Parul Bajaj, upon graduating from N.S.I.T. in 2004, worked upon verifying digital designs at S.T. Microelectronics. However, she then shifted to the education sector, working with a not-for-profit organization and then a for-profit organization in turn. With such varied work experience behind her, she joined IIM Bangalore in 2007, and will complete her MBA in April 2009.

1.What embarked your interest towards an MBA?

I have always been involved a lot in extra curricular activities in school as well as at N.S.I.T. From that I knew that I love working with people. Also, I was interested in MBA as it opens doors to so many different sectors and functions. I think working even convinced me further that I would enjoy doing what the senior most people in my organizations were doing and an MBA was a way to get there.


2.How are things at B-school different from N.S.I.T.?

Things are very different at IIM B compared to NSIT. The pace of the management program is a lot faster than the engineering program. Life at IIM B has a lot of activities compared to that at NSIT. The exposure levels to the industry are also far greater.


3.How do you justify the importance of networking by relating it to some anecdote of your life?

I love meeting people and I don’t have to make an effort to stay networked. This network has helped me find an off campus job in ST Microelectronics, an opportunity to work at iDiscoveri and helped me stay up to date with career developments of different people. Through my network I have been able to help organizations meet and exploit the synergies in working together.


4.Opportunities you would recommend students to explore while at N.S.I.T.?

The set of people I met at NSIT has been one of the best set I have met at any place. I have kept in touch with them and continue to gain immensely from the association. I think one should make the best use of being with such a good set of people. Maybe, starting activities together is a good idea.


5.What’s the in-thing in the business world today?

The down turn we are experiencing in the business world is one of its kinds. It is making people rethink business models, their careers and the fundamentals. And, I think coping with a recession requires a completely different approach from flourishing in the good times.


6.What do you believe are the qualities that B-schools like to see in their students?

Management is a broad based career. So, I think B-schools like to see students who are well rounded i.e. who are interested in academics as well as extra curricular activities. Also, a manager needs to work with a lot of different people. So, I think good communication skills are important to a B school.


7.Please describe a typical day at work.

I haven’t started my post-MBA job so I can only talk about my 2 years at ST Microelectronics. I was working independently under the guidance of my team leader. A typical day would start with a quick check of the office mail box and a quick catching up with people in the same cubicle. I would draft a quick plan of the day after that. The rest of the day I would just execute the plan. My supervisor used to sit nearby so I would always discuss my work of the day with him. On some days, there would be group meetings or seminars or company meetings to attend. I’d catch up with friends in office over lunch and coffee breaks. Towards the end of the day, I would make a quick note of what was accomplished in the day in a document which had listing of the work of all the days. Also, I’d think about what could be done the next day.


8.Some books/movies/music that have inspired you and would recommend?

Books: JRD Tata’s biography called “Life of Jeh”, Eckart Tolle’s “The Power of Now”

Movies: Babel, Blood Diamond, Chocolate .


9.What is your message to the young and creative students in campus?

Make the most of your time at N.S.I.T. Even if the place lets you down, be so internally driven that you keep doing things. You are in the prime of your youth, make the most of it.