How IILM Turns Uncut Stones into Shining Diamonds – An Alumni Story by Firdaus Shadab Alam of Deloitte India

One year after graduating with honors and a boring B.com degree had me thinking life has me beat. Been there? Good, now let’s talk about how it all changes.

My desperate attempt to find a job, any job had me going down a rabbit hole of researching for MBA colleges. At first glance, they all looked the same to me. I could not differentiate one from another. I sat for many interviews but once I visited IILM I knew this is where I’m going to study. To call it a college with a big heart is an understatement. This is a family, one where every second faculty member cares just as much about your future as your immediate family. So, me and my sister packed our bags, bid the city of Joy adieu and proceeded to live in the campus hostel for what I can without doubt call the best 2 years of my life.

While I did not have any specific expectations as a newbie but having previously done my graduation in Accounting, my main motivation was to pursue finance and get placed in a reputed accounting firm. My teachers did me one better and suggested I get a dual major in Finance and marketing. I only wanted to be an accountant but from learning economics to finance to big data science I now work in the Innovation team in Deloitte. A few years ago, if someone told me I would be working in such an offbeat and dynamic role I never would have believed it.

From early morning classes, to running around campus for assignments, and late-night study sessions to the interesting competitions, corporate exposure & continuous interaction with the corporates- there is never a dull moment on campus.The course is rigorously planned, giving each student the ambient condition and many opportunities to explore their full potential and polish their leadership skills. The days sometimes seem endless, coffee tends to become a constant ally to navigate through the myriad of projects, role plays, case discussions & group assignments. I often played table tennis with my peers to lighten the mood after a hectic day.

Unlike other colleges I saw most of my batchmates getting their dream job. From summer internships to final placement the CDC team has you covered. I did my internship at WNS Global Services Private Limited as I wanted to learn more about research and how one can transform it into a career.

On one hand I had the finance professor (Mr. Raju Majumdar) teaching us how to formulate a strategy or correctly analyze a balance sheet and on the other you have (Mr. Rajkishan Nair) teaching you the importance of self-awareness and moral judgement, in our post-modern world it is very important to understand what moves the world and how asking the fundamental questions will keep you on top of your game every single day.I thank each teacher who taught me so well that I graduated and was awarded the Gold Medal, from learning how to negotiate with absolute certainty, to remembering each word written by Philip Kotler to understanding why Big data is the next big gold mine. The faculty here will teach you everything and more. And most importantly they will do it with grace and patience. 

IILM for me was not only about the monetary return on investment. It has other non-monetary benefits added to the package which seems to lack in the average rung Indian B-schools. It has its own brand and its own value. They teach you hard skills such as marketing operations, economics and so on and soft skills such as teamwork, communication and leadership. Most importantly, it helps you establish the valuable ‘network’ and ‘contacts’ and you are left with more than just a degree. Everyone you network with during the period— fellow students, alumni, faculty staff, and visiting speakers — will prove invaluable when it comes to seeking out a high-profile internship and, eventually, a job.

Firduas Shadab Alam

Innovation Team at  Deloitte India

Alumnus- Batch (16-18)

Apply now for global education at IILM. Visit www.iilm.edu

 

IILM Placement Week 2015 – Experience the Buzz Around!

It is finally that time of year at IILM campus. Yes, the recruiters are here to cherry pick the best students in the lot. As our students brace themselves to answer that one question, “how to choose the right career path?” IILM is all set to put up a showcase the most awaited gathering of the year. We are glad to announce that some significant companies are ready to put their positions in front for the current academic year’ campus placement drive, starting October 5th – 9th 2015, across all three campuses of IILM– Gurgaon, Greater Noida and Lodhi Road Campus.

Campus mood was in the range enough to upbeat the excitement going through the students and placement faculty in charge.  With companies coming in from as many as 60-80 group of corporate and start ups from diverse industries and functional areas across all campuses. To name a few, companies made a mark on IILM campus are  – Yes Bank, Accenture, Eazy Diner, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bajaj Allianz, Fortis, Oyo Rooms, Genpact, Zenica, Tybros, Naukri, Jabong, Askme.com, Oxigen , Policy Bazaar, Edelweiss, Koovs.com, GroupOn.  Hence, it is very important for students to understand the seriousness of such an event and be prepared to show their skills, knowledge, academic grades and the ‘will’ to step on the ladder of success.

IILM helps each student in exploring placement opportunities by inviting various companies for campus recruitment. It is essential for students to portray their capability along with consistent performance that they have achieved in their academic performance with the right pitch and tone. The hiring managers of different companies come with some specific requirements as depending on positions being offered and company requirements.

All in all, like every year, the final placement drive at IILM is the result of a very systematic interaction with the industry and continuous career counseling and grooming of the students. Simultaneously, sessions of mentoring help the students in getting their ‘dream’ jobs but also assists the visiting placement companies in identifying the ‘right’ candidate for their organization.

Stay updated with us – some exclusive bites coming up straight from our students and company recruiters on IILM blog.