The Light at the End of the Recruiting (T)Funnel
P4 has been quite a different experience at INSEAD. Now that things are a bit calmer I can finally take a step back and see the bigger picture.
Recruiting time. It's something that you can actually feel in the air.
We had already gotten a glimpse of how the atmosphere would be like during the P2 recruitment season for summer internships. But this is the real deal. It's not a game anymore; it's like as if our P2 feelings have been put on steroids.
Hopes and dreams play a tennis match with anxiety and fear, people working hard on their interviews (mostly consulting cases) in every corner. I found it very natural to be focused, committed, and even stressed to a certain extent.
The INSEAD experience is mesmerising, but it is indisputably a massive investment, in terms of money, time, and commitment.
But I believe it would be quite easy to fall into a negative loop if things happened to not work out in the first place.
There are a few takeaways I would like to pass through from my experience:
- Don't be too hard on yourself. Processes are more random than you think. Companies receive tons of applications at the same time, from a bunch of excellent profiles. Furthermore, an interview is a just a glimpse of who you are, and things may not work perfectly.
- This is not the only chance to achieve your goals. This is only the start. I've explored lots of career paths both on LinkedIn and through first-hand stories. There are many ways to achieve your goals, and your job after INSEAD will not define your life forever. Just don't forget to keep on networking and exploring.
- Don't forget that there are other things than recruiting. It is one of the most important things, no doubt. But you will regret eventually missing a few important events with your classmates if you forget everything else.
