Home > Career > Question
Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help
Patrick

Patrick Dsouza  |1414 Answers  |Ask -

CAT, XAT, CMAT, CET Expert - Answered on May 17, 2025

Patrick Dsouza is the founder of Patrick100.
Along with his wife, Rochelle, he trains students for competitive management entrance exams such as the Common Admission Test, the Xavier Aptitude Test, Common Management Admission Test and the Common Entrance Test.
They also train students for group discussions and interviews.
Patrick has scored in the 100 percentile six times in CAT. He achieved the first rank in XAT twice, in CET thrice and once in the Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test.
Apart from coaching students for MBA exams, Patrick and Rochelle have trained aspirants from the IIMs, the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies and the S P Jain Institute of Management Studies and Research for campus placements.
Patrick has been a panellist on the group discussion and panel interview rounds for some of the top management colleges in Mumbai.
He has graduated in mechanical engineering from the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad. He has completed his masters in management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.... more
RAVI Question by RAVI on May 15, 2025
Career

I am Ravi. I am 32 currently teaching aspirants for competitive exams in my small coaching setup where income is very less. I have done Bachelors in Eco Hons in 2013 and Masters in Defence in 2019. I want to enter into corporate for which I thought Full time 2 years MBA as a pathway. Wrote XAT, got interview calls from some decent colleges but in GDPI, my age gap became an issue always. I was also told that my CV shortlist chances will be very low during campus placements. Only one college gave me their non core program but getting negative response from many sides I am sceptical of my placement as batch size is also very big. It's a big investment of time and money too. I will be 34 during placements. Deep down my heart now I really want to work now rather than only again classroom study. I started working only in 2022. I want to ask if there's anyway I can get corporate job while pursuing online MBA or any other relevant certification? Or taking risk of expensive full time MBA? Many people have told me to go for Executive MBA but I don't have enough relevant experience

Ans: One option is to start teaching on your own. Second would be to try and get a corporate job by doing some short term job relevant courses and then doing executive mba after wokring for a few years or doing part time / online mba. Doing a full time MBA in your case may not be worthwhile as age is not on your side and you do not have enough relevant work ex to justify your gap.
Asked on - May 25, 2025 | Answered on May 26, 2025
Could you please suggest some job relevant courses?
Ans: Can look at digital marketing or social media marketing or can contact a placement agency to find the skill sets companies are looking for now.
Career

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Patrick

Patrick Dsouza  |1414 Answers  |Ask -

CAT, XAT, CMAT, CET Expert - Answered on May 07, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 02, 2024Hindi
Listen
Career
I am 23years old male living in kolkata and a bcom general graduate with 73.52% in 2022, after that i taken gap years for mba entrance preparation but not able to crack or get desired percentile in any. Currently in 2024 i am repeating again for mba entrances to secure admission in 2025. I have no work or internships experience, no awards or certifications. I got 51.17 in 12th commerce and 54.71 in 10th. I got only a digital marketing beginner certification by google digital garage earlier on 2023. Currently i taken a digital marketing course from udemy of digital marketing to hone and develop the required skills I have been searching and applying for jobs since graduating but not able to get any desired one. Now i want to get into a good mba college tier 2 because may not eligible for tier 1 and 1.5 as per my profile but i will try anyways. So for that i need to make my profile good and need certifications and jobs or internships. I interest in sales, marketing, more but also Hr domain. But nowadays i am only getting Inssurance sales, bpo, telecaller or telemarketer, Kpo, sustomer support type jobs of around avg salary of 150000 pa. Which a 12th pass candidate also getting. I often thinks to get into bpo to gain experience and money to fill my profile and manage preparation expenses but also fear that what if i get stuck in that industry. I wanted to do mba to enchance and start my career in a management role to achieve a leadership role in upcoming years as a professional in sales and marketing industry. I don't know, i think i am stucked and lost in spiral web between situations and aspiration. I also thinking to get into banking or try govt. Exams to secure a job but i also feel that it will distract me more from my real life goals. I was not a great student or person earlier but now i am changed i know my responsibilities and i know my goals but i want a clear view to walk on that path. Please help with your genuine guidance. THANK YOU
Ans: My suggestion would be to work in sales along with your preparation for MBA entrance. Sales experience could help you to get better job during your placements and could also help you in your interview stage during admission process.

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10810 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Nov 03, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 03, 2025Hindi
Money
Hello, I am 30 year old female and am currently suffering because of credit card and app based loans from last three months. The loans amount to 3lakh and my monthly salary is not sufficient. I have considered enrolling with lawyer panel for loan settlement as I am facing harassment from recovery people calling if I miss emi even for two days. Its causing me great distress. I dont want my parents to suffer and also my job. I earn more than 50k per month. Guide me kindly on whether i should enrol for settlement and if not how do I become debt free.
Ans: First, thank you for sharing this openly. It takes courage to talk about financial distress. You’re not alone — many good earners fall into debt traps because of high-interest credit cards and instant app-based loans. You can come out of this with structure and patience. I’ll guide you step by step.

» Understand your situation clearly

You owe around Rs. 3 lakh and earn about Rs. 50,000 per month. That means your debt is roughly six times your monthly income — manageable with proper planning, but it needs strict discipline. The main issue is not the amount, but the interest rate and harassment from unregulated lenders.

» Avoid informal “loan settlement panels” or unverified lawyer groups

It is risky to enroll in private settlement panels or so-called “lawyer panels” unless you’ve verified their legitimacy through a trusted source. Many such agencies:

Charge high upfront fees.

Promise settlement but fail to negotiate effectively.

May worsen your credit score or even lead to legal complications.

Instead, always deal directly with your bank/NBFC. If the app-based loan is from a registered NBFC, you can file a complaint with the RBI Ombudsman if harassment continues.

» Take these first actions immediately

1. Stop taking new loans.
Do not take any new app loan to pay another. This only deepens the trap.

2. Create a clear list of your debts.
Write down:

Lender name

Total due

Interest rate

EMI amount

Remaining tenure

Once it’s all on paper, clarity replaces panic.

3. Prioritise debts.
Pay highest-interest debts (credit cards or app loans) first. Keep making minimum payments on others to protect your credit score.

4. Negotiate directly with lenders.
Call your credit card customer care and ask for a one-time settlement or EMI conversion plan.

Most banks will convert dues into a lower-interest monthly plan if you explain hardship honestly.

Never ignore calls. Always request written communication.

Keep records of all calls and emails.

5. Deal with app-based recovery harassment properly.
If recovery agents threaten or harass:

Record the call.

Report it to the National Cyber Crime Portal or RBI Sachet portal.

Many instant loan apps are unregulated or even illegal — you can refuse unlawful demands and lodge a complaint.

» Build a repayment structure

Your take-home pay is Rs. 50,000. Let’s keep your plan practical.

• Basic expenses: Around Rs. 25,000–28,000 per month for living needs.
• Debt repayment: Start with Rs. 15,000–18,000 monthly.
• Emergency & family contribution: Rs. 3,000–5,000 for safety.

With Rs. 15,000–18,000 monthly repayment, you can close Rs. 3 lakh debt within 18–20 months if you secure reduced-interest restructuring.

You can:

Combine smaller loans into one personal loan at lower interest (from your salary bank) to simplify repayment.

Avoid co-signing or using family credit.

Once repaid, never borrow from credit cards or loan apps again — rebuild only with emergency funds.

» Manage your credit cards

If your debt is mainly on credit cards:

Request EMI conversion or balance transfer to a lower-interest card or bank loan.

Stop using the card until the balance is zero.

Ask the bank for temporary interest waiver if financial hardship is documented.

» Psychological and job safety

Debt stress affects sleep, health and job focus. Recovery agents try to shame people into paying faster — ignore emotional blackmail.

Block harassing numbers after noting details.

Tell them to contact you only through official email.

Never let them involve your office or parents. That’s illegal under RBI’s Fair Practices Code.

If harassment becomes severe, file a police complaint under IPC Section 506 (criminal intimidation) or approach a local Legal Services Authority (free legal aid) for guidance.

» Steps to rebuild after clearing debt

Once loans are closed, take written closure letters and update CIBIL.

Keep one credit card with very low limit and pay full amount monthly to rebuild score.

Start a small emergency fund — Rs. 1,000–2,000 monthly until you have at least 3 months of expenses.

Then slowly begin investing in safe mutual funds or recurring deposits — never in credit-like products.

» Finally

You don’t need any paid settlement service. You can recover on your own with patience and structured repayment.
Avoid app loans, avoid quick-fix “lawyer settlements”, and use official channels only.
You have income, youth, and awareness — that’s your biggest advantage. In one to two years, you can be fully debt-free and emotionally free too.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

Close  

You haven't logged in yet. To ask a question, Please Log in below
Login

A verification OTP will be sent to this
Mobile Number / Email

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to

Resend OTP in120seconds

Dear User, You have not registered yet. Please register by filling the fields below to get expert answers from our Gurus
Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our
Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Already have an account?

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to Mobile

Resend OTP in120seconds

x