Today is the last day of my last fieldwork.
Fieldwork is an activity unique to Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Each semester, we venture into the corporate world, work alongside the other employees and each week, we meet with our faculty to discuss our trials and travails and tell them what we have learnt. It is action learning in the extreme. Over four semester, we are exposed to four sectors (FMCG, BFSI, Conglomerate, Consulting etc.) and we come back richer in knowledge and experience.
My first fieldwork was in Maersk GSC, which is a part of Maersk, one of the biggest conglomerates in the world. In my next fieldwork, I stepped foot into a Private venture and Equity firm that is like no other - Mahindra Partners, a part of the Mahindra Group. My next fieldwork was in an FMCG whose ubiquitous blue bottles hold a special place in all our hearts - Marico. And finally, I did my stint at PricewaterhouseCoopers, ensuring that the amazing experience I have had through these two years ended on a high.
So, I ask myself today, how has fieldwork changed me, how has it impacted me?
It has given me confidence, it has given me faith in my abilities. It has taught me to liaison with stakeholders and not be overawed by designations and focus on the people instead.
If you look at my classmates today, we all have delved deeper into one or more subjects - far more than we would have just by looking at our texts and reading research papers. In our group meetings with our faculty guides, we have listened to each others' experiences - some stories have been poignant, some informative and thought provoking, a few warm and fuzzy and still others hilarious, and I won't lie - some just a litany of monotony. In our little corner of certain HR processes and subjects, we have become uncrowned kings and daredevil explorers - all with a little help from our classmates.
We'll all go back to our hostel rooms today, a little happy, a little sad. We will write our final reports one last time. We will submit our fieldwork journals one last time. We have all done our share of growing up in this time. Who knew two years fly by so fast!
---------------
About the Author:
Pooja Wanpal considers reading the sole aim of her life. She is obsessed with trekking, pani puri, and adores travelling. She is a freelance content writer, and has penned the novel, 'Love and Lokpal'. She is currently studying Human Resource Management and Labour Relations at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She is also a part of the InsideIIM Student Team 2016-17.