Seven Elements of Employment

Yesterday, in one of the oldest B-Schools at Delhi, I got an opportunity to interact with the new entrants of PGDM program. Well, I have come to know that students in our country, bother more about their degrees than about the accumulation of ASK - Attitude, Skill and Knowledge. Students were pretty sure of what they wished to do, after couple of years.

1. Either to help their family head in strengthening their business which is already well established 

2. Or seek a job in one of the reputed companies - generally in Multi-national Companies.

I was surprised, when I heard youth speaking so. I thought, the youth will dare to accept risk, fly high to expand its vision and surge   to cover an extra mile. The courage to face or handle risk is so limited that they are ready to take any further step with proper calculation of risks.

They wish to grow but without facing challenge. They want to pick up the specialization of Marketing but demand for jobs wherein there are as such no TARGETS.

Also, the understanding of the jobs, its basic requirements, the needed hard skills and soft skills, the present student community is living in dark ignorance.

I am not condemning the present generation of students rather I feel pity for their situation. The education system needs a 360 degree review so that it can bring in clarity in its vision. Instead of putting qualitative value points in their files and faculty meetings, they need to vouch its application in classroom and its affect over student’s perception.

Even the student fraternity, should come out of its comfort zone and try to explore about the latest developments happening in different areas of workplace. There course outline should be developed keeping in view the present demand from the various companies plus our blooming economy.

Strengthening these seven elements of employment becomes must:

1. Accepting Risk

The present generation should like to encounter with the numerous risks. Rather living and expecting about comfort zone, they should be forced to accept risk. It expands their problem solving and decision taking skills. They understand about the problems in depth. Instead of avoiding turmoil, they should learn the art of facing the turmoil and getting out of it with some concrete solution.

2. Focus Target

The main intention of the present education system should be to throw targets at the students. They should be encouraged to pick up targets. Draw a proper road map; develop certain flow charts which can help them to reach to their target. Meeting target in itself is a big achievement. The targets should be designed by the institution in a planned manner. It should be from simple to moderate and then to tough one. 

3. Develop Skills

Whether you work for your own firm or for others, application of skills are the prerequisite for each and every person who has the attitude of go-getter. Among many skills, I sternly believe that communication skills are the utmost important one. 

4. Out of the Box

It is the demand of the time that if you create your own mark and wish to leave a strong impression over others, you will have to think out of the box. As students, your focus should be on honing critical thinking process and in nurturing the skill of lateral thinking. It is damn easy to think like others but to think in a different manner, demands for your added and extra energy.

5. Dream Big

Dream big. Understand that you are born to do things in a different way which can pave your way to success and growth. Put your best foot forward to face the facts and reality. Stepping front, demands for a well-planned strategy. All your strategies will work effectively or will be correct and will work according to your expectation, if you think so, believe me, it can stop your thinking process. Be ready to accept even your failure. 

6.Change is Must

You will have to change. This could be in your style, approach, in your vision and can be in your level of understanding. If you stop to embrace the change, trust me, you have locked the door which opens the room of success. You need to keep your eyes and ears open. Move with rapid pace to compete with growing market and to meet its demand.

7. Know thyself

Though this is put in the last but it is the most important element. Self-introspection will allow you to dream your aspiration. It will help you in enhancing your skills and watchdog the risk factors. You can set your target and face the competition with better preparation. Viewing situation from three dimensions can help you to analyze the concept the other elements diligently.

Well, the education system and the institutions will have to think and develop programs and should see that these common seven elements are reinforced in each and every student.