In little over a month's time, nearly three lakh students will take the Common Admission Test (CAT) that determines admission to top-notch B-schools, including the coveted Indian Institutes of Management.

While the actual preparation may have begun months or even a few years ahead, the last one month could be vital for candidates, point out trainers.

This year's CAT will be held on November 16. By now, candidates should have finished a fair amount of their preparation. It is a good time to revisit concepts learnt earlier, for familiarity is vital, points out S. Balasubramanian, director, Triumphant Institute of Management Education (T.I.M.E), which trains students for competitive examinations.

"Students would have worked out their fundamental problems and written several mock tests by this time. But it is important to revisit the concepts learnt initially to refresh one's memory.

Students could revise the tricks and techniques to tackle the reasoning and quantitative ability sections," he says.

Candidates should also be careful not to get too worked up about scores in tests, say trainers.

"They should make an objective, dispassionate judgement about their performance and stay cool. They should not be worried at this point. Ultimately, what matters is staying cool while taking the actual test," adds Mr. Balasubramanian.
Strategy

Prioritisation and selection of questions in the test also plays an important role in the candidate's performance, according to S. Faiz Ahmad, general manager (south and east), IMS Learning Resources, another coaching institute.

"With the basic preparation having been completed by now, students need to work out a strategy that best suits them and tackle the question paper accordingly," he adds.

Believe it or not, the art of listening is your passport to success. It may seem difficult to learn, but once learnt, it pays dividends. It is a panacea for almost all human problems. If you really listen to what the other person has to say, you virtually make him feel important. And this is what every human being yearns for!

People feel elevated as you listen to them when they tell how handsome, how smart, how honest, and how intelligent they are.

When you listen to a person's ideas and opinions, you let him feel that he is wanted. Psychologically he feels secure. No one wants to be a non-entity. Even the lowliest of the peon wants to be treated as something useful. True, everyone wants to be treated as somebody.

Listening skill wins you a friend for ever. It lubricates the machinery of all social relationships in general.

The officer who listens to what his employees say becomes the most popular. Most of his problems are amicably solved. The employees who are allowed to give their advice on matters of importance develop their individual identity. And such employees prove much more productive and constructive.

People have certain perceptions about effective and impressive Group Discussions. Given below are some hypothetical situations.

Situation 1
The discussion has picked up momentum. Everybody is contributing and putting forward their points. One member, comparatively timid in nature, has been trying to get a word in, but has not been successful so far. He starts speaking, but his voice gets drowned. Can you do something? Without sounding patronising, bring him forward and invite him to share his point of view. Use encouraging language to help him open up, but be genuine about it. You have just shown that you value the team.

Situation 2
The discussion has just started. You make, what you think is a "fundu" point. It goes unacknowledged and ignored. Don't sulk and hold on to your "fundu" point. It will block your mind and prevent you from registering what others say. Participants in this situation, end up waiting for opportunities to raise the same point again and again. In the process, they are unable to come up with any new idea. There may be merit in trying to repeat the point once, but flogging the same horse again and again is not going to take you anywhere. Learn to let go.

Situation 3
The topic is to your liking and you feel you have a lot to say. But your point of view is very effectively rebutted by another participant. This irks you no end. Instead of progressing with the discussion, you start looking for an opportunity to do the same to that participant. You will lose focus and direct your energies in trying to negate or counter his or her argument. In the process, the negative vibes will be obvious to all around you, including the recruiter.

Situation 4
You are an aggressive person by nature. In most gatherings, you have the ability of getting a significant share of voice and putting across your point of view. The group discussion is no different. You are speaking a lot and dominating the discussion. But are you being heard?
Aggression makes other participants feel threatened, so they block you off. Even valid contributions from you don't get acknowledged. The others just wait for you to finish and then carry on their discussion. Further, the desire to dominate and speak a lot, will prevent you from thinking in new directions and bringing up new thoughts. Let the strength of your thought make a mark.

Situation 5
You are in the same GD as another acquaintance or batchmate you dislike or have had a tiff with on an earlier occasion. In fact, a majority of you in the group dislike or have a bias against the person. The discussion starts, but what most, if not all of you, end up doing is, showing your dislike about the person. Without realising, you start passing caustic and sarcastic remarks aimed at him. The person conducting the GD can see through the picture and gauge what's happening. In general, sympathies always flow to the under- dog. So such behaviour is certain to do you more harm than good.

Broadly, a résumé is the summary of your education, skills, accomplishments and experience. It is the first impression and a ticket to an interview that can help you secure a job. If you wish to be amongst those shortlisted, your résumé should stand out and compete successfully with the others. During the interview, the only source of information the employer has about you is your résumé . Many of the questions posed to you will be based upon this document. Be sure to know what you have put before the employer.

The layout

Your résumé should be organised into three major sections: experience, education, professional affiliations and awards. List your objectives. Everything in your résumé should support and expand upon your objectives.

Format

There is no standard format for an ideal résumé and the pattern of an appropriate résumé can vary from situation to situation. Do a spot analysis of the job profile you are applying for and then decide the contents of the résumé . Include all appropriate information relevant to the job highlighting your abilities and skill set are complementary to the needs of the job.

Use a computer to write your résumé and take printouts on good quality white or cream paper. Sometimes companies may specify that they want a hand written covering letter, but the résumé should always be typed.

Remember, quality of presentation should never be ignored. It is important to keep things concise. For it, intelligent formatting is required. Keep the following important points in mind that identify the basic structure of a résumé.

All in a line: MBA class in progress

Too much focus on objective type exams has led to a decline in communication skills.

It came as a much-needed shock to the system. Two months ago, IIT Madras director M.S. Ananth raised an issue that everyone in the academic fraternity agrees with, but no one quite wants to speak about openly. Questioning the relevance of the IIT entrance examination, he said the present system fails to attract the best talent, those with raw intelligence. This, he stressed, was because a large number of students took the help of coaching institutes to crack the exams and did not possess the genuine skills required for the IITs.

While Ananth's observation was based on the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for the IITs, it applies equally to the Combined Admission Test (CAT) and other tests conducted for entry into India's premier management institutes.

Here too, experts and management gurus have started expressing reservations about the methods used/skills tested by these examinations.

There's obviously a lot at stake. Over the years, the CAT has emerged as one of the country's most
intensely contested battlefields. Today, it serves as the entrance examination for not just the six IIMs, but a number of other big-ticket B-schools like the SP Jain Institute of Management, Mumbai; Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad; Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon; Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad (MICA); National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai, and so on.

 Matchstick Managers

While this has now begun to change in some B-schools, by and large Indian MBAs require another round of training once they join an organisation. So these exams, which should be based on social values and current affairs, merely become an academic exercise, distant from practical realities. Says Ananth: "Management education should come 10 years after one is employed. The exams should be held then to check the actual skills of students."

Obviously, the IIMs look at it differently. Says former IIM Ahmedabad director Bakul Dholakia: "There are no serious issues over credibility. The basic format of CAT and GMAT is similar...and it has been followed for the last 30 years. The challenge is to test the intellect of the candidate. So, while the attributes of the test will not change, the methods will." The IIMs feel there is no need to change the CAT format because there is a built-in element of surprise every year to keep in pace with the times.

Athreya, however, differs and feels B-schools should outsource parts of the examination to different agencies and just monitor the exercise to ensure the tests meet the objectives. This way, he feels, the schools would be spared from the logistics of the examination and can devote time to design them in a more relevant manner. To make the admissions process more relevant, some American schools are working on abandoning the GMAT--the examination for entrance to management schools there--and moving to a new system where application writing, attachment of credentials and recommendations from relevant people are considered to select the right people.

So, what should be the way forward for the CAT? Athreya feels the IIMs should include psychometric tests to test overall skills. MDI's Singh too feels that not just IQ but other elements like social and emotional quotient should figure in management entrance examinations. There is also the opinion that the case study method currently followed for the CAT can lead to effective problem-solving but does not groom leadership. To address this, global leaders like Wharton, Harvard and Kellogg are actively looking at outbound methods like theatre and public speaking as part of their selection process.

Of course, the IIMs are also looking at change--they are moving from a paper-based examination to an online mode, more in line with the system followed for GMAT. Says Dholakia: "We are projecting a situation where 3,00,000 people will take the examination." While the CAT has not attained global status yet, this could be the first step to align it with an international examination system. But a more drastic recipe is the need of the hour. An examination system that is, well, thoroughly re-examined to choose the right kind of people that go into India's top business schools. These are the very managers, after all, who will be tomorrow's entrepreneurs and will one day run India's corporate sector. We need to choose carefully.

The reason
Since most non-engineering undergraduate students decide to take the CAT exam in their final year, they have little time for regular coaching. It is here that mock tests can help them assess their preparation.

A genuine attempt at a timed, two-and-a-half hour mock test is the closest a student can get to understanding how he/she will fare in the CAT exam.

The method
More important than attempt ing the en tire test is the way you go about it. Adhere to the following:

• Evaluate the number of ques tions you can attempt at one go (two-and-a half hours).
  
• Refrain from checking an swers after attempting each question.
  
• Do not skip sections you `think' you are weak at.

In case you are still at sea, look at the solution and figure out what you did not understand. It is not about getting the correct answer, but using the correct method of approaching a question.

Time devotion
Though a mock test takes about two-and-half hours, the entire analysis, solvingresolving cycle could make this a six to seven-hour session. Therefore, decide on the number of mock tests you can attempt before CAT, considering the number of hours that are at hand.

However, 15 is always a good number to look at.

With November 16, 2008 marked in red, all you need to do is focus. Best of luck!

With CAT 2008 around the corner, what is important is utilising your daily and monthly study routine as effectively as possible.

Even the toughest exam is easy to crack if you are well prepared.

Expert speak
Says Ulhas Vairagkar, Head, T.I.M.E, an MBA coaching institute in Delhi, "We need to recognise that three types of students take the exam. These are those who are pursuing engineering, science courses and non-science courses." Since all three have a different college schedule and knowledge reservoir, their preparation timetable needs to differ accordingly.

Monthly matters
"A student's daily schedule from now on must be planned in a manner to help cover the entire preparation before November 16," says Vairagkar. In general, if one looks at the college system (except engineering), house exams only take place in January while final exams are planned for April-May .

Therefore, non-engineering students must focus all their attention on CAT right now, he advises.

However, missing college is not the answer, Vairagkar warns, unless commuting takes you more time than attending college.

Once that is sorted out, you need to plan for the next two months diligently Here is the key:

First month (September 17 - October 17): Ensure that you have a fairly strong grounding in all areas. This means that you do not have any obvious weaknesses or sections that you are willing to `skip'. You should not find yourself struggling with any section. Spend this month ensuring that there is no area left which you won't be able to tackle in the exam. Remem ber: obtaining marks is a combination of your competency as well as the difficulty of the exam.

Second month (October 18 to November 11): By now if you still feel uncomfortable with certain areas, forget them. Focus only on improving your strengths.

The most important bit is to do a thorough analysis of your mock papers. Ensure that you focus on testing the application of your knowledge as you will be tested on a similar level during the CAT.

However, a week before your CAT, stop all studies.

Student speak
Though Vairagkar summarises the plan effectively, some students still find it difficult to put things together. Says Aakash Aggrawal, a final year student of English Literature at Ramjas College, University of Delhi, "Just because you are studying humanities does not mean that things become easy .

We have four papers this year, with a lot of reference material to read, comprehend and analyse.

Also, with the new tutorial system in place, we find it really difficult to balance things. In my perspective, preparations must begin at least a year in advance if one seriously wishes to bell the CAT and avoid trauma."

Mental measure
Trauma, which Aggrawal talks about, does become a problem as CAT approaches. However, Dr.

Samir Parikh, Consultant Psychiatrist, Max Healthcare Hospital, has some quick and seasoned suggestions to offer. He says, "The number of hours that you put in have no meaning. What matters is how effectively you study He ad ." vises the following:

• Study in spurts and take multiple breaks.
  
• Do not study late into the night.
  
• Do not overwork yourself.
  
• Go out to relax.

Also, adds Parikh, "Do not study much during the last week and not at all on the last day Give your mind ample space."

Proper preparation will help you tackle the exam with ease and not stress you out.

DAILY DIARY
Engineering students: Since these students have the highest workload with classes generally stretching from 11 in the morning to 4.30 in the afternoon, they need to make sure that they get ample rest while they put in at least four hours of study every day.

Science students: An average day for them stretches from 9.30 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon.

However, with a few `free' classes come their way in a day, they need to put together at least five hours a day.

Non-Science students: Since their classes generally get over by 1 in the afternoon, there is ample scope for coaching and additional study. They can manage at least six hours a day and utilise whatever free time they get at college.

Enabling an in-depth analysis of languages, linguistics offers an interesting insight into the patterns of languages. Though the stream stands in need of more awareness on the scope and opportunities, the subject does stand tall today.

"The interest of students is very important to study linguistics. The stream enables us to take a look at the number of languages in the world, its families and dialects. We can understand the pattern of languages through linguistics," said Director of Puducherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture M. Soudarssane.

The institute offers part-time and full-time Ph.D in linguistics, which deals with branches including phonology, phonetics, morphology, semantics and syntax of languages and a six-month certificate programme in linguistics. "Linguistics has not emerged as a popular choice among students owing to its limited opportunities. However, there is no doubt that linguistics is an interesting subject as it enables a closer look at words, sounds and meanings. The subject analyses the place of articulation, manner of articulation, speech organs and phonology," he added.

The experts believe that sticking to the same company for more time, rather than aimlessly hopping jobs, can provide better learning and career momentum to young professionals.

Findings of a latest study by research and analytic firm Evalueserve reveal that the multiple career steps within the same company accelerate a professional's growth more than many horizontal moves across companies.

This is more than relevant in today's context when companies are cutting jobs in droves and it's the employees who are bearing the brunt of recession. Generally, its the bottom few who are shown the door, but there could be exceptions if the manager is biased and randomly gets rid of employees. The worst idea in this situation is to panic. Sparing a thought on this might help. Here's how:

DON'T FEEL HOPELESS
If it has been happening across the sector, you shouldn't take it as a stamp on your own performance. There would be scores of others like you who would be struggling and would have lost as a result of negative performance by companies in the same domain. So don't panic and be positive. That'll keep you going in difficult times.

INTROSPECTION HELPS
You need to know what brought you to this situation. Was your manager biased or were you missing on something. It's time to know yourself better. If you haven't paid attention, it's time you did. It will help you to chart out your future course of action. If it was job-skill mismatch, you will do well to move out of it. If it's something else, figure that out without any delay.

RE-SKILL YOURSELF
If you know your weaknesses, you can start improving on them. There are various ways to do that. You can take a course or seek help from others. It takes time to land up a job, make most of that time. Don't feel shy of criticism, act upon it. Upgrade your skills, read as much you can. Discuss with your colleagues and friends. It will help you identify available options.

SOCIAL QUOTIENT COUNTS
More than IQ and EQ, what helps in crunch situations is your networking skills. It will bail you out from the most difficult of situations if you have the right people at the right places. Use your people skills to the best of your advantage to pitch for you. It will get you your next best opportunity.

FOCUS ON EMPLOYABILITY
It's not the brand name that helps. Once you land up a job, remember constant evolution is what helps you keep your job. Companies may go bust, not your talents. One can always find takers for good skills.