Thursday, January 28, 2010

Connecting the Links....

Fellow Rural Managers, and Rural Managers in Making.....

Your are a proud rural manager, or it is a matter of few hours when you will be donning the cap of "Rural Manager" - CONGRATULATIONS !!! I must tell you....you have a lot to cheer, and lot to feel proud of. You are the flag bearers of your great alma mater.

But, you will agree that you also have lot to share. You know, your few strokes on key-board will help someone making one's life, in being the part of organisation one has dreamt about, in making one's parents and peers proud. You have always tried and have shown the world that you are sensitive and compassionate towards need of your colleagues and friends. Then why don't you join me in making your owns happier ?

Are you ready....?????? Here are few tips....

1. Just put your one Gurumantra (in one sentence) for your own (juniors) to get maximum but meaningful out of one's about 24 month's association with your alma mater ....
2. Two ways to make stay most useful.....
3. Three qualities which a recruiter will always look for........
4. Four sentences which will make professional lives of future rural managers happier and valued by every one...
And yes, do not forget to write your batch and present profile (if you are already working).
I shall be happy if you accept my invitation and help me in creating a 'forum' from where your next, next to next....and future generations of rural managers learn and contribute for their juniors....

With Best Wishes
Niraj

4 comments:

vikas said...

Hi Niraj Sir. Thanks for the invitation to write the first comment on this great initiatives. I hope all the readers find it useful. Good Luck and i hope to read many more comments. Cheers.

1. Just put your one Gurumantra (in one sentence) for your own (juniors) to get maximum but meaningful out of one's 21 month's association with XIMB ....

- Network...network and network. Network with faculty, alumni, peers, corporate contacts as much as you can. Do not underestimate your worth as 'XIMB' Grad. If you communicate efficiently and smartly, you can have a vast network of people even before you get into your job. And this network works wonders while you are at your swanky new job and many more that will follow.

2. Two ways to make stay most useful.....

- Study, that's your raison d'être and you have to be good at your subjects. Nothing replaces a sharp mind with good knowledge.
- Have fun + build confidence. After your exit from campus, Confidence will get your additional roles/ responsibilities and ability to have fun, will get you lot of friends at work who will support you in your endeavours (that's very important)

3. Three questions with which one should be ready to face any placement interview....

- To my mind, there are no set questions for an interview since a successful interview has to be lead by interviewee and not interviewer. You must lead the interview and ensure that you bring out 3 things about yourself in an articulate manner which are:

1) You are a passionate person: Choose a random subject and ensure you tell them something that they would not have known by any chance. In short, surprise them.
2) You are a people's person: Statements like my colleague, my professor, my mentor in your conversation tell the person on the other side that you believe in giving credits to the right people and not wanna gobble them all up on your own
3) You are a quick learner and a hard worker: This is the easiest. It can be plugged into almost any question :)

4. Four sentences which will make professional lives of future rural managers happier and valued by every one...

- If it's development sector - choose a 'cause/ issue' and stick to it for the rest of your life. - Health, Micro-finance, entrepreneurship or simply any that appeals to you. Visit www.devnetjobs.org, read job requirements of your dream job, write an action plan to meet those criterion in 5-8 years and get going (Do not look left or right or at your colleague who joined a corporate sector and is busy calculating flier miles...Life's long and there will be plenty of opportunity to catch up)

- If it's corporate sector - Just do what you want to (keeping your bosses informed, of course)...In words of Prof. Venugopalan (XLRI), the thick line between RM and BM exists only within the boundary walls of XIMB. The minute you step out. You are a XIMB product and have to pull yourself up to meet the expectation set by your seniors. Your first two jobs will look upon your education and after that, it's all about where and what have you been doing. Hence, ensure that you are very sincere, intelligent and hard worker in your initial 2-3 roles. After that, you can look at romance, books, movies, girls/boys and many other inspiring things that life offers.

- Leave your jobs but not the people. Always keep in touch with your former bosses, their wives, daughters/sons or simply anyone whom you dealt with while working. You never know, who would come handy

- Love + respect yourself and your partner. Trust me, it attracts right people to you. Thereby making the rural managers happier and valued by every one....

Vikas Srivastava
RM 2001-03
Currently with McCann Worldgroup, Melbourne. Australia

Niraj Kumar said...

Vikas, I read your comments with lot of interest and also with great sense of pride. I have been following your professional developments with great interets and found you provide us a lot to learn. Any way keep us posted...Always..
Niraj

Saurabh30990 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Saurabh30990 said...

As per the points mentioned by Niraj Sir, I have got a few words to say. Although I am still too new to give any suggestion to the students here.

1. My Gurumantra for the Juniors is that Believe in yourself and try to understand what you want. If you are clear with what you want you will surely work hard to achieve it.

2. Well for the second part-making your stay useful. I think that it is for you to decide. As per me the activities other than studies on campus are as good to learn as the classes. Do not take them lightly. Classes are to study so have a good time in class.

3. For the three questions part, Like Vikas sir I would prefer saying that their is no hard and fast rule for it. Questions can be from any aspect. Studies, Family Background, Project or any other dimension. Being confident is more important. If you are confident I am sure you can have a good time in the room in there. My whole Finals Interview was based around my Summer Internship Process.

4. Regarding the professional life I think that I am not the right person to give suggestions as I have never had that. But just one thing I can say is communicate with your superiors. It will really help you.

Thanks

Saurabh Singh
RM 2008-10
Monsanto India Limited