Fearlessness and dedication are two important qualities to ace the CAT -

… says Anish Khadiya, an Electrical Engineer from IIT Kharagpur who also has to his credit a work experience of three years with ITC. He is currently in the 2009-2011 MBA batch at IIM Lucknow. In conversation with Reshma Majithia, he talks of his ambitions and his intention to gain a foothold in management consulting.

Tell our readers about yourself.
I am a small town boy from a middle class family. I spent most of my childhood days traversing the states of Rajasthan and MP. My love for Mathematics as a subject determined my goal to pursue engineering degree from IIT Kharagpur. I worked for ITC after my degree for three years and subsequently decided to go in for an MBA degree.

What led you to do an MBA and why did you choose IIM-L?
My experience at IIT Kharagpur convinced me that I wanted to branch out into a managerial job. I also realised that I wanted to pursue a career in management consulting, which would enable me to contribute to organisations across the board. For me to be able to do this, I needed to augment my skills, which is why MBA was the right platform. After evaluating the options at hand, and the quality of education that IIM Lucknow could provide, I decided to pursue an MBA from here.

From which Institutes did you get a call and how did you convert your call?
I received an interview call from ISB, IIM Lucknow and IIM Kozhikode. I appeared for the interviews of ISB and IIM Lucknow, and cleared both of these. Like many, I put in a lot of practice to supplement my general knowledge as well as spell out my reasons for pursuing an MBA and my goals thereafter. My insight into my ambitions is what helped me through.

You have worked with ITC for three years. How has your experience working with ITC been?
My experience working with ITC was a mixed bag. I picked up several skills along the way, the key one being the ability to deal with ambiguity. The experience also made me realise the importance of work life balance, which was missing at the workplace.

Why have you chosen to specialise in MBA in Finance and Marketing?
To pursue a career in Management Consulting, I needed to have a well-rounded skill set. Finance and Marketing are the two of the founding pillars of management and vital to all modern businesses. By pursuing an MBA in Finance and Marketing, I would be suitably prepared to adapt to the requirements of Management Consulting.

When did you start your CAT preparation and how did you manage work and studies?
I started my CAT preparation towards the end of June. Given that my job involved a lot of travelling as well as work on-site, I would use the time I spent flying and waiting at the airports to study. Besides, I established a schedule where I dedicated an hour everyday to CAT preparation and spent 4-5 hours during the weekends preparing for CAT.

What were your weak areas when you started for CAT? How did you work on them?
The reading & comprehension section had been my downfall in CAT 2007. I used to struggle with questions on vocabulary as well as grammar. To overcome this weakness, I put in additional practice on these sections.

Tell us about the selection experience at IIM-L highlighting the structure and the way the process is conducted?
The IIM Lucknow selection process is divided into two phases: a) CAT, and b) writing ability, GD and PI. Based on the CAT score, as well as other parameters such as marks in Class X & XII exams, calls for GD/PI are sent out.

In the second round, there is a writing ability test, followed by a group discussion and a personal interview. Based on a candidate's cumulative performance across the two rounds, candidates are sent a final admission offer.

How was your experience with GD-PI, any interesting anecdotes you wish to share with our readers?
I had quite a fun experience with my GD/PI. Four out of the nine people on my panel finally got into IIM Lucknow. What I learnt from the experience were three things:, a) It is important to speak out and contribute to a group discussion, b) It is also important to understand the topic and then put forth one's arguments, instead of dumping all you know during the discussion, and c) In case the topic is something you have no clue about, listen to the group and build on the discussion using your own experiences.

What are your long-term aspirations and how do you see the MBA degree helping you achieve the same?
In the long run, I would like to return to a FMCG giant and lead it at some point in the future. An MBA from IIM Lucknow has provided me with both skills and right platform to take a good crack at my ambition.

Do you have any inspirational message for MBA aspirants, especially with respect to competitive exams like CAT and GDs and PIs?
To do well in CAT, as also any other competitive examination, I believe one needs only two things, fearlessness and dedication. The quantitative section in CAT scares a lot of people, which really is quite easy if you put the fear of Math out of your mind. As long as you put in consistent effort, you will crack the exam.

As for success in the GD/PI rounds, it is important to develop your communication skills. A lot of people are scared of speaking in public, and are unsure of their English. The best way to improve your English speaking skills is to converse in English regularly. Just start talking among friends in English, and soon you will find that you have adequately picked up the language.

What would you like to tell all MBA aspirants who probably want to get into IIMs?
Though the college from where you earn your MBA degree holds some amount of significance, it is equally important to understand the fact that it is not the end of the world in case you do not make it to an IIM. Do not put yourself under undue pressure while preparing for CAT. Just keep your preparations focussed, simple, and with a little effort, you will crack the CAT.