Transforming knowledge into experience
Born and raised in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Zishan Sheikh set foot in the corporate world soon after completing his graduation. To enhance the practical acumen he had amassed, pursuing an MBA in Telecom and Management, which happens to be his forte, made sense. Currently working with Technotree Corporation, Bengaluru, as their Associate Project Management Executive, Zishan in a conversation with Corporate Citizen magazine, spills the beans on his educational and career choices, his dreams, and provides a few tips on how to prepare for the campus placement
The world is a beautiful place, and the amount of knowledge you can retain and further implement it will make your journey worthwhile. This simple theory is what made Zishan Sheikh’s educational expedition interesting. By executing this technique, Zishan laid a good foundation for his career. “For me, knowledge will always take the precedence. Knowledge is power and information is liberating. However, I also feel that the application of that knowledge will improve your efficiency and gets you closer to your dream.” Growing up, Zishan was an average student, however, what set him apart was his perception about learning. “My understanding of the education that we get is a tad bit different. Even the way I answered the exams was in the bullet points, as opposed to the conventional way of writing longish answers. I failed to understand the point of beating around the bush when we can easily summarise it in a few points,” he said.
One of the shining highlights of his educational journey was the project that he worked on during his graduation days. It fetched him several compliments. His learning capability as a student was good. And he encashed on this virtue. “Understanding the concepts and learning it by heart rather than mugging it up, is the technique that I always followed. Comprehending anything breaks down a complex subject into a simple analogy. And this is what helped me throughout my journey as a student,” he explained. Further adding, “The world is an open oyster. There are various platforms that enrich our knowledge. As a child, I gathered a lot of information just by watching geography and exploration channels. And as a college student, I made the most by surfing online portals. The kind of knowledge that these website render has brought the world at our feet.”
STEERING FORWARD
In 2012, after his graduation in Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Electronics and Telecommunication, he entered the corporate world in style. For a year he was an apprentice with Idea Cellular Pvt. Ltd, Raipur and as a Project Coordinator with MicroOrange Technologies, Nagpur, for two years; in these three years he minutely analysed how this industry functions. “Exposure to the corporate world before taking up higher studies, expanded my knowledge, broadened my understanding and heightened my confidence. During this, I was even appreciated for my performance and some even asked me to pursue my skills in management. This inspired me to take up future studies,” he said.
All this while, Zishan had appeared for several competitive exams which further added to his keenness and depth of perception. After carefully assessing several management colleges in the country, he decided to move to Pune to complete his MBA in Telecom and Management.
“For me, knowledge will always take the precedence. Knowledge is power and information is liberating”
- Zishan Sheikh
PLACEMENT READY
Before pursuing his PG degree, Zishan had a good three years of experience in the corporate world. And this experience had given him the idea and skill to manoeuvre the personal interview in his favour. After screening the companies in the telecom industry, Zishan had shortlisted his three dream companies. Talking about his campus placement experience, he said, “I was sure about the technical knowledge that I had gathered over the years. And most importantly, I was looking for a company where I could get a chance to implement the education that I had garnered from the PG course. As per that, I had shortlisted a few of my favourite companies.”
Due to technical complications, Zishan was not able to appear for Infosys, which was one of his dream companies. However, next in line was Technotree, which is among the best solution providing companies in the country. “This was it! I had to get through this company at any cost,” smiled a confident Zishan. “Owing to my knowledge, clearing the aptitude round was a piece of cake. Further, I easily cleared the group discussion round as well. Then came the main round – the personal interview round. The interview went on for a good half an hour. I supported my answers with a few designs and courtesy of my overall performance, I was able to bag my dream company,” he said.
It has been two years since Zishan has been working with Technotree. Currently, he is serving them as their Associate Project Management Executive. Slowly and steadily, he is placing the right cards that fit so aptly in his career’s jigsaw puzzle. He dreams big and moving on he envisions to work with the who’s who of the telecom industry. With that, he also wishes to explore the photography arena, which happens to be his hobby as well.
As Zishan Sheikh 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…
Job profile over package: It’s always easier to get attracted to hefty packages. But take a moment to think if the job profile will lead you to your goal. At times, a company that is giving you a low package is offering you an experience of a lifetime, in this case, the job role will take a front seat. That is simply because your personality is built as per the experience you gain!
Be technically sound: It goes without saying that your knowledge about your domain should be precise and impeccable. Don’t just research about the company you are interviewing for. Instead, make it a point to read about the industry that it represents.
Be well-prepared: During your interview, it’s advisable to support your answers with real- life experiences. It will not only make a good impression on the interviewer, but it will also prove that you are supporting your theoretical knowledge with your practical expertise.
Make notes: While you are attending the lectures or studying, make notes of what you think is important. Highlight the main points and jot it down. These notes will promote positive memory, your ability to retain information increases and it will save you some time while you are revising before the exams.
Be yourself: The most common piece of advice you’d ever receive for your campus placement interviews is ‘just be yourself ’. However, this is the most crucial attitude that one should possess. This intention will boost your confidence by easing out the tension. Have faith in yourself and your positive attitude will take you a long way.