Life at IIFT Kolkata has been a roller coaster ride in its true sense. All the expectations with which I came to college suddenly took a backseat and a totally new journey started. Within a flash, my daily routine took an upside down turn and I was following a schedule that I could never have expected of myself. All my notions about an MBA life which I had developed after watching movies and TV suddenly went down the lake and what we were looking at was real life management. The course for which we had come for, having expectations of an alluring life, high on fun and low on regulations, finally begun. Turns out to be, we were all in for a surprise. The initial few months at any top B school are not like I expected them to be. The schedule is rigorous, demanding, and at times, gruelling. IIFT K is no different. The first week at college itself gave us a glimpse of how competitive the corporate sector is, how it functions and what level of efficiency, sincerity and consistency is required. Two weeks into the college and I can already feel the change in myself. Coming from an engineering background where I never had to stress on time management due to the ample availability of free time, I have had quite a tough transition. But my routine has changed for the good. I have learnt how to manage time and prioritise activities. I have experienced immense stress and also learnt how to deal with it, all within a week.
Also, the seniors are wonderful. They go out of their way to help us juniors in every possible way they can, from the smallest trivial issues to the expert guidance on academics. The seniors take an active interest in the preparation and personality development of the juniors, that too individually. This is one of the things that I found to be amusing. I haven’t heard of many colleges where seniors put their juniors on priority and do each and every bit to help us grow and develop for upcoming prospects. The first interaction session between juniors and seniors was also done in a very unique manner, under a competition called Campus Safari, where in we had to pitch some innovative ideas or services to them.
So overall the experience in the first two weeks has been exciting, though hectic but I am sure it will continue to get better as our course progresses. I am very keen on exploring various nuances of MBA and also to network better with seniors, alumni and other corporates.
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ABG Company:
Aditya Birla Group though has a wide range of companies, but I would like to work with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL). It is one of India’s largest fashion company with a collection of premium brands under it. I want to learn, explore and work in the marketing domain of the same. The company allows its employees freedom to put forward their ideas and ample opportunities to explore our own strengths. I can significantly contribute towards the growth of the company because of my keen interest in this sector and the immense potential to grow.