Who knows

The suit is bought, the shoes are shined, the buckle of my belt which I had been searching for the past two months has been found, and my phone has been switched off to keep out annoying calls from relatives and friends about the D-Day. "Which companies are coming for placement?", "How much are they paying?", "Where will you be placed?", "How much will you get in hand?".....and all such information is sought by these "well-wishers". But thats the way the world revolves. I think that my relatives and friends are more concerned than me about the kind of job I will land up at. For two years, I have been explaining to them about my decision to forgo IMT, Ghaziabad for IRMA. I have been telling them about the reputation of the institute, the alumni placed in top positions, the relevant work that we would be doing once we pass out from here. I have been telling them that after two years, they would realize the prudence of my decision to join Institute of Rural Management, Anand. But the truth will be revealed in less than 48 hours.

Ever since I had taken up engineering, I couldn't wait to get into a job. I couldn't wait to earn and spend my own money. But fate had different plans. Over the four years of college, I decided to pursue MBA......why be a technician, when you can be a manager, I thought. Anyway, fate had different plans and I ended up doing M. Tech as well. So, I have waited 8 long years for this moment which would come on 7th February, 2010 (hopefully).

The tension around the campus is so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Add to that, the top minds we have for professors who decided to keep our mid-terms just before the placements. Well, I wish them a slow and painful death. People are studying marketing, finance, microfinance like crazy. Arguments have arisen over revealing of grades to organizations. Fines have been imposed on people who decided to give the pre-placement presentations by organizations a miss. Preference sheets have been filled and refilled. Statement of purpose have been written. Resumes have been made. Placement Committee members have been harassed like dogs on the street. Mock interviews have revealed the real caliber of people like me. The first question to the candidate who appeared after me was, "Are you serious about the interview or are you like Sudhir?"

All for a measly 25000 bucks. But as I realized over the past two years, guys like me with no USP should be satisfied with whatever they get. Maybe someday, I would earn a substantial amount and would finally be able to answer, with pride, the question, "How much do you get in hand?". So, wish me all the best for the coming placements, or better yet, drop dead......