Preparing for GMAT with a full-time job is something most students wish to do. But balancing a hectic work schedule with an equally demanding GMAT prep is something very few students can do.
Hardik scored 740 on GMAT in his first attempt while working full-time in a hectic job. Similarly, William (GMAT 740) was also working full-time in a demanding investment banking job when he began preparing for the GMAT. They knew preparing for GMAT with a full-time job is going to be challenging. But it was consistency, determination, and the right mentorship that helped them ace the test.
If you are considering taking some time off from your full-time job to prepare for the GMAT, in this article, we will tell you the 5 simple things you must do to ensure that you prepare effectively.
Why should you not quit your job to prepare for the GMAT?
Our admission consultants at GMATWhiz advise every working professional that they should only quit their job to prepare for the GMAT if it is absolutely necessary. The benefit of quitting the job should be greater than having that experience under your belt. The B-school adcoms are not just looking for candidates who score well on the GMAT. They want people who can skillfully take up challenges, are great at managing stress, and come with decent work experience. On the other hand, having a gap on your resume can be challenging to explain and can easily break your case.
5 Things You Should Do When Preparing for GMAT with a Full-time Job
The biggest challenge while preparing for the GMAT while working full-time is that you have very little time and energy to devote to prep each day. But if you follow a proper study plan, prepare from the right resources, and have a fail-proof GMAT prep strategy, you can ace the GMAT in your desired time and reach a high score. Here are some time-tested strategies that will help you structure your prep in the most logical manner so you can prepare effectively even with a busy schedule –
I. Start Early
Unless you suddenly realized that you need to get an MBA asap, it is best to plan well in advance. GMAT prep will take around 4 – 6 months of your time, depending on your current skill level. If you know you have to take the GMAT in the next few months, the best thing to do is to start right away. It takes a few days of hit and trial to finally get into the groove of studying every day for the GMAT.
II. Find the Right GMAT Prep Resource
From books to offline coaching to online courses the options of GMAT prep courses are plentiful. While it can be an overwhelming exercise to explore each of these options, knowing your style of learning can help you decide better.
Not just that, there are several other factors that play a key role in identifying which resource will be best suitable for you. For instance, some students learn better in a class full of people while others prefer to have one-on-one interaction with their mentor. There are some students who learn better from a book and then there are others who might prefer the freedom to learn on the go with an online course.
Online courses like GMATWhiz provide you with an integrated personalized study plan so that you just focus on learning. Once you have a course that meets your needs, your prep journey will be a lot smoother.
Find out which resource will be best for you here.
III. Follow an Adaptive Study Plan
Since you are preparing alongside a full-time job, you will be only getting a few hours to prep each day. Not following a study plan will most likely cause you to prepare inconsistently. Following an adaptive study plan will help you begin your prep in the most structured manner. You will know which topics to cover when with the scope of adjustment for hectic days. Tracking progress is also fairly easy when following a study plan religiously.
Create your GMAT STUDY PLAN FOR FREE
IV. Practice Consistency
You will witness the beauty of following a routine once you include consistency in your GMAT prep. Most students devote around 4 to 6 months to prep on average. So, for these few months, all you must do is devote at least one hour to prep each day. Even if you are having a hectic day at work, ensure that you sit down for at least 30 minutes and study.
This habit of practicing consistency will go a long way in helping you stay right on your GMAT timeline.
V. DO NOT Let Your Doubts Pile Up
In GMAT, you cannot choose the questions you wish to answer. Therefore, skipping an entire topic may not be the right thing to do. Although you can make a few mistakes and still get a decent score but it is possible that the topic you skipped breaks your score.
To avoid that, you must work on your weaknesses right away instead of leaving them for the end. You will either not have much time left towards the end of prep to pick these topics or you might completely forget to take them up. Taking up doubts right before your test can overwhelm you and impact your performance on the D-day.
Summary: Preparing for GMAT with a Full-time Job is Possible
With the right resources in your arsenal, a mentor who keeps your motivation high, and a personalized study plan to keep you on track, you can score a 700+ on GMAT even while working full-time. If you still have doubts, please know that a wide majority of 700+ scorers are those who prepared for the GMAT while working full-time. Follow the steps above, create the right environment to study, and manage stress levels to not get overwhelmed.
Have questions? Speak to out GMAT Strategy Consultant
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Preparing for GMAT with a full-time job is something most students wish to do. But balancing a hectic work schedule with an equally demanding GMAT prep is something very few students can do.
Hardik scored 740 on GMAT in his first attempt while working full-time in a hectic job. Similarly, William (GMAT 740) was also working full-time in a demanding investment banking job when he began preparing for the GMAT. They knew preparing for GMAT with a full-time job is going to be challenging. But it was consistency, determination, and the right mentorship that helped them ace the test.
If you are considering taking some time off from your full-time job to prepare for the GMAT, in this article, we will tell you the 5 simple things you must do to ensure that you prepare effectively.
Why should you not quit your job to prepare for the GMAT?
Our admission consultants at GMATWhiz advise every working professional that they should only quit their job to prepare for the GMAT if it is absolutely necessary. The benefit of quitting the job should be greater than having that experience under your belt. The B-school adcoms are not just looking for candidates who score well on the GMAT. They want people who can skillfully take up challenges, are great at managing stress, and come with decent work experience. On the other hand, having a gap on your resume can be challenging to explain and can easily break your case.
5 Things You Should Do When Preparing for GMAT with a Full-time Job
The biggest challenge while preparing for the GMAT while working full-time is that you have very little time and energy to devote to prep each day. But if you follow a proper study plan, prepare from the right resources, and have a fail-proof GMAT prep strategy, you can ace the GMAT in your desired time and reach a high score. Here are some time-tested strategies that will help you structure your prep in the most logical manner so you can prepare effectively even with a busy schedule –
I. Start Early
Unless you suddenly realized that you need to get an MBA asap, it is best to plan well in advance. GMAT prep will take around 4 – 6 months of your time, depending on your current skill level. If you know you have to take the GMAT in the next few months, the best thing to do is to start right away. It takes a few days of hit and trial to finally get into the groove of studying every day for the GMAT.
II. Find the Right GMAT Prep Resource
From books to offline coaching to online courses the options of GMAT prep courses are plentiful. While it can be an overwhelming exercise to explore each of these options, knowing your style of learning can help you decide better.
Not just that, there are several other factors that play a key role in identifying which resource will be best suitable for you. For instance, some students learn better in a class full of people while others prefer to have one-on-one interaction with their mentor. There are some students who learn better from a book and then there are others who might prefer the freedom to learn on the go with an online course.
Find out which resource will be best for you here.
III. Follow an Adaptive Study Plan
Since you are preparing alongside a full-time job, you will be only getting a few hours to prep each day. Not following a study plan will most likely cause you to prepare inconsistently. Following an adaptive study plan will help you begin your prep in the most structured manner. You will know which topics to cover when with the scope of adjustment for hectic days. Tracking progress is also fairly easy when following a study plan religiously.
Create your GMAT STUDY PLAN FOR FREE
IV. Practice Consistency
You will witness the beauty of following a routine once you include consistency in your GMAT prep. Most students devote around 4 to 6 months to prep on average. So, for these few months, all you must do is devote at least one hour to prep each day. Even if you are having a hectic day at work, ensure that you sit down for at least 30 minutes and study.
This habit of practicing consistency will go a long way in helping you stay right on your GMAT timeline.
V. DO NOT Let Your Doubts Pile Up
In GMAT, you cannot choose the questions you wish to answer. Therefore, skipping an entire topic may not be the right thing to do. Although you can make a few mistakes and still get a decent score but it is possible that the topic you skipped breaks your score.
To avoid that, you must work on your weaknesses right away instead of leaving them for the end. You will either not have much time left towards the end of prep to pick these topics or you might completely forget to take them up. Taking up doubts right before your test can overwhelm you and impact your performance on the D-day.
Summary: Preparing for GMAT with a Full-time Job is Possible
With the right resources in your arsenal, a mentor who keeps your motivation high, and a personalized study plan to keep you on track, you can score a 700+ on GMAT even while working full-time. If you still have doubts, please know that a wide majority of 700+ scorers are those who prepared for the GMAT while working full-time. Follow the steps above, create the right environment to study, and manage stress levels to not get overwhelmed.
Have questions? Speak to out GMAT Strategy Consultant
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