Marita Jacob is all set to join the Supply Chain wing of Green Park Hotels after clearing 4 strenuous rounds of testing interviews

Marita Jacob is a Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management (VJIM) student, earning her Post Graduate Diploma in Management’s (PGDM) in Finance and Operations. Marita Jacob wasn’t the only one who underwent hardship on the path to business school. But sure enough, she was among the very few who found a way to accomplish her goal.

Marita, as a high school student, demonstrated leadership qualities by learning the art of working in groups, managing group work, and the finest quality of getting the work done. Also, as a part of the placement committee at VJIM, she ensures maintaining and refining her leadership skills by working in groups and passing out victoriously.

Jacob says, “I’d come to this Institute as a different person, but I’m sure with so much training, I’m going out as a thorough professional. VJIM has contributed immensely in terms of preparing us for the world outside. Yes, I wouldn’t deny that I’m used to working in groups, I do have certain leadership qualities. But it was only because of the faculty that I could improve it and retain my self-confidence.”

Marita says the faculty members and industry professionals provided mentorship throughout the journey, “I remember getting rejected by the first company where I gave an interview. To say that I was shocked and depressed is an understatement, I was disappointed with myself. But luckily, I talked with my faculty members and classmates about it, and they helped me regain my confidence to appear for other interviews. Constantly having someone to guide you through your high’s and low’s feels really great, and in my case, VJIM has filled the void.”

Her hunger for success eventually landed her to secure a job at Green Park Hotels to work as Supply Chain and Procurement in charge. Rewinding to the days of her selection process, she recalls clearing 4 strenuous rounds of interviews that started off with a written test, followed by a group discussion round, personal interview with the HR, Psychometric test, and the final round with the Operations head.

To the students working their way through graduation and post-graduation who are facing countless challenges, she says, “If you are determined, hard-working, helpful, and self-motivated, you can accomplish everything. We, as beginners, have to be open to new opportunities – be it for a better job, better education, or a better role, accept everything.”

From classroom to a post-trade technology firm- Shweta Yadav of Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management’s PGDM Class 2019, talks about her transition

Shweta was always aspirational. With her drive to build a successful career- she was hungry for learning and achieving more. It was this passion that brought her from Lucknow to the sun- kissed warm city of Hyderabad to pursue her PGDM from Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management (VJIM).

As a graduate in commerce, Shweta successfully worked her way through VJIM by pursuing her majors in Finance, before securing a permanent placement as an Associate Consultant of the Product Consulting Group at Arcesium.

Picking up on a skill-based course that involves numerous presentations and interaction between faculty members and students, as an introvert since birth, to cope up with the flow of her course was slightly overwhelming and challenging. But she says that needed those challenges to get out of her comfort zone. She needed the mental stimulation which only her course could give. She met those challenges successfully, even though they were quite hard at times.

A tenacious individual, Shweta tackled learning head-on. When she was skeptical or stumbled upon issues, she reached out to her faculty members. She also engaged in various student forums and group activities where she learned the art of working in and with a group. To this, she adds, “I’ve transitioned from being an extreme introvert to an outgoing person today. And, this has happened because of VJIM and my efforts to fit in with my co-students. We’ve always helped each other in some or the other way. We’d all come here to learn, so I was never alone on this journey.”

As her first ever job, besides being fascinated, Shweta’s goal is to outperform her own expectations and stay motivated about the future, as she did in the past. “At first, I want to learn, unlearn, and re-learn everything. I want to work on my communication skills and want to improve, more than ever. Considering this is my first job, I’d like to give-away my first salary as an expression of gratitude to my parents. They’ve taught me to face every challenge with courage, one at a time, and to keep myself organized,” stated Shweta.

One of her favorite parts of this journey, according to Shweta, was getting the opportunity to meet industry leaders, working under the finest faculty members, and accepting criticism as well as rejections. “When I couldn’t clear the final round of an interview of my dream company, I realized that I had to work better, smarter, and harder to clear the next one. I strongly affirmed, prepared well, and cleared it. And, I was the only one from VJIM to clear it. Self-confidence can make such a difference,” she added.

Behaviour tips for new management students to make their life easier at college

Starting management education often proves to be an overwhelming experience for some students. Despite their prior exposure to campus life, they may find it difficult to adjust to the rigorous schedule of the higher education programs. This is more frequent in the students, who are resuming their studies after a gap. Discussed below are some key behaviour tips that can help the management aspirants make their PG Diploma courses easier and memorable.

• Do not pretend to be someone else

The most important behavioural tip for new management aspirants is to be themselves. They should not try to adapt a pseudo personality simply to impress their peer and seniors. Adapting such an approach will lead to great mental and emotional stress besides making them less trustworthy. The freshers need to remember that they can win good friends with an honest and right approach rather than being desperate to become the hottest new student of the institute.

• Volunteer in various college activities

Taking part in activities at campus is the easiest ways to socialize and make new friends. Showing an interest in such activities makes it easier for the freshers to meet new people and learn new skills as well. It also reflects the willingness of the students to contribute positively towards to the institute. New students can seek information about the different student bodies operational at the institute to learn more about voluntary participation in activities of their interest.

• Attend classes regularly

In order to successfully complete the certification, the students need to be extremely serious about their studies from day one. That is why they should make it a point to attend classes regularly. Every lecture and lesson is important and skipping even one lecture can make it difficult for the management aspirants to catch up with the concept being taught in the next class. Choosing to bunk classes can prove detrimental to the overall learning process of the students and can result in a significant downfall in their grades in the first semester itself.

• Keep an eye on the budget

Most new management students dream of partying and shopping with fellow students. However, it is important for every student to keep an eye on their budget so that they do not end up losing all their money long before the month is over. Since management courses are quite expensive in terms of fees and accommodation, which leaves most students with limited funds for personal expenses. Even students belonging to affluent families should exercise caution before spending the money without proper planning.

• Seek help and guidance from teachers when in need

It is common for students to come across challenges and issues on both personal and academic fronts during their orientation at college. In such cases, it is advisable to seek the help and guidance of teachers. This can help the students from making grave errors that can would complicate their situation. Teachers are well aware of the pressures faced by the new management aspirants and are eager to offer whatever help and support they can provide.

Various Career Options to Choose from after Completion of a PG Diploma in Finance

Give that accounting and finance form the backbone of every industry, a large number of students are opting to pursue a higher education program in this field. One such education option is a diploma in financial management offered at the post graduate level by various renowned institutes. Like most other post graduate diplomas, opting for this particular educational program can pave the way for a successful career for interested candidates. In this context having a better understanding of the various prospective career options available to them after course completion can prove quite beneficial for the candidates. Discussed below are the common career options that the candidates can choose from after successful completion of the course.

Opt For Higher Education

Even though completing a diploma in finance perfectly culminates the educational career of candidates, some individuals may opt to pursue a still higher education program. For such candidates, having a diploma proves to be distinctly advantageous while applying for a Masters level course in the most renowned universities and institutes across India and the globe. In fact, some universities might even offer a direct admission into the second year of a Masters program being offered by them, to such candidates. May candidates opt for a post graduate diploma in finance  only to improve their chances of getting selected for a Masters program by the university of their choice.

Take Up Internships

Candidates, who are not too interested in pursuing higher studies, can opt to take up internships with various organizations for a short or long term. Most leading financial institutions are constantly seeking candidates willing to work as interns in various divisions within the organization. In addition, the candidates can also choose to take up internships with other organizations, in the areas of human resources, marketing, operations and even finance. Irrespective of the area they choose to work in, the practical expose that the candidates can gain during their internship makes them more confident and competent for fulfilling their long term career objectives.

Seek Full Time Jobs

The most common career path chosen by candidates after completing their Post Graduate Diploma Courses in India, in various fields, including Financial Management is that of seeking a full time job. With the rapid growth of the financial services industry in India, there has been a significant rise in the demand for skilled and proficient candidates capable of handling various roles. This presents a generally wide choice of options for the candidates to start their career in a highly satisfactory manner. In addition to offering them countless opportunities for growth, opting for a full time job helps the candidates to fine tune their analytical and inter-personal skills in accordance with their career goals. This is irrespective of whether they intend to reach the top management level positions within the next few years or star their own financial service.