Since the time I joined MDI Gurgaon, I've dreamt of working with a top FMCG/FMCD organization, with Asian Paints being one of my dream firms. The company had left an imprint on my mind through its quality products and out of the box promotional activities and campaigns ranging from its mischievous brand mascot designed by the renowned cartoonist RK Laxman - “Gattu”, to its chic TV advertisements, always adding to my aspirations of having a beautiful home! The desire to work with Asian Paints was piqued even more during the Pre-Placement Talk, during which I got to know more about the company's vision and creative marketing strategies, which helped cement its market position far ahead of its competition in India and across the globe. The fact that Asian Paints brought India's first supercomputer in 1970 is one of many examples of the company's foresight. As a result, one of my main goals during my MBA journey was to be a part of the organization and hence I decided to apply for my internship at Asian Paints.The summer internship process consisted of three rounds: CV Shortlisting, Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). The best way to prepare for GDs is by staying up to date on current affairs by reading newspapers, business articles and magazines. It helps gain perspective and helps you support your arguments with industry examples. I believe that candidates are judged on the value they add to the discussion rather than on the length of their conversation. This helped me get to the PI round, which was taken by two senior leaders. They carried on from the topic of the GD, often quoting my points and asking for clarification. They then inquired about my reasons for wanting to join Asian Paints, and various other points mentioned in my resume. Thus, it becomes very important to be absolutely sure of what’s in your resume. The panelists also quizzed me on multiple corporate scenarios requiring me to think from various perspectives and ask clarifying questions before I reached the solution. I believe what has helped me is that I took my time in answering the questions and suggesting various possible solutions. Asian Paints looks for logical solutions and evaluates candidates on their thought process rather than on the right answer. The joy of finally being selected for the IMPRINTS internship program at Asian Paints quickly turned into anxiety. When I received my project specifics, I was overwhelmed by its volume and complexity! I was asked to work on two projects, one in HR Planning & Strategy and the other in Employer Branding - two very distinct HR disciplines.Considering the apparent complexity involved and the time constraints (8 weeks), I had almost mentally given up even before the commencement of the internship. However, my project guide personally texted me a week before the internship started, welcoming me to the team, which boosted my confidence. The members of my team were always approachable and made it a point to meet with me frequently to ensure I was on track and to check if I needed support. They also helped me break down my project deliverables and prioritize my tasks. They advised me to spend the first few weeks understanding the problem statement and finalizing the project's major deliverables. Asian Paints believes in and focuses a lot on on-the-job learning, and it was evident during the internship as well. You do not need any prior experience/training in a particular work area. The organization provides you with many opportunities to work and learn simultaneously. The Talent Acquisition team managed the entire summer internship program flawlessly, with regular activities that helped the 70+ interns from top B-schools across the country become one big family. The project's strategic goal allowed me to engage with some of the industry's brightest minds within and outside Asian Paints. Even as an intern, Asian Paints encouraged me to take initiative and ownership, which empowered me. In the end, the proud feeling of witnessing my work getting implemented across functions cannot be expressed in words.This speaks volumes about the culture of Asian Paint – you do not need to be a 20-year-old in the system to implement a change or express your views. You can be a 1-month-old person too! While I did bag a PPO, my mantra was not to focus entirely on it but to rather enjoy the work at hand. According to me, the more you focus on the outcome, the more you forget to experience the journey. Hence, while it is important to be aware of the timelines and targets, it is also essential to spend time trying to understand the problem at hand first rather than to get to the solution immediately.Asian Paints provides ample opportunities to demonstrate your worth and encourages you to deliver quality work that is backed by logic and data. Finally, with just a few months left for me to join Asian Paints as a full-time employee, I'm excited to give it my all and gain more experience in various domains of HR. Furthermore, since Asian Paints allows for cross-functional assignments, I am looking forward to experiencing other functions as well! Having interned with the organization for my summer internship, getting in touch with fellow interns and other new hires is something I cannot wait for. I've seen multiple alumni from my campus and others get opportunities for international assignments, and I really hope I get to visit and work in any (or many) of the 14 locations that Asian Paints operates from. Finally, I've never been to Mumbai before, so I'm hoping to get a chance to work in the City of Dreams someday!Do you think you should intern with Asian Paints? Well, if you want to intern (and work) with an organization that values innovation, agility, customer focus while keeping its employees at the core of anything they do, this is the organization for you. To know more about the IMPRINTS program at Asian Paints, click here!