‘From mock interviews to sharing effective tips, ASM faculty helped me immensely in getting a job’

Arpita Kumari, a student of Apeejay School of Management (ASM), pursuing an MBA in Operations and Marketing, recently got placed as a relationship manager at ICICI Bank. Having secured the opportunity via the college placement cell, Arpita gives credit to her teachers for preparing her well for the interview. Her father Ashok Kumar Tiwari, who retired from the Indian army as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO, ex-serviceman), says he is very happy with his daughter’s overall progress. In an interview, the father and daughter share how they chose ASM, the benefits of its MBA curriculum, and more. Edited excerpts:

What encouraged Arpita to pursue her MBA from ASM?

A K Tiwari: My daughter has always been a very sincere student, be it in army school or later in college. After completing her graduation, she expressed her desire to pursue an MBA degree, for which she took admission at ASM.

Arpita: I told my father about ASM after I got to know about it from one of my seniors. She is an alumna of ASM, who gave me positive feedback. My father wanted me to get a government job, but I was keen on doing an MBA. He supported my decision and enrolled me.

What improvements are you seeing in Arpita?

A K Tiwari: My daughter has shown exceptional improvement. She has been extremely focused and has studied very hard. ASM has played a huge role in developing her interest and preparing her for the future ahead.

Most people in my family are in the army, so I was hoping my daughter would get a job in the same. But she wanted a job in a private firm. Keeping my daughter’s happiness in mind, I encouraged her in every way possible and will continue to do so. Now that she has secured a job in a bank, I am very happy.

Apart from academics, does ASM boost a student’s overall personality?

A K Tiwari: Yes, ASM has guided and shaped my child’s personality beautifully. I am very happy with the way my daughter has progressed with the help of ASM and I wish to see her achieve all her goals.

Arpita: Ishita Adhikari Ma’am is my teacher and mentor, who guided me at every step. By following her advice, I have learned a lot of things. I am grateful to have her and other faculty members as my teachers. I also participated in various extra-curricular competitions, which helped my overall growth. 

Is the curriculum at ASM preparing the MBA students for the industry?

Arpita: While our classes were mostly held online, I did not face any difficulty in learning. The focus on practical learning has been extremely beneficial. ASM has given us diverse opportunities to explore our strengths and weaknesses and hone our skills. I also got some of the best internship opportunities in college, which have helped me gain a lot of experience.

Tell us about the college placement cell and how it guides students.

Arpita: I had a very good experience with the placement cell. The faculty gave us good tips on how to improve communication skills and how to crack an interview. The interactions helped build my confidence immensely.

Were you well prepared for your job interview?

Arpita: The college provided us with topics for Group Discussion (GD) so that we could prepare well in advance. Ishita ma’am also did mock interviews with me several times, which helped me overcome any hesitation or nervousness. When I finally sat for the interview, I felt I was ready to face all kinds of questions.