PPO. It stands for Pre-Placement Offer. It is what it sounds like. You get a placement in a company. Ok now seriously what in the world are PPOs?
We ask this question to Surendhar(4th year, CSE) and he gives me the layman's definition. When you are an intern for a company, say for two months or so, and if the company is impressed with your performance, they offer you a job which you have to take up after you finish college. That's called a PPO.
Surendhar has gotten a PPO in Microsoft. From his words, he tells me that the 8 week internship was his best intern work experience ever, due to the fact that one is surrounded by brilliant people in a relaxing, easy going atmosphere. Not every company offers a PPO and in the companies that do, not everyone will be assured of getting one.
So of course the next question would be - how DO you get a PPO?
Harun (4th year) who is now happily placed in Samsung, answers this after answering why do companies offer PPO's in the first place. "You see PPO's are a win- win scenario for both the student and company. The student gains adequate knowledge of the company and has taken enough time to settle in the work environment. The company does not have to pay an intern as much as they do for a full time employee, also training and honing the student in their own way to better their skills." If they feel the intern adds credit to the company, they will take you in. They will analyze and review your performance, and at the end of your internship they might hold an interview.
When you are an interning at a company, say for two months or so, if the company is impressed with your performance, they offer you a job which you have to take up after you finish college.
He goes on to say that Samsung had flexible working hours during his internship. Although it sounds like a lot of work and you'd feel bored at first, as soon as you get the hang of it, one would really want to stay longer than the allotted 9 hours in the office. Samsung conducts an exam called GSAT (Global Samsung Aptitude Test); Just one of the criterias required to be fulfilled by the intern if he/she expects to get a PPO. At the end of his internship, 2 or more weeks later, the company released the result telling Harun (along with 7 others) that he achieved a PPO. In his case there was no face to face interview.
At Microsoft - The performance of the interns is assessed for 7 weeks and they have multiple rounds of interview when they are considered for PPOs
Harun's advice to all students is that the CGPA is a very important criteria. Some companies may not give much attention to it, but many others do. Every company has its way of assessing its candidate. He stresses that a safe CGPA according to him is above 8, and one should honestly work hard to attain it.
At Samsung - GSAT (Global Samsung Aptitude Test) is just one of the criteria required to be fulfilled by the intern if he/she expects to get a PPO.
That is not what Jai Vasanth (4th year) believes to be true. CGPA is only a criteria when you apply for an internship. Nothing matters except how well you work in the company. One must interact with the team. Mentors are assigned to each team. How much you learn and how much you contribute to the project matters the most.
Jai Vasanth got a PPO in Amazon. He says the work culture is absolutely awesome. If there's any doubt in your mind or trouble relating to your task, there are people who are always ready to help. No kind of hierarchy system was felt. Jai Vasanth believes that dedication is the key to success. You have time to learn even if you have petite knowledge of what one is supposed to do.
PPO's are a win- win scenario for both the student and company.
We spoke to another student whose tension is off her shoulders, thanks to her PPO in Goldman Sachs. Jayasri (4th year) tells us that she loved the work environment at Goldman Sachs and the ease with which she could approach anyone in the company, anywhere, anytime. She interned at Bangalore. Again the company looked at performance during the internship. She tells us that GPA isn't important as long as you meet the expected standards of the company. While getting an internship is one thing, PPOs are a wholly different story altogether.
The Guindy Times wishes to congratulate the students who earned PPOs this summer at the end of their internship period.
