We have with us Ridhima Maheshwari from IIM Ranchi. She is an Economics graduate from Delhi University in 2018. Yes, Ridhima is a fresher. She is a Finance enthusiast. She is currently a senior member of Finance club of IIM Ranchi.
Ridhima not only bagged the internship with ICICI bank but also displayed a promising performance during her internship, which bagged her the PPO from ICICI bank. Let's begin our conversation.
Mahantesh: Tell us in brief about how you prepared for summer placement interviews?
Ridhima: Okay. I started my preparation with the preparation material sent by the placement committee. I revised some of my undergraduate subjects and got my basics clear. I went through my resume and well and prepared every point written in that. Being a fresher, I knew my interview would revolve around my resume and academics, so I was prepared better for that.
M: What is the summer internship process like for ICICI bank?
R: For ICICI BANK, we first have a case based GD, and based on that we get shortlisted for the personal interview. We have a short case to analyze for which we are given five minutes to read and to quickly jot down some points. Then for the next 15 minutes, we discuss it and conclude. For the case discussions, you should be prompt and make points relevant to the case. The personal interview revolved around my resume and interest in Finance.
M: What are the reasons you think you cracked the interview?
R: I feel that I was able to crack the interview because of my confidence and honesty. There are ample other factors that work for me but attributing success to a single element is not justifiable. I thought well before answering any question and answered all the questions, confidently. I portrayed my determination to work with my full potential and gave my best in the internship.
M: Tell us about your day to day work as an intern at ICICI bank
R: A day started by reporting to my buddy in the morning. I was assigned a mentor who guided me in my project and a buddy who helped me if I got stuck anywhere and needed to clarify any doubts. My project was related to artificial intelligence and technological advancement in the bank. I am from commerce background, so I started from basics. For the first two weeks, I researched various technologies employed by the bank. I talked to multiple people from different segments and tried to understand how the particular technology works practically and has made a difference.
I had coffee in between and talked to my colleagues in the department about their experience in the bank. I noted down all the doubts and clarified it with my buddy. After lunch, I again worked on my project.
I visited a few clients, which gave me an exposure to corporate banking and how things are done practically.
After every two weeks, I had a review session with my mentor.
Last few weeks, I was busy preparing for my final presentation, which was to be presented to the department head. I gave my presentation and was applauded by my mentor and buddy.
M: What did you do right to achieve the PPO from ICICI bank?
R: You should be consistent throughout the internship and work productively every day. It would be best if you talked to people across various departments as all the work interconnected. It would help if you were proactive and willing to learn new things. Prepare well for final presentation and justify every detail of your project deliverables in that. Do not think that work is out of your comfort level. Do every bit of work with full dedication and hard work. Don't hesitate to talk to your mentors and work on their expectations.
M: What are the most cherishable moments of your internship?
R: There are many moments to be cherished. I made a lot of friends there with whom I am still in touch with. Birthday celebrations and team lunch were the events where I got to know many people. Visiting some HNI clients and gaining exposure to the industrial world, meeting people and learning about their experiences and journey, and so on. It was a pleasant experience which taught me a lot of things and will help me in my future.
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Ridhima Maheshwari