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October 19, 2007
A Chat with PRM Candidate of the Year 2007, Mr. Vinayak Kamat, Pune, India
Recently, I had a chat with the PRM global topper , Vinayak Kamat from Pune, India. Vinayak has been named the 2007 PRM Candidate of the Year."This is a highly prestigious award, identifying the best of the best among our PRM holders," said David R. Koenig, former Executive Director of PRMIA. "We were highly impressed by Vinayak and congratulate him on this international recognition."
Vinayak deserves our heartiest congratulations and appreciation for his achivement, considering the fact that he has achieved this distinction competing with candidates around the world and brought honour to a country which is now catching up ( fast, mind you) with risk management practices of the advanced economies.
I hope this interview will be of some use to the growing group of PRM candidates.
A Chat With vinayak kamat, PRM Candidate of the Year 2007 from Pune, India
SR: What motivated you to appear for PRM?
Vinayak: I had some basic knowledge in the area of risk management due to previous exposure but I was looking for ways to validate and enhance the same. I also wanted to and upgrade my skills and exercise my learning ability in the process. The best way to achieve this was to go for an industry standard certification program like PRM. I was impressed with the PRM curriculum and its self-paced structure. This in turn allowed me to take the exam at my convenience.
SR: How much time you devoted to preparation before taking the examination?
Vinayak: I had attempted all 4 exams together. Overall I think I devoted around 200 hours (on an average 10 hrs per week for 20 weeks) for preparation. However, it took longer in terms of elapsed time, as I had to take a few extended breaks in preparation due to professional and personal reasons.
SR: What resources/books/courses you find useful for study for papers I, II, III, IV?
Vinayak: The PRM handbook was my primary study material. As an additional reference on some topics, I studied the FRM Handbook. For quantitative subjects, I also referred few standard reference books. In some cases, I found useful information on the web. I relied on self-study and did not take any courses.
SR: Where did you appear for the exam? Did you find any difficulty in selecting an exam center?
Vinayak: My preference was a center close to my residence. Also I needed a slot for 6.5 hours for the entire exam on my preferred dates. With these criteria, I selected a center at Borivali, Mumbai. I got their details from the Pearson Vue website and visited their premises once to see the facilities. I could book the slot with a couple of days notice. I did not face any particular difficulty in selecting the center.
SR: What tips you would like to offer to prospective PRMIA candidates?
Vinayak: Make a plan and commit to it. Avoid extended gaps in preparation. Devote some time daily. Try some practice questions and tests. Last but not the least, enjoy learning the subject.
SR: What this Award means to you and how it has helped you so far?
Vinayak: I am delighted and proud to receive this award. The evaluation process was quite challenging. Also the competition was global and of very high quality. Hence I rate it as one of my most special achievements. Professionally, the award has brought me recognition. Personally, it has given me added self-confidence and motivation.
SR: Thanks Vinayak, for your time. If i receive more questions from PRM candidates, I'll get back to you for another interview. All the best !
Posted by sunandoroy at October 19, 2007 11:29 AM
It was very helpul.
Thanks for this interview. it would be more helpful if you can have one more interview focusing on stress on the subjects and question patterns in the exam.
Posted by: Shiva at October 22, 2007 11:57 AM
Hi Dr.Sunando/Mr.Vinayak,
It was good to share this with prospective students wishing to take the PRM course.
One important area where commerce students would especially fumbly is the quants as most courses in India even professional ones like CA etc dont train students in applied qants.
i would like to take advise from you"ll on what are the books that were referred.
It is important to work on areas of ambiguity with extra care,thus it would good if we could get this information.
Cheers!!
Rishi
Posted by: Rishi Bharadwaj at October 22, 2007 12:37 PM
Dear Dr. Roy,
Thanks for sharing interview transcript.
Can we hope to have Vinayak Kamat as certification evangelist since he is the best person to do so after having been adjudged PRM Candidate of the Year 2007 ?
He could catalyse the success of many aspirants by running a blog with his detailed braindump of weblinks, study plan, references, experiences.
Visiting aspirants shall be able to read his narrative, pose queries and benefit from his responses.
Maybe, if not on ongoing basis, considering time-constraints of Vinayak; it could be a rotating group cause initiative (ably guided/helped by others as well) somewhat akin to the way Ms. Universe supports worthy causes during the ensuing year after winning and wearing the crown; until it is time to hand it over...
Nevertheless, that's my two-pence worth suggestion put up for your kind consideration and Vinayak's deliberation.
Best regards,
Manohar
Posted by: P Manohar Bhat at October 22, 2007 01:51 PM
Dear Dr Roy / Mr. Vinayak,
Congratulations sir !!
This is really a very very good news.
Sir, As discussed earlier - Quants is really something which is likely to draw me back again & again -- needed some suggestion as to how to go about it. I am a BCOM Hons graduate from Calcutta University.
Posted by: Pramit Kedia at October 23, 2007 07:30 AM
Thanks to DR Sunando and Mr. Vinyak.This will be very useful towards the newly opened Kolkata chapter.
Prof. Basabi Bhattacharya
Posted by: Prof. Basabi Bhattacharya at October 25, 2007 08:48 AM
I would like to know your mobile no.so that i can have further details on fees and mode of examination.You can also communicate by email
Posted by: B.L.Narasimharao at October 26, 2007 12:07 PM
HI VINAYAK
CONGRATULATION FOR THE COMPLETION OF PRMIA EXAM. CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE YOUR PH NO AND EMAIL ADDRESS TO ENABLE ME TO CONTACT YOU, AS I AM PREPARING FOR PRMIA EXAM.
Posted by: uttam kumar at October 28, 2007 09:30 AM
Dr. Roy,
Very interesting interview with Vinayak. A lot of useful information about the PRM exam. Can I request you to give me the contact details for Vinayak since I would like to get in touch with him for some follow-up questions about this exam? Thanks.
Rajesh
Posted by: Rajesh at October 31, 2007 07:47 AM
hello friends,
this is Vinayak Kamat. Please correspond here - write all your questions here and I will answer them
in due course.
Thank you for all the congratulations on the PRMIA award. I know, I am great. I tell that to my wife all the time.
Sincerely,
Vinayak Kamat
Posted by: Vinayak Kamat at November 12, 2007 01:39 AM
Hi Vinayak!!
Congratulations on successful completion of PRM!!!
I am preparing for this exam and wanted some help regarding the same.
Where did you access sample tests from?
Thanks a lot!!
Ahana
Posted by: Ahana Namburi at December 10, 2007 02:34 PM
Hi there!
congrats 4 ur success. i am also planning to emulate u. can you guide me from where did you get the books like PRM hand book & FRM hand book. also can u justify that which one is better, PRM of FRM?
Rupesh
Posted by: RUPESH at December 22, 2007 05:01 PM
Congrats Vinayak. Can you tell from where i can access the sample PRMIA tests and questions. It would be great if you can help me in this regard.
Posted by: Ankur at January 10, 2008 01:32 PM
Hi Vinayak!!
Heartiest Congratulations on successful completion of PRM.
I am preparing for this exam and would like to know from where can we access the sample exam papers?
How to prepare for Quants part?
It would be great if you can help me in this regard.
Posted by: Surinder Mohan Raizada at February 29, 2008 12:54 PM
Hello Sir,
Congratulations on winning it!!! Needed a help from you. Could you suggest a tutor for the Mathematics section?
Posted by: Avanti at March 5, 2008 11:25 AM
Many interesting information on your site - keep up good work
Posted by: john at May 19, 2008 06:29 AM
Thank you for your site. I have found here much useful information...
Posted by: Hannes at May 19, 2008 06:35 AM
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