Will It Be Harder To Get A Job In The USA If I Get My MBA In Europe?

MediaShopM...

3 6

Posted Mar 27, 2010 01:05

I'm looking at French MBA programs specifically HEC, ESSEC, EM Lyon, Grenoble and EDHEC -- I'm not interested in INSEAD at all.

Also, I'm an American citizen, therefore, I will have no issues related to H-1 visa sponsorship. I will just need to get a job back home preferably at a larger media company with international operations.

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

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MediaShopM...

3 6

Posted Mar 27, 2010 02:41

C'mon people, help me out. Anybody?

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Rhino

82 154

Posted Mar 27, 2010 17:47

Interesting question.
I don't think you will have difficulty finding jobs in U.S. (because american loves MBA like they love their IPhone) but you won't leverage your european MBA to the fullest because most american employers are american-centric (ie. they won't care whether you have graduated from IESE, HEC, ESSEC, IMD because they cannot tell the difference anyway).

So you'll probably will be getting better jobs with indiana MBA rather than HEC MBA in the U.S. because all american know where's indiana is.
But if you have a degree from HEC, you might need to explain what grand ecole means during the job interview.

That's my opinion.

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MediaShopM...

3 6

Posted Mar 27, 2010 23:03

Interesting question.
I don't think you will have difficulty finding jobs in U.S. (because american loves MBA like they love their IPhone) but you won't leverage your european MBA to the fullest because most american employers are american-centric (ie. they won't care whether you have graduated from IESE, HEC, ESSEC, IMD because they cannot tell the difference anyway).

So you'll probably will be getting better jobs with indiana MBA rather than HEC MBA in the U.S. because all american know where's indiana is.
But if you have a degree from HEC, you might need to explain what grand ecole means during the job interview.

That's my opinion.

Thanks, Rhino! I'm planning to apply to large international firms with global awareness. I'm hoping such firms will be more educated with respect to solid foreign universities.

Also, I'm pretty sure the Grand Ecole and MBA are separate degrees at most French Schools, thus my degree would say MBA.

Lastly, it's too bad American many hiring managers in the U.S. are so U.S. centric they will not know a top MBA from a foreign University from a mediocre domestic MBA.

<blockquote>Interesting question.
I don't think you will have difficulty finding jobs in U.S. (because american loves MBA like they love their IPhone) but you won't leverage your european MBA to the fullest because most american employers are american-centric (ie. they won't care whether you have graduated from IESE, HEC, ESSEC, IMD because they cannot tell the difference anyway).

So you'll probably will be getting better jobs with indiana MBA rather than HEC MBA in the U.S. because all american know where's indiana is.
But if you have a degree from HEC, you might need to explain what grand ecole means during the job interview.

That's my opinion.</blockquote>

Thanks, Rhino! I'm planning to apply to large international firms with global awareness. I'm hoping such firms will be more educated with respect to solid foreign universities.

Also, I'm pretty sure the Grand Ecole and MBA are separate degrees at most French Schools, thus my degree would say MBA.

Lastly, it's too bad American many hiring managers in the U.S. are so U.S. centric they will not know a top MBA from a foreign University from a mediocre domestic MBA.

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bianca

23 46

Posted Mar 28, 2010 18:09

I'm looking at French MBA programs specifically HEC, ESSEC, EM Lyon, Grenoble and EDHEC -- I'm not interested in INSEAD at all.

Also, I'm an American citizen, therefore, I will have no issues related to H-1 visa sponsorship. I will just need to get a job back home preferably at a larger media company with international operations.

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

Why would you like to get a French MBA ?
Beside the French boyfriend/girlfriend, doing your MBA in France may let you better understand the French corporate culture. So if you plan on leveraging this understanding back in the US (eg. if you'd like to work with a French company in the US) it may make a lot of sense to attend a French MBA.
Outside of that, the benefits would be reduced.

If you're considering working in the US and still want to do a French MBA, check the schools which offer a double degree with a US institution. For instance, HEC offers a double MBA degree with NYU so you might be doing your first year at HEC, then second year at NYU. So if you're looking for a job in the US and that the HEC MBA / network isn't sufficient, you may resort to your NYU appeal.

<blockquote>I'm looking at French MBA programs specifically HEC, ESSEC, EM Lyon, Grenoble and EDHEC -- I'm not interested in INSEAD at all.

Also, I'm an American citizen, therefore, I will have no issues related to H-1 visa sponsorship. I will just need to get a job back home preferably at a larger media company with international operations.

Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.</blockquote>Why would you like to get a French MBA ?
Beside the French boyfriend/girlfriend, doing your MBA in France may let you better understand the French corporate culture. So if you plan on leveraging this understanding back in the US (eg. if you'd like to work with a French company in the US) it may make a lot of sense to attend a French MBA.
Outside of that, the benefits would be reduced.

If you're considering working in the US and still want to do a French MBA, check the schools which offer a double degree with a US institution. For instance, HEC offers a double MBA degree with NYU so you might be doing your first year at HEC, then second year at NYU. So if you're looking for a job in the US and that the HEC MBA / network isn't sufficient, you may resort to your NYU appeal.

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MediaShopM...

3 6

Posted Mar 28, 2010 20:11

Hi Bianca

I want to do a French MBA because I want to be a more appealing candidate for international assignments post grad. French is arguably the second most widely spoken languages in the business world after English.

I want to work for a larger multinational firm post grad. I have reason to believe that having an MBA from a top international MBA program, that has a truly globally focused curriculum, may be considered a strength, not a weakness, in a large multinational firms environment.

Lastly, I already have my bachelors degree from a U.S. university and I plan on doing a second masters (after the French based MBA) at a U.S. school (within two to three years of earning an MBA). In this regard the one year length of most of the French programs is appealing.

I like the dual HEC/NYU MBA. I will look into it.

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ctc123

2 4

Posted Apr 09, 2010 00:21

Hi,

I am a HEC MBA grad. The program is good and generally well recognized outside of the US. I would second the advice of the poster above and try for the dual degree or at least an exchange. Please note that only 1-2 people per intake are chosen for the double degree.

However, it's a great MBA for working in Europe. Ironically a HEC MBA is better outside France than inside France, as France is generally not up on the whole MBA thing, and there's some conflict between people that went to the Grande Ecole (undergrad) and ISA (what most people in France call the HEC MBA)

If you plan on getting a job in France, you will need to be absolutely fluent in French. There is no avoiding this. Your salary will also be 20-30% lower than elsewhere in Europe, this affects HEC's MBA ranking quite a bit as probably 1/3 of the graduates stay in France. (avg. salary, salary increase, and % employed after graduation are all affected because it's a pain to get a job in France, especially as a foreigner.)

That said, if you want to work abroad a few years in a large multinational, HEC is a great place. Everyone recruits there.

-Chris

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Rhino

82 154

Posted Apr 09, 2010 08:29

For an american grad studying outside N. America, it will be an additional exposure.
You shiuld go to france, and do take crash course in French 3-4 months prior to MBA.
French is easy to learn, if you have 1.5 years french learning experience, you should be Ok.

MBA is not only getting education or brand name, but you also need to enjoy the whole experience.
And studying in the suburb of Paris, one should get a chance to enjoy Paris.

I used to have the same dream to live in France, but I have to postpone it due to financial crisis.

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Clam

10 19

Posted Apr 09, 2010 08:38

Hi,

However, it's a great MBA for working in Europe. Ironically a HEC MBA is better outside France than inside France, as France is generally not up on the whole MBA thing, and there's some conflict between people that went to the Grande Ecole (undergrad) and ISA (what most people in France call the HEC MBA)

What conflicts are there between people from the Grande Ecole and ISA? I've never heard of this before.

<blockquote>Hi,

However, it's a great MBA for working in Europe. Ironically a HEC MBA is better outside France than inside France, as France is generally not up on the whole MBA thing, and there's some conflict between people that went to the Grande Ecole (undergrad) and ISA (what most people in France call the HEC MBA)

</blockquote>

What conflicts are there between people from the Grande Ecole and ISA? I've never heard of this before.

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fishball

91 162

Posted Apr 11, 2010 02:54

I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

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ctc123

2 4

Posted Apr 11, 2010 04:56

Hi,

However, it's a great MBA for working in Europe. Ironically a HEC MBA is better outside France than inside France, as France is generally not up on the whole MBA thing, and there's some conflict between people that went to the Grande Ecole (undergrad) and ISA (what most people in France call the HEC MBA)

What conflicts are there between people from the Grande Ecole and ISA? I've never heard of this before.

I've had people tell me that I didn't graduate from the "real HEC" in job interviews. Idiotic, but it happens.

<blockquote><blockquote>Hi,

However, it's a great MBA for working in Europe. Ironically a HEC MBA is better outside France than inside France, as France is generally not up on the whole MBA thing, and there's some conflict between people that went to the Grande Ecole (undergrad) and ISA (what most people in France call the HEC MBA)

</blockquote>

What conflicts are there between people from the Grande Ecole and ISA? I've never heard of this before. </blockquote>

I've had people tell me that I didn't graduate from the "real HEC" in job interviews. Idiotic, but it happens.

quote

ctc123

2 4

Posted Apr 11, 2010 05:01

I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

As in everyone who normally recruits at a top MBA...i.e McKinsey, GE, KPMG, Bain, Boston, Goldman, JPMorgan, etc.

<blockquote>I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

</blockquote>

As in everyone who normally recruits at a top MBA...i.e McKinsey, GE, KPMG, Bain, Boston, Goldman, JPMorgan, etc.

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bianca

23 46

Posted Apr 11, 2010 08:11

I've had people tell me that I didn't graduate from the "real HEC" in job interviews. Idiotic, but it happens.

It's not really a conflict between Grande Ecole and MBA then but more a problem of outside perception, which is very French.
It's like telling an Oxford MBA graduate that he/she didn't graduate from the real Oxford, or same thing for Yale.

The Grande Ecole program is what HEC is most reknown for, more so in France where people don't imagine the school doing anything else, so people with a closed mindset will consider it's the only degree worthwhile there. Alright, you don't want to work for them anyway.

<blockquote>I've had people tell me that I didn't graduate from the "real HEC" in job interviews. Idiotic, but it happens.</blockquote>It's not really a conflict between Grande Ecole and MBA then but more a problem of outside perception, which is very French.
It's like telling an Oxford MBA graduate that he/she didn't graduate from the real Oxford, or same thing for Yale.

The Grande Ecole program is what HEC is most reknown for, more so in France where people don't imagine the school doing anything else, so people with a closed mindset will consider it's the only degree worthwhile there. Alright, you don't want to work for them anyway.

quote

fishball

91 162

Posted Apr 12, 2010 02:58

I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

As in everyone who normally recruits at a top MBA...i.e McKinsey, GE, KPMG, Bain, Boston, Goldman, JPMorgan, etc.

<blockquote><blockquote>I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

</blockquote>

As in everyone who normally recruits at a top MBA...i.e McKinsey, GE, KPMG, Bain, Boston, Goldman, JPMorgan, etc. </blockquote>

Just curious, because I have heard of HEC before but didn't know that their placements were that good.

Do you have the placement numbers? How many did McKinsey/BCG/Bain/Goldman/JPMorgan/PE companies recruit?

Just a handful of recruits or a majority went to those companies?

quote

MediaShopM...

3 6

Posted Apr 12, 2010 03:09

I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

As in everyone who normally recruits at a top MBA...i.e McKinsey, GE, KPMG, Bain, Boston, Goldman, JPMorgan, etc.

Just curious, because I have heard of HEC before but didn't know that their placements were that good.

Do you have the placement numbers? How many did McKinsey/BCG/Bain/Goldman/JPMorgan/PE companies recruit?

Just a handful of recruits or a majority went to those companies?

It is my understanding that at virtually every top school only a handful of people go to the big consulting and financial services firms.

<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>I wonder what exactly people mean when they say "everybody recruits there".....

</blockquote>

As in everyone who normally recruits at a top MBA...i.e McKinsey, GE, KPMG, Bain, Boston, Goldman, JPMorgan, etc. </blockquote>

Just curious, because I have heard of HEC before but didn't know that their placements were that good.

Do you have the placement numbers? How many did McKinsey/BCG/Bain/Goldman/JPMorgan/PE companies recruit?

Just a handful of recruits or a majority went to those companies?
</blockquote>

It is my understanding that at virtually every top school only a handful of people go to the big consulting and financial services firms.

quote

ctc123

2 4

Posted Apr 12, 2010 03:47

Just curious, because I have heard of HEC before but didn't know that their placements were that good.

Do you have the placement numbers? How many did McKinsey/BCG/Bain/Goldman/JPMorgan/PE companies recruit?

Just a handful of recruits or a majority went to those companies?

I don't remember exactly off the top of my head, but they do a summary of hires in the brochure every year. Around 2-3 per firm per year, out of a student body of 200 or so. However, our class didn't strike me as being heavily MC oriented, most went to large multinationals, luxe, or investment banks.

Just curious, because I have heard of HEC before but didn't know that their placements were that good.

Do you have the placement numbers? How many did McKinsey/BCG/Bain/Goldman/JPMorgan/PE companies recruit?

Just a handful of recruits or a majority went to those companies?
</blockquote>

I don't remember exactly off the top of my head, but they do a summary of hires in the brochure every year. Around 2-3 per firm per year, out of a student body of 200 or so. However, our class didn't strike me as being heavily MC oriented, most went to large multinationals, luxe, or investment banks.

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