siliconindia | | AUGUST 20269Career Goals Have Become More GlobalGlobalization of careers is among the main driving forces behind corporate professionals' shift to the GMAT. Today, Indian professionals are employed in MNCs, consulting firms, technology firms, financial institutions and startups with foreign operations. They may have aspirations other than becoming a domestic leader. Professionals have often wanted to attend management education in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore, France, Germany and Australia. Others want to attend one year MBA programs that are international and have students from various work experiences. The GMAT is a universally accepted admission test for business schools around the world. There are thousands of MBA, MiM, Finance, Business Analytics and Executive MBA programs that accept GMAT scores. This is much more flexible than CAT, which, for the most part, is used to gain entry to Indian institutions. Corporates tend to have an advantage in the sense that they like to have several alternatives still available. Rather than solely focus on preparation for Indian MBA entrance exams, they wish to have an exam that can be utilized for both Indian as well as global admissions. The GMAT is an ideal fit for this need, as it offers a single standardized score to be accepted by many countries and institutions. If you are not sure what kind of career you want to pursue, you may want to take the GMAT as an investment to prepare for a profession, instead of taking just one exam. Flexibility Fits the Lifestyle of Working ProfessionalsPreparing for a competitive entrance examination while managing a demanding corporate job is challenging. Most professionals work for 8 to 10 hours each day, then commute, attend meetings, see clients, etc., which leaves them little time left for their personal lives. The GMAT is offered year-round, whereas the CAT is offered only once a year. A candidate may opt for a test date that suits him/her according to his/her preparedness rather than wait for a year-long examination period. This flexibility brings about a substantial decrease of stress. Experts can take the exam as their schedule allows, and can reschedule or retake the exam following additional training without losing a full academic year. This flexibility is one of the best benefits of taking the GMAT, especially for those juggling promotions, project deadlines, travel plans, and family responsibilities. Many professionals like to have freedom on when to test rather than being scheduled a year at a time.The Exam Structure Aligns Better with Business SkillsThe latest version of the GMAT was redesigned to emphasize skills that modern business schools consider essential, including analytical reasoning, critical thinking, quantitative analysis, and data interpretation. The exam was also shortened and the Analytical Writing Assessment and Sentence Correction were eliminated from the exam. In addition, the exam added a dedicated Data Insights section. These skills are more relevant to the work functions of corporate professionals. In a lot of industries, staff members routinely evaluate dashboards, understand reports, assess business strategies, resolve problems, and make data-driven decisions. These activities are similar to reasoning questions that are tested on the GMAT. As well as measuring aptitude at a high level, CAT is also seen as measuring practical analytical thinking, whereas many professionals are concerned with the timing of the GMAT under extreme time pressure. This consistency in the responsibilities found in the workplace with what is tested on the GMAT exam helps seasoned candidates feel that GMAT preparation is relevant to them.Score Validity Encourages Long-Term PlanningAnother important factor influencing professionals is the long validity period of GMAT scores.Unlike CAT, which requires candidates to appear every year if they wish to apply again, GMAT scores remain valid for five years.This extended validity provides tremendous flexibility.A professional can take the exam while working, continue gaining industry experience, receive promotions, and decide later whether to apply for an MBA.Scan the QR code to read the full Article
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