Now this would be history for me:-
" VIJAY POPAT
Sales Development Manager
HDFC Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
3 Red Cross Place, Menaka Estate ;
Park Circus Branch ( ROB )
Kolkata - 700001
Email:- vpopat@hdfclife.in , vijaypopat88@gmail.com
Get connected:- www.hdfclife.com "
After passing out from IIPM kolkata, me along with all my close friends from IIPM were looking forward to kick start their career with a bang after coming out of Management school. We were very optimistic and happy about finally stepping into corporate life after a fun filled learning experience from safe walls of IIPM.
It took us 72 subjects to clear and become eligible wild and cruel corporate world. Me along with few of my close freinds i.e; NITA CHANGANI, ASIF ANSARI, RAHUL AGARWALLA, WASIM AHMED, RACHANA JAIN, MANINDER KARNANI , and others waited till last to get through our dream job profile which was related to " FINANCE " through campus placement. But sadly destiny had its own faith, we never got suitable opportunity from campus about pure finance profile. Most of the opportunities were marketing and sales job. After a long wait since October 2010 to January 2011, we all became frustrated with our destiny and were scared about our career path as it was really hazy and almost in darkness.
After a long struggle and wait for suitable opportunity we finally decided to jump on to sales and marketing job as well till we don't get our desired job profile. But again destiny ditched all of us... we realized this fact after almost 90% good companies have already gone from campus after their due placement visits. Companies like, ICICI DIRECT, STANDARD CHARTERED, DEUTSCHE BANK, CITI BANK, HSBC DIRECT, RBS and even many other good non financial marketing companies came and went and that opportunity was also lost from few of us unlucky people. So finally we lost hope to get good placement from campus.
Here started the tough fighting journey with couple of my friends for shaping our career. Me along with NITA & ASIF, we all took the bold decision of stepping ahead and taking our biggest step towards making the choice of our career through the most adventurous path. We consulted our summer internship boss i.e; Mr. Kaushik Majumdar, the ex- Business Development Manager of MAX NEW YORK LIFE, and current Branch Manager of L & T LIFE INSURANCE, to guide us from where to start our career at least until we get our dream job. As per his guidance all three of us joined HDFC - LIFE. Me on 17.01.2011, NITA ON 20.01.2011 and ASIF on 10.02.2011 as SALES DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.
We all were very happy to get through a job because it was our self achievement without any help from college placement leg. Though you people must be thinking it was a sales job in INSURANCE industry but still it was a catalyst for us as were determined to prove a point to all of them who didn't even thought the level " A" students to get better placements.
Before i start about my 1st job experience i would like to thank MR. ZULFIKAR HOSSAIN the TERRITORY MANAGER of HDFC- LIFE for providing all the three freshers including me and my friends the golden opportunity to learn and start our career as managers in AGENCY CHANNEL. I am grateful to him not only because he gave me job, as being an CA final student and MBA with major in FINANCE AND MARKETING, this job was not that hard to crack, but i am thanking him for all his patience to tolerate us and teach us all required skills, knowledge and required technique to survive in this industry.
Overall it was a short ie; (17.01.2011 to 11.05.2011) but learning and fun filled experience in HDFC. I had my summer internship from MAX NEW YORK LIFE in agency channel itself so the Job was not alien for me. My job was to identify potential Financial consultants and recruit them as advisors and get the business target done with the help of them. In this short period i recruited 8 FC, with a cumulative business of above 2 lacs. Its not a flattering figure but for a finance guy to enter into completely hardcore sales environment with the toughest financial product to sale was still satisfactory.
This job has taught me a lot of things... 1st of all it boosted my communication skill and also injected immense self confidence to deal with all crisis situation and tackle tricky people. This journey won't have been fun filled and memorable if my friends NITA & ASIF were not part of it. We three were like one unit in whole of Dalhousie branch of HDFC - LIFE. I don't know from where to start about our great journey together. I still remember one of the weirdest experience of visiting HOWRAH Fish market along with ASIF on a call with a client and staying there for more than 2 hours and even having lunch in mid of fishy smell all around. It sounds funny but that experience opened me up to all adverse experience. I still remember the day i closed a big deal on my own, and was successful in closing the deal positively... it was a amazing experience. All small funs that we used to have like going movies in mid of official timings, going shopping malls, watching ipl matches, etc will remain with me as a lifetime experience.
All of my colleagues like SARMISHTA DI, AMIT KUMAR DAS, AFROZA DI, DEBASHISH DA, RAJU, ANNUPAM, JOYONTO DA, ABHIK, SHAGUN, ZULFI SIR, NILANJANA MAM, DIBNENDU DA, ARUP DA, SAMBHU DA, ABHISHEK, RAJESH, ANIL, SANTOSH, YASH RAJ, etc.. and yes NITA & ASIF all were amazing and extremely supportive. I have learnt something or the other from everyone.
Being a management student, the three of us came with a unique idea of bring summer interns in HDFC- LIFE through B- SCHOOL to work in agency channel for sometime. We were successful to tap Scottish church college kolkata, and bring 4 interns to work for one month. I still remember the day when we went to give presentation for internship purpose in Scottish church. Parth, poonam , kashif and keerti where those four students, who were extremely dedicated and hard working. It was a very educating experience to enter in such a venture.
As it was a sales line it was never smooth journey. There were many moments when we got depressed and wanted to quit the job. There was huge pressures of targets and expectations from above which during Jan, Feb and mar reached its peak. Many times we were exhausted and completely drained but at that times, because of each others support we sailed through all tough times. I would really like to thank my friends for their support and advice
But as i started earlier, that this job was never a destination for us. We entered this job because we wanted to prove that we can make our own career. Luckily i got through a decent job in HSBC as a FUND ADMINISTRATOR on 12.05.2011 and have finally moved into my desired profile of " FINANCE " after many struggle, wait and extremely patience since Oct 2010 to may 2011. Finally i am into a job through which i can at least try to shape my future accordingly. I just hope with all good wishes of my friends and blessings of my elders i will make something better out of my career. I am proud because i have achieved a good job alone without any help from the people who thought we all don't deserve a better job or we cant get one.
Now currently i am ;
"VIJAY POPAT
HEDGE FUND ADMINISTRATOR;
HSS - A & V ASIA;
HSBC- HDPI
KOLKATA "
I hope things develop for better from now on. I wish and pray that my friends NITA & ASIF both get through a better job as fast as possible... because i know they are made for something big in their respective careers rather than just selling INSURANCE. And i am 100% sure that in next two months they would be also writing similar memory blog and missing our struggle period in INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
GOD BLESS all my friends for their prosperous future. Before ending i would like to add that " "never say die ".... there are many hurdles and many people will try to stop you but fight your way and have patience because God always supports hard work and dedication.
Thanks a lot for bearing with such a long letter
VIJAY POPAT
" VIJAY POPAT
Sales Development Manager
HDFC Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
3 Red Cross Place, Menaka Estate ;
Park Circus Branch ( ROB )
Kolkata - 700001
Email:- vpopat@hdfclife.in , vijaypopat88@gmail.com
Get connected:- www.hdfclife.com "
After passing out from IIPM kolkata, me along with all my close friends from IIPM were looking forward to kick start their career with a bang after coming out of Management school. We were very optimistic and happy about finally stepping into corporate life after a fun filled learning experience from safe walls of IIPM.
It took us 72 subjects to clear and become eligible wild and cruel corporate world. Me along with few of my close freinds i.e; NITA CHANGANI, ASIF ANSARI, RAHUL AGARWALLA, WASIM AHMED, RACHANA JAIN, MANINDER KARNANI , and others waited till last to get through our dream job profile which was related to " FINANCE " through campus placement. But sadly destiny had its own faith, we never got suitable opportunity from campus about pure finance profile. Most of the opportunities were marketing and sales job. After a long wait since October 2010 to January 2011, we all became frustrated with our destiny and were scared about our career path as it was really hazy and almost in darkness.
After a long struggle and wait for suitable opportunity we finally decided to jump on to sales and marketing job as well till we don't get our desired job profile. But again destiny ditched all of us... we realized this fact after almost 90% good companies have already gone from campus after their due placement visits. Companies like, ICICI DIRECT, STANDARD CHARTERED, DEUTSCHE BANK, CITI BANK, HSBC DIRECT, RBS and even many other good non financial marketing companies came and went and that opportunity was also lost from few of us unlucky people. So finally we lost hope to get good placement from campus.
Here started the tough fighting journey with couple of my friends for shaping our career. Me along with NITA & ASIF, we all took the bold decision of stepping ahead and taking our biggest step towards making the choice of our career through the most adventurous path. We consulted our summer internship boss i.e; Mr. Kaushik Majumdar, the ex- Business Development Manager of MAX NEW YORK LIFE, and current Branch Manager of L & T LIFE INSURANCE, to guide us from where to start our career at least until we get our dream job. As per his guidance all three of us joined HDFC - LIFE. Me on 17.01.2011, NITA ON 20.01.2011 and ASIF on 10.02.2011 as SALES DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.
We all were very happy to get through a job because it was our self achievement without any help from college placement leg. Though you people must be thinking it was a sales job in INSURANCE industry but still it was a catalyst for us as were determined to prove a point to all of them who didn't even thought the level " A" students to get better placements.
Before i start about my 1st job experience i would like to thank MR. ZULFIKAR HOSSAIN the TERRITORY MANAGER of HDFC- LIFE for providing all the three freshers including me and my friends the golden opportunity to learn and start our career as managers in AGENCY CHANNEL. I am grateful to him not only because he gave me job, as being an CA final student and MBA with major in FINANCE AND MARKETING, this job was not that hard to crack, but i am thanking him for all his patience to tolerate us and teach us all required skills, knowledge and required technique to survive in this industry.
Overall it was a short ie; (17.01.2011 to 11.05.2011) but learning and fun filled experience in HDFC. I had my summer internship from MAX NEW YORK LIFE in agency channel itself so the Job was not alien for me. My job was to identify potential Financial consultants and recruit them as advisors and get the business target done with the help of them. In this short period i recruited 8 FC, with a cumulative business of above 2 lacs. Its not a flattering figure but for a finance guy to enter into completely hardcore sales environment with the toughest financial product to sale was still satisfactory.
This job has taught me a lot of things... 1st of all it boosted my communication skill and also injected immense self confidence to deal with all crisis situation and tackle tricky people. This journey won't have been fun filled and memorable if my friends NITA & ASIF were not part of it. We three were like one unit in whole of Dalhousie branch of HDFC - LIFE. I don't know from where to start about our great journey together. I still remember one of the weirdest experience of visiting HOWRAH Fish market along with ASIF on a call with a client and staying there for more than 2 hours and even having lunch in mid of fishy smell all around. It sounds funny but that experience opened me up to all adverse experience. I still remember the day i closed a big deal on my own, and was successful in closing the deal positively... it was a amazing experience. All small funs that we used to have like going movies in mid of official timings, going shopping malls, watching ipl matches, etc will remain with me as a lifetime experience.
All of my colleagues like SARMISHTA DI, AMIT KUMAR DAS, AFROZA DI, DEBASHISH DA, RAJU, ANNUPAM, JOYONTO DA, ABHIK, SHAGUN, ZULFI SIR, NILANJANA MAM, DIBNENDU DA, ARUP DA, SAMBHU DA, ABHISHEK, RAJESH, ANIL, SANTOSH, YASH RAJ, etc.. and yes NITA & ASIF all were amazing and extremely supportive. I have learnt something or the other from everyone.
Being a management student, the three of us came with a unique idea of bring summer interns in HDFC- LIFE through B- SCHOOL to work in agency channel for sometime. We were successful to tap Scottish church college kolkata, and bring 4 interns to work for one month. I still remember the day when we went to give presentation for internship purpose in Scottish church. Parth, poonam , kashif and keerti where those four students, who were extremely dedicated and hard working. It was a very educating experience to enter in such a venture.
As it was a sales line it was never smooth journey. There were many moments when we got depressed and wanted to quit the job. There was huge pressures of targets and expectations from above which during Jan, Feb and mar reached its peak. Many times we were exhausted and completely drained but at that times, because of each others support we sailed through all tough times. I would really like to thank my friends for their support and advice
But as i started earlier, that this job was never a destination for us. We entered this job because we wanted to prove that we can make our own career. Luckily i got through a decent job in HSBC as a FUND ADMINISTRATOR on 12.05.2011 and have finally moved into my desired profile of " FINANCE " after many struggle, wait and extremely patience since Oct 2010 to may 2011. Finally i am into a job through which i can at least try to shape my future accordingly. I just hope with all good wishes of my friends and blessings of my elders i will make something better out of my career. I am proud because i have achieved a good job alone without any help from the people who thought we all don't deserve a better job or we cant get one.
Now currently i am ;
"VIJAY POPAT
HEDGE FUND ADMINISTRATOR;
HSS - A & V ASIA;
HSBC- HDPI
KOLKATA "
I hope things develop for better from now on. I wish and pray that my friends NITA & ASIF both get through a better job as fast as possible... because i know they are made for something big in their respective careers rather than just selling INSURANCE. And i am 100% sure that in next two months they would be also writing similar memory blog and missing our struggle period in INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
GOD BLESS all my friends for their prosperous future. Before ending i would like to add that " "never say die ".... there are many hurdles and many people will try to stop you but fight your way and have patience because God always supports hard work and dedication.
Thanks a lot for bearing with such a long letter
VIJAY POPAT
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