Chapter 2 - Redefine the Possible

- Hear from Ms. Drishya Wahie
Ex-president, The Placement Cell(Batch of 2020)
Master's student at Cass Business School, London

Ques- You have experience working with BSR & Co. LLP (KPMG India). Were you always inclined towards working in the corporate sector?


Yes, since the beginning of my student career, I have always been attracted to the corporate sector. The sector is full of diversity and it provides flexibility as well. There’s always a space for growth and creativity which has made me inclined towards the same.

Ques- How did PGDAV College and The Placement Cell prepare you for your career?


Both, The Placement Cell and P.G.D.A.V. College, have helped me in developing my interpersonal skills which to date helps me in networking with people and marking a good first impression. Being a part of The Placement Cell, I got an advantage over others to enhance my personality and I discovered a professional side of my personality. I learned time management and communication skills which played a vital role in shaping my future endeavors.

Ques- Why did you prefer pursuing a master's degree abroad rather than some top Indian universities?


Indian colleges are undoubtedly great but studying abroad has one major advantage that we gain better exposure as it provides an opportunity to interact and work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Studying abroad offers the perfect set of challenges, obstacles, and wonderment required for expedited growth. It offers us the opportunity to question things we have never thought of before and perhaps even accept that some people know how to do things better than you or your home country.

Ques- Would you recommend a job and simultaneous post-graduation?


I would recommend a job after graduation as experience will help you learn and grow more during your post-graduation. A job after graduation allows us to understand the corporate culture and learn about our interests more deeply. It provides us an opportunity to discover a clearer picture of our future aspirations and the field we aspire to specialize in future. Working while still being a student does have challenges of its own but the experience is worth it. Therefore, keeping these things in mind I would recommend a job after graduation before opting for a specialization.

Ques- What all points should be kept in mind while choosing a school/university for post-graduation?


The course structure, the details of modules to be taught, and the courses offered by the college are the most basic filtering criteria for the students. This is where our interests come into the picture. Then comes the post-course opportunities and placement percentage of the course. You should consider the quality and quantity of companies visiting the campus for hiring purposes. Lastly, the extra-curricular exposure for the students should also be kept in mind as improvement of soft skills plays a role too.

Ques- On what factors should choose a company depend? Like out of package, incentives, environment, and stress, what should matter the most when just starting with your career?


The most important thing for choosing the company should be the roles and responsibilities associated with the role. The second most important thing that should be considered is work-life balance. Those having prior work experience know how major a factor this is. Every company has a culture and a reputation in the market. Knowing that before joining the company helps a lot.
Deciding which company to choose can differ for every individual. Precisely, look at what growth the company can provide you with. Not only the growth of the company in general but for your role in particular.

Ques- Would you prefer a job switch with every better opportunity or would you prefer settling down in a single company?


I would prefer switching with every better opportunity because in my opinion after a point of time the growth in the company becomes stagnant. Remember, you don’t want to stick around just because of inertia but you also don’t want to jump ship just because someone told you once, “you have to move on to move up.” You deserve a career path that you choose, not one that happens to you.

Ques- Would you say tools like Endorsing Skills on LinkedIn and Licenses and Certificates via LinkedIn provide support in Job and Internship hunting?


Yes, definitely. Along with academics, skills too play an important role in defining your personality. Including endorsements and recommendations in your profile is a great way to complement and confirm the skills and experiences you’ve listed while also catching the eye of potentially interested professional parties. For recruiters, future hires, or potential business partners, such a recommendation, provides an important sign that this connection could be the person they are eagerly looking for.

Ques- What according to you is better and more important- getting placed on-campus or off-campus?


According to me, on-campus placement is better than off-campus. The on-campus jobs are easily approachable and require less effort. When we already have a hyperactive placement cell fetching the best of opportunities available in the market for its students, why would one require to opt for off-campus placements?

Ques- What all mistakes do you think you did as a student and would like to tell your juniors so that they wouldn't repeat the same?


In college, I think I managed to do only one internship during 3 years. I think students should opt for as many internships as they could because practical experience matters a lot, be it in the corporate world or a business setting. They must explore all the roles with the same energy level and enthusiasm. An internship allows you to utilize your college life in understanding your interests, tasks, and the industry while ensuring that you are not clueless about your aspirations once you get out of college. Utilize this opportunity to understand each task you are given and learn every new tool you use.