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I was part of IIT Kanpur's core placement team as the Head, Placement Preparations (2011-12) and the Department Placement Coordinator the year before. The experiences, while personally rewarding as exercises in skills-building, otherwise largely brought to light some of the things terribly wrong with the system. I find it more valuable to focus on the latter for my answer.Deep-diving into the individual stakeholders:The Placement Office:No transparency in selections. Most appointments were either political, friendly favors or because the candidate happened to be dating someone on the insideNo transparency in rejections. We had an IITK+IIMC alumnus on board as a Career Counselor. His single major contribution in raising the preparation level on campus was reciprocated by firing him. What for? On the grounds that he was using his position to create a market for his personal coaching, an assumption based on rumors and supported by no concrete evidence. The irony is that the ones who voted him out, including a Placement Coordinator and the President, Gymkhana, later begged to join his coaching when it was time for their own placements! What's more, later I conducted a campus-wide survey to gather data on what students actually felt. When the data strongly suggest that their hypothesis was flawed, the survey was brushed aside by saying "The data is clearly concocted"Socialist attitude. While it is noble to cater equally to the underdogs, it is unfair to do so at the cost of ambitious high-achievers who have worked their asses off to be where they are. In a free market, inequity is inevitable. After all, isn't that what IIT JEE is all about? For the Placement office, it is always more about increasing the value of n (where n is the no. of students placed that particular year) than assuring quality jobs. So, policies were made preferring '20 students getting hired by Infosys' over '2 by McKinsey'Push over Pull: The team spent almost all time and resources on calling companies and trying to convince them to visit our campus, without really having a good Value Proposition to sell. Knowing that Kanpur's geography acts critically to its disadvantage, they could build a plan to prepare students in a way that they have a competitive edge over IITB and IITD students. In fact, I remember one of the Overall Placement Coordinators came up to me in October and said "Dude stop preparing the students so much. They'll begin to expect more from us, and frankly there are not so many good companies lined up!"Rigidity. There was great resistance and inertia when it came to innovations. The team liked to play it safe and the drive to outperform the previous team hardly showed up. So ideas like visiting Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi to pitch to companies in person, having a full-time MBA on payroll for preparations were sat on unto oblivion.Preposterous allocation of funds. For instance, the Office apparently bought a useless software called VMock at a whooping 6 lacs with no initial market research. No one used it. Then there was a personality development workshop on which some 60k was spent and was attended by only 17 students. And when I proposed a mock interview workshop for mere 20k, one that would have a tangible benefit, it was rejected citing fund issuesAdministration and FacultyNo transparency in transactions. I used to notice a curious feeling of dread and angst among the admin whenever an RTI was filed. During my year, 5 lac was collected from the students and an equal amount was put in by the administration. Given that companies paid their accommodation bills and overheads were minimal, all my guesstimates literally fail to account for the 10 lacLittle contribution by Professors. I firmly believe that if Professors take it upon themselves to get their students placed, there is no need at all for a Placement Team (except for overseeing logistics). That's the power their networks consisting of all high-ups in the industry, carry. But it's a locked potential unless they are willing to part with their contacts.Misplaced priorities. There have been brilliant ideas floating around, but I am not sure when will they see the light of the dayEstablishing a Placement Centre at Noida since 2007 (or maybe before) for the purpose of negating the disadvantage Kanpur faces due to its geographical location.A robust liaison with the Alumni Contact cell to tap into IIT's supreme alumni networkMandating the Departments to generate leads from faculty for more jobs (especially R&D and lab opportunities)Inter-IIT collaboration in conducting the process jointly (though logistics are a challenge, but worth taking seriously)Instead, in a 3-hour meeting held by the Students' Placement Committee (comprises of faculty representatives from all departments), the Professors like spending nearly 2 hours debating whether a formal attire should be made compulsory during the interviews.The juntaThe beneficiaries, and the reason why the office exists at all. Their demand, our command. But how soundly placed their demand is? Not quite well actually, as it turns out.Complacency. The way I see it, preparation is the wind that pushes the ship of credentials forward; without any wind, your credentials won't sail on their own. The companies grew fed up calling our attention to "that obnoxious piece of resume" or "the interview that became a joke". I did my bit by organizing preparation sessions - resume critique, GD practice, mock interviews, aptitude tests - only to witness dismal participation. Strategic choice of dates/venues and aggressively marketing the importance of these sessions can make only this much difference, if the basic consumer demand in itself is limited.Absolute lack of focus (more so at IITK). Most students spend little or no time in reflecting on their skills and interests and targeting sectors accordingly. The subsequent arbitrary preparation lands them nowhere, after suffering multiple rejections. I am reminded of such a friend who, by the end of Day 6, lamented "I totally feel like a prostitute. I stand there the whole day waiting to be picked up, but no one seems to want to sleep with me"Only a hazy sense of one's potential and true available options. Everyone prepares keeping BCG & McKinsey in mind, forgetting that GE and L&T require very different skill sets. Even among thy hallowed Day 1'ers, although these guys serve to keep the pressure going to bring better and more global companies on campus, hardly 10% of them are aware what's behind the jobs they combat so desperately for.Heavy reliance on campus placements. Not denying that campus drive brings plenty of great opportunities in one place, but there are far more (and often better) opportunities outside the campus, waiting to be tapped. I myself skipped campus placements and went for off-campus opportunities. The cliched "There are just no jobs out there" is for losers.It's still about the bucks. You begin to see through the hoopla around IITians being nationally worshipped as the country's next generation leaders and stuff, only to realize that it's a big farce. Yes, IITians do quite well in life compared to other engineering graduates. Most even go on to occupy key leadership positions in the private and public domains. That's largely owing to their intrinsic nature of working insanely hard and striving to excel in every endeavor. But beneath what meets the eye, what do the motives look like? Unfortunately, the pursuit nauseatingly remains material, in absolute defiance of the Nehruvian vision behind setting up IITs. So, even after having access to the best of the opportunities, IITians choose to stay part of the rat race, except that they just remain ahead in it.PS - In my recent visit to the campus, it came to my knowledge that a start-up called Seniors On Call has been coming campus since a couple of years for training in resume, GD and PI. The trainers are 2010 graduates from VJTI, a regional college in Mumbai. It beats me, and to a certain extent also amuses me, why a top-ranking institute has to depend on amateur trainers with mediocre educational and professional background, for training its students!I also learnt that a few stellar IIT Kanpur alumni had approached the SPO offering to train the students, at a similar fee structure. But as has always been the practice, SPO chose to rely on outside help instead of having faith in its own alumni's potential

Interview Date: 13th March, 2018 (First Slot)Venue: MICA Campus.Panel: Three interviewers, one very senior faculty (M1), another very senior faculty from CCC (M2) and a first batch Alumnus from MICA (1996) (M3).Duration: 50 minutesBackground:10th–87% 12th–87% Graduation-BBA (Hons) 80%Internship:Bajaj finserv LendingWork Experience: 43 monthsBusiness Analyst at TATA Consultancy Services Ltd.Client Servicing Executive at The Co. – Advertising AgencyTeaching Associate at Ahmedabad UniversityLive Project:Brand Consultant at The Idea Bag Inc.———————————————————————After waiting for four years working in several organizations waiting for this opportunity to be called for GEPI by my dream institution to pursue masters from; I hear the words “Kashyap, please come in.” says one of the interviewer as I was waiting outside the interview room for my turn with butterflies in my stomach. As I enter with firm mind of expressing my love and passion for the place and fear of being asked something that I am not aware of, M1 looked at the photograph on my application letter and asked me if I have come here as a dummy for the person who has applied for MICA, I assumed they were shocked to not see same 5-inch long beard on face as I had gone there clean shaved. There was a light moment, mild laughter and brief informal chat on beard grooming.M1 had held the application in his hands as he asked if I could describe my professional journey which has been so long in so many diverse roles at various organizations. I started sharing details of journey with at most honesty. TCS was the second company to come to our undergrad college placement and I had immediately applied looking at the role as it described working in ‘analytics’ of ‘advertisements’; two things that I had been trained for and looked for a career in. (I explained about my profile and work at TCS.) After working at TCS for couple of months, I found the job to be not very challenging and having very limited and slow opportunities of growth. Hence, I started looking for rather creative roles in advertising agencies across India. One fine day, I received a call from The Co. – an Ahmedabad based advertising agency with national and regional clientele, inter-alia, Layer’r perfume, Vadilal, Tirupati Oil etc. I started working as client servicing executive at The co. (I explained about my profile and work at The Co.) soon found that advertising and brand management is the area I want to build my career in. After working there on several clients, I realized the growth can be exponential if I could pursue masters from the college that I have also wanted to join. This is when I got strong motivation and push for applying to MICA which was once a far-fetched and seemingly impossible thought when I was pursuing BBA. Hence, I applied in Ahmedabad University as a teaching associate so that I could spare some time for preparing for admissions at MICA. Along with the preparation and job at AU, I was involved in a live project with an event management company as a consultant for their communications and brand management.(They listened to me patiently till now and looked quite interested whatever I was sharing) Suddenly, M2 stopped me asked me what was I carrying in a huge black file. There were some certificates and 3 issues of my college magazines for which I was an editor-in-chief for two years. M2 seemed interested in the magazines and asked me if he can have a look at them. So I handed over one magazine to each one of them. They looked at all three issues by exchanging among themselves.)M2: What was your role in development of this?I described the detailed role of an editor-in-chief for a college magazine. Also, all shared with them that all of these three issues were designed by me.M2 appeared be shocked by that answer and asked about software I used, followed by technical questions. He seemed very impressed when I shared that I had learnt the software by watching YouTube videos. He asked me what my motivation was for learning the software.This is when I went back to first year of college, when I had come to Ahmedabad from Rajkot. I was given very less pocket money and sometimes no pocket money for months. So I had to find opportunities to work. I worked at Croma retail store in the beginning but it was disturbing my academic schedule as we had 80% attendance criteria. That’s when I got to know that my cousin was a graphic designer and worked as a freelancer. I asked him about what software he used, I downloaded them on one computer at college lab and started learning. I designed 13 logos for free for whosoever wanted to get it designed. Then I got paid 2000 for the 14th logo that I had designed. Learning to use the design software also helped me get into Drishti – a college magazine committee and thus gave me immense opportunity to interact with my batch mates, faculty members and guests visiting university. Even interacting with them was a far-fetched idea as I did my schooling in vernacular background and did not know English fluently, also, the inferiority complex caused by economic background had become a barrier in interacting with people at university. This skill that I had developed helped me earn some money when I quit full-time job for preparing for admissions and working at AU. I fetched some clients on retainer and several on project basis.M2: (Stopped me in between) Do you have any of that work with you that we can see?I did not carry my design portfolio, hence, I asked if I can show them the work from my phone. They looked at my portfolio from my phone and asked me about amount earned through these freelance projects and other details and I shared the details with them.M2: Why don’t you think of growing this venture and make your presence stronger, you would earn more than what you would get after getting placed from MICA and that too after 2 years?I explained about how I envisioned my career as a brand consultant growing to become a business consultant and not limit myself to just a visual communication consultant. Also, the type and size of brands that I would get to work for during and post MICA would create a greater impact on my career rather than continuing with the venture. Also, shared with them that for me how money has not been a priority ever.This is the first time M3 spoke in the interview, and he says, “You have been talking a lot about brand and communication, you would know about brand personality. Tell me Patanjali’s brand personality. Also, identify the areas of problems that impacts Patanjali brand and business and how would you recommend them to overcome them.I explained them the concept of brand personality and its strong association with Baba Ramdev and it being ‘natural and/or harmless’. I identified that Patanjali had been adding products to its mix that were a bit far from being ‘natural and/or harmless’. I suggested that they should either create a separate brand or sub brand for such product with different positioning. I also illustrated examples of companies that have adopted such strategy.M1: You have had quite a journey; can you talk a bit about your dark days?I shared the stories of the days when I would not have enough money to buy food and spend the whole eating a pack of biscuit/ chips from my college canteen. When I started feeling numb and M1 said, he got a fair idea of what he was looking for.M1: For someone who has studied in Gujarati, your English is very fluent. He appreciated the clarity of thought and articulation.I expressed my gratitude towards my mentor from my undergrad college. M1 happened to know him and told me “You have a great influence of your mentor on you, in fact while you speak this, I see him in you.” I felt very glad receiving such remarks and forgot about admissions for a moment.M1: You have mentioned that you have been self-financing your education. As you know, MICA’s fee is very high. How are you planning for paying the?(By this question, I felt like they have already made their mind. There were a lot of things going on in my mind that I could give a simple answer that I would apply for a loan from a bank.)M1: Nonetheless, be aware that we have a scholarship programme at MICA to support candidate like yourself, you must apply for it. We have no more questions to ask, do you want to ask something?I said no. It’s been great talking to you. Thank you for this opportunity.M2: See you soon. Probably, you’ll grow beard by then.Result: converted.

University of Ilorin or Unilorin is a federal government university in Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria. Established in August 1975; its creation was aimed at providing more opportunities for Nigerians trying to acquire a university/college education and to create high-level manpower, so fundamental for the rapidly growing economy, and it has since been a focal point of higher scholastic learning for considerable decades.It has one of the largest landmass when compared with other institutions of higher learning in the country, occupying approximately 5000 hectares holding infrastructures that accommodates almost 4,500 staffs, with about 5,000 postgraduate students and almost 50,000 undergraduates offering more than 90 academic programmes across 15 various faculties including; Art, Agriculture, Law, Environmental Science, Life Science, Management Science, Physical Science, Social Science, Communication and Information Science, Education, Engineering and Technology, Pharmaceutical Science, Veterinary Medicine, Basic Medical Science, and Clinical Science.University of Ilorin is the only federal university in Nigeria that is not a member of the academic staff union of universities, and as such, the institution is rarely affected by industrial/union actions such as strike. It enjoys massive application and intake of fresh students yearly, and because of its urban campus type, the institution does not only provide an opportunity to learn (academics), but also socialize, a phenomenon which might be a little tricky for students starting their first year at the university.Here are some helpful tips that might come handy for students starting their first year at University of Ilorin:1. Upon gaining admission, be quick to secure an accommodation either on campus or close to the campusDue to its large landmass and population size, accommodation and transportation can be a bit of challenge at the university. Getting an accommodation on campus might be a helpful way of avoiding transportation hassles if you cannot afford a car. Accommodations on campus are limited in bed spaces to a few hostels, and the staffs’ quarter, and are highly competed for. Do not worry if you’re unable to secure an accommodation on campus, there are quite a number of affordable ones off campus, you can get one close to the university campus to avoid getting late for lectures.2. Be fast about getting to lecture halls/roomsOwing to its massive intake of fresh students yearly, lecture halls/rooms usually get crowded, because first year students of the same faculty offer same/similar courses. A great way to avoid getting to lecture halls and not able to secure a seat would be to get to the designated lecture hall some minutes before the commencement of the lecture.3. Attend orientation programmes/courses organised for first year students (freshers)Orientation courses are always organized by the various departments and faculties, and a general orientation for freshers (freshmen) by the student union. Attending these programmes can be helpful in jump starting your stay at the university, as you get to learn about the campus, your department, faculty, and faculty heads. Faculty orientations are great place to meet and introduce yourself to your academic/level adviser, professors and also familiarize yourself with your department. The faster you learn about the university, your faculty, and department, the more at ease and better prepared you’ll be for your stay at Unilorin.4. Set goals and targetsAdmission into any university can be a bit overwhelming as the university presents an opportunity for freedom. This freedom can however be overpowering, but not to worry, the university has a system in place for this freedom not be abused. At University of Ilorin, every first year student needs a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 1.50 to cross to 200level. This is pretty minimal if you ask me, but it is however, very important to highlight that a higher CGPA is better for a good class of degree, and precepts for this are usually laid during the foundation of your stay at the university.To achieve a good class of degree:I. You’ll need a planII. Set specific academic goals and targetsIII. Believe in yourselfIV. Work towards achieving set goals.5. Attend lecturesOne of the overpowering effects of the “freedom opportunity” at the university can be skipping lectures. Attending lectures is very crucial, and can be very critical and helpful for first year students to secure good grades and grade point average (GPA), and at Unilorin to cross over to the next level. Attendances are sometimes taken during lectures and are used as a form of assessment.At University of Ilorin, one of the basic requirements to qualify/seat for an exam is to have a minimum of 70% attendance of lecture for every course registered for; and because the university runs a stable academic calendar, and is not affected by industrial/union actions, lecturers and course facilitators are usually on their toes to conclude their course outlines in due time.Below are a few tips to help avoid skipping/missing lectures as a first year student:Get to know your colleagues, and have friends in your department, that will help remind you about lecture times and assignments/projects due dates.Also, know and keep contact with course reps; they will help inform you with any update/change in lecture time/venue, as well as when assignments and projects are due.Use the notice boards; they are a great way information is passed within the university community. Check them from time to time for updates; lecture time, venue, timetable (for class, test or exam).6. Pass on assignments and projects as at when dueThe university frowns at cheap excuses such as, “I didn’t know it was due today.” Try as much as possible to pass your assignments and projects as at when due, they are sometimes used for assessment such as the continuous assessment (CA) which makes about 30-40% of total assessment of every course registered for, i.e. test+exam.7. Develop a reading/study cultureIt is often said, that readers are leaders. While at the university, develop a good reading habit/culture. Because the university is a place created for universality of knowledge, it is sometimes good to read outside the scope of your programme, gain knowledge from other fields and not only worry about the minimum score.Few tips to help you develop a good reading culture/habit include:Find the ideal place for you to study.Be resourceful and get study materials.Visit and use the library/libraries from time to time, they are great place to be motivated to read more, and find study materials.Associate yourself with a group of smart and intelligent friends, they'll help spark curiosity in you, engage you in intellectual conversations, and help you be the best version of you.8. Study for tests and examsTests are crucial part of every learning process. They help tutors assess learners’ level/speed of progress. University of Ilorin is renowned for academic excellence, hence why their motto is “better by far.” You are assessed on all courses taken with both tests and an examination. Usually in the first year, test and exams are usually taken on the computer, i.e. they are computer based, so it’ll be helpful to learn how to use a computer.In addition to the tips to help you develop a good study culture, some great tips to help you study for tests/exams are:Get yourself in a study group.Seek advice and get past questions from your predecessors.Go for tutorials; not too many, just one or two good ones is enough.Avoid mediocrity and seek help when necessary.It is pertinent to advice here, never to miss a test, as not only do they makeup part of total course assessment, but because sometimes part of the test are repeated in the exam.9. Be careful with your properties/valuables during night classesBecause of the epileptic power nature in Nigeria, the university generates its own power using hydroelectric source through its dam, making light/power more available on campus, and since larger percentage of students resides off campus due to the limited accommodation on campus, there is an influx of people to read on campus at nights. Although, entrance by students to the university at nights is strictly by identification cards issued by the university, there are still cases of theft (of laptops, mobile phones, cash, wallets etc.). Some argue that these thefts are perpetrated by students of the university, while others says they are by non-students, so, be smart and keep your possessions safe while reading at night.Image credit: Iijier.net10. Get involved on campus, but seek a balanceBecause universities are universal in nature, and are committed to the development of the total man, extra/co-curricular activities are part of the university’s culture. University of Ilorin is reputable for sports and is affiliated with global organizations such as Google, and many others. Joining select groups/organizations such as, JCI (Joint Chamber International), CAMAH (Campus Action Mobilization against HIV/AIDS) etc., clubs, sororities/fraternities, or sports teams are a great way to exploit the university of its full potentials, but be careful not to go overboard as the university frowns at illegal social activities on and off the campus that may cause unrest and disrupt its stable academic calendar, and hence, do not hesitate to expel/rusticate any student guilty of causing mayhem/chaos within the university, tagging them as “gross misconduct.” Joining some of these groups/organization/clubs avails you opportunity to make new friends, travel and meet new people, go on exchange programmes, learn new skills, and feel more connected to your school.To find a balance between academics and extra/co-curricular activities, you need to:Know yourselfSet your prioritiesPlan your time, andGet organized.In addition to groups/organizations, clubs, sororities/fraternities, and sports teams, there are various associations and fellowships you can join on campus. These groups, associations and fellowships usually hold their meetings at the end of the week, especially Fridays and Saturdays. You have to be careful of your association and choice of friends though, as they may make or mar your stay at the university.11. Obey school rules and regulationsThe university is not like other institutions of learning with strict rules and regulations, there is some level of freedom at the university, however, there are rules of engagement at every university, and that of Unilorin can be summarized under three pillars:I. Basic rules and regulationsII. Exam rules, and theIII. Dress code.A handbook of basic rules and regulation is usually given to freshers during the orientation course/programme organised by the university. It contains sets of instructions to guide the conduct of student during their stay at the university. It highlights the dos’ and don’ts for students on and off the university campus.The exam rules are given to guide the conduct of students during tests and exams, this is because the university frowns at exam malpractices and any act of malpractice during a test/exam is also regarded as “gross misconduct,” and any student caught involved, risks being expelled from the university.12. Dress decentlyThe third pillar of rules and regulation is anchored under what is called “Dress code.” University of Ilorin grimace fiercely at indecent dressing within its campus/community. This is understandable for two reasons:I. University of Ilorin is located in the northern part of Nigeria, where the people are predominantly Muslims, and Sharia laws are still been practiced in some parts.II. The university is a learning environment, and as such indecent and provocative dressing amongst student can serve as a form of distraction to other students and lecturers alike.The “Dress code” policy makes sense to avoid issues relating sexual harassment between a student and another student, lecturer(s) and student(s) and vice versa. Code of dressing or dress code within University of Ilorin campus is contained in a handbook usually distributed by the dress code committee from time to time within the campus accompanied with some form of education by the same committee. The committee is usually present during the orientation course/programme organized by the institution for fresh/first year students to educate new intake about dressing within the University of Ilorin community. After this education for freshmen and regular students, the committee swings into action to pick up students who engage(s) in some form of indecent dressing or do not adhere to the dress code policy/dress accordingly. Usually, offenders are given two (2) warning strikes and afterwards could risk expulsion from the university.My advice to first year students will be to adhere to all school rules and regulations, especially the dress code, as it’s one that the university strictly frowns at. It’s not worth the stress of worrying about getting picked up the dress code committee to face disciplinary action when you can be decent and still look very good and slay (wink)!13. Be kind and respectful towards peopleIt costs nothing to be kind and respect people. Respect and show kindness towards people especially non-academic staffs such as security personnel, secretaries of offices, laboratory attendants, store keepers, drivers, traders etc., you never can tell when you might need their help.