B-School journey: 5 things to know before you start6 min read

5 Things to know before starting your B-school journey

Firstly, my hearty congratulations to all the candidates who have cracked CAT-2021 and made it into a top B-school. I know it has been a long road from your CAT preparation to clearing interviews, and finally, You’ve reached a good place, and now is the time to relax. Ha-ha, just kidding. The first two terms will be crucial and hectic, so prepare yourself for a fun and hectic roller coaster ride where you will make bonds that last a lifetime.

Here are five crucial things you should know and work on before you start your B-school journey:

Resume preparation:

This will be one of the biggest tasks ahead for any MBA candidate. As this is one of the most critical tasks for your summer internship placement process, You can’t afford to take your eyes off the ball here. I suppose most colleges would have asked you to get started on them by now. If not, talk to your mentors and managers from work, and note down brief points from your work and college days. Any noteworthy position of responsibility and achievements can be framed into resume points, so it’s time to dig out your old certificates and get them ready. This will be a lifesaver when the time comes.

Focus on competitions:

 There are a set of competitions like the P&G emerging leaders program etc., which are designed especially for first-year students, Do participate in them. These competitions provide you with a good level of exposure and might come in handy during your internship. Again, these competitions require your updated resume, and most people don’t participate solely because of resume. Most marketing firms like Nestle, HUL P&G etc., look for candidates who have excelled in these competitions. So, if you are into marketing, I strongly suggest you participate in them.

Time to go back to the office:

By this, I mean the Microsoft office and not your workplace. The most powerful tools in your B-School career are Excel and PowerPoint. The sooner you get a good hang of it, the better. And if you are looking to get a head start ahead of your peers I would strongly recommend you begin with courses on Excel and PPT. There are tons of online material available for you to learn from, explore and exploit. Excellent PPT skills will come in handy for the rest of your career. If you plan to use the next few weeks on courses, I’d strongly recommend you start here.

Academics Just Can’t wait:

 When I say academics can’t wait, I seriously mean you need to be on your heels. A Good CGPA can take you a long way, especially if you are looking to target domains like consulting and Finance. Also, you must start on a solid note to build your confidence. With summer placements right around the corner, it’s easy to take your eyes off academics. Try to balance both. While your summer resume might not have your current CGPA mentioned in it. The interviewers can very well ask questions from your syllabus. Hence try to get a good grip on academics.

Try to explore different domains:

 The primary reason to do MBA is to shift domains. So it’s good to explore various sectors before you fixate on where your interest lies. Most of us have a preconceived notion that our profile fits into this domain. This is significantly common with non-IT engineers. First-year offers you a lot of options. Explore them and choose the road your heart desires the most. Check out our previous blog to know more about various specializations.

Lastly, I know this might be a bit overwhelming. The first two terms will be hectic, As you will be chasing multiple deadlines and coordinating with your peers on different projects. You would be required to do a lot of multitasking and managing. But trust me, these will be some of the best days of your life. The two years you spend in B-School would be etched forever with all the last-minute submissions, the late-night coffees and all-nighters that make this journey memorable.

Sometimes the most challenging path makes the journey the most beautiful and memorable one.- Harish V

Harish is an alum of IIM Bangalore who can’t stop talking about Chelsea FC