As options multiply -- from one-year executive MBA to domain specific MBAs in Retail, Insurance etc, to programmes via satellite/Broadband -- you want to know the What, Why, When and Where of MBA education and options. Don't be puzzled, as help is at hand. Management expert Dr CS Venkata Ratnam answers your questions on 'Ask Venkat' section on MBAUniverse.com.
In past few weeks, many MBAUniverse.com readers have posed questions on Ask Venkat and have got career guidance directly from Dr Venkata Ratnam. Here are some Q&As from Ask Venkat. Read on, or pose your question by clicking at the link at the bottom of this page.
Dr C S Venkata Ratnam is a leading management expert with decades of experience in teaching and consulting. He is currently the Director of New Delhi based International Management Institute (IMI). In past, he has taught at Andhra University, Waltair, Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, and University in Graz, Austria as visiting faculty. He has been a visiting Scholar to Japan Institute of Labour, Tokyo, Manchester Business School, UK and McGill University, Canada. He has published over 20 books 100 research papers.
Q&A Excerpts:
Q: Sir, I am doing PGDM (finance). I am in first semester and by background I am a BE. I want to do course in CS. It is useful to get placement in future. Please tell any other courses which are useful. Please guide me....
A: By CS if you mean Company Secretary course, certainly it is an additional qualification. If you are doing PGDM in a good school it does not leave much time for doing another professional course. You may like to sequence it and defer till you complete PGDM. Recruiters are not interested in how may degrees and diplomas you have, but what you know, and how you apply your knowledge (attitude part).
Q: I am an Engineering Graduate with 3 years of work experience in sales. I wish to know the prospects about joining Post graduate certificate in sales & marketing from IIM Indore offered by NIIT. Thank You.
A: Certainly IIMI-NIIT program is good in terms of leaning. But if it comes without placement assistance you have to decide what you want.
The Indian mindset is more for full time than distance education programs, if one is looking for career switch with significant improvement in pay packet. Overseas, specially in developed countries the opposite is true. Much depends on what you want and whether you want to invest today for tomorrow’s future. There is a difference between lateral recruitment in campus and your trying for job switch on your own with or without the help of the placement agencies. If you want a significant break in career, it is desirable to do a full time program in a good institution. Finance should not be a constraint because bank loans are available. Rest depends on your level of confidence.
Q: I tried for MBA through CAT thrice since 2005 but unfortunately was not successful. Finally I took admission in Lucknow University’s MBA (Finance and Control) programme. Now I am anxious about my placement at the completion of the course. Sir, could you suggest me on what should I do during the MBA to get good Final Placement offer if none of the good companies come to the campus?
A: Being anxious does not help. It may make matters worse. Be thorough in the subjects you study. Form a small group with your trusted colleagues and have mock drills on subject and career related quizzes. Have dummy interviews … lots of them. The more thorough your preparation is the higher the chances that you will get what you want. Of course, if you are not part of the top 10 or 15 institutions, you do not stand chance of being considered by some of the top recruiters. Much depends also on what you mean by ‘good company’ and what you are expecting.
Since you could not get into IIMs or other comparable institutions, you have to moderate your expectations. Take up a job which gives you opportunity to learn and grow than be guided by money. With a couple of years experience you will be able to get the break. In the meantime, after the completion of your MBA you may like to do another professional course in cost accountancy or some other subject to improve your chances of being considered by top companies or accelerated growth in whatever company you join.
Q: I have around 6 yrs exp in telecom post my MBA in 2000. I had been keen on 1 yr executive MBA. I got thru FPM at MDI this year. As its a 3 year program and full time my friends are asking me to reconsider it on basis of opportunity cost I loose on account of not working. Will it be prudent decision to apply for 1 yr exec MBA at IIMA than 3 Yr FPM at MDI? I am keen on moving into management consulting.
A: Both are different options. If you do not have your heart in research and teaching, it is futile to do FPM, be it in MDI or anywhere else.
Q: I did my BBA in June 2005 and am currently working in a CMM level 5 IT Company in Noida. Currently I am a Team leader for US IT Staffing. I need to start my MBA as well. What would be the best career prospects available for me when I get my MBA Degree in India and Abroad?
A: If you want to settle down in India an MBA/PGDM from a good institution in India can offer you more value in terms of contextualized learning. If you want to have international exposure you should reach out to good schools abroad next year. Three years work experience and good GMAT/TOEFL scores can land you in an Ivy League school. Incidentally it is easier to get admission in a good school abroad than in India. Therefore much depends on how well you do in CAT or XAT (forget about most other tests) if you want to do a course in India.
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