People hold different opinions about an MBA. Some of them have penetrated deep within the society, especially among students. But most of these opinions are not true. They simply exist as myths within the minds of students, parents and teachers. Listed below are some of the myths associated with an MBA:
- Freshers are at a disadvantage compared to people with experience
After my first attempt at CAT, I rejected an admission offer from a good college. The reason behind my decision was that I thought my profile was very weak and people with work experience will obviously get better opportunities than me. After two years, while I am at a B-school, and now that I have two and a half years of work experience, I can easily say, that a B-school offers ample opportunities for students of every profile. Some companies prefer taking in freshers, while others prefer prior experience in a particular field.
- Good speaking skills are a must
Good speaking skills need not mean having good content. Recruiters, professors and peers at large are able to see through such people. On the other hand, people with good content on any subject need not be good speakers. However, speaking skills can be enhanced through practice. A b-school does provide many opportunities to improve one’s presentation skills.While having good speaking skills is a desirable trait, it is not a necessary one.
- Good score in the entrance means a top 10 convert
Many people still believe that a 99 percentile score is a sure shot convert into one of the top 10 institutes. Hundreds of students every year fall in this category of scoring well but not converting any of the top 20 colleges. The written test is only the first step towards an MBA from an elite school. What the further rounds require is different from what the written test demands.
- The IIM tag is more important
No doubt that the IIM A, B, C tags are amongst the more prestigious ones in the country, but one cannot simply compare an IIM Rohtak tag with an XLRI, SP Jain or an FMS tag. One should not make decisions based on the tag, however, a detailed analysis of which college offers the best of which course should be something to be looked at.
- MBA makes you a manager
This is one of the biggest myths that I had a couple of years ago. I used to think, if I can get an MBA, I will be at a position in a company from where I can dictate what others should do. People would report to me and I would make decisions that matter. After finishing my first year of the course and an enriching internship experience, I can convincingly say that none of it is true.
Management is not an easy job. Being a manager is unlike the managers we see in movies who lord over their subordinates, walk through the corridors with brown suitcases and sign important papers. It is about doing a lot of groundwork, knowing the pros and cons of every action of yours and being answerable for every word that comes out of your mouth. It makes you accountable for everything that reflects on the company’s balance sheet and giving answers to tough questions.
