June’17 to March’18
Life at IIM Rohtak started with a shower, 29th June’17, almost a year back and I stepped in to become a part of the “KATHOR” family. Initial few days were tough, the rigour and getting moulded into the IIM culture. Never, did I even think once that it will present me with such a wonderful experience! The journey started, I kept marching along, it was December, and I got shortlisted for ABB (Asea Brown Boveri) India Limited. It was a long interview (made me sweat towards the end), then the long wait began. Two days passed and the anxiety by then had hit a superficial level. The evening of 15th December’17, I got a mail from Placement Committee confirming my selection in ABB India Limited. I for few seconds went into a different space, one of the dream company and I made it for my summers. Then came the third term and the excitement increased exponentially, 21st March’18, I got my joining location as ABB India Limited’s Head Office at World Trade Centre (WTC), Bengaluru. It was icing on the cake until then. For the first time I was flying to Bengaluru, did not know anyone there, but then I was ready for all the challenges ahead.
Summers, yes, it was hot from the project's aspect, else it felt like it was October in Bengaluru (pun intended). Well, I landed in Bengaluru on 30th March’18 and suited myself up to join ABB India Limited on 2nd of April’18.
April’18 to May’18
On the first day, I was inducted and introduced to my mentor and the country head. Here comes the one of out of the world moments again, I was assigned to work with the Corporate Strategy and Business Development Team on a consulting role. It blew me over then, continuing with the first-day experience, I was assigned with my projects for the next two months. Before I was done with day one, I was provided with the ABB welcome kit and that surely extended the curve on my face a bit more. The candy red shade ABB logo at the entrance of the 21st Floor of WTC attracted me a lot more than anything. Such simplistic, yet so appealing is their logo in itself, it clearly defines their work culture and approach. They are simple, positive, optimistic and always analytical.
The first week was all about work and getting accustomed to the work culture. I interacted with the team and my mentor guided me through the company policies. First meeting with the Corporate Strategy and Business Development County Head was an insightful one, where he laid down the expectations that they were looking out for from the only management intern at the head office. At the end of the first week, my team took me out for a dinner as a welcome treat. The team was a combination of experienced people and they were really helpful and at the same time, they believed in the motto of “work hard till Friday and party harder on the weekends.
Then on, my mentor made me realize the importance of networking and he helped me with the same. He let me accompany him in the meetings with other teams and there I got the opportunity to interact with other teams. I developed good relations with almost everyone I met in the Office.
The second month, they took me to the Annual General Meeting of ABB India Limited, and took me along for the CEO visit too. Interactions with the top management, internal meetings on other projects and lunches, dinners and parties with the team have contributed a lot to my learnings at ABB apart from the regular work. It was a treat to work with the fun-loving guys.
These two months went so quickly that I didn’t even realize that it was time to head back to IIM Rohtak. But, the vital takeaways for me from the best two months (summer internship) of my life are:
- Understand the work: We have studied all the theoretical aspects in our first year, but an internship is a place where you get the chance to hone your skills on live projects. To perform all the tasks correctly, the first thing that should be done is to understand the problem well so as to proceed ahead with hypothesis and solutions
- Ask your doubts: Most of us are new to the world out there, so there will be a lot of questions hovering in your head, a simple suggestion in this regard is, not to hesitate but to ask your mentor, team or anyone who can be of help. No matter how stupid it might seem but we should not have the half knowledge, rather clear it and then proceed.
- Research well: Once you have understood the work and got all the doubts clarified, you need to research well on the work assigned. I have learned this as a major lesson, never speak anything until and unless you have researched properly on that particular topic, as the ones sitting with you there already have done their part of research and that is why they are mentors.
- Network and relation building: I was given this as the default task, everyone in the office should know me by face and by name before the internship ends, and I was, fortunately, able to deliver as per their expectations. Networking is a vital part in corporate, to grow up the ladder, you need to network as much possible and always be on the right cards. Also, networking helps post internship and lifelong for that matter.
- Honest and maintain your transparency: Your mentor is there to help you, and one should always share their issues during the internship with the mentor. They are the ones who will come up to help you and guide you. Having transparency with the mentors not only benefits you during the internship but also in the long run.
- Frequent Reviews: It is evident that in corporates, everyone is busy and they value time a lot, so should you. You should ask for weekly reviews if possible. This will help you keep them updated on the progress that you are making and also it will give them the impression that you are heading right and putting in efforts. This will also increase your visibility, not only in the team but also in the top management.
- Be on your toes: It is not only your project that you will have to work on, if they are paying you a good amount, then they expect you to perform more than what is asked for. They will give you other deliverables apart from the project and with deadlines. To complete those, you need to be on your toes and always work closely with the team to satisfy the deliverable deadlines.
In my case, I enjoyed the internship, the best way possible. Be it the work (which I enjoyed a lot), partying, a short trip to Ooty, I liked the life that I lived in those two months. All thanks to my mentor at ABB India Limited, the Corporate Strategy and Business Development Team, and the placement team of IIM Rohtak, without them this joyful and enriching journey of 2 months wouldn’t have been possible.
