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Adesh Midha(410/IC/05),placed in IOCL(Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.) shares his experience of placements…………

"Hi juniors,

WARNING: The post is too LONG. Also, it’s meant for all branches and not particularly ICE people.
I don't exactly know (neither do I wish to) the protocol with which I am supposed write this post for you all (which is expected to be beneficiary and motivating) as the prescribed one seems to be leading you all nowhere but perhaps just highlights our achievements as seniors in a more subtle way and frightens you all further at this time of recession. Understanding your problems, I would try and place myself in your situation and suggest ways accordingly:-

1.  With you all being offered only two grade of companies; A and A+, had I been in your place I would have appeared for all A grade companies and reserve my thoughts for whether to appear or not in A+ companies (with choice depending upon the profile, package, perks etc.). The reason you may rightly guess.
    
2. Segregating A+ companies visiting the campus into five profiles:
   • Software- Cisco, Adobe etc.
   • Electronics Hardware and Communications- STM, TI etc.
   • Instrumentation and Control- IOCL, EIL etc.
   • Companies meant for MPAE (manufacturing related)- Hero Honda, Maruti
   • Non Tech Companies- Deloitte, Dunhumby, BAIN etc.
    
3. As most of you will agree that reading ‘Champak’ (studying anything just for the sake of studying) at this stage won’t help, so locate your interest (may be a couple of profiles) and focus your energies over its preparations.
    
4. Realize that DR1’s and DR2’s (Department rank) have already been preparing hard for placements when you were just chilling around watching movies in your holidays.

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TCS

They had three rounds of selection. I couldn’t clear round 1 in which in total 200 students appeared and 140 were shortlisted. I began to believe that logically I can only get placed once these 140 students above me get placed in some companies. In retrospect, this feeling fuelled me that complete night that kept me awake preparing for Day 2.

Satyam

I cleared the written and the Satyam guy gave us some useful tips for the interview. The summary is as follows:

1. Prepare a nice ‘about me’ and I need not mention that no one expects your introduction to be the one you have on Orkut (I am go happy kinds of a girl, cute and sweet…kinds).
2. When asked about your parents, don’t forget to mention about your brother/sister (what’s his age/profession etc.) as this reflects your social characteristic and creates an impression of you being spontaneous in the interview (projects as if you have not really prepared for it when you actually have).
    
3. Prepare a list of your strengths and weakness (5 each) and have reasons to justify them.
    
4. Have basic knowledge of the current affairs (Article 377….:P)
    
5. Never use sms lingo or words like ‘screwed’ etc. (as someone did and she was fired immediately). You are not on a reality show and will not be ‘beeped’ for such words.

I was told in my interview only (they usually declare this once whole interview process is complete and not after any individual interview) that ‘I am selected and can go back home as anyways I am not going to join the company’. Now onwards, I could only wait for A and A+ companies to visit.

STM, TI and freescale came. I couldn’t clear their rounds.

I did not sit for Adobe, Cisco and Deloitte obeying my policy of ‘interested’ job profiles.