If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be writing this piece from the lens of an XLRI Jamshedpur student, I probably would’ve smiled politely and gotten back to solving an RC passage.
I still remember my first day as an Associate Functional Analyst at Shell in Bangalore—fresh out of university, with just six months of work experience under my belt, and eager to dive into SAP Plant Maintenance. The early months flew by as I collaborated with on‑site teams, translated business needs into technical solutions, and discovered the thrill of seeing my work drive real impact. Yet even as I thrived in that role—leading small cross‑functional workshops, troubleshooting critical breakdowns, and shadowing senior analysts—I sensed that true growth meant stepping outside my comfort zone.
I still remember the weight in my chest as I stepped onto the campus of that Tier-3 B-school. It was supposed to be a new beginning. But something felt off… and I couldn’t put my finger on it.
If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be joining XLRI Jamshedpur’s HRM batch of 2025-27 straight out of undergrad and at just 20 years old, I probably would’ve smiled politely and moved on. Not because I didn’t want it — but because back then, it felt far removed from where I was. I was in the final year of my Economics degree at VIPS, involved in multiple college societies, buried in coursework, and still figuring out whether I even stood a chance in these highly competitive management entrances.
This wasn’t a one-and-done story. It took me four attempts to finally receive the “Congratulations” email I had been chasing for years.
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for." – John A. Shedd
Just a year ago, I had barely heard of CAT, let alone understood what it took to crack it and get into the top B-schools of the country. As a final-year student pursuing a 5-year BA-LLB from NUJS, Kolkata, my career path seemed predictable: joining a corporate law firm or starting practice as an advocate in litigation.
The Beginning: Beyond a Degree, I Wanted Direction
If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be writing this piece from the lens of an XLRI Jamshedpur student, I probably would’ve smiled politely and gotten back to solving an RC passage.
I still remember my first day as an Associate Functional Analyst at Shell in Bangalore—fresh out of university, with just six months of work experience under my belt, and eager to dive into SAP Plant Maintenance. The early months flew by as I collaborated with on‑site teams, translated business needs into technical solutions, and discovered the thrill of seeing my work drive real impact. Yet even as I thrived in that role—leading small cross‑functional workshops, troubleshooting critical breakdowns, and shadowing senior analysts—I sensed that true growth meant stepping outside my comfort zone.
I still remember the weight in my chest as I stepped onto the campus of that Tier-3 B-school. It was supposed to be a new beginning. But something felt off… and I couldn’t put my finger on it.
If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be joining XLRI Jamshedpur’s HRM batch of 2025-27 straight out of undergrad and at just 20 years old, I probably would’ve smiled politely and moved on. Not because I didn’t want it — but because back then, it felt far removed from where I was. I was in the final year of my Economics degree at VIPS, involved in multiple college societies, buried in coursework, and still figuring out whether I even stood a chance in these highly competitive management entrances.
This wasn’t a one-and-done story. It took me four attempts to finally receive the “Congratulations” email I had been chasing for years.
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for." – John A. Shedd
Just a year ago, I had barely heard of CAT, let alone understood what it took to crack it and get into the top B-schools of the country. As a final-year student pursuing a 5-year BA-LLB from NUJS, Kolkata, my career path seemed predictable: joining a corporate law firm or starting practice as an advocate in litigation.
The Beginning: Beyond a Degree, I Wanted Direction
