After my final semester exams got over, I was in a dilemma. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to make a ‘practical’ decision by taking up the jobs I had, or to let them go and pursue my interests. I was passionate about marketing but didn’t have any experience. So, I spent two months frantically searching for internships by networking, and got to know about an online internship platform.
I applied online for a marketing internship with IIM Bangalore and was asked to write two essays concerning why I needed this internship and why I chose IIM Bangalore. I was apprehensive as more than 80 people had applied for the same when the requirement was only for one or two.
After about 10 days, I was shortlisted and had a Skype interview. The questions mainly dealt with my undergraduate course. The interview was a good experience after which all my doubts about whether I was making the right decision vanished. My hopes were building; I got the call for a final face-to-face interview at IIM Bangalore.
The interview was conducted by the Chief Marketing and Development Officer and the Head of Programmes at IIMB, and it lasted for an hour. Apart from my extracurricular activities, I spoke about organising events and conferences at my college. I was also asked questions about marketing and future aspirations. I told them about my plans for pursuing an MBA and how this internship would be beneficial in realising that. Lastly, I remember that I struck a common chord with one of the interviewers — our love for poetry. I told him about my passion for writing poems and we spoke about this for rest of the interview.
A couple of weeks later, I got a mail stating that I was hired for the marketing internship. I started my internship in September’16 and my life took a grand turn. I was involved in the marketing of long duration programmes, both postgraduate and doctoral. I worked with my team in organising information sessions and open houses for various programmes. I organised sessions at various companies and marketed the flagship weekend MBA programme. I also worked for the placement cell by creating links with the industry and getting new recruiters to campus.
Almost three months into work, I was assigned the role of a research assistant for two-and-a-half months under the guidance of a marketing professor. It was a project on designing and conceptualising academic programmes compatible with market needs. This internship has been a solid foundation for my career. The knowledge and mentoring I received are unparalleled. I am happy that my first application manifested into a special start to my career, and I couldn’t be happier.
Kaushik. J completed his B.E. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from BNM Institute of Technology, Bengaluru.
Courtesy: Internshala