A new year. A new dawn. The same ol' ISB marathon. This spicy mix was stirred with a generous dollop of additional craziness. Yes. Placements are here.
Classes are half empty (pessimist?), assignment boxes too, and yet, LRC burns brightest as the future consultants dissect simulated cases on industries ranging from bubble gum to satellite launches. It's fun. Watching people stutter, stammer, blank out and come up with ludicrous solutions under the guise of "innovation" is truly a humbling experience. Campus abounds with nervous energy and yet is so deserted that you might expect a tumbleweed to roll past like a spaghetti western.
All the creative CV skills we have learned in our precious experience are on dazzling display. Would anyone notice if we added a few zeroes to the project value, a dozen more resources to teams managed, an award here, an appreciation there, all topped of with "strategy", "critical", "value", "client", "international", "global", "culture", "inter-personal" and other such lofty words ? Oh what fun the recruiters must have!!
The shortlists are in, the warriors chosen and battle lines drawn for Jan 16. As time passes, you can feel the tension rise. It's like in a circus, as the trapeze artist prepares for the final jump and the drum roll reaches a crescendo. It's unbearable, really.
Different people deal with this in various ways. Some try to hide a smile, others a nervous twitch and the rarest of them all are those who shake hands with confidence during these times. It takes brave souls to wake up each day and find out if you are worth anything in the market. We take valuation courses, but this is the ultimate test of what rupee-worth you place on yourself. Some short, some long, some just don't care. As always, ISB's diversity is tremendous.
And just as you feel you can't take it any more, the drums stop. There's a clash of swords as the trumpeter announces the commencement of battle. The audience waits with bated breath. By this time, you can't walk in campus. The tension's so thick, you actually have to swim through. Those with multiple interviews run around from room to room. But for the vast majority who don't partake of the spoils on offer on day 1, it is but a trailer of the things to come.
The Consulting sisters are in their full array of feathers and fur. Egos prickle, schedules disintegrate, escalations happen and then, poof - like that it's all over. 48 hours and a deathly silence settles before the final offers. There's gossip galore, the smart ones take wagers on who'll make it where. ISBians being ISBians know when to make a quick buck. Finally, it happens. The first offer, a clap on the back, a muted celebration, mindful perhaps of the hundreds still out there.
A sigh of relief and ISB settles down till the next day to repeat the pattern on a miniature scale. It's been two weeks now and it truly has been a learning experience. From people who believe risk can only be lowered by diversifying, i.e., applying to all sectors/roles/pay-checks/locations/companies irrespective of their preference to those who app to a selected few, it is a test of skill, focus and endurance.
How will this year be ? Who knows, each batch tends to react differently IMO to the same set of offers. Circumstances are not ideal and our batch is large. But we have some atypical profiles and new recruiters. I think we'll get there. Eventually.
I know - if you've read so far, the question is almost on your lips. Yes, I did get a job on D2. Consulting, but importantly, around Pune. Deja Vu. Disengagement has already begun while simultaneously, the class of 2011 begins their journey here
A la prochaine...
