The look on his face is gloomy. The feeling is contagious and the within no time the entire group of friends feels the same. Everyone in the group is more or less the same, aspiring post-graduates, same group, perhaps even the same class or specialization but for one difference. A few get placed early on and the remaining will too sooner or later get placed. No wonder those who miss getting placed by a whisker feel depressed. But is it a big deal? Yes, for juniors, it is. They are fascinated and inspired by the success stories of their seniors. The corridors cannot stop whispering about the highest package or a great profile perhaps that of international business. In the first year we want to follow the foot-steps of our seniors, they are our motivation to achieve our objective, the reason why we join a B-school.

But no sooner we step in their shoes do we realize that the best candidate may not necessarily get the best profile, because there is no best candidate. A B-school is a mini-India, a model example of diversity not just demographic but academic and professional too. We have doctors and engineers studying side by side. Their perception and understanding of management is influenced by their background which makes them totally different though they may have qualified the same entrance examination and received the same education for their 2 years at a B-school. Their priorities and preferences are different. Couple this with CRP rules and the differences in summer projects and we will understand that placements are a very subtle affair. Not as simple as we thought during our first year. The company with the best package may not come first. Now either we can wait or risk getting under-placed. An average student may end up getting the highest package. Our summer project in marketing with a telecom company may be less worthy for a software firm interested in finance. On the positive side patience can get us a profile to die for. But there is no way to avoid the predicament. Most of us are anxious and on the edge during the placement season. During our first year we cannot foresee the factors that may affect our decision regarding the companies on campus. After all it is a major decision of our life. It will decide our career path on which is dependent our family and future. Therefore we are bound to be cautious and think meticulously before making the final call. But all this preparation cannot stop the hands of destiny from playing spoilsport. Chance will always mix with our sweat and make the final outcome unpredictable. Although work experience does makes this less likely. Because it brings certainty in the form of lateral placements and assurance, that we will achieve our minimum expectations.  

Perhaps this is why we are less critical of the success of our colleagues during our second year compared to the first. Pre-interview stage is as far as the competition goes. After that if we don’t get through then destiny has something else in store for us and we deserve some other company with a different profile. A square peg is not built for a round hole; it is meant for a square opening. My friend says that placements are a matter of “LUCK, LABOUR and CHANCE”. I have no reason to disagree with him.