Onsite vs. CAT preps

ankursanghi · **Onsite vs. CAT preps -** 13-06-2005, 11:10 AM

Hi friends,

Finally this has happened. I was dreading this for long time. But the opportunity is only for a month. I must also add, to get a fair assessment of my situation, that my project is such that I am the only person working at offshore. The client is experimenting with offshoring for maintenance of some applications on mainframe. In short, there would be no better person than me to go onsite for this project. So, my PM et al might send me forcibly as well (assuming my excuse is not a well-thought one).

When I started my CAT preps this year, I was always wondering 'What if... they threw up an onsite opportunity for me?'

Well, I am sure that I am going to deny this opportunity. But anyway, I wanted to know what people think about it.

Here are some points about the issue:

1. Moneywise, tech stream is as good as MBA, if one doesn't consider the liking of ones profession. This is rather true when one is at onsite for a longer period.
2. Will CAT preparations get hampered? My perception is that once the company obliges you by sending you onsite, they expect a lot of work from you when you come back.
3. There is always a lot of uncertainity about CAT. One can never be sure to crack this dreadful exam, however well one is prepared.

As opposed to this, there is a lot of probability of advancing one's career when one is an onsite returnee.
4. I DO want to get into business of business sooner and get the hell out of core IT i.e. coding et al.

Please pour in your thoughts.

P.S: Mods, I did do a search on this topic before starting a new thread. But, none of the results catered to my question.

ronniekher · 13-06-2005, 11:31 AM

When you have decided not to continue in this line, all your efforts should be directed at CAT.
A month is not a hell lotta time and cannot be really termed as an 'opportunity'. Plus, I have seen mindsets changing after people return from onsite. 1 month, means close to a lakh in savings, and all of a sudden its like voila- loads of dough to be earned.
Plus its a month away frm CAT, you do lose focus for some time.

Don't know tht bit abt added responsibilties though- in my organization onsite returnees are GODS ie do no work

P.S : you might wanna PM Laddooh...he chucked onsite (6 mths) to concentrate on MBA exams and was successful too

rgds
ron

estranged_gnrs · 13-06-2005, 11:39 AM

Hi Ankur,

Not exactly the answers to your query,but i think these threads will help you in making a decision.
But at the end of the day,it all upon you,what do u want.

http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/showth...ghlight=onsite

http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/showth...ghlight=onsite (which is more lucrative? IT carreer as a techie vs MBA( non iim))

http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/showth...ghlight=onsite (Software guy in dilemma)

Also go through Chandoo's legendary post on "All i wanted to speak about Cat".

Rohit

ankursanghi · **Trick required here -** 13-06-2005, 11:59 AM

Hey peepz,

to add 1 more question: could you suggest a nice excuse for NOT going onsite. I haven't met many people doing so.
The problem is because of the fact that I remarked in my half-yearly appraisal that I need onsite opportunity. That was only 2-3 weeks back. Now, I don't have anything to cook up to deny the opportunity. Just can't cry that it is for only 1 month and that's why I don't want to go.

Something on the lines of a sudden drastic change in my life... just don't know what????

prestidigitator · 13-06-2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ankursanghi

,
.
4. I DO want to get into business of business sooner and get the hell out of core IT i.e. coding et al.

Please pour in your thoughts.

.

Yup!! strong case...!!....hmmm test for a stronger YOU!!

though 1 month is not a long period ...and you might very well get attracted to the offer that is made to you.

You might enjoy during THE ONSITE STAY...but you have to come back to the same place back with the same work to do.

I have seen loads of people "defering" making a choice...but the fact is you have to make a choice. And when you know that CAt is where your heart is ,then any extra efforts(and that too at the cost of CAt) will not be a good idea.

I ask a question....(direct dil se!)....how can a field that you dnt enjoy working here(i mean offshore) become so attractive and lucrative when you are sent ONSITE??....does it become attractive to the extent that we can go ahead and put our real aspirations on stake??

lemme kno if you have the answer to this question.

And how long can you allow people around you to make choices and decisions for you....??(your PM is refferrred here)

I keep on repeating the same story..and same point in all posts that i make...but i cant help....this is some NOW ingrained in me......"Listen to your interests!"

Go in the direction of YOUR interests....And not on the path that is CONSIDERED hep and hot!!

TAke CAt with full gusto.....if you are sure that is wat you want(this happens to be the crux of the whole post)
and all the best!!!

comes from a fellow passenger in the same boat as yours!!

All the very best.....MAy you take a decision that sees you in a place where you want to be!!

ronniekher · 13-06-2005, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ankursanghi

Hey peepz,

to add 1 more question: could you suggest a nice excuse for NOT going onsite. I haven't met many people doing so.
The problem is because of the fact that I remarked in my half-yearly appraisal that I need onsite opportunity. That was only 2-3 weeks back. Now, I don't have anything to cook up to deny the opportunity. Just can't cry that it is for only 1 month and that's why I don't want to go.

Something on the lines of a sudden drastic change in my life... just don't know what????

"Personal reasons" is your answer- keep it simple. I doubt whether any PM worth his salt would probe further if you sound defiant enough.

You could always say that though you do want an onsite opportunity, you really didn't expect it so soon hence cannot go because of "extremely personal and unavoidable" commitments.

And dude, cook up some excuse for taking leave in November...plan a marriage in your family ( I forgot how many times my cousin got married last year between August and December

)

rgds and atb
ron

mbabuster · 21-07-2005, 04:34 PM

Hi All,
I want to know which would be a better decision :-

A Go onsite for a duration of 1 year ( and possibly more ) and give GMAT there.
B Stay in india , reject onsite opp and give CAT this year and hope for the best.

Mbabuster

PS mods : i searched high and low for a thread for this topic , but the search engine didn't give me any proper threads , so plzz don't kill this one

ajain · 21-07-2005, 07:10 PM

this is my personal exp.

I was at onsite for 1.3 yrs and came back to join the cat race last 2 last year. Though i didnot get the desired outcome. I still remained in the race and now I am going to spjain mumbai for their 1 yr course. Surprisingly the day I asked my PM for sabaticals he offered me a long term at onsite just incase i wud want that. I refused again but had a valid reason so no headache on that front.

Onsite opportunities wud always come in future though most of the time it comes and puts us in some sort of bind as in my case where i had to choose between SPJain and onsite. Lets see how lucky i am with this decision.

ashishyahoo · 21-07-2005, 07:42 PM

hey guys...

i mite sound a bit stupid askin this question..but its true that proj managers are also sent onsite etc naa...i mean aft gettin out of a b-school one mite get a proj manager status or a management trainee status...are onsite opportunities available for them too naa, or are they restricted only to the techies n the develpers...somewat like wat we are now...?

Ashish

duke · 21-07-2005, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ankursanghi

Hi friends,

Finally this has happened. I was dreading this for long time. But the opportunity is only for a month. I must also add, to get a fair assessment of my situation, that my project is such that I am the only person working at offshore. The client is experimenting with offshoring for maintenance of some applications on mainframe. In short, there would be no better person than me to go onsite for this project. So, my PM et al might send me forcibly as well (assuming my excuse is not a well-thought one).

When I started my CAT preps this year, I was always wondering 'What if... they threw up an onsite opportunity for me?'

Well, I am sure that I am going to deny this opportunity. But anyway, I wanted to know what people think about it.

I wud say 1 month is not a big time and it wont affect if u'll be able to maintain ur focus.
I'll be workin in US for the next 2 months but I gave CAT last year and I still fancy my chances. I refused an opportunity last year and dint get through any Bschool either, so doing same this year wud be foolishness. If tis for jus a month and ull be back before september go on mate.
I too work on mainframes and it sucks. But why not make some money while ur there.
Baaki CAT ke time par dekh lena..