New sessions in MBA colleges have started or about to start. As usual, most of the seats in MBA colleges are already sold out. Colleges as usual have raked in their money.
But this post is regarding students who passed out this year. May and June were anxious months for students who passed out this year. Some students end up with fairly good jobs, some settled for jobs which till last year they would have not considered and lot of students are still sitting with their fingers crossed and waiting for call from HR managers.
Alumni mail groups are filled with please-help-us mails, calls are being made to all acquaintances and ex-colleagues that have some kind of network in corporate world and all those forgotten uncles and aunties are being remembered who have always vouched for their support. But these efforts are hardly converted into any positive results.
Yours truly have also received such calls. Most difficult part for me is what to say. Truth to be told, I can not help them in jobs as my network is small and mostly consist of junior to middle management level. A direct no always demoralize them. A not-so-frank answer ‘send your CV and let me try’ does not help much as follow-up call comes after few days.
Couple of times I tried to suggest them to start doing two things – blogging and learn new skills.
I am huge fan of blogging and truly believe that in the times to come a compelling and insightful blog about your area of expertise or industry will help you in getting jobs. But then this is long term plan but one has to start some day and sooner it is better it is.
Regarding my advice on learning new skills, I suggest them to learn things like applying Macros in Excel, improve presentation skills by joining Toast Masters club, learn web-site designing, associating with an NGO, and learn and master techniques of digital marketing etc. This choice will help them in utilize their free time effectively and frustration will not grow. This is again long term. But even this advice is not taken with an open mind as they feel I am getting into an unnecessary bhashan mode. And I do not have any ready made and easy solution to their problem.
This is tough year for all students are passing out in these gloomy times. However, a CV in word format will not help in anyway. Everybody has one. These are times when that ‘something extra’ is being sought by HR managers and Internet gives an opportunity to everyone to obtain this ‘something extra’ at no extra cost.
Please contribute if you have some easy solution to suggest these wannabe managers.
by A journey called Life , on June 14, 2009 4:38 AM
i like ur suggestions and the easy way in which u present this grim reality.. though i cannot think of anything new that u have not mentioned, i beleive very strongly in the fact that they have to upgrade their skills constantly, get more expertise in their domain in terms of certification etc..
by Ramesh , on June 14, 2009 4:47 AM
Yes Adesh. These are tought times for graduates passing out and can be very demoralising. Some more suggestions to add to the rich list you have already brought out
- Learn a foreign language. Any language is good, but Spanish or Mandarin, would be two that readily come to mind as useful in business.
- In some fields like accounting for example - get an additional qualification ICWA or CFA ...
- Take break year and go travelling; a different part of India or even a neighbouring country. Its a not as expensive and its a great experience
- Join as a volunteer in one of the many global NGOs for a year.
- If academically inclined, enroll in a PhD program
Above all don't lose hope. Things change very quiickly and good talent never goes long without an opportunity.
by rads , on June 14, 2009 9:53 AM
WOW I think Ramesh has a great list up here...Any kind of occupation beneficial to their career that doesn't waste time before getting that awaited job is the best advice in times of recession...When I was jobless for sometime after graduation, I got into blogging and learnt web-designing. That's when I found that I could be good at this kind of stuff and became a tech writer...it helped me listen to my true calling and here I am. A certification or an additional course is always an added advantage.