The last week has been a happening week in the campus with summer placements on at full throttle. Though many of my batch mates managed to get themselves an internship at reputed firms my experience was disappointing. The most disheartening aspect was the discrimination meted out to people with prior work experience by most of the companies which visited our campus. Most of my batch mates with work experience of more than two years weren’t picked up by any of the firms.
I was told before joining my MBA that how work experience would add a lot of value, increase pay packages blah blah. However, I was dumbstruck to know that companies preferred freshers rather than people with prior work experience. There are still people who try and console us by saying that it’s just the scene at summers. They claim that the summer jobs being offered are supposedly menial jobs which are not suitable for people with work experience and the scene would perk up greatly in the final placements. I have decided to observe the final placements of my senior batch with earnest to affirm the veracity of the claims.
I find it difficult to comprehend as to why companies would discriminate against people with prior experience. I wouldn’t have had any qualms had they not prized our work experience and treated us at par with freshers. The thing which irks me the most is the bigotry being meted out. Work experience is considered as if it is something which is too horrific to be having in your CVs however in my opinion people with work experiance have an better understanding of corporate culture, show greater maturity.
The only advice I would give for MBA aspirants is to study hard during their graduation and crack CAT, XAT etc and join a b-school as a fresher. If one fails at his/her first attempt they will have to make sure that they make through in the succeeding year. People with less than a year of experience are usually considered as freshers and one’s chances wouldn’t be affected adversely. My opinion though is bound to change depending on the way the final placements of my senior batch progressess.
