Campus Placements : Ensure You Don't Remain Unplaced

24 CAMPUS PLACEMENTS: Ensure You Don’t Remain Unplaced

INDUSTRY BYTE

Start thinking about your future. Do not ask yourself

what you would like to become. Instead, ask your-

self, “What would you like to see yourself doing for

the rest of your life?” This would give you an insight

about your inclinations. It would bring your passions

on the surface.

–Prabbal Frank,

Psychologist, Career Coach

7

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7

Frank, op.cit., p.3.

C. Industry and Vertical

There are many interesting cases that may help us understand the

occupational hazard of switching from one industry or vertical to the

Exhibit 1.1 “Not sure which vertical to apply?”

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Expectation Management 25

other. The chances of making a successful switch dwindles as a candi-

date starts getting more experienced in a particular industry or vertical.

A typical example could be of an expert chef who has spent 8–10

years in the hospitality industry, and very well understands the intri-

cacies of the food and beverages division of the hotel. This person

might be drawing one of the most enviable paychecks among all the

employees of a luxury hotel. However, if he (or she) aspires to switch

career and become an investment banker, he (or she) neither has the

skill set nor the relevant experience to become one in a short span of

time. Switching over from the hotel industry or specialized role of a

chef (i.e. vertical) might prove to be a daunting task. Not that he (or

she) cannot become one, but the fact is, without previous relevant

experience, seldom does any recruiter want to take the risk of hiring

a complete fresher.

Most of the applicants who enroll in an executive MBA program

carry this dream while applying for a course as they come across many

successful professionals who may have started a successful career

after a two-year MBA. When these applicants see MBA as a common

thread between all these successful professionals, they feel the urge to

do one to become more successful in the shortest possible time.

What they fail to understand is that the successful person they got

inspired from is not successful merely because he (or she) is an MBA.

It might be because the person has gained a considerable amount of

experience and domain expertise after completing the course and is

now an expert in the field. Merely pursuing an MBA degree does not

guarantee a break in the desired industry, role, designation, or salary.

It may or may not even lead to a switch at all, and the candidate might

be forced to join the same industry or even the same organization in

the same designation he (or she) might have left in pursuit of a higher

package or a better role. If the candidate is lucky, he (or she) will get

a break in the desired industry; if he (or she) is exceptionally lucky,

the candidate may get both, that is, the preferred industry as well as

the role, albeit at an entry or lower managerial cadre.

At this juncture, if you ask whether pursuing an executive MBA is

not useful at all, then the answer is a resounding NO!

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