Hardest goodbye!

I?was a na?ve 20-year-old, stumbling my way through an MBA at a campus with one of the most strenuous programs in the country. My hobby then, just like any B-school student was to scroll through placement reports, spend hours on company websites, stalk college alumni on LinkedIn and dream about finding myself at one of the many coveted organizations.

That is when I first came across Deloitte. I was aware that it was a part of the Big 4 and was a well-recognized and respected organization. But what stuck with me the most, was the fact that our alumni, and past interns couldn’t stop raving about their experience with the organization. I saw people staying at Deloitte for 10-15 years, which was unlike any other company I had come across.

It was sometime then, that I first manifested myself at Deloitte. I read up deeply and had a lot of conversations to become a ‘Deloitte fit’. Thoughts became things, and I got an opportunity to join as an HR intern. I was so nervous before the commencement of my internship. Here I was, with absolutely no professional experience, having limited abilities to even operate a Windows laptop, and having no relative or friend who could give me any advice on making a mark in the ‘corporate world’.

However, there was a part of me that knew, that I am destined to be here. I was astounded by the massive buildings. I walked the halls with a notebook in my hand and boardroom dreams on my mind. I was undeterred.

Words will fall short to describe how fulfilling the 8 weeks of the internship were. It was incomparable exposure, learning, networking, fun and excitement. Would you believe? I cried on the last day of my internship because I was not ready to say goodbye. I think I was in withdrawal for almost a month. I was a broken radio who could not stop talking about Deloitte. I knew I was good at what I did, and this is the place where I am going to shine.

Fortunately, I was extended a pre-placement offer, and I joined back, albeit virtually, in 2020. Yet again, the nervousness crept in. I was joining virtually and was skeptical if I would be able to take up a learning path, to understand and perform at a job, while I wasn’t even in the same city as my teammates. However, the saving grace was that I was joining a team which I had aspired to be in since my internship days. I was glamorized by campus recruiters, how they get to play a role in shaping the future of the workforce of the country. So, well. I was now a campus recruiter, without the travel, without the in-person interaction with students, without the flamboyance of walking into a campus in a blazer, and without filled auditoriums.

Days passed into months; and I realized that there are truly limitless avenues to grow and succeed at Deloitte. I visited hundreds of campuses and hired thousands of graduates. I piloted new hiring models, designed engagement programs, and ended up being the program manager for the same internship program, through which I entered the doors of Deloitte. The leaders provided unparalleled opportunities to succeed, golden advice and unstinted faith in my abilities. It was here that I grew out of an under-confident college girl and into a woman who stands tall and believes in herself.

And though, after 2 years, my time with Deloitte comes to an end, I will always look back with immense gratitude and the fondest memories. As I leave my dream company for my dream job, I wish I always remain the starry-eyed girl with never ending hope and a will to make a difference.?