What employers are looking for in you.

So you’ve just completed your post graduation,congratulations, you’re now an MBA! You will be fast tracked to the front of the line in your future job assignments. The boss’ eyes will always look to you for a suggestion or a valuable input. Your future is set… or is it? While getting an MBA was always part of the plan, here are a few things you will need to know before you apply to your first off campus job in the real world. Most of these are unwritten expectations that employers have of you, and it is best to inculcate these values while still in college than try and retrofit yourself into them a few months into your job.

While an MBA will equip you to handle most of any situation that may arise in your professional lives this list is more about attitude and character traits that will help in the process of being an indispensable member of a management team.

1) Be proactive, not reactive:

Being proactive means sensing a need before it arises and planning a process such that when the need does arise, you have a solution in place to take care of it. Say you have a presentation the next day to a client that you know can be bettered, bring it to the attention of your superiors, and volunteer to make adjustments to it, such that the client is completely convinced that your firm amongst all others is the most suited to undertake the project.

2) Be a teamplayer:

No one person ever built a gargantuan monument all by themselves. It would be practically impossible to do so. The same is true in the modern business environment. Teams of dedicated employees strive together, bringing their collective expertise, skill sets and insights to deliver the best solutions. Being a team player entails being a people’s person, putting the needs of the team above individual needs and most importantly sharing the credit! Remember being egotistical will get you nowhere.

3) Be self-motivated:

Being self motivated simply means not dwelling too much on setbacks and being able to learn from mistakes. It also means being creative, showing an interest, perseverance and above all having single minded focus in pursuing your goals. Self-motivated individuals are most sought after in organisations with strong focus on innovation. Especially in the fields of new media, marketing, advertising and finance, where the need to innovate is high!

4) Never lose your inner child:

While this may sound pedantic, the childlike qualities of boundless enthusiasm, energy and infectious humour are extremely important, especially as part of a team. The inner child in us can help lift morale, build relationships and most of call reinvigorate the people around us. A smile and an attitude of curiosity will go a long way in making a positive impression on all and sundry. Overdoing it though will mean you get branded as a ‘good times guy or girl’ and that is not something you’d want for your reputation!    

5) Focus and determination:

Determination and focus are two key attributes that employers will look for in you. Determination to lead and follow without hesitation, focus to reach the goal and on all aspects of the execution of a project.

6) A clean reputation:

Employers are looking for employees who are, who they say they are in their CVs. Maintaining a good rapport with all you come in contact with, not indulging in malice or gossip and keeping your own reputation untarnished by the same will go a long way in ensuring that you have a clean bill of health character-wise. Always provide your prospective employers with references that are genuine and can bear testament to your character.

Follow and inculcate these simple tips and you will find that life and your professional career are on the right track in every way.

Planning your children’s future the right way.

Parents used to feud amongst themselves about what their kids would be when they grew up, if the father picked ‘engineer’, the mother would inadvertently choose ‘doctor’. In many cases the child would grow up to pick up either of the two professions. That seems like the plot of a hackneyed film from the seventies, doesn’t it? Today the sheer number of courses and offbeat careers available to children itself is mind boggling. This is the conundrum, the problem of plenty that students often face, and if they aren’t guided in the right direction, they end up making the wrong choice which could lead them on a downward spiral, professionally speaking. It is therefore the parent’s role to help guide their charges on the right path from a young age.

Advice to parents about helping plan their children’s future well:

1. Take an interest: Taking an interest in your child is the most basic and the one thing that any responsible parent must do. Inculcate the habit of spending quality time with your children and make time to observe and attend their after school activities and extra- curricular programmes. Always encourage them to participate in elocution, debate, quizzes and other such activities that will expose them to public speaking and other useful soft skills that will benefit them in the long run.

2. Be proactive: Once your children reach the age of discernment about the career they would like to pursue, make sure you’re there for them and are proactive to their needs. Take the first step in mapping their interests and making helpful suggestions about the kind of career they should take up. Remember not to be enforcing, but rather suggesting and helpful.

3. Update yourself: Parents in the 21st century need to be up to date about the career avenues and educational options available to their children. A good thing to do would be to attend education seminars and fairs to keep abreast with the latest in the dynamic education arena. Reading and perusing literature of the internet about education is also a great way to equip yourself with regards to questions your youngsters may have about particular courses.

4. Educational counseling: Never underestimate the value of what a professional can bring to the table. Ensure that your child has an IQ test done once he reaches the 9th or 10th grade. Reputed institutions conduct these tests and offer professional educational counseling as an add on service. Ensure that your child expresses him/herself to the counselor and be supportive throughout the experience.

5. Inculcate the habit of reading: In the digital age, you rarely see children spending time reading the old fashioned way. Inculcate in your child the habit of reading from a young age and you will see the fruits of this interest almost immediately. Reading will help your young ones unlock your children’s imagination, strengthen their vocabulary and make them curious about the world around them.

6. Always take your children’s opinion into consideration: Remember the decision to take up a profession or professional course should be completely your children’s prerogative. You may be able to offer suggestions and helpful tips, nothing more. Try to facilitate a healthy dialogue with your kids about their life plan and offer your advice. Don’t take it personally if your children disagree with your viewpoint. Reassure them that they will always have you to turn to in case of any help or advice they may require.

7. Always keep an open mind: If your child is unable to secure the requisite percentage for a particular course, don’t be too hard on them. Make sure they know that it isn’t the end of the world and that they can count on you for support.

Planningyour child’s future isn’t just about ensuring that you have the finances to afford the course they want to pursue, it is about being there for them emotionally, in every possible way, support them at the most critical juncture of their lives.

The importance of being an MBA

Its almost a trend in education, isn’t it? Different decades have their own ‘favourite’ streams or disciplines of sort. The 1960s  were a time when most students were happy with an undergraduate degree and many times people would easily get decent jobs with even a Higher Secondary Education. The 70s and 80s saw more of an emphasis on scientific education and the craze seemed to be a BSc. The 90s saw India open its doors to liberalisation and get swept up in the trend of a more focused, global education. The trend of a Masters in Business Administration continues today, with a more global business focus.

What then is the advantage of an MBA? Why are students nowadays more drawn to this professional course, over any other? The answers to these questions are what we shall probe for in this article.

The advantages of an MBA degree:

MBA or Master in Business Administration is a course that enables an individual learn in a systematic, experiential manner about the workings and nuances of the business ecosystem. What sets an MBA apart from the other postgraduate courses is the emphasis it places on experiential learning and the inter-personal communication that is an intrinsic part of the course’s curriculum. There are many such advantages of pursuing an MBA from a reputed institution and they’re as follows:

Managerial Skills: The MBA course is structured such that the knowledge students derive from the curriculum is contemporary and if applied correctly, makes one a good manager. Add to the theory, real world internships at leading corporate houses, where exposure to already efficient managers will bring the knowledge from the classroom to life and makes a world of difference to the student.

Developing and fine tuning business expertise: A major plus for students who come from a non business background. An introduction into the world of business is a vital component of the MBA education and provides real insight into the way a businessman thinks and the skill sets that sets him/her apart from an employee.

Competitive advantage: A competent MBA program prepares candidates as highly qualified leaders. The specialized skills and leadership qualities taught in MBA programs, provides you with a competitive advantage over others. Most of the leading business organizations prefer to hire MBAs for higher management positions.

Career advancement: While an MBA is by no means a golden ticket to the higher echelons of the corporate world, and a candidate has to prove his mettle in the competitive market. The career advancement of an MBA over his non-MBA peers is a matter of academia. Employers look for competence and excellence, two virtues that MBA students are taught to aspire to. That aside the real world knowledge and experience component fuel the career advancement roadmap for an MBA candidate in a lot quicker time than a non-MBA candidate.

Career Change: An MBA in general and a Dual MBA in particular, provide you with the cushion of switching your career. An MBA with particular specialization makes it easier for you to move across industries.

Business Connections and Networking: Social networking during the MBA academic term helps in establishing business contacts and referrals. In the long run, you can avail these contacts in improving your business position in the market.

An MBA is a course that equips you to make an impact in both an organisation and in your own business life. The skills imparted during the course are testament to the range and depth this 2 year course possesses. The 2 most important years of a students life, the 2 years that will chart the entire course of his/her career and propel them to heights of excellence.

How to be a super employee: Start by being a super MBA!

Education is never complete. Both in life and in the academic sense. We evolve through the experiences we have and the precepts we assimilate in our interactions with people. Why is it then that some of us seem to go further ahead in their career than others? Is it that an MBA makes such a huge difference to a person’s natural skill set that they evolve and grow at a faster rate than non MBAs? While the outcome of this discussion is debatable, there is little doubt that an MBA degree, does add a significant edge to a candidate’s job worthiness. Again, while in some cases, candidates may go through an MBA course, to simply embellish their resume, thankfully that isn’t the norm.

So why is it, or more pertinently, how is it that an MBA can add value to a person in his/her professional life? To answer that question, contemplate this story from the Mahabharata: The five Pandava Princes were learning the art of archery from Guru Drona, when they were asked to aim at the eye of a clay pigeon. Out of the five, Arjuna was the only one who actually, when asked what he saw, is said to have replied that he saw nothing, other than the pigeon’s eye.

The moral of the tale is simple, single mindedness of purpose. Now while no institute in the world can offer you that, there is one thing that an MBA course can, and that is simply inculcate the value of thought in you, the student.

What else is it that an MBA institute or course offers you that can set you apart? Quite simply, the skill set to be efficient and the ability to think differently in order to solve age old problems. These two things come with a condition though, that your mind needs to be open in order to absorb these precepts and you need to instill in yourself the drive to make these your personal mantras.

On the job front, there is a serious tendency amongst corporate houses and companies to hire MBAs. The job market today isn’t a level playing field and a candidate would be well advised to arm himself with any and every advantage he can. The thorough nature of the MBA course itself, with its emphasis on practical and sound theoretical knowledge give the candidate an edge in the competitive marketplace. Add to that thorough preparation and emphasis on soft skills like communication, interview preparation, and body language, and it is safe to say that an MBA candidate has a significant advantage over his non MBA contemporaries.

An MBA degree moulds an individual into a thinker, a strategist and not just another employee. In today’s hyper competitive environment, an employer looks not just for an employee who can complete tasks assigned adequately. An employer though will seek out an individual, who can contribute at every stage of the work cycle. In a recent survey, most blue-chip companies show a marked proclivity to hiring strategic thinkers, who will not just be employees, but partners in the long run. One look at the who’s who of the top companies reveal one single detail, all the heads of the world’s most competitive, profitable organisations are MBAs.

So the question you need to ask yourself is, where do you see yourself in the value chain? Being adequate and competent is now a vice, you need to be focused, strategic and most importantly, you need to have the will to bend all the obstacles that come your way, to your will.

Being a super employee isn’t about doing the most amount of work, it’s about being the best at what you do and more importantly, about being a leader. And that’s where an MBA really comes to the fore.