WHAT’S NEXT AFTER AN MBA?
CASE STUDY SOLUTION
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pl
SYNOPSIS
m
Sa
In August 2016, Manish Goyal, a student in his second year of the two-year MBA program at XLRI
Jamshedpur, India, had to make career-related choices about which industry, company, function, and role
to pursue after his MBA. He had limited previous work experience to rely on, but rather than choosing the
first job that came his way or trying to join one of the more popular firms among MBA students, Goyal
n
sought a job offer that best aligned with his own career objectives. He sought advice from his classmates
on career options in the investment banking, management consulting, and fast-moving consumer goods
tio
(FMCG) industries. He realized that while these were valuable inputs, ultimately he had to make his own
decisions.
lu
So
OBJECTIVES
• Clarify their own goals and aspirations for their careers.
• Develop the criteria they would apply in choosing the industry, company, or job that they would like
to pursue upon completion of their MBA.
• Gather appropriate information in order to make the right choice for themselves.
• Discuss the pros and cons of taking a job in industries and companies that are generally sought after by
MBA students.
• Use effective secondary sources to find particular information about an industry or organization.
• Carry out further primary research that may be necessary to effectively leverage students’ networks of
contacts for other internal information.
• Assess and evaluate basic information about the investment banking, management consulting, and
FMCG industries, with particular emphasis on three leading organizations as exemplars in these
industries.
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
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pl
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
m
1. What is the importance of carefully thinking through one’s early career choices? Was the method that
Goyal followed to help him choose the right career effective?
Sa
2. What strategies do companies use to attract high-quality talent?
3. As a self-evaluation exercise, list the factors that would be important to you and would influence your
choice of job role and company. What process would you follow to come to a decision regarding the
industry, company, function, and job role that would be the best fit with your career aspirations and life
n
goals?
4. If you were Goyal, which job option would you choose to pursue?
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
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pl
ANALYSIS
m
1. What is the importance of carefully thinking through one’s early career choices? Was the
Sa
method that Goyal followed to help him choose the right career effective?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “choice” as “the act of choosing: the act of picking or deciding
between two or more possibilities,” and “the opportunity or power to choose between two or more
possibilities: the opportunity or power to make a decision.”1 This definition indicates that for any choice to
n
be made, there needs to be the “presence of alternatives,” and a process of deciding and declaring one’s
“preference.”2 Given that only the top selected few make it to leading MBA institutes in India, students
tio
such as Goyal have the luxury of making a carefully considered career choice.
The instructor can ask students whether career choice is an important question to consider or not. Most
lu
participants in an MBA class would likely agree on career choice being one of their most important
concerns. Two theoretical concepts can be discussed here by the instructor: (1) individual agency is central
So
in career-choice decisions, and this agency-theory approach proposes that individuals have choices, can
assert these choices, and can alter their environment somewhat; and (2) the structural approach suggests
that choices available are limited and constrained due to demand and supply imperfections. Thus, the result
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
, EXHIBIT -1: ANALYSIS OF CAREER ALTERNATIVES
Fast-Moving
Investment Management
Consumer
Weight Banking (e.g., Consulting
Parameter Goods (e.g., Remarks
(%) Goldman (e.g.,
Hindustan
Sachs) Accenture)
Unilever Ltd.)
Location A%
Compensation B%
Nature of responsibility C%
Work–life balance D%
Nature of job E%
Work culture F%
e
pl
m
Sa
n
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
CASE STUDY SOLUTION
e
pl
SYNOPSIS
m
Sa
In August 2016, Manish Goyal, a student in his second year of the two-year MBA program at XLRI
Jamshedpur, India, had to make career-related choices about which industry, company, function, and role
to pursue after his MBA. He had limited previous work experience to rely on, but rather than choosing the
first job that came his way or trying to join one of the more popular firms among MBA students, Goyal
n
sought a job offer that best aligned with his own career objectives. He sought advice from his classmates
on career options in the investment banking, management consulting, and fast-moving consumer goods
tio
(FMCG) industries. He realized that while these were valuable inputs, ultimately he had to make his own
decisions.
lu
So
OBJECTIVES
• Clarify their own goals and aspirations for their careers.
• Develop the criteria they would apply in choosing the industry, company, or job that they would like
to pursue upon completion of their MBA.
• Gather appropriate information in order to make the right choice for themselves.
• Discuss the pros and cons of taking a job in industries and companies that are generally sought after by
MBA students.
• Use effective secondary sources to find particular information about an industry or organization.
• Carry out further primary research that may be necessary to effectively leverage students’ networks of
contacts for other internal information.
• Assess and evaluate basic information about the investment banking, management consulting, and
FMCG industries, with particular emphasis on three leading organizations as exemplars in these
industries.
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
, e
pl
ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS
m
1. What is the importance of carefully thinking through one’s early career choices? Was the method that
Goyal followed to help him choose the right career effective?
Sa
2. What strategies do companies use to attract high-quality talent?
3. As a self-evaluation exercise, list the factors that would be important to you and would influence your
choice of job role and company. What process would you follow to come to a decision regarding the
industry, company, function, and job role that would be the best fit with your career aspirations and life
n
goals?
4. If you were Goyal, which job option would you choose to pursue?
tio
lu
So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
, e
pl
ANALYSIS
m
1. What is the importance of carefully thinking through one’s early career choices? Was the
Sa
method that Goyal followed to help him choose the right career effective?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “choice” as “the act of choosing: the act of picking or deciding
between two or more possibilities,” and “the opportunity or power to choose between two or more
possibilities: the opportunity or power to make a decision.”1 This definition indicates that for any choice to
n
be made, there needs to be the “presence of alternatives,” and a process of deciding and declaring one’s
“preference.”2 Given that only the top selected few make it to leading MBA institutes in India, students
tio
such as Goyal have the luxury of making a carefully considered career choice.
The instructor can ask students whether career choice is an important question to consider or not. Most
lu
participants in an MBA class would likely agree on career choice being one of their most important
concerns. Two theoretical concepts can be discussed here by the instructor: (1) individual agency is central
So
in career-choice decisions, and this agency-theory approach proposes that individuals have choices, can
assert these choices, and can alter their environment somewhat; and (2) the structural approach suggests
that choices available are limited and constrained due to demand and supply imperfections. Thus, the result
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
, EXHIBIT -1: ANALYSIS OF CAREER ALTERNATIVES
Fast-Moving
Investment Management
Consumer
Weight Banking (e.g., Consulting
Parameter Goods (e.g., Remarks
(%) Goldman (e.g.,
Hindustan
Sachs) Accenture)
Unilever Ltd.)
Location A%
Compensation B%
Nature of responsibility C%
Work–life balance D%
Nature of job E%
Work culture F%
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pl
m
Sa
n
tio
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So
The Case Solution Starts From page 5
