The Hindu Business Line : Add muscle to your CV

Business schools are the playgrounds of the future managers of the corporate world. At last count, there were close to 2,000 business schools in India, which churn out nearly two lakh business management graduates each year. Against the backdrop of the slowdown, not all of them get suitably placed, the exceptions perhaps being students from the top schools.

Recruiters today look for some extra value addition in management students. It becomes imperative, therefore, that students add value from their side so that they stand out.

A few of the students who are able to impress the companies they intern with are able to get pre-placement offers (PPO) and that, many a time, translates into their first jobs. For the rest, it is necessary that they add extra value to their profiles so as to differentiate from the others.

Students should first overcome the following deficiencies often observed in many management students and that are immediately noticed by the recruiters.

Overcome the mother tongue influence (MTI) and develop a neutral accent. .

Improve their communication skills.

Become team players.

Improve their skills in quantitative analysis and logical reasoning; some recruiters assess students on these parameters.

Ensure their body language is not casual. This could be taken for an inflexible approach and an unwillingness to learn.

What are the activities that students should engage in to develop that added value?

Actively participate in B-school meets.

Take membership of and participate in the activities of professional management and industry associations. This helps in networking with corporate leaders.

Undertake social projects such as blood donation camps and eye screening camps in collaboration with social clubs such as the Rotary or the Lions Club.

Acquire business-relevant certification by enrolling in courses run by organisations such as the Association of Mutual Funds in India or the National Stock Exchange.

Participate in cultural events at regional associations. This could come in handy, especially for students travelling outside their States for business studies.

Learn a foreign language which many corporates seek as a value addition.

Such activities convey the message that the students have not focused on academics alone but have also developed their all-round personalities.

(The writer is the Assistant Director, ITM Business School, Chennai. He can be reached at chalamravi@gmail.com)

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