Saif Ali Khan was right in Hum Tum. Guys are bad at remembering dates. But for sure, 1st July would always remain fresh in my memory, just for the simple reason that its not everyday you walk into the most saught after B-School in India, consoling your heart that - dont worry, you belong to this place.. or atleast you will be able to make a corner for you somehow, someday!!
So, let me start it!! Not in the fancy way all the management graduates are filling Landmark store these days, but in very simple english words, full of grammetical mistakes..
Well, Induction day reminded me of the time 6 years back when I joined Engg. college. The hall was similar and so were the speeches. And, so was my response to them. I dozed off again!!
Then came the lovely part, most lovely part!! The Induction week began.. With assignments, some more of them and a few more of them..actually enough of them so that you end up running around all night! Never in my life I had slept only 2 hours continuously throughout the week without proper meal! It is pain, frustation, stress, tension and thats where somehow, unknowingly, we learn management!!
Classes dont offer much to discuss about initially, just that you need to choose the right seat to sleep peacefully escaping the eyes of the profs!! But sometimes it doesnt help! Happened twice in my class. One of the guy was sleeping, and he went far into it which resulted in Snoring! Another case was when a guy slept in the front row with his mouth wide open!!
But in those sleepy classes, I learnt quite a few things. The first management lesson - "Managers are seldom correct but always confident!"
Second lesson - Avoid sitting near inquisitive personalities, they are likely to ask questions on anything and everything under the sun, especially when ur eyes are shut and lips start parting!
Third Lesson - Desperate Class participation. I know you hate it. So do I. But not my classmates. Certainly not, when some marks are alloted for class participation. They have a spring fitted hand which pops up whenever the professor pauses to catch his/her breathe! An art which I need to learn for surviving in this rat race!
Fourth Lesson - The patience to keep my bum rested on an uncomfortable chair for 1.5 hours straight!! Quite an asking after working for 2.5 years in a schedule which comprised mostly of coffee breaks.
Well, I think I have written more about the classes than my actual attendence, I think we can talk about that hot finance mam later! So lets get back to the crazy nights!! we ate,slept and drunk assignments, but somehow we always found some time to appreciate the scenic beauty that Delhi and specially DU offers!
Very soon we figured out that one of our friend doesnt like any obscene word to be associated with a particular 'kanya' of our batch, he actually looked quite content when we called her bhabhi!! FMS offers you options, u can always trade off some!!
Another friend was ready with his STP analysis of the batch. Keeping in mind the large number of male students, we forced him to shrink his target group and these days he is working on positioning. We finally had a consensus on who is 'Teri waali' and who is 'Meri waali'.
Everything was accomodated in the busy schedule- The ratings, in-depth analysis along with facts and figures, plans, action items.... we indeed are the true managers!! Waiting to discover the spectrum of color that this B-school promises...
On a serious note, as I enter the campus daily, the air whispers in my ear - This is the best place you could have ever reached and these are going to be the best 20 months of ur life..The stopwatch has started, your time starts now!!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Why do you want to do a MBA?
Before I have even joined my B-school, people are asking, "How should I prepare dude?", "Give me some tips!!", " How did you manage it with work?", " 4 hours a day would be sufficient?"
Little do they know that I have no answer to these questions as I was never sure about myself getting in! But let me accept, its a great feeling when people actually ask you these questions! I feel, wow, so I am also qualified to give some gyan now.. that's cool man!
So, this post is dedicated to all the people, who are/will be preparing for MBA and feel that I can be of some 'Value Add'! So let me start this Gyan sharing post with an attempt to answer the million dollar question "Why do you want to do a MBA?"
But before I do that, let me share a very interesting incident related to this question. One of my friend was going for a MBA interview and I assured him that this is a sure shot question. He prepared it very well and was ready to vomit it as soon as asked. Unfortunately, the interviewers didn't ask him this question and, as it turned out to be, this was the only question he had prepared well for the interview!
The frustration crept in and at the end of interview, he asked the interviewers, "Why do you guys ask this question, why do you want to do an MBA?"
Interviewer: "I never asked you, do you want me to ask that?"
My friend: "But you do ask this to other candidates.."
Ok, so finally the confusion was cleared and the interviewers told that they know all the answers are fudged and they are looking for somebody who can give honest answers..
So let me point out all the honest answers that this question has:
Entrepreneurship- I tell you. I works. India has the maximum entrepreneurs at the time of MBA admissions. Thats another story that they are the first one to form a queue for any Tom Dick Harry company during the placements! Just google for some entrepreneurs, better if they are from the same college, steal a crap idea from somewhere and you are the next budding future CEO of this country! Hats-off Man!
I have the basic skills now, want to enhance- The most commonly used answer for the work-ex ppl.. Probably an IT job does even make you learn how to make omelet from an egg but you need to show that you have deciphered the Vinci's code in your job tenure. And with the knowledge of all the intricacies of a business and job, you are the most suitable person on this earth to do an MBA now. Thats another thing that you dont even know how to knot your tie...
I was born to be a Manager: Probably you did nothing more that collecting some money (and failed at it!) for Sarswati Puja in your colony and manage a dinner (how I liked it!) in your college function, but you need to show that you have been managing things since times when you could not even manage your nature's calls! Tell them whatever you have seen of your friends managing events, and how good you are at man management skills and other such heavy words and show them that its a lifetime opportunity for that college to admit you, because after all, you are the next Mittal or Birlas! Specially recommended for born liars!!
Well there are some more reasons, in fact many of them. But these three are no doubt, top 3 and many a times form the basis of other answers. Some people are lucky enough to have case specific reasons, I envy you.
I know that I wasted your time more than giving you some concreate answers, but thats what you can expect of a mortal like me.. Gyan will continue nevertheless!!!
Little do they know that I have no answer to these questions as I was never sure about myself getting in! But let me accept, its a great feeling when people actually ask you these questions! I feel, wow, so I am also qualified to give some gyan now.. that's cool man!
So, this post is dedicated to all the people, who are/will be preparing for MBA and feel that I can be of some 'Value Add'! So let me start this Gyan sharing post with an attempt to answer the million dollar question "Why do you want to do a MBA?"
But before I do that, let me share a very interesting incident related to this question. One of my friend was going for a MBA interview and I assured him that this is a sure shot question. He prepared it very well and was ready to vomit it as soon as asked. Unfortunately, the interviewers didn't ask him this question and, as it turned out to be, this was the only question he had prepared well for the interview!
The frustration crept in and at the end of interview, he asked the interviewers, "Why do you guys ask this question, why do you want to do an MBA?"
Interviewer: "I never asked you, do you want me to ask that?"
My friend: "But you do ask this to other candidates.."
Ok, so finally the confusion was cleared and the interviewers told that they know all the answers are fudged and they are looking for somebody who can give honest answers..
So let me point out all the honest answers that this question has:
- I want to earn a lot of Money that an MBA job promises. (The most prominent one!)
- I hate my job. (Especially, My IT friends)
- I was hit by recession and had no other option. (Well, the wounds are still fresh!)
- Everybody is doing that! ( Indians will never leave following the crowd!!)
- If I don't go for a MBA now, probably, papa will force me to marry. (No prize for guessing the domain! )
Entrepreneurship- I tell you. I works. India has the maximum entrepreneurs at the time of MBA admissions. Thats another story that they are the first one to form a queue for any Tom Dick Harry company during the placements! Just google for some entrepreneurs, better if they are from the same college, steal a crap idea from somewhere and you are the next budding future CEO of this country! Hats-off Man!
I have the basic skills now, want to enhance- The most commonly used answer for the work-ex ppl.. Probably an IT job does even make you learn how to make omelet from an egg but you need to show that you have deciphered the Vinci's code in your job tenure. And with the knowledge of all the intricacies of a business and job, you are the most suitable person on this earth to do an MBA now. Thats another thing that you dont even know how to knot your tie...
I was born to be a Manager: Probably you did nothing more that collecting some money (and failed at it!) for Sarswati Puja in your colony and manage a dinner (how I liked it!) in your college function, but you need to show that you have been managing things since times when you could not even manage your nature's calls! Tell them whatever you have seen of your friends managing events, and how good you are at man management skills and other such heavy words and show them that its a lifetime opportunity for that college to admit you, because after all, you are the next Mittal or Birlas! Specially recommended for born liars!!
Well there are some more reasons, in fact many of them. But these three are no doubt, top 3 and many a times form the basis of other answers. Some people are lucky enough to have case specific reasons, I envy you.
I know that I wasted your time more than giving you some concreate answers, but thats what you can expect of a mortal like me.. Gyan will continue nevertheless!!!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April fool was never so special...
Joy called up at 3 in the morning on 1st April.. Well, I know, he is an enthusiastic guy but its certainly not the right time to make people April fool! "You converted FMS! Both Full-Time and MS courses",now com'on, thats a sensitive topic to play on.. So,I asked him many questions to verify that he was not fooling me! He named some other people in the list who were with me in GD/PI, there was no way on earth that he could have knew them....
So what does it mean? I converted FMS???? My bed received some fatal blow of 83 Kgs jumping over it! With a screwed interview I was hoping for a wait list at max, and I had converts in both the courses!!! True,as many say, I am a lucky dog!!
And the past few days have been of great personal satisfaction..It not about making it to FMS and a great career after that.. Its about the effort and pain which you put in preparing for MBA!! This race has grown bigger and bigger over the year, and looking back to the time when I started the journey, it has indeed been an year full of struggle!!
I will leave Infy this June, and leaving the company which gave me so many things and learnings will be a pain in itself, but we need to move ahead in life. I know, the next two years are gonna be damn hectic, bt slowly, I have realised that there is no end to the race, it will continue. It has to be our call, where to stop!
Right now, the question in front of me is not what I am doing and what I will do at FMS or after that, it is, what should I do in life which will satisfy me, after which I will not be a part of the race.. tough one!
Think, I have figured out some options for me and now is the best time to start going about it.
If you ever read this post, think about it! Where does the race ends for YOU?
So what does it mean? I converted FMS???? My bed received some fatal blow of 83 Kgs jumping over it! With a screwed interview I was hoping for a wait list at max, and I had converts in both the courses!!! True,as many say, I am a lucky dog!!
And the past few days have been of great personal satisfaction..It not about making it to FMS and a great career after that.. Its about the effort and pain which you put in preparing for MBA!! This race has grown bigger and bigger over the year, and looking back to the time when I started the journey, it has indeed been an year full of struggle!!
I will leave Infy this June, and leaving the company which gave me so many things and learnings will be a pain in itself, but we need to move ahead in life. I know, the next two years are gonna be damn hectic, bt slowly, I have realised that there is no end to the race, it will continue. It has to be our call, where to stop!
Right now, the question in front of me is not what I am doing and what I will do at FMS or after that, it is, what should I do in life which will satisfy me, after which I will not be a part of the race.. tough one!
Think, I have figured out some options for me and now is the best time to start going about it.
If you ever read this post, think about it! Where does the race ends for YOU?
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Lust for the best
When my placement co-ordinator announced that I am selected in Infy, the first question that came to my mind was "Am I worth it?" because deep down I knew that I was not! U ask me the name of 5 oceans and I will open my mouth, ask me to name 3 mountains and I will look at you as if you sliced my neck! Offcourse, I am no smarter than a Paanchvi Pass.. Just a run of luck has placed me where I am, otherwise the farms of Bihar were always open for me!!
Ok Fine. I accept it. I was lucky.. So can I lead a normal life now? Take home my salary and spend half of that on chicken biryani to satisfy my large tummy? Mandal, figured it out very early..NO.. 'U have a lust for the best', he said.. well I dont think so...
But wait, was he right? Why I fell for the most beautiful girl in my college? Why do I keep testing the application till it starts crying.. Why do I overhaul the whole store before choosing a T-shirt? Why was she the most beautiful girl on earth...
Okei, So this bug is sitting deep inside me and the worst part is, there exists no code-Fix!!
I thought I would hide this unique problem from everybody but then the bug came out again, last year!!
After working for a couple of yrs in Infosys, I figured out that even my cubicle has not changed during that time, nor my application and nor the salary!! The best part was that, with high probability, they were not gonna change till decades to come.. So lets join the rat race..MBA!!
Got selected in a college for which lakhs of people die.. but No..the bug exists!
Started it all over again and here I am - Resting my bum over 16 calls and waiting to get selected in one!! But gosh, thats what u call *** on fire!! The tension right now is unsettling and the pressure, only I know.. worst thing in this world are others expectations..
and the icing on the cake is - they ask - Why do you want to do an MBA??
FMS- the college I always wanted to be in (Yes, its the best one!). 27th March, I will appear for my FMS interviews..probably, it will be the biggest day of my life!!
Want that lust to come all over me that day and bring out the best.. Will I make it.. well, lets see.. Farms of Bihar were never a bad option!!
Ok Fine. I accept it. I was lucky.. So can I lead a normal life now? Take home my salary and spend half of that on chicken biryani to satisfy my large tummy? Mandal, figured it out very early..NO.. 'U have a lust for the best', he said.. well I dont think so...
But wait, was he right? Why I fell for the most beautiful girl in my college? Why do I keep testing the application till it starts crying.. Why do I overhaul the whole store before choosing a T-shirt? Why was she the most beautiful girl on earth...
Okei, So this bug is sitting deep inside me and the worst part is, there exists no code-Fix!!
I thought I would hide this unique problem from everybody but then the bug came out again, last year!!
After working for a couple of yrs in Infosys, I figured out that even my cubicle has not changed during that time, nor my application and nor the salary!! The best part was that, with high probability, they were not gonna change till decades to come.. So lets join the rat race..MBA!!
Got selected in a college for which lakhs of people die.. but No..the bug exists!
Started it all over again and here I am - Resting my bum over 16 calls and waiting to get selected in one!! But gosh, thats what u call *** on fire!! The tension right now is unsettling and the pressure, only I know.. worst thing in this world are others expectations..
and the icing on the cake is - they ask - Why do you want to do an MBA??
FMS- the college I always wanted to be in (Yes, its the best one!). 27th March, I will appear for my FMS interviews..probably, it will be the biggest day of my life!!
Want that lust to come all over me that day and bring out the best.. Will I make it.. well, lets see.. Farms of Bihar were never a bad option!!
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