Choosing An IIM Over A PSU | My Journey To IIM Bangalore

My future seemed quite bright to me nearly three years back. After all, I had managed to grab the highest package in my branch and was looking forward to a stable and comfortable career. My parents were the happiest lot in the world, and so were my prospective fathers-in-law who had already started making acquaintances with my father, whenever he would go to the nearby square for his daily hangout.

The news was huge, I had made into one of the most sought-after workplaces in our country as per the tradition conceived by our parents, relatives and that Sharma Uncle, who was all red because his son could only manage an IT role in Bengaluru! You guessed it right! I got an offer from a PSU, an oil refining giant to be precise!

The initial days were swayed with grandeur, for we were allotted huge suites in one of the most lavish hotels in Pune. The training sessions were highly informative and inspiring as well, for each of them made us realise how significant our contributions are to the industry and the society as a whole. I was later placed in the Procurement Division of a refinery, and the departmental training further supplemented my hopes of adding significant value to the economy, and I was quite excited to get things started.

I learned a lot in my initial months of service, interacted with a vast multitude of vendors and got to know their businesses as well. I handled several kinds of Purchase Orders and became a newbie in the workplace who gradually became known for his sincerity and dedication. My bosses were impressed with me, my colleagues found me entertaining at the lunch table, and I was the life of the parties that my friends held at their places. The salary was huge enough for considerable savings even after lavish expenditures, and it always used to arrive on time. What more could I have asked for?

Moral satisfaction? Yes, that’s the answer! Somewhere deep in my heart, I still found something missing! Worse, I used to be ambitious at one point of time, but gradually, my complacency had shadowed it. My daily chores had become repetitive; there were no talks about the economy or politics or even the local news at the lunch table. The only headlines that made the gossip were the family talks, not to ignore the casual office sexism that prevailed its ugly wings all over the place. My ideas were no longer encouraged at the meetings. Instead I was starting to get ridiculed for questioning the prevailing customs, and my suggestions for improving the workflow were being crumpled under the pretence of “follow the herd.”

Follow the herd? No, that wasn’t the brightness I’d envisioned in my career! Let me clarify that I had no rebellious attitude to the rules and regulations of my employer, but acknowledging that there are potential improvements to a particular process, and being ignorant enough not to implement it, is something I would never vouch for! The toxic orthodoxy of a sect that had become so self-righteous, and smug enough to let go of any ambitious motives for self-improvement, soon enough declared me an outcast!

My friends had started living their dreams as well! LEDs, Home Theatres, Vacation Trips, and even premium cars, they had acquired everything you can think of! Their purpose of life had been served! We would often go out where they would complain to me about how horrible their bosses were, or how the job had slowly started developing existential crises within them! But those complaints would be flung at the sea as we went on a long drive along the beaches, where they would tell me how advanced their SUV’s audio system is and how they’re planning to buy that expensive recliner set with their next salary!

I had to get out of this place! I sure dwelt upon the skepticism that most of the workplaces in our country do possess this complacent attitude, but I knew that I needed to be trained to see opportunities to grow, to work for more accountable designations. My job and all my expectations from it had started wearing off, and I was determined enough to make a new start, be somewhere where I can at least look myself in the mirror at the end of the day and pat myself for having climbed out of a regressive well, into a brighter world.

My efforts did work out! I made it into IIM Bangalore, and have completed one year as of date. I visited my ex-office to clear out some monetary dues, and I found someone else at my table, someone who had crushed her dreams under the ugly mirage of huge salaries and worldly comforts. I felt sad for her though but was prouder of myself for having put the step out of that world. I do admit that I have had no significant achievements to boast of in my first year of MBA, but I have been happier at my b-school than I could ever have been at my previous job. The best thing was that I had started dreaming again, looking forward to fueling my ambitions and grow better and faster in life.

At this point, let me clarify you that this is only my story and should not be generalized to every PSU employee in India! I was genuinely grief-stricken when I found the terrible PSU stereotypes possessed by almost all the recruiters as well as students at my college! Let me tell you that this is highly unfair and untrue! I know that there might be many complacent job-slackers in a PSU, but I have also worked with many hard-working employees, talented and dedicated enough to take their companies to whole new echelons!

Why did I drop out then? Well, I was too broad-minded to be working for one routine job throughout my life and was exploratory enough to take on the risks in setting foot to newer avenues. And I feel I have been successful so far, so I pretty much do not have any regrets of quitting a PSU!

What’s better? I have inspired enough people at my workplace to let go of their shackles and aim higher, and that’s what gives me a peaceful sleep every night!