"To achieve greatness, build a great team"

He has grown up reading books on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and others. These books have transformed him into a better version of himself. Reading these books, Shashank Tripathi inferred, a person’s background does matter, all that matters is your determination to succeed. And in all fairness, his fortitude to achieve his goal is what defines him. Currently working with Renewbuy, Ahmedabad, as a Senior Sales Manager (Health), Shashank talks about the importance of reading books, his educational journey, tips for his juniors on how to prepare for the campus placement, and more!

Shashank Tripathi

Shashank was born and raised in Vapi, Gujarat. Since his childhood, he had an affection towards science and technology. His passion motivated him to complete his graduation in Computer Science. The reason behind this love of his is quite interesting. “I grew up watching superhero movies like Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Spiderman, and others. What powered these movies was science and technology. This fueled my future and watching the superheroes battle crime gave me the confidence to face anything in life. And to my benefit, it helped me in my studies as well. If we keep an open mind, we can find inspiration at any age and anywhere,” he said.

Stepping stone

After completing his graduation from his hometown, Shashank took up a job as an Android Developer. “It was during this time that I rekindled with my passion for reading and writing. The work involved a lot of research which pushed me to read on various topics. And as my company needed a writer to publish the blogs, I invested my time in writing that as well. Providing content and conducting research aided in building my prospect,” he reminded. While further adding, “Our 20s are to explore new things and see what work the best for us. We should not restrict ourselves to just one thing. Working as an Android Developer, I realised that I have a fondness for marketing as well. This gave me a chance to explore this field.”

So, what exactly drove your love for writing blogs? We ask. He took us down his memory lane, and said, “It was right after my 10th board exams, I got my hands on APJ Abdul Kalam’s autobiography and since then, there was no stopping me. I kept on reading books that added value to my persona. Books on Steve Jobs and Bill Gates had a great impact on me. They all had a humble beginning. What made them great is their perception of life and the zeal to achieve their goals regardless of the situation. These takeaways are quite close to my heart. And I make sure to implement them in my educational and corporate journey.”

Being focused

After completing his graduation, he moved to Pune to pursue his MBA in IT and Marketing. “Most students when they enter their post-graduation phase, their dream is to ace their campus placement rounds. Mine was to get that MBA degree. And I did with flying colours,” he said.

Talking about his placement preparation, Shashank said, “My approach for campus placement was different. I focused on listening to podcasts on various topics, which laid a great path for the Group Discussion and Personal Interview (PI) round. I used to listen to podcasts every day during my evening walks. During our free time, my friends and I used to discuss current affairs and how to tackle the question during the PI round. All this helped gain a different perspective.”

A few years down the line, I wish to start my financial consulting firm. Also, I hope to share the knowledge that I have gathered with all. And finally, one day I want to pen down a book!

Tips for juniors to prepare for campus placement

Keep reading: The benefits of reading any genre of books is priceless. Don’t just stick to reading your study books. Reading fiction or non-fiction books adds immense value to your life. It helps you focus, reduce stress, strengthen your brain, give you millions of ideas to change, well, the list is endless.

Research is the key: Not just for the campus placement season, doing continuous research on the topics you like helps you build your personality as well. Understanding various study material gives you a better sense of the subject, gives you a chance to provide an in-depth answer during personal interviews, and keeps your brain creative all the time.

Have an open mind: Don’t just stick to one perception. There are several sides to one story, which means it gives you a chance to understand everyone’s point of view. Incorporate the ideas of what works the best for you. Being open-minded means you are open to new ideas. This trait will surely come in handy during the group discussion and personal interview rounds.

Be yourself: If you are confident about your response, don’t ever hesitate to put forth your point. However, be very polite while having a conversation with the interviewer. Never lie about your experience. Just be yourself. It allows the interviewer to understand you better.

Have faith in yourself: Campus placement sessions are taxing. At times, you will feel that you are stuck in a rut. Try to break the chain of negative thoughts and work even harder to achieve your goals. Believe in your capabilities and keep reminding yourself that you can accomplish the impossible.