It’s that time of the year when p-words are the only things being talked about at Wimwi – placement, ppt, pizza, ppo and ppi, preference list, package, placecom, p-o-r, points, proofs, and of course, the all-important double-p: prep. Did I mention peer pressure?

In the middle of all the RG-ing and the deadlines (and the terrible winter, especially in the basements of old campus dorms), as the blazers come out of wardrobes and as junk food sales in this part of Vastrapur reach peak levels, life on campus is far from easy. Lucky are a few who not only hold a ppo but also fully reciprocate the offeror’s love. For everyone else, here are 3+1 thoughts from someone who is still enamoured of the job she got through campus placement.

• Know what you want and where you want to reach, within limits of reasonableness
• This is about you, not about the recruiter, and least of all about your peers
• If it feels like hype, it certainly is
• Additional thought for idealists: now is the time to hold close your lofty ideals, cynicism is not worth its price

Know what you want and where you want to reach, within limits of reasonableness

There are very few of us who can answer the question of what we want and where we want to reach, but all of us can make the effort to answer that question, as truthfully as possible. Are you looking for as much money as you can make, or a specific role, or job satisfaction, or living up to the expectations of others? All these are valid answers, and while the answer may change later, having the clarity helps in the interviews – “Why consulting/ finance/ marketing/ … ? Why abc firm/ xyz role? Where do you see yourself five years from now?” are all-time favourites of interviewers.

The best way to look at this is to examine your life till now and understand what you really enjoy doing, and then figure out how that fits among the career options available through placements. Sounds simple, but definitely isn’t! Try to be reasonable in terms of expectations, because that helps put things in perspective for you, especially in the face of peer pressure. Ultimately, if you really know what you want in life, you will get it sooner or later. Now, that sounds like the most over-used of clichés, but I have heard this from alumni of the 1980s and 1990s, and surely they have seen enough of life to speak with authority?

This is about you, not about the recruiter, and least of all about your peers

In the flurry of CV-making and proofs and deadlines and ppts and formal attire and the multitude of other demands on your attention, it is very easy to lose track of what you really want. “Perhaps abc firm will take only 3 people, do I even stand a chance? Maybe I need a CV like <name of section-mate/ dorm-mate> to actually get through. Maybe my CG is not in the range they are looking for…” – all are trains of thought that lead nowhere.

Instead of worrying about what will seem trivial later, focus entirely on your strengths and how best you can capitalise on those. This is especially critical when forming your preferences on firms, on roles, locations and so on. It is even more important when thinking about how to project yourself in the best possible light.

If it feels like hype, it certainly is

B-school placements inevitably suffer from hype, driven by the media and by peer pressure. Try to keep your cool – there is more to placements than the top firm or the highest salary and less to placements than the biggest event in your life.

Additional thought for idealists: hold close your lofty ideals, cynicism is not worth its price

Having got through the IIMA admission process and the grueling life on campus, there is no reason why placements shouldn’t be a cakewalk for Wimwians who are all, without exception, capable and accomplished. So why does placement loom larger than life?

The answer lies in a conversation I once had with my neighbour in sec-C. Sleeping in class is not an uncommon occurrence at Wimwi, and I wondered aloud (not without a small measure of guilt myself) why students bother to come to class only to sleep. (PA, do you recall this conversation?!) In his typical swaggering style, PA said, “you know, people come to class only for attendance.”

“Then why do they even come to Wimwi?”

“Simple. For placements.”

This was said in half jest, but there is some element of truth here, and that probably explains a lot of the hype and pressure.

Given the way things are, it is easy to be cynical. Over time, however, I have realised that in spite of widespread acceptance of cynicism as a way of life, there is something to be said for idealism. Yes, your placements may not work out the way you want them to. But that would be the last reason to lose your precious ideals, especially those that made you come to Wimwi in the first place, with stars in your eyes and dreams in your head. The world needs such people. And I have a hunch that they are happier with life than their peer group.

Based on the above thoughts, here are five things you can do to think rationally during placements.

1. Understand yourself – what drives you, where you want to reach, where you can reasonably expect to reach, and your value system
2. Learn as much as you can about firms you are interested in – use every possible source
3. Prepare your way – spend time on preparation in whichever way that works for you, this adds to confidence on the d-day
4. Make tradeoffs – don’t fall into the trap of wanting to prepare for everything, instead have your priorities clear and focus only on those at the top
5. Be genuine, be yourself – during pre-placement interactions (dinners, buddy calls and so on), rather than trying to create an impression, focus on understanding the firm and on whether you would enjoy working there

Closing note:

“Everyone from my batch is in a good position, whichever field they have chosen to be in. So the concerns that you have now are really not so important in the long run.” These words, coming from an alumnus of the 1985 batch, are worth remembering whenever the pressure mounts.

If all the above sounds a bit up in the air, that’s intentional. If pragmatic advice is what you are looking for, watch this space for an upcoming post ‘A Wimwian’s Guide to Practical Action on Placements’.