Choosing the Right Career

There are a lot more career options today to choose from. At the same time, every field is a lot more competitive today. To make your mark in the professional world, you not just need an edge, but you also need a very strong differentiating factor that helps you stand out from the crowd. Just being moderately good at something is not going to cut it. And since it’s a marathon and not a sprint, it is very important to have a plan in place instead of just going along to get along or going with the flow. It’s amazing how some people can just say that they didn’t go and find a specific career but the career found them. If you belong to this category, where the right career choice just fell in your lap, then lucky you! But if you are part of the remaining population that takes a long time to know what they are meant to do, then waste no time and hop on the search.

Forget about what you “always” wanted to do and forget about what others always wanted you to become when you grow up. Now it is time to find out what you are good at. Are you good with numbers? Is your personality and wit your main plus point? Are you highly creative or do you have a penchant for languages? Sit down and write down on a piece of paper – make a list of all the talents that seem effortless and things that you are naturally good at.

Work without passion is definitely a waste of time. So ask yourself what you are really passionate about? Is it writing? is it coming up with creative concepts? Is it something logical and technical? Is it baking or banking? Is it music and the arts? Imagine something you would want to do all day, every day and it still wouldn’t feel like work to you – what would that be? Make sure to be realistic and honest!

Sometimes it is very difficult the gauge the details of an industry without actually getting into it. But if you really feel that this is what you want to pursue and are not sure how to go about it, then it helps to get educated in that specific industry vertical. Now you are prepared with a degree or diploma and can actually get a job in your desired field.

A lot of people wonder what should be the next step after graduation. Why study MBA when you can land an internship or a job? Well, there is no denying that nothing comes close to the actual work experience. But sometimes getting a degree of diploma can land you the right job to kick start your career instead of taking up an internship as an interim period employment. 

How to become an asset in the work world?

We are living in a world where it is all about instant gratification and personal needs. We approach most subjects with only one focus in mind – what’s in it for me? While it is a wonderful technique to know the pros and cons before getting into any situation, it is also important to be a part of a larger cause for long term personal growth and success. Today the fear of being left behind haunts most youngsters; are they doing enough? Are they making enough money? Are they going in the right career direction? While working on self growth is a lifelong commitment, it has to turn you into a valuable asset as you move ahead in life. Whether you are a student wondering what type of MBA course you should do or a new age entrepreneur looking forward to her first start up, read on to know about becoming a valuable part of whatever you choose to do in life.

Success and money will always be by products of a job well done or businesses well run. If money becomes the focal point then things like stepping on other people’s toes and being ruthless may seem like necessary steps in the race of getting ahead. While these may pay off at an immediate level, they are definitely not long term strategies to retain success.

Whether you are working in a small company, part of a fortune 500 or running your own enterprise, how well you do your work and how committed you are, can totally determine your worth in the long run. Things like treating a job as an interim period employment or thinking that hard work should not be put if direct credit is not at stake will definitely hamper your overall work ethic.

With so much social media exposure, every individual is a moving brand. The way you communicate in a meeting, the way you dress at work, the way you treat your subordinates and peers and the way you approach additional responsibilities are all determining factors of how far you will go in life.

Being a team player and managing people form the core strategy of most successful people. No man is an island and regardless of what work one does, dealing with people from all walks of life is a skill that must be accessed at some point or another.

Time management is another mastery that everyone needs in today’s demanding world. It is very easy to get pulled in all directions and under-perform everywhere. This is a sure shot recipe for mediocrity and the only way to avoid this is to know how much you can take on and to admit when you need help. Saying no, asking for a helping hand or acknowledging someone’s assistance are all things, which will help you manage your work life and personal life with more ease.

This is definitely the age of super humans. People who aren’t constantly working on themselves and redefining their life strategy are definitely settling for less than they deserve.

How MBA will help you succeed in the real world

 A lot of students think that getting an MBA will solve all their career problems. They will magically land the right job, climb the corporate ladder and meet all their professional goals. There is no denying that the right diploma or degree can really help jumpstart your career, but it really depends on how committed and dedicated you are when it comes to your course and then when it comes to your career. If you are armed with the right knowledge, abilities and value system in today’s highly competitive world, then nothing can stop you from getting ahead. But the whole idea of doing a MBA is also getting geared for the real world.

Read on to know how:

• Real world is all about time management. How to manage teams, how to delegate tasks, how to be on time for meetings, how to meet deadlines, how to manage unforeseen emergencies and delays and how to manage sticky situations with clients. Doing an MBA will teach you how to practically manage your time so that you do not burn out or fail to meet your goals in the long run. 

• Work ethic and value system are again very integral part of succeeding in the professional world. Things like being honest when needed, being tactful if the situation demands and being terse in dire circumstances are all important skills one needs to master in the real world. Things like taking credit for someone else’s work, trying to take shortcuts, looking at short term gains instead of long term goals and not being a team player can cost you a great deal in your career. The right MBA course will train you for the real world by making you a dynamic individual who can handle complex situations without giving in to stress.

• Succeeding in the real world also entails a great deal of networking, planning and executing the ideas. Having the right contacts can help you land the promotion and even job change. Planning your personal portfolio can help you multiply your net worth over a period of time and executing your plans can help you in the long term goal of starting your own venture and becoming a successful entrepreneur. 

Today’s world needs one to be book smart, street smart and ethical. The correct blend of these three qualities can open man doors for one’s career. The whole idea of choosing from MBA courses in Mumbai and acquiring the right degree or diploma is to add tons of horsepower in your chariot to zoom ahead in this fast track world and get the edge.  

Who should opt for a management course?

Have you recently graduated from a reputed college? Are you wondering what should be your next career move? Are you contemplating going to a management college in Mumbai? Mumbai is definitely a thriving city where there are multiple opportunities for people from all walks of life. Finishing a course from a renowned management institute in Mumbai can be greatly rewarding not just from the knowledge point of view but also from long term success in the job world. But are you the right candidate for a post graduate course in management? Read on to find out:

Taking up a job immediately after graduation is a good idea. Most students are eager to start working and earning as soon as they finish college. Years of exams, books and assignments; the last thing on your mind may be another degree, which will take two years to complete. Hold that thought and temptation. Doing a management course will help you make wiser career choices in the long run. A college graduate may not attract the right job profile and pay package; but a management graduate may be in a better position to negotiate a salary and job profile. So if investing more time in your career is the only reason you don’t want to do a management course, then it is time to rethink some things.

If you managed to get a great internship in a reputed organization immediately after graduation, then kudos to you. An internship gives you the opportunity to work in an organization’s different department and get an overall gist of what exactly to expect when you take up a full time job. Once you have done an internship for three or six months, you can enrol in a management college. This way you have an overview of what kind of work do you see yourself doing day and day out and what kind of management course will come in handy for that. The internship plus management combo should work well for you.

If you have decided to join a family business but are wondering how to bring more organization skills to the table, then doing a management course is your best bet. Whether it is getting respect from people who have worked with the previous generations in your family, or starting a new department in your family company; a good management course will give you the right exposure to handle all kind of business situations. If you dive head first in to the family business without any managerial experience, you may feel overwhelmed and confused. Arming yourself with a degree will definitely help you in everything from expansion to human resource management.

Let’s say you took up a great job as soon as you graduated. Now you have couple of years’ of work experience, but you are finding it harder and harder to raise the bar as far as taking your promotion and paycheque to the next level are concerned? It may be time to get some academic accreditation. Having worked outside for a few years will definitely help you understand the career path you want to choose. You may have been lucky from the beginning and found the right industry, or you may want to completely switch it up. Once you have made up your mind, you can choose the right management course and have more options to choose from.

While choosing a management college in Mumbai, remember to opt one that has the right accreditation and syllabus.

The Myths about PGDM Colleges

 Post Graduate Diploma in Management or PGDM is usually a two year full time course ideal for fresh graduates, working professionals, or those wanting to get back to studies after a break to kick-start a new career. There is a lot of confusion hovering around the discrepancy between Masters of Business Administration or MBA and Post Graduate Diploma in Management or PGDM. Well, the main difference between the two is that MBA is a degree and PGDM is a diploma. The institutes and management colleges, which offer PGDM courses, are autonomous bodies that are not affiliated with universities. They have different types of accreditation but they are stand alone institutes that do not require any permission to update their syllabus and faculty from time to time.

Here are some common myths about PGDM courses:

1. PGDM courses not have as much value as MBA degrees: Now this one is absolutely untrue. Some of the most renowned colleges in India offer PGDM courses. Depending on the course you choose and the institute you get into, a PGDM can be extremely rewarding for your career.

2. PGDM is not valid for further, higher education: A PGDM done from an accredited university is valid and accepted in all international universities. So, you need not worry at all about your diploma not being recognized if you do decide to work or study abroad.

3. An International university will make the student take another exam with just PGDM: Nope, you are safe here. Even if the international university is unaware of the diploma concept, all you need to do is obtain a AIU – a certificate known as Association of Indian Universities. This additional certificate will ensure a secure admission in international institute of your choice.

4. You cannot obtain a student loan for PGDM: You can very well apply for and be eligible for a student loan for PGDM as long as you do your paperwork properly; which would be the case with any type of loan.

5. You cannot get a government job with a PGDM: Wrong again. As long as you are the right match for the available position, you can get a government job on your diploma.

So there you have it. As long as you have verified the authenticity of the institute, you are good. Now, let’s look at some of the benefits of doing PGDM:

1. PGDM is offered by autonomous institutes, which have liberty to change and update their curriculum as per industry standards without waiting around for approvals.

2. PGDM can offer amazing infrastructure facilities, state-of-the-art classrooms and top level faculty. In short, PGDM from the right institute will ensure amazing exposure to the industry of your choice in a word class environment.

3. PGDM may offer courses in industry verticals, which may be impossible to find in degree colleges. So you can actually specialize in a niche of your choice and get the right environment and syllabus for it.

As a student, you must always keep your options open and gather as much background information as possible. PGDM courses will help you launch your career in the corporate world in the industry of your choice. In this highly competitive world, it is very important to be passionate about your work; arming yourself with the right knowledge for your passion area is like icing on a rich chocolate cake.

PGDM in Mumbai

Knowledge is power! These wise words have a lot of meaning in today’s gadget crazy and demanding world. We are all surviving in a world where instant gratification is definitely the norm. It takes a few seconds to check into a restaurant on Foursaure, tag your friends on Facebook and Instagram a picture of the dishes. So how does one get an edge with education in this ever evolving world? 

A change in direction is a lot more time consuming and costly in terms of a career change today than it probably was a decade ago. So if you are planning on pursuing PGDM in Mumbai, the first thing you need to arm yourself with is absolute clarity.

A baker acquiring a degree in software solutions is of no meaning. Similarly, if you don’t have an exact idea as to why you want to do a Post Graduate Diploma in Management, chances are you will end up wasting your time, energy and financial resources. Before doing a post graduate course, it is very important to have a clear career direction. This will not just help you in choosing the right course and the right college, but also assist you in making the most of your course and syllabus.

While nothing is really set in stone when it comes to your career and there is no “one” guaranteed winning formula, some things do remain constant as far as moving up the career ladder in concerned. So here are some points to keep in mind before taking a final call about PGDM in Mumbai.

1.     Don’t do it just to add frills to your résumé. Find a course that will actually help you move up in life in the area of your passion.

2.     Do your homework, especially if you are an out of town student. You do not want to be worried sick with unplanned expenses and unpleasant accommodation just because you didn’t plan ahead.

3.     This one goes without saying, but make sure to choose a good college. One that has the right environment, infrastructure, faculty, syllabus and accreditation.

4.     Find out about the career prospects on completion of the course. What is the campus recruitment like? Is there any internship involved? Can you do the course along with an ongoing job?

5.     Do a lot of side reading, which will help you make the right decision. Check out the latest management books, go for a seminar, try to get in touch with the college and ask the questions to clarify any doubts.

6.     Make sure to keep your options open. When it comes to PGDM in Mumbai, try to find out about the various options at hand, instead of putting all your eggs in one basket.

7.     Try to get in touch with few alumni students and get their honest opinion on the course.

As a general rule, management skills come in handy in all areas of life. But if you are certain of the industry to want to choose and grow in, then the right course can totally do wonders for your professional life.  

FAQs for doing MBA in Mumbai

Doing your MBA in Mumbai can be a great career move for you if you have recently graduated and are wondering what should be the next best step for your career. After finishing your graduation, you can either immediately apply for a job, try for an internship for acquire a master’s degree. If you have already chosen your field of advancement and are determined to grow at a steadfast speed in that industry, then getting a degree in that particular industry vertical will really help jump start your career. On the other hand, if you are keen on starting your own venture or planning to join an existing family business, then also a master’s degree from the right college may help you better in the business world.

Students wanting to study MBA in Mumbai often wonder about the future prospects and syllabus in general. Here are some brief guidelines to help you make an informed decision:

1.     Will the degree be recognized? Well, this totally depends on the institution you choose and its accreditation. The most important thing to keep in mind while choosing the MBA course is the recognition of the college or institution. Colleges offering the best of exposure and infrastructure may not have the right accreditation, which can be a problem if you are planning to go abroad for further studies.

2.     How to choose the right course? The definition of the right course greatly depends on the area to want to gain mastery in. For example, if you have 100 percent clarity that you want to pursue a master’s degree in mass media, then you know the right course is one which has top-of-the-line faculty, amazing infrastructure, intelligently crafted and updated syllabus and campus recruiting. So, knowing what you want from the course will definitely help you in choosing the right course.

3.     How can I make the most of my course? Remember, MBA is not just about being book-smart. The whole idea of doing a master’s degree in the field of your choice is also being prepared for the real world. So to get the most out of your course also means getting groomed for what comes after. A good course and the right faculty will make sure that you are a refined individual when you finish the master’s degree. Things like strong interpersonal skills and management qualities are indispensable in today fast moving, ever-evolving world.

Do not think of your master’s degree as a means to end tool. Enjoy the whole MBA college experience by getting involved in the extracurricular activities and participating in the various programmes. You will make some of your best friends, some even for life while pursuing your MBA in Mumbai. There is nothing more exciting than spending time and learning day in and day out with a group of people, who have the same goals and aspirations as you.

Part of doing a Master’s degree also means unlearning some of the things you have learnt before. This is more of a practical guide, something you have chosen to do instead of something that is forced upon you. So be more forthcoming and involved with the course and faculty. Do not be afraid of asking questions and voicing opinions.