Secrets of getting placed | Rajdip’s journey to Aditya Birla Group

Aditya Birla Group has a diverse portfolio of businesses with a clear focus on each of them, resulting in large profit-making units that dominate their respective domain. One of its units, Aditya Birla Capital, is counted among India's top 5 diversified NBFCs with impressive growth levels year-over-year since its inception in 2007. They equally value the maximisation of their profit and the well-being of employees. ABG has built communities for its employees, for instance, the Sales Leadership Program for young leaders like us. It offers a clear growth path filled with a host of opportunities. Getting into such an organization is a big achievement in itself. Here is an account of my journey to Aditya Birla Group.

I Knew What I Wanted

It was my interest in the BFSI sector that aligned me with the opportunity at ABG's financial arm, the Aditya Birla Capital. Therefore, my main focus has always been on knowing all the nitty-gritties of the Indian business sector. I have also developed certain skills and expertise which are a prerequisite for becoming an effective marketer. My PGDM in Marketing and Finance helped me gain in-depth knowledge about these specialisations. 

This was the very first company I applied for and I considered it as my only option. To me, it was either green or red and rejection would have resulted in taking time to be better prepared to face the next battle. So I didn’t leave any stone unturned to make my journey to Aditya Birla Group successful. I even downloaded Aditya Birla Capital's annual reports before the interview and researched them further to learn more about the company and its current conditions.

The Multi-staged Recruitment Process

It was the day to reap what I had sowed. Like any other candidate, my heart was pounding. But with knowledge and some tips and tricks, I sailed past the recruitment process.

The process included four rounds:

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  Group Discussion

To prepare for this round, I followed news articles about economies and current affairs closely to make sure I had enough relevant content for popular GD topics. The topic given to my group was "Ethics is for show in businesses, only corruption is real" which went on for around 15 minutes. I was remarkably confident in expressing my views with facts and figures to back them up during the round. I also encouraged others to express their opinions as GDs are not for individuals to demonstrate their expertise. So, I noted down the key points mentioned by other participants and when asked to sum up the GD I mentioned all of them, thus providing insights into the entire discussion.

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  Psychometric test

This was not an elimination round. It was the simplest yet the trickiest. Two separate sheets with words and phrases were handed to us. We were directed to select relevant words that reflect how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us.

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  Personal Interview - Round 1

It was conducted by the Regional Sales Manager and two HR executives for 20-30 minutes. During the interview, they tried to relate my answers to the psychometric round and analyse whether I was able to express myself in a similar manner or not. A majority of questions were related to my education, work experience and why I considered myself fit for the job. They focused on my adaptability towards an environment where I have to manage a team consisting of elderly employees. The interview was pleasant and by the time it came to an end, I could sense that I am through to the next round and one step closer to a successful journey to Aditya Birla Group.

The break: The final round of PI took place the next day. Quite naturally I spent that night sleepless. I wasn't just tense, I couldn't wait to get done with the process knowing I have already come so far. I was filled with energy, excitement and a thousand other emotions along with a certain level of fear of failure. I spent the night brushing important notes collected through my MBA journey. But I knew that I must keep the interview simple, real and honest!

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  Personal Interview - Round II

I faced the Senior General Manager of Aditya Birla Capital's Life Insurance business for the final round which was rigorous and lasted for an hour. I was literally asked about all my life decisions and was evaluated on the grounds of my response to situational questions, body language, confidence, industry knowledge, and even empathetic abilities. The length of the interview made me skeptical but I recalled how I answered their question while they were giving a presentation, in a crisp manner. I realised that it made a positive impact on them and reflected on the entire interview. 

A bonus tip: It is important to articulate your answers in a manner where the words perform effectively while the content isn't that long.

In short, I am a marketing and communications enthusiast who holds a PGDM (MBA) degree focused on marketing and finance. I have contributed with scalable performances to strengthen key businesses at Saint-Gobain, Business Standard, and OYO Rooms while being an intern during my MBA. So my journey to Aditya Birla Group taught me that if you are an MBA aspirant or pursuing it, never miss out on any opportunity to polish your skills and learn something valuable.