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

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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Katyayani Nath

Unstop Mentor

Katyayani Nath is a Marketing Communications Specialist at MathWorks, passionate about blending strategy with creativity to drive impact. She mentors students and professionals on marketing and career growth. Outside work, she’s an avid traveler, foodie, and badminton enthusiast.

Updated On: 23 Sep'25, 05:35 PM IST