No shortlisting with Day 0 companies. Guess will spend some time with preparation. And there are periodic visits to Placement arena to cheer up fellow dorm mates. Wonder will they do the same for me! 3 guys out of 14 in Dorm placed. Best performance by any dorm so far.

Day One:

Shortlisted for HLL and Coke'n'Pepsi. Got booted in HLL GD, got through GD in Coke'n'Pepsi. But Interview was fine, at least I thought so. When shortlist for final interviews came, my name was nowhere to be seen. Dormmates consoled that next day would be better. I hope so and start the walk back to the dorm. At night, I try to gather where I made the mistake in the Interview. Another 5 guys got placed from the dorm. Six remaining. We six sat in a room cracking jokes and chatting in general. One guy appeared in seven interviews, with no offers. He was amused.

Day Two:

Shortlisted for Heinz, Marico. Thought Interview with Heinz went fine. In Marico GD, I spoke a few good points, participated a lot. At noon, shortlist did not contain my name. Appeared in interview with Monsanto at noon. Guys taking Interview said that I wasn't made for a sales job. That killed my interest. I never thought of myself as an introvert. At 3 pm. It was Cadbury's Interview thought it too went well. Company executives thought otherwise. Still, no offers today. Consolation from dorm mates and same lonely walk back to dorm. Another 3 placed. Now only 3 remaining. All the placed guys had gone out to city for dinner. Remaining 3 sat in the room, silent.

Day Three:

Shortlisted by all major companies. Day started early with GD from IBP Caltex and Marubeni. Got through Caltex and had an Interview at noon. Had a GD at noon for Godrej. Shortlisted for Interview at 3 pm. Meanwhile, Caltex shortlist comes up for final interview, again my name wasn't there. Fortunately, shortlisted for Godrej's final Interview. Gave interview with Godrej. Waited for results wondering where are the guys whom I had come to cheer on Day Zero. Godrej was also negative. Another 2 get placed from dorm. So I am the only person remaining. First dorm to be placed completely except for me. Juniors comfort me. I really wonder whether I should have joined a lower ranked B-school to perform better. Did not feel like going to mess dinner with 20 odd students remaining jobless. So went out to city with close friend. Talked little over dinner.

Day Four:

A few companies decide not to come for Placements as too few students were left. It is becoming humiliating to get dressed and walk across the campus for interview. Tried to avoid a few classmates. Appeared with Ramco and Modi Xerox. Ramco said since I was not an engineer and so would not fit in there. Interview with Xerox was one of the shoddiest, I ever gave. Is pressure getting to me? Placecom room is deserted, but for a few handfuls conscious of their duty towards "unfortunates like me". GD for Indian Express is in the Afternoon. But I am no Salman Rushdie. So again no shortlisting. Boy! This is becoming really depressing. Did I come to this Institute for this humiliation? I am glad that Institute closes after Placement! But where has the placecom gone? Where are their pompous predictions of 'placement will be over in two days'. Again dinner is not in mess but in city. I never thought that the last days at the Institute would be like this. Tried to sleep but can I sleep when I am one of the last six people "unplaced on Campus"???

Day Five:

Another humiliating walk to placement room. Interview with CLB, Indian Airlines. CLB is non-starter as I have no creativity. CLB takes 2. 4 more to go. With only IA left and last placement day, it's back to the wall. Fortunately, IA picks all the remaining four guys. Congratulations from few people who came to support us. Yes, there are human guys after all! My faith in humanity is restored.

But congratulations like "Congratulations, it's not a bad job after all!" made me wonder whether it's a compliment or a comment! Rather than happiness, it's the feeling of huge relief that everything is over now. At last!

So long-awaited Dorm party, which seniors gave to dorm juniors on 100% dorm placement, will be held at last!

Paradise Regained!

Is that the bottom? Certainly no! Once you get one-two years experience, you become valuable and get in demand. And the companies which did not found you worth-recruiting, are suddenly looking towards you. Headhunters e-mail you with interview calls for these Day-One companies. One such student got to PWC, other to Marico and another to Morgan Stanley. A few went to Harvard and Wharton to do PhD. and MBA.

"Just believe in yourself", advises one student. "Because a hero lies in you, and you have faced the worst". So cheer up if you were "an unfortunate one". Life will turn a full circle after a year or so and you will be in demand with corporates chasing you. And boy, it sure does feel nice, to be wanted!

Read "RainMaker" by John Grisham to get over placement blues. Do as Rudy Baylour did as "rainmaker".

CoolAvenues Research Team

Concluded.

Placements 2001

Read complete story of Placement 2001 as it happened along with analysis and comparison across the B-Schools and segment-wise analysis.

Placements 2002

Read complete story of Placement 2002 as it happened along with analysis and comparison across the B-Schools and segment-wise analysis.

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