How Life After An MBA Is Different Than You Think

• You will switch jobs:

You're going to consider switching your job more often than you actually do, but even the small slice of people who actually say that they're happy with the jobs they have post-MBA will eventually move out to another organisation. You will see from afar and presume that certain people love their job and wish that you were in their shoes. It'll take you some time to see that there's no perfect job under the sun. You're going to see that it's still a world of trade-offs, those between brand, role, opportunity to learn, location, culture, CTC, working hours etc. And you'll take your time when you find the right opportunity to decide if the pros are likely to outweigh the cons. Before you do that, you have to consider updating yourself (depending on your domain) not just with certifications, but also with information on the street about the changes taking place in your relevant and related areas. This usually means talking to specific people in a position to guide you and knowing when to hold on, and maybe switch within the organisation or move out.

• The standard of life will increase, but the responsibilities do too:

Yes, the payslips will start coming in, and with them the feeling of accomplishment. You’re going to be able to afford the latest phone or bike, the wardrobe upgrade, the weekend plans and the fancy restaurants. It's going to take some serious self-control to divide your salary into the right proportions of unavoidable expenditure, investments, savings and discretionary income. Most of us have our education loan to think about, have a sense of responsibility towards our family's well being and have just started living on our own. It's indeed a wonderful feeling to know that you are independent, but then as you deal with things like paying your rent and utility bills, figuring out grocery requirements, managing with an erratic water supply and the domestic help, you actually realise that you're well into your adult life. You'll love the space you have to yourself, but once in a while, you'll miss home.

• The “IIM” tag may not be only an advantage:

Your non-B-School colleagues who have had a longer career path than you may not understand how you add value, at first. Your alma mater is supposed to have taught you everything, or you're supposed to have a memory sharp enough to remember it all. But let me tell you something. You're not going to be treated better or worse because of the pedigree of you B-School. You really don't matter very much to your boss, because he/she has enough on their plate for them to worry about. Your first job will test your mettle as your inexperience interacts with managers’ responsibilities. Sometimes, the IIM tag can be an ice breaker, but if it's a slower process, then have the self –belief and the quiet assurance that you will gain the nod of approval from the people that matter in your professional relationship with your actions. Jargon quoting that would have become habitual, won't get you very far, and often you have to learn to build a rapport with the people who can help you build your career. It's might not be the best feeling in the world to know that you're not a league apart because you're from a Tier 1 institution and that there would be people from Tier II or Tier III colleges who landed up in almost the same place as you, but you've got to roll with it. I cannot begin to stress the importance of finding a good mentor to guide you through your professional endeavours and doesn't hesitate to be candid with you without a conflict of interest.

• People skills are not for HR folks alone:

You’re going to need your team to back you, your manager to be on your side and your clients to be loyal to you. But you're going to have to invest a lot of mindspace and deal with their needs too, within reasonable limits. It is not something you can possess overnight, it takes consistent effort. Skills like acquiring a difficult client, preventing an escalation, having a positive professional relationship with your colleagues come in handy quite often and will serve you well in your career ahead.

Did I get most of what I wished for? Possibly. But as a race, I think nothing will ever truly be enough for us, so I think that by learning to be grateful for the things that did click for me helps me not to focus on the negatives too much. As we've often heard, aeroplanes are safest on the ground, but God, they were made to fly.