The Best Is Yet To Come
She is young and she is still finding herself. But the one thing Rashika Deswal is sure for is her undying love for the human resources industry. She believes in herself and has faith in her capabilities. Currently working in a Chandigarh-based startup as an Associate HR, Rashika is having the time of her life. “Working in the profession that you love, fills your life with joy and happiness,” she says. In a candid talk with Corporate Citizen, Rashika speaks about her journey so far, shares a few tips for campus placement, and a lot more
Amidst the cold desert of our country, alongside the great Himalayas and beside the mesmerising Jammu and Kashmir, lies a calm and tranquil land of Ladakh. Flocked by several travellers, Ladakh is a territory that welcomes one and all. And within this region is where an eight-year-old started her journey of understanding the virtue of discipline and adaptation. “Courtesy of my father’s profession, I got to travel all over India as a kid,” smiled Rashika, whose father’s works with the Indian Air Force.
Studying in the fourth standard back then, Rashika has to face the difficult yet serene conditions of Ladakh while attending school every day. “The conditions in this region were difficult to undergo. But soon, we got used to it. After every two days, we visited the hospital to fulfil the oxygen requirement. The picturesque environment and trying climatic conditions moulded me into the person that I am today,” she expressed, while adding, “Owing to these topsy turvy conditions, I become confident at a young age to face any situation in life. As I travelled a lot, I got a chance to embrace the different cultures of our country. This overall experience prepared me to lead a disciplined life for which I am grateful even today. Change is the only constant thing, and this experience has given me the ability to withstand and adhere to a strict schedule in my post graduation course. And not to forget that it also softened the transition from my college life to the corporate world.”
Simple tricks
She is a native to Rohtak, Haryana. As a student, Rashika was an above-average kid. “I wasn’t that interested in studies. But my last-minute studies would fetch me good grades. As a student, I spent enough time in extra-curricular activities. Taking part in school festivals and attending college functions was something that I loved. It surely helped me grow as a student,” she explained. Talking about her studying process, she said, “I put my heart and soul into anything that I do. I want things to be perfect. While studying for the exams, I understood the concepts completely. Call it luck or my grasping power, I always scored well in the exams.”
She stuck to the same studying pattern while appearing for her CAT and MAT exams. “I had a strict schedule while studying for CAT/MAT. I spent around eight hours studying. I knew what my weaknesses were. I focused more on Math and I started learning the subject from scratch to understand its concept. I did not worry much about reasoning and English, as they were my forte.” With good grades, she got a chance to pursue her MBA in Personnel Management (PM) and Human Resources Development (HRD) from a well-known college in Pune.
"Believing yourself can give you the confidence to face anything in the world. Never forget that you hold the capability to conquer the world"
Rashika Deswal with her friendsReady for campus placement
Her priorities were set and getting placed in the company that offered her the best experience and growth was her motive. And she prepared accordingly. Explaining her process for preparing for the campus placement rounds, she said, “For the aptitude round, I solved at least one paper online every day. Here consistency is the key. If you practice every day even for a little amount of time, you will surely get your desired results.”
She was confident for the personal interview round, but group discussion was something where she lacked. “When I did not get through three companies, I realised group discussion is the round where I needed to focus more. I was up for the challenge as I wanted to get placed in a good company at any cost,” she said.
Practising group discussion with her college friends prepared her for this challenge. It had become a routine for her to go through the current affairs topics and a mandate debate on it with her friends. “Every day after lunch, my friends and I conducted a group discussion round. We spoke about the pressing issues and put forth our honest view. Sometimes, we even skipped our lunch to continue with GD because our aim was crystal clear,” she said.
The fourth time was the charm for her. After giving her best for the campus placement preparation, she finally got through the company that was apt for her personality. So, what worked for you this time, we asked and she quickly replied, “With the hard work that I put in, this time I also believed in myself. It gave me the confidence to face the GD round in which I used to lack. I aced the aptitude and personal interview rounds, and within no time I got placed.” The belief in herself got her maiden job with Egro Talent Solutions, Bengaluru.
Making the most
After working with her first company for six months, Rashika moved back to her hometown, Chandigarh. Currently, she is working with a startup company, The Ideaz Factory as their Associate HR. Talking about the experience of working with a startup, she happily said, “When you work for a startup, you are an active member of their mission. And this is where your work gets visibility which will surely help you grow. You get a chance to build the policies from scratch. This is where you learn to take risks and understand your responsibilities. And in doing all this, it fills my heart with joy. I am doing something that I love and I am really happy.”
This one year with the company has taught her a lot about human resources. Talking about her future, she proudly said, “The best is yet to come.” She signed off!
As Rashika Deswal settles in well in the corporate world, she passes on a few tips for her juniors on how to prepare for campus placement and much more…
Know yourself : Knowing yourself is the beginning of all the wisdom. Know your values, understand your strengths and encash it. Don’t forget to embrace your weaknesses. No one but you and can understand you better. And once you know your personality, plot a plan accordingly to achieve your dreams.
Solve questionaries : The only one thing that can help you ace the aptitude round is if you solve a lot of papers. There are several aptitude papers available online. Try to solve at least one each day.
Lead a disciplined life : Life can become overwhelming and hectic at times. There are a lot of things that are happening at the same time. But if you are leading a disciplined life, things will work out for you not just in your personal life but your career growth will be quite evident as well. In short, discipline is the bridge between your goals and accomplishment.
Discussion is the key : Having a debate over the current happenings with your college friends every day, will bring the best out of you. It will not only prepare you for the group discussion round but also it will also give you the confidence to face the personal interview round.
Believe in yourself : If you believe in yourself, nothing can hold you back. Campus placements are a tough thing to face. It is inevitable. Believing yourself can give you the confidence to face anything in the world. Never forget that you hold the capability to conquer the world if you enter the exam hall with this attitude, you will be unstoppable.