- 1 week is not a casual leave, it’s a planned leave, so a relatively long notice will be appreciated by your employer.
- An early planned leave will make sure that your work is “sorted out”, i.e., you do not have any important deadlines around the CAT Day.
- If you are appearing for CAT in a different city, reach the city as early as you can and get accustomed to your living conditions beforehand. A sudden change in environment or any other unforeseen surprises may distract your mind from the exam.
You might have the following questions on your mind, and if you do not, then you should :p
Should I tell my manager that I am giving CAT?
No.
In my own case, my company's CEO knew I was appearing for CAT (he recommended that I do) and they were very supportive about it. But you may not be that lucky. Put yourselves in your employers’ shoes for once, coming to know that an employee is looking to hop away can make you feel weird. Make an excuse that someone you know is getting married. There are 35 lakh weddings taking place in India from November 15 to December 15 (Google that if you want).
What if my leave is not approved?
At the cost of sounding unethical, rake up your sick leaves, get in touch with a doctor to make some calls, and voila!
If it’s your future we are talking about, do you really want to take chances?
Can I not take just 2-3 days off?
Once again, it is recommended that you take a week. There are stories of people attending Sunday morning meetings and giving afternoon slot exams yet clearing it. You know yourself best, if you think a short holiday will work out for you, then do plan for such.
I am a college student, is this relevant to me?
Well no, but also yes.
If you have major academic deadlines like a project or some exam around the CAT Day, pre-plan and layout your work so that you are not in a mess in the final lap. Also, the article started with “If you are a working professional”, so what brings you here xD
It is important that you take some days off before your CAT exams so that you can clear your mind and focus on nothing but the CAT. It may so happen that your leave will cost you opportunities, some coworker may sweep away a project, your boss may think you are unreliable, and whatnot. These image issues are temporary, and you will have plenty of time to fix them later. I too felt that my CAT prep and the leave I took might have dented my last year at work, but hey, I am writing this article seated in BC Roy Memorial Library at IIM Calcutta :)
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