Surviving through tough times builds resilience

Be it overcoming the language barrier or not getting placed after his MTech or being patient during the campus placement in post-graduation-Anshul Sen learnt to survive through the tough times. “Facing such issues has transformed me into a better version of myself,” smiled Anshul. Currently, Anshul is working with Infosys Limited as their Senior Associate Consultant. In conversation with the Corporate Citizen, he spills the beans on his journey so far, life learnings, shares a few tips for his juniors on how to prep for the campus placement, and more...

Anshul Sen

Anshul was born and raised in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. Being surrounded by achievers in his family, Anshul pulled his socks up to make his family proud. “My father and my siblings, all are engineers while my mother has completed her BA and is an advocate (not practising). This meant I had big shoes to fill. Nothing can stop a person from achieving his/her goals when he/she has so much inspiration in front of them,” said a modest Anshul.

The transformation beings

Having completed his school and college in Hindi medium, Anshul took some time to get accustomed to the language change while he was pursuing his Mechanical Engineering at Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University. “This was one of the early challenges that I faced in my educational journey. English was a pre-dominated language during my engineering. I took that as a challenge, pulled up my socks, and made sure to ace this language. It is rightly said, learning a different language is not only learning different words for the same things but learning another way to think about things,” he added.

He never shied away from facing challenges. In fact, the way he learnt the English language shows how open he is to change. “Hard times help us grow. These challenges are the ones that build our resilience,” he smiled.

The journey continues

The challenges just did not stop there. For him, it was an obvious choice to pursue MTech after Mechanical Engineering. However, that journey was a complete eye-opener for him. “The course was great, and I gained a tremendous amount of knowledge. And I was ready to take on this industry. Unfortunately, that was the time when this industry was gripped by scams. Freshers who were paid a handsome amount were forced to work for a couple of hundred rupees. The state of this industry was grim.”

So, when life throws lemons at you, what do you do? You’ll manoeuvre your way until you reach your goal. And that’s what Anshul did. “As there was a dearth of jobs, I picked the next best thing. I had a word with my family members, seniors, and other professionals and pursuing for an MBA seemed like a sane option,” quipped Anshul. This is what landed him in Pune where he enrolled to study an MBA in Operations and SCM. The overall experience taught him that although problems keep knocking on the doors, it’s only the tough people who last. He added, “And don’t forget, if one door closes, another opens.”

Growing slow and steady

Pune’s culture was a lot for him to take in. He took some time to get acquainted, and once he did there was no looking back. Talking about his expectations, he said, “When I moved to Pune, I aimed to gather as much knowledge as possible, score good marks, and get placed in the best company. For this, I was ready to move heaven to earth.” The summer internship made him industry-ready. Learning the industry standards, the foundation of the industry, and other crucial things, broadened his horizons.

Then came the campus placement season. He was all geared up to face the industry. “All through this, I was clear about the kind of company I wanted to work with. A good IT company would do wonders for my career. And I prepared accordingly,” he said. He sat for a few companies but did not get through them. But he did not lose hope, nor did he get frustrated. “It’s a part and parcel of life,” he said. Finally, his time came, and he got placed with Infosys Limited as their Senior Associate Consultant. “I hit the jackpot. I knew what my weakness was and worked hard to make them my strength. Although I fumbled in the PI, the interviewer put me at ease. And then, nothing could stop me. I had faith in my capabilities and that is what got me far.” It’s been two years since he is working with this company. He wishes to climb the ladder of success steadily. Talking about his personal goals, he said, “I wish to travel across India and explore what it has to offer.” He signed off.

As Anshul Sen 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...

"Asking for guidance or support is not a sign of weakness. Remember, you are human and it’s fine if you don’t understand every concept or end up being clueless. In times like these, you can certainly look for help and support. This will surely push you to achieve the best"

-Anshul Sen

Work on your weaknesses: Your journey towards enlightenment begins the moment you realise that you have weaknesses too. And working on them makes you a better version of yourself. Weaknesses hold you back from attaining success. To ace the GD and PI rounds, you have to convert your weakness into strengths.

Choose your ‘company’ wisely: College is already tough enough, what adds more pressure is the campus placement. One needs a tremendous amount of positivity and hard work to be successful in the exams and to make the most of the campus placement rounds. This is precisely why one should choose their friend’s circle sensibly. As they are the ones who will guide you through the dark days and uplift your mood.

Mockup GD and PI: Your friends are your well-wishers. They know your pain points and can guide you on exactly what you should work on. Conducting mock interviews and group discussion stirs a wind of change. You are exposed to different perceptions which surely will broaden your horizon.

Never hesitate to seek guidance: Asking for guidance or support is not a sign of weakness. Remember, you are human and it’s fine if you don’t understand every concept or end up being clueless. In times like these, you can certainly look for help and support. This will surely push you to achieve the best.

Follow your heart: Be it making decisions or following your passion, you should always listen to your heart. You surely can hear out everyone’s opinion but at the end of the day, follow your heart. Because everyone might know you, but no one knows you better than yourself.