Regular and Focussed Practice is of Utmost Importance - Interviewed by Satarupa Sen Bhattacharya in March 2005

Rajashik Chatterjee, SIBM Class of 2005

Tell us in brief about your educational background.
I am a mechanical engineer from RV College, Bangalore. I was never an exceptional student, but used to be among the top few in class. I secured 76 % in my degree course. A student of Don Bosco, Calcutta, I secured 85 % in ISC.

Why did you decide on management as a career option? Was it based on some research you did or on your natural aptitude?
Frankly, I had not really done any research before choosing MBA as a career option. The decision was based more on aptitude than on anything else. Many of my friends had got through various management institutes the year before - discussions with them also influenced my decision to a certain extent. I learnt what they were doing in B-school, where they were headed and thought, “I’d like to do that myself.”

Do you think your engineering background helped you in any way to crack the written tests?
Yes, I feel engineers are better prepared, compared to students from other backgrounds, when it comes to cracking written tests. This is for the simple reason that they remain in touch with the same kind of quantitative problem - solving through the four years that they spend in engineering. It is not that the same topics are always included in the management entrance tests, but you develop the kind of analytical and numerical skills required.

Could you shed some light on your preparation strategy for the various management entrance tests that you appeared for? Did you adopt any special strategies for cracking the different tests?
I don’t think there can be any specific number of hours one would need to study for these tests. Maybe two to three hours per day on a regular basis is ideal but it would also depend on the individual. Regular and focussed practice is of utmost importance. Care should be taken that the flow is never broken. You cannot study for eight hours a day and then stay off practice for the next three days. Talking about special strategies – shortcuts are very important and help a lot in the DI and quantitative sections, but again, you have to know them well, practice a lot and use them properly. I did not prepare different strategies for different tests, but concentrated instead on sections.

How did you prepare for the Group Discussions and Personal Interview stage of the admission process?
I had joined one of the training institutes in Calcutta to prepare for the GD/PIs. I attended a number of GDs on varied topics and some mock interviews, which proved to be quite useful. It is important to know some Do’s and Don’ts for GDs: for example, most people jot down points just before the GD starts…but it is important to keep the pen down when it starts, because it’s rude to point your pen while talking. Again, never initiate the discussion just for the sake of it—start only if you have some very concrete and good points to make. It is also a good idea to prepare some standard, expected questions for the Personal Interviews, which are almost inevitably asked, such as questions relating to yourself, your achievements and your objectives.

Which area do you plan to specialise in? What suggestions would you give to readers on choosing their specialisation?
I plan to specialise in Marketing. When I joined SIBM, I was absolutely unsure of what specialisation to choose. Our institute gave us just two months to decide. In my case, the decision was based on the little knowledge that I had gathered during those two months. In most B-schools, the specialisations have to be chosen at the end of the 1st year, which gives you some time to analyse yourself as well as the options. Very few people decide their specialisations before joining Bschool, and it is perhaps wise not to have a fixed stream in mind before you join.

Do you think it is important to have role models?
No, I do not have any role model; neither do I think is it absolutely necessary to have one. Set a realistic goal for yourself, believe in that and give it your very best shot.

To whom or what would you attribute your success?
It’s a bit difficult to attribute success to any specific individual. I think I owe it to the regularity and discipline that I maintained during the preparation stage. Of course, having cracked quite a few of the written tests, I could and should have fared better at the interview stage than I did, but it’s best not to look back and brood.

Would you say an MBA is absolutely essential for all those who want to pursue a career in management?
Frankly, looking at the present scenario, I would say it is essential to do an MBA. A few years back, it probably was not. The degree in itself presents a great opportunity for growth in any organisation, which a BE, B.Sc or B.Com alone does not. The chances of stagnation are far less with an MBA tag.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
10 years from now, I would like to have something of my own – maybe a restaurant or a retail chain. I don’t have any concrete plans as yet but I want to be an entrepreneur someday. Personally, I am not too attracted by the corporate world and would not like to continue there forever.

What have been your most memorable experiences in Bschool so far?
Undoubtedly, my most memorable experiences were during the ‘summers’ process for the 1st year students and the ‘placement week’ for the 2nd years. The magnitude of work and coordination that goes into these processes is truly awesome. Stress levels soar, tempers fray, there is mayhem all around, and it is in such situations that you need to keep your cool to survive and excel. I think those few days are an excellent education in what is in store for us in the future.