Career Shifts After PGSEM

Dear all,

This question about PGSEM giving a boost to your career has been raised time and again. Let me again try to answer this question, at the risk of repeating myself, and request the current students to put this answer up on the faq section.

Just to state some facts up front, we recently prepared a list of PGSEM students who have made a mark in the industry, and to the surprise of many we have more 50 PGSEM students in VP and above roles, let me also tell you that we may have missed quite a few names. Hence nearly 15% of the students have in the past made it big, now let me also mention that there are numerous others who are in roles of Program Mgr, Sr Program Mgr, etc.

Some of these obviously could have made it by natural progression as well without doing the course, but how effective would they have been will always be a question which may just point to another generic question of performance of an MBA vs a non MBA. The debate continues.

This is how I see it. Any course technical or managerial teaches you some tools and techniques, the rest is up to you, it is an open market, and it depends on how well you improve on your skills, how well you use them, how well you market them, and how you create opportunities and how you make the most of it.

From my viewpoint, PGSEM opens doors for you, you not only become part of the prestigious IIMB alumni, but also become part of the elite IIM alumni, networking is what most B schools offer, which is the most powerful tool, again how you use it is up to you.

After PGSEM, I have seen some of my batch mates, and my seniors do different things, some have started they own companies, some have ventured into consultancy, some have moved from technical to managerial roles, lateral and vertical movements have happened, some have moved to do their PHD from IIMB, or from other universities abroad. Some have even moved out of the IT industry. Some of my seniors have become guest faculties at IIMB, and other prestigious B schools. I also came across a senior who is coming out with his first book, with a prestigious publisher.

Again let me tell you this number may be only a few people in each batch. Finally everything boils down to the person, which is why we have fewer people at the top. I have also seen during pgsem, some people get clarity on what they want to do in life, and realise their life purpose, which again most professionals are not clear, even after working for many years.

2 PGSEM students are in London Business School right now doing their student exchange program, the exposure is immense, it will definitely open a few more doors to them. But again what they make of it is up to them.

Regular MBA programs, do give summer internships, and placements, but again after one passes out, it’s the free market concept again at work. Obviously they do have an edge, but again it also depends on what risks you take and whether you make the most of it.

Many PGSEM students remain in their technical roles, but again this is a choice that is personal, dependent on whether they want to move out of their comfort zone. Similarly after a full time MBA many people choose to remain in the same industry they were working before their MBA, again a choice they make.

Instant gratification is not available even in todays world, one needs to work through time. But if your objective is to make your salary double and change your career, you could do it through pgsem or emep or could do it through a full time mba.

Again, when I joined PGSEM I was very clear, I did not want to leave my job, and wanted to learn with my job. I also wanted more time with the program to absorb what I was being taught, since I had already done a 1 yr emep from IIM-K (via satellite).

Personally I would vouch for PGSEM, it has worked for me. After having worked in the IT industry for 7.5 yrs I am trying something different outside the IT Industry.

P.S: Do email me if you have any queries/concerns.

Regards,
Sandeep Kochhar
PGSEM Batch 2004-2007