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4 hours ago
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Hey folks I had a doubt, can I apply to the IIMs even if I do not have any work experience? Will it affect my chances during the selection process or placements later on?
5 Replies
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Yes, absolutely! You can apply to IIMs without any work experience. I joined IIMK right after completing my B.Com. Many of my batchmates are freshers too. While some IIMs may give a slight edge to candidates with work ex during shortlisting or interviews, it is not a deal-breaker. If you have a strong academic record, good CAT score, and solid extra-curriculars, you stand a great chance.
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I reached out to a few IIM alumni recently. They told me that work experience helps a bit during interviews but it is not mandatory. In fact, some profs even prefer teaching freshers because they are more flexible in learning. So I am focusing on building my profile through internships and extracurriculars to make up for the lack of work exposure.
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Yes, you definitely can apply. At IIML, nearly 20 to 30% of the batch comes straight out of college. However, you might face some disadvantage during placements as certain roles, especially in consulting or general management, prefer candidates with prior work experience. That said, if you perform well in your MBA and build your profile, you can still bag top roles.
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I had the same question in mind! I found out that IIM A, B, and C do accept freshers, but during interviews they expect clarity on why MBA now instead of gaining some work experience first. So I think freshers should be ready with a good answer to the “Why MBA” question. Also, academic consistency and a high CAT score become even more crucial for us.
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I am a fresher and got into IIM Trichy last year. What really helped me was being active in college societies and having a couple of internships, even though they were short. During the interview, they asked me about real world exposure, so I spoke about case competitions and projects I had done. So yes, you can definitely apply, just be ready to prove your readiness for MBA life.
