Summary of "The FASTEST Way to Build a STRONG MBA Profile in 9 Months"

The video presents a comprehensive 9-month roadmap to build a strong MBA profile, especially for students with average academic records or limited initial opportunities. The presenter, Hemans, shares personal experiences and actionable strategies that helped him transition from an average profile to gaining admission into a top MBA college and securing promising opportunities.

Main Strategies and Insights:

Focus on Academics Early
- Academics matter significantly as MBA interviews and recruiters prioritize them.
- Unlike MBA exams, you cannot retake undergraduate exams, so maintain good grades during graduation.
- Prioritize assignments and academic performance over distractions.
Internships as a Learning and Profiling Tool
- Start internships early to explore different domains (business development, HR, sales, etc.).
- Do internships with purpose; avoid doing them just for the sake of it.
- Use platforms like Naukri, Internshala, college portals, and LinkedIn to find internships.
- A unique method: Identify recently funded startups (via INC42), research founders on LinkedIn, engage meaningfully, and send personalized emails to secure internships.
- Referrals are valuable but only after you’ve done all possible groundwork.
Work Experience Advantage
- Having work experience before MBA gives an edge in admissions and placements.
- It provides financial benefits and practical insights, making candidates more attractive to recruiters.
Volunteering
- Engage in volunteering, especially in social causes or management-related activities.
- Volunteering builds leadership skills, initiative, and creates strong stories for interviews.
- It also fosters lifelong friendships and personal growth.
Positions of Responsibility (POR)
- Try to secure leadership roles in student clubs, societies, or committees.
- If rejected, create or found new clubs or initiatives (e.g., Hemans founded the Hult Prize campus chapter).
- PORs are highly valued in MBA applications and interviews and help build legacy and confidence.
- If college opportunities are limited, seek roles in external organizations like Rotary Club.
Co-curricular Activities: Research and Publications
- Collaborate with professors to write and publish research papers or journals.
- Research experience showcases analytical, writing, and collaboration skills, valued internationally.
- Reach out proactively to professors for research internships.
Personal Projects and Entrepreneurship
- Start your own initiative: YouTube channel, blog, startup, or any hobby formalized with certifications.
- Demonstrates initiative, willpower, and practical application of skills.
- Practical experience is often more valued than theoretical knowledge.
- Monetizing a skill (e.g., running a GDPI course) adds to profile strength and confidence.
Competitions
- Participate in competitions across colleges via platforms like OneStop, regardless of your college’s stature.
- If not interested in competing, organize competitions to develop organizational and leadership skills.
- Competitions reflect competitiveness, learning ability, and provide great talking points in interviews.
Skill Development and Certifications
- Learn relevant skills through platforms like Coursera, Udemy, etc.
- Build portfolios or projects to demonstrate applied knowledge (e.g., Python projects on GitHub).
- Avoid just collecting certificates; focus on mastering a few skills deeply.
- Professional certifications (CA, CS, CFA) add value but are often finance-centric.
- Choose certifications relevant to your desired domain (e.g., marketing certifications from known platforms).
Holistic CV Building
- Combine academics, internships, projects, PORs, volunteering, competitions, skills, and hobbies.
- This multi-dimensional profile impresses recruiters and interviewers.
- Even with limited resources, following this roadmap with willpower can lead to success.

Methodology / Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Prioritize academic performance during graduation.
Step 2: Start internships early; explore multiple domains and choose relevant ones.
Step 3: Gain some work experience before MBA if possible.
Step 4: Volunteer in social or management activities to build leadership and stories.
Step 5: Secure or create positions of responsibility in college or external organizations.
Step 6: Engage in research and publish papers if interested in academic rigor.
Step 7: Start personal projects or entrepreneurial ventures to demonstrate initiative.
Step 8: Participate in or organize competitions to showcase competitiveness.
Step 9: Learn and master relevant skills; build portfolios and avoid superficial certification collection.
Step 10: Integrate all experiences into a cohesive CV highlighting diverse competencies.