Introduction

So its summer project time. A time when, dream projects become the buzz on campus.
It's like the first rain after sweltering summer, the first sign of light after a night's
darkness.

Summer training is the first brush of an MBA with the corporate world. It is an integral
component of MBA curriculum at all business schools which has been effectively
grooming future managers.

The objective of summer training from academic learning point of view is to provide an
interaction with real world and understand the problems, issues and challenges being
faced by corporate world, and to give an opportunity to the student to apply the learning
at campus. This is the time when we get an opportunity that tells us where we stand when
it comes to a fast moving corporate world.

During the summer project, the trainee is expected to work on live projects and work out
a feasible solution for the same.

Summer projects in one way or the other helps you gain confidence and prepares you for
corporate world that is eagerly waiting for smart and energetic intelligent professionals.

For trainees, it is an opportunity to understand what are the various functions in an

organization and at broader level, understanding and experiencing what to expect after
joining the corporate world. Summer project should be taken as an opportunity to
understand work culture, expectations and demands of various profiles; an opportunity to
explore; an opportunity to earn first paid assignment after a year of academic download.
Some people look at this as an opportunity to get a pre-placement offer. Some people
prophesies that it's not the company, but the project that matters, while some people feel
brand name is more important, while some people are calculating the implications of
doing a project in emerging areas.

Some people advocate getting into well-established business line, some people feel that
stipend is not important while some say the amount of money that you get determines the
importance of the assignment... all this and many more questions arise while making a
decision or a choice for summer training.
Summer Project - An Opportunity to
Network
It is an opportunity to network with corporate. During summer training, one interacts
with several corporate at different levels. Making a good rapport with them can go a long
way in helping your corporate career.

When I say that, I do not mean that one should exchange business cards and start sending
out CVs immediately after you go back to college. Things like thanking all the corporate
you have met and who have helped you during your summer training by sending out an e-
mail is considered a good gesture and starting point of future relationships. In fact if your
organization permits, sending a synopsis of your project is also not a bad idea.

What’s Important

The summer training interview can be as demanding as the final placement if the
organization is serious about the project work. Therefore, it's advisable to leave nothing
to chance.
Stipend or No Stipend

Most organizations pay stipend for summer training and also bear the expenses borne
while doing the project. Certain organizations might pay less while certain organizations
pay more. This will depend on the organization policy. However, payment is not the right
yard-stick to judge whether the project is worthwhile or not.

Look many times you are not paid but still you get a good project to handle. Make a wise
choice among the projects you plan to take. Our personal opinion is giving a good project
much value than the money associated.
Project Vs. Brand Name

What is more important - the project or the organization?

The vote goes in favour of the project. If the project is done well, it can be a very strong
learning platform for you. It does not matter whether the organization has small brand
name or a big banner. A good summer project which is relevant to the industry and
contributes to the body of knowledge can be a strong selling and talking point during
final placements.
 * Its true that a good well-known brand will add some additional feathers to your hat
but don’t forget many times when working with big brand your don’t get to learn much.
There are may reasons for this...
* The company may not like to share its business to a great extent with an individual
who is in their organization for just 2 months.

People there are so busy with their part of stuff to do that you don’t get proper attention.

Working with a big banner has its own merits. One is that you might get exposure to the
processes and systems of the organization. It will give your CV a face-lift. However, if
the project is not meaty enough, it will remain an eye-wash.

A better way of making a choice could be to access what all companies visit your
campus. Do these companies absorb the summer trainees often? What’s the trend? There
are many companies that would prefer recruiting summer trainees for there company
rather then recruiting from campus. This is because …

* They get to know you better during your 2 months of summer project.
* The way you work, your behavior, your capabilities, your thought process is all
known to the company.

So, rather they would prefer recruiting you. This is important, see if you get a good
company like this. This will give you a chance to know how they function, what are there
cultural values and beliefs. So that you fit in well when recruited for final placements.

Make a wise choice, you may find times when the company is into losses but still the
project that you get to work on , can get you into a big company.
 While facing problems
What if you land up with a not-so-exciting/meaty project?

Typically, you have 8-12 weeks' time for doing the project. This is the time frame given
by the institutes. If you land up with something that doesn't seem to be going for you,
look out for another project where you can do some meaningful work. This will help you
in enhancing your learning.

Again personal contacts, alumni and professional pitch to the organizations can help you
get that; however, not at the cost of upsetting your organization.
What if you are not able to make any headway in your project?

* Go back to your mentor/guide for the project - ask relevant questions.

* Speak to your peers who might be doing similar projects.
* Speak to your alumni who are working in the same area.
* It makes sense to even go back to the faculty at the institute to seek guidance on the
subject.

If you have done your summer training in the field of marketing, can you actually get a
job in finance?

Well, summer training is just a two-month stop-over in your career. Therefore, saying
that if you have done your summer training in one specialization area, you can't look out
for job in other specialization domains, is completely wrong. One can land up with a
marketing project even if one is more interested in finance depending on opportunities
available on campus, dearth of quality projects in your chosen area of specialization.
There could be many reasons for this, and at the end of the day, it is only a two-month
project before the start of your career. However, you should be prepared with a
convincing answer on the reason for switch from one area to another. The reasons could
vary from interest to opportunity available to realization. Whatever you say, is sure and
convincing.
 Things one should know
While attending a summer interview make sure that your concepts are very clear. Be
ready with some very basic questions like...

* What is marketing? Give me a word-to-word definition given by Philip kotler.

* What is the difference between marketing and selling?
* How important is to sell if you want to land up as a marketing manager?
* Tell me how will you sell a ball point pens “ball”? What’s would be your target
audience?
* What’s STP?
* Why did u take marketing?
* You are a BCA, why MBA why not MCA?
* What is the fun in doing a summer project?
* Why our company?
* What are we into?
* What is a balance sheet?

One needs to understand, at this phase of your 2 year MBA you are not expected to know
all the management concepts but you should be strong with your fundaments. Trust me, if
you don’t know exactly what’s difference between marketing and selling you are in
trouble.

Brush up your conceptual knowledge; we have added a marketing section that has a
collection of marketing theories which should be on your tips.

Get online and read about the company before you go for an interview. It’s a personal
suggestion; don’t go into every single detail about the company. You are expected to
know what the company is into its products and services. What is the market share? Who
all are the competitors, etc.
 Report Format

SUMMER REPORT STRUCTURE (MBA):

Every MBA Institute has a different way / representation of summer internship report.
This article provides a standard report structure with reference to MBA in marketing fied.
This will give a brief idea of how a summer internship report for MBA grads. Is
structured.

1. Cover and Title page

* Certificate
* Acknowledgement
* Declaration given by the student
* Table of contents
* Executive summary

2. Introduction to the project.

* Introduction
* Objective of the study
* Methodology
* The chapter would contain the following things.
* 5.Sources of data
* Sample size, if any
* 7.Methods of data collection
* 8.Instrument used
* 9.Tools and techniques of analysis

3. Literature review:

This section for the summer training report would mean writing about the ways in which
the organizational realities are similar or different from theory. The management theory
dealt with in the report must be written in detail.

* The Background
* The Promoters
* The Company and its Product line
* Features of the Product
* Marketing strategies
* Competitors
* Government Policies
* Taxation aspects
 * Major problems
* Achievements
* Share Market position
* National and International Image
* Future Prospects
* Conclusion

4. About the project (assignment or topic) taken in the organization

5. Surveys, Feedback and Data Analysis

6. Suggestion/ Recommendation

7. Conclusion

8. Bibliography

9. Appendix/ Annexure

If you use any table/graph/ Figure, then it is to be numbered and source of information
from which it is collected, is to be mentioned under each.
 Report Writing

Report Writing (Summer Project / Internship during MBA)

The report is actually the most important part of summers. No matter how much hard
work you have put in, if the report is not done well, all effort is waste.

Therefore, plan for at least 7-10 days of your training period for preparing the report.
Check out the standard formats for report writing.

Make sure that the language of your report is simple it is; organized in a logical fashion
and covers the entire scope of the project.

Make use of your marketing learning’s while you are making your summer report.
Different theories could be used to have a sound analysis and same can be mentioned in
the report.

Every individual has a different way of presenting report. One has to make sure that his
report reflects theoretical implementation of marketing principles, Don’t worry even if
you are placed for a summer project where you are not able to contribute much with your
knowledge. Remember its better to make initiatives and work forward so that your report
reflects some thing that is more relevant.

Remember, numbers speak more than the theoretical lines. Try to show what effect your
recommendations can make in the organization in terms of numbers. Some thing like this
…

“After the analysis of call center activities of my company, I realized that lot of time was
wasted. My recommendations will reduce this wastage by 31%.”

Your report should be more graphical. Rather than writing down observations in the form
of points, try to make use of graphs. This will depict the results at a glance and have
better impact.

Final Tips

* Plan extensively for summer training in terms of choosing the right organization and
right project.
* Take your summer training seriously. Its your first brush with corporate life.
* Do not mess with the organization you are working for; who knows it might be your
future employer.
* Use the opportunity to network with experts in the field of study.
* Try and understand the organization set-up, broad strategy, culture, etc. This will
help you in final placements. Prepare a detailed note on the organization.
 * Keep in touch with your mentor/guide.
* Do not hesitate to ask in case you don't know something, because you are not
expected to know everything anyway.
* A quality project done could be your passport to final placement.
* Report writing is as critical as doing the project; therefore, plan for at least 7-10 days
for giving your report a shape.
* If your project has relevance to people outside your campus and the organization,
sharing a synopsis can be considered, provided it is allowed by your organization.
* Prepare a comprehensive ready-reckoner on the organization that you worked for
during your summer training. This will be important for your job interviews. Do not leave
this for the last day before placement week.