Make your life easier at Cranfield

I have written a lot about successful job hunt and how to adjust to the cultural differences whilst your stay at Cranfield.

Let me give you some tips as to how can you make your personal life easier. These are all based upon my personal experience and feel free to ignore them:

1. You would always have a number of pending tasks. Learn prioritising. Do not follow others. Remember not everyone is here just for the career sake. Everybody has different objectives for doing an MBA. Some want a break from the hectic corporate life, some want to learn to the maximum and are not eager about taking up a job and others might be company sponsored. So you have to decide what you want to get out of this year. Focus your efforts and energies towards your goal.
2. MBA is more about networking rather than academics. Do not be a bookworm and spend time sitting in library. Attend socials, make friends and explore yourself. You would forget your MBA learning over a period of 2-4 years. Your network and your friends are going to stay with you forever.
3. Whatever budget you have finalised for your MBA, please add at least a 1000 pounds. It would take care of your social gatherings, parties, outings and numerous tips to London that one requires to make for attending interviews.
4. Many of us use pay-as-you-go connections for our mobile phones. This is similar to what we call Pre-paid in India. Some of my colleagues took contracts and I found that contract phone turns out to be a cheaper option if you want to buy a handset as well. Moreover, for MBAs with families, I would definitely recommend post-paid connections.
5. Use internet based calling services for making overseas calls. Some of the best options are VOIP-Cheap, Skype and Yahoo.
6. Do buy a formal suit for yourself from the UK. Though there are good options available in India but the style is bit different and I would recommend that you buy a new suit from local shops here. It should not cost more than 200 pounds. And please no such colours- brown, white, green etc. for your interviews. Strictly black/ blue/ grey.
7. Get engaged with all what you like- sports, extra curricular activities and if you feel something is missing at Cranfield, take an initiative and start your own club/ society. You would get support from all corners.

This is your year, it’s your MBA. You would reap as much as you would sow and whatever you would sow. All the best.

The ‘Culture Gap’

Well all my dear ones who are coming to the UK from India please be aware of the culture differences between the 2 countries. This is more important for those who are coming here for the first time.

1. Do not plainly believe the spoken words

Well this was the problem I faced in the beginning. Everybody will praise you on your face and might not tell you what they actually mean. You have to read between the lines and try to comprehend what other person actually wants to say.

2. Keep your tone soft and polite.

3. Dont try to be casual, in fact be formal most of the times. Express sorry and thank you as often as possible.

4. Adhere to deadlines and be punctual- you cannot afford to be a minute late.

5. Do not point fingers while talking to other people. Use your hands and other types of body language to better express yourself but do not point fingers to the second person.

6. Arguing with faculty or other senior people is not considered to be disrespectful. You are free to share your opinions. Many of us get shocked the way lectures are conducted here. You are expected to put forward your own opinion and even disagree (where you think you are right) with lecturers. It is taken on a positive note.

7. A casual hug, peck on the cheek, or an arm thrown around a shoulder may not seem out of place in the West. So please do not get offended by these casual acts of touch and neither take it as if other person is attracted towards you.

8. Take an appointment before you plan to visit someone. You are not expected to walk-in straight into someone’s office without an appointment, even if it’s just for a casual talk. Though you may do it in case of urgency but you have to make sure that it is really urgent.

9. Respect rules and regulations.

10. Do not expect someone to work on weekends. Weekends are usually sacred and I would suggest you not to contact any recruiter on Friday. Best days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and the best time is morning 9 a.m. when the person is fresh and has just begun his/ her work.

11. Last but not the least. When you approach someone for any sort of help- even at Cranfield campus, go with zero expectations. You have paid high fees and yes you are eligible to get Cranfield services; but remember you are eligible to services and you have not hired people. If you have zero expectations I am sure your approach would be right and polite. You would also enjoy what you get in return. On the other hand if you approach with high expectations, you will be miserably disappointed.

Remember friends, it’s your hard work that matters. You would have a lot of assistance and support but the most important aspect is how much of effort have you made. How much of resilience have you showed? And whether your efforts have been in the right direction?