‘Just be honest and confident during job interviews’

From discovering her passion for digital marketing to securing a role as a Digital Marketing Executive, Aanchal Bhalla’s journey at Apeejay Institute of Management and Engineering Technical Campus (AIMETC) has been one of continuous learning and growth. The MCA graduate credits the institute for providing a perfect blend of academic excellence, practical exposure, and dedicated faculty support that helped her build confidence, sharpen her professional skills, and prepare for a successful career. In this interview, she reflects on her memorable college experience, placement journey, and future aspirations. Read edited excerpts:

How do you feel receiving the placement offer? What position have you been offered?

It honestly feels really good. I think every student waits for that one email or phone call saying, ‘Congratulations, you’ve been selected.’ So when I got mine, it was definitely a proud moment, not just for me but for my family as well.

I’ve been offered the role of Digital Marketing Executive, and I’m genuinely excited because it’s a field I wanted to build my career in. It’s creative, fast-paced, and every day you get to learn something new, which is something I really like.

How did you prepare for your placements?

I wouldn’t say I started preparing only during placement season. I think the preparation actually started much earlier. During college, I tried to focus on internships, projects, and improving my communication skills. Before interviews, I used to revise my technical concepts, go through my resume again, and practice common interview questions with my friends.

One thing that really helped me was researching the company before every interview. It made me feel much more confident because I knew what they were looking for.

How did your teachers at Apeejay help you during the placement process?

Our teachers were really supportive throughout the placement process. They guided us with resume building, conducted mock interviews, and kept sharing useful interview tips. Even after practice sessions, they would tell us where we needed to improve instead of just saying ‘good’ or ‘bad.’

That honest feedback actually helped a lot because by the time the real interviews came, I already knew what areas I needed to work on.

What tips would you give students to crack a job interview?

I think my biggest advice would be that don’t try to impress by pretending to know everything. Just be honest and confident. If you’ve written something on your resume, make sure you can explain it well because interviewers usually ask about your own projects first.

Also, do a little research about the company before the interview. It doesn’t take much time, but it leaves a really good impression.

One more thing is don’t get discouraged if your first interview doesn’t go well. Every interview teaches you something, and you’ll definitely perform better in the next one.

What are your future aspirations?

For now, I just want to keep learning and make the most of every opportunity I get. I want to gain practical experience, work on interesting projects, and continue developing my skills in digital marketing. As I grow professionally, I’d love to take on more responsibilities and eventually move into a leadership role. But honestly, more than chasing a designation, I just want to keep improving and enjoy the work that I do.