MBA
A few hitherto unknown facts revealed in this post.
I wrote CAT this time. I got a 98.XX percentile and have an interview call from IIM Bangalore.
The time I wrote CAT, I thought that maybe this will be a good thing. MBA - will get to learn a lot, will get to experience a new world altogether.
But then as the interview dates comes closer, I am convinced that this is not the right thing to do at the moment. An MBA at this stage will surely mean moving away from hardcore technology - which I’m crazy about. Two years away from technology, surrounded by people who dream nothing but of investment banks and consultancy firms will prove to be a brainwash. I’m not ready for it.
My observation after speaking with so many people has been that it is usually engineers who do not find engineering the most exciting thing in the world who move towards MBA - it is a great way to make a career shift. The prospects of going to a technology or software company after an MBA are not great - at least not from IIMs. And so MBA does not interest me. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Finally, I love my job. What could be a computer engineer’s bigger dream than to the first line of code in a Microsoft product?
So I’m decided. No MBA - at least not in the near future. The big question is - should I go attend the interview? It will cost me 8k to go attend it, and all the trouble of the new airport at Hyderabad. Plus, the very next day, I have to make one of the most important presentations I’ve ever made.
Help me out - I’m tempted not to go for the interview. Any ideas?
15 Responses to “MBA”
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skip it :) live ur dream !
Very few people actually know what they want to do with their lives. Since you do, I suggest you don’t waste the realization :)
WARNING: If you already know what you want to do with your life (as commented by Geetanjali), then I suggest that you skip reading this comment.
Anyways, here is my take on it:
//The prospects of going to a technology or software company after an MBA are not great - at least not from IIMs.
I am not quite sure of this. I have seen Product Managers who passed out from IITs and then did MBA. Aren’t PMs in Microsoft Tech guys with MBAs?
//What could be a computer engineer’s bigger dream than to the first line of code in a Microsoft product?
I think a bigger dream would be to think of the next killer product and ask an engineer to write the first line of code for it.
//It will cost me 8k to go attend it, and all the trouble of the new airport at Hyderabad
That is not a good enough argument. But about the important presentation, if you can be there on time and be well prepared; then I think you should go ahead with the interview.
I think you can lead well and manage people and will certainly become a good Software Manager one day. It is not a question of “if” but a question of “when” : 2 years or later (and from IIMB or not :) )
Hey man(as).. :-)
This news is a shocker to me.. :-)
People give hazaaar gyaan in life about MBA.. I dont want to give one more..
I dont buy your views about people moving from tech to MBA.. But as I said, I am not here to give gyaan…
If you have taken the decision.. Great! all the best…
If you have not.. I sincerely believe that you can attend the interview and then decide.. Dont miss the opportunity…
There will be periods of bursty “excitements” in everything you do…
May be IIM was the excitement… and M$ was your passion.. If you knw for sure.. Once again.. go ahead with your decision..
Sincerely I hope that it is *not* the other way round..
All the best in whatever you do…
Rock Hard!
Adding you to blogroll… Thats y I visited in the first place :-)
I think you are doing absolutely fine.What else you need if you really know what exactly you want :) … go ahead with the same spirit and u will shine always.All the very best!!
You love your job ! Thats the answer :)
you are not ready for an MBA.. hence it is a correct decision you have made.
either you will be ready in the near future or may be never. and most of the stuff you learn in MBA either you can learn through the corporate world and experience.
you are wrong in thinking though that you cannot do techie stuff after you have done MBA; but that will be very tough to do and you have to be very focussed; it will not be the same again.
Also I disagree with you on thing about the “bigger dream than to the first line of code in a Microsoft product”. Personally I would always want stuff made by me with the stamp of foniars on it, only; that would be the biggest dream..even if no one wants it; that would be for be only. If people like it good; if not does not matter. I still would be happy.
But then all that is my perception.
Seriously ?? Why did you do this to the poor IIM?
They might have got a seg fault.
I had a couple of calls from the IIMs as well, and am now ditching for a PhD. Do what you think is best, man, and forget about the rest.
[...] To top it all, I love my job. I love the workplace, I love the kind of work I’m getting and I love the people I’m working with. As you can see, I have enough reason not to go for an MBA just now. I have described the reasons in detail and had a debate with my friends on my blog here - http://manasg.com/2008/03/25/mba/ [...]
[...] To top it all, I love my job. I love the workplace, I love the kind of work I’m getting and I love the people I’m working with. As you can see, I have enough reason not to go for an MBA just now. I have described the reasons in detail and had a debate with my friends on my blog here - http://manasg.com/2008/03/25/mba/ [...]
Hey Man!!!!
That day I couldnt understand more than ” ditched IIMB” on ur gtalk status.
Gud or Bad …….. its for the future to decide… but brave step indeed is confirmed…
Read your interview… the same q’s have been intriguing me ….. i still dont know …. well lemme
think after getting the call.
Go On !!!!! Realise your dreams… May be we meet on the crossroads of the dreams someday.
Regards,
Amrit
Hey Manas,
Set your actions to do what your heart yearns to do. From what you have written I get the feeling that you love what you do pretty much. So keep doing it. When you come to a point requiring a career shift or a progression into managerial roles, you can do a MBA. The problem here is that you had a call from IIM-B. Had it been from a lesser popular institute your choice should not have been difficult. So all the best for your decision. May the force be with you.
One point tho’, why did you write CAT in the first place, without envisioning your expectations clearly? If you had done so, maybe you could have even got A since your focus may have been greater. Anyway my suggestion comes quite late, when everything is over - but it may help you in future.
Hi manas,
It is good that you decided to follow your heart and not the crowd! :)
I am sure, you will not regret this decision later.
Even i had gone through a similar situation recently… While reading all the comments here, I felt i am quite familiar with them. May be becasue, this is what everyone has to say to someone who is at a juncture like you an me were.
All the best for your future.
NoeL
I like your decision.
All the best!
Came here via CWS.