[ITCBC]

hello everyone, sorry to start up another MBA thread, but im looking for advice related to IT field.

So continuing from my other thread (How Does A Cbc Find An It Consulting job...)
How does a CBC find an IT consulting job?

I am wondering if an MBA from a top 20 MBA school in USA would help me find a job in either IT TRM (trading risk management), or in strategy-management consulting.

Im currently in IT consulting, typical IT project planning and implementation. Have about 3 yrs experience, and as it looks now, my resume is not drawing the attention of any HK employers (given that I am applying from my home address in Canada and am only conversational in Cantonese).

I am planning to do the MBA for my own professional development, to get into those fields I mentioned earlier, but I am also wondering if it will *vastly* improve my recruitment chances in HK.

it would be another great reason to justify me investing ALOT of $ to go to the US for an MBA...

thanks

[PDLM]

If you were going that route wouldn't you be better off trying to get on the HKUST MBA course (rated one of the best in the world) and using the opportunity to get your Cantonese up to business grade as well?

[sp1key]

^ I second that...

The HKUST Kellogg EMBA i think its called is well recognised and at the same time you can show that you can adapt and survive in the HK culture/environment

[ITCBC]

I can look up the hkust kellogg emba, but when I inquired about the Western Ivey emba, it is for execs with recommended 10 yrs of work experience. Ive only got 3 so I dont qualify for it.

I did consider doing the MBA in HK or even Shanghai or singapore, (just so im atleast in the asia region) but I would think that schools in the USA would help my career more in Consulting/technology.

I would think that a top 20 usa mba would be more recognized globally, than the HK mba... cuz worst case scenario is I realize I dont really want to live in HK, it would be easier to fall back into my comfy NorthAmerican technology market.

If I was in finance, I'd make the move to asia for sure, but unfortunately, I am in IT and I don't see as much opportunity in Asia

[panda05]

Since your "deficit" seems to be knowledge of Mandarin and Cantonese I would suggest you take up a MBA in HK. If you are ethnic Chinese then your expected to be conversational in Mandarin and Cantonese unless you can make up that deficit with a lot of work experience and technical knowledge that is hard to find. In consulting as in Investment Banking most of the business comes or relates to the mainland. The HKUST EMBA was ranked No1 last year by the FT and the MBA No. 17, moreover you can go on exchange to the mainland.

[links]

There are pretty lot of MBA or EMBA in the region if you are healthy in finance.

They have joint MBA of NUS and UC in singapore,INSEAD in Singapore, IMD and CEIBS in Shanghai, IVEY in HK and a few others. But the course fees cost an arm and leg.


I am doing the one with University of North Carolina at Charlotte (not chapel hill!!). Its may not be a very good program in many people's opinion but my purpose is to get best option in studies which at my affordable time and resources. I did enjoy the class with good classmates from the east and west in various industries. We did have bright Ibankers in the class as well but not that much of senior executives in other reputable programs.

I have done courses in Harvard before. They are pretty good and its a good experience if you get a chance to learn from Micheal Porter or Robert Kaplan but I couldnt afford the money and giving up full time job to do the MBA there.

the most important is plan your direction and select the best choice you can afford. Getting MBA from top ten does not sure ganrantee a success. A research on the harvard mba for past decade has show only 10% managed to get success in career.


The job role you are able to get in play more vital role, try to worked out a career plan. Many CEO from fortune 500 are not from the top universities so dont worry.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by links

Getting MBA from top ten does not sure ganrantee a success. A research on the harvard mba for past decade has show only 10% managed to get success in career.

That's an interesting statistic - can you provide a link to the research? And surely the definition of "success" is very subjective?

[Football16]

Originally Posted by PDLM

If you were going that route wouldn't you be better off trying to get on the HKUST MBA course (rated one of the best in the world) and using the opportunity to get your Cantonese up to business grade as well?

If you want to be in HK and this part of the world, then this is very sound advice. My business partner has his MBA from HKU and London Business School and his BBA from Canada. My advice to him was get to HK to do his MBA here in this part of the world as this is where we are starting our company. Already it has proven to be the right thing to do as one of our firm's Senior Advisors is a top HKU professor and our first meeting with him provided us with outstanding advice that prevented us from making a strategic alliance decision that we were struggling with and his advice/support also landed us a major client opportunity - not landed the work but the door was opened.

The other advice on the language is first - rate too.

There is nothing wrong with the top MBAs in the USA and for finance maybe that might help get you work with a top firm, but would it get you to HK if that is the place you want to live and work? Not sure of that. But I do know being here and meeting people in business in your field here is important.

In any MBA, I have one too, it is not what they are giving you, it is what you are taking from it. I know many can get an MBA being lazy and disinterested but the smart ones get as much as they can out of the experience including meeting others in the business sector you want to be in.

[links]

Originally Posted by PDLM

That's an interesting statistic - can you provide a link to the research? And surely the definition of "success" is very subjective?

Argh...you have to give me sometime to recap it. I read it sometime last year on internet when i am doing research on mba prgram. you may try to search for article related to harvard business school on the search engines.

I did recall something like a researcher conducted a research on a group of harvard mba graduate in a time frame of 10 years. so about 10% succeeded in their career by holding important positions in reputable organization, if not mistkan many are caught "in-between" their desireable career and around 20% or something eventually not achieving anything after 10 years. Its a interesting article. And another article mentioned majority of the fortune 500 companies Top management are not from top 10 universities.

[mfc]

Beats me why anyone wants an MBA to work in IT.

At the end of the day its not how many letters you have after your name that counts, its your experience.

I moved to HK from the UK without any problems. Didnt even have to leave the UK for interviews, it was all done via phone. if you're not getting any responses then either your experience isnt enough or your agent sucks. I got 4 different ibank interviews within 2 weeks of starting looking.

As for cantonese, mine isnt that great, but then I dont ever remember having to converse in Cantonese at work. Its 100% english.