Here is an excerpt of the interview with Karishma:
Q1. Tell us your journey as an GMAT Trainer?
Ans. Well, I started teaching GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and IELTS in 2009.
In fact, I have just completed ten years of teaching, on October 3, 2016 to be precise. I began as a teacher in training at IMS, the then leading organization in CAT and similar examinations. I worked with them till 2010, and left the company shortly after pioneering the GMAT course at the Connaught Place center.
I moved on to TIME, after a brief stint at the University of Delhi where I taught with the English Department and also taught vocals to the music society students. So, from 2011 to 2015, I was with TIME, working on hourly paid contracts at various centers and concentrating on GMAT, GRE and admissions counseling. The latter became a larger unit of my work since then as I had begun to get more learner queries specifically asking for guidance on essays, SoPs, LoRs and interviews for admissions to foreign universities. This was also around the time that I started getting a lot of business from UrbanPro which was then ThinkVidya.com and it sort of just kept going from there.
Since then many things have changed in the tests but one thing that has not is the authenticity of the exams and the high level of competence they hold students to.
Q2. What do you think makes a great GMAT Trainer?
Ans. An effective and efficient trainer in any field, and especially in the field of competitive examinations should not only have mastery over the subject they are teaching but also a keen and deepset understanding of the test they are training students for. Guiding students on the correct way to prepare is just as important as teaching them the subject of the test.
Q3. How you came across UrbanPro?
Ans. I learned of the website when I was looking for online portals to put up my profile and generate business as a Free Agent in Education.
Q4. How UrbanPro platform helped you to expand your GMAT Classes?
Ans. UrbanPro helps me categorize my class requirements and lets me choose students that I think are suited to my profile. Also, the neat landing page and the profile with reviews helps a lot in letting students understand the skills of the teacher they want to contact.
Q5. What percentage of your work comes from UrbanPro?
Ans. Well, now since I work with the British Council, I do not look to the website much but earlier, I used to rely singularly on UrbanPro for my work.
Q6. One advice that you would like to give to new Pros on UrbanPro.
Ans. Yes. Please be truthful and honest about your skills. Leading students astray by promising false goals is a bad example in the industry. Also, every once in a while, teach someone in need for free, enabling them to achieve what others who are more fortunate can, with kindness and humanity. About the Trainer: Karishma is one of those extraordinary GMAT Trainers who brings so much of enthusiasm in a classroom environment, making learning super fun and easy. Experienced, innovative and meticulous in her approach, Karishma believes in making each of her classes meaningful for her students. Her students find her dazzling personality, teaching style, useful notes, very helpful in clearing GMAT with high scores. What makes her a truly amazing GMAT Trainer is her desire to help her students recognize their weakness and overcome those. Karishma holds a Master's degree in Arts from University of Delhi. She also holds a CELTA (Grade A) from Cambridge.
