Soumyadeep Chakraborty comes across as someone who knows what he wants and better still, what he does not. Working by the same principle helped him fetch a placement that has everything he was aiming for, a good company culture and an ideal growth rate coupled with numerous opportunities for the newbies. He is placed with Edelweiss Tokyo Life Insurance, a name to reckon with in the industry, in a position that only a few can imagine in an organisation as big as this one. If you’re wondering about the package, well, it is naturally colossal...
Soumyadeep Chakraborty brims with confidence, and why not? He had everything going for him even before he joined premium B-school Indian Institute of Management, Indore-a work experience of three years in the field of digital marketing and a determination of steel about the kind of job he wanted, or to put it more precisely, the kind of job he did not want. “I had already been majorly exposed to the world of e-commerce which made it easier for me to decide the things I was not looking for in my placement.” And his clarity of thought did reward him generously as he grabbed a placement with Edelweiss Tokyo Life Insurance as a Management Associate, which he feels is “the best fit” for him. The excitement in his voice is hard to miss as he explains why, “Edelweiss is a very big and reputed organisation. The seven months I have spent here have been extremely enriching. I have been put into major products as the organisation does not differentiate between a new joinee, or an experienced employee. It just lets you do what you do best. It is overwhelming!”
“My interest lay in a role around marketing, sales, general management or consulting, basically one that was non-financial. As far as the preparation was concerned, I knew I had to stand out from the crowd as everyone enjoyed the tag of the prestigious B-school and not just me. Participating vigorously in extracurricular activities helped me bring something extraordinary to the table. I also brushed up on my leadership skills by analysing case studies with precision. Besides, I made sure that I justified the skills mentioned on my CV. I would say participation in ECA reflected well on my CV and so did my work experience!”
Soumyadeep did not show any hesitation when it came to initiative-taking, “I started off an event that also involved sponsorship. That taught me how to handle stress. No wonder, I handled stress well during my placement interview! But in the run-up to the day of interview, I had been focused on fine-tuning my communication skills too. After all, communications skills set apart the excellent from normal. What’s more, I was well versed with the company background from day one. All of these points in conjunction gave me an advantage over all my peers.”
“At the same time, I had begun planning my career even before I joined IIM. I worked with Teach for India as a Fellow. It provided me a great platform, wherein I met a number of people and some amazing mentors. Teach for India is a splendid learning ground, I would say.”
Soumyadeep continues, “In a B-School, you have no idea where you will finally land as there are so many companies coming through and each one has its own set of recruitment standards. But frankly, I never really had any apprehensions as I knew I had what it takes to get into the companies to my liking and having industry experience helped me believe in my self. Competition never gave me stress, instead it only fuelled my confidence.” He goes on to offer a different perspective on competition, “I had spent two years with my peers already and was well-aware of their strengths and weaknesses. But for a good placement, I invested in my strength and not their weaknesses.”
Participating vigorously in extracurricular activities helped me bring something extraordinary to the table. I also brushed up on my leadership skills by analysing case studies with precision
Soumyadeep tells us about his placement, “It involved multiple rounds. In the interview, they asked me about my prior experience and ECA and they would prove to be relevant to the organisation. Questions surrounding my strengths and weaknesses were also asked. They also tested my general quantitative skills and checked if I was comfortable with numbers. All the rounds were quite long. I was very honest throughout my interview as I am of the belief that diplomacy backfires.”
“Mock interviews with friends and trainers were a big help on the final day. Like most B-schools, IIM also assigns a mentor to its students who check their preparedness. I also relied on the internet and on websites such as Quora. I have to thank for college and the director for being extremely helpful and lending their support anytime I required it.”
Jitter about the placement season? Worry not! Soumyadeep offers four invaluable tips that will sail your boat...
By Namrata Gulati Sapra
