Frustrated s/w engr aspires for CAT.

[GeniusMagic]

Hi guys ,

I want the suggestions of guys who have made it to the top notch b-schools after quitting their jobs.

I have been working in Infosys for the last 2 years now. I wrote CAT this year and could only manage 96.5 percentile. It was only a half-hearted attempt tho. I plan to have another go at CAT. but I am not able to decide on what do in the coming 6 months( apart from preparing for CAT).

As u might have gauged from the title of this post, I am totally frustrated with my perks, role and quality of work here in Infy. The tech I am working on and the project I am being offered simply sucks. I m planning to switch to some other MNC where I can have better quality work apart from a decent hike in salary.

I know If I try I can find such a job...but keeping in mind that my ultimate goal is CAT, I am not too sure if that would be a right decision at this time.

After delibrating at it for hours, I have narrowed down onto three options as of now :-

1. Quit Infy and join some other organisation of my choice. This is what the engineer in me tells me to do. but then on the flip side ...it might become very difficult for me to spare time for CAT if I join a new firm now. They might put me on probation for 6 months where I will have to perform and my CAT studies might sufffer.

2. I stick to Infy for the next three months or so and then just one month before CAT, I quit. That way I can go all out at CAT in the last month and then after the CAT episode is over and while I am waiting for the results I can float my resume and find another job of my liking. The problem here is that I will have to live with my frustration for another 3 months and do some third class work. and believe me this frustration is really getting to me.

3. I stick to Infy till I get an admit into a B-school of my choice. This will help me in preparing for CAT. I can neglect some work and concentarte more on my CAT. The fact that I stuck to one organisation might also help me in interviews after CAT. but the frustration and heart burn will cotinue and testing projects will continue to spoil my CV too.

My heart says go for the first option . Just kick INfy and find a job which u like and gives better pay/satisfcation and side by side prepare for CAT. but my head tells me to stick to the second option so that I can have a go at CAT at the cost of the company which I am anyway going to leave within a year.

I continue to hover between preparing for job interviews and preparing for CAT. I need to make up my mind quickly. Please help guys.


GM

[jamilzz]

hi genius,
i am in a similar situation (CAT-03-->95.34) in a different company tough only 8 months of frustration for me
even i am preparing for CAT -04 but won't quit job as u rightly said anybody will put u on probation nad then u won't be able to concentrate on CAT
so better go for option 2
also can u tell me which platform r u on coz it cant get more boring than being on MAINFRAMES which i am on
chalo best of luck kor your preparations

[krm]

hi Genius,
come on yaar....this happens in all the S/W company......i m not sure abt u getting a "better challenging" job in the new company which u r entering into...
I hv 5 yrs of experience in this S/W ...but never found anything challenging after my first 3 yrs of work....
so better take a break from the work ....prepare well for the CAT....and get into one of the B-Schools...thats the best escape from all these tech issuessss.....
so sit back...relax...forget office...prepare well for CAT....

All the Best......



krm....

[Simba]

Hmmm... as I am in one of those gyaan sharing modes...

U all guys can play around & keep trying for alternatives becos.. u have the time & parents behind u... Dont lean on those things... Think of what U want to do.. & work towards it thro' all bad days... & frustrations...

Originally Posted by GeniusMagic

1. Quit Infy and join some other organisation of my choice. This is what the engineer in me tells me to do. but then on the flip side ...it might become very difficult for me to spare time for CAT if I join a new firm now. They might put me on probation for 6 months where I will have to perform and my CAT studies might sufffer.

Infy is a great company to be in no matter which group etc etc.. It looks solid on the CV!! Joining another organization means - U will have to start job hunting... Not only will be be able to do justice to ur current job but also giving less time to both job hunting & CAT... And also, u urself have noted the flip side even if u get a new job... Now, sit down & think, friend... what do u seek.. before u know... Sept will be here & CAT preps shld be in full swing & u must be there atleast in 99 percentile...& fom 96 to 99... not a long journey...

Originally Posted by GeniusMagic

2. I stick to Infy for the next three months or so and then just one month before CAT, I quit. That way I can go all out at CAT in the last month and then after the CAT episode is over and while I am waiting for the results I can float my resume and find another job of my liking. The problem here is that I will have to live with my frustration for another 3 months and do some third class work. and believe me this frustration is really getting to me..

Quitting is a very easy thing, my friend... anybody can quit a job easily.. throw it up in air & walk out... But only after a day's sleep.. will it HIT u... & trust me, it will HIT HARD!!! 1 month after quitting.. u will be worrying what if u dont come close to that grand fig for IIMs... then what??? Have u thought about that... If u dont make it to places u want... then what... U call working is frustration.. Hmmm... Then, its time u changed ur mind set... Think of it as U dont have a choice.. something u have to bear till u reach ur goal. no matter what kinda sh*** place....

Originally Posted by GeniusMagic

3. I stick to Infy till I get an admit into a B-school of my choice. This will help me in preparing for CAT. I can neglect some work and concentarte more on my CAT. The fact that I stuck to one organisation might also help me in interviews after CAT. but the frustration and heart burn will cotinue and testing projects will continue to spoil my CV too..

Come on.. this is sound option... But as I said.. ur frustrations could be reduced by seeing more out of ur job... try other things so that u spend min time at work.. go... join our voluntary work if u like... theres so much to see & read... ENJOY pal.. these few years of ur life.. u will never ever get them back...

Hmmmm... I have been a lil mess for quite a while.. & these days I hardly counsel.. mebbe becos... ultimately ppl do what their heart says.. Thats PERFECT... listen to all... but make a safe decision.. let it not make a dent in ur career path nor on ur pocket....

And Chillax...

Simbaaaaaa

[zenith]

Hi Guys,

I am exactly in the same situation working in one of the leading software company, getting a handsome package but work is not adding any value to my CV.

GM, I am as frustrated as you are.

I liked all these posts and as I've already decided about CAT, it firmed my decision.
But I am quiet late to decide. I've just started now preparing for CAT.

Can any one suggest me to excel my preparation or a good startgey I can consider to prepare well & quickly.

Any pointer in this direction will be appreciated

Thanks
-Jiya.

[maximus]

Hi All,

I smiled a little bit reading this thread.
Well actually I was in the same situation last year this time.
But I decided to continue on with my company then till CAT.
CAT was there on Nov 21st.
I gave a job interview in early Nov, got thru and resgined from my parent company in mid nov, studied coollllllllyyyy and gave CAT.
After CAT immediately i joined the next company, put up a good perf till mid jan, when my interviews started and gave the interviews.
Unfortunately i didnt convert though.
Tryin this year.

If u are focussing on CAT, i would advise u to stick to infy coz u are settled there n can choose wat time u can study etc etc. U dont know wat time u will get once u switch.
Bear infy for sometime, for the sake of IIMs !!
mAx

[monkee]

Originally Posted by zenith

I am exactly in the same situation working in one of the leading software company, getting a handsome package but work is not adding any value to my CV.
Can any one suggest me to excel my preparation or a good startgey I can consider to prepare well & quickly.
Any pointer in this direction will be appreciated

Look at GM's post, especially option 3. If you can combine that with a week or 2 of leave before CAT, that would be the best strategy according to me. I wouldnt recommend options 1 or 2

[morbidkk]

HI Genius,
me also from Infy but shifted some days back. If u r from Pune Infy(which I have guessed from "Testing Project"), we surely know each other.

My two cents are as follows:

1. Well at least you know the situation here in Infy and project so that you can execute your ploy better in present job. New job will be a different game alltogether.You might have to slog for that for 2-3 days too

2. Just do the things you need to do and dont do the things that you dont need to do then someday you can do the things you want to do. Stick to your masterplan.

3. If you give 100% for one particular thing i.e. CAT who can stop you man! also being from Infy I know you have already slogged a lot and ythats why I think you now slog for your beloved perpose

Hope we will be together there

[balli11]

wah!!!!

so many guys with same feelings ,its so heartening 2 see this
but then chill yar ,atleast u guys have projects to work in.Im in Satyam Hyd. was in project but it was over.& now on bench
Its damn frustating to be here. Neways even though i was in project i was'nt occupied with work ,its typical sarkari job where 80% time u are whiling away
neways even i'm in the MBA band hope 2 make it big

[aragorn]

Oh the great software engineer of Indiah, what has become of thou?
Why are you, be in any industry/domain/tech so frustrated?

yes, count me in...
it proves to me an enigma, that the CAT takers in IT industry, most of them, are not very happy of the scene ...

anyways, no use pondering/wondering/etc...
my case :-

seniors know that i am preparing for CAT. so there is a good lot of resistance from them. i cant leave early (read 8 - 9 pm), even if i dont hav enuf work. i have to get JCPs and all the certies even they know are of no use to me...

but coming to the point ... i am not leaving this place.

reason - need to show stablility + good work ex of 2yrs straight. i dont know how much is that of help to u, but my funda is simple. i've got pathetic acads (60 - ) in my b.e. So need to balance ...

i know folks (99+ %ile, 5/6 calls ...barely 1 converted....) who were screwed due to their acads and then told ... u are not even stable in ur job profile... u have switched this much and that much ...

all in all ... dont look with the perspective of will i be able to study in this company/ will i get time in that company ....

forget it dude. time toh nikalna hi padega.
while taking a decision, think what will ur resume look like in the GD PIs and whether u are giving the interviewers loop holes to trap u ...

rest... ur decision.

cheers!