I was in my first year of college, learning accountancy and finance, when I interned at a healthy snacks company called Snackible in Mumbai. I got this opportunity through the placement cell of my college. During the winter break, companies came to our campus for interviews. There were many interesting companies and start-ups, but being a foodie, I wanted to work at Snackible.
The thought of facing an interview was intimidating as this would be my first. When my name was called out, I was really scared to face the director of the company who would be interviewing me. But he turned out to be a reassuring gentleman. He briefly explained to me how those two months would be spent and what they were expecting from different job profiles.
Learning curve
The work seemed really interesting and I was anxiously waiting for the results. After a week, I got an email confirming my selection. I was put under the Business Development department, where I had to maintain data sheet on MS Excel. I also had to tackle cold calls with customers for potential orders, and with companies regarding potential tie-ups.
This made me really uncomfortable as I wasn’t ready to interact with over 50 unknown people every day. My department head helped me through this by motivating me and boosting my confidence. When I made my first call, I was literally stammering until I blanked out and disconnected the call. But with all the support and encouragement I received, I became a pro at my job within a week or two. I remember how happy I was when I received my first ever order! With time, one order increased to two until I started receiving a bulk of them.
I also contributed to other departments such as operations and social media marketing, which helped me find my real interest. The company also set up kiosks and stalls at different companies and exhibitions. This expanded my horizons in the area of marketing. Marketing, which never seemed to be my cup of tea, was now my field of interest. I extended my two-month internship by another month. From compiling data sheets and making calls to making a home delivery of our snack box during an adverse situation, I have just come out stronger. It helped me grow personally and turned me into a confident and optimistic person who looks forward to new things rather than shying away from them.
It made me explore a completely different side of me and made me aware of my hidden interests. I would advise every student to do an internship not just for building up their CV but to grow as an individual.
Meghna Talreja is a third-year BAF student of H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai. Courtesy: internshala.com
