Great things take time
Knowing what you want from your life and changing the course of action when things don’t work your way, is a sensible move. And Pranjal Singh is someone who not only accepted this belief but also incorporated it when the situation asked for it. Born and raised in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Pranjal is currently working with Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, Pune, as their Analyst. In a conversation with Corporate Citizen, he talks about his educational journey, the importance of patience for college students, shares a few tips on how to prepare for campus placement and more
It is pure gold for someone who can score good marks by just studying a night before the exams-not many are lucky to possess this trait but Pranjal was blessed to be one of the students who scored decent marks. Talking more about this trait, he said, “I realised about this attribute quite later in my educational journey. Although I wouldn’t advise my juniors to wake up a night before the exams, it is always nice to stay up to the mark when it comes to studying. In my defence, I could easily grab the concepts whenever I read them. And this truly worked in my favour. What matters is the result, and I am happy that I could score good grades as a student.”
Happy realisations
Pranjal comes with another virtue of having an open mind. This feature gives him a chance to gain insight, add plenty of experiences in his kitty, grow beyond boundaries, and gain confidence. After completing his graduation in Mechanical Engineering, the thought of pursuing UPSC struck him. “The seeds of taking up UPSC were sown during my engineering day. So, soon after that, I took a year’s gap and moved to Delhi to prepare for UPSC. I am glad I had the leverage and zeal to pursue something different. I believe the 20s are to explore what life has in the offing for us, and I decided to so,” explained Pranjal.
Life is full of options, when one thing does not work for you, you can try till your heart desires, but then it makes sense to have a second plan ready. Agreed Pranjal, “The perks of clearing UPSC are immense. The first thing is I will achieve my goal, and secondly, I get a secure government job. I had prepared for the exams wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, I couldn’t clear it on the first go. I could see time moving fast and I was losing out on other opportunities. Hence, I decided to drop the plan and go on to complete my MBA. I thought it was a wise decision.” He further added, “It was during this gap I realised a lot of things about my persona. Moving out of the house, made me realise that I could face the problems on my own. This move opened my eyes and gave me a chance to see things differently. It is always prudent to take chances, you never know what is in store for us.”
"I wish to grow slowly and steadily in this organisation. I am happy knowing that I can implement all the knowledge that I have gathered so far. I choose to work smartly and delightedly to achieve my goals"
-Pranjal Singh
Goals and more goals
Soon Pranjal moved to Pune where he undertook a course in Systems. His aim when he started his MBA course was to gain as much knowledge as possible and get placed in a great company. Within no time the preparations began, but as luck had it, Pranjal had to sit for several companies before landing a dream job. “Good things take time. Of course, I was heartbroken seeing that my hard work was not resulting in something good. But I realised that this experience is making me stronger and preparing me for the best. When I wasn’t getting placed for long, I decided to analyse my approach—it needed modifications,” he said. It is always wise to change your methodology when the results aren’t desirable. “This move boosted my confidence. I upped my research game and tried to gather as much information as I can about the companies that visited up. Knowing their foundation, understanding their products, and reading about the approach, gave me a clear idea of what the company is looking for. With that, my friends and I indulged in several mockup sessions. This helped me a lot during the PI rounds. And that’s how he landed a job with Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, Pune, as their Analyst.”
It’s been two years since Pranjal has been working with Quadrant. Talking about his future goals, he said, “I wish to grow slowly and steadily in this organisation. I am happy knowing that I can implement all the knowledge that I have gathered so far. I choose to work smartly and delightedly to achieve my goals. I do withhold a humble dream; I hope that my hard work results in me becoming a director of a company one day.”
Tips for his juniors
- Wear many hats and do justice to it: The 20s are to explore and see what works the best for you. While you are doing so, wear many hats—try our different jobs, beats, roles, etc. And do justice to everything that you take up. This exercise will broaden your horizon and add to your experience which will come in handy when you enter the corporate world.
- Do the background check: To get placed during the campus placement is a big deal. And for that, you must put your best foot forward. Do a thorough background check about the company that is visiting your college. Understand their website, vision, function, products, and their expectations from you.
- Confidence thrives on practice: Rounds like GD and PI will make or break your chances in the campus placement round. And for that, one must practice daily. Rehearse your answers or speech in front of the mirror. Analyse the mistakes and work on them. Take inputs from your friends, seniors, and family. This will build your confidence.
- Be humble: Your character will speak volumes during the GD and PI rounds. You don’t have to be loud or aggressive to put forth your point. Stay calm, be humble and patient, and wait for your turn. And when your chance comes, give your best shot.
- Good things take time: Campus placement is a taxing period. And at times, things won’t go as you had planned. Don’t give up on your dreams easily. Be patient. Keep working hard. Your time will come. Remember, good things take time.