"A perfect blend of fun, wisdom, and rigour at ABG made me believe in something much bigger" - Niyati Jain, MDI Gurgaon, PPO holder

We all have different personalities. But, there’s one thing common to all of us - our dreams. We all want to fulfill our dreams, but only some are able to do that. So, what sets them apart? The answer is the ability to work consistently in a smart manner. Based on this premise, let’s read about Niyati Jain, a PPO holder at ABG, and learn some key strategies that can help you grab a PPO!

Niyati graduated from the University of Delhi with a bachelor's degree in Economics (honors). She acquired a passion for management during her undergraduate days. As a result, she considered pursuing an MBA and appeared for CAT 2019 just to secure a score of 97.1 percentile! With that score, she was accepted into MDI Gurgaon's PGP 2022 class, where she began her journey of dreaming big and staying positive.

MBA life is more fun!

I feel that during our undergraduate years, our perspective is narrower because we learn just a particular subject and a few skills. In MBA, I learned so much in a span of three months that I wouldn’t have learned otherwise in a year. Secondly, MBA is designed in such a way that will keep you on your toes every single moment. The kind of magnanimity that it offers is overwhelming. That is the fun element - that you never know what is going to happen next; everything is ambiguous.

And so was my journey with ABG - 'wholesome' because we worked and had fun simultaneously.

One step at a time

MDI offers a very strong backing of the seniors, not to forget mentioning the mentors that we are allotted. We have a separate team that helps us prepare for the summer internship process. All these factors combined together have proved to be a major reason why I could secure a PPO at ABG. Regardless to mention, my friends and family were there with me at each step of the process, to support my dreams.

Specific mentors helped us get through the entire process. A lot of mock GDs, mock PIs (Personal Interviews) were conducted before the onset of summer internships. That was a great initiative because, by the time we reached the actual processes, it became reflexive. We already knew what answers were expected of us, how to handle the interview questions, and a lot more.

Sun raha hai na tu…

As per my amazing experience at MDI Gurgaon, one song that would exactly describe my MBA life is 'Sun raha hai na tu' - because it sums up my whole MBA journey, constantly asking everyone if I am audible, if people can hear me.

Speaking of which, can you hear me read this poem out loud, which I created to reflect on my fantastic summer internship experience at ABG?

Dream company - Make it happen

There are certain factors that B-School students should look at while they select what their dream company should look like. First, look at what kind of opportunities the organization offers. Second, learn about the values the organization offers and how they stand true to them. That could be assessed in the kind of projects that they take up. The third would be what kind of roles are offered and how they are aligned with you as a person. If you can find the alignment with the organization, I believe you should then definitely go ahead with it.

ABG internship selection process

The ABG internship selection process was a three-round process. In the first round, there was a rigorous written assessment wherein we had about 5-6 tests that assessed the different skills and abilities of an individual. This helped ABG determine if we were the right fit for the organization. Moving ahead, there was a Group Discussion round. There were six people and we were divided into two groups. One side performed the labor side and the other, the negotiators. In just 10 seconds, after a buzz, the groups had to reverse the roles.

During the PI process, the questions were to the point. Because they already had our CVs, they were asking questions that were personal to an individual and that were non-generic. I was very authentic during my entire interview process.

ABG and the hustle

There were two major projects that I worked upon - one was with the Marketing and Business Development team, and the second was an overseas project where I worked with the Indonesia-based IBR team. The second project under the Marketing and Business Development team was around building an HR dashboard.

There was another thing involved, wherein we looked at various business case restructurings that were happening in the organization. I was very fortunate to be a part of such a project because I could see a restructuring happening LIVE!

Looking at the IBR project, it was also related to the GD where we collaborated with people from various nationalities. This project gave me global exposure. So, being in a summer internship and getting global exposure was something I was truly grateful for.

If you can dream it, do it

Firstly, I would ask all of the upcoming aspirants to understand the summer internship process is an integral part of the MBA journey process. So, don’t get fearful of it. Rather, approach it in the most positive way possible. Second, be authentic to yourself and to the organization. Also, make sure you leave no stone unturned in your preparation before the summer internship. Take as many mock GDs, mock PIs and get comfortable with the surroundings.

It always seems impossible until it’s done. Make the most of your MBA journey. Take as much time as you want, but ensure that you chase your vision.

You have made a conscious decision to chart a new course in your life by pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Accept that you will never stop learning. Your learning will always be a work in progress – it is the only constant in life.

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