Failed JEE. Got 14 Internships An MBA Later: Here’s My Story!

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Ever since childhood, cracking the IIT-JEE exam was seen as the ultimate measure of intelligence. If you cleared it, you were a genius. If you didn’t… well, you were “average” and had to live with that label forever.

As a school topper, I grew up with everyone around me believing I was destined to secure a top rank and enter one of the premier government engineering institutes. The pressure was insane - long hours of school, endless coaching classes across Delhi, changing tuition teachers like Netflix shows, and barely any sleep.

And yet, when the big day came, I didn’t just fall short, I crashed. I still remember the sinking feeling when I saw my IIT-JEE mains result. Even worse, my batch had one of the lowest cutoffs ever. Relatives called nonstop to “check in” (read: get gossip). The disappointment on my parents’ faces hurt the most.

That night, I cried my heart out. But somewhere deep down, I made a quiet promise to myself: I’ll make a comeback. I’ll land at a job where JEE toppers usually end up — but through my own path.

Chapter 1: The Mumbai Move & a Fresh Start

Soon after, I joined Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) in Mumbai for an integrated MBA Tech degree.

• The structure was simple: first three years focused on BTech in Computer Science, followed by two years of MBA, where you pick your specialization.
• Moving to Mumbai was exhilarating: the fast-paced city life, new friends, and campus committees. But by my second semester, I felt restless. Classes and assignments were fine, but something inside me whispered:

“There has to be more than this.”

That “more” came in the form of my first internship.

It wasn’t fancy, an unpaid sales and marketing gig where I had to convince 20 people to download  the company’s app and leave Google reviews. Honestly, I joined just for the certificate.
But something unexpected happened.

I loved it. Talking to strangers, persuading them, making new friends - it was exciting and strangely fulfilling. Looking back now, I realize that was my very first real training in marketing and sales.

Chapter 2: Testing the Technical Waters (and Sinking)

Since my degree was in computer science, I felt obligated to align with tech roles. So, I pursued internships in machine learning, robotics, and other complex-sounding domains.

Here’s the problem: I hated every second of it.
I was bored, drained, and, no exaggeration, often drowsy during projects.

These internships taught me an important life lesson:

Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you have to build your career around it.

It wasn’t that I lacked skills. I just wasn’t passionate about it. And passion matters - especially for the long haul.

Chapter 3: Falling in Love with Marketing

Once I accepted that tech wasn’t my thing, I went all in on exploring internships in marketing.
I cold-emailed companies, applied on LinkedIn and Internshala, reached out to seniors, and joined every marketing group I could find in Mumbai.

Slowly, opportunities began to open up. I interned with IIM Bangalore, Burger King, DCM Shriram Group, and multiple startups. Each internship taught me something new — from understanding consumer behavior to decoding digital ads.

People often ask me, “What drove you to keep doing internships?”
Honestly, it wasn’t some grand plan.

I was just having fun. The joy of cracking an internship, earning a stipend, making new friends, and learning beyond textbooks was addictive.

By the end of it, I had completed 14 internships across technical and non-technical domains. Crazy? Maybe. But each one was a stepping stone.

Chapter 4: The Universe Conspires

One random Tuesday, a friend called and told me about a marketing opening at MathWorks.
At first, I was swamped with assignments and almost didn’t apply. Thankfully, I did — and after multiple interview rounds, I got selected for their internship program.

Here’s the kicker:

MathWorks mostly hires early graduates from the “JEE-cleared” crowd. So for me, this was poetic justice. My quiet promise from years ago was coming true.

From day one, I treated the internship like a full-time job. I was determined to convert it into a full-time role. Thanks to my mentors, past experience, and relentless effort during internships, it happened — I landed my first full-time job as a Marketing Communications Specialist.

The day I signed that offer letter, there were definitely a few happy tears.

Chapter 5: Giving Back

Today, I work in a field I love, ‘marketing’, while also mentoring students and professionals.
I conduct 1:1 mentorship sessions, speak at schools and colleges, and share insights on how to:

• Crack internships
• Build a strong LinkedIn profile
• Stay relevant with upskilling

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

Dream big, stay persistent, and remember: It’s not about where you start. It’s about where you decide to go next.

Chapter 6: The Journey Ahead

The journey is far from over — and more chapters are yet to come. 

Stay connected on LinkedIn to sail along as I share the lessons, wins, and even a few detours along the way. 

Want to learn directly from the mind behind this article? Connect with Vaishali Pant on Unstop for personalized 1:1 mentorship, expert guidance, and more!

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