive as your peers. If it was not the case, you must evaluate whether this is unprecedented due to the pandemic or if the trend was visible only in your niche industry. Top performers get one promotion a year with a noticeable increment in salary. Some consulting companies offer promotions for many, but the pay gap starts showing. You must do some research on compensation to understand where you stand among your peers.
2) Personal Story
If your performance is below the top 10% and falls somewhere between 10 and 15%, you must look at your personal journey. Many times, applicants are excessively focused on the professional milestones leaving out the struggles that make the journey even more challenging. It could be related to financial instability, discrimination based on sexuality, ethnicity, race, or gender, and conflicts arising from ideologies & values.
3) Current Project
In 2019, it was all about Cryptocurrency.
In 2020 & 2021 – it was all about pandemic-related trends like Vaccine development and Digitization of Small and Large Businesses.
In 2023, it is all about AI.
One thing I observed as an Admissions Consultant is that if you are working in the latest trending industry or solution, the chance of standing out is incredibly high. So even if you are struggling to find ways to stand out from your peers, just by using narratives from a trending technology or a current societal change, you are likely to stand out.
4) Overrepresented Industry and their Narratives
Competing in an overrepresented industry or function is a common challenge for those in Investment Banking and Core Technology. Now the same challenge exists for Management Consultants and Venture Capitalists.
One of the common mistakes I have seen among Management Consultants is the overuse of Consulting Jargon. The phrases offer a top-level view of the solution with very little revealed on the specifics of the solution or the strategic direction that the consultant-led. This habit might be useful when you are pitching to a client but in admissions. It is all about the specifics.
