NMIMS SBM

Summer Placement Guidelines 2011-13

Summer Internship is an integral part of the curriculum for securing a MBA. It is a great learning platform for our students and goes a long way in shaping the learning obtained in the class room. This experience is of immense use to students to enable them to acclimatize themselves to the intricacies of the corporate world. It is a non credit compulsory course. The Internships is after the first year, of duration of 6-8 weeks. It is not only a window to the corporate world but also a relationship building tool for NMIMS. It allows the companies to have a look at the talent at NMIMS, thereby strengthening Final Placements. The summer project is expected to build on the theoretical learning with practical experience. Additionally, the internship also helps students identify gaps in their learning which they can attempt to fill in their second year of management studies. Moreover, students also discover certain areas of interest and future career options. Summers also hold a special significance as it is an apt mechanism for companies to spot bright talent early and lead to a Pre-Placement Interview (PPI) or a Pre Placement Offer (PPO). Thus, the students should be careful in applying to the companies of their choice and should put in all efforts to convert the internship into a PPO. Thus, the seriousness of this cannot be overstated. Leading companies across sectors select students for internships. The feedback from them has been positive and encouraging. Guidelines Each student is entitled to only one internship offer. The selection process for internships generally commences from Sept/Oct and goes on till say February i.e. it is a rolling process. The dates for the same to be announced. Internship assistance is provided by SBM to MBA students. A candidate can withdraw from the summer process if he is keen to seek internship on his own. The student needs to seek the approval of the Placement Office i.e. submit the Opted Out Form duly completed with the names of such companies and other details where he is trying for internships. The reason being to iron out any hitches that may crop up later. The Placement Office approaches many companies and would like to continue the cordial relationship with them. Thus if one wants to opt out, he should do so before the entire process begins. However, if one has already applied to companies and awaiting further course of action, then the student will have to participate in the selection process (if shortlisted) and then opt out of the summer process of further companies. After opting out, the student will not be allowed to reenter the summer process at a later stage. Students who have opted out, have to follow the guidelines of PPT Attendance Guidelines and are also in no way exempted from any of the submissions required for effective evaluation including reports, reviews etc. There are companies that have a structured internship in place and share the details beforehand while many give a general idea about the project. Students should be aware of the same before applying. Reasons like stipend, location, specific details about the project, family issues, etc should not be constraints to students. Students are expected to be mobile, and have the capability to adjust and respond to emergent situations successfully.

In case the student does not join the company he was selected for, or deliberately creates problems there, he will be liable for disciplinary action including debarment from Final Placements.

Pre Placement Talks (PPTs) PPTs are an important part of the placement exercise and the details are in the Pre-Placement Talks Attendance Guidelines. General Guidelines: 1. Companies are informed in detail of the various programs viz. MBA Core and MBA Focus Programs. The final call rests with the company regarding the eligibility of programs for the profiles they offer. Subsequently there would be no further negotiations regarding this. The resumes of the students will be sent accordingly. 2. The company will specify of the process GD, PI, Case study etc. 3. The selection process will be held in the campus. However, in some cases, the student may have to go to the companys office for the same. A student will not be allowed to back out on any account. 4. There may be situations where on spot decisions will have to be taken, the same shall be taken by the Placecom under the guidance and instructions of Director of Placement Office. 5. In case of any disruptions caused in the placement process, the Placement Office reserves right to take disciplinary action (including debarring from placements) against the student(s). 6. Students are not allowed to switch internships, whether taken via college or after opting out. Once an internship has been communicated to the college, it is the final internship. 7. The student is expected to commit himself to the organization in question and work as per the guidance provided by the company guide. 8. If any student fails to attend any selection process, must submit an application regarding the same. If the reason is found valid and if approved by the competent authority the student will be given further chance to appear for other processes.

Summer Internships FAQs

Why Summers? Internships are an integral part of the MBA Course Curriculum across B-Schools & compulsory. Students get a feel of the corporate world at managerial level. Thus, not only freshers, but even the students with work ex get to work at a different level and gain new insights. The learning gathered during an internship is of immense value as it is the first place to put the academic knowledge gained to practical use. Interactions during the internships, both with other interns as well as full time employees, help students understand the expectation/needs of the organization specifically and the sector in general. This is extremely helpful in orienting oneself towards the sector and develops the required skill sets in the remaining one year of MBA to emerge as the most suitable candidate. Organizations make use of summers as a testing ground for students to gain a direct understanding of the skill and ability of the students, especially capturing certain points like target-orientation, implementation skills etc, things that cannot be tested in a short interview. These organizations then, depending upon their liking of the student, offer a Pre Placement Offer (PPO) or a Pre Placement Interview (PPI) resulting in a win-win situation for both parties.

The internship also helps students identify gaps in their learning which they can attempt to fill in their second year of management studies. Students also discover certain areas of interest and future career options.

How do the companies select students for summer internship? Each company generally has its own set of characteristics or qualities that they look for in a candidate. Hence, the company devises the eligibility criteria and selection process accordingly. The process for selection starts with inviting applications based on the eligibility, profile, project, stipend details etc. shared by the company. The candidature is then opened for a specific time frame and the resumes of the interested candidates are then sent across. The company could have one or multiple rounds for activities like case analysis, group discussion, group exercise or direct interviews etc. There could be stray cases where the company may select students on the basis of the resumes. Once selected, the student will be considered placed and out of the summer placement process.

What help will be given before the summers process to prepare for the process? There will be a comprehensive batch preparation program to enhance the suitability of the candidates. This will include: Interaction with seniors who have done internships in companies or alumni who are working in the company. Assigning of seniors as mentors to guide students for preparation of CVs. Mock interviews with alumni to get a direct feedback from people in relevant industries. Guest lectures on various topics. All efforts shall be made to prepare the batch better based on feedback obtained. Which companies to apply for? Students should have a fair idea about his interest - the sector /specialization in which he wants to be and should direct his efforts accordingly. Details of the company the Who, What and Where of the Company. Details about its businesses etc. Do thorough research before applying for a company. Previous internships offered in the company Students should talk to seniors who have done their internships in that particular company about their experience and what did they learn to understand whether it fits what they want. If the company is a new company, seniors who have done their internship in the same sector should be contacted. Understand the PPO / PPI policy and find out whether the company offers PPO/PPI and whether they would want a PPO or PPI from the company or not.

What should one keep in mind during the entire summers process? Summers is a rolling process as companies visit the campus from Oct onwards for selecting interns. Hence getting selected for internship in the first few days should not lead to panic. Many companies offering good profiles decide their summer requirements late and therefore come to the campus at a later stage. Students should be fairly clear about his specialization or at least have some long term vision of where they want to be. A bit of clarity will help the student land a good internship and thereby have a chance at getting a good PPO/PPI.

Why are PPO/PPIs so important? Pre Placement Offer is an offer by the company to the intern acknowledging the excellent work done. Pre Placement Interview is an opportunity by the company for the intern to be directly selected for the interview for final placements. Generally the PPI is held before the commencement of the final placements. Choosing the correct company for internship and performing up to the mark is of utmost importance. Some companies have a structured internship program select students for internship, test them and offer PPO to deserving ones. In such cases the student will have to accept the PPO. Hence care should be taken by the student to be clear about this aspect. Rejection of the PPO would defeat the efforts of the company & SBM straining the relationship. Also some other deserving student could have got this opportunity. PPO/PPI is also a route to a job early and easily. There are a number of contenders when companies visit the campus for final placements thus making the process competitive. Rejecting the PPO will have its own repercussions and one will have to follow the related guidelines to be issued soon. Relationship with companies is of utmost importance. Companies look for serious candidates who are clear about their long term plans wrt the sector they want to be and the profile they want to undertake.

What should one keep in mind during the internship at an organization? All efforts are made to offer internships across varied sectors, companies and profiles. Based on the interest and capabilities one should seek internships. As a MBA student one should be able to pursue any opportunity and rise to the occasion. Grievances, if any, should be conveyed in a positive way and not in any manner whatsoever which is construed as an attitude problem. Students should strive to complete their internship within the stipulated duration. Any extension in the internship may lead to loss of attendance. In case of genuine reasons, the Dean will take the final call and decide on a case-by-case basis. All deadlines with respect to submissions and reporting, both in the company and the SBM are to be followed strictly. Students should not take leave for family functions, certification exams during the internship. This is considered as extremely unprofessional. Students are expected to follow the guidelines and norms of the companies. Any complaints from the company regarding unprofessional behavior of the students will be dealt with strictly.

How does a company decide which programs would it like to recruit from? NMIMS is a brand and companies aspire to have interns from the B school. Efforts to market all the MBA programs with their merits are made by the Placement Office with the endeavor to get companies to recruit from multiple programs. However the final call rests with the company for choosing the program and this decision is honored by SBM.

How is the Summer Internship evaluated? The evaluation of the internship has two broad aspects to it - Company Guide evaluation & Faculty Guide evaluation Stage 1 Assigning of Faculty Guide Each intern is assigned a faculty guide to mentor and monitor the performance of the students. The Faculty provides guidance and suggests improvements in the summer project. Stage 2 Submission of Project Proposal to the Faculty The Interns are required to submit the project proposal and details of the objectives that have to be met to the Faculty Guides. This is to help the Faculty see the suitability of the project and is done within 2 weeks of the start of the internship. Stage 3- Mid Term Evaluation This stage involves sending a mid-term report in a prescribed format to the Faculty Guide informing him about the tasks completed and the tasks yet to be completed and the status of the same. This is recorded by the Faculty Guide for his reference. This is done about 1 month into the internship. Stage 4 Feedback Form The Dean and the Placement Office send a Feedback form to all the Companies that have offered internships. The Project Guides at the Company are asked to provide an honest and confidential feedback on various parameters viz. understanding, analytical skills, idea contribution, professionalism, communication skills, time bound implementation etc. Each parameter has a score assigned. Stage 5: Report Submission in the Institute The interns, post their summers, are required to submit a comprehensive report in a detailed format shared by the Academic Department. This is to be submitted to the Faculty Guide who reviews it and uses it as a basis for the final stage of the evaluation. The students are required to submit this approximately 15 days post the start of the next academic year. Stage 6 Viva Voce This is the last and final stage of the evaluation where the Faculty Guide, conducts a Viva where the students are required to explain their work and their learning during the internship. The students are evaluated on various criteria including their understanding, their hard work, their results and the way they handle questions raised by the Faculty. The Faculty Guide will ascertain the veracity of the various claims made by the student by closely questioning the student. Also any future courses or studies that the student can undertake in order to build on his learning may be suggested. NMIMS shares a cordial relationship with companies and many have supported us even during tough times. We would like to continue this mutually symbiotic relationship. Students are requested to understand this sentiment and behave responsibly. Any issues like underperforming in the internships, not able to undertake the internship due to some petty reason, rejecting the PPO on account of sector / profile mismatch etc. will jeopardize the relationship and have serious repercussions for final placements and for the future. Note - These are general guidelines and will evolve over time and changes will be communicated by the concerned authorities as and when they occur.