IMT Hyderabad – Top B-School for Leadership & Soft Skills

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Why Soft Skills Matter More Than Your GPA in Management

Serial No.	Table of Contents
1	Introduction
2	What Is A PGDM Course For?
3	Eligibility Criteria For PGDM Programme Admission
4	Coursework For The Full-Time PGDM Programme
5	What Skills Do You Learn During The PGDM Programme? Hard & Soft Skills.
6	Why Soft Skills Matter More Than Your GPA in Management
7	Relevance Of A PGDM Degree In 2025

PGDM course

Introduction

Globalisation has opened a much-needed avenue for business enterprises to expand their scope and explore new market possibilities. This lucrative opportunity has been economically and strategically fruitful; however, it has also created the need for managing reputation and establishing a niche in a complex global market. With the need to manage and administer business operations smoothly, prestigious universities across the world offer academic programs and courses such as business studies and business administration. The best management colleges in India, including IMT Hyderabad, follow a similar purpose.

What Is A PGDM Course For?

The study of business may begin at home, and in social matters, the formal education starts with the Commerce stream opted in the board examination. Commerce encompasses a vast area, and students interested just in the business part may seek to pursue Business

Administration degrees. The Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is one such advanced programme that offers incredible knowledge, enhances business skills, and raises individual potential to secure a job in the same line of interest.

This programme particularly focuses on two primary aspects of business undertakings: leadership and management. The PGDM programme covers several subjects besides business, such as finance, marketing, planning and distribution and much more.

Eligibility Criteria For PGDM Programme Admission

Aspirants must look into the eligibility criteria for the best management institutes in Indiaif they want to apply for admission. Graduates from any recognised stream are usually eligible to apply for the PGDM course, but that is not always the only factor considered during admission. In some institutes, the minimum cut-off is set at 50%.

There are a few entrance exams that candidates can look into for direct full-time PGDM admission. These include CAT, ATMA, CMAT, XAT, MAT, etc. For admission, they are required to fill out an application form containing personal and academic details, which will be assessed by the board.

After the application is selected, the candidates are called for an interview round with the faculty. The faculty delivers their decisions soon after the interview round, and successful candidates are allowed to proceed further into the admission process.

Coursework For The Full-Time PGDM Programme

The best management colleges in India offering a full-time PGDM course introduce various topics related to business, management, leadership, etc. The programme is usually set for 2 years. Four semesters are held during these 2 years to assess the progress of each student. Here are the common subjects included in a PGDM programme:

Business Statistics
Micro Economics
Business Communication
Organisational Behaviour
Accounting for Managers
Marketing Management
Operations Management
Introduction to Spreadsheets
R for Managers
Supply Chain Management
People Management
Financial Management
Design Thinking and Innovation
Management Information Systems
Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Blockchain & AI for Business
Strategic Management
Legal Aspects of Business
International Business

All these subjects, along with electives and research projects, add more context and increase the academic score at the end of each semester. The programme is further enhanced by the guidance of the faculty in learning practical skills needed in the field.

What Skills Do You Learn During The PGDM Programme? Hard & Soft Skills

The skills required in a PGDM career can be categorised into two categories: hard and soft skills. Hard Skills are direct and often tangible in nature. For example, managing a software or tool, market research, data analysis, etc. On the other hand, soft skills are indirect and intangible, such as communication and leadership, planning, strategising, etc. Here are 5 hard and soft skills necessary in a PGDM career.

5 Hard Skills Relevant To A PGDM Career

Financial Management & Analysis
Business Operation Management
Marketing Strategy & Research
Technology & Digital Tool Management
Project Management & Presentation

5 Soft Skills Relevant To A PGDM Career

Effective Communication
Analysing & Organising Data
Market Awareness & Planning
Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
Leadership & Strategic Thinking

These are only a few skillsets categorised under hard and soft skills that are supposedly required in a PGDM career, and there are certainly more skills one can obtain to strengthen their individual cases and make their portfolio interesting.

Why Soft Skills Matter More Than Your GPA in Management

The best management institutes in India have recently been following a rising trend of focusing more on developing essential skills, rather than overemphasising GPA. The importance of soft skills cannot be overlooked or denied today, as these skills do not always require a degree or formal training to acquire.

While hard skills, such as technical management and operations, are crucial, they are incomplete without soft skills. Soft skills help enhance the hard skills by allowing complex technical matters to be laid out in simple terms to ordinary people. They also play a major role in building and sustaining professional relationships.

Relevance Of A PGDM Degree In 2025

If we are being honest, the value of business schools and business studies has sometimes been questioned due to changing market dynamics. Naturally, universities and institutions were required to step up their game by introducing reforms that could revive the potential of management degrees. This is where soft and hard skills are included in the mix, and the following points are further testament to the relevance of a PGDM degree in 2025:

Management skills learned in a PGDM programme are always in high demand, and the job market pays well to hire these managers.
Specialisations in PGDM offer a vast array of opportunities for aspirants to apply for jobs in multiple sectors, from marketing to human resources.
Students can establish a robust professional network that supports long-term career growth.
The salary of PGDM graduates is often a driving factor, along with the flexibility to explore entrepreneurial paths.

The best management colleges in India, including IMT Hyderabad, now prioritise skill-based training and industry-led teaching to ensure students gain a comprehensive and practical learning experience.

Conclusion

In today’s workplace, numbers on a mark sheet can open doors, but it is soft skills that keep those doors open and help you move forward. Communication, teamwork, adaptability, and leadership often decide how well managers perform in real situations where problems rarely have straightforward answers. A PGDM from IMT Hyderabad recognises this balance by combining academic rigour with opportunities to practise these skills through case studies, projects, and industry exposure.

For students, this means not just graduating with a degree but leaving with the confidence to handle both technical tasks and people-driven challenges, something that a GPA alone can never guarantee.