Having graduated from IMS Ghaziabad where he did a BCA, Sanjay Malik, PGDM from the Jaipuria Institute of Management’s Noida’s campus (batch of 2014-16), chose to do PGDM because it would give him far more opportunities as well as career options. “Of course it was a big decision because my entire future career depended on this degree. I felt that I had to pursue it from a good institute so that I could start my career with a company of my dreams.”

Of the several Business Schools that dot the Indian landscape, only a handful stand out for their excellent credentials and student experience. Of these are the Jaipuria Institutes of Management (Lucknow, Noida, Jaipur and Indore). Jaipuria Noida, concurs Malik fulfilled all these parameters. “It is a well known B-School with huge opportunities in terms of industry-oriented programs and the companies that come to the campus during placement. There is an equal focus on academics, extra-curricular activities and personality development. My only concern before I joined was about placement and the kind of support that I would get from the faculty as well as the institute.” With Jaipuria’s 100 per cent placement record, Malik need not have worried.

The Jaipuria Noida experience saw Malik being recognised for his many achievements at the campus. “It was always a ‘WOW’ moment for me whenever that happened. I won the Bizyard Competition, a national level business event held at Amity University. I was also thrilled to be chosen President of Extra Curricular Activities and it was a wonderful moment for me when I got placed with Asian Paints Ltd,” says Malik who was also the recipient of an academic scholarship. Malik says that during his time at Jaipuria he has grown in confidence and self-belief. “Initially I suffered from stage fright,” he confesses but admits that he has certainly improved a great deal from those early days.

Having interned at Aditya Birla Grasim Ltd as a Management Trainee in the FMCG/FMCD sector, the topic of Malik’s summer internship project (SIP) was, ‘Market Feasibility study to find new opportunities and measures to increase sales of Kara Wipes’. At Grasim he learnt the process of distribution, the various bottlenecks that can hold up its process and how a product can be pushed in the marketplace. All very essential lessons and ones that will stand him in good stead in his future career at Asian Paints, where he will be joining as Marketing and Sales Officer, Level 1.

I really learnt a lot during my internship,” admits Malik who adds that the experience helped him during his interview as well. “Somehow my theoretical knowledge and the way I supported my answers in the interview were the turning points in my placement process. I was asked many questions that pertained to my SIP and decision-making in ‘actual life- related’ problems.”

That is why Malik’s advice to students is to “focus more on the SIP and try to do the same in your areas of interest. Be honest with your answers,” he expresses adding that he will miss Jaipuria Noida’s busy academic schedule and extra-curricular activities.