Campus Placement: Believe in yourself

Life equalizes happiness and sorrow. Every good and bad day comes to an end. So living the moment and having people who are close to you is what matters, says Annie Deka, who is now with Aptech

Annie (Right) with her friend Deeksha

Annie with her friends

Competing with yourself and never comparing with others is what Annie Deka believes in. Born in Guwahati, Assam, Annie lost her father early in 2018. She wants to make people around her happy, which she feels will keep her happy as well. Her parents are the light that show her the way ahead in life and this gave her the confidence to put the right foot forward. And today she has stepped into a challenging world and wants to make her family, especially her mother, who has been her guardian angel, proud of her achievements. According to Annie, life equalizes happiness and sorrow. “Every good and bad day comes to an end. So living the moment and having people who are close to you is what matters.” Annie is now with Aptech, as Area Sales Head, posted in Guwahati.

Early life…

She was not one of the brightest students, which any parent would desire, but that did not deter her. This enabled her to accept all mistakes as challenges and correct them. It was her parents’ art of bringing her up which helped shape her life better. “I never let myself stand in comparison. I believe in competing with myself in every aspect. Childhood has left me with some of the best moments and made me a positive person. Upbringing is an art that my parents mastered in,” says Annie.

Her father was a government employee (RTO), her mother a perfect house wife. Her younger brother is doing his Masters in Sports Management. Initially, she aspired to become a pilot or a teacher but it was not her destiny. She says, “I am someone who strongly believes in karma and have always moved forward in life carrying the best interest of my family and friends.” She passed out of Don Bosco School and went on to complete her graduation from Calcutta University. Life had been full of fun and play. She was a shuttler (badminton) but her parents always wanted her to be good in academics and games took a back seat. She recalls, “My parents would always say our job is to make you a good human being, what you become depends on your hard work.

Out of the comforts of home…

The journey at management college in Pune was a life changer for her. “It’s been an incredible journey of learning and opportunities at the campus. The campus always had a vibrant ambience filled with emotions. I made friends, friends that were like family, friends that helped me make an escape,” she says about her institute. There were many who contributed to her well-being in this college where she did her Masters. “As I walked around the campus, and saw my fellow mates busy occupying hostel rooms, it made me feel that I was never out of my home”, she adds.

I never let myself stand in comparison. I believe in competing with myself in every aspect. Childhood has left me with some of the best moments and made me a positive person

Annie with her late father

Annie with her mother and brother

Campus placement blues…

The word ‘campus placement’ is the first thing that comes to mind when someone walks into a professional college. Doing homework before heading to interviews was her first step, and this was taught by her seniors . “I did my best preparation before the season started.” However, the ‘first day first show’ did not leave a good taste. “It was the month of September, 2015 when the first company came. It went on and on.” After each passing month, her patience level went down. The first company she applied for was HDFC. “It was a hard time when I almost didn’t get through five GDs. I started making points as to how to get into the discussions,” she says.

Aptech was the next company. “Their process was casual enough to get through. I was so determined to get into this company that when I sat for the GD, I felt that I had conquered it. There were two rounds of GD and I made through them.

Then again there was a buzz that the Personal Interview would be all bookish, but then it was a very casual interaction with them.” She started off as management trainee for one year at their Bengaluru unit, looking after the Southern region. Because of her hard work, her superior promoted her as the Area Sales Chief and posted her to her home town, Guwahati. “A fresher cannot ask for more-her senior believing in her and putting the foot of the subordinate forward. I was blessed to report to a very supportive senior who always trusted my abilities. Not every big company is the best for placement. Job satisfaction is very important. Though Aptech was not my dream company, I could have not asked for anything better. Yes, the inclination to work in this field is still alive and I am enjoying every contribution made.”

Six tricks for juniors
  • Believe that you are unique and believe in yourself
  • Talk as if no one ever judges
  • The best place to boost your confidence is the campus
  • Don't limit yourself into a specific group of friends. There are many things that we learn from different people
  • Work on your identified low points
  • Have a person whom you can walk with and look up to

By Julie Williams

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