Wisdom is realising how far I have to go
She is confident, articulate, and she has evolved-be it taking a calculated decision to pick the marketing stream or mending her campus placement approach to bag her desired company. Kritika Sharma did not get dejected when she tumbled, rather, she realised that how she had to go and has come a long way. Currently, working with Infosys Limited as their Associate Lead – Talent Acquisition, Bengaluru, Kritika talks about taking chances, how to prepare for the campus placement and more
Born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, Kritika had the privilege, as she says, to travel across the country for her education, and now her work. This is courtesy of her father who is currently serving the Indian Air Force. “We had to shift to different cities owing to my father’s posting. So far, I have studied in more than six states. This process has helped me evolve. I have become more open, confident, and to put it in simple words, it has given me the leverage to handle any situation and adjust to any given condition. These virtues came in handy during my post-graduation days, and now that I have entered the corporate world, these assets help me to be on my toes,” said a proud Kritika.
The turning point
All through her educational life Kritika has been an average student. However, her shining highlight is to analyse a situation and do what works the best for her. While pursuing her BSc in Microbiology from a well-known college in Pune, she had a sweet revelation that changed her course of education, in turn, her life. “Taking part in extracurricular activities was something that I always looked forward to. It gave me a chance to interact with people, meet new souls, and explore the endless opportunities that life has to offer. This is precisely why I loved to be a part of science exhibitions during my college days,” she smiled.
During one such exhibition, Kritika got chatty with her seniors which opened a new chapter in her life. “Be it events such as Alchemy 101, Zoo On or being a part of the microbiology club, the management aspect of it always got the best out of me. Once while I was presenting our model at an exhibition, I happened to have a chat with my seniors. When I heard about their course, I was completely hooked on it. It was Management, especially the stream HR, that caught my attention. And since there was no looking back,” she said, further adding, “All I want to say is keep an open mind and ears. You know where the opportunity comes knocking from. Also, be gutsy enough to take chances and follow what your heart says.”
Never giving up
After completing her graduation, she went ahead to complete her post-graduation in Personal Management and HRD from Pune. She considers herself as an underdog-silently watching every move, courageous, and determined. “I entered the PG college with an aim. I wanted to secure a job through campus placement. And to do so, I did everything-right from doing thorough research about the company, to practising the technicalities each night, to even changing my approach when things weren’t going my way,” said Kritika.
Kritika sat for eight companies before getting through Infosys. Taking rejections positively, she overcame every hurdle. Talking about her campus placement experience, she said, “When I analysed my performance, I realised that I wasn’t staying true to the company’s expectations. Each company looks for a specific skill set, which I often ignored. But when I got the chance, I prepared myself with a vision to get through the next company that I sat for. During all this, my family, professors, and friends supported me through my thick and think. I decided to create a point of difference for myself, and it worked in my favour. This change did not happen overnight. I had to work hard.” To sum up, she said, “Perhaps, wisdom is realising how far I have to go.”
It’s been a year since she is working with Infosys. Talking about her corporate life, she said “So far, so good.” Although she would love to operate from the office, due to the given conditions, she is getting used to working from home. When asked, what’s next on your plate, she was quick to respond, “This is just the beginning, there is a long way to go. Moving on, I would like to stay in the same field, however, entering the public sector is what I am aiming for. Also, I would share my knowledge or give back to society by teaching and shaping the young minds.” She signed off!
Tips on how to prepare for campus placement
Get your approach right: Not all companies that visit your college are the same. They are unique and that is what differentiates them from others. One needs to understand the premise on which the organisation is set. Understand their expectations and prepare your approach accordingly. And in all this, your research plays an important role.
Recover from mistakes: Your success does not define you. What defines you is your ability to recover from the mistakes and what you learn from them. Try new things and see what works for you. Remember the greatest mistake a person can ever make is to be afraid of making one.
Reading adds to your experience: Be it your study material or fiction books, reading always adds to your expertise. Learning the information with all your heart and mind ensure that your grip on the concept is becoming strong. Overall, reading reduces stress and improves your analytical thinking too.
Self-assessment is the key: You will have to work hard to bag your dream company. And at times, you won’t be able to witness the results instantly. Instead of feeling dejected, evaluate your journey so far. Understand your weakness and work on them. Be patient, you will surely get placed.
Be passionate and humble: Your college life is like a laboratory, experiment all you want. Analyse what works for you and make that your passion. If you chase your passion with integrity nothing will stop you. And once you attain what you always dreamt for, don’t forget your roots. Always stay humble.