A New Role In a New City - Mayank Maria's Internship Story - IIM Visakhapatnam

While we were at IIM Bangalore for our summer internship interviews (November 2015, a unique experience in itself), we were told to consider internship opportunities as a new and refreshing experience. Placement representatives from IIMB narrated stories of how sometimes, big and reputed brands end up offering the worst internships, and niche companies tend to define a whole new meaning to internships in terms of exposure, responsibilities, and the breadth of work that one gets to do. We were told that it is just a matter of two months, that we can easily change our work domain if we wish, when we sit for our finals.

With a backing of all this gyan, I decided to go for my interviews with an open mind and to pursue all types of internship opportunities that come my way. So, the opportunity of interning with a sports infrastructure company came my way. When the placement representatives told me that the company was really interested in interviewing me (based on my prior work experience, which was not even remotely related to sports in any way), I thought of giving it a shot. The interview, that lasted for about 10 minutes, went well and I was offered an internship. It was to be a totally new domain, a new role, and a new place as well (my first visit to Chennai happened when I joined this internship).

Having completed nearly five weeks of my internship, I feel reassured that the decision was not so bad after all. On the contrary, if you ask me to rate my experience on a 10-point scale, I would say it has been 9+ throughout. I have got the opportunity to work closely with the MD and the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of the company, and have been a part of the MD’s vision of revolutionizing the sports industry. It gives me immense pleasure that my work and opinion are valued, plans and strategies are tweaked based on my suggestions (of course, I have to do my homework and come up with a solid argument for that to happen), and that the management has placed complete trust in me with regards to some components of the plan. Above that, the people I work with regularly check with me if I would like to work on something different, and if my aspirations in terms of learning are being met. Now, who gets all this luxury.

With regards to the city, the food vendor at my office as well as my accommodation have been accommodative in providing me with chapatti in all my meals (Most North Indians are not big rice fans, you see). I did make some friends in people I am staying with, and with people from other IIMs who are staying in accommodations close to mine (we happened to meet over a meal, the IIM T-Shirt did its wonders in getting a conversation started). So, life beyond work has also been taken care of.

To close my story, I have one suggestion for anyone about to go for their internship (more or less the same thing that I opened this story with). Go for your internship with an open mind, embrace yourself for new work, new learnings, new opportunities, and it will be an experience of a lifetime; as it has been for me.

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Mayank Maria

Indian Institute of Management, Visakhapatnam