Q:I completed my B.Com. with 51 per cent marks in 2002. I will appear for the management entrance tests this year. But I do not have any work experience and can afford only Rs. one lakh for an MBA course. Which institutes select candidates only through written tests, GDs and interviews? (GODABARI)
Admission to all the MBA programmes are solely based on the written test whether CAT, MAT or XAT and also on the GD and interview. So, do your best in the entrance test. However, after B.Com., you have a wide range of options. If you are good at Maths and want to go into the finance field, explore banking and financial services, where you could work with nonbanking financial companies, or in stocks and securities. The State Bank and other nationalised banks recruit probationary officers through the SBI Central Recruitment Board and the Banking Service Recruitment Boards for which you have to clear a written test and interview.

You may also look at doing courses, such as the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or CWA (Cost and Works Accountant), which would enable you to work with banks or in the financial department of companies, or the Company Secretary course, which is also well recognised. You could also look at a PG Diploma in Business Management offered by many institutes where you can specialise in any area of management finance, marketing, international business and so on. Many institutes admin ister their own entrance tests and also offer good placements.

Also, try for any job, even if the salary offered is not good. It will give you work experience and alongside you could take up a part-time or distance learning MBA course.