Doing MBA at insead

Question

Good day,

I am happy to share that I got the opportunity to do my MBA at insead. However I only have 1 year experience at big4. I am debating wether I should do it or gain more experience. I am afraid I wouldnt get this opportunity again. How do you think my career progression will differ. Note that if I do it I will definitely try to apply to mbb or tier 2.

Thank you

Answer 1

Hey there,

Whilst an MBA at Insead would be helpful to your resume in applying to MBB or Tier 2, you could still apply there directly from Big 4 provided you work on gaining meaningful experience, achievements and performance.

So think about other reasons for why you'd want to do the MBA and what you'd want to get out of it. If for example you're thinking about expanding your opportunity set beyond just MBB or Tier 2, learning more about business skills and leadership, etc. - then sure, it would be a great opportunity.

All the best

Answer 2

Hi there,

While I am in general a fan of more work experience over more school, I think in your case if an MBA and then MBB would be on your career wishlist, it might be a good idea to take the opportunity now.

At the MBA you will still get the chance to learn so much from your peers (with more work experience) and get the benefits of the structured recruiting.

One thing that you should keep in mind though is the level on which, if successful, you would be placed for MBB, post-MBA. With the assumption that MBAs typically have a few years of experience, they usually get Consultant / Associate positions (BCG / McK), which they might feel is too senior for your experience level.

On the other side, if Insead considered your application strong enough to offer you a spot, I am expecting there is more there than just your one year of work experience. In any case, if you do take this route, make sure to max out on the internship opportunities to beef up your work experience as much as possible (with relevant opportunities!).

Best of luck,

Ariadna

Answer 3

I invite you to look at this opportunity differently.

Why do you want to do an MBA at INSEAD? What career paths do you want to open (or close) in the future?

Only after answering these questions can you truly assess if this is the right move.

I strongly advise against making such a significant decision without a clear intention. For example, an INSEAD MBA won’t necessarily make a difference if you’re trying to access MBB with just one year of experience.

Best,

Alberto

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Explore my latest case inspired by a real MBB interview: Chic & Stitch - Fashion Market Expansion

Answer 4

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the MBA offer from INSEAD!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

First of all, if you want to apply to other consulting firms as a short- to medium-term career goal, I wonder if you have already done so and if so, what the result was. Maybe you don't even need an MBA.
Moreover, and contrary to what other coaches have said, your post-MBA consulting role will mostly depend on the MBA itself and not on your tenure. So I wouldn't worry too much about how many years of work experience you had before your MBA.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Answer 5

Hey there, Similarly to the full-time hiring process, companies such as the MBBs and tier 2 tend to recruit from sele... (read entire answer)

Hey there, Similarly to the full-time hiring process, companies such as the MBBs and tier 2 tend to recruit from select universities and schools (Target Schools), and their Midd... (read entire answer)