UMA Students Learn First-Hand What Employers Are Looking For

Online, September 3, 2012 (Newswire.com) - In its continuing efforts to expose its students to top-end industry experts, Usha Martin Academy, Patna invited Rajeev Sarao, associate director for human resources for the MTS group, to be a guest lecturer. With more than 17 years of experience in all areas of human resources, he has consistently risen in the ranks. Beginning as a personnel officer with Hyderabad Industries Ltd., he moved on to becoming senior personnel officer at Ricco Auto Industries Ltd.

From there, he moved to the post of senior manager of human resources at Cadila Pharmaceuticals and then manager of human resources at the Bombay Stock Exchange, followed by stints as manager of human resources at Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., human resources principal at CH2M HILL, and associate vice-president of human resources at AEGIS, before assuming his present position.

Sarao spoke to UMA students on employability skills, giving his views on what he feels are the areas by which employability is measured. These included attitude, confidence, communication skills, managerial skills and general awareness. He also outlined his personal experience in industry, including time spent working with Mother Teresa, and wound up his lecture with a question-and-answer session.

Student interaction with front-line industry personnel is a key factor in UMA's learning experience. As UMA Vice-President Raju Babu Sinha said, "We are acutely aware of the fact that the entire business environment has taken on a whole new paradigm. This paradigm focuses on the survival of the most adaptable and this would be our mantra at UMA, as we strive to adapt to change in this dynamic environment. This adaptation would manifest itself and reflect in blending academic purpose with corporate culture through a process of intense industry interface."

Prashant Jhawar, Chairman of the Usha Martin Group, concurs as he notes, "Our vision is to nurture talent - to develop world-class professionals ready to hit the ground running. All the programmes provide a mix of theoretical lessons and practical training enriched with real-world experiences."

UMA students were clearly impressed by the interactions and whole experience.

"It was extremely useful," said student Drishti Sadhwani, PGDM 2011- 2013. "Learning first-hand from an employer how I will be judged taught me exactly how to prepare myself for interviews."