A hunger for continuous learning

A keen learner, Yash Khakhar keeps pushing his boundaries to achieve his goals. In life, one needs to take tough decisions whilst thinking about the greater good. And not taking up basketball as his career when he was at his peak, was a tough call to attend to. But things worked for him and now he is working with HDFC Bank, Rajkot, as their Relationship Manager. Yash talks to Corporate Citizen about his journey, taking up leadership roles and shares a few campus placement tips for his juniors

It must have around half past noon and Yash had just finished his lunch. He was rushing back to attend the marketing lecture. While he was running back to the classroom, his phone buzzed. As he was getting late, he decided to check his phone later. But a thought struck, what if the message was important. And important it was! When he opened his phone, he got the sweetest shock of his life. It was a mail from his dream company that he was offered a pre-placement offer (PPO). This was around two years when he got placed with HDFC bank and currently, he is serving them as their Relationship Manager. “I still remember that day,” he smiled, “and it gives me Goosebumps even if I think about it now.”

It’s not that this placement was handed to him on a silver plate. “I had earned that,” said a proud Yash. Courtesy of a good performance during his internship with them, Yash was the first in his batch to receive a PPO.

His internship story

Not all like to live a laid-back internship. Some like to give their 100 per cent and Yash was one of them. Around May 2018, while Yash was interning with the HDFC bank, he learnt the biggest corporate lessons of his life. “Opportunities just don’t turn your way. You need to work hard even when you get that moment to shine,” he said. Further explaining, “Most of the time during my internship, I wasn’t given any work. My senior asked me to just sit back and analyse what everyone was doing. I believe in doing whatever I am given with the whole of my heart. For a few days, I did that. I kept a close eye and examined everyone’s move. And to my surprise, I learnt a lot.”

When one day he couldn’t take the sitting around anymore, he again asked his manager for some work. He was handed a task that looked impossible for the rest. Recalling that day, he said, “I was asked to get an appointment of a client, which the rest of weren’t able to get. I took it upon my heart. I applied all the knowledge that I had learnt and most importantly, I used my communication skills. And the next thing I know that I had gotten the job done. I guess that is what had impressed them.”

In fact, it was during the group discussion round when Yash’s logical views had impressed them. “Being aggressive and loud during the group discussion is pointless. Making a valid point in a calm and composed manner will surely grab the interviewee’s attention. I did the same!” he recalled.

"Opportunities just don’t turn your way. You need to work hard even when you get that moment to shine"

Yash Khakhar with his family during a function

Leading from the front

Since the very beginning, Yash was exposed to leadership roles. Be it representing his basketball team at the Gujarat Camp or being appointed as the President for his batch during his post-graduation or currently serving his bank as the Relationship Manager, Yash took every role he played very seriously. “One needs to take initiatives regardless of the given situation. When you undertake leadership roles, your worth is tested in many ways. Once you get over your fears, everything seems possible and achievable,” he explained. Further adding, “Every leadership role that I have taken, I have made sure to complete the task with everything I have. This experience has given me confidence and the courage to handle anything in life.”

Going that extra mile

Growing up, Yash was an above-average student. Although studies did not attract him much, he always found himself taking part in several extracurricular activities. Be it during his Rajkot schooling days or while completing his MBA in marketing and finance, taking up things outside his comfort zone was his motto.

“Outside the normal framework of the educational system, one will find umpteen opportunities to grow. Getting involved in extracurricular activities is one of them. As I took part in several festivals, headed my school’s basketball team and represented my PG batch as their President, I saw that my social skills had improved. As I often met people from different walks of life, my horizon was broadened. It boosted my academic performance and taught me time management. This experience comes in handy when you enter the corporate world. Hence, I feel getting involved in extracurricular activities is a must.”

"One needs to take initiatives regardless of the given situation. When you undertake leadership roles, your worth is tested in many ways. Once you get over your fears everything seems possible and achievable"

That’s not the end

It’s been over 16 months that Yash is working with the HDFC Bank. Slowly and steadily he is climbing the ladder of success. “I am always hungry for continuous learning. And as I keep myself updated with the latest trends in the corporate sector, I see myself growing leaps and bounds. And I guess that’s not it, there is always more to what I dream of. After a few years, once I am done gathering all the know-how, I wish to start my entrepreneurial journey. I am working towards that dream,” saying this he signed off!

As Yash Khakhar settles in well in the corporate world, he passes on a few tips for his juniors on how to prepare for campus placement and much more…

• Brand over package: It’s always easier to get attracted to hefty packages. But take a moment to think if the company is providing you with the growth and experience that you envision of. It might so happen that a reputed company will offer you a less package over a company whose brand value is not so high but the package is. In that case, always consider the brand over the package.
• Be vocal not loud: Group discussion is the time when you can put forth your views which will make you stand apart from the crowd. Being loud and aggressive will get you negative marks. Instead, stay calm and give your views in a composed way.
• Get out, get moving: Your time in school and college is very limited. Along with studies, make it a point to take part in extra-curricular activities as well. That experience counts and will come in handy during the group discussion and personal interviews rounds.
• Watch and learn: The expert in everything was once a beginner. Considering the time during your internship as a stepping stone. If you even don’t get any project just watch and learn. Wait for the right moment and encash it.
• Be patient: This virtue has several applications – be it life or work if made use of it you will go a long way. Everything in life takes time. And as Rome wasn’t built in a day, work hard and be patient, your dreams will come true as well.