Introduction

With the uncertainty of placements looming over, I embarked on a journey through the corridors of RV College of Engineering in the academic year 2018-2019. This isn't just a story of rejection and struggle; it's a narrative of resilience and the power of persistence. My recent placement at Citrix RD India Pvt LTD serves as a testament to the trials and tribulations of the placements season.

The Preparations

The journey began with meticulous preparation. I, along with my friends, did not leave a single stone unturned. We read through the curriculum, solved problems during our summer vacations, and honed our skills to an extent that I thought opening the door to an 8LPA dream company was just a step away.

The Interviews

Let's take a closer look at my placements experience at Microsoft, Cisco, Goldman Sachs, and Soroco, before the magic of Citrix.

Microsoft

Getting rejected at Microsoft, especially after the HR round, was a blow. I felt like it was just my bad luck. The experience was quite taxing, and I found myself questioning everything. After returning home and not eating, I was deeply affected, almost paranoid about the placement results.

Cisco

Our college was gracious enough to offer us another chance after the Cisco exam clashed with the Microsoft interview. However, this was not to be my lucky day either. Life kept hurling challenges my way, and I couldn't help but feel defeated.

Goldman Sachs

I had to go through the pain of not making it through the first round, which was a coding round. Disappointment was the common theme.

Soroco

The coding round at Soroco was a nightmare. Despite multiple attempts, I failed to clear even one of the four questions. Rejection was becoming the norm, and it started to weigh heavily on my heart.

The Lesson from Citrix

By the time I reached Citrix, hope had already faded away. I decided to walk in with whatever had left me, a half-grown beard, shabby clothes, and some random sports shoes. To my surprise, I cleared both the MCQ and coding rounds and even made it through the final interview. The offer came, and I called my parents, who were overjoyed. It felt like a weight had finally been lifted from my back.

The Reflections

Upon reflecting on my placements experience, I realized two crucial lessons.

Day of Your Luck

If it's your day, nothing can stop you. I wore my formal wear, shaved, and polished my black shoes for all the interviews listed above. However, I did not make it. On the fifth attempt, I came without any formals, a half-grown beard, and some random sports shoes. Yet, I made it. So, if it's your day, it doesn't matter if you wear formal wear or answer every question perfectly; you'll pass if you try.

Competition and Inspiration

It's essential not to be jealous of others getting placed. Keeping a positive mindset and continuously working on your weaknesses is crucial. Blindly coding every problem or reading books without focusing on your weak points is not productive. Learning from previous mistakes and continuously preparing is the key to success.

The Aftermath

The one-month placements season taught me more than three years of engineering did. I also realized that repeatedly asking students who were not placed silly questions like "Why did you fail in the interview" is counterproductive. Even if you know who is placed, it's inappropriate to ask these kinds of questions to those who did not get selected. It only adds to their pain and frustration.

The environment in placements involves a lot of ups and downs. Sometimes you think you'll pass, but you get rejected; sometimes you think you'll get rejected, but you pass. Keep trying, and you'll either land a job or gain valuable experience.