Free Career Counselling Online | Indian candidates
Moderator: MBACrystalBall
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Re: Mid life career crisis
Post by gauravparmarr » September 18th, 2014, 9:26 am
In product management, I like products in innovation/research, psychology, behavioral economics and unstructured/inefficient/unorganized/offline unsexy sector (where I can use technology to make these sectors structured/efficient/organized). In fact, I'm also planning to write blog focusing on these sectors mainly.
The unstructured/inefficient/unorganized/offline unsexy sector where technology can be used to make these sectors streamlined is a new opportunity, which has emerged in the last 1.5-2 years.
Below are my academic detail:
School of Comp. Sc. & Eng., Bharathiar University, Coimbatore
Master of Computer Applications (MCA), Computer Science, 5.92 out of 6 CGPA. 1st in my University.
Mahavir College, Magadh University, Bodhgaya
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Physics Honours
For career perspective and for better result , I 'll have to focus/specialize in a few sectors and now I want to focus on a few sectors/opportunities. You can say that taking the analogy of "T" shape of discovery/research, I've completed the horizontal line/bar of "T" and now I want to complete the vertical line/bar of "T", i.e. now I want to focus/specialize. In fact, now my thirst of knowledge to know about various sectors has been mostly satisfied and I want to focus on a few sectors/opportunities now.
I've also made a list of which sectors/opportunities to focus upon, which are mainly in unstructured/inefficient/unorganized/offline unsexy sector, psychology, behavioral economics, innovation/research (mainly in these/mentioned in above lines areas) and a few random one.
One more thing, in fact I want to devote my full time on my venture/entrepreneurship, but due to sudden family problem/crisis, I'll have to postpone it for at least 2 years. Due to this, I'm facing these problems and now I have got confused and I need your help to sort out everything.
This is my 5th post in this series (by id : gauravparmarr). I've written all information here, so that you can able to arrange the pieces of the puzzle properly. So, kindly chart out a short, mid and long term career plan out of it.
Regards,
Kumar Gaurav
Free Career Counselling Online
Post by ashokraj » September 20th, 2014, 12:45 pm
Thank You for the time you will be spending and the service you will be providing.
My Professional details :
Degree : B.E in Computer Science - VTU
IT work experience : 7 years.
IT main stream : Mainframes
Present status : Un Employed , looking for Job , also thinking of Executive MBA.
Reason for Un-Employment : I needed to join my husband who is working in Kuwait, so I had to quit my job in India . I am looking for job in Kuwait but there is hardly any opportunity here in mainframes and I am not interested in Non-IT jobs.
My Requirement : I need to learn new things and build competencies to be able to get recognition in present industry.
Even after having 7 full years of experience I feel I am not connected to the present industry.
My Aspiration : To join my IT industry back with decent role and salary .
My question : I am thinking of taking up executive MBA via Distance / online MBA course . Will online MBA add progress to my career ? Is this the right option ? If yes which B school should I join ? If online MBA is not a good option then what should I do to kick start my career all over again . Please advice .
Thank You
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Re: Free Career Counselling Online | Indian candidates
Post by mbadropout » September 20th, 2014, 8:28 pm
It is ironic to state this on an MBA-focused forum/site, but it is important to realize that an MBA is not a surefire ticket to professional success across domains and functions. If your intent is to "…learn new things and build competencies to be able to get recognition in present industry…," I don't think an MBA would necessarily be the right option.
Given your intent, and working off the information you have provided, wouldn't a masters in your area of interest (something to do with mainframes) be more relevant? An MBA would provide you with a smattering of management-type subject areas and topics, of which you would have the option of specializing/concentrating in one or two. If you want to build your technical skills and competency in a specific area, a masters degree (MS, etc.) might be more relevant.
Another point to ponder on - in general, the utility of an online MBA is much less than that of other classroom-based variants. If you are absolutely convinced that an MBA is the right thing to do, and if you have the option of enrolling for one of the classroom-based variants (evening, full-time, etc.), you should avoid the online option.
-Amit
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Re: Free Career Counselling Online | Indian candidates
Post by mbadropout » September 20th, 2014, 10:22 pm
Thanks for your 5 detailed posts.
From your posts, I understand that you would like to get into some sort of a product management job/role, which, if not immediately, will at some point in time also give you the option of branching out and starting your own venture. From what you have stated, pursuing any (classroom-based) course of study is also not an option.
First, product management is a huge umbrella - everything in the life of a any product from concept to retirement/phaseout falls under it. If your focus is towards a specific product or type of product (for instance, a special bluetooth transceiver, or a specific offering within big data analytics, etc.), then your problem becomes a little easier to solve for. What I am missing in your profile is that focus.
Second, product management is after all "management." If you have skipped and hopped across lots of domains/companies/functions, unless you can show a recurring theme or focus through all those hops and skips, it might be difficult for you to land yourself such a role with a reputed organization. Had you not had on constraint on further studies, I would have suggested that a relevant course of study (MS, MBA, etc. possibly with focus on product life cycle, etc.) would arm you with the right skills.
In summary, instead of jumping right ahead into the next venture or job, given that you have skipped and hopped across quite a few things, my advice would be for you to spend some time answering some basic questions:
What do you really like doing? In other words, what is or could be your focus? What interests you the most? Instead of coming up with broad things like "product management," it might be worthwhile to spend some time drilling down further. Just to give you an example, a possible answer to that question could be "reporting solutions for handheld devices within the big data analytics space."
The next question to think about is where do you see yourself 2 years from now? How about 5 years from today? A possible answer could be "product manager in 2 years, and establish my own company in 5." Once you set those milestones, it is easier to work backwards.
Let us know your responses to the above questions, after which we can discuss further.
-Amit
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Re: Free Career Counselling Online | Indian candidates
Post by mbadropout » September 20th, 2014, 11:25 pm
Since you want to execute a career change - from IT to Marketing within Automobiles - an MBA would make it easier, and this is probably the right time to be thinking seriously about it. Here are reasons why:
1. When you execute a career change, in most cases your prior work experience would turn out to be non-relevant. Post your MBA, you would probably start at a rung or two lower than where you were prior. Therefore, earlier you take the jump, the better.
2. Top MBA programs in India have a lower avg. age at entry than US/EU schools. ~3 years puts you at the sweet spot.
A few other thoughts:
1. Given financial constraints, it might be a good idea to not opt for the US-MBA route.
2. After you do your MBA from India (I am assuming from a top school), you will have many more options to pursue your dream career than you would outside of India (US specifically). The US job market is tough, and the outlook is even worse for the (US) automobile industry.
3. It is good to be focused, but it is also important to have a backup plan. If you already haven't, my advice is think about an alternative option if Marketing-Automobiles does not materialize.
Sorry about the loss of your father. We are happy to assist in any way we can.
-Amit
Re: Free Career Counselling Online | Indian candidates
Post by nilesh747 » September 21st, 2014, 11:42 am
My problem is as follows:
I am a bsc chemistry graduate and MBA Marketing and Systems post grad 2003 passout.
I have been switching jobs here and there due to inconvenience in high pressure sales jobs.The most i have worked for any company is in an inhouse marketing position in an equity advisory company.
I am showing 4 years experience on paper in this company. I want to switch permanently to non sales jobs.
Can you please advise me of any such courses where i can still climb the ladder and be successful in non sales profile. How about working as a analyst? Is it fine to change the domain at this juncture when I am 34.
Kindly let me know how about whether I can work as a Business Analyst or Market Research Analyst?
Kindly let me know if you can help me.
Thanks and Regards,
Nilesh
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Re: Mid life career crisis
Post by gauravparmarr » September 21st, 2014, 6:41 pm
1. What do you really like doing? In other words, what is or could be your focus? What interests you the most?
I really like coming up/designing/architecting products in new emerging opportunities (like unstructured/inefficient/unorganized/offline unsexy sector (specifically Indian consumer/B2B sector) where technology can be used to make these sectors streamlined , and opportunities in psychology, behavioral economics, innovation/research etc. areas ). I mean, I like how to solve issues/problem (opportunity) of a particular sector (specially where opportunity is big/scalable), starting from the beginning. You can say, I like coming up with solution/product for a particular sector problem/opportunity. That's why, I mentioned India specific companies, where the product is not matured (generally they are going after unsolved Indian problems) and I can put all my learning to design the product from the ground up/beginning. I'm ready for/looking for complete ownership of the early days of product life cycle (which sector to go after, which niche/customer segment to target first, how to validate for product/solution opportunity/demand in the market, if the early version of product is ready then how to branch out/move to similar/adjacent sector etc., how to position/differentiate the product in the market, how to go after initial set of customers/strategic tie-up, any network where the product can piggyback etc).
I don't like telecom sector (even though, I've worked for bluetooth and 3g wireless). Also, telecom sector (r&d/technology) has not very good potential as a business perspective in India. It's dominated my USA, Chines, Korean, Japanese and European companies.
2. The next question to think about is where do you see yourself 2 years from now? How about 5 years from today? A possible answer could be "product manager in 2 years, and establish my own company in 5."
Right now, I'm 30 year old, I wanted to get retired by this time (complete financial freedom, I wanted to exit a small start-up in content, publishing, psychology, behavioral economics, innovation/research sector (the product I was designing was falling in these sectors,part of the product was falling in each sector, as I mentioned above I've also interest in these sectors also, as I can design a scalable product in this field)), but due to family politics (land distribution and all with cousin), I simply lost 2 years of precious time of my life and I was not able to achieve this target.
I was thinking, once I'll get some small exit I will work on some big opportunity in the above mentioned sector (unstructured/inefficient/unorganized/offline unsexy sector (specifically Indian B2B sector) where technology can be used to make these sectors streamlined,), and I will work most of my life solving problems in these sectors.
But as I'm not able to achieve my financial freedom target. Now, I'm looking for some role in Product management in (unstructured/inefficient/unorganized/offline unsexy sector like B2B retail, consumer e-commerce, consumer/B2B transportation, agriculture, supply chain(I mean in Indian B2B/consumer sector), where technology can be used to make these sectors streamlined), as product management comes natural to me and parallely/part-time (after office hour) I can also work on my venture and once my family situation will get stabilized (it'll take at least 2 years), once again I'll commit to my venture full time (I want to remain an entrepreneur all of my life, at least this is my thinking right now, once I might get some exit in future the thinking might change). Companies like Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal, Olacab, Taxiforsure, Powe2SME, MettleJunction and other companies which are solving Indian related problems falls into this unstructured/inefficient/unorganized bucket.
All this unstructured/inefficient/unorganized/offline unsexy sector where technology can be used to make these sectors streamlined falls into platform/marketplace opportunity (kindly refer platformed.info).
And psychology, behavioral economics, content, publishing innovation/research sector falls into habit forming products sector
(kindly refer http://www.nirandfar.com).
So, you can say I like platform/marketplace related (platformed.info) and habit formimg products (http://www.nirandfar.com) related opportunity.
Generally USA companies like Facebook, Twitter, Quora, Forsquare falls into habit/psychology/behavioral/content/publishing sector, but generally they don't have product management role/position in India. Also, Google and Yahoo India have some product management role in this sector.
So, you can say I'm looking for 2 years opportunity for product management in the above mentioned two categories (marketplace/platform and habit forming/psychology/behavioral economics/content/publishing), after then committing to my venture full time. Also, during product management role working on my venture part-time (after office hour only).
Also, you didn't answer one of my concern, how blogging in these two sectors can help me in achieving my goal as a product management role in these two sectors (I think blogging can help me in broadcasting my intent/skill to the right people/companies).
Also, do you think without MBA degree, I can make a career in Product management, if yes then how .
My academic + professional exp. is as follows.
B.Sc. Physics hons. + MCA + 1.6 year in Aricent in 3g Wireless +
2.4 year in samsung (1 project in sqalite database design : 4 month duration, then 2 year in smartphone/tablet division worked on Bluetooth and NFC project) + 11 month exp. in my start-up in B2B retail sector.
But, I'm not interested in a product management role in wireless/networking (3g wireless, bluetooth, nfc) sector. If not able to successful in a product management role in desired categories , then can go for technical role in wireless/mobile/networking domain.
Also, if I don't get a product management role right now , then do you think this 11 month start-up experience will create any problem for me in getting a software development role again. I'm thinking, I can get some technical role right now and then (in side) try for product management role.
Kindly, chart out a career path (short and long term) for me from the above given info. If you want some more info, kindly ask for it.
Regards,
Kumar Gaurav
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Re: Mid life career crisis
Post by gauravparmarr » September 21st, 2014, 6:48 pm
N.B. The above para was not clear in the post above this, that's why posted it again with modification.
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Re: Free Career Counselling Online | Indian candidates
Post by mbadropout » September 21st, 2014, 7:18 pm
To answer your last questions first, very few things would result in an automatic ding, and working part-time isn’t one of them. A 700+ GMAT is a good to have, but if I were you, given the schools you are aiming for, I would think of it as simply being a checkbox that the admissions committee would need to check off. Your entire profile is what matters, and what’s most important is how well you are able to weave a cohesive and smoothly-flowing story around it.
I may be stating things you already know, but here are some thoughts:
1. Might not be reality, but to most people (recruiters mostly), a CFA is not as rigorous as a full-time MBA from a top school. It is also not as “rounded.”
2. Back in the heydays, hedge funds used to recruit in large numbers from top finance-focused bschools. To these recruiters, a CFA would be akin to icing on the cake, the cake itself always being the MBA.
3. There are far more CFAs in the world than there are MBAs from top finance-focused schools. Applying the basic principle of supply and demand, the answer is obvious.
Now back to your situation, when you apply to bschools, a CFA might help you gain a slight edge over other applicants. To some extent, it might help you eclipse obvious concerns (3 jobs in 3 years, part-time job, etc.).
The two basic reasons for doing an MBA would be to give your career a boost, or to switch from one career path to another. From the information you have provided, you have already made the switch - you are already working in investment management. The question to ask is does it make sense to do an MBA just because a top school would provide you with a forum to interact with Hedge Fund recruiters? Or, given that you have studied and lived in the US, would it be easier for you to just reach out to your earlier contacts, reactivate your networks, and go from there?
If I were you, given that you’ve already executed a career change, I would think hard about why and how an MBA would be useful. Creating and reactivating old networks and talking to the right contacts might land yourself a nice and meaty role within Investment Management. In the process you might be able to save yourself 2 years and $100k+. Food for thought.
-Amit