Dr. Sanjay Mode, Senior Dean, Lovely Professional University, on best practices during the build up to a successful career and after

Recruiters are known to seek good management graduates for various positions. That explains the popularity of management programs in the last few decades.

The big question is whether an MBA degree or an equivalent academic program is a sure gate pass to a successful and bright career ahead? If you see across the sea of management graduates and postgraduates passing out from various Universities, the answer is an emphatic NO. Just getting a management degree is not enough; what matters is from where; what exposure you received to the industry and who mentored you.

Importance of good practices in school

The foundations of a promising career in management are laid very early during childhood. Admission to a reputed business school is just the beginning. The first steps are taken during teenage years when basic skills in management such as effective communication, analytical and managerial aptitude are honed. Time and people management skills too are shaped early on.

Admission to a good MBA institute helps. Business school with good placements capability helps too. But good placements are a result and not the cause of all the good that is associated with a superior institution. What makes a good business school is its high class faculty and robust and modern infrastructure. Besides, it is worth mentioning that the campus culture of the business school has a lot of bearing on the quality of talent enhancement. What’s also critical is a learning culture in the campus and exposure through conclaves, seminars and guest lectures.

Post MBA learning crucial

Once a student has graduated education does not end. Students have to remain in a learning mode – learning every day from daily experiences. It is equally essential to ensure that one does not lose touch with formal learning and keeps oneself updated with new developments. Participation in management programs, attending seminars/conclaves and enrolment to EDPs (Executive Development Programs) certainly give a management professional an edge.

Learning is a continuous process and the same applies to a manager. Make good use of time, exhibit an eagerness to learn new things and develop an appetite to improvise yourself. All this will ensure that you will be a front runner in any position – a junior executive or a CEO.