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Experienced hire - Is GMAT important?

GMAT
New answer on May 30, 2020
11 Answers
1.8 k Views
Anonymous A asked on May 28, 2020

Hi everyone

I am looking into management consulting as my next career step. Since many articles I have read about management consulting emphasize GMAT score as an important part of CV, I wonder if I should take it. Would it be important for experience hire?

My background: five years of experience in industry, good grade from non-target undergraduate, no GMAT score.

Thanks a lot!

(edited)

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Anonymous replied on May 30, 2020

Hi,

GMAT might only be helpful if you are switching from Law, marketing or any other humanitarian field.

Also note that scores below 700 do not add value to your application at all. However scores over 730 can really make a difference.

Best,

Anton

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Clara
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 29, 2020
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

No, GMAT is not what so ever importart for MBB or overal consulting recruiting.

It is only important for business schools, since in most of them, is a requisite not only to take it, but to score over 700.

Focus hence on your CV, interview prep, etc. GMAT is not a KPI here.

Hope it clarifies!

Cheers,

Clara

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Anonymous replied on May 28, 2020

Hi there,

No it is not required to have GMAT on your CV in order to qualify.

Within consulting firm, probably only 1/3 of the consultants have MBA (based on my observation in SEA). So that means 2/3 people likely have no GMAT score.

It matters a lot more how your 5-years experience prepare you well for consulting. GMAT might help only if you didn't have a good score in school and need to compensate for that, which doesn't sound like your case. So I suggest spending your effort and energy on other parts of application.

Best,

Emily

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Francesco
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 29, 2020
#1 Coach for Sessions (4.500+) | 1.500+ 5-Star Reviews | Proven Success (➡ interviewoffers.com) | Ex BCG | 10Y+ Coaching
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Robert
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 28, 2020
McKinsey offers w/o final round interviews - 100% risk-free - 10+ years MBB coaching experience - Multiple book author

Hi Anonymous,

With your level of industry experience, nobody will be interested in your GMAT score. Either you deliver on your specialization or not - that's the crucial question.

Asking an experience hire for GMAT scores is like asking a university hire candidate about marks in primary school... not very clever way trying to assess a candidate.

Hope that helps - if so, please give it a thumbs-up with the green upvote button below!

Robert

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Anrian
Expert
replied on May 28, 2020
Ex Kearney Senior Manager | Ex McKinsey Engagement Manager | Interviewer & Case Coach at McKinsey (200+ Real Interviews)

Hi There,

Having GMAT score at 90th percentile will definitely help but it is really not important.

If you position yourself as exp hire, I would recommend emphasizing more on:

  1. Accomplishment and impact in those 5yrs of exp
  2. Leadership experience
  3. Experience in a scalable transformation program or strategy works
  4. Awards (if any)
  5. Your expertise in a field
  6. Your company brand
  7. Other extracurricular achievements (e.g. hiking mount Everest, etc)

Speaking from my exp as candidate and CV screener. Hope it helps!

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Ian
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replied on May 28, 2020
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Not important unless you intend to get you MBA!

Use this time to boost your resume through getting that promotion a bit earlier, or developing eye-catching skills! (i.e. analytics, languages, etc.)

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Anonymous replied on May 29, 2020

No, not important. Impress with your industry experience

Best,

André

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Anonymous replied on May 28, 2020

No, it is not important so don't waste your time or money towards that

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Anonymous replied on May 28, 2020

Hi,

Having a GMAT score on the CV is not mandatory at all !

As an experienced hire, consulting firms will look at your industry expertise, your soft skills (need to highlight that a part of an expert, you also have demonstrated consulting skills) and sometimes your school still .....

Hope it helps.

David

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Axel
Expert
Content Creator
replied on May 29, 2020
Bain Consultant | Interviewer for 3 years at Bain |Passionate about coaching |I will make you a case interview Rockstar

Hi!

No your GMAT will not be important so don't waste your time. Focus instead on how to position your 5 years of experience in industry to get the interview and secure the offer.

-A

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