Priyanka's Internship Experience at HDFC Bank

About Priyanka Bohra:

I have completed my BCOM from SGRR PG College, Dehradun. Currently, I am pursuing MBA in Marketing and International Business from SIMS Pune and doing a live project with FOREVISION in Marketing Domain. Apart from academics, I love dancing and am a huge social media enthusiast.

About the Internship

• Company - HDFC Bank
• Industry - Banking
• Role - Sales Intern
• Location - Pune
• Duration - 2 Months

How was your overall experience?

My overall experience was - Exhilarating! It started on an unexpected note in terms of location but it was definitely worth it. I interned at HDFC Bank, Chakan Branch, Pune. People at my branch were kind enough to brief me about all the day to day activities that goes in the banking sector. I made sure to learn something new every day. I had to deal with the walk-in customers, solve their queries and simultaneously cross-sell the products. One thing that I learnt during the tenure was that the banking industry is all about sales and I did manage to get some good business for them😉.

How was the selection process conducted? 

The selection process was a two steps process.

•  Online Exam that was conducted by Aspiring Minds (AMCAT)
•  Group Discussion

What was your project and how did you execute it?

My project title was Digitalization. I divided my internship into 2 parts. In the first month, I focussed on the digitalization segment wherein I tapped walk-in customers and demonstrated the various digital apps and services provided by the bank. I also conducted a survey on customer awareness and perception about the various digital services being offered by the bank. In the second month, I focussed on Sales of products wherein I had to pitch products to the customers and do a lot of cold calling for generating leads. This included tele-calling and field work.

How was the work culture at HDFC Bank?

Honestly, the work culture at HDFC Bank is very hectic. There are different drives which are weekly conducted and all the employees are given targets. In order to achieve targets, the employees have to work really hard to generate leads and convert them. Working hours have no limits!

What were the key challenges that you faced during your internship?

Since my branch location was in the outskirts of Pune- Chakan, it was difficult for me to communicate with the customers. Almost all the customers spoke in Marathi and I was not well versed with the language. The biggest hurdle was the language barrier.

What were the key learnings of your internship?

The best thing I learnt during my internship was how to work in a team. My branch manager used to divide us into teams and assign targets individually. So, we had to perform individually as well as work in a team. Also, I learnt how to tactically handle customer grievances.

Any memorable moments from the internship?

After banking hours, every alternate day we had some team-building exercises which were really fun. Also, morning huddles were pretty much scary as we used to get our targets and reviews of our previous day but all these memories are worth remembering and cherishing for a lifetime with a laugh!

Any tips you would like to share with our juniors?

Dear Juniors, be prepared for anything and everything during your internship. At times, it can get tough but eventually, it will pass. Make sure that you grab every opportunity and show enthusiasm in learning new things. I think these many tips would be sufficient to survive! All the best guys.

For any other queries, you can reach out to Priyanka @Linkedin and @Instagram