Everyone has a story. Do you have one? If yes, start typing. Now. The winner gets a cash prize of Rs.15,000. The runner-up gets a cash prize of Rs.5000

The best 5 experiences will be published as separate articles on InsideIIM.com and will win a Calvin & Hobbes comic book! It will also serve as a great accomplishment on your resume!

We will also declare the ‘Campus with the most Interesting Interns’ based on the entries from all the campuses. (Minimum number of entries for a campus to be considered for this title – 10)

The entries will be judged on two main parameters : 1) Usefulness for future readers 2) How interesting it is

It will be preferred if these aspects are covered in the write-up :

1. Brief outline of the project

2. Most challenging aspect of the job

3. Most enjoyable aspect of the job

4. Greatest learning

The post Summer Saga – 60 Days as an Intern appeared first on InsideIIM.com.

IIM Kozhikode lost pole position last year after IIM Lucknow tweaked its criteria and stole women from IIM Indore (number went down from 95 to 75) and Kozhikode ( down from 130 to 100 odd). IIM Kozhikode and IIM Calcutta took a leaf out of IIM Lucknow’s book and decided to award extra marks to women for just being….. women.

IIM Bangalore had decided to increase the gender ratio too and for the first time the number of women had hit the 100 mark at IIM B in 2012. They will continue to have a similar number this year.

IIM Calcutta and IIM Indore will have over 100 women in the PGP batch for the first time since their inception. IIM Indore came close to it for the Class of 2013 but fell short by 5. IIM Ahmedabad is not expected to reach the century mark but will beat last year’s number too.

Over 700 women will graduate from the older IIMs in 2015. That is more than the total number of women that graduated from all the older IIMs in the years 2000 to 2005. It is more than all the women who graduated from the older IIMs in the years 2009,’10,’11.  One should also factor in the fact that batch sizes have gone up since then. This year batch size at Bangalore and Kozhikode will see expansion.

We wait for official figures in July. Keep watching this space for more. There may be minor changes.

Acceptances by Women (Official) as on 16th June :

IIM A – 75+

IIM B – 105+

IIM C – 105+

IIM L – 150 +

IIM I – 110 +

IIM K – 150 +

We are not giving exact figures since there is bound to be wait list movement till 25th June which may change the numbers slightly.

Update : Economic Times reports official numbers and % of Women at IIM C  may just be a touch under 25%. Read here

You may also be interested in :

All you wanted to know about the shortlisting criteria of Top Schools (2013-15)

Prediction : 100 Women each in at least 4 out of the 6 IIMs

The post Women in IIMs – Class of 2015 appeared first on InsideIIM.com.

Over the period of time, brand MDI continues to grow due to mix of academic focus, infrastructure and the plethora of opportunities that it offers to all its stakeholders.  So what really makes MDI special? Read on -

1. Faculty

About eighty nationally and internationally acclaimed full time faculty is one of the strongest asset of MDI. These faculty members are involved in action centric research and solving organizational problems with academic rigor.

Many of the faculty members have maintained their focus of research on certain key topics and have established their expertise and credibility in that area

For more information: http://mdi.ac.in/faculty/

2. Campus and Location

MDI is located in a picturesque, serene campus, 12 km from the International Airport at Delhi. 40 acres of lush green campus, strategically located in the corporate hub of India provides the ManDeVian community a unique experience of creative environment amidst industry action. It thus provides just the right environment to step away from the mundane world to quietly imbibe, peacefully introspect and ultimately learn.

3. Continuing Education programme

MDI is one of the largest schools in India for training and development of managers. More than 68000 managers have been trained over 39 years by the institute. Over 100 specifically designed executive development programmes for top level, middle level and senior level managers of different organizations each year. Also specific programmes for Armed Forces, In-Company programmes and other management development Programmes are running at any given time in the institute.

For more information: http://mdi.ac.in/continuing-education/

4. Student Exchange and International Relations

MDI was the first Indian Business School and second in Asia to be accredited by AMBA (Association of MBAs London). The institute has also been accredited regionally and nationally – thus the first Indian B-School to get Triple Crown accreditation.

With such prodigy, MDI has inked partnerships with several leading universities and institutions.  A thriving exchange programme ensures that one out of every four students enrolled for PGPM and PGP-HRM gets an opportunity to study abroad. The number of international students, studying at MDI campus, has also increased over the years and MDI’s exchange programme is one of the largest in the country.

Over time the student exchange programme has evolved into an entire gamut of academic exchange that includes dual degree programmes, faculty exchange, research collaboration, development of academic materials etc

For more information: http://mdi.ac.in/international-relations/, http://mdi.ac.in/international-relations/student-exchange-programme.html

5. PGP-IM

In 2006, MDI launched a unique one of its kind programme in India – Post Graduate Programme in International Management.

This programme was launched in collaboration with ESCP Europe. The programme is delivered partly in India and partly in Europe (ESCP campuses).

In Europe, students not only get classroom learning opportunity, they also get a chance to work there or in India on a paid internship basis. In addition to that, there is a scope to get placement offers in Europe. Living and working in Europe, enables the students to understand and appreciate other cultures and develop global mindsets.

For more information: http://mdi.ac.in/post-graduate-programme/post-graduate-programme-in-international-management.html

6. Guest Lectures and Workshops

Located in Gurgaon, MDI plays host to a bevy of industry leaders who engage with the students by means of guest lectures and workshops.

Incendo – The Business Thought Leadership Series – has been designed to serve as a forum for exchange of intellectually stimulating ideas between business heads and future managers through the lecture format. Such sessions see students getting a practical perspective on the theoretical concepts learnt in class with the industry stalwarts gaining fresher and newer ideas.

Some of past speakers include

For more information: http://mdi.ac.in/placement/beyond-placement.html

7. Alumni

Over the 39 years of its existence, MDI has developed a strong and influential network of professionals many of whom are leading companies, building industries and serving the nation. They have made a mark for themselves and their alma mater, and make MDI proud of their creed.  The MDI alumni network has members from all the post graduate programmes of MDI. With more than 700 members joining the group every year, the alumni network with about 4,300 members currently is growing stronger year on year.

Some of our Illustrious Alumni are –

For more information: http://mdi.ac.in/alumni-relations/

8. Unnati

Unnati is India’s first student managed, ‘live’ mutual fund. Conceived in 2001, it uses practical investment knowledge with student research analysis in various sectors to secure returns in the stock market.

The analysts-in-training generate quality research to aid investment decisions. The second year Senior Security Analysts (SSA’s) mentor the first year Junior Security Analysts (JSA’s) in analyzing sectors and evaluating investment options. The stock analysis meetings stimulate debate and a culture of forming opinions and questioning assumptions which leaves the team richer in experience.

As of date the total Asset under Management size has reached the Rupees Two Million mark.

9. Illumina

Illumina is the annual disguised marketing research festival organized by the students of MDI. A traditional Diwali Mela is organized on campus which acts as a front to conduct disguised marketing research by the students at MDI. Illumina is also conducted in a rural format in Pataudi – a village close to Gurgaon – during the 100 year old Dusshera Mela.  Over the years, Illumina has been associated with brands like Airtel, Amul, Bank Of Baroda, Castrol, Dabur, Danone, Future Brands, HUL, ITC, Pepsi and many others, spanning across different sectors.

10. Delphique

Delphique is the Annual Management Convention at MDI, which provides a platform through which students get an opportunity to interact with leaders and visionaries from the business world.

What ensues is sharing of opinion and ideas as part of panel discussions and then presentation of their point of view on the day of the convention.

Students conduct research under the guidance of knowledge partners and MDI faculty for a period of two months. CitiGroup, Cognizant, Deloitte, KPMG, PepsiCo and Wipro have been few of the prominent knowledge partners over the past years

Write up facilitated by – Corporate Communications Cell, MDI Gurgaon

You may also be interested in :

10 Questions you should ask before joining a business school in India

10 Things that make IIM Indore Special

10 Things that make XLRI Jamshedpur Special

10 Things that make IIM Kozhikode Special

10 Things that make IIM Lucknow Special

10 Things that make FMS Delhi Special

10 Things that make HK UST MBA Special

The post 10 Things that make MDI Gurgaon special appeared first on InsideIIM.com.

31^st July – The date on or before which every individual / HUF / partnership firm is required to file their income tax return (‘return’) in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (‘Act’), provided they are not subject to income-tax audit.  A person whose gross turnover from business exceeds Rs 1 crore or a professional whose gross receipts exceeds Rs 25 lacs during the FY 2012-13 is subject to income tax audit and is therefore required to file the return on or before 30^th September.

The objective of this article is to attract attention of those individuals / HUF / partnership firms who are required to file their return on or before July 31, 2013. The following points are noteworthy in this case:

1.       Is it mandatory for every person to file his return?

Every individual / HUF whose gross total income (‘GTI’) (i.e. income before availing any deductions like LIC, PPF, etc) exceeds minimum tax exemption limit of Rs. 200,000 is required to file return.  For example – your GTI for the FY 2012-13 is Rs. 250,000 and you have availed of the PPF deduction of Rs. 70,000 thereby resulting in net total income of Rs. 180,000. Although you are not liable to pay any income tax on Rs. 180,000, you are still required to file your return since your GTI exceeds Rs. 200,000.

Note: There is no minimum tax exemption limit for partnership firms and therefore, it is mandatory to file its return even if its total income is Rs 1. In case of loss from any source of income, it is mandatory to file the return in order to carry forward the said loss to the subsequent year and set it off against the subsequent year’s profit.

2.       Which documents substantiate the basis of your return?

The following documents are a must for preparing the return:

• Bank statement
• TDS certificates
• Tax Savings certificates – LIC receipts, PPF passbook, Mediclaim receipts, etc.
• Income statement enumerating income earned during the FY from all sources

3.       What is the pre-requisite for filing your return?

No person can file return without a Permanent Account Number (‘PAN’).  PAN is 10 digit alpha-numeric number issued by NSDL authorities in confirmation with Income Tax Department and is considered to be one’s identity proof in India.  In case of PAN – AAAPS8216Q, fourth alphabet (P) denotes the status of the person.  P stands for Personal, H for HUF, F for Partnership Firm and C for Company.  The fifth alphabet (S) denotes the surname of the individual, or surname of the Karta of the HUF, or the first alphabet of the firm or Company name, as the case may be.

4.        Is it mandatory to file your return electronically (‘e-filing’)?

An individual has the option to file his / her return manually or electronically.  However, an individual whose GTI exceeds Rs.  500,000 is mandatorily required to file his / her return electronically.  The same principle as explained in point no 1 with regards to GTI applies in this case also.  An individual can download the Excel utility of the applicable Income-tax return form (‘ITR Excel utility’) from the website – www.incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in and file the return electronically.  For example, if your GTI is Rs. 450,000, you can either file your return manually or electronically.  However, if your GTI is Rs. 500,000 or more you would have to file your return electronically.

5.       Which ITR Excel utility should you download?

The tax department has notified different forms for different persons as under:

• ITR 1 – Individuals having only salary income and interest income (salaried employees)
• ITR 2 – Individuals & HUFs having income from any source other than Income from Business
• ITR 3 – Individuals & HUFs being partners in firms and not carrying any business or profession
• ITR 4 – Individuals having income from Business or Profession
• ITR 4S – Individuals having income from Business or Profession and opting for special taxation scheme
• ITR 5 – Partnership firms
• ITR 6 – Companies

Depending on the sources of your income, you need to download the applicable ITR Excel utility.  In case you wish to file your return manually, the aforesaid forms can be purchased locally and can be filed with the local tax officer along with copy of previous year’s return acknowledgment.

6.       What are the pre-checks before uploading your return?

In order to have a hassle-free processing of your return, the following aspects should be checked:

• Name – it should match with the name printed on your PAN card
• Date of birth – it should match with the name printed on your PAN card
• Status – Whether you are an individual / HUF / Firm and whether you are a resident / non resident
• Address – it should match with the address as per your PAN card
• Email address and mobile no – It is the basis of communication from CPC (avoid mentioning Chartered Accountant’s email ID or the one which is not frequently used by you)
• Date of filing the return – Mention the date on which you upload your return
• TDS – Verify the total TDS credit in your name by downloading your Form 26AS from the website and claim credit equivalent to the credit available as per Form 26AS
• Bank details – Mention your existing bank account no, correct MICR code, IFSC code and bank branch details since refund, if any due, shall be credited only to this account
• No cut / paste – Avoid using cut and paste formula while filing the ITR Excel utility else it shall corrupt your Excel file.

Needless to mention that only correct and accurate figures and dates should be filled in to avoid any discrepancy while processing your return.

7.       How to file return electronically?

The first step in e-filing is to create an account by registering your self on the website at the link – https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/e-Filing/Registration/RegistrationHome.html.  After downloading the ITR excel utility, it is to be filled in with the relevant details.  The file is to be then validated to check up for any errors using the ‘validate’ option.  Subsequently, an xml file is to be generated using the ‘create xml file’ option provided on the first page of your ITR excel utility.  This ‘xml file’ is then required to be uploaded on the website.  Uploading the return is a very quick process (less than a minute) unless there is a system breakdown which seldom happens.  (Detailed step by step procedure is available on the aforesaid website).

8.       Does uploading your return mean that your return for the year has been filed?

Mere uploading of the return does not mean your return for the FY has been duly filed.  Every person after uploading their return is required to take a print out of their return’s acknowledgment (ITR V), sign the same at the designated place (in blue ink only) and then send the duly signed acknowledgement via ordinary or speed post (not courier) to CPC, Bangalore (complete address is provided in the acknowledgment) within 90 days from the date of uploading of the return.  Once your duly signed acknowledgement is accepted at the CPC, Bangalore, you shall be intimated about the same via message and email and only then will your return be said to have been duly filed.

9.       What if you miss the July 31 deadline?

You can still file your return for the FY 2012-13 as a ‘belated’ income tax return till March 31, 2015 with interest on the tax amount (in case you are not liable to pay any tax, no interest will be levied).  However, it is to be noted that in case there is any loss which is to be carried forward to the subsequent years, it is mandatory to file the return in time ie July 31 or else the benefit of set off of loss against profits in the subsequent years shall not be available.

The aforesaid article shall not be 100% sufficient for any individual to upload his / her return all by himself but shall definitely help in acquiring knowledge and assist in planning as to how should you generally proceed to file your return to avoid unnecessary rush at the last minute.  So, all those who are liable to file their returns please do the needful before the July 31, 2013 due date.

Hope this helps!

Thanks

Prince Doshi

(Chartered Accountant)

Prince Doshi  is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a B.Com graduate from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics.  He has post qualification experience working as an Associate for BMR & Associates, a leading tax consultancy firm.  Presently, he has his own Chartered Accountancy practice specializing in the field of income tax consultancy, sales tax, service tax and audit compliance.

You may also like to read:

All you need to know about Tax Benefits on Education Loan Interest Payments

Reduction in Take Home Salary – Important for all graduating in 2013 and beyond

The post Are you set to file your income tax return for the financial year (‘FY’) 2012-13? appeared first on InsideIIM.com.

We started off as a website trying to solve a problem. It seems we did well. It inspired us to turn it into an enterprise and a full time hobby.

We are still governed by the same principle. Do we solve a problem? Do we add value to the world?

As we take on more challenges and try to solve bigger problems, we need to build a team that can take these challenges head on. We seek a team of individuals that can creatively change the way things are done.  If you think you would like to be part of a movement that solves problems in the higher education and professional career space, please read further.

We are looking for people who will stay with us for the long haul.  We are not looking for interns.

This is a new organization and a fast evolving one. We have no rules for hiring. But we are more likely to be attracted to passionate and honest individuals and not necessarily to those who have a record number of bullet points on their resume.

The environment we work in is challenging and full of uncertainties. We have no organizational culture. You could help us build one.

Open Positions

News & Research Champions : This is the heart of InsideIIM.com. This is what has made us. If  following and discovering new trends in Higher Education and Professional Learning excites you, this role is for you. We try to churn out high quality content supported with data and analysis.

Relationship Managers:  On the field, sales positions. We interact with universities, companies and other education organizations. This position is for those who get thrilled by cracking deals.

Product Managers: This is another challenging role. Not only do you have to ensure we solve a problem but also that the product makes revenue.  Coding knowledge will be helpful but not necessary at all.

Location

Mumbai only

Process

The founder will interact with you directly and you take it from there.

Compensation

We have bootstrapped our way so far and the founder has invested 100% in personal capacity.  If you are expecting figures doled out by well-funded start-ups, you are searching in the wrong place.  People who enjoy the excitement of creating something and have a little patience to wait it out before striking big are encouraged to apply.

You can apply here

The post InsideIIM.com is hiring! appeared first on InsideIIM.com.

What is it?

The MBA dictionary at InsideIIM will be the definitive guide for demystifying business terms (from all MBA streams – finance, economics, marketing, consulting, HR and operations). These definitions will be digestible, bite-sized chunks of information and not rambling essays.

How will it help me?

The InsideIIM MBA dictionary will be your friend, philosopher and guide during the most harrowing time of your life – placement hour. It will also be of great help for candidates preparing for admission interviews, and alumni looking to brush up their skills before a job interview. The basic idea is to decrease the chances of putting your foot during interviews and conversations.

How can I contribute?

Every week, InsideIIM will release a set of business terms. You will have to provide their definitions, in 500 characters or less (yes 500 characters and not 500 words). Examples can also be given to explain the business terms better – the example will not count towards the character limit.

Why should I contribute?

We will be running a weekly leaderboard of top contributors. The top contributor at the end of the week will receive a Calvin & Hobbes comic book (yes, classic titles like Something under the bed is Drooling etc). In case you do not opt for a Calvin and Hobbes, you can opt for a movie ticket for the weekend blockbuster.

How will entries be evaluated?

The entries for each term will be rated by the InsideIIM editorial team and the community (you get to vote on others’ entries). The best entry would be chosen on the basis of relevance, originality of content, and wittiness.

So what are you waiting for? Get started. Round one includes mostly basic definitions. We will get into the intricacies later.

Rules:

1. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

2. Entries posted anonymously will not be considered for the prize. We request you to use the FB or LinkedIn login button, or at least login with your bonafide email ID to establish your credentials and ensure that the prizes go to the right person.

This week’s list is appended below. You can get involved by sending your entries on our forum here

1. Adverse selection
2. Austerity
3. Alpha (stock markets)
4. Beta (stock markets)
5. Balance of Trade
6. Balance of Payments
7. Capital Asset Pricing Model
8. Current account deficit
9. Decoupling
10. Double dip recession
11. Elasticity
    1. Elasticity of demand
    2. Elasticity of supply
    3. Elasticity of Income
12. Enterprise value
13. Externality
14. Fiscal policy
15. Forwards
16. Freemium
17. Futures
18. Gross Domestic Product
19. Gross National Product
20. Inflation
21. Internal rate of return
22. Marginal utility
23. Moral hazard
24. Monetary policy
25. Monopolistic competition
26. Network effects
27. Net present value
28. Oligopoly
29. Oligarch
30. Opportunity cost
31. Quantitative Easing (QE)
32. Sunk cost
33. Stimulus package
34. Unemployment rate

The post Introducing the crowdsourced MBA dictionary at InsideIIM.com! appeared first on InsideIIM.com.

So, what does the Admissions Committee (Adcom) look for in an application?

Your application is the Adcom’s window into your world. What you choose to say in the application is the only thing that they will know of you before the interview.

The Adcom does not want simple answers to the questions posed in the application. They want you to tell them who you are, what motivates you, what your ambitions are. They want you to showcase your strengths and highlight how the MBA will help you build on them.

Your application should convince the Adcom that the MBA means a lot to you and your career and at the same time it should exhibit what you would bring to the proverbial table.

The Application would usually comprise some stock questions, asked in different forms:

1. Self-introspection Questions – Tell us about yourself / describe your strengths and improvement areas with supporting examples

2. Career Goal Questions – Why do you want to do an MBA? / Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? / Why should we accept you?

3. Situation based Questions – Tell us about a time when you faced a crisis at work / Tell us about a time when you displayed your leadership/teamwork skills

4. Miscellaneous – Tell us something which has not been covered in your resumé or other questions

Do not treat answering the above as an end unto itself. Your answers will shape the course your interview takes. Hence, in a way, with the application, you control your admission process.

So, how does one go about writing an application that will impress?

3 simple steps:

1. The comprehensive list
2. Constructing relevant examples
3. MBA Core Values and The Essay MAP

1. The comprehensive list:The most important part of the application is to write down EVERYTHING, relevant and irrelevant

• Academics – high scores, failures, prizes

• Work life – achievements, accolades, description of times of crisis and how you coped, description of leadership examples, teamwork examples, examples showcasing your integrity/honesty/moral values

• Extra-curricular activities – your interests & passions, participation in activities, social service, freelancing/pro-bono experiences etc

• Personal Life – examples of difficult times where you demonstrated your inner strength

It is important to have everything down on paper for reference when you start drafting your application. Write down everything you recollect and categorize it in the above baskets. Speak to your parents, friends, work colleagues, helpful bosses – you’ll be surprised as to the perspectives you get from them and the important events that you have missed.

Also, what you might ignore as irrelevant from MBA application point of view might become very relevant once you get an outside perspective. So, speak to everyone close to you during this exercise.

Once this base is made, we go on to sifting all relevant examples and constructing them in acceptable formats.

—

Part 2 in the series – Importance of CAR & STAR formats – coming soon!

- Mihir S. Kamdar

(The author is an ISB Graduate and a finance professional. He also helps potential MBA candidates with their B-School applications and interview preparations. You can find out more about Mihir’s Application consulting and Counseling services here in the Career Store. )

The post How to impress the Adcom: A Guide to writing your B-school Application – Part 1 appeared first on InsideIIM.com.

Do not blindly trust students from media cells or PR companies commissioned to promote business schools. It is their job to create a rosy picture. If you do not have enough credible data on all these points listed below or if the business schools and students refrain from sharing details, you need to be even more discerning.

1) What is the background of the faculty?

It is often the least researched aspect by potential students in India since placements gloss over everything else. However, quality faculty is the single biggest reason that makes a business school truly worth the investment. You should scan their profiles and see where they’ve earned their Doctorate from or which companies they have been associated with. It would be unfair to paint everyone with the same brush but it always helps if professors have been in the industry or have done research at top universities. There are plenty of professors  in some of the top schools in India who have very questionable backgrounds.  However, always check with alumni and current students too!

2) What kind of profiles are offered and what kind of companies visit the campus for recruitment?

Asking for salary figures and 100% placements is the worst way to choose a business school. We will come to that later. But, you need to ask the right questions about placements.  Salary figures are inflated, unaudited and loosely calculated by even the best schools in India. Always remember that you are building a career.

Beware of deception. For e.g. Is the job offered by the multi-national bank in the technology function and is the business school fooling you by reporting it under the Finance domain?  Will you be working for a bank or actually be a part of a KPO?

Scan names of companies and profiles they offer. Try and find out how many students are recruited. Do thorough research.

Schools that can consistently court top companies for the kind of profiles you seek are the ones you should target.

3) What is the placement policy of the business school?

Indian schools are becoming increasingly notorious for churning out unhappy and dissatisfied professionals. In the race to get everyone a job, extremely poor career policies are in place. The focus is on quantity over quality and the system is designed to make graduates insecure and they end up settling for the wrong job. The result : The graduate is looking out for a new job in the first week of joining his/her company. Everyone is the loser here. The company, the student and the business school (the schools loses brand equity among recruiters). You do not want to be in such a business school.

There are schools that force students to take jobs they do not want or sign out in order to declare 100% placements. Ask students about placement policies. Can you decline an offer? Do companies have a pecking order of visiting the campus or do they turn up randomly? Is there a concept of dream companies?

In the end, we would say that you would be better served if you do not have an attitude of entitlement in terms of landing a plush job from campus. But, when you decide to join a business school it will only help to make choices that maximize your probability of getting there!

4) What are my chances of getting international exposure?

Student exchange programmes help. But be careful. Find out the number of seats on offer. Look at the quality of schools where a tie-up is in place. Are there academicians and foreign companies who collaborate with your school? Are there foreign students who will add a new perspective to the classroom? (We published a report 18 months ago. Check here)

This is another highly ignored aspect by potential Indian students. You will only know the worth of interaction with students and professors from international schools after doing it. It exposes you to different cultures and mindsets.

5) What is the infrastructure in the business school?

Your experience can be ruined at a place with eternal infrastructure problems. A large campus with state of art infrastructure goes a long way in making your business school experience memorable and even in developing your personality. Visit the campus if possible. Look at connectivity by air and train. Is there a thriving eco-system around the campus that can support a world class business school?

6) Are the alumni happy?

Speak to 3 alumni (all different years if possible) and speak to 3 current students (from different backgrounds if possible). Usually, if you are perceptive enough you will easily figure out whether the place has any culture and unity. Do people have a sense of pride after having graduated from the place? How do they feel 3 years after graduation?

In many ways, this is the acid test. Indifferent alumni means the school will never really go too far and that has an impact on your career.

7) What is the pedagogy?

Kotler’s original work was written prior to 1960.  The world of finance has changed completely over the last 2 decades. If a business school still follows archaic teaching methods, your tuition fees are worth nothing. Are innovative tools used for learning on campus? Do professors go out of their way to be updated with the latest in their field? What proportion of your work is on the field? Experiential learning, anyone?

8) What is the profile of my peers?

Now, this is a tough one in the Indian context since same kind of junta applies to all schools but it is still worth looking at. You are bound to learn more in a school with more diversity. And diversity not only in terms of gender but also in terms of graduation streams, work experience, international schooling/work experience, people from entrepreneurial backgrounds etc.

9) Fees, Scholarships and Financial Assistance

EMIs as a result of student loans can cripple you. Especially, if you graduate without landing a job that pays you at least INR 50,000 per month in hand. In such a scenario, the cost of the MBA programme becomes an important determinant of your choice of school.  There are practically no meaningful scholarships in India. The Aditya Birla and the OP Jindal scholarships are received by very few people and does not cover even 25% of the cost of the MBA programme in most cases.  A lot of schools have large NBFA (Need Based Financial Assistance) kitties but the criteria is so stringent that most middle class general category students will again never be eligible for it.

Do not compromise on your MBA experience by going for an altogether inferior programme. But be mindful of the difference in the fees.  If one saves INR 600,000 – 800,000 upfront it can have a material impact over the period of the entire repayment of the loan.

10 ) What does your heart say?

Follow your instincts. The heart is always right. Do you get a good feeling about a place? Do alumni of certain schools attract you more?  Are you taking the plunge treating your decision as a compromise?  Answer these questions truthfully. You will seldom regret a decision taken on instinct. Those taken after lengthy deliberations aren’t always the best decisions.

Very few schools in India will score well on all the points mentioned above. But this exercise will help keep your expectations real before you enter a business school.

You may also like :

Why MBA?

Mind over Matter while stepping into a B School

The Balancing Act

6 Traps to be wary of after getting a Business School

The post 10 Questions you should ask before joining a Business School in India appeared first on InsideIIM.com.

A maverick is “An unorthodox or independent-minded person” as per the Merriam Webster dictionary.  The term ‘Maverick’ has had an interesting evolution if this piece here written over 5 years ago in the context of the US Presidential election is to be believed.

Read this extract from the same piece, ‘…..When asked why he or she is doing whatever he or she is doing (and this question is, almost always, asked by those who don’t see much point to what the maverick might be doing– indeed: in many, if not most, cases, the questioner is actually opposed- or even actively hostile- to what the maverick is doing!), the true maverick’s best- in fact, only- answer is, simply,

“I’m doing what has to be done“…

‘nuf said! ‘

BrokersPleaseExcuse is a rapidly growing company in the city of Mumbai and looking to add more mavericks in their fold in their endeavour to become the undisputed kings in the apartment and flat rental market in Mumbai. Visit their site here. InsideIIM Career Services is assisting them in their hunt for these mavericks.

Who we hire?

People who get things done. If you think you can be up for a mentally and physically challenging role, then this place is for you.

How about winning over a client by making a presentation on a napkin? Move over power point decks used only to impress your boss. How about being directly responsible for profits in your company? How about helping scale up a company with some of the best and diverse minds out there? If closing a deal gives you a high, then BPE is the place to be. We prefer hiring people who have no inhibitions travelling within the city of Mumbai. If you can ride a bike/2-wheeler we love you even more!

How we hire?

Every shortlisted candidate is expected to spend half a day with us. You need to crack our treasure hunt and a round of GDs. Finally, it all boils down to the interview.

Process for applicants from other cities will be different. People applying from other cities and towns will have a few interview rounds over Skype/Google Video and over the Phone. Final round would be in Mumbai.

The Team at Brokers Please Excuse

BPE has a diverse team made up of bankers, pilots, comperes and relationship managers. Read in detail about the whole team here. You can watch/read our interview with the Team at BrokersPleaseExcuse here.

About the Openings and Application

Location : Mumbai only. You may not need to look for accommodation or pay any rent

There are openings for at least 3 roles : Relationship Managers (Sales), an Operations Strategist and a Technology wizkid. However, if we feel you add something new to the table we could create a role for you.

Compensation : If you are looking for a MNC bank salary, close this window now.  We pay well if your expectations are realistic.

Application process : Just go here and upload your resume. As simple as that!

You can reach us or the founders directly by asking your questions below. We will respond at the earliest.

The post Brokers Please Excuse is hiring again. Can the True Mavericks please stand up? appeared first on InsideIIM.com.

24 tips to help you avoid making e-mail blunders.

1. Do not ‘Reply to all’ if it is a private conversation.

2. Write precise and to the point subject lines.

3. SPELL CHECK! SPELL CHECK! It takes two minutes.

4. Do not forward chain mails, prayers and hoaxes. E-mails cannot bring you luck but you could be sending a virus to someone’s computer.

5.  Keep your e-mails short and precise.

6.  DO NOT WRITE IN CAPS! It looks like you are shouting.

7.  No SMS language, please. Not everybody knows the full form of TTYL, ROFL nor can everyone read ‘i wl c u 2m’

8.  Acknowledge the receipt of an important mail and vice versa. All e-mail IDs have a Spam folder.

9. Always zip huge attachments.

10. Do not try to be funny or sarcastic in your e-mail. It may be misunderstood.

11. PUNCTUATION is extremely important. For example, “Let’s eat, Grandma!” and “Let’s eat Grandma!”

12. While sending a forward (non official), delete all the previous recipients, so a person is saved from scrolling through 400 e-mail IDs before getting to the main body.

13. It is generally considered polite to add a comment to the forwarded message.

14. Do NOT send or forward any unofficial e-mails from your office ID. It can have severe consequences.

15. If you are sending an e-mail to more than one person, put your e-mail ID in the ‘TO’ field, and the rest of the IDs in the ‘BCC’ field. Not doing so is a serious breach of privacy.

16. If someone has sent you a personal mail, and you wish to share it with the world, PLEASE ask for permission from the sender. Not doing so is, again, a serious breach of privacy and can get you into trouble.

17. If someone has sent you a personal mail, and you wish to share it with the world, PLEASE ask for permission from the sender. Not doing so is, again, a serious breach of privacy and can get you into trouble.

18.  Do not use a Return Receipt Request for every e-mail you send. It is for urgent cases only, otherwise people are entitled to their privacy.

19. NEVER, EVER compose or reply to an e-mail when you are agitated. Calm down, edit the content multiple times and then send it. If you can’t manage, then get someone trustworthy to do it for you. REMEMBER, once the e-mail is sent, it is the final thing.

20. Poor sentence structure (upper case, lower case, spelling mistakes, punctuation, grammar) all reflect on your level of education and professionalism.

21. You may be extremely intelligent, but your hold on the English language could be weak. Never hesitate to ask for help or take classes. It could give you the upper edge where that promotion or crucial contract is concerned. An inflated ego gets you nowhere. No one is born perfect.

22. Write with clarity. Short, precise sentences and small paragraphs. Keep the paragraphs restricted to 4 (maximum).

23. If you are explaining something, short, precise, point form works best.

24. Refrain from using multiple ?????? or !!!!!!!!. They risk giving the perception that you are sarcastic, condescending and obnoxious.

This is a very helpful diagram created by Rajiv Kumar Luv that we found on the internet which you could use.

- Serena Rayani

(Serena is the Principal Image Consultant and owner of Serendipity Image Management Studio)

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