The Light at the End of the Recruiting (T)Funnel

Stefano Ceravolo

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:

 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.