Learn to integrate college learning with day-to-day work: Disha Nanda, Alumnus, AIMC

Disha Nanda, an Alumnus of Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC), New Delhi has been associated with Genesis BCW for the last 5 years. She is currently working as a Senior Account Manager. She completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Communication & Event Management in 2015-16. In this freewheeling interview, Disha talks about importance of mental clarity and how to ace placement interviews

What made you pick AIMC?
After completing my graduation from Delhi University, I was looking for an institute with a brand value and one that offers a course in Corporate Communication. AIMC ticked both the boxes.

What did you learn from AIMC?
During my time in AIMC, I learnt the nuances of market and how Corporate Communication & Event Management are interlinked.  I also learnt the importance of teamwork and ideation to get the right campaigns for the client. We were given practical training that would give any communication student a thorough understanding of how this sector works. The focus was not on rote learning, reading chapters and making notes, but the emphasis was on understanding and experimenting with a different thought process.  

How to land a job during campus placement?
From day one, we were prepared to bag the job of our dreams. The faculty did a fantastic job of preparing us for the selection process. I religiously planned my 10 months in AIMC to understand where do I see myself after the completion of course and I started preparing accordingly. I landed up with 3 jobs and decided to join Genesis as part of the Associate Learning Program which is managed by the Genesis BCW School of Learning. It was my dream job. To freshers I would say, it’s important to have clarity… clarity in whether you want to pursue Events or Public Relation, clarity in whether you want to work for a big company or a boutique agency. I had clarity that I wanted to get into one of the top 3 PR agencies in India and I managed to achieve my goal. There are students who opt for any course just for the sake of it and later find their true calling whereas I found my calling beforehand. All because of mental clarity. During interviews, it’s important to be confident and be truthful to your interviewer. Admit if you don’t know something. Another common mistake students make is that they oversell themselves.

Any interesting interview anecdote you want to share with us?
Yes. During my selection process for Genesis BCW I was asked create a 30 seconds video in which I had to introduce myself and answer why communication is such an important tool in this day and age. This is the kind of newness we are seeing in selection process nowadays. I wanted the video to look professional, so I took the help of a teacher form ‘Television & Radio Journalism / Production’ to provide me the equipment. One of the reasons that I got through the final interview was because the video came out really well.  

What did you learn from your job?
It’s important to integrate what you have learnt during your college days with your job. For example, I learned in AIMC that a press release should have 5 Ws and 1 H. I applied this formula in my current job.  If you want to make a career in Corporate Communication or Public Relation you should be well-versed with latest happenings around the world. Read newspapers daily.