With Samiksha Agarwal
For this edition of the How-To Series, we interviewed one of our very own students from School of Business and Management - Ms. Samiksha Agarwal, who is currently in her third year.
Samiksha Agarwal is a student representative at Christ University and leads Dhadak along with Vasudha. She is an avid fester and has received accolades in Vistas, Thrive and many more reputable fests in the city. Samiksha is passionate about dance and believes in giving her best shot at anything and everything she does. She never quits and hustles her way through it all!
How do I apply?
The first challenge that any student faces is applying for internships and deciding which platform is the best. Online internships have always been beneficial and given the current pandemic situation, applying on LinkedIn and Internshala is a viable option. Internshala provides students with a better understanding of the internships available as well as specifying the details meticulously. LinkedIn is comparatively more challenging but with good connections, you can land a pretty interesting internship.
What is a resumé and how do I build one?
The easiest way to go on building your resumé is by using online sources which provide you with numerous templates and headers which can be customized. A suggested website is https://novoresume.com/ which will make your work easier!
Which internships are the best for BBA students?
Try not to be choosy when it comes to internships given the current market scenario. Most internships are not as challenging but quite a few are alluring to the students.
The best thing to do is explore the numerous options in the Business field ranging from Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations etc. Ask yourself this question “Do I see myself working in this line of work 3 to 4 years down the lane?” and if the answer is no, move on and explore new opportunities. It is important that you enjoy what you do, internships are just an aid in setting the path.
When should I intern?
An internship should be done when you have a considerable amount of free time because you can prioritize your work. There are two reasons as to why people intern –
Either to make their resumé look better or to learn as well as contribute to the industry.
If you’re the former, then you can do an internship whenever you like but if you’re in it for the long haul and desire enhancing your skills then make sure you have time in your hands. For the first years, doing an online internship is favorable because getting online experience is more than enough. However, it is more important for second years to get a physical interning experience. It would be smart for the second years to start applying for summer internships in November!
How do I balance between academics, extra-curricular activities and an internship?
The key to managing your time while being a BBA student at Christ University is dedication. Everything you do in college must add value to your resumé. At Christ, everything happens so overwhelmingly fast that Business fests and Cultural fests take place at the same time; despite the inordinate amount of activities, try and take part in everything. It may get stressful but don’t quit, the participation counts for something!
Which additional skills will help my chances of getting an internship?
Let’s take a look at two facets –
Courses – It is undeniable that doing courses help in building your resumé as well as distinguish you from other candidates. It is important to understand that the knowledge you gain from the course is predominant to the certificate. You should do a course in Microsoft Excel as it is an extremely valuable skill in every industry. If you can’t, use YouTube; just spend 10 minutes a day learning a new feature in Excel and practise the same using random data available on the internet.
Languages – Knowing more than two languages is advantageous as it is an extra skill but also presents a satisfactory outlook to foreign universities. It could also help you in receiving global placement opportunities!
How will Vistas help me?
Vistas is a business fest organized by the School of Business and Management where first-years are teamed up with seniors as they venture into the world of business and understand the corporate sector better. Vistas will assist students as it helps in enhancing numerous skill sets that are prerequisite in business world like :
1. Presentation skills – You’ll learn how to make PPTs as it is a basic yet a major skill required in today’s world. It will also help you articulate your thoughts better and make it presentable.
2. Crisis Management – Vistas will help you understand and analyze the situations and problems that business people go through daily. It will also help you with your problem-solving skills as you come up with solutions for the same.
3. Confidence Building – When you present in front of the judge who is smarter and better than you, the following thoughts cloud your mind “Am I being stupid?”, “What if my question is bad?” , “What am I doing?” but this is good as the fest prepares you for the real world and makes you feel more confident.
Should I intern for a start-up or a well-established company?
In a start-up company, there are neither rigid job descriptions nor are there specific positions for an intern and this is advantageous as you can get a better and an overall understanding of the work. Start-ups tend to leave more room for ideas and suggestions while companies have a more defined structure with comprehensive job roles.
What is the interview process?
When it comes to well-established companies, the interview processes are rigorous and diligent. Here is a list of rounds that commonly take place :
1. Test – Most companies test your quantitative aptitude, verbal, reasoning, logical skills and mathematics. It is important to focus on the accuracy of the answers rather than attempting more questions.
2. Orientation – Once you are shortlisted, you will be oriented on the company to understand the firm better. This orientation is really important and requires you to give all your attention as you could be questioned about the company in the next rounds.
3. Group Discussion – The first round in the selection process is a GD which is easy to crack if you know how to form opinions and present your thoughts well.
4. HR Interview – The resumé you submit can be considered as your ‘in-ticket’ as you will be questioned line by line solely based on the skills and achievements you have mentioned. Don’t lie on your resumé and if you feel the need to do so then prepare a solid backstory!
5. Technical Round – Here you will be questioned about your knowledge and understanding of the field you have selected. All you’ve to do is explain your understanding of the topic.
6. Stress Round– This is one of the most crucial rounds in your selection process, the interviewers will put you in certain situations and judge you based on your answers. There is no preparation as such since there is no right or wrong answer.
Edited By
Vani Ambardar - 3 BBA F
Shruti Nayata - 3 BBA D
Khushi Varshney - 1 BBA A
Design By
Lavesh Karwa - 1 BBA A
Vriddhi Shah - 1 BBA E
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