Often the MBA aspirants get confused about the advantages and disadvantages of taking the CAT exam as a fresher and as an experienced professional. Writing CAT as a fresher or as a working professional both have their merits and demerits. Here is a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of the same.
Writing CAT as a Working professional
Merits:
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Work Experience
Many MBA colleges do a very high level of profiling. Typically, 2-3 years of Work experience is considered as the optimum. However, as the job experience is rarely a primary criterion for the first-round selection (exceptions like SP Jain, etc.), the kind of work experience becomes very important. An experience as an Analyst in the big four is considered far more superior to having an experience in an MRC.
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Post MBA Placements
As you already have corporate experience, it helps a great deal if a company recruiting for the same profile comes for placement. From the company’s point of view, they spend far less on a candidate’s training if they already have experience.
Demerits:
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Time-Management
One of the major drawbacks of giving the CAT Exam as a working professional is the lack of valuable time for studies. Students are generally very busy through the week to join coaching and are always swamped with company projects. This was one of the primary reasons that BYJU’S came up with the tablet mode of learning. You can do your CAT preparation by sitting at home whenever and wherever you want.
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Touch with Aptitude Exams
Many students claim that they would have scored greater in CAT had they been given the exam in class 10th. CAT, being an aptitude exam, depends a lot on the level of continuous preparation. As undergrad students have already prepared for Aptitude Tests for placements, they are in touch with most of the concepts.
Writing CAT as a Fresher
Merits:
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Aptitude Level
As mentioned earlier, the level of aptitude of a student undergoing graduation is higher than a working professional which is a major factor in CAT preparation.
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Placements
As the first round of every company is generally an aptitude test, preparing for CAT is beneficial for Under-Graduate placements also.
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Time
The last semester of a majority of colleges is light as compared to others. This enables a student to concentrate more hours on CAT preparation. At BYJU’S thousands of students are already preparing for CAT simultaneously with their degrees.
De-Merits
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Work-Experience
As mentioned earlier, there are MBA colleges that pay more attention to the profile of a candidate. Hence, it would be a slight disadvantage for a fresher.
Getting into the 95+ percentile score should be a student’s first priority. Given that, a job experience should always be the backup option after an MBA. Give it your best shot every time and get admission to any of the top B-Schools in the country.
