[gaurav_tomar]

Originally Posted by nischal

though i know that this is a discussion forum for working prof, i have a serious doubt about my career that i would like your advice on. I am a 2008 pass out engg student and my cat score in 2007 was 98.5%ile. i didnt get any calls from IIM and had applied only for MDI-HR and TAPMI, both the calls i converted but did not join as i thought that i can give another shot at the PGPM. Now i have passed out this year in April and am placed at TCS. The date of joining is in september/october and from june i have been at home. I did try for other jobs and did get offer letters from 5 companies but none of them were worth it. So i joined a social organisation and am a coordinator for 1 of their social activities. now my doubts are:
(1)Will this break for 2-3 months affect my chances. I mean in GD/PI what can i tell the interviewers if they ask me about this break. Any suggestions as to what else i can do to improve my profile during this time.
(2) Since i have offers from a few companies, should i join them. The problem is these offers are not as good as my current job prospects in TCS.

Any reply is deeply appreciated. Thanks a lot guys

Hi Nischal,

Bro your issue is a non-issue. I'll tell you why...

As far as your first concern is concerned, you need not worry because all B-Schools are aware of this and they won't ask you anything about this. I'll give you my example. I got pleaced in Infy and was given a September joining that means around 3-4 months doing nothing. I also thought of utilising this time(like you) and joined HCL Technologies, Noida. But I had to leave it coz they asked me to sign a bond with them and I was not ready for that coz I wanted to join Infy. Thus effectively I don't have a workex for that period. But no B-School asked me this. Its obvious yaar coz many a times these companies do the same thing to B-School passouts as well. So Don't worry bout this.

As far as the second point is concerned I think you can join these companies if you think they are worth it. If you feel that joining TCS would be a better option then you can either wait for your joining or join one of these companies subject to the condition that they don't have a bond and they'll leave you when required. Its completely your call. In my opinion you better wait for your TCS joining and utilise this time for your CAT preparations coz once you enter that bad bad corp world you'll get lesser time for this.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Gaurav

[srinath_123]

Hi All,

I am a CAT 2008 aspirant. Taking the exam for the first time.
I am working in a leading s/w company for the past two years and 6 months. Iam thinking of one question for a long time. I appreciate if you could give some suggestions in this regard.
my question is: What if i quit my job and totally dedicate to the CAT prepartion, in this way, i think i could improve my chances to get into cluster-A colleges, if not IIMs. ( my mock-CAT scores are 80-85 percentile now, i guess i can improve to 96-98 in next 4 months, if i could dedicate to it).
If i take the break now, will the Top B-Schools make a bad impression of my profile/capacity like not able to do multi tasking or handling the presssure.

I don't like to continue with the job and try the CAT next time or the next next time, because the job is such a boring that i truly want to shift the career.

Did any of you face the similar situation and took the risky decisions??

please advise me

Thanks,
Sri

[shukla_wish]

Originally Posted by srinath_123

Hi All,

I am a CAT 2008 aspirant. Taking the exam for the first time.
I am working in a leading s/w company for the past two years and 6 months. Iam thinking of one question for a long time. I appreciate if you could give some suggestions in this regard.
my question is: What if i quit my job and totally dedicate to the CAT prepartion, in this way, i think i could improve my chances to get into cluster-A colleges, if not IIMs. ( my mock-CAT scores are 80-85 percentile now, i guess i can improve to 96-98 in next 4 months, if i could dedicate to it).
If i take the break now, will the Top B-Schools make a bad impression of my profile/capacity like not able to do multi tasking or handling the presssure.

I don't like to continue with the job and try the CAT next time or the next next time, because the job is such a boring that i truly want to shift the career.

Did any of you face the similar situation and took the risky decisions??

please advise me

Thanks,
Sri

you should not quit the job even though it is boring
becoz it make worsen ur profile,last year I've done the same
and faced some hurdles further as well as
u want to be a manager so manage ur time with ur job
I know it is difficult but u can do it....
All The Best ...

[avinav2712]

Originally Posted by srinath_123

Hi All,

I am a CAT 2008 aspirant. Taking the exam for the first time.
I am working in a leading s/w company for the past two years and 6 months. Iam thinking of one question for a long time. I appreciate if you could give some suggestions in this regard.
my question is: What if i quit my job and totally dedicate to the CAT prepartion, in this way, i think i could improve my chances to get into cluster-A colleges, if not IIMs. ( my mock-CAT scores are 80-85 percentile now, i guess i can improve to 96-98 in next 4 months, if i could dedicate to it).
If i take the break now, will the Top B-Schools make a bad impression of my profile/capacity like not able to do multi tasking or handling the presssure.

I don't like to continue with the job and try the CAT next time or the next next time, because the job is such a boring that i truly want to shift the career.

Did any of you face the similar situation and took the risky decisions??

please advise me

Thanks,
Sri

I had done the exact same thing as you're planning to do. I left since Oct '07 and prepared for CAT and other exams. But let me tell you, I was very well aware of the risk I took and I would advise anyone to think a lot before taking this step. Although this step paid me rich dividends (similar %iles in mocks as yours and ended up with 99.12%ile in CAT '07), I can't say for sure that this would work for everyone.

This decision is like an educated risk, but a risk nonetheless. If it comes off, it's brilliant, if it doesn't, you'll be chastised by everyone. My decision evoked a lot of criticism at the start but after the results, everyone praised me for my boldness, opportunism etc.

You have to understand what you want, what you believe you can do and how much you believe in your own ability. Everyone might say that don't quit job (even I say, just because this proposition is very risky) but the same solution may not fit everyone. Each one has his own way of doing things, so you have to decide for yourself.

And regarding justifying yourself in the interview, let me tell you I didn't have any problems whatsoever convincing the panelists (I'm saying this because I had quite a lot of converts apart from where I joined, in fact just one reject) because I was clear on my priorities. For me, it was more about priorities rather than time management (others may differ on this view, but this is my view).

So, just one last thing. Think a lot and be very clear that you don't have a fall back option if you fail. If you fail, you have to go back at giving interviews and hunting for a job, which may take time, which is obviously frustrating. When you've covered all the possibilities, only then decide. If you wish, you can have a look at a couple of my posts (in my signature). Probably would help you

[swapnilpatil147]

Originally Posted by srinath_123

Hi All,

my question is: What if i quit my job and totally dedicate to the CAT prepartion, in this way, i think i could improve my chances to get into cluster-A colleges, if not IIMs. ( my mock-CAT scores are 80-85 percentile now, i guess i can improve to 96-98 in next 4 months, if i could dedicate to it).

Thanks,
Sri

I think it is better to take a leave of month before CAT. This much time would be sufficient to you to leverage your score from 85% to 95%+.
You can take one month leave on medical excuse. Also there are companies which allow you to go for a longer leave (2-6 months) on LOP provided you have valid reason for it.

[raghav507]

Originally Posted by srinath_123

Hi All,

I am a CAT 2008 aspirant. Taking the exam for the first time.
---------------
If i take the break now, will the Top B-Schools make a bad impression of my profile/capacity like not able to do multi tasking or handling the presssure.
-----------------------
I don't like to continue with the job and try the CAT next time or the next next time, because the job is such a boring that i truly want to shift the career.
---------------
Sri

hi Sri,
you have seen the opinions from other puys,
I'd like to add something to it...
in case you take a medical leave from the job, it won't create a problem for you in the GD/PI of a B-school...
because the employer generally doesn't mention the medical leaves in the relieving letter which is mandatory for the experience proof...so it won't create a problem...

[nikhil9811]

Hi all.. I started my grad in 2004 from DU but did terrilby bad.. Finally I couldnot clear 2 of my exams in the last semester in 2007.. So I had to write these 2 exams again in 2008 and amazingly I cleared one and failed again in the other.. :(:( Now I am taking B.Sc(General) Comp Sc degree instead of honours degree that I did.. My % is only 51.xx
I gave all my time to CAT preparation last year.. But on the D-day I scored a pathetic 0 in english n 59 overall.. and 82%ile.. And didnt clear any of the interview I went for like bimtech n SDM.... All that they asked me in intrview was "what have u done in ur grad".. And I had no ready answer.. made some stupid stories in the intervu.. lol!!

Now I decided to work for a few months and take CAT again.. I am quite confident of getting decent %ile in CAT in the range of 95+.. But my problem is with my very limited knowledge of programming language, I am not getting any job in IT.. And some companies have 60% as their criteria.. What should I do?? SHould I work anywhere like as data entry operator or anything that I can get really?? Or shud I study really hard and leave this job thing as some peope are suggesting me??

Also, I have got a job in Dell as a technical pro in-bound.. But its timings are wierd.. 6pm-3am.. it will leave me with no time to study.. And I have also heard that call centre job is not considered as work ex no matter how good ur profile is?? is it correct??

Please guide me!! I have already invested aroung 50k last year and I want to take admissn in a gud collg dis year....

[srinath_123]

Thanks Avinav2712, shukla_wish and swapilpatil147 for the very considerate replies for my post. i will definitely give a thought to your suggestions in this regard.

To add to my earlier post, when i think of the worst case scenario where i am left without job and without good score in CAT. My passion is coming into my mind. Yes puys, i have a great passion towards teaching. you guys my laugh at the very idea of leaving the s/w job which stuffs the wallets with bulk amount and joining as a school teacher or lecturer where i can earn only mere amount.
But i see this in other way, If i take-up english and Maths my all time fav subjects blended with my passion. I can prepare myself to the next battle in the CAT battle ground without separating the JOB and PREPARATION like what we do in s/w profession.
But my Questions here are:
1) Will my teaching experience considered by the B-schools in the right spirit?
2) How can i justify my move?
3) Will the decrease in the salary from software to Teaching, affects my salary in Post-MBA placements?

I really appreciate if any of you could provide suggestions in this regard.
Thanks in advance.

Reg,
Sri

[Dreamer_08]

i'm just too sad today!! mock scores are fluctuating like anything... upar se everytime i visit PG i'm humbled by the performance levels here! not able to put my mind into work... as i keep thinkin abt the gap in my prep.. it's not that i'm scared of the fight.. but still having a bad day!! din know who or where else to turn to!! PUYS!!

[nihilist1986]

Originally Posted by Dreamer_08

i'm just too sad today!! mock scores are fluctuating like anything... upar se everytime i visit PG i'm humbled by the performance levels here! not able to put my mind into work... as i keep thinkin abt the gap in my prep.. it's not that i'm scared of the fight.. but still having a bad day!! din know who or where else to turn to!! PUYS!!

hey dude.. dont be so apprehensive and dejected.. mocks are just for practice.. scores fluctuate.. these are to make u familiar and comfortable.. prepare fully.. even if u get low scores in mocks dont at all feel bad.. i've seen ppl getting %tiles in 80s and making it big on the D-day..

never leave any gap in ur preparation.. CAT is a matter of 2.5 hrs.. hw u fare in those 2.5 hrs.. it's all about pressure.. hw do u handle that pressure.. so be calm and composed.. hv self-belief.. wen u go for CAT dont even think abt ur mock scores (even if u've got 99%tile ).. all u've to think is tat u can do it.. if u've seen chakde... wher SRK said "ye 70 min apna best game khelo.. ye 70 min tumse koi nahi cheen sakta....."

same way.. give ur best in those 2.5 hrs.. here are two quotes which I like

" Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."

"Just do your best and God will do the rest."

so all the best for ur preparations, mocks and last mock, i.e., CAT.

cheers