IIML: Improving Career Growth

I had been working in the HR department of an IT company for 6 years, when I had the realization that I needed some career growth. I did not want to spend two years doing an MBA, so when I saw an advertisement online about the IPMX program at IIM Lucknow, I knew that was the right choice for me. I wrote GMAT, and then submitted an online application form with a fee of INR 1000. It felt exciting, writing an exam after all those years. I was elated to know I was shortlisted for the Writing Ability Test and Personal Interview, after giving which I was finally selected.

The one year at IIML's Noida campus was packed with classes and other academic activities. We covered nearly all the subjects that are helpful in the field of business, including Marketing, Operations, IT, Finance, HR, and Legal Aspects of Management. There were plenty of elective options that we could choose for our Course of Independent Study, and we were encouraged by the faculty to play to our interests. The International Immersion in Europe was definitely the highlight of the year as, not only did we get to travel abroad with peers, we also got to learn things from a global perspective.

75 companies visited our college as recruiters, with offers matching our career expectations. This program trained us so well that we could pass the recruitment interviews easily. The average package offered was INR 18,82,000 LPA. Most of my batchmates got higher positions in their preferred industries and some like me chose to shift industries. I got a good offer of 20 LPA in consulting, and I am working there to this day.

First I had to pay INR 30,000 as a deposit, along with part of the tuition fees INR 2,50,000. After that, I paid INR 5,25,000 every two months, resulting in a grand total of INR 23,50,000 for the whole program. This included not just tuition, but also the course material, accommodation, food, internet services, library fees, career counselling, travel, visa, stay overseas and pretty much everything. I had a good amount saved up from my previous job, so I could manage it well enough.

Although Noida is a secondary campus to the Lucknow one, it had state of the art facilities. A great academic environment was provided to us, and we never found anything lacking. Since it was a rigorous one-year program, there was not much time for campus activities as such. Still, we had various conferences and seminars held, with top industry professionals as the chief guests.

All of us got on-campus accommodation as part of the program. The hostel rooms were fully furnished and air conditioned. Water, electricity, internet and other service charges were included in the total fees, and it made for a comfortable stay in Noida.