The earned gyaan: "One must research thoroughly about the company one is applying for." I read an article about Robert Bosch. I was able to drive my interview to discuss on that article.
Bosch is a German multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components. I interned at one of its Indian division, Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions. As the tagline – ‘Invented for Life’- Bosch invests in technologies of the future and makes it accessible to all.
The internship at Bosch was also an emotional experience for me. The last time I worked for an MNC, I faced various medical issues and eventually I had to leave. But, this time I had decided that I would make most of this opportunity and have fun.
Day 1: I went to the Bosch's Koramangala office and was enamoured by the view of it. There was a lot of excitement and nervous energy in me. I reached office 45 mins before time. So, I had to wait for about 1 hour before I get to meet my mentor. That day my mentor had a busy schedule. Thus, he gave me a 150-page file and asked me to give a 4-slide presentation in the evening.
The earned gyaan: "Always be on your toes. You may never know what's coming your way. One thing my mentor also told me that never shy away from reading and by reading, I mean a lot of reading.
My project required me to develop a market strategy for one of Bosch's product based on Internet of Things (IoT). My first task was to research on shopping malls in India. It seemed like a mammoth task as the data that I wanted was not easily available. But at the end, I was able to complete the task. The secret lies in breaking the problem into small parts and going step-by-step. One must never shy away from asking for help.
The next phase of my project was UX study. In a marketing context, one cannot afford to lose touch with the consumer. One must try to understand his consumer in-depth. Sometimes when you work on futuristic technologies you are not reacting to consumer’s needs or demands but you are changing the consumer behaviour. It is very important to make this distinction.
My mother always told me that whenever you want something ask for it. You will get an answer in yes or no. This way you won't waste your time thinking about it. You would not have a regret that you didn't ask. I have applied this learning in my relationships as well as work. I was interested in working on branding. I insisted my mentor to give me Branding, which was not part of my deliverable. But, he realised my eagerness and agreed to give me that opportunity. As I said, the idea is to have fun. Thus, I believe that apart from number crunching skills one should bring one's basket of creativity to one's workplace. I made use of my little creative thinking to the core as I designed logos, taglines, and interactive sales presentations.
Sometimes people approach their internships with blinkers. I also went to Bosch with a mind-set that I had to make an impression, stand out in the competition. Pre-placement offer (PPO) is always on the back of your mind. But, the internship is far more than that. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. I made several mistakes, but my mentor chose to look at the good part that I have done. The thing about great mentors is that they want to see you grow.
Thus, it's better to express yourself. The summer internship is also an opportunity to make new friends, new memories, and experiences. Go out with your team for a movie, dinner or some trip. Try to build relationships which last beyond your internships. You may never know you might find love, a great friend or a mentor for life.
“Cherish those moments - tomorrow they will be memories.”
I will end with one of my favourite quote:
“There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
– Nelson Mandela
Best of luck for your internships and I hope you will have an experience of a lifetime.
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