Mannheim BS - GMAT - career goal

ddk

2 4

Posted Jan 04, 2015 09:02

Hi All,

I am currently planning to study GMAT as well as German language this year, and would like to have your input on which school to apply for and whether the direction/goal I have is reasonable, and of course other advice will be appreciated.

My background:
- Indonesian born Chinese living in China for 9 years, speak fluent English, Mandarin, and of course Native Indonesian.
- 4 years working experience in professional consulting firm, mainly recruitment industry.
- Have less than a year management experience.
- Zero German, but plan to get at least A1 by this year and apply for residence (as I am married to a German as well)

Career target:
- Ideally to switch function to Marketing – global strategy area, or in HR function with more Business insight role.
- Will be living in Germany after MBA, find opportunity in Germany as well.
- Work in a multinational company but global coverage role function.

I have done some research on B-schools in Germany (I believe this is the only country that I will take my higher education as I am intending to speak good German with a sufficient environment).
- Mannheim BS
- WHU
- HHL
My priority will be Mannheim BS as they do have the programs I am very keen to study, however my concern will be GMAT score as they do have quite high average. According to your experience, IF my GMAT does not hit their average score, would I still be their “type of candidate” with background I have?

Please let me know if you have other advice, and whether my career target will be somehow reasonable.

Thank you.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jan 04, 2015 18:37

The GMAT and the academic transcript will be important. Right now, it sounds like you are not a candidate they would find easy to place. Why not aim for one of the January intake schools so you can get to a higher level of German on the way in?

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ddk

2 4

Posted Jan 05, 2015 04:36

Hi Duncan,

Thank you for your response.
For German language, what level would you think might give a plus point for me? I do plan to get A1 from China from Goethe in Summer (January is a bit too early as I need to earn some more money to pay all the expenses), then continue to study in Hamburg in DID until the end of the year, perhaps get A2 by then. (do you think it does make sense that I combine my study for GMAT and German together?) I have not learned GMAT previously, so also Zero knowledge.

[quote][/quote]

Hi Duncan,

Thank you for your response.
For German language, what level would you think might give a plus point for me? I do plan to get A1 from China from Goethe in Summer (January is a bit too early as I need to earn some more money to pay all the expenses), then continue to study in Hamburg in DID until the end of the year, perhaps get A2 by then. (do you think it does make sense that I combine my study for GMAT and German together?) I have not learned GMAT previously, so also Zero knowledge.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jan 05, 2015 12:00

Considering your career goal, I think a better plan could be to learn German to fluency, and then take an specialist MSc programme taught in German. Given your background, I am not sure that it's realistic to plan for an typical MBA role in Germany, since these require German. An MSc taught in German would also improve your business vocabulary more than a German course aimed at students could do.

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ddk

2 4

Posted Jan 06, 2015 02:10

Hi Duncan,

Why do you consider that specialist MSc programme taught in German would be better for my career goal? Isn't MBA suppose to be taught in English? I understand that adding German language for applying MBA would be a plus, however, it is not necessary and I can learn it on the way in (at least so far I have seen from other graduates).
I do want to go for leadership program in the future for global company, with global coverage role, not only German coverage, which I believe they would prefer German to work on it...
Any other advice will really appreciate, Thanks a lot Duncan.

[quote][/quote]

Hi Duncan,

Why do you consider that specialist MSc programme taught in German would be better for my career goal? Isn't MBA suppose to be taught in English? I understand that adding German language for applying MBA would be a plus, however, it is not necessary and I can learn it on the way in (at least so far I have seen from other graduates).
I do want to go for leadership program in the future for global company, with global coverage role, not only German coverage, which I believe they would prefer German to work on it...
Any other advice will really appreciate, Thanks a lot Duncan.

quote

Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jan 06, 2015 14:28

The MBA can be taught in any language. If you want to work in Germany, employers will be more concerned about your knowledge of the German language and business culture than your ability to complete an MBA in English. The MBA is a rather new qualification in German, and it's less well understood by many German employers.

It's not the case that you can learn German to the level of professional fluency during a one year MBA (that is a full-time study year, with typically taking 40 weeks for the DSH 2 exam, though you can shave off 4 or 5 weeks if you get to A1 before then). Remember, you need not only academic German skills, which are focussed on reading and writing, but also the ability to negotiate and persuade orally. See Do you need to speak the local language? www.find-mba.com/board/34713

[Edited by Duncan on Jan 07, 2015]

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ddk

2 4

Posted Jan 07, 2015 08:41

Hi Duncan,

Thank you so much for your information and advice, definitely will take it to consideration, however I will still take an MBA at some point rather than a specialized master. Though that is right that fluency in local language is very important.

Cheers.

[quote][/quote]

Hi Duncan,

Thank you so much for your information and advice, definitely will take it to consideration, however I will still take an MBA at some point rather than a specialized master. Though that is right that fluency in local language is very important.

Cheers.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Jan 07, 2015 13:03

In that case, perhaps you could consider a part-time MBA or EMBA alongside an intensive German course. I think language skills and cross-cultural capacity will be more important for you than a degree.

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