Company – Essel group
Role – Marketing Intern

Summer internship. It’s a trailer for the movie known as permanent employment.

Every student who has gone through the experience of interning has one thing in common with the rest; they come back gaining some perspective. In their own right, they learn something new. Having had nothing else but a technical academic background, and no corporate experience whatsoever, this was my chance to get a taste of the life I had been moving towards ceaselessly. Whenever we’re about to do something new, especially something as important as interning, we are bound to feel a plethora of emotions. Nervousness, expectations, eagerness, excitement and even a burning desire to showcase your potential. What I had been expecting from this internship was pretty basic: gaining the know-hows of the trade and facing challenges and opportunities which would be the grind stone I sharpen my business acumen with.

A security-check, my ID card being issued to me, meeting a senior manager, a discussion about what new is being taught regarding marketing these days with him., finding out about my mentor’s absence in the office and familiarizing myself with the workplace till it was time to get off the work. That was my first day in the office.
The next day, I did meet my mentor. Being the busy person that he is, the conversation about assigning me a project kept being pushed back. Finally, having come across each other in the elevator, we got a chance to have a conversation, and I experienced what people know as the elevator pitch, first hand.

That was the beginning of what I would call, “A Spartan work schedule”. In the span of 2 months, I was tasked with 4 projects, consecutively. Learning the work, reaching out to various brand managers, forming excellent professional and personal relationships with them, I did everything I could to not be the lost lamb in the jungle that was our office, and do what was asked, better than asked for.

Looking back, my expectations were met over the course of my internship. I learned a great deal about the trade, I completed a barrage of projects, which in turn has not only helped me develop a crucial business instinct, but also earned me recognition in that office for my talent, perseverance and the ability to step up to the plate. But here is the thing, it is satisfaction when you gain something in line with your expectations, and it is happiness beyond satisfaction when you gain something out of your expectations. IIM Rohtak played a pivotal in providing me with this opportunity and inculcating in me the spirit, zeal and enthusiasm through its culture and rigour.

Being sparse with your words and listening, a lot, so that when you do speak, it’s compelling way beyond meaningless words. Having a proper professional behaviour, such that you never disrupt the chain of command yet don’t compromise the respect you should get as a subordinate. All these things are which I had a notion of, but never expected to gain such a clarity about and embody during my internship.

Every student who has gone through the experience of interning, has one thing in common with the rest; in their own right, they come back learning something new. I’ve come back as someone, confident enough to expect more, do more and achieve more.

Naman pandey

Learning With The Mavericks - Essel Group - Naman Pandey, IIM Rohtak