There seems to be a consensus that the Oxford MBA doesn't prepare students well for getting jobs in consulting. It seems like LBS and Insead do much better. I am not looking for comparisons between the universities but rather what has worked for others.
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Hi,
It's not that one MBA or another prepares best for consulting. Consulting is all about learning by doing. Moreover, INSEAD is a 1-year program and you don't really have a lot of time to study taking into account networking and all the recruiting activities.
What might be different:
- Availability of the on-campus recruitment
- Higher chances to get a job offer at Insead / LBS because of the targeted hiring
What you can do? Get a referral:
- Either from your classmates ex-consultants who can recommend you to on-campus recruiters
- Or from any consultant working at these companies globally
Best
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Oxford is not a top MBA program you will be much better off going to INSEAD or LBS if you are only keen on Europe. The top 8 programs in the US are miles and miles ahead of European ones (and also more expensive and longer)
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Hi there,
Oxford/Cambridge do indeed have a smaller consulting funnel than, say, LBS/Insead (they're not target schools in the same way).
That being said, regardless of which MBA you're in, the steps to optimize your chances of securing an interview are the same!
How do you improve your screening chances?
1) Gain experience (internships, bootcamps, classes, stratups, extracirriculars, etc).
2) Network - speak to multiple people across offices and aim to get a referral
3) Review your resume - make sure your formatting is sharp/consistent, key words/experiences pop, and your experience bullets are properly written.
In regards to networking tips:
a) Reach out to people in your network
b) Reach out to people once removed from your network
c) Reach out to people with a similar backgorund to you (i.e. same alma mater, same historically underrepresented demographic i.e. gender, orientation, ethnicity, etc., same career switch, etc.)
d) Tailor a message to them specifically both showing interest in them and their journey and demonstrating that you have done your research and could be a valuable hire
e) Play "tag" across calls you get so that you can work your way towards the company/office/role you want
f) Never directly ask for a referral, but "hint" at needing one (this is nuanced and important...happy to talk through wording)
(edited)
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Hello!
I agree with you, if you are looking for a business school that positions you best for consulting, I would go for:
- American Ivy League
- Europeans: LBS or INSEAD
Hope it helps!
Cheers,
Clara
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Hi, I confirm the LBS and Insead brand are more appreciated during a cv screening in consulting. However, if you are applying for London offices, Oxford is a great program too
Best
Antonello
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Hi,
An MBA will allow you to have opportunity to network and also access to a large pool of candidates that are willing to do preparation with you.
However, if you happen to be from a target school there will be advantages in terms of on-campus recruitment and opportunity to network. On the flipside, there will be strong competition within the school.
Best,
Iman
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Hi there!
I agree that first of all, you can get skills in consulting only by practicing. So you should also pay attention to internships. And I can agree with you that LBS and Insead prepare much better
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GB
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