Students’ Speak: Steps to approach placements with confidence

Placement happens to be an important part of any MBA course. The college would teach a lot of courses and students would learn a lot through projects. However, the practical applications of these courses are put to test during the placements.

There is a lot of stress students face and many a time, rejections from companies lead to students doubting their own capabilities.

• First step to approach placements is self-introspection. It involves a student shortlisting some particular set of work profiles which they will be interested in. There will obviously be one profile that is the dream profile but the student must also have some backup. The first job is important as one would be doing something similar for the rest of their lives. So, it is important to have that clarity.
• The next step is making an effective resume. A resume is the first impression a company gets of a candidate. Spend a lot of time in preparing an effective resume and customise it according to the profiled company is recruiting. In fact, have two or three sets of resumes created for some common profiles that come. Make sure to include projects which show skills that are in line with the profile being offered. A student must make sure that they are thoroughly prepared with all the projects present in the resume and mention what they learned from the project.
• The next step is to prepare answers to common questions in the interview such as a brief introduction, why would you like to join the company, hobbies, etc. These questions are very important from a strategy point of view as you will be giving open ends to the interviewer on which you can be explored. For instance, I am passionate about blog writing. So, mentioning that in my introduction towards the end would make the interviewer ask me more about it and that is how I will get an opportunity to drive the interview according to him. Other than that, just be natural and show that you are really excited to join the company.
• Another important thing during the preparation is going through the annual report of the company. It can be really helpful in three ways. First, you will know about the company’s recent developments and policies. Second, you would be able to find reasons why you want to join that company. Third, it will show a student’s eagerness to join the company. Also, listen to the pre-placement talk very carefully to understand the requirements of the role and get an overview of company culture.
• Some companies conduct group discussions (GD) and aptitude tests as well for screening students. The only thing to keep in mind during the aptitude test is to go through all the questions and attempt to solve them. Make sure you don’t leave an easy question because of time. In psychometric tests, answer all questions as someone who manages things in an ethical manner.
• As far as GDs go, it is important to be proactive. Utilize the first few minutes to think of some good points. Try to show out-of-the-box thinking and approach towards a solution. If GD has turned into a fish market and you aren’t getting a chance to speak, find an opportunity and use the phrase ‘I have a critical point’. Don’t get stressed if you don’t get a chance to speak.
• In the end, just keep in mind that you are looking for a perfect match. It isn’t important to get the first placement offer but what will matter is getting an offer in a profile you wanted to. Just don’t get stressed and keep looking for the perfect match.

About the Author:

Rishabh Kalra has completed his PGDM from Great Lakes Institute of Management with a major in marketing and minor in analytics. At present, he is working with HDFC Life in the field of Business Intelligence.