GMAT and the Post-MBA Job Market

October 20, 2009

Everybody knows how important the GMAT is for business-school admissions. Business Week reports that the impact of your GMAT score can reach even further.

BW cites a number of sources, including some MBA program representatives who have observed the new trend:

"We see a large number of consulting companies, some investment banks, and a couple of corporations all looking at both GMAT and undergrad and MBA GPAs." says Patrick Perrella, [Notre Dame] Mendoza's director of MBA career development. "These companies are looking for a sustained record of academic excellence.

As if the test-day stakes weren't high enough already!

Keep in mind, of course, that this trend is based on a relatively small number of observations. As always, the difference between a 690 and a 710 isn't likely to make or break your chances for anything, whether it be a b-school acceptance letter or an interview at McKinsey.

But if you aspire to a quant-oriented career and you're not cracking the 80th percentile on that part of the test ... well, consider yourself warned!

About the author: Jeff Sackmann has written many resources for GMAT preparation, including the popular Total GMAT Math, Total GMAT Verbal, and GMAT 111. He has also created explanations for problems in The Official Guide, as well as 1,800 practice GMAT math questions.

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