TAKING SMALL AND MEASURABLE STEPS
He is ambitious and his affection towards the finance industry is immense. Ankur Jain is currently working with Arcesium India as a Finance Associate. The fact that he gets to practice the knowledge and experience he has garnered so far puts a smile on his face. He is eager to learn new things and that attribute of his is taking him places. As he targets steady growth with his current organisation, Ankur hopes to achieve all the goals he has set for himself. In a conversation with Corporate Citizen, Ankur talks about his journey so far, how to prepare for campus placement, and much more
Being focused and working smart is something that Ankur always believes in. His father’s work experience has set an example for him. And interpreting his experience gave Ankur the will to conquer his goals. Born in Indore, Ankur finished his schooling and graduated from the same city. “To know what you want in life is an achievement. But that comes once you undergo certain experiences. The charm of trying out things is great. I took time to understand what I want to become and I am quite happy where I am today,” he smiled.
MUGGING UP IS OFF THE TABLE
Mugging up is sort of like rote learning. Agreed that might help you pass the exams, but in the long run, it vanishes away from your memory. Ankur happily agreed, “For me, mugging up was never an option. I always looked for conceptual clarity. This is why I had a stronghold over practical exams as opposed to theoretical exams. Over time, I realised that I am good at implementing theoretical knowledge in real-life situations. And even after spending enough time in extracurricular activities, I was able to score well in the exams because I focused on comprehending the concepts instead of quickly learning them for the sake of passing the test.”
Ankur deems in giving things a try before making a decision. For instance, soon after his 12th grade, he began preparing for CA. Amidst his articleship, he was struck with a revelation that CA is not his cup of tea. “The important thing is to give it a try. And if you don’t, how would you know what works best for you?” he asked. After completing his B.Com from Indore, he moved to Pune for his MBA in Finance.
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE
It took Ankur some time to settle in his post-graduation college. What looked tough in the beginning became a cakewalk later. “My college was quite strict. Surprise tests, long college hours, and never-ending assignments looked like a mammoth task. The first two months took a toll on me. However, when I chose the finance stream and made some friends, life looked pretty normal. To be frank, this experience changed me as a person and prepared me for the best,” expressed Ankur. While he further added, “Studies were an important part of life. But with that, to lead a balanced life, I took part in several cultural activities. This played a great role in my overall development.”
“Studies were an important part of life. But with that, to lead a balanced life, I took part in several cultural activities”
- Ankur Jain
Ankur Jain with his friendsCAMPUS PLACEMENT-READY
Without wasting any time after his internship with Bajaj Finserv, Ankur began his preparation for the campus placement. He began small and did not leave a single stone unturned once the campus placement season was around the corner. Talking about his preparation, he explained, “There is nothing wrong in thinking big, but when it comes to taking action, always take small and measurable steps. That is exactly why I started with just half an hour of studies. And gradually, I increased the time. Soon, I began studying for three hours and a fortnight before the campus placement, I studied for a good six hours.”
Each company is different, but the basis on which they function is almost the same. Ankur had an idea about this. “For the aptitude round, I solved a lot of papers online. And to cope with the GD round, I went back to the basics. To get conceptual clarity, I used to read a lot of material -online as well as from the textbooks that I had. And in the personal interview round, I wanted to be nothing but confident and real,” said Ankur.
Around a week before, Ankur got to know that Arcesium India was visiting their campus. “I had a clear mind, and I knew what I was getting into. Before sitting for Arcesium India, I did thorough research on the company. And the day finally arrived! The GD and aptitude rounds were pretty easy. The personal interview round went on for a good 45 minutes. I was given some riddles and had to answer a few situation-based questions. I did fairly well there, and I was frank about my answers too. And I guess that is what worked in my favour. The whole day was quite hectic. But it all worked out in the end when I got placed with them,” he smiled.
It’s been almost one and a half years since he working with Acresium. “My usual day revolves around performing various checks to capture entitlements or liabilities and performing thorough research on the corporate actions. This requires hefty communications with prime brokers and clients. Coordinating with other teams within the organisation is an added task. Overall, I am enjoying my work and wish to grow steadily,” he signed off!
As Ankur Jain 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…
Confidence comes from preparation: It is rightly said that confidence comes from preparation and success comes with hard work. If you study every day even for half an hour, nothing can stop you. Once you are prepared for all the rounds of campus placement, the confidence will reflect on your face and that, in fact, will be half the work done.
Be well-read: One of the rituals that I followed daily during college days was to read the newspaper. It is one such source that will provide updates on all the industries. It makes you well informed and getting the knowledge of the country’s economy, sports, trade and commerce, will come in handy during the group discussion and personal interview rounds.
Your attire matters: The way you dress during the interview gives the interviewee an impression of your intentions. If you look great on your resume but do not dress aptly during the interview exudes that you are not professional. Wear crispy attire and it will speak volumes about you.
Be real: During the personal interview or group discussion rounds, you don’t have to be perfect or a know-it-all; you just have to be your true self. Be real! Support your answers with real-life experiences. Be humble and accept it when you do not know the answer, be curious to learn more.
Be a keen learner: Your willingness to learn will take you places. This attitude shows that you are open to new things. It broadens your horizons, makes you resourceful, and sharpens your communications skills.