‘Recruiters value a positive attitude, curiosity, and good communication as much as technical knowledge’

Coming from a commerce background, Ishika Pandey joined Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC), Dwarka with equal parts excitement and nervousness, eager to explore the world of media and marketing. The institute’s intensive 21-day orientation programme, featuring interactions with industry experts, convinced her that she had made the right choice. Over time, classroom learning, practical exposure, and constant faculty guidance helped her grow into a confident and industry-aware professional. Ishika has now secured a placement as Executive – Planning and Strategy at AGL Hakuhodo, a role that perfectly aligns with her passion for digital marketing and long-term career aspirations. Read edited excerpts: 

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

I honestly feel so blessed to get to be in the space that I had always rooted for. Digital marketing fascinated me and I was pretty clear that this is exactly where I want to see myself heading in my career. I’m thankful to our placement coordinator for his guidance and I could crack this offer  into AGL Hakuhodo, a digital marketing agency. I’ve been offered the position of Executive- Planning and Strategy, and I look forward to going onwards and upwards from this role. 

How did you prepare for your placements?

I went through all the concepts of digital marketing that were taught to me by the faculty. To be prepared for advanced questions I researched a lot of other information and made sure that I’m well aware of the recent trends and tools being used in the industry. Our faculty was helpful enough to guide me through the process and make sure I reached out to the right sources for information. 

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

Our teachers regularly arranged mock interviews for us so that we don’t fumble up at the right moment. They made sure we were staying up to date with the recent campaigns that were going on by ready articles on Afaqs and E4M. Apart from this, they were always there to provide us emotional support and make sure that we are always cheerful.

Tips to crack job interview 

My biggest tip is to understand the role and the company before the interview. Read the job description carefully, explore the company’s website and social media, and know how your skills match what they’re looking for.

Secondly, don’t just memorise interview answers. Instead, understand the concepts. Whether it’s SEO, social media marketing, Google Analytics, or any other field, interviewers can easily tell the difference between someone who has mugged up answers and someone who genuinely understands the basics. Finally, be honest and confident. It’s perfectly okay to say, “I haven’t worked on this yet, but I’m eager to learn.” Recruiters value a positive attitude, curiosity, and good communication as much as technical knowledge.

Your future aspirations

Over the next 10 years, I see myself growing in the corporate world, learning as much as I can, and gaining hands-on experience across different aspects of marketing. I believe the early years of a career are the best time to build strong skills, work with diverse teams, and understand the industry in depth.

Once I have enough experience and confidence, I may consider starting my own marketing agency. Growth is something we all aspire to, and I believe the sky is the limit