IIM Sambalpur’s Anant Kulkarni reveals how he bagged Rs 60 lakh pay package

Anant Kulkarni

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur student Anant Kulkarni is in news for all the right reasons. This 25-year-old Nanded lad has bagged salary offer of whopping Rs 60 lakh PA and overseas posting from Tolaram Group. The salary package may not be in the league of top IIMs but is a ‘big deal’ given that Anant’s is the only second batch to graduate from IIM Sambalpur. The institute was established in 2015.

Anant, who grew up in a Marathwada joint family, completed Mechanical Engineering from Pune University and appeared in CAT to pursue Management. Although he got interview calls from 9 IIMs, he converted only IIM Sambalpur’s and consequently joined it; a decision he says, “he will never regret”. In an interview with Shiksha, Anant shared his campus selection interview experience. Read on.

I am so delighted and overwhelmed by seeing the joy of my parents, family and friends. I always believe in putting the best effort to get the desired output, so I just prepared well for all the rounds without worrying for the outcome and never thought of getting selected or rejected.

I am about to join Tolaram Group in Lagos, Nigeria in 1^st/2^nd week of May depending on Visa process. Initially I have been given a role of Business Development Manager with Multi-pro group (Part of Tolaram Group) from Lagos.

The interview was conducted through Video Conference. A panel of 3 members (different domain and expertise) interviewed me sitting in Lagos. It was a smooth process and the interview went on for about 15 to 20 minutes. They asked me some basic HR questions like, why IIM Sambalpur, why Tolaram Group? Why Nigeria?, etc. and about my experience of summer internship at Patanjali in detail and how it will be useful for Tolaram Group.

Yes, I felt nervous during 1^st round of process which was an elimination round, where the task was to submit a one minute video answering four basic HR questions, so one of my friends helped me shoot the video, I had to take lots of retakes to make the best video. It took almost 10 hours for me to make and submit only one minute video.

I was interviewed by Jindal Stainless apart from Tolaram Group; I was rejected because of their rigorous academic policy, which eventually turned out to be lucky for me.

My parents wanted me to do a PGPM (now MBA) from any of the IIMs, so I prepared for CAT, got call from 9 IIMs but could convert only IIM Sambalpur and I will never regret this decision.

The most important and unique thing about IIM Sambalpur is the director of Institute Prof. MP Jaiswal, his vision, ethics and action oriented work. I am sure in the coming years IIM Sambalpur will be famous worldwide due to its positive impact on ecosystem in which it is operating. The three principles of Innovation, Integrity & Inclusion (called as IIM 3.0) make IIM Sambalpur very special.

Yes, I believe preparation is the key to crack the campus placement interview. There are two factors checked by any company Attitude & Aptitude, I believe aptitude is a minor factor which can be neglected at times by companies if you have the right attitude, and the right attitude comes from one’s utmost desire to learn new things, one’s honesty, one’s willingness to put the best foot forward, ability to work in a team, leading and following as per situation, etc. but most importantly by respecting self and others.

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