Isha Jagnani

KPMG India Rejected me, and I've never respected a 'no' more! Two months ago, I was shortlisted for an interview at KPMG. A role that wasn’t exactly in line with my previous experiences, But since I was shortlisted, I went for it anyway. Because after getting a peek into consulting giants like Accenture and CapgeminI, I wanted to experience Big four. The first round was more of an HR discussion. Dos and don’ts. Career interests. A little resume overview. But me being me, I overshared. We ended up having the longest conversation in the room. (obviously) She liked me… but she said something that sounded weird to me at first: “You’ve an impressive profile for a 20 y/o, but you’re coming across as… too creative for this job.” I wondered. Too creative? That’s a thing now? I told her, “Shouldn’t it be my call to decide whether to go ahead with the offer or not, if I get selected?” She smiled politely, but the kind of smile that says, we’ll see. Now, even in round two, the interviewer kept circling back, “Will you actually want to do this job?” And I kept answering yes. That evening, the HR called. I wasn’t moving to round three. Not because I wasn’t capable. Not because I wasn’t a “fit.” But because they said, and I quote- “We’re looking for basic candidates for this role. This job might hamper your creativity, and we’re not sure if you’ll actually enjoy doing this." Not gonna lie, it felt strange at first. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised this was the most respectful rejection I’ve ever received. They didn’t ghost me. They didn’t give me the “We’ve decided to move forward with other candidates” template. They gave me genuine, human feedback. And honestly I have mad respect for that. If they’d wanted, they could have hired me for a package that was way less than what I was already holding. Instead, they prioritised my career path over their hiring checklist. This was a rejection that felt more like a win. And I hope we see more HRs who look beyond filling seats. Sometimes “no” isn’t a slammed door. But just a kind way of saying, You’re meant for more. And if you’re wondering, yes, I’m still proudly "too creative" LinkedIn Guide to Creating

Suddenly, you're 20, you're making your morning coffee, heading to work, coming back home around 6-7, cooking dinner, sleep and doing it all over again, the next day. and just like that, it turns into a monotonous routine, a part of your life. But everything has an ending they say, and it suddenly hits you- the next day you wake up, after that internship/job ends, and you don't have to go to the office anymore, the void hurts. How did everything pass by so quickly? Recently, I completed my three month Internship at Capgemini , which felt like my first "big girl corporate experience" even though there have been many internships. This one just felt different This isn't coming from any prompts to AI, but straight from the heart. As someone from a small town, younger me always romanticized the idea of working or living inside those big glass buildings, the fancy workspace and all. If I could go back and tell her that I actually got to work in a tier 1 MNC, she’d be proud : ) Well, isn't that most of us? We grow up believing that it's gonna be all fun, but hear me out- it's not always glitter and glam, it's not always easy. It never is. But also the fact, that it always works out, you just gotta find a bunch of work besties, who laugh with you through it all, and make the monday blues, a lil less gloomy. These three months were all about new processes, new forms and new networks. Some days were chaotic. Some nights came with a side of self-doubt. Tech was a new terrain, and the learning curve was very real. Today when i look back, I only feel grateful for the people i had by my side. My manager, my mentor, my work besties (and the diet coke we had every other day, atp The Coca-Cola Company should really sponsor me :D) I’m so thankful to the amazing people I worked with, who taught me, challenged me, and laughed with me through it all. You made this chapter memorable. And to anyone, who's starting out, trust me, it works out. Somedays it’d be chaotic, but don't drain yourself in the process of figuring it out. This one ended, and I might be a tad bit sad about it, but maybe that's a beginning of something bigger, better :) PS: Diet coke really works wonders, and once you get addicted, there's no going back :P

I’ve been the youngest person in the room more times than I can count. This is what I remind myself of, every time I feel like I'm falling behind. Because, I am not in those rooms by accident, i’m there because someone probably thought I could keep up, even if I believed the opposite. I know, there’s always someone smarter, someone sharper. Someone who talks in a way that makes you go, “Damn… I want to think like that someday.” But being in that room itself is a privilege on its own. Most people never get access to those conversations. We do. We get to be there, listen, absorb, mess up, correct ourselves, and grow in real time. And the fact that some of the biggest jumps in my life didn’t come from courses, books, or uni. They came from simply being present around people who were operating at a level I aspire to reach. That being one of the reasons I’ve stopped underestimating the power of proximity. Put me in a room where I understand only 60% of what’s happening, and I’ll leave understanding 70%. Put me there again, I’ll exit at 85%. So now, whenever I get an opportunity to be in a room that intimidates me, challenges me, or makes me question if I “deserve” to be there, I’ll drop every plan and show up. Just to listen, Just to learn. ps: this picture is from an event by the MIMAMSA EDUNETWORK PVT. LTD. wherein i got a chance to have a conversation with Dr. Sanjay Malpani, chairman Malpani Group foundation, thanks to StudX for always giving access to the best events :))