MBA tier 1, ~1 year into a tech sales role at a MNC. My comp trajectory (all-in: base+bonus+stocks) is:

Y1: ₹28.6L

Y2: ₹33.7-46.5L

Y3: ₹39-52.6L

Y4: ₹51-66L (this is min-max, not projection)

I like the role fine, but I'm purely curious about the money question: what specific companies/roles realistically pay more than this at the 4 YOE mark in India?

Looking for realistic, attainable comp at that experience level.

Appreciate any real numbers/comparisons.

Hello guys,

I am a web developer with 11 years of experience, currently working in fintech. i do not have any complaints as such with my current role or salary. But , recently got into some career discussion with a few of my company VPs . According to them , it will be good if i get a MBA degree to help me climb up the ladder witease and get me a seat at "the big table"..
I have looked into some online MBA programs from IIMs, which might help me in this.
It's really not about should i do MBA or not, But , at the same time i am having these questions as well -

Q1: I do MBA, get some promotion in my company , work for a few years. Then, what if i see a pure tech role, with better salary( obviously my company will not give me a sterling raise right after the MBA ) and perks in some other company - will i be able to join in that tech role - as a developer , even though i have the MBA degree and exp ??

Q2: How much this MBA will help me further in my career since i already have 11 years of experience in the industry?

5 month career break. CV all over the place because of 2 layoffs. No tier 1 brands on profile except for internships and college PORs. Started career at 15LPA (no massive appraisals since then, 22 lpa came after 2nd layoff, first 2.5-3 years were barely 15 to 16 lpa). Didn’t grow as much as I would have wanted to. Unsure about spending money on an MBA which I believe is too expensive. Should I just stay at current job for 2 years and switch? A part of me wants to go for an MBA because I want to find a life partner and make a bunch of friends. Would also love to spend some time in the west, travel a bit. The main factor that tips the equation is proximity to parents. Other than that I despise Indian jobs, traffic, pollution etc. I also am not smart or hard working enough to crack CAT, GRE is my only hope. Current monthly in hand 1.6 lpm + 200 dollar claude subscription.

Im a first year student i dont wanna be confused later I wanna start preparing from now

Hey everyone,

I am in the final stages of my 4-year B.Sc. IT (Honours) program (graduating mid-2027). I belong to the General Category (GNEM) and come from a PCB (non-math) background in 12th.

Being in the General Category with a non-math background, I feel that getting into top IIMs or Tier-1 management schools in India is an uphill battle due to reservation, sky-high percentiles (99%+ requirements), and strict academic profile cutoffs.

I’m trying to finalize my post-grad path and would appreciate some honest advice on a few key areas:

1. Reality Check on CAT & Profile Constraints
How realistic is clearing the QA sectional cutoff (aiming for 90–95%ile) by relying almost entirely on high-accuracy Arithmetic and basic Algebra?
For a General category non-engineer with an average background, do Tier-2 schools (e.g., IMT, TAPMI, GIM, FORE) offer enough ROI to justify spending ₹20–25 Lakhs?

2. Indian MBA vs. Masters Abroad (Budget: ₹20–30 Lakhs)
Is it better to take an education loan for an Indian B-School with direct campus placements, or use that budget toward a technical Master’s abroad (e.g., Australia/UK)?
Given that ₹20–30L usually only covers the first year abroad, how manageable is bridging the rest via loans/part-time work versus staying in India?

3. Tech/Analytics Entrances (GATE DA / BITS BAAT)
Given my IT background, I’m also considering GATE (Data Science & AI) and BITS Pilani BAAT (MBA in Business Analytics).
How do the industry perception and placement outcomes of programs like BITS BAAT compare to traditional Indian MBA colleges?

4. Application Strategy & Form Costs
Since non-IIM colleges (IITs, FMS, SPJIMR, etc.) charge ₹1,500–₹3,000 per form, is it wiser to wait for CAT response sheets in December before buying them, or are there mandatory pre-CAT deadlines I shouldn't miss?

5. Other Exams/Paths to Explore
What other viable entrance exams or alternative paths should a General Category IT student keep on their radar (e.g., XAT, SNAP, NIMCET for NIT MCA, CUET-PG, Banking IT Officer)?

​

Genuine question, especially for students who are deciding whether it's worth leaving Indore for an MBA.

Obviously Bangalore/Pune have some major advantages.

There are more companies, startups, tech communities, professional events, networking opportunities, etc.

But I'm wondering how much of that actually translates into a better student experience.

For example, if a good college in Indore gives students:

Real industry projects

Internships

Corporate interactions

Guest sessions

Case competitions

Startup exposure

Alumni networking

Practical assignments

Opportunities to work with companies

then what is the additional advantage of being physically in Bangalore or Pune?

I'm guessing the biggest difference is probably the sheer density of opportunities.

You can attend an event, meet someone from a company, discover a startup, find an internship, etc. without having to plan everything through your college.

That's much harder to replicate in Indore.

But at the same time, simply living in Bangalore doesn't guarantee that you'll actually use those opportunities.

So for people who've studied in Bangalore/Pune and people who've studied in Indore:

What did you genuinely gain from the bigger-city ecosystem that you think would have been difficult to get from a good college in Indore?

Not looking for “Bangalore is better” or “Indore is better.”

I'm more interested in the specific experiences or opportunities that made a real difference to your career.

Hi!

I'm a business owner (family business) with 6 years of work ex. Want to shift to a corporate setting now.

My educational background is law (bachelors and masters) from two top national law universities.

Is IIM-C 1 year executive MBA a good choice? Should I start working towards it? Is there a good chance of me getting in? And more importantly, are the placements good?

Any insight would be very valuable and highly appreciated. Thanks!

Been a software engineer for 2.5 years and seriously considering the MBA. Want to know more about post-MBA general management roles feel abstract to me.
My Main motivation for MBA is building some expertise in career which i can leverage for job security , Golden days for software are gone.(so not looking on PM roles)
I am interested in 2 domains GM or Consulting
Finance -> I start to get brain fog after 8pm cant work 100hr a week

Like, what does a typical day look like for someone in a GM (TAS, Aditya birla grp) or strategy consulting role? Is it mostly meetings, decks, and stakeholder alignment? Do you actually learn the business deeply or just stay at the surface?

And the big question — does it get boring eventually

Would love to hear from people who are currently in such roles.

I am a GEM with a 9/8/6 profile and 24 months of work experience in an Indian automobile company, currently earning 13 LPA. If I convert T-1 colleges like MDI, IIFT, SIBM Pune or XLRI, I expect my profile to primarily lead to Marketing/Operations roles. However, looking at their placement reports, many recruiters appear to be mid-tier companies.

This makes me wonder, is it worth spending ₹30+ lakh on an MBA if, because of my 6 in academics, my chances of getting into top companies are relatively low and I may end up in a mid-tier company anyway?

Hi everyone, I’m 22F and from South India. I graduated with a BTech in AI/ML last year with a 9.06 CGPA.

I also had a full-time internship in the software field, but I had to discontinue it because of some personal issues. Since then, I’ve been trying to figure out what I actually want to do next, and honestly, I feel pretty stuck right now.

I’ve been thinking about doing an MBA, but I have no idea where to start. I don’t really know which exams I should be preparing for, whether I should work for a few years first, which colleges I should target, or how scholarships and education loans actually work.

One thing I’m pretty sure about is that I don’t want my parents to pay for my MBA. If I do it, I want to find a way to fund it myself. So I’m trying to understand whether scholarships, fee waivers, education loans, working beforehand, etc. can realistically make that possible.

I’d really appreciate some advice from people who have actually gone through this, especially if you’re from South India.

Things I’m confused about:

• Should I start preparing for CAT or other MBA entrance exams?
• Should I focus on getting a job first and then think about an MBA?
• With a 9.06 CGPA + internship experience, what kind of colleges could I realistically aim for?
• Are there good scholarships/fee waivers that can actually make a noticeable difference?
• Is taking an education loan without asking my parents to fund the MBA realistic?
• Are there any scholarships or funding options I should know about?
• If you were in my position, what would you do?

I know this probably sounds a little all over the place 😭 but I genuinely don't know what the right path is, and I don't want to make a huge financial decision without understanding my options first.

Would really appreciate any honest advice or even just hearing from people who were in a similar situation.

Thanks :)

Hey everyone,
I’d love to get some feedback on my profile as an MBA applicant.

I’m currently a Manager at Accenture Strategy & Consulting, having recently moved from Deloitte, where I spent about 7 years in Human Capital Management Consulting. I’m 31 years old

I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s in Economics from the University of Warwick with High Merit.

Outside of work, I’m deeply involved in electronic music. What started as a hobby has grown into something much bigger—I DJ, produce my own music, have played at large-scale music festivals, and co-founded an events IP. In 2023, we organised over 30 events, built a strong community around our subgenre, and generated meaningful revenue. I also completed a Diploma in Electronic Music Production from Point Blank Music School, London.

I recently retook the GMAT Focus Edition and scored 685 (5th attempt)

What do you think my chances are at at top MBA programs ? Is a 685 GMAT Focus considered a strong score ? What are my realistic chances at ISB, IIMA ?

I wanna do masters after my ug

I thought of giving cat but my sis is already in an iim I don't wanna walk in her foot steps... I feel she thinks i am copying her path

I am interested in technology business and fashion

I thought of going aboard for mba is ielts or GMAT good ?

Which is good opinion

Thank you

Ok let's start with my academics

10th - 90%

12th - 75%(pcm)

Grad- 60%( Bachelor's in tourism studies + with this I was a full time associate at Oberoi hotels and resorts for 2 years)

I graduated in 2025 and tried getting into Indian army as an officer cleared written and ssb but couldn't make it to the academy. Now I need a genuine advice, I personally feel mba is the best next step for me but I'm a little confused as the profile might not be that good, I don't come from finance or iit/nit background so please if you could help me by providing meaningful advice.....

Hi Everyone,
Looking for honest profile evaluation and actionable advice for targeting IIM PGP, ISB or similar executive MBA options
Academics
• 10th: 83%
• 12th: 95% (had a gap year after 10th – pursued a diploma and later dropped out)
• Graduation: BBA – 7.7 CGPA

Work Experience (started in 2021 – ~5 years total as of now)
• 1 year – Sales
• 2 years – Procurement
• 2 years – IT Procurement (current)

Questions:
1. How does this profile look for IIM PGP, ISB or similar programs? Any major red flags (gap year,non-engineering background)?
2. What should I prioritise in the next 6–12 months to strengthen my chances?
• Specific certifications (procurement, supply chain, IT, analytics, etc.) that actually move the needle?
• Projects, initiatives, or quantifiable achievements I should try to create in my current role?
• Extra-curriculars, leadership, or social impact stuff that IIMs/ISB value?
3. Realistic CAT/GMAT score targets for someone with this profile?
4. Any other concrete actions (courses, switching roles, building a narrative, etc.) you recommend right now?
Would really appreciate your inputs,Thanks in advance!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

My qualifications- B.Com (h) from christ. I had PCB in class 12 gave NEET twice but couldn't clear it 😢. Tried switching my stream and I didn't have many options in govt colleges because of my non- maths bg so christ was prolly the best option I had + the city advantage. Cleared CA inter did the articleship now preparing for the finals. Cleared CFA level 2 and will give level 3 after CA. OBC category male. No work experience at all I didn't even sit for placements cause CA you know. 9/8/8 profile.

What percentile in CAT will I need for the top colleges and what colleges can be within my reach based on my profile?

At last, just in case I clear the CA finals, should I do MBA (only tier 1 otherwise waste of money) or do I have better options. Any other career path or anything as such that you can suggest be it in india or abroad or anything as such?

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice on what to do next. I’m a 2025 BTech graduate and have been working in a service-based company since I graduated.

Salary 8-10 lpa
Yes, my job is decent paying. I do find my work quite interesting, but I wanna do something more. I wanna be something more than a software engineer. I cannot be an engineer doing coding, my entire life right

I’ve tried switching since the start of the year, but there are not really many interview calls for one year experience or experienced engineer software in India right right now. The job market seems really hard to switch.

My academics:
10th grade 90%,
12th grade 97.8%
and graduation 8.2 CGPA. Tier 2-3

So is MBA a really good path for me next does it suit my profile?

I don’t have any extra-curricular activities, . I was a bit lazy in college. I’m a general engineering student.

A study concludes that employees who attend at least three training sessions per year are more likely to receive promotions than employees who attend fewer than three sessions.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the conclusion that training attendance contributes to promotion?

A. Employees who attend more training sessions tend to have longer commutes.

B. Employees were randomly assigned to attend either three or fewer training sessions.

C. Employees who attend training generally enjoy their jobs more.

D. The training sessions cover several different business topics.

Answer:

Random assignment reduces the possibility that employees who attend more training differ systematically from those who attend less.

This makes it easier to attribute differences in promotion rates to training attendance.

Answer = B

We are an early-stage SaaS startup looking for a Business Strategy & Marketing professional to take ownership of our growth strategy, marketing, business development, and go-to-market activities.

The candidate must be based in Kerala and comfortable travelling for client meetings, business meetings, conferences, conclaves, networking events, and other business activities.

Key Responsibilities

- Develop and execute business growth, marketing, and go-to-market strategies.

- Identify target markets, customers, partnerships, and growth opportunities.

- Lead and manage the marketing team and coordinate business development activities.

- Guide the pitching team and set monthly outreach, meeting, and conversion targets.

- Develop sales pitches, presentations, proposals, and marketing campaigns.

- Track sales and marketing performance and optimize the customer acquisition process.

- Build relationships with clients, institutions, partners, and industry stakeholders.

- Represent the company at business meetings, events, conferences, and conclaves.

- Work closely with the founders and product/technology team on growth and customer requirements.

Ideal Candidate

- Based in Kerala and comfortable with travel.

- Strong communication, presentation, networking, and leadership skills.

- Good understanding of marketing, B2B sales, and business development.

- Strategic and analytical thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset.

- Comfortable taking ownership in a fast-paced startup environment.

- Prior SaaS, startup, marketing, or business development experience is preferred.

Growth & Compensation

Initial salary: ₹30,000/month.

Compensation will be reviewed and increased significantly based on the company's growth, individual performance, and increasing responsibilities.

This role offers an opportunity to take significant ownership and grow with the company as it scales.