FORESIGHT(2023): Summer Internship at ITC | Aditya Uppal |

1) Brief Introduction

My name is Aditya Uppal. I am a third year undergraduate from the mechanical engineering department. As for my involvements on campus, I was the CDC Departmental Representative of the Mechanical Engineering department as well as a part of AGV and Encore.

2) How did you get into ITC? What was the selection procedure?

ITC is a Day 1 company and a few days before Day 1, a Google form is circulated. The Form is evaluative and acts as the largest filter for the students, so I recommend filling it with utmost care and precision. After the form, some 70–80 odd students are shortlisted for the GDs. The GD is extremely interesting and case-study based. About 20 students made it past the GDs to the final interviews held on Day 1. There are 2 rounds of interview, one is technical and based on your CV/department while the final interview is the HR round with higher-ups from the company. In my case it was the CEO of the matchsticks and incense business.

3) How to prepare for them?

The Google form basically collects your academic track record in addition to your motivation to join the company. I suggest writing concise and crisp answers, strongly highlighting why you want to work for ITC and how you shall be able to contribute to the same. It may come as a bummer to some but SGPA is also taken into account in addition to CGPA. Consistency is rewarded. The GD is there to test your communication skills as well as your ability to translate problems into smaller, more digestible bits. Linear thinking and simple case solving can be practiced to ensure a solid performance in the GD. The topics mentioned on your CV, especially from your core department, have to be prepared thoroughly as they might be asked in the interview. Ensure that you are thorough with at least 3 topics from your depth curriculum. The HR round is fairly straightforward and tests your quick thinking and reasoning ability. I was presented with the task of employing what I have done in my previous internship at IISc in a real life scenario in the final interview.

4) What difficulties did you face while preparing for this Company/Profile? How did you overcome this problem

According to me the most unpredictable part of the whole process is the first shortlist, that is after the Google Form. There is no specific criteria on which you are judged, so you can not necessarily predict if you’ll be shortlisted or not. Having a decent CGPA helps a ton but giving solid answers for your motivation to work at the company will also be a major role. Ensure that you take advice from your mentors/ seniors.

5) According to you, who should ideally apply for this job?

ITC offers interns the ability to work on large, real life problems which can offer an extremely enriching experience with a steep learning curve. It truly is an experience and I would suggest everyone who has the will to make a difference to consider applying to the job. The projects you get are based on your strengths and points highlighted in your interview/CV.

6) Any specific advice you want to give to the junta sitting for internships this year.

I would suggest having at least one project in core/field you want to work in. It greatly helps in driving the interview as well as ensures that the interviewer does not deviate too much and ask questions which are either too difficult or irrelevant. It also helps in covering up gaps in your preparation of core topics. In addition to this being confident, having a positive outlook as well as a no-nonsense approach to answers will get you a long way. All the very best, internships are just a very small step in the long journey that awaits you all. Don’t fret, you got this.

7) What are some of the major points you think would be valid to mention in your CV while targeting this profile?(any specific suggestions you would like to make?)

As I mentioned before, have some projects and prepare them thoroughly. Think of real life applications of the same so that you can tie that in during the interview. Mention academic courses very carefully as you can be grilled on the same. Prepare theory of the courses you have mentioned at the very least. PORs help, but are not necessary as I did not have any specific POR when I sat for the internship process.