Expectation is something one has to manage well beyond a certain
age if life. Amongst so many possibilities in life , we choose one over the
other expecting to achieve something that we aspire to. It is not always that
we look back and are able to say we made the right choices. However, the key is
to be happy with the choices we make and one way of doing it is to manage
expectations well all through the process (before, during and after). The same
is true for the PGPX course (and such like) as well.
When someone goes for the PGPX course, career
aspirations/expectations are the prime drivers. One embarks on this (and such)
course to upgrade skills from a reputed institute that will bear well on their
professional career. One needs to bear in mind that the course in itself will
not lend an upgrade to one’s career. A candidate comes into this course with
reasonable experience ranging from upwards of 7 years to about 20 years. She/he
has already built skills/competencies industry areas/domains. The PGPX course might
help build on that early career successes and even that it will do over a
period of time. There might not be immediate results (exceptions can always be
found). Here, I am not talking about
titles/money alone.
For a PGPXer to establish in the industry through a role and
remuneration that befits his/her earlier experience coupled with the PGDBA will
take time. It depends not on the campus placements/outside placement that
happen upon graduation but on the performance of the candidate in the
assignment that she/he takes-up. Most PGPXers end up in the same industry as
they came from for the course. When they go back, their ability to bring fresh
ideas to the table, look at and solve problems differently and practically,
demonstrate better understanding and appreciation of the business dynamics will
all dictate how far PGPX will take them in life.
Expectation management becomes key here.
One starts with an expected role and remuneration post the
course. This may seem either to have been achieved during campus placements or
otherwise. However, soon reality will take over and introspection will start to
assess if the role was something not achievable without the PGPX course. This
then is the beginning of self-doubt and can lead to many other issues. Hence
the need to handle this carefully.
My take on expectation management from the PGPX course is:
1.
Expect to learn a lot about business management during
the course
2.
Do not expect a ‘dream role’ and/or ‘dream remuneration’
through campus placements
3.
Do not expect a ‘Dream role and/or ‘dream remuneration’
through outside placements immediately after the course
4.
Organizations will not take you in just because
of the IIMA PGPX tag. Big names do come for campus placements but the ‘role’
and ‘remuneration’ offered is a tricky thing to understand [will it hold
something for you in future is more important than the present]
5.
What you make of the IIMA experience is greatly
dependent upon how you can make it work for you and that takes time and effort.
So, be patient.
6.
Look for and embrace roles that will provide growth
opportunity not otherwise available without the PGPX course
7.
If ‘4’ is done well and you perform to your
potential, you should expect to see results in 3-4 years’ time after the
course.
8.
During the 3-4 year period, it is important to
constantly be aware and expect that performance alone will get you ahead and
not the IIMA brand/PGPX course/networking
9.
Expect to do well in life if you manage post
IIMA PGPX expectations well.
[
PS:
A. According to me, if
a PGPXer achieves something that could have been achieved without the course but
through sheer experience in that industry in a comparable timeframe, it cannot
be attributed to the PGPX course]
B.
All of this applies
even for an entrepreneurial venture post PGPX
C. This post is not a ‘GYAN’
post and is not a case of ‘SOUR GRAPES’ either. On the other hand, the
intention is to place things in perspective what I saw 100 other PGPXers experience when I did
the course
]
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