Jalandhar MBA student funds own education, gets offers from top companies

The trail of success carved out by Divyanshu Kumar (22), a final-year MBA student of Apeejay Institute of Management and Technology, stands unique in many ways.

By the time he was in Class XII, Divyanshu had already started earning. He took up a job with a bolt manufacturing company and has since funded his entire BCom degree as well as his MBA from his own salary. Even before completing his MBA, he has secured three job offers through campus placements.

“I have a job offer from Berger Paints in Jalandhar, Sonalika in Hoshiarpur and Tommy Hilfiger in Jammu. I am still to make up my mind as to where I should join,” said Divyanshu, who is also earning from his own finance and trading business.

Recalling his journey, he said, “I was almost 18 when I took my first job. Those were Covid days. I had already completed three revisions and my Class XII examinations were being postponed. I didn’t have much to do at home and it was also a financial requirement for our family. I started as a labourer and gradually became the leader of the production team.”

On balancing work and studies, Divyanshu said he managed by aligning his shifts accordingly. “I used to take long leaves or quit jobs whenever examinations were around. I stood second in BCom, which I completed from GNDU campus on Ladowali Road. I had to switch jobs to other local hand tool industries for the same reason. I have even worked as a delivery boy for Zomato. I did my internship at the ITC plant in Kapurthala,” he said.

Along with academics and work experience, Divyanshu also led his college teams in cricket, volleyball and fashion shows, bringing home several trophies. “Leadership was a skill I acquired early through the jobs and training I undertook. This eventually helped me in sports and cultural events as well,” he concluded.