Saturday 30 June 2012

PI tips for MBA


Getting into a top MBA college in Mumbai or any other city known for its educational institutes is no cake walk. Merely getting a good score in the written entrance exam is sometimes not quite enough to get you a seat in the best B school. GD (Group Discussion) and PI (Personal Interview) also play a significant role in the admission process. They essentially check your readiness for an MBA program. The personal interview is somewhat of a personality test. They interview panel is basically looking for a candidate that has a sound self-awareness, good grasp of academics, knows well what his goals are and is passionate about them, and a well-rounded personality that is also pleasing. The PI usually lasts about 30 minutes to an hour, and the questions asked to the aspirant are intended to bring out qualities that cannot be assessed through a written test.

In view of the fact that PI is the only obvious opportunity to come face to face with the panel, you should make sure of impressing them. Let’s start with the basics of making a great first impression. The first thing to do is wear appropriate clothes. You need to look presentable, but also exude a polished and professional image. Stay away from flashy colours and stick to formals, even with the shoes. You should carry a nice looking portfolio. Not only does it help you keep your documents organized, but also looks like you are taking each stage of the admission process seriously. Your approach towards the panel is of much importance. Even though the time it takes you to walk from the door to your seat is just about a few seconds, a lot depends on it. Practice your walk with the portfolio in hand. Stand tall and straight with your shoulders back projecting confidence and poise. Smile and greet them formally while making eye contact and extend your hand for a handshake. Handshakes are imperative to making an impression. Practice gripping the person’s entire hand and matching the strength of their hold.

There are four chief focus areas in a personal interview. These are personal details, academic details, your background and current affairs. Hence, some frequently asked questions during the personal interview include telling the panel about yourself, why you want to do this program, where you see yourself in five years, who your role model is,  your hobbies, your strengths and weaknesses, your options in case you are not selected, your academic background, habit, and likes and dislikes. While you can practice the right answers to the questions, there is no guarantee that you will do well. For success in PI you also need to keep in mind some tips.

Listen carefully to every question, without interrupting. Do not hesitate to ask for clarifications in case the question is unclear or vague. Think before you answer, rather than jumping into it. Practice the tonality and volume you will need to speak at in order to be comfortably heard by the panel. Diction is also important. Speak clearly and make sure you are not going too fast or too slow. Keep your answers to the point and elaborate only where necessary or asked to. Honesty is endearing so if you do not know an answer, be honest and avoid bluffing. Be polite and humble, while being cheerful and confident. Many aspirants fail at PI for using the wrong kind of language. Refrain from using slang, as often it is not appreciated by panel members. Answer in the language used for the question. That is, if a question is asked in English, answer using English only.

Thursday 7 June 2012

MA in Communications in Mumbai


There was a time when a graduate degree seemed to be enough to venture into just about any field. This is no longer the case today. Graduation is obviously expected, but employers are constantly on the lookout for someone who is capable of taking on the complex and cross-functional demands of the global workplace scenario. And to do this successfully requires the candidate to have developed skills, in-depth knowledge, hands-on experience, and wherewithal. With the communication industry spreading its wings to reach a wider spectrum, many fresh graduates are now considering a M.A in communication in Mumbai.or PG in Mass Media that offers specialisations in Advertising, Journalism & Entertainment. The scope of a career in this field is tremendous, especially in Mumbai, the Capital of the State of Maharashtra. This commercial Capital of our country houses the country’s most reputable newspapers, television channels, and Bollywood to kick-start your career.

Many aspirants who consider earning a master’s degree in communication are unsure of its scope. It may be advisable for such candidates to research professional compass of this field online to get a better idea and assurance. Communications professionals are required in a large number of industries including business as well as media. Those having master’s degrees are preferred for their strengths in writing, research, analytics and leadership, and go on to fill management positions right from the start. Some of the designations well within one’s reach after acquiring a master’s in communication or PG Advanced Diploma in Mass Media, are advertising manager, public relations executive, marketing manager, editor, creative writer, television producer, advertising sales manager, client servicing manager, event manager, and many more.

Let’s take a look at a couple of designations to get a better understanding of what they involve. For instance, advertising managers are executive that develop and supervise marketing campaigns of clients. These are professionals hired by publicity agencies, advertising companies, media firms and advertising departments of corporate companies. Many advertising managers these days work as consultants or freelancers in order to have ample flexibility to work on several projects at once. To succeed as professional advertising manager aspirants need to develop good leadership skills, creativity, communication skills and marketing expertise.

Having a M.A in communication in Mumbai can be quite rewarding for those who wish to have a thriving career as a public relations manager. Being a city full of huge corporate companies, celebrities and mega-brands, it promises great things for talent in this field. A PR manager essentially designs strategies to generate a positive public image for the clients. This can be a product, brand name, individual or company. These strategies include promotion through media and word of mouth. Hence, success in this business depends on the professionals’ communication with the various forms of media and the people involved and leadership skills to manage teams and coordinate campaigns.

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Top B Schools in Mumbai


With so many top B schools in Mumbai it is becoming increasingly tough for students to select the institute to do their desired management program from. Researching the details about the best colleges/ b school in the running has is the very first logical step for any aspirant. Fortunately, resources like the Internet have made this task less time consuming and fairly easy. Aspirants can now simply log onto the institutes’ official websites and forums and acquire all the information and up to date knowledge about its various aspects such as the admission process, eligibility requirements, campus news, infrastructural facilities and amenities provided to the students, faculties, awards and accolades, and the like.

In view of the fact that the city is the commercial Capital of India, it translates into offering better career opportunities for talented youngsters. This is also one of the reasons some of the best management institutes of the country have their presence here. It is no longer a secret that getting admitted to one of these colleges for your management program can open the doors into a great future in the global corporate world. Once you have a few institutes on your shortlist, it may be wise to thoroughly go through the various courses they offer. The goal is to not only obtain a management degree, but to have one from a B school that is reputable in the field, and also do a course that is recognized and relevant to your field of interest.

Once you have a couple of B schools in mind for the program that suits you, it is time to move on to the next step of trying your absolute best to get admission. Sincerely devote your time to aptly prepare for the MBA entrance examinations required for admissions. These include MAH-CET/CAT/CMAT/ATMA etc. After the written test comes the GD (Group Discussion) and PI (Personal Interview). While GD and PI carry less weightage as compared to the written test, it is most crucial to score well. Remember that even if you have the best scores in your written test, you are at a risk of being rejected by the top MBA institutes in India if they feel you are not MBA material.

You will need to put in a lot of efforts and time to prepare for the admission process required to ensure you get in at the top B schools in Mumbai, so be prepared to do all it takes because it will be worth it. These B schools are building quite a reputation for themselves in the educational circle. They are known to put the students’ needs and requirements as high priority and are committed to providing the best including a good learning environment, well-designed programs, expert faculties, modern infrastructure, and much more.