Career Advise needed - MBA or work?

[sammyboy]

Hi Guys, my sis has just completed her Comp engg and has a couple of offers from Satyam and Syntel.
Satyam - They want a 2lakh bank guarantee and even if the company decides to lay off the freshers after or during trg or anytime within 1 yr ( i think not sure) they will not refund this money . So its out.

Syntel - They are sending offer letters but then they have quite a few guys on bench so cant really be sure when they will send the letter and i guess this will depend on the market scenario.

THe thing that has added to this confusion is that she got a call from Apeejay School of Mgmt, Dwarka , New Delhi for the first batch of MBA - International Business.The school is just about ok but I know the teaching methodology is good and this is the first batch for this program so cant really comment on it.

Am really confused what she should do so I turn to you guys for help. She needs to submit the fee by monday latest so should she wait or join , considering the market scenario is a little dicey.

Please advise.

[jkdas]

Would suggest to get some job now and then MBA.

[sammyboy]

^^ jk i was hoping for that too but then syntel is looking a lil dicey n satyam is out and she didnt really take any other placement interviews so its either sit n wait or join the MBA and thats also open till monday only :(

[discobiscuit]

you learn more out of the MBA is you have already worked before, or have gone to management schools for your undergrad.

so i would suggest her to work or apply for masters in computer engineering or masters in other fields that she chooses to opt.

[sushanthr77]

What does your sis prefer? If she is inclined in continuing studies then go ahead with the MBA.

After working for a couple of years, most people I know, tend to hesitate to quit their jobs and end up opting for correspondence courses.

[sridharps]

Originally Posted by sammyboy

^^ jk i was hoping for that too but then syntel is looking a lil dicey n satyam is out and she didnt really take any other placement interviews so its either sit n wait or join the MBA and thats also open till monday only :(

I am an eng/mba, so this is a bit tricky, coming from me.
It makes sense to do an MBA in India only from the top 10-15 schools. B School learning is 60% from peer interaction and the quality of peers make all the difference. Hence my suggestion would be to take the job up or keep trying for a job.

[phamilyman]

Fully agree with sridhar.

I would suggest taking any job offer and instead trying to upgrade to better brand/work profiles later. Syntel is not high on the pecking order.

[deepaktpatil]

sammyboy,

I dont believe that Satyam wont refund money if they do a layoff in a year, I dont think a reputed company like Satyam would gulp money just like that without any fault of yours for a simple reason that its totally a unfair practice.

I would have recommended your sis doing an MBA if it would have got admitted in a established institution, as I am not sure of any placement that may happen after she completes her MBA.

More ever I am of the opinion that any MBA is good only if you have prior experience. Also now a days companies prefer candidates who have prior experience and it also helps the candidate to fully understand the subjects.

Looks like you are caught between devil and hard rock.

What I would strongly suggest is that you advise your sister to join either of the companies and at the same time she start preparing for CAT, this way she can get admitted into a decent school next year or continue with the job if things work out.

[maddy42]

Well syntel is a nice company for freshers as the exposure got is good but the prob we are facing is that there are many people on the bench. Well its all a matter of luck in syntel as i know many who have a very hectic schedule too.
Doing a mba from a ok college does not seem good for me as you spend two years and the money which freshers get after they passout is nothing great and will be almost similar to what people in a IT company would be earning at the same time.

[tsk1979]

Stay away from a company who asks for a bank Guarantee!
Explore syntel, if nothing works out, then MBA is the only option.

[condor]

My first choice, where possible, would be to work may be a year or two & head to B-School after that. Gives a very different perspective of what's being taught in the B-school.

In this case, if a good job offer is not coming around, she could head back to school and finish her studies in one shot.

[sammyboy]

Originally Posted by discobiscuit

you learn more out of the MBA is you have already worked before, or have gone to management schools for your undergrad.

so i would suggest her to work or apply for masters in computer engineering or masters in other fields that she chooses to opt.

True, i agree with you and even I was thinking of the same. The only issue is I am a lil worried about the market. Been thru the 2000-01 slump myself so I know how bad it can be.

Originally Posted by sushanthr77

What does your sis prefer? If she is inclined in continuing studies then go ahead with the MBA.

After working for a couple of years, most people I know, tend to hesitate to quit their jobs and end up opting for correspondence courses.

She is confused. U know how it is with most of us, just fresh out of college bearings are a lil lost. I agree to the mba part, 8 +yrs and I am still planning to do mine

Originally Posted by sridharps

I am an eng/mba, so this is a bit tricky, coming from me.
It makes sense to do an MBA in India only from the top 10-15 schools. B School learning is 60% from peer interaction and the quality of peers make all the difference. Hence my suggestion would be to take the job up or keep trying for a job.

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Fully agree with sridhar.

I would suggest taking any job offer and instead trying to upgrade to better brand/work profiles later. Syntel is not high on the pecking order.

hmm top B schools is the way to go no doubts. I guess Job it should be then.

Originally Posted by deepaktpatil

sammyboy,

I dont believe that Satyam wont refund money if they do a layoff in a year, I dont think a reputed company like Satyam would gulp money just like that without any fault of yours for a simple reason that its totally a unfair practice.

I would have recommended your sis doing an MBA if it would have got admitted in a established institution, as I am not sure of any placement that may happen after she completes her MBA.

More ever I am of the opinion that any MBA is good only if you have prior experience. Also now a days companies prefer candidates who have prior experience and it also helps the candidate to fully understand the subjects.

Looks like you are caught between devil and hard rock.

What I would strongly suggest is that you advise your sister to join either of the companies and at the same time she start preparing for CAT, this way she can get admitted into a decent school next year or continue with the job if things work out.

Deepak even i didnt believe it but i saw the letter and there was a prog on tv sometime back where some industry guys were discussing this thing by Satyam and no one had a good thing to say about it. I dont believe it but dont wanna take chances. In normal circumstances I wouldnt mind giing the money guarantee in case she cant make it, but been a trainer and associated with trg for about 5 yrs I know how tricky these things can be.

Appreciate all your responses guys. Guess it is pointing towards the job and prepare . The only thing is, what if syntel freezes recruitment. I know some companies are doing so. Then she is stuck without a job n no mba.

[deepaktpatil]

Originally Posted by sammyboy

The only thing is, what if syntel freezes recruitment. I know some companies are doing so. Then she is stuck without a job n no mba.

Things dont always come on a platter, if that happens then get her to Bangalore (I see bangy in your profile) and admit in one of the CAT institutions for MBA admission preparation, one year is not a big deal.

[Technocrat]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Stay away from a company who asks for a bank Guarantee!
Explore syntel, if nothing works out, then MBA is the only option.

My views Exactly.

Two Lakhs worth bank guarantee for what?? Rubbish I say.

[Samurai]

Generally it is the company that pays the employee. Any company that asks money from the employee is running some scam, no matter how big and reputed. So keep away from it.

Syntel option can be explored, but they are basically a body shopping company.

MBA right now is not a good idea. I am also BE+MBA, it is better to do MBA after few years.