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Ok let me tell this with a caveat - " Thou shalt not question me whether I practised what I am goin to preach." My claim to fame rests on the belief that I can disseminate information and learnings of people who made it to what they wanted - be it consulting, I banks. I too did so, but it was accidental only.
Ok first things first. I intend to give my gyan in capsules hence I am dividing the learnings into various parts -
a) Managing expectations
b) Acads - including electives
c) Relationships & Career choice
d) Extra curriculars - including b-school competition & spikes
e) Preparing for fin interviews
f) The d- week - already covered in the previous blog.
g) Handling disappointments
I hope to cover each of these issue separately in th coming days.
Till then
Ciao
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Placement week - is it the worst nightmare??
Hi guys,
Back after a long hibernation. The placement week just got over. While the school will come out with statistics later, here are some of my experiences. If you follow this, the week becomes easier to handle.
Rule 1: The Shortlist hungamma
If you don't have a single shortlist till day -1, don't panic. From Day 2 onwards, walkin starts and entire exercis of shortlists make no sense at all.
Corollary: If you have 6 shortlists for Day 1, still you could get placed only on day 6 or even later. This is a test of character and self-belief. Have faith in yourself. I won't say making to ISB is great. All I am saying is 1 week can not, I repeat CAN NOT determine the course of your life. You have done well before coming here(I suppose) and ISB cannot undo what u have done before.
Rule 2: The myth about EoI.
Many spend atleast an hour or 2 on EoI. It is not worth it. It is just NOT WORTH IT. Instead spend time, identifying what the role would involve and customize your resume to it. Forget about consulting resume, there are enough people to help you with it. If Mc or BcG has "identified" u as a potential, they will be behind you to work on your resume. It is more important for fin jobs. For instance for research, the resume has to be process orientaed - say " Conceived new process blah blah..." for relationship, it has to be people oriented - " Secured management consensus to implement X,Y,Z process blah blah" . It wont make any sense now wait till December when things be clearer .
Rule 3: What is your USP?
Know about the company and the role fairly well. Browse their website, study the role, WRITE DOWN what strengths and weaknesses you are going to talk, Why this company, why this role. AND AND AND PRACTISE THEM. People will help and support you but end of day you have to take the initiative. Beyond Day 2, that is the differentiator. Depending on your nature, you could be depressed then. Then it becomes difficult to do this. But somehow do it. It helps. It boosts your confience during the interview and it reflects in your response.
Rule 4: The first mover advantage
By God's grace you should be placed by Day 2. But 420 people, there will be a possibility of not being placed by then. Don't despair. More importantly, please dont carpet bomb the same resume to all recruiters. Identify 3 (rather a few)companies and target them. Customize your resume to the role and go to the interview location by 8:45 AM. Be the first to drop your resume for walkin the earliest. Chances of getting a shortlist is higher.
Rule 5: The desperation is two sided
As much as you want a job, they want to fill vacancies. So chill out and do not despair. Be casual in your approach and do not get desperate.
Rule 6: Your PI preparation contributes only 30 % of the actual interview.
Starting mid-term 6 or early term 7, people start preparing for the D-week in all earnestness. It would be great if you can start earlier, but most people do not. While you prepare day and night on technicals, they are useful for Day 1 & 2, max Day 3. Beyond that companies do not care about your technicals much. It is more important to prepare on PI such as your workex, why mba, why isb, instances when leadership was displayed etc.... These will help you than all the mugging you have done of PE multiples, industry facts etc. Believe me, I am speaking the truth.
Rule 7: Go to the interview with an open mind
Sometimes companies come with a preconceived notion that they will recruit for a particular profile.(Blame it on other colleges which have only freshers.) When they come over, they realize that they can get a candidate for a better role. Of all the interviews, it happened to me atleast on 3 occassions. Be open to diametrically radical roles. In one case, I applied for an analyst role which was advertized and ended up interviewing for the role of the head of a different department.
There are plenty more which you can see on other postings but these are my experiences only. Hope you found them useful.
So long ......
Back after a long hibernation. The placement week just got over. While the school will come out with statistics later, here are some of my experiences. If you follow this, the week becomes easier to handle.
Rule 1: The Shortlist hungamma
If you don't have a single shortlist till day -1, don't panic. From Day 2 onwards, walkin starts and entire exercis of shortlists make no sense at all.
Corollary: If you have 6 shortlists for Day 1, still you could get placed only on day 6 or even later. This is a test of character and self-belief. Have faith in yourself. I won't say making to ISB is great. All I am saying is 1 week can not, I repeat CAN NOT determine the course of your life. You have done well before coming here(I suppose) and ISB cannot undo what u have done before.
Rule 2: The myth about EoI.
Many spend atleast an hour or 2 on EoI. It is not worth it. It is just NOT WORTH IT. Instead spend time, identifying what the role would involve and customize your resume to it. Forget about consulting resume, there are enough people to help you with it. If Mc or BcG has "identified" u as a potential, they will be behind you to work on your resume. It is more important for fin jobs. For instance for research, the resume has to be process orientaed - say " Conceived new process blah blah..." for relationship, it has to be people oriented - " Secured management consensus to implement X,Y,Z process blah blah" . It wont make any sense now wait till December when things be clearer .
Rule 3: What is your USP?
Know about the company and the role fairly well. Browse their website, study the role, WRITE DOWN what strengths and weaknesses you are going to talk, Why this company, why this role. AND AND AND PRACTISE THEM. People will help and support you but end of day you have to take the initiative. Beyond Day 2, that is the differentiator. Depending on your nature, you could be depressed then. Then it becomes difficult to do this. But somehow do it. It helps. It boosts your confience during the interview and it reflects in your response.
Rule 4: The first mover advantage
By God's grace you should be placed by Day 2. But 420 people, there will be a possibility of not being placed by then. Don't despair. More importantly, please dont carpet bomb the same resume to all recruiters. Identify 3 (rather a few)companies and target them. Customize your resume to the role and go to the interview location by 8:45 AM. Be the first to drop your resume for walkin the earliest. Chances of getting a shortlist is higher.
Rule 5: The desperation is two sided
As much as you want a job, they want to fill vacancies. So chill out and do not despair. Be casual in your approach and do not get desperate.
Rule 6: Your PI preparation contributes only 30 % of the actual interview.
Starting mid-term 6 or early term 7, people start preparing for the D-week in all earnestness. It would be great if you can start earlier, but most people do not. While you prepare day and night on technicals, they are useful for Day 1 & 2, max Day 3. Beyond that companies do not care about your technicals much. It is more important to prepare on PI such as your workex, why mba, why isb, instances when leadership was displayed etc.... These will help you than all the mugging you have done of PE multiples, industry facts etc. Believe me, I am speaking the truth.
Rule 7: Go to the interview with an open mind
Sometimes companies come with a preconceived notion that they will recruit for a particular profile.(Blame it on other colleges which have only freshers.) When they come over, they realize that they can get a candidate for a better role. Of all the interviews, it happened to me atleast on 3 occassions. Be open to diametrically radical roles. In one case, I applied for an analyst role which was advertized and ended up interviewing for the role of the head of a different department.
There are plenty more which you can see on other postings but these are my experiences only. Hope you found them useful.
So long ......
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