After graduating in Dhupguri, West Bengal, Sampa Bakali knew she wanted to start working – but she was looking for more than just a first job. She wanted a career that would allow her to work with people, keep learning and, over time, create opportunities for herself.

Organised retail caught her attention. The sector offered the kind of work she was drawn to: interacting with customers, working as part of a team and developing practical skills on the job.

Finding the Skills to Move Forward

As Sampa explored opportunities, she came across Generation India through training and career awareness sessions in her community. They helped her understand that while her graduation was an important foundation, succeeding in retail would also require strong communication, customer service and workplace skills.

That insight encouraged her to take a more active approach to starting her career. Instead of waiting for the right opportunity, Sampa decided to prepare herself for it.

She enrolled in Generation India’s Retail Sales Associate programme, where she could build the practical skills needed to enter the sector with greater confidence.

“I realised that learning does not stop after graduation. I needed practical skills that would help me work confidently with customers and teams.”

From Practice to Confidence

For Sampa, much of the learning came through practice. Interactive sessions, group discussions and mock interviews gave her opportunities to strengthen her communication, teamwork and professional skills.

She began to understand that professionalism is built through everyday actions -communicating clearly, managing time, working effectively with others and responding thoughtfully to different situations.

More importantly, the experience changed how she thought about confidence. She realised that confidence was not simply something you had; it was something you could build through preparation and practice.

“The interactive sessions taught me how to communicate effectively and work professionally. I learnt that confidence comes from preparation and practice.”

Taking the First Step into Her Career

In February 2026, joined her first job, taking her first step into a professional career in retail.

Her new role has given her an opportunity to put her learning into practice while continuing to develop through everyday interactions with customers and colleagues. Each day brings new responsibilities and experiences, helping her become more comfortable in the workplace and build the skills she will need for the next stage of her career.

The opportunity has also brought a greater sense of independence. Earning her own income has enabled Sampa to contribute to her family while taking greater ownership of her future.

“My family is proud that I have started my career and built professional skills of my own.”

A Career Still Taking Shape

For Sampa, getting her first job is not the destination – it is the beginning.

She hopes to continue building her skills, take on greater responsibilities and eventually move into managerial roles within organised retail. For now, she is focused on learning from each experience and steadily building on the foundation she has created.

Her journey reflects a simple but important idea: sometimes, taking the first step towards a career begins with recognising what you want – and then preparing yourself to pursue it.

“I want to keep improving myself and prepare for higher positions in the future. Each experience helps me become better at what I do.”