Scholar-Journalist of the Week: My first interview experience

Rahul Gupta is an advertising student with Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC). Recently, the budding media professional went to the Communique Marketing Solutions Pvt Ltd in Gurugram for his first interview and he was left mesmerised when he entered the office. Post which, he wrote an experiential article about his first interview with Mr. Tarun Aggarwal, CEO of Communique India. Read on the edited excerpts:   

How much time did it take you to write this article? Why did you pick to write an experiential piece?

I had my interview on 15 Jan. Basically, we were 37 students from advertising and marketing programme, visiting the Communique India office to understand about the working of a company from inside. Over there, 7 of us had our interview in front of the CEO of the company. So the excitement and nervousness filled our hearts so much so that I just wanted to write it into my journal. Thus, I thought why not write an article about it too.

Do you think writing about personal experiences is challenging? 

Writing about personal experience is, in my opinion, not challenging; rather, it is the simple part of writing. The difficult part is to show it in front of the world. Being ready to be judged in both positive and negative ways. It’s just as similar to being vulnerable and powerful at the same time. 

You have mentioned in your article, ‘It was such a grand experience as I got the opportunity to give my first interview directly to the CEO of the company.’ What were the exact feelings running through?

Yeah, I just wanted it to go either fabulous or disastrous, nothing in between so that I’ll have a clear picture of how the interview went in my head. The moment I went in front of the CEO, Mr. Tarun Aggarwal, I was amazed by his aura. He didn’t ask anything after he told me to sit down in front of him, so I initiated the conversation and then I was thinking why I was so restless.

Did you prepare for the interview? How?

The preparation started 3 days before the interview. I was working on my portfolio, my CV, and my elevated pitch for the interview, but the mental preparation started half an hour before the actual interview. This was because it doesn’t matter how well you have prepared already for the interview, but once you visit the place where it is supposed to happen you get a different kind of feeling, a tinge of nervousness fills you completely, and at that time you prepare yourself mentally again from the scratch.

Share some tips for those appearing for an interview for the first time?

According to me, the most important things for the interview is to know about the company, what you are interviewing for, know about yourself and why you are sitting in that interview. Have a clear picture of the requirements of the position that you are presenting yourself for, and also be true during the whole interview. The worst thing you can do in an interview is lie about your skills or yourself. So, be true whatever and however you are, maybe you won’t be a fit for the role you have applied, but some other role that the recruiter might find suitable for you.

How is AIMC helping you in your writing journey?

AIMC has given me direction in my writing journey and for which I will be thankful to the institution my whole life. And that’s not just because this institution has helped me with the writing part, but also how to conceptualise and adequately visualise things so that they can come out effectively in front of the world that can steer some positive change in the society.

After graduation, what are your career plans?

Frankly, I can’t really wait to enter the industry right now. To work, learn and improve my skills is my prime motto right now that will take me further in the industry. I hope that all my skills and learning will create a positive change in the society. And also to grab some awards (laughs), yes that’s my career plan for now.