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• Sushil Jhangiani
  IIMA, PGP, 1991. Coach, Sushil Jhangiani Executive Coaching and Leadership Development

I would strongly reccomend work experience before an MBA because it just changes completely the value you get from what you learn. I went into my MBA without work experience, and a lot of the stuff we learnt went over my head. I can now see that had I had even a couple of years of work experience, my read world experiences would have allowed me to take in so much more, and make the whole learing so much richer and better (and given how much an MBA costs today, definitely more value for money!) So I would strongly reccomend working for 1 2-2 years before your MBA

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• Saurabh Chopra
  IIML, PGP, 2004. Director Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives, Central Square Foundation

Work experience before MBA will definitely help during the program. The concept taught during the program will be easier to understand if backed by some real-world experience. That is also the reason why many international business schools only admit candidates with work experience.

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• Sameera Anand
  IIMA, PGP, 1991. Senior Director, Charles Monat

Students who join an MBA program with work experience have a better idea of why they are doing an MBA and what direction they will go in after graduation. Some organisations will only consider students with work experience for job placements. If you are considering an MBA overseas many colleges will not entertain applicants without work experience.

• Ambi Parameswaran
  IIMC, PGP, 1979. Former CEO/ Independent Director / Coach / Author/ Professor of Marketing FCB Ulka Advertising; Brand Coach / Independent Director on Corporate Boards; CEO Coach; Author; Adjunct Prof of Marketing SPJIMR Mumbai, FCB Ulka Advertising

As someone who went to do his MBA straight after BTech, I feel i would have benefited a lot more if I had done my MBA after working for at least three years. I teach at a leading B School and I find that students in my class who have a few years workex tend to be a lot more serious about learning. They also bring a lot more to class in terms of knowledge. The challenge is that after you work for two or three years you will find it difficult to crack the CAT exam. But with sufficient preparation you can still do it. There is also the PGP-ex, or executive MBA program which is easier to get into and is of a 12-18 month duration.