New Age Professional’s Survival Guide

People who started their professional journey 30 years ago have very different rules and work ethic, as compared to the young, working professionals of today. The dynamics in the companies, the work hours, the interview and evaluation process and the duration of an average stint with a company, are all highly different from how the scene used to be three decades ago. The number of graduates going to a MBA college to pursue higher education too has drastically gone up in the last ten years. People today want to leave no stone unturned when it comes to their career and lifestyle in general. The mantra today is definitely go big or go home. With more and more new millionaires falling in the 20 something age bracket, the pressure to perform is higher than ever before.

Succeeding in a big organization has a lot to do with your ability to perform with a team and get along with others, whether it is your seniors or your juniors. The ability to tactfully deal with teams, clients and bosses is something that just cannot be taken for granted in today’s competitive world.

People that are innately mild-mannered and soft spoken often feel the need to go against their natural behaviour in order to survive in a corporate. While it is not imperative for one to be very head strong and aggressive, in order to succeed and climb up the career ladder, it is important to get noticed and rewarded for the efforts you are putting forward. Avoiding conflict and work dynamics altogether may be virtually impossible if you want to work in a team. Taking on roles that are more in sync with your nature and abilities is way better than choosing something radically different and then going against the grain.

For example, a person that usually prefers to work with facts and data and likes coordinating with one or two people in the whole day should not take up a marketing job where he has to constantly reach out and meet new people. This person’s strength probably lies in the accounts department or the admin division. On the other hand, a professional who is really fond of making pitches, business proposals, connecting with new people, should definitely not be stuck in a back end job. While it is good to don multiple hats to survive and thrive in an organization, it is also imperative to work with your skills to succeed and sustain growth. 

It is not possible for a big company to work its way around the nuances of every employee. The people who join the organization have to get into the flow of the system and work their way around it. A highly organized person, who prefers to do her work on time and balance other areas of her life, may have a really hard time in a media company where it is not uncommon to burn the midnight oil and sacrifice the weekends. At the same time, a dynamic person who doesn’t mind the long work hours and the travel should not be chained to the desk at a dead-end job.

It is better to choose a company whose ethics and culture match with your ethics and value system. Working for a company that is totally different from how you prefer to do things, may need a lot of adjustment.

However, it is also important to be flexible and scrutinize any opportunity that comes your way fully before accepting it or rejecting it. You may have always worked in a law firm, but may be you are meant to do something completely different.  

Is Distance MBA worth it?

Internet has changed the way we can do things and has made so many more things available to us. With the help of internet and internet businesses, it is possible to have access to international entertainment, international brands and high standard of education, without ever leaving your own city or country. Getting good education without breaking the bank or moving to a new city can be extremely challenging for those who live in places where there is no availability of good colleges, management institutes or MBA courses. For these individuals, distance MBA from an accredited institute will ensure that they get their post graduate diploma or degree without uprooting their entire life.

It is a common misconception that long distance studies do not add enough weight and credibility to the resume. And when they will try to get a job based on such education, the opportunities will not be enough. As long as the course is undertaken from a reputed and recognized institute, there is nothing that can devalue the worth of the degree or diploma.

Here are some tips to keep in mind while deciding to study long distance MBA:

Distance MBA is a great option for anyone who wants to take further education from a specific institution, without leaving their current location. It is ideal for people who wish to continue working full time while acquiring higher education.

It is also a great option for girls and women who have taken a sabbatical from work to start a family. This way they can juggle both worlds without attending classes or leaving their home.

Moving to a new city to do your MBA, figuring out the accommodation, the utilities and other payments can be very expensive. With distance MBA, you don’t have to worry about moving or about following a very stringent time table. You are free to manage your own time and keep pace with the curriculum.

While choosing a MBA program, in distance learning, it is extremely imperative to go with an organization that has its credentials in place and is especially known for its distance learning programs. Things like email access to the faculty and office, opportunities on completion of the course and commitment needed to pursue the course should all be discussed with the management institute before taking a final call.

While there are plenty of really reputed institutes providing distance MBA learning, there are also tons of pseudo institutes giving misleading information. With the internet, it is very important to verify the authenticity of the MBA institute, to avoid a bad judgement. If anything on the website looks dodgy or unclear, make sure to verify the details before making the payment.

Some distance learning programs may actually have the option for you to complete part of the curriculum in the actual university or go to the University for a Graduation Ceremony on completion of the course. Also, with communication channels being wide open on the internet, there is no denying that keeping in touch with other students who are pursuing the same course as you would not be difficult at all.

Taking on Distance MBA, studying from home and juggling it with a job or other responsibilities is a huge commitment. There is no point in doing the course, if you are not going to commit to the required time and effort needed to successfully finish the requirements. Just like with a regular MBA, distance MBA too needs a lot of hard work and dedication. It should not be considered a short-cut or the easy way out.    

Entrepreneurship Do’s and Don’ts

We have more young entrepreneurs than ever before. A lot of people feel that commencing their own venture is so much better than working in an organization. Those bitten by the entrepreneurial bug are willing to take all sorts of risks to ensure that their project takes off from the ground. There are millions of start ups created and some of them don’t survive more than a year or two. Start ups are extremely challenging and difficult and as an entrepreneur one is expected to wear multiple hats instead of just being in charge of their own deadlines and tasks. Managing human resources and money are also extremely crucial for a venture to sustain growth and success. Let’s look at some of the entrepreneurship do’s and don’ts in detail.

Do’s

• Do have a business plan in place. Whether you are in a very nascent stage, seed stage, growth stage or any other stage in the business cycle. You have to know in which direction you want to continue growing.
• Do form a code of conduct. Work culture and work ethic are always passed down from the top management. It is very crucial to have a code of conduct so that the management and team members know exactly how things work in your organization, instead of everyone doing as they please.
• Do stay grounded and focussed. While dreaming big and having huge expansion plans are great aspirations, it is important to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. Whether you are hiring new team members or raising money, make sure not to get too ahead of yourself.

Don’ts

• Don’t go overboard in the initial phase. Whether it is hiring too many people or borrowing too much capital, make sure to take small steps in the first few years of operations.
• Don’t shy from micromanaging. In the initial phase, in all likelihood, you will have a small team. Feel free to delegate and give responsibility, but make sure to hold all the reins of the business till your team members have completely won your trust and respect.
• Don’t talk a big game. It is important to walk the walk instead just talking the talk. Guard your plans and resources with a lot of care and caution instead over sharing with everyone.
• Don’t be disheartened by failures and setbacks. Let’s face it – things are not going to always go your way and sometimes you will feel that everything is like swimming against the tide. Accept that that’s just part of being an entrepreneur and do whatever needs to be done.

When it comes to running your own business, the learning is endless. There are always new challenges and milestones to be conquered.

Contributed by a Student at MET Institute Mumbai.

Myths about MBA

While everyone has heard about the one million and one benefits of doing MBA, one hardly ever discusses or debunks the myths attached to this “magical” degree. There is so much controversy surrounding MBA and PGDM – which one has more value, which one will be recognized abroad and which one is the ticket to millions of dollars once you become an investment banker. The truth is (drum roll please), in the end it only depends on you. No matter how much you study or how hard you work, if you do not access your full potential you are leading a half-baked life, with or without a MBA. While it may sound very brutal, there is no denying that the right education and experiences always open the right doors, but don’t hold your breath! There are many other factors at play; let’s look at some overhyped MBA myths.

MBA plucks you out of the “masses” category and puts you in the “classes” category: Well some people think that simply doing MBA will make them conversation prodigies and networking geniuses, as they will know how to approach opportunities and create a leverage. Well, while these things may work in a professional environment, if you try to convert every social interaction into a professional opportunity, you will soon find your name being dropped from all lists.

MBA will finally give you the tools to implement that multimillion dollar idea: A lot o aspiring entrepreneurs think that if they go ahead and do their MBA before starting their own venture, then there is no stopping them. While it’s good idea to be positive and ambitious, it’s best to take off the rose tinted glasses in the start up phase. MBA or no MBA, it’s going to be a rocky ride – your idea may not generate the response you thought it would, you may have to shelve the company altogether or start from scratch for the third time in two years of operations.

It will all become smooth sailing and easy with MBA: Nothing could be further from the truth! It’s never going to be easy, especially after your MBA. Today’s corporate world is all about deadlines, strategies, crisis management and cash crunch. So if you think that life will be all about holidays and luxurious lunch meetings after MBA, then think again.

The degree matters, not the institute: Choosing the right institute for doing your MBA is extremely important, if you want it to add to your profile while applying for jobs. It is all about the institute, the syllabus and what you could extract from the whole experience. 

Putting your best foot forward

Life is all about finding your purpose and creating a differentiating factor. What makes you stand out in a crowd? How are you different from a group of people? What are your main qualities and unique selling points as a person? It is very important to create your individuality in order to enter the winner’s circle. Winners definitely do things differently from the rest of the world; that’s what makes them different; that’s what makes them pioneers. When it comes to goal setting and becoming successful in all walks of life, you just cannot ignore putting your best foot forward. Whether it is doing a MBA to get the edge or simply taking all the steps needed to start your own digital media venture.

Let’s define what putting your best foot forward means:

·    Being highly goal oriented and target driven is very important for putting your best foot forward. Shooting in the dark is a waste of time, effort and resources. So whether it is admission for higher studies, taking a job in a specific industry, moving to a new country for career advancement of simply deciding to go back to studies after a break; always have a plan before making a decision.

·    Once you have decided to move in a certain direction, do not let self doubt or lack of focus cloud your judgement. Any thought or action that takes you away from your goal is a distraction and you should snap out of it as fast as you can.

·    Information and knowledge are armours that will always come in handy in any field. This is exactly why you should become a voracious consumer of anything you have set your mind to. What are the requirements for the project? How realistic is this deadline? How to manage or avert certain crisis? Once you have the aptitude to manage these situations, it will be impossible for anyone to catch you with the switch off.

·    Giving your absolute best to any task at hand is definitely all about putting your best foot forward. And giving everything comes from dedication, commitment and hard work. At the end of the day, no task is too big or too small; you just have to perform to the best of your abilities.

·    If you are not excited about what you do in your day, it is not possible to be happy or successful in the long run. Excitement comes only from finding what you are meant to do; knowing what your purpose in life is.

At the end of the day, putting your best foot forward is all about making your own rules and living by them. The best form of motivation only comes from within.    

Choosing the Right Vocation

The need to create value and the desire to make a difference in the grander scheme of things; these are two things that haunt most people. For some this need to define themselves and their purpose starts at a very early age and somehow magically the right career and vocation finds them instead of it being other way around. For a lot of people, however, it is a constant challenge to find their ultimate purpose in life. They change jobs, get promoted, are good at what they do, but something is always lacking. Is it really possible to combine your career and your vocation aka your true calling? Or will the career always remain something you “have to” do to pay the bills and the vocation will always remain a passion area / creative pursuit?

In order to find one’s true calling or vocation, it is important to correctly define it first. The term vocation is always confused with other correlated terms like job, work profile or career. All these terms, however, mean different things to different people. A job is something you do in order to get a paycheque at the end of every month; in short it is a means to an end kind of proposition. A career on the other hand can be best described as a ladder –promotion, more responsibilities, higher designation are all steps ahead. The rewards in a career are definitely higher than rewards in a job, where you don’t exactly have a sense of direction.

A vocation is something you may invest time, money and effort in, even if it is not really adding to your job or career. It is something that you are really, really passionate about and something that you want to do without snoozing the alarm three times before rolling out of bed.

Everyone is born with a unique set of skills that differentiates them from the crowd. These are gifts that people are born with, but they may take time to identify these gifts in themselves and turn them into a passion or a career. Choosing a vocation has a lot to do with having access to these gifts – it could be attention to detail, time management, being in charge of plans or simply throwing magnificent parties at home. These are the same people that become highly successful in everything from e-commerce ventures to running a cute little bakery to mastering the business of event management.

It can be really frustrating to find satisfaction in what you are doing professionally while you are still trying to figure out your vocation. That’s why it is important to be patient; it is also essential to hold on to your day job till you know exactly where you are headed.

Careers other than MBA

Some people are of the opinion that once they do their MBA, everything in their professional life will be laid out in front of them on a silver platter. Others are of the opinion that getting hands on work experience in their desired field will help them gain mastery over time; MBA may not necessarily be the right step for these people. Every year, when millions of students across the globe graduate from colleges, they make an important career decision, which will probably affect their entire professional life. 

For some that decision is taking the responsibility of pursuing a Master’s Degree and for others it is finally taking on full time employment. Some may choose the middle path of working and doing a part time course. The whole idea behind doing a MBA is keeping your options open after graduating from business school. But what are the other career choices for students wanting to study further?

If you are fairly certain of the industry you want to gain mastery of, then by all means get enrolled in a specialized course pertaining to that industry instead of doing MBA. You can obviously do your MBA by specializing in a specific field like finance or marketing, but if there is a possibility of doing an absolute niche course, then go ahead and choose that.

If you are thinking of starting your own venture and are also keen on studying further, then doing a part time post graduate course is your best bet. Earning and learning at the same time is definitely worth it, as long as you can juggle the two without creating a giant mess.

It is very important to remember that when you join a company, your cost to the company will always be calculated after evaluating your worth. So if you clearly see yourself as a Social Media Manager for a renowned digital agency, then make sure to get the right knowledge for the right job. With everything going digital, there is no industry that is shutting out social media, so your options would be wide open.

Remember that in some cases MBA can be done once you have done a specialized course in your skill area – like fashion, beauty, baking or photography. Once you have your skill in place and some relevant work experience, you can always do your MBA to get the edge and scout out for senior positions in that industry, or to start your own company.

Job satisfaction is extremely important today, as most people spend a large chunk of their day working. Do what you love and love what you do.

Ten Tips for Time Management

We all have 24 hours in a day; but somehow some people are always pressed for time. No matter how much time they are given to work on a project or a deadline, they will always find themselves struggling till the last minute. Not having enough time to do what needs to be done, is often related to poor time management and has very little to do with the task at hand. Some of the most successful people in the world are juggling multiple hats. They are entrepreneurs at the top of their game, devoted parents to their beloved children, have a great social life and manage to commit to philanthropic causes also. They find the time to squeeze in their marathon training before a board meeting too. How do they do it? It’s all about time management!

Here are top 10 tips for time management:

·    Make a to-do list. If you don’t know what exactly has to be done, chances are you won’t get to it. Sometimes, mental lists just don’t work. So make a list on your phone, on paper or on your computer.

·    Put a deadline next to each task; make sure it is a realistic deadline; it should be believable to you. Even if it is about returning a phone call, put it down in writing and put the timing next to it.

·    Be honest with yourself and with others. Agreeing to things you have no intention of doing is a sure shot recipe for wasting your precious time and resources. The same rule applies to doing something half heartedly. So take on what you can and be honest about what you don’t want to be accountable for.

·    Get your priorities in order. Sometimes, the tasks just need to be placed in the right order for the chaos to disappear.

·    Don’t let one responsibility suffer because of another commitment. Sometimes we just don’t have a choice in this matter; but barring family emergencies and other dire situations, finish what you start before moving on to the next task.

·    Take responsibility. If you have messed up or made a mistake and you are in denial about it, you will end up wasting more time on covering your tracks instead of finding a solution.

·    Give up on blame. It is always easy to blame hundreds of things on the external circumstances. But it hasn’t helped anyone be successful; so let go of things that are causing unnecessary stress and focus on what’s important.

·    Set aside personal time for things you enjoy doing. Nothing recharges the mind, body and soul like a passionate hobby few times a week. It could be playing a sport, learning a language or playing a musical instrument.

·    Know when to throw in the towel. There is no bravery attached to flogging a dead horse. Accept if something is not working out and create change instead of wasting time over something that’s not going to change.

·    Have fun. You have to enjoy the things you do on a daily basis.

Efficient time management is definitely important to lead a well-balanced, wholesome life.

Tips to Succeed at MBA admissions

During the last year of graduation, most students are already either planning internships or doing preparations to get into a good MBA college. While it is a personal decision whether to start working immediately or do a post graduate course, both the options have to be thoroughly investigated before taking a final call. For example, if you want to look for a job, it is important to start scouting for companies that are hiring fresh graduates or the ones that have an internship program. Depending on the field of your choice, it is best to keep your options open. A lot of big corporate companies are looking to hire second or third year graduate students too for their summer internship programs. On the other hand, if you want to pursue a MBA from a recognized college or university, it is best to be prepared way in advance to ensure admission in your choice of institute.

Here are some tips:

1. While keeping your options open is a good idea, it is important to narrow down to at least three colleges that you would want to get into to do your MBA.
   
2. Once you have chosen the top three universities, the next thing to know is the requirements you need to meet to be eligible for admission. Remember, each college may have a different set of requirements.
   
3. The entrance exam is something that you need to prepare for way in advance. It is best to find out the details of the entrance exam, how demanding it is and what kind of score you need to get into the college of your choice.
   
4. It is very important to have all your documents in place at the time of admission. It is advised to keep several attested copies of all important documents.
   
5. Depending on the requirements, the next step after the entrance exam is usually the group discussion and personal interview. Some colleges may only need you to give a personal interview, while others may need you to participate in a group discussion.
   
6. You can get in touch with ex students to know what kind of preparation would be needed for the personal interview. Reading up on current affairs and having knowledge on various subjects are always plus points.
   
7. It is also very important to make a great first impression in the personal interview. Being well dressed, well spoken with your hair in place and shoes spick and span will make a good first impression.
   
8. While it is a good idea to be forthright and confident, steer clear from being too cocky or aggressive in the group discussion or personal interview. Put across your point in an assertive yet calm manner.
   
9. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get into your first choice. The important thing is that you are pursuing your degree / diploma from a recognized college with good faculty, infrastructure and syllabus to kick-start your career.

How to find out the right career for you

What we do somehow always forms a large part of the puzzle when it comes to answering who we are. We are living in a society where our professional life and identity define to a great extent our social standing and background. With so much importance on career, it goes without saying that there is immense pressure to choose the right career. Not that you cannot change your career, but we all know what a lengthy and time consuming process that can be, especially when there are other financial and family responsibilities. This is exactly why it is important to carefully choose a career and get the right academic qualifications. Hard work, overtime, sleepless nights and deadlines all seem a lot more meaningful when you actually love your work.

Here are some tips to identify the right career choice for you.

• Capitalizing on your strengths has a lot to do with the right career choice. For example, if you have a really analytical and mathematical mind and love numbers, then accounting, risk consulting, audit, etc. may be the right industries for you. But if you choose this career only because everyone else thinks it has a bright future, then you are obviously going down the wrong road. Nobody knows your strengths better than you; so it is best to define what comes naturally and effortlessly to you.

• The next thing to identify is what do you see yourself doing every single day? Some people love the idea of sitting in a fabulous office in a glass building while others simply cringe at the idea of having a desk job. Do you have a more outgoing personality or do you prefer a desk job with a small team? How are your interpersonal skills? What about your convincing abilities? These will all define whether you will do wonders at a back-end job or as front end person.

• Some jobs involve a lot of traveling, moving around and adapting in new environments, while others may involve constant thinking and analyzing of strategies. Depending on the type of personality and attitude you have, you can decide what kind of high pressure situations you will be best equipped to manage. 

Some of us are luckier in the career department than others. Some people just know at a very early age what they are meant to do when they grow up. If you have always known what career you are meant to live and breathe, by no means take a second guess. Go ahead and become a voracious consumer of all the possible information and knowledge in your industry and dive in head first. 

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.  

Part Time MBA- A Boon for Working Couples

If you have recently tied the knot, then you know of all the extra pressure that comes with starting a new life. Things like setting up a new home, managing the new expenses, working around each other’s busy schedules and managing your finances can be all very overwhelming if not planned well. Now if you have been married for a long time and are used to you and your spouse bringing in a fixed income, then your finances will be in order. But what if one of you decides to become a student again, go back to school and get a degree? This sudden change in thought may have either come from a willingness to change your career, keep your options open or deciding after years of contemplation to actually take on a post graduate course. Your decision is no longer just about you; you need to think about how it will affect your family’s day to day life. You do, however, have the option to learn and earn at the same time. Part Time MBA may just be your answer.

With Part Time MBA, you can finally get that degree you always wanted. But learning and earning at the same time and being a spouse and having a home to look after can make your life super hectic and frustrating. It is very important to plan things, especially if there are kids in the picture. Remember that you have willingly laid out your plate and put everything on it. So just getting overwhelmed by it is not going to help you enjoy your family life, have good work days and get the most of your management course. Here are some quick tips to balance all areas of your life while pursuing a Part Time MBA.

·      Divide the chores at home. You will need maximum support and help from your spouse. So make sure you explain your schedule to them and express freely as to where all you will need help around the house.

·      Talk to your employer. After understanding your syllabus in detail, make sure to get your employer on board with your study schedule. You want to hold on to your job during the whole time, so be sincere and honest at your workplace and do not take on things, which you may fail to deliver due to other commitments.

·      Take time off. With so many things on your plate, taking on a hobby or finding any time to just sit and relax may look impossible. But make sure to set aside some down time instead of it always being about planning, routines, assignments and work commitments. If you are not having fun, you may just snap and give up at some point.

·      This goes without saying but choose the right course. There is a reason that after so long, you are choosing to back to studies. Make sure to choose the right college and course; one that will actually help you earn more money and get more job satisfaction when you are through.

·      Do not explain your decision to everyone. You may get lots of conflicting opinions about becoming a student again, but in the end only you know what is right for you so do not be afraid to go after your dreams.

Part Time MBA can be just as extensive and worth it if done from the right institute.  If you are sacrificing family time and reducing work hours, so that you can get a degree then make sure to be fully committed to your course.

Choosing Advertising Courses in Mumbai

If you enjoy coming up with creative ideas for brands to push their new products or existing products with new features and innovations, then advertising may just be the industry for you. If you have to trace back to the origin of advertising, it works on few but very solid principles. The multi-billion dollar industry thrives on creating need and lack in the minds of consumers. Somehow the lack of a certain car or a certain mobile phone can trigger feelings of inadequacy. On the other hand, using a certain body spray or facial cream can make you feel a lot more confident and pretty. If you think that you get and comprehend the human psyche, then by all means go ahead with your research on advertising courses in Mumbai.

Advertising today is a way bigger umbrella than it was five or seven years ago. Social media forms the backbone of all kinds of advertising campaigns today. It is safe to say that an advertising campaign, without social media is better off not done at all! Everyone from FMGC brands to political parties to medical institutes to ecommerce labels are using social media to create brand identity, brand awareness and brand recall. So it goes without saying that while choosing from advertising courses in Mumbai, it is advised to go with a course, which gives you 360 degree in-depth exposure to all aspects of advertising.

While it is a good idea to keep your options open as to what exactly you want to do in advertising, it is always beneficial to have some sort of a plan. Do you like copywriting? Are you jingles and slogan writing kind of person? Do you prefer to work on ideas for billboards and hoardings? How about TVCs (commercials)? Do you have what is takes to work into the wee hours of the morning on a commercial set? Or do you prefer to work on ideas related to Pinterest, YouTube and Facebook? Everything from logo design to search engine marketing falls under advertising; what expertise do you want to get into?

Talking to someone who is already working in advertising is a fantastic way to know what to expect and what not to expect when you start studying to become an ad guru. The way an industry looks on the outside and the way it functions on the inside are poles apart. So not getting caught off guard will save you from wasting a lot of your time. Working in the advertising department of a fashion magazine may be a lot different from working on a campaign for the Indian Premier League. Just like medicine has myriad branches and sub branches, advertising too has multiple categories. So get out there, talk to a few people, study their job profiles, study their pay rolls and find out what drives you.

Once you have done more research on what exactly you want to do in advertising, your thesis should shed way more clarity as to which institute will add a lot of weight to your resume when you get out and look for a job. Knowledge is power and in an ever evolving industry like advertising, you have to be willing to constantly upgrade your knowledge – whether it is by getting acquainted with a new gadget or by learning a new skill.

In all likelihood, a course in advertising and a career in the ad world, will take you completely out of your comfort zone and keep you on your toes. It is an exciting industry with a great future; so long as you choose from the right advertising courses in Mumbai and are willing sweat it out!