One gentleman from HLL delivered the Pre-placement session. During the talk he said:

“…It makes sense to have Group Discussion as a selection mechanism in IIMs and other Indian B-schools, where majority of the students are freshers. But in ISB, to subject experienced candidates to Group discussion for 15-30 minutes is not logical. We will have only interviews. We would talk with all the shortlisted candidates and identify their needs and offer roles…”

He also said…”Suppose one has been in to sales and marketing in his past work experience and is willing to move into same function, we will definitely attach some “value” to his “experience” and offer appropriate roles and salary. But if he/she wants to shift to Finance, then we have no other option other than recruiting him as MBA Trainee…Let me be frank on that”

I nodded silently in agreement…!

But one problem we witness with all the pre-placement talks is the lack of clarity on compensation. Most of the companies which come to campus quote the figure which is applicable for freshers and mentions that the compensation will be upwards and the ‘upward’ potential will depend on the relevant experience one brings to the table…Some companies give examples like “For 5 years of ‘relevant’ experience we will give this position and pay this much salary…”. Few others mention “The range will be from X-Y lac rupees per annum”…

Companies mention that they will evaluate the “Value” that each one of us bring to the table and then compensate us accordingly. So, the “Value” / “Experience” is going to be big “negotiation” factor. Companies will try to discount it as much as possible. We will try to extract as much premium from our past “Experience”.

Hmm…Now, where did I keep my negotiation book? …Time to blow the dust and brush up some “Salary negotiation concepts” that Mr. Dishan Kamdar gave us.

Thanks to Venkatesh Adavi for sharing the gyaan on BD roles in IT.

Kind of activities under “Business Development”

1. Pre-sales: This is the starting position in a BD hierarchy. Bottom of the pyramid (BOP) in IT Business development, if you can call so The designations associated with this role can change from company to company (But predominantly it is “Business Analyst”). What do these guys do? They spend significant time in preparing RFI (Request for information), RFP (Request for Proposal) and RFQ (Request for Quotation). They also spend time in preparing “Presenations” of company’s offerings tailored to customers. To grow in to a sales position in IT, this is a pre-requisite. One has to undergo the “Pre-sales” experience. Later, when you become a “Sales” guy, you can understand the nitty-gritties of Pre-sales and can understand the deliverables that you receive from your pre-sales team. Travel to client location might sometimes be needed. Otherwise, work is based on offshore.

2. Business Development: Here, professionals would be identifying new business opportunities, modifying the service offerings according to the customer needs, etc., The border between this and pre-sales is very blurred. The kind of activities one would do under “Business Analyst” will change from company to company. Few companies clearly separate this role and Pre-sales.

3. Competitor Intelligence: Some companies offer such a role to gather ‘intelligence’ about competitors of the company. What offerings do they provide? What clients are they targetting at? What developments competitors are making? etc., These are ‘esoteric’ roles and are rarely offered.

4. Sales: Front-line selling: This is the pinnacle in Business Development. The most happening place. Some of the activities include Cold-calling customers, explaining your company’s offerings to clients, pursuading them to do business with your company, negotiating the deal and price etc., Most of the time, the local people will be recruited for these positions. Americans for US clients, Britons for UK, Europeans for Europe etc., These are the guys who will be influencing the clients to begin with. Once the client
has shown some interest, then the entire Sales team will be involved. The Sales team can be organized based on geography, vertical, business-offerings etc.,

Bottomline: Each company has its own definitions of roles. So it is absolutely imperative to clarify before you accept the offer.

What is the Career path?
Pre-sales –> Sales –> Group-sales/ Relationship manager (For large client accounts) –> Territory/Country/Regional manager –> Vice president/Senior Vice

president/Executive Vice president –> CXO!

Bottomline: The career path differs from company to company. It’s imperative that you clarify it.

What are the related functions?
This is important to understand because one has to know what are the functions one would interact with while at job.

Some known functions: Sales-support, Corporate marketing, Public Relations, Event management, Competitive intelligence, Consulting, Account management.

Bottomline: Understand how all these divisions work together.

What are the questions one should ask a recruiter?
- Career path
- Performance indicators and Evaluation process (On what basis one would be evaluated during appraisals for promotions and hikes)
- Salary structure (Fixed and variable components)
- Individual role/Team role
- Company’s strengths and competitors
- Type of deals preferred
- Future strategy

Since the sales in IT fall under “Business-to-Business”, the strategies are different from typical B2C sales & marketing.

The roles for MBAs in IT services companies is still evolving. Expect more refined roles in future…

Regarding the “Program manager” offered by Microsoft, the following link comprehensively explains the job function.

Steven Sinofsky’s insights

Chris Pratley’s insights

This is different from typical “Project manager” role in IT services company. No one will be reporting to you. But you have to ‘interact’ with Clients, Marketing team, Product managers, other Program managers, your development team, testing team, user interface team etc., Lots of communication involved in terms of convincing all the parties about your ideas. You have to draft the entire project plan. So only scheduling is involved and no resource allocation involved (no people management). Program manager is “Project manager” - “People management” + “Client interfacing”. You have to constantly identify ways of improving customer experience. In summary, you have to identify “needs”, convince involved “parties”, get approval, schedule the project and oversee it at broad level. After some experience, you can later move to Product management/Product planning/Sales & marketing team within Microsoft.

I was one of the recipients of “ISB Torchbearers award”, which was announced today. Around 32 people made it to the final list. Four among them stand out strongly, and were fittingly given “ISB young leaders award” in addition to “ISB Torchbearers award”.

That’s for the positive side.

Over the past 9 months at ISB, I have heard many sarcastic comments on blogging. People see “blogging” as a waste of time. The most hurting comment one can hear is “So you got it due to blogging..huh?”, “So all the bloggers got it huh?”…If someone invites me for party/dinner and If I turn it down, they will say..”So you will go and blog?”..Even though it was used in a fun context, the frequency of such comments make me sick of such comments…I am going to speak only for myself atleast here…

Blogging is not easy. First of all, it needs solid commitment and discipline to do it consistently and to make it informative. I do it mainly because I love blogging. So, I thought I will make it as a fruitful exercise for ISB too…Many a times, I blogged under hectic schedules…I think I have done a decent job along with few other fellow bloggers here…

People think they have been using their time most productively by not blogging. Just take a moment and think…”Didn’t you spend time in chatting unnecessarily about bollywood, cricket, masala items…?”, “Didn’t you waste time in drinking whole night and sleeping for the next whole day?”….Blogging is much better use of time than those!!! BTW, I don’t take more than 15-30 minutes per day in blogging…I do it religiously…..

For the first time in my life, I am not proud of receiving an award…

The “Award” committee should have made the process more transparent. They should have atleast announced on what grounds people were given awards…that would have closed mouths of many!

There has been quite a few cribs going on especially on the “ISB young leaders award”. Just imagine the plight of the guy (not me) who didn’t even nominate for himself, but who has done tremendous volunteering, and received “ISB young leaders award”, and eventually being questioned on the award!!!! If the grounds on which ISB gave these awards is announced, it will atleast avoid the cribs…People will really appreciate the grounds of recognition…I personally feel all 4 of them deserve thoroughly…

Couldn’t resist from posting this stuff…I tried hard…but…

ISB Through the lens
“A Pictorial reflection of Life at ISB…”

This is a photo blog from THE PHOTOGRAPHER of ISB Batch 2006. It’s tough to see him without his tiny and compact digital camera. He is also a veteran with SLRs. How many of us can claim to ‘click’ the moment before ‘returning’ some fast serves in volleyball game? He definitely can…He has captured all the moments…moments of people dancing, partying, studying, laughing, eating, drinking, sleeping, and even clicking snaps! Here it is…”ISB through the lens of Vickie the clickie!”

Bobo Writes…

This one is from Vibhu Walia. He was the moderator of ISB-Admits yahoo group for our batch and his was an established name before everyone met at ISB. He is currently pursuing his exchange program in Darden, Virginia along with Shrutkeerthi. He too has decided to capture his journey in the blogosphere…

Note from friend: (A Message from my friend who received MBA from a reputed UK B-school)

MBAs should know what 1$ can buy in New York or London or Madras. One of the funniest news coming out of Management Institutes in India is ‘IIM grads gets Rs 55 Lac salary’ This news definitely appeals to the man on the streets , it appeals to the parents of soon to be IIM grads and attracts more students to take CAT. But what is this Rs 55 lac??

Recently IIMs have been boasting salary of 150,000+ USD which appears to be GBP figures converted to USD. The USD figure is a great salary for any city in the US but when you get the equivalent GBP in London, you don’t get the same lifestyle. One should look at salary figures in the local currency…

Everyone’s ears will be tuned to hear about India in the World Economic Forum that began today! This is India’s perfect opportunity to exploit the attention…

This is what Businessweek has to to say about India
“India’s showy debut at Davos is yet another sign that this newly confident country is ready to strut its stuff on the world stage. Branding and marketing itself hasn’t come easily to India, a culture where the preferred path is understated and unspoken. But some of India’s most prominent native sons thought the time has come “to raise India’s profile in the global community”…”

Also, stumbled upon this link “India Everywhere”, a $3 million promotional venture for India (by CII, IBEF (India Brand Equity Foundation)). It will be worthwhile to catch up with some of the promotional materials hosted there!

Conversation that I overheard:

X: “Who do you think will make it to the final list of McKinsey from the announced shortlist today?”

Y: “Hmm…X1,X2….”

X: Cuts short…”X2??”, “Man what do you think about X2?..I heard he was some lead before coming here..”

Y: “No..he is good…his fundas are very strong!”

X: “Is it…what’s his GMAT?”

Y: “Wait let me take the excel sheet(!!)…Hmm…he has got 720…”

X: “What’s his undergrad?”

Y: “He has done his engineering from no name college…hmm..his undergrads marks are less than 70%”…

X: “less than 70%….???”

Y: “Yeah…even X3,X4 will make it to the final list…You know what X5 was making only 2.7 lacs before coming here and his GMAT is less than 670! but he is doing good here…”

X: “Ok..can you tell me who else has got 750+”…Supposedly X is proud of his GMAT score…

Y: Checks his excel sheet and tells him the stats…”Hmm..I was earning X lacs per annum, look at this fella, he has 9 years experience and was earning less than me…Hmmm!”

Man, this is the kind of talks happening in the campus…People who were previously not noticed are getting noticed, all because their names are in the shortlist..and everyone wants to suddenly know more about him/her and question their success in ISB…My question is simple…”How does all this matter to you?”…”Plan your game buddy…”!

BTW, today the first short-list from McKinsey was announced. 35 people made it to the final list…Many people are disappointed as they couldn’t make it to the final list…The list has predominantly dean’s list guys and some strong experienced guys…But this was just like what I expected…so no surprises for me!

A particular Indian Electronics equipment company has promised high-level roles with sky-rocketing salaries in their presentation! Man, can’t imagine getting such high salaries in India!!! Of course, they are in look out for very experienced people with relevant backgrounds…which ISB has supply of!

I was talking to one of the fellow bloggers (I wouldn’t want to name him, but soon the world will take a notice of him highly ) and I am pretty sure he will be one of the top-salary earners in ISB this year. He was already talking numbers equivalent to US salary!

I am only talking about Domestic salaries. My quadie G, got an offer with a up-coming Pharma research company through his personal network. The role is pretty high-level (2-3 levels from the top) and salary is very good! He is one hell of a focused and smart guy…He will go places…

Isn’t all these strong evidences that Indian market is HOT?

IT service companies and product companies are predominantly offering the following roles or flavours of the following role:

Business Analyst
Business Development
Program Manager
Product Manager
Project Manager

Other roles are:

Account Manager
Domain Consultant
Associate Consultant
Technology Consultant
ERP Consultant

Depending on the number of years of relevant experience one has, one can expect to attach the word “Senior” in front of all these roles.

The most popular roles among IT guys are Business Analyst or Business Development.

The Business Analyst is the most commonly offered role in all IT companies. One needs to have relevant sales experience for getting a Business Development role (The client-facing position or rather Client-acquiring position!). Largely, one will be recruited as Business Analysts for appropriate verticals in which one has past experience(Healthcare, Financial Services, Telecom, Retail, Energy & Utilities…etc.,)

I somehow have a feeling that the BA roles are highly diluted in IT services company. Companies have been recruiting from even second-tier and third-tier colleges for these positions! Most of the work will be RFP and PPT preparations. If one has patience and shrewdness to grab visibility for his work, then he can quickly obtain a client-facing role and can grow further. But to begin with everything is offshore.

Somehow, the Program manager roles offered by Microsoft appeals to me. But again, it’s personal preference. I just let my heart to speak without any hindrance from head…and I found a lot of ‘inherent’ interest with that role. But my head says “Maximize your MBA returns..go for more ‘appealing’ roles”. Now, that’s where the dilemma comes…for me atleast.

Don’t get me wrong…I am now-a-days giving lot of preference for work-life balance, location, ‘love’ and ‘passion’ for the work. That’s what is going to ultimately keep me happy…

It’s become a chore to regularly attend PPTs, some out of compulsion, some out of interest, some out of influence!! Yeah, everyone has something called mandatory attendance for a set of Pre-placement talks. If anyone misses the mandatory PPTs, the number of job postings that a person can apply comes down by one! The penalty increases exponentially for further absenteeism…Just a mechanism to ensure minimum attendance for all PPTs. I think it’s fair…The facility to trade PPT allotments increases the active trading within ISB community

In ISB, we get to decide even the slotting of companies. Students bid for the company slottings. For example, if majority of students would like company ‘X’ to come on campus on day 1, they would bid high for that company and slotting…Again, it’s to bring equality…But with majority of students from IT background, the scale can easily shift towards IT companies…One can witness the Consulting giants, I-Banking giants and IT service giants to compete on the same day for the top minds…The top brains will be sold out in 2-3 days…The experienced hearts will be available for grab after 3 days, but for a premium

The 10 days from February 18-27 is going to be a logistical nightmare…Since there are many rooms needed for interviews, word is that even some rooms in the executive housing block will be utilized. The onus of getting the student to the right room at the right time falls on CAS. So CAS faces a logistical nightmare. But given the good track record that they possess in logistics, I think this will be a minor deal!

If one is lucky, placement process can end in as quick as 1 day! or it could drag for months…Just the matter of time, luck, fit, performance…everything should fall together…

As of now, I have decided to apply for around 8 companies…out of which I am confident of getting in at 2-3 companies, need to prepare more for another 2-3 companies. The remaining companies are a long shot…

Just some observations…People are becoming increasingly defensive..some are becoming more agressive…All due to stress…With so many things happening around, disorientation happens very easily…

Anyway, I am trying hard to remain calm…but failing at times!

The whole day was screwed up. Slept at morning 9! Wanted to wake up in time for 2:30 class. In stead Woke up at 3 to my dismay..So had to attend 5-7 class, which means I had to call up my focus group and convey them that I wouldn’t make it to the meeting scheduled at that time…Wanted to review ITBS group assignment…But the write-up was sent around 11:00 in the morning for review, and I was sleeping at that time. Submission was due in the evening, so couldn’t devote time to review it…

Went and attended the presentation of one of the well-paying company. At the end of the session, the ‘expected’ impact was not made, so there were disappointments around. But the salary, location are still attractive. Whatever big the company might be, if the people who deliver, fail to impress, the interest on the company takes a jolt….’Projecting’ a positive image within the stipulated timeframe is key to success and failing to do is recipe to disaster.

Later, forgot that there is a IT-focus group meeting scheduled at 10:00. So gave committment for quad-focus group. Had to chuck one after realizing the clash in schedule…

Still have some more readings for tomorrow’s class….couldn’t read today’s newspaper…

What the heck, will see it tomorrow…Am hitting the bed…tomorrow is a fresh day!

On Monday, I had two options in front of me. Either to attend Infy Placement Talk or Hindustan Times - Media Placement Talk. I chose to attend the second since I thought I have enough information about Infy. Three top-level gentlemen from HT came over to deliver the pitch. I would say their sales pitch was very good. They greeted hands with few people present in the room. Then they went ahead and portrayed the Media landscape in India. Then they briefed about Hindustan Times and its strategies. I was curious to know what roles Media can offer for MBAs apart from traditional Marketing and Sales. The role that HT Media is offering is of strategy and implementation.

Also, they said they created a job for a MBA graduate, who wanted to exploit her writing skills while at the same time wanted to harness her MBA skills. Got some details on that. Compensation is competitive. I somehow have a feeling that Media is one of the places to exhibit and nurture your “creativity”. Anyway, I will keep this as “eccentric” options !

After I came from the talk, I heard that Apollo Hospitals also gave a good sales pitch. Hmm…attending these kind of non-IT company sales pitch is enriching in a way…

I signed up for Mock Interview-GD-Sales Pitch organized by CAS on January 23rd. Interested students are grouped in buckets of 10. Business attire is compulsory. The purpose is to create an experience as close as possible to the actual recruitment. Consulting Club is also organizing similar event.

One of my focus-groups [am Part of 2 focus groups] had ‘Sales pitch’ session today. We cleared the room of chairs and sofas to create a ’stage’ setting. Video recorded the session. Probed the candidates deeply. Provided critical feedback. Then, watched back the video. Group was satisfied with the ‘quality’ of this session.

It’s becoming tough to manage between Placement preparations, Company Presentations and classes. But, it’s all in the good interest….

Three of my important Comrades have done a great social service to some people in ISB. One of them listens to the lectures or interviews very patiently and retains them permanently. He is the most prominent one among all my subordinates. He has been of great help to many people…literally MANY. He has even travelled with the people to assist them in their journeys! Another one of them remembers the images picture-perfect and retains it permanently. Yet another of them listens and observes others carefully and portrays their weaknesses or strengths HONESTLY when asked for!

I am talking about my dear electronic gadgets. iRiver-multi utility jukebox, which also doubles up as Dictaphone [Amazing quality…no doubts]. The other one is Canon Digital Camera [Canon -A95]. The third one is Digital Camcorder [Sony-TRV25]

I will feel my day as incomplete, if I am not been of help to even single human being. So, I make it a habit to help voluntarily…It might be as valuable as evaluating applications, reviewing resumes, observing people and giving feedback…or as trivial as opening the door for someone to enter, or showing up a smiling face to a depressed mind. But these three Comrades have significantly reduced my burden by doing social service on behalf of me

Well, Just submitted my resume + EOI for McKinsey & Co. Huh! Also, spent significant time in shaping the resumes of two of my close friends…Polishing resumes is tough job!!! Damn tired…

Don’t have energy to write…Instead decided to point to a “Brief-Biography” (The date of the post is tampered with!), that I wrote quite a while ago…!

Recently ISB announced a award called “ISB Young leaders award” and “ISB Torch bearer award”, for students who have displayed strong extra-curricular activities, or helped in building the brand of the school, or displayed strong leadership skills…

Now, what I feel strange about the award is we have to nominate ourselves or somebody else can nominate for us(But given the pressure everyone is under, I strongly suspect if the second case will ever happen). Few people I know, who deserve this award are not nominating saying that its ISB who should recognize the students and honour the awards.

“Self Sales pitch”, seems to be the norm these days. Be it admission, recruitment, award, election…Ultimately you represent yourself…World is self-centred…anything for others is only beyond you!!

But when I put myself in the shoes of school, recruiter, position, the notion of “sales-pitch” becomes clear…I would pick up the student who conveys a strong image about himself…Because the time is limited and you have to believe what you see and what you hear..no time to research deep!

This brings to my mind another sensitive topic…Exaggeration in resumes. In the beginning phases of career, I was of the opinion that exaggeration is not good. But over a period of time, when I interacted with recruiters, I understood that exaggeration is not seen upon as negative attribute, but as some skill! Recruiters are clever to make out the difference between ‘extreme’ exaggerations and ‘polishing’ exaggerations. One of my belgian colleague who was my project manager was also of the opinion that exaggeration to some extent is acceptable…Exaggeration puts you across as ‘mature’ candidate who can see the business impacts of your activities!

If you have a look any MBA resume, chances are that you will find some portion as non-factual and some as factual. It’s the non-factual portion which is tough to substantiate…

All of a sudden, all the technical aspects of your job evaporate and only the business aspects emerge! Now, that’s an art…As long as you can defend your statements.

Various Companies are on campus for delivering their pre-placement pitch. Now, it’s the time for them to do the sales pitch…One month later, it will be our turn to do the sales pitch Anyway, Going by the demand and market boom, looks like this year it is going to be the ISBian’s market

Yesterday I had a dream. I saw the average salary of ISB as 15.7 lakhs..The image was so vivid that I remember it still! Time will answer if what is saw was a day-dream or a foresight!

Things at home front are improving slowly. I am also feeling much better with more sleep….

Had my round of “Sales Pitch”(Why EDS? Why You?) for EDS. Didn’t go well…Could have done lot better…

I wasn’t feeling well throughout the day. Was Feeling feverish. Am going to sleep well for next one week and take enough rest.

By the way, happened to see “Sales pitch” made by others…Some people were rocking! Ooph! Man, intensity is high..stakes are high…I think the best route is to just chill out…being your own-self is the route to success…and being chill is the best way to be your own-self!

It was a good experience…At least, I have broken the ice as far as placement call is concerned…

Am shortlisted for further rounds of EDS-job interview…Wasn’t expecting a call to be honest, given the kind of role and competition…Hmm..atleast this gives me a confidence that my resume is fine and I am able to gather attention of recruiters…

Running to press my shirt..Was very confident that I will not go through, that I didn’t press my shirt even…

Let me give a shot at it…After all, I have nothing to lose..isn’t it?

My Ex-employer, who is a self-made entrepreneur, has began his new Software Venture. The venture is in the initial stages…

www.appliedevelopment.com

Just sent my resume + EOI for a role in Corporate Strategy group of EDS. Huh! The role, responsibility, salary, location everything is attractive….I think entire campus would be applying Not disclosing anymore details…

Thus begins the recruitment season….From monday, many Preplacement Presentations by companies are lined up. God, may the force be with me for next 2 months!!!

Last one week has been the MOST hectic and taxing week in ISB for me so far…On top of this, mouth ulcers, fever + cold. Never in life have I craved for sleep like this…honestly!

Now, don’t ask me where the hell do you get the time for blogging…Because, blogging is something close to my heart…Will blog even if I have an interview with my dream company the next day morning! A way to relax…For some people it’s smoking, for some people it’s gossipping, for some people it’s watching television…for me it’s blogging….

PS: The first round admission results would be announced today as per ISB website. Can’t imagine that we are nearing the end of programme. Anyway, my best wishes to all the applicants…May the deserving applicants go through…

One of the most pleasant and service-minded people that I have seen in my life are Sarovar House-keeping guys. They rock!

You get to wake up with a call “Housekeeping….”. Then you get to hear “Good morning sir…”. Then they mechanically change your bedsheets, clean your room, fold your clothes if you have any unfolded clothes, fill the water bottle…and the list goes on…Before they begin their cleaning, they report to their superiors that they are cleaning so and so room…If they find any valuables on the table/shelf, they quietly note it down and report it to the administration. In the evening, the concerned quad residents will get a mail saying “Valuables were found in your room. Kindly lock it in a safe plac…”

There is a new person who has joined the sarovar housekeeping team. He is hyper-active. He will always have the last word…How? He will say “Good morning sirrrr…”, and I reply “Good morning…”, he will reply back instantly “Thank you sirrrrr”…Ok..how about this..”Cleaning ho gaya sirrrr…”, I reply “Thank you!”, he goes instantly “Welcome sirrrrr…”..Somehow he wants to have the last word

On the new year day, he wished “Happy new year sirrrr!”, I replied back “Happy new year to you too…”, then he smiled and went towards the kitchen…After about 15-30 seconds he came back and smilingly said…”Thank you sirrrrr…” Sweet guys…

We are being pampered as far as housekeeping is concerned…Life will be tough after ISB

These guys are amazingly well-trained. Daily morning, all sarovar guys assemble at Recreation centre and repeat some sort of prayer. Then they get to know their allotments [Which rooms to whom?]. Again in the evening another drill…Their pleasant behaviour and images will always linger in my heart….

I have attended 4-5 mock consulting case interviews so far. I am able to crack the case to an extent. But the last 2 cases are something special. In the last but one case, after understanding the problem statement, I asked my first question to start my information gathering process. The very first question made the 2 interviewers to laugh…I couldn’t understand what’s going on…then, we continued. At the end of the case interview, they told me that the question that I asked was exactly reproduced word-by-word in the solutions document! That isn’t my problem!!! They even suspected that I have read the case before…wherein I haven’t…

Today’s case interview went one step further. The ideal approach for today’s case suggested a set of questions that the student should ask to finally arrive at a conclusion. But, I arrived at the expected conclusion within 3 minutes of my interview, with just 2 questions!!! Interviewer just kept me engaged for another 10 minutes by leading me into different areas. Finally, the interviewer rejected me saying he couldn’t evaluate my thought process!! Hmm…I made whole lot of assumptions in mind and asked the question that led me to the right conclusion…I know that I am a high-context person. But didn’t realize that I am very-high-context!! Need to shift to low-context…Case interviews need low-context culture! After all, the thought process is what is being evaluated in interviews!

To give an analogy, what I did was analogous to writing the final answer without writing down the intermediate steps. Might work well in objective type examinations, but not in subjective type exams!!!

BTW, I am doing these exercises just for learning. I don’t have any hopes of getting a consulting job, as academics plays a major role. And I don’t have attractive grades! But this preparation might come handy down-the-line…

Had a very unique examination today. Nothing special about the subject. But the way it was conducted was different…The answers had to typed in the word document while racing against the time. Unlike the usual sound of pens torturing the paper, this time it was the sound of keyboards pressing against the rubber padding that was distracting people…appeared to me like a typing exam!

The formalities after the exam was even stranger. The IT assistant came to each laptop and downloaded the answer document on to this pen drive. Took years to finish the process. So, some 2-3 people including me, pitched in with our own pen drives and eased up the process a little.

The paper was quite easy, in hindsight! There was a question to find price elasticity of a product given the sales and the total variable cost. After thinking some complex regression approaches, realized that the solution can be obtained through the simple cost-plus markup formula! Few more questions were like that…Life is simple most-of-the-time, but our complex minds make its tough

On the recruitment front, I rented couple of interview CD’s [Microsoft, McKinsey, BirlaSoft]. Will watch it over next 2 days. My promises to review resumes of my focusgroup is unfulfilled. Need to fulfill it during this term-break.

Received our User Id and Password for CAS website. All the job postings, Pre-placement talk schedules, resume submission will be done through this website. The pre-placement talks will begin promptly from the beginning of Term 7…that is, 5 days from now….

Shrutkeerti, Vibhuwalia and Mojo, another 3 colourful and vibrant characters are leaving to US/Germany after the departure of Shilpa, Mohit and Henna last week.

I owe R so much…without his mere presence, I don’t know what state I would have been some days ago…Thanks R. I am slowly seeing improvements…I am just praying that, the cycle builds up and doesn’t wane…

Completed Pricing exam. Will be done with Marketing metrics exam today. With 3 more end-term projects still remaining, another 4 days of academic slogging is inevitable. Collected my coursepack for Term 7, surprisingly only one! [Branding].

TAs of ISB are very friendly. Just need to have a cup of coffee or a chit-chat to see the ‘friend’ in them

“Hope is a good thing. May be the best of things. And no good thing ever dies…” - The most powerful statement that I ever came across…mentioned this already, but doesn’t hurt to say again

And so begins my first blog entry of year 2006…