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How an internship at Times of India revamped my problem solving skills -By Mohammad Abdul Waheed from ICFAI Hyderabad
How an internship at Times of India revamped my problem solving skills -By Mohammad Abdul Waheed from ICFAI Hyderabad
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The Times of India, with a legacy of 180 years, promised to offer me an enticing opportunity in the domain of Sales and Marketing. Doing an internship at Times of India which was a huge media sector could offer me great exposure to the real market outside and help me in exploring differing behavioural insights of customers. I felt that this was the right platform for me to be trained under. Indeed, my decision turned out to be true.
To secure an internship at Times of India, a candidate has to pass through the rigorous selection process of this coveted organization which comprises of:
The Aptitude test had questions from areas of logical reasoning, General Awareness, and verbal communication. Since I had been gearing up for this round for a few months, sailing through this round was not very tough. This was followed by the Group Discussion round which revolved around an abstract topic named 'Zero'. My listening and effective communication skills came in handy during this round and I could crack it easily.
The final phase of the Times of India selection process was the Personal Interview. This was unlike other interviews that basically revolve around CV. Here, I had to perform a role-play to sell a product. This was quite challenging. Nevertheless, I was able to crack it and was selected for doing an internship at the Times of India.
My internship at the Times of India allowed me to lay my hands on the domain of Sales. This role encompassed Cold Calling and Follow-Ups. The responsibility was relatively new for me as I had no prior experience in this domain. Also, during the first week of my internship, I had no idea how to approach and deal with the customers. But, eventually, as days progressed, not only did I start gaining confidence but also started excelling in this field. This raised my confidence level and I started challenging myself daily. I guess, this is what helped me raise my bar and produce efficient results.
My internship at the Times of India was a bag full of learnings and I could chisel my soft skills during the course of my internship. The nature of my work boosted my confidence level and communication skills. Apart from that, my Convincing Power and Problem Solving skills have been revamped and polished on a very healthy note. Overall, doing an internship at the Times of India was a true test of my endurance capabilities and I believe that I did full justice to it.
To pursue my internship at the Times of India, I moved to Vadodara, Gujarat. The fact that I would get to experience a new city and culture, thrilled me to the core. So, I decided to make the move. Initially, adjusting in the new surroundings seemed an uphill task. Gradually I could gel very well with people around there. As an icebreaker session, the Times of India team organized an official team outing to the Statue of Unity which was an amazing experience. After working day and night, this team outing turned out to be a relaxing period for all of us.
Given a chance, I would grab the opportunity to work with the Times of India in the blink of an eye. My prior knowledge of this industry and its organizational structure will definitely give me an edge over others. Apart from this first-mover advantage, my deep-rooted love for Sales can only be fulfilled by becoming a part of this reputed organization. So, the Times of India will always be on my checklist during my job hunt process.
I will be forever indebted to my mentor for making my internship at the Times of India an enjoyable experience. Working under his guidance not only broadened my horizon but also gave me learnings for a lifetime. He taught me the importance of linking the customer's area of interest with the product which is possible by FBA i.e., Features, Benefits and Advantages. Laying down this Information in front of customers in a structured way would play a prominent role in fetching a deal. These were some of the major takeaways that I can recollect at the moment.
To summarise, my internship at the Times of India was a rewarding experience. I had an opportunity to learn from my mistakes and convert my weaknesses into strengths. Moreover, I could tap into my hidden potential and discover a lot of new things about me. After my internship at the Times of India, I feel like a young professional ready to deal with real-world challenges.
What is the selection process for doing an internship at the Times of India?
To secure an internship at Times of India, a candidate has to pass through the rigorous selection process of this coveted organization which comprises of:
- Aptitude Test
- Group Discussion
- Personal Interview
The Aptitude test had questions from areas of logical reasoning, General Awareness, and verbal communication. Since I had been gearing up for this round for a few months, sailing through this round was not very tough. This was followed by the Group Discussion round which revolved around an abstract topic named 'Zero'. My listening and effective communication skills came in handy during this round and I could crack it easily.
The final phase of the Times of India selection process was the Personal Interview. This was unlike other interviews that basically revolve around CV. Here, I had to perform a role-play to sell a product. This was quite challenging. Nevertheless, I was able to crack it and was selected for doing an internship at the Times of India.
What was my role during my internship at the Times of India?
My internship at the Times of India allowed me to lay my hands on the domain of Sales. This role encompassed Cold Calling and Follow-Ups. The responsibility was relatively new for me as I had no prior experience in this domain. Also, during the first week of my internship, I had no idea how to approach and deal with the customers. But, eventually, as days progressed, not only did I start gaining confidence but also started excelling in this field. This raised my confidence level and I started challenging myself daily. I guess, this is what helped me raise my bar and produce efficient results.
What did I learn during my internship?
My internship at the Times of India was a bag full of learnings and I could chisel my soft skills during the course of my internship. The nature of my work boosted my confidence level and communication skills. Apart from that, my Convincing Power and Problem Solving skills have been revamped and polished on a very healthy note. Overall, doing an internship at the Times of India was a true test of my endurance capabilities and I believe that I did full justice to it.
What is the work culture at the Times of India?
To pursue my internship at the Times of India, I moved to Vadodara, Gujarat. The fact that I would get to experience a new city and culture, thrilled me to the core. So, I decided to make the move. Initially, adjusting in the new surroundings seemed an uphill task. Gradually I could gel very well with people around there. As an icebreaker session, the Times of India team organized an official team outing to the Statue of Unity which was an amazing experience. After working day and night, this team outing turned out to be a relaxing period for all of us.
Given a chance, I would grab the opportunity to work with the Times of India in the blink of an eye. My prior knowledge of this industry and its organizational structure will definitely give me an edge over others. Apart from this first-mover advantage, my deep-rooted love for Sales can only be fulfilled by becoming a part of this reputed organization. So, the Times of India will always be on my checklist during my job hunt process.
What did I learn from my mentor during my internship?
I will be forever indebted to my mentor for making my internship at the Times of India an enjoyable experience. Working under his guidance not only broadened my horizon but also gave me learnings for a lifetime. He taught me the importance of linking the customer's area of interest with the product which is possible by FBA i.e., Features, Benefits and Advantages. Laying down this Information in front of customers in a structured way would play a prominent role in fetching a deal. These were some of the major takeaways that I can recollect at the moment.
To summarise, my internship at the Times of India was a rewarding experience. I had an opportunity to learn from my mistakes and convert my weaknesses into strengths. Moreover, I could tap into my hidden potential and discover a lot of new things about me. After my internship at the Times of India, I feel like a young professional ready to deal with real-world challenges.
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