The one thing that every MBA student wants from their summer internship is a PPO (Pre-Placement Offer). Bagged by only a lucky few, this coveted offer can make the second year of MBA so much more relaxed. So, what does it take to get a pre-placement offer? How does a PPO ease the strain of the second year? Read on to find out!
Prabhu G, a student of IFMR GSB, Chennai, who got placed in JP Morgan Chase (JPMC) for his summer internship, tells us about his journey from graduation to getting a PPO from a giant like JPMC. He delves deep into his prep for the selection process and what he focused on during his summer internship, which ultimately helped him bag the offer.
Excerpts from the interview:
Tell us a little about yourself
I’m Prabhu from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. In 2016, during the final year of my B.Tech in Information Technology, I got placed in a Multinational Banking Software Organization as a Software Engineer. After around 22 months in the organization, I decided to pursue my MBA from IFMR Graduate School of Business (GSB), Krea University. I am currently in the final months of my MBA in Finance.
Why did you choose to do an MBA? Why IFMR?
During my stint as a Software Engineer in a Banking Software Organization, I realized that the Banking industry offers accelerated career growth to technological enthusiasts, who also have a sound understanding of the underlying business functions. Having an undergraduate degree in Information Technology from a premiere institution, I had a good hold of programming and was able to perform my day-to-day core technicalities to perfection. However, I felt the need to understand banking functionalities and business nuances. To bridge this gap and to advance further, both professionally and personally, I decided to pursue an MBA in Finance to gain a competitive advantage in the banking domain.
I found that IFMR GSB has been the leader in the Finance and Banking domain, for over 30 years. Some of my colleagues were IFMR GSB alumni, and they gave very good feedback about the institution. That is why I chose IFMR.
What companies did you target for your Summer Internship?
I was sure about my area of interest: Fintech. This gave me a clear vision on choosing companies. I majorly focused on Banks, Financial Services, especially companies that provided Technological assistance to banks.
How did you prepare for the selection process for your Summer Placements?
The first step I took, like most first year students do, was to seek guidelines from my seniors. I gathered details about the interview processes of the companies and the materials needed to crack the processes. As an engineer, I focused on building my basics strongly in the spheres of Finance and Accounting. I put in additional efforts to understand the most frequently questioned Corporate Finance concepts. I emphasized more on personal communication skills and talking things clearly about my previous work experience, personal goals and other generic interview questions.
Tell us about the JPMC selection process - anything from that day that you will never forget?
JPMC’s selection process was very structured and organized. The first round was a group discussion to evaluate your functional knowledge and communication skills. The next rounds were Personal Interviews, where the panelists made a thorough analysis of whether I was a good-fit for the organization, based on technical, functional and organizational parameters.
What was your Personal Interview like? What kind of questions did they ask?
As leaders in investment banking, I had huge expectations about JPMC’s professionalism and competence and they were no less than I expected. The interviewers in my panel were very welcoming and they followed a gradual approach towards evaluating my skills. They set up the tone for the interview by building up a friendly conversation at the start and step-by-step, they went into nuances and details that they expected me to be thorough with.
What was the one question that you think you nailed, which might be the reason you got the summer placement?
I was able to provide an operationally efficient solution to the petrol prices hike at that point of time, which I felt the panel was happy with.
Tell us about your first day at JPMC.
Most of us have a vision of a bank being an institution that just accepts deposits and lends money. But on entering the premises of JPMC, one could appreciate that a leading international bank has much more to do. All interns were well received and there was a structured plan right from day 1 on what is expected to be done.
What is the work culture like in JPMC? How did you fare during your summer internship?
The work culture at JPMC is very encouraging and friendly. Your views are valued and you are involved in everything done in the team. One can approach anyone in the organization, regarding any query. The organization offers great scope for learning and everything from on-boarding till farewell is well planned on day 1. I was able to impress my team members and superiors with my project.
What projects did you work on?
My project was related to analyzing the operations carried out in the bank on a daily basis.
How did your classroom teachings help you with your internship? Anything in particular about the pedagogy of IFMR GSB that you think helped you?
My summer internship was a fantastic hands-on experience that bridged the gap between the theoretical concepts learnt in IFMR GSB with the actual practices happening in the industry. My project involved almost all the Finance and Operations courses covered in IFMR GSB during the first year.
Tell us about your final presentation.
The final presentation of the project went on pretty well and I was able to cherish the results, as I felt proud of adding value both to the organization and IFMR GSB. I was able to answer all the questions of the panelists, as one’s project is the output of something that one has performed through thorough understanding and excessive research.
What are the 3 things that JPMC looks for in an ideal candidate? Do you think you fit that criteria?
Any Organization expects:
- A strong foundation in the basics of your area of interest.
- Being a team player.
- The degree of innovation you possess that can add value to them.
I feel I possess all of these traits, which is why I got a PPO from the Organization.
How has having a PPO affected your second year at IFMR?
Having a PPO has made life much easier. The burden of MBA gets shrunken abruptly. You get enough time to relax and at the same time focus on your classroom courses more. You also get additional time to do online certification courses and read books of your interest. Overall, it eases your burden and provides ample time for other activities in the last part of your student life, that will be cherished in the future.
What role have you been offered? How are you preparing for the same?
My role in JPMC is related to Banking Operations. I have been preparing for the same by choosing appropriate electives in my second year of MBA. I’m also doing online certification courses related to the same.
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