Experts say professionals have confidence and maturity, which count when they face interviews and group discussions.
When Seema Saha, a 29-year-old bank executive in the city, began looking for a career enhancement, she decided to sit for the Common Admission Test (CAT). She believed that an MBA from one of the Indian Institutes of Managements (IIMs) could fetch her better career options.
After nearly 12 months of rigorous preparation, Seema is now all set to crack the CAT 2010 scheduled to be held between October 27 and November 24.
The number of working professionals appearing for CAT is increasing with each passing year. In 2009, about 40% of the candidates who took the test were professionals, and in 2008, 35% of the 2.5 lakh aspirants who appeared for the test were employed.
“More and more professionals are applying for CAT in the past few years. We expect the trend to continue this year as well,” says Shiv Kumar, director (academics) Career Launcher, a leading CAT training institute in the city. About 2,50,000 candidates are expected to take the CAT test this year.
Experts say people with a few years of work experience have an edge over fresh graduates. “Statistics from across the country reveal that the success rate of professionals in cracking the exam is higher when compared to fresh graduates. Nearly two-thirds of the candidates who cracked the test last year were professionals,” he said.
“It will be easy for the professionals to clear the interview. Work experience gives individuals confidence and maturity. These traits help them while writing the test and also come in handy during interviews and group discussions,” he added.
Srinivas Belvi, a teacher who has been coaching CAT aspirants in the city for many years, agrees with Kumar. “B-schools want people who understand the importance of team spirit and know how to handle any kind of situation. Also, people with work experience will have a better understanding of any subject,” he points out.
Professionals also feel that a few years of job experience and the bank balance it entails give them the confidence to focus on polishing their career graphs. “I have been working in a private bank for three years now. I don’t see much growth in this sector if I don’t further bolster my resume. As IIMs are the best B-schools in the country, I want to enter their revered portals to gain the best management knowledge,” admits Saha.
Barun Kumar, a software professional who aspires to join one of the 10 IIMs in the country, left his job recently. “I am concentrating on the CAT. I want to pursue my post-graduation in management. It will definitely help in my career growth,” he says.
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