How an internship at HDFC Bank Limited shaped my soft skills -By Anukriti Upreti from IFMR Sri City

HDFC Bank Limited gives various products and administrations. These include discount banking, retail banking, treasury, automobile advances, bike advances, credit cards and different types of loans. Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sectors have always been my number one choice to work at. So, when HDFC Bank Limited, one of the top private banks in India, came for Summer Internship recruitment at our campus, I knew I would learn something of value if I interned here. My internship at HDFC Bank was almost the most organic step in my MBA journey. 

What is the selection process for an Internship at HDFC Bank Limited?

The selection process for an Internship at HDFC Bank Limited had the following stages:

1. Aptitude test
2. Group Discussion
3. Personal Interview

The selection process comprised of 3 stages. The first was an aptitude test which included Maths, English, and Logical Reasoning. After qualifying the first round, we had a group discussion. The topic was, "Whether companies should have a profit-oriented approach?". The group discussion was done in groups of 10. Only 2 qualified for the final stage which was the Personal Interview. Basic knowledge of the key concepts of Banking terminology and a strong hold on current affairs helped me breeze through the final round. I was really excited about the opportunity to work here.

What did I learn during my internship at HDFC Bank Limited?

During my Internship at HDFC Bank Limited, I was given a project to complete. My project title was "Digitalization" at a retail branch. It was both cold calling and market research concerning Digital Platforms of HDFC Bank. As a fresher, soft skills aren't something you learn in your textbooks. Instead, you hone or acquire them subtly. My corporate mentor and the other branch employees taught me a lot about customer interaction, teamwork, problem-solving and most importantly adaptability. 

Interacting with people has been a problem for me. So, making them listen is something invaluable I learned in this short span of two months. I learned to build my questionnaire, analyze data and learned a great deal from cold calling customers.

My internship at HDFC Bank Limited was in Noida. So I traveled from Chennai to Delhi and lost my mobile phone while traveling. The metro connectivity in Delhi is superb. I reached Noida within an hour. I had no relatives or friends in Noida. So, I stayed at a PG which was few stations away from the organization. Living in a PG and commuting via metro taught me a lot.

From waking up an hour early to avoiding an overcrowded metro to making new friends at the PG who saved me dinner when I was late to the doctor-visits because of sunstroke, it was a rollercoaster ride for me. If given a chance, I would do it all over again! This internship at HDFC Bank Limited helped me get out of my shell and explore more. I would definitely love to work here.

What did you learn from your mentor during your internship at HDFC Bank?

My mentor taught me two very important things which have remained etched in my memory.

1. Never give up. If you think one person doesn't want it that doesn't mean the next one will have the same opinion. 
2. Don't sell, make them listen. If they do, you've got yourself a lead.

One of the things that I will never forget is getting a round of applause from the employees at the branch meeting. I was set as an example for other interns for being able to convert many leads. It was the proudest moment of my life!