How this FMS Delhi student landed a ‘dream internship’ with TAS

by Radhika Mohta

NEW DELHI: As an engineer who had previously worked in the software industry, the prospect of transitioning to an MBA programme brought with it the allure of new opportunities. Among those opportunities, one company has always held a special place in my heart: Tata Administrative Services (TAS), the managerial wing of the Tata Group. Known for being not just a job, but a lifestyle, TAS is a dream company for many.

I’ll take you through my memorable internship at TAS, sharing my journey, from preparation to selection, and the enriching two months I spent at The Indian Hotels Company Limited.

Dreaming of TAS

My fascination with TAS began long before I joined the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University, for MBA. Having previously worked at Tata Consultancy Services, a company within the Tata Group, I was well aware of TAS and its esteemed reputation.

TAS offers the unique opportunity to work across roles in Tata companies, empowering employees to handle critical responsibilities in marketing, finance, operations, strategy and other domains. Additionally, the programme includes the exciting Bharat Darshan trip during the first year, where interns visit iconic Tata companies and locations such as the Taj Mumbai and Tata Steel Jamshedpur. The first year also includes four stints, including three business and one CSR stint in different Tata companies.

Preparation and Selection

Joining FMS marked the beginning of rigorous preparation for internship placements. The placements typically occur around September-October, and anticipation runs high among students. We aspire to secure positions in the best companies visiting our campus, and the senior batch played a pivotal role in preparing us for this moment.

For my summer internship, I aimed for TAS. The selection process at TAS is comprehensive, beginning with a questionnaire and logical and aptitude games. The standout challenge is the Chairman Group Discussion (GD), simulating a boardroom scenario where candidates collectively solve ethical business cases under the guidance of a chairman, keeping in mind Tata’s core values. Subsequently, finalists face personal interviews. Fortunately, I was one of the selected candidates.

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The internship experience

My TAS internship spanned two months for which I was asked to choose a Tata company. I opted for The Indian Hotels Company Limited where my project focused on strategic expansion. Initially, I lacked confidence in the hospitality domain but my mentor, Anika Gupta, vice-president – development, provided unwavering support. Despite her two-decade-long experience, she patiently addressed my queries, ensuring my knowledge was up-to-date. She guided me, providing valuable resources for research and assignments. While the workload occasionally felt overwhelming, her mentorship and motivation inspired me to go the extra mile.

My internship gave me the opportunity to regularly meet and report my progress to the leadership. This ensured that my work was on track and whatever I did was being heard. One important lesson I learnt here was that before presenting to someone else, it was necessary that we ourselves were 100% confident about our work. Before every meeting, I refined my Excel sheets and PowerPoint presentations to ensure all hygiene factors were taken care of. I also learnt the art of “brevity”. I saw that people in leadership positions were occupied most of the time and could be available only for a brief duration. I had under five minutes to grab their attention and convey the message too. This taught me how to “speak more in fewer words”. I learnt crisp, professional communication which might have sounded like technical jargon to an outsider but made much more sense to someone within the industry.

Other mentors, including Madhu Ma’am, Nitin Khanna, Shivam Bhardwaj, and Sanjay Kohli, also helped me navigate. With them, I brainstormed ideas which could be used and often ended up learning a great deal through the stories they shared.

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Discovering hospitality

During my internship at the Taj Palace Delhi, I had the opportunity to engage in events such as Fun Fridays and enjoy weekly special food made by the chefs. I developed close friendships with office staff and gained insights into the hotel industry. Chefs gave me kitchen tours, front-office executives showed their handwritten cards, and I even played table tennis with hotel employees. This experience revealed the intricacies of the industry, making me aware of flower names like “Baby’s Breath” to legal terminology like “Area of Protection” in term sheets. I also got to meet Prajakta Koli, a renowned YouTuber.

Learning and growth

The internship wasn’t all fun and games. It provided opportunities for site visits and client interactions, emphasising the importance of professional attire and confidence in meetings.

In one such site visit, my colleague took me to a hotel site in Meerut. For the first time I saw a hotel under construction and the blueprints for it. That day opened my eyes to terms like BOH (back of house) and FOH (front of house). I learned about the extensive list of rules followed for FLS (fire and life safety) audits and how every part of a hotel has to adhere to them. One thing I did every day was to journal everything I learnt. I wanted to preserve every small bit of information that could prove to be useful in the future. The culmination of these efforts was presenting our work to an external TATA panel. Following this, selected candidates advanced to the HR round.

The dream realised

After two months of immersive learning, I was offered a pre-placement offer (PPO), bringing me closer to my dream of working for TAS full-time. I am eagerly waiting to join them in 2024.

My TAS internship experience was a remarkable journey that allowed me to learn, grow, and fulfil my dream of working with the Tata Group. TAS truly lives up to its promise of #SettleForMore, offering not only valuable professional experiences but also unforgettable memories and friendships along the way.

Radhika Mohta is currently pursuing MBA in Finance and Marketing at the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi.