Almost all MBA entrance exams being over, one has some idea as to what all calls one will be getting and GDPI preparation must be done accordingly. Landing in your dream b-school will be a huge feat and one must be congratulated for the same but your real journey/struggle will start once you have reached there. Within 3 months, Summer Internship Program will start in almost all b-schools and in no time you will be competing not only with other b-schools but also with your own batch mates to get the internships that you desire.
As a candidate with work experience, one still has an edge which can be of great help if you have work experience related to the field in which you want to pursue your MBA. However, a fresher only has stellar grades, similar to almost everyone else in the b-school making it a tough task to get an edge over others and getting your dream company.
Hence, building your profile is of utmost importance and once you reach the b school you will not be able to find time to do so. Therefore, utilizing the months of December to June is best to build your profile. As you will also be showing your resume when you walk in for entrance interview, it’s better to start now and have something to talk about other than your academics.
Here, I have listed down a few things you can do to build your profile-:
Short term Internships:
There are various platforms that offer short term internships for content writing, digital marketing and many other such roles. These internships are generally for 2-3 months and can be completed easily even from the comfort of your home. You might feel that work from home internships will not add much to your profile but they can be a great talking point in your interviews. (My XLRI HR and IIM K interviews revolved specifically around my internships.) Also, you can do research on roles being offered in various b-schools and do your internships accordingly. For eg. If you want to get into marketing, an internship in Social Media Marketing or blogging will be a big plus for you.
Open Online Courses:
Platforms like Coursera, Udemy etc. offer you various MOOCs. Udemy charges reasonable prices whereas Coursera gives you the option of applying for scholarship for doing certifications. Courses on basic accounting and basic finance will make your life very easy in a b-school if you are not having a background in these fields as you will be expected to have at least this basic knowledge when you sit for interviews of finance roles.
Similarly, courses in Digital Marketing will be of great help to marketing enthusiasts.
You can also do courses on advance excel and MS-Powerpoint to get an edge over others when it comes to b-school competitions. (These competitions can prove to be pivotal in getting into your dream company). You can also do video-making courses as various competitions require you to do that. Even some companies ask you to send video resume while applying for SIP.
Professional Certifications:
CFA is an important professional certification when it comes to finance roles. The exam is taken in June and December every year. Even if you are preparing for CFA, you can mention that on your resume and that can create a difference for you.
Then there is FLIP too which is good enough to show your interest in finance and banking roles when you don’t have a background to prove so (especially for engineers who are finance enthusiasts).
Google Analytics, Google Adwords , Facebook Blueprint etc. are certifications that can be done for marketing. Certifications in Data Analytics will also prove to be good for you.
Other than these, you can focus on getting Positions of Responsibility as that also shows that you are a multi-tasker and can be a great talking point too.
Social work by associating with an NGO makes you a socially aware candidate and can add to your resume.
Your hobbies and interests can be a great talking point too. If you don’t have one, start developing now!
Good Luck!