Training-wise, IIMs are as good as any US B-school. Talent-wise Indians are as talented as any other US graduate MBA. Indian MBAs tend to be more theoretical, quantitative, analytical and very quick with numbers, all extremely useful qualities at jobs particularly Investment banking and Consulting. However, U.S. MBAs tend to have excellent communication skills, which are also important and useful. As a result, Indian MBAs going to US have to work on and brush up their communication skills.

And finally, would US MBA been more beneficial in job?

Certainly NO is the answer. CAT is a toughest admission process anywhere in the world with 0.5% admission rate compared to 13% admission rate for Harvard & Wharton. It's even tougher than IIT-JEE as number of seats are very low. IIMs are very sound in their academics and theory. And they do polish the raw talent entering IIMs. And at the end of 18 months, an IIM student is as capable, if not more, than any Ivy-League MBA. "Since the US MBAs have had prior work-experience, they do get greater salaries and higher entry points into some organizations. However, as far as the MBA training itself is concerned, I feel the IIMA training is on par with the best in the US", says George.

Conclusion

A job with International Investment bank or top consulting or IT consulting companies is a dream of every MBA student. Once you get the job, it all boils down to how you perform the race. The job is eminently rigorous and demanding. One requires a well proportioned set of skills to do well - including but not limited to - analytical, communication, entrepreneurial, social and interpersonal skills. Unlike Indian companies, where most IIM students would be considered creme de la creme even before they start, in the U.S., they are typically one among equals, until they prove themselves (a job which is easier than the two grueling years at campus). In the end, in the fiercely competitive business environment, the person who adds value to the organization gets ahead, irrespective of colour, school, country etc.

Source: CoolAvenues Team
Our thanks to George Mathew, Exeter Inc. and Nikunj Singhal, Lehman Brothers for their valuable insights.
George Mathew works as IT Consultant with Exeter Inc. at Los Angeles, US and is an MBA from IIMA, Class of 98.
Nikunj Singhal works as Associate, Lehman Brothers, New York, US and is an MBA from IIMA, Class of 98.

Concluded.

Placements 2001

Read complete story of Placement 2001 as it happened along with analysis and comparison across the B-Schools and segment-wise analysis.

Placements 2002

Read complete story of Placement 2002 as it happened along with analysis and comparison across the B-Schools and segment-wise analysis.

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