The gap between qualified versus employable is one of the major issues in our country. On one hand there are newspapers with employment news which are always filled implies there are several organisations which are paying a good amount to attract the right talent. This is further enumerated by the fact that there are several recruitment agencies and manpower consultancies which are also in operation and doing very good business.
The question is of highest importance to the multitude of fresh passing out students who stay jobless. The answer probably lies in two parts — to get a job and to get a better job. To just get a job you need to have the requisite qualification and an attitude to work. The second part is to get a better job commensurate with the qualifications. Apart from communication skills, presentation skills which comprises of collecting data and put it in a logical manner along with concisely putting down thoughts, suggestions, is also important. Proper administering of case studies, problem solving approach through live corporate projects, guided internships, etc. are ways that these get developed.
Thinking creative part and out of box thinking because different results are only possible when things are done differently. This final part is based on the initiative of the student and comes from self learning and experimentation which is catalyzed in a conducive mentored environment. In the management field, this can be compared with entrepreneurship skills in which taking calculated risks is the crux of doing business. While this sounds easy, few are seen to take the right steps to change from ‘what they are’ to ‘what they want’ to be by writing down the skill gaps, the means to bridge them, the action plan for the same and the strict implementation.There is hardly any example where someone has actually gone through the process of development systematically and yet failed to achieve realistically what they aimed for.
The writer is Nituj Garg, executive director, Sunstone Business School.