subject: The importance of a good placement program for a business school [print this page] The importance of a good placement program for a business school
By Dr. Arshad Husain
ABusiness Schoolshould lay tremendous emphasis on its close collaboration with the government, firms, banks and leading HR consultants so as to ensure appropriate induction of its graduates into such organizations. Close linkagesshould be maintained with CEOs and Heads of Departments in organizations so as to provide the best career prospects for graduates. Effortsshould be made to match the talents of students with requirements of both multinational and local organizations through an interview process.
Emphasisshould be placed on the requirement of Career Fair and Seminars. They provide a meeting ground between the corporate world and graduates with the provision of resumes to HR representatives where students are selected for jobs against their requirements immediately, or at a later stage since their personal data remains easily available with such organizations for possible employment. In Career Fairs and Seminars, graduates will be given a fresh insight into the corporate world with detailed discussions on the writing of resumes and methodology in performing well during interviews.
TheBusiness School'sPlacementstaffshould provide a firm commitment to its graduates for developing careers. This will begin from the point the student is inducted and continues with a life long partnership. Alumni of theBusiness Schoolwho are well placed in jobs,should be requested to assist graduates in finding careers as well. Some of the activities designed for placing students include, but are not limited to:
1. On Campus Recruitment Drives
The PlacementDepartment will have to develop strong relationships with the corporate sector by signing MoUs for Job Placements, co-sponsoring guest lectures and seminars. As a result, companies will conduct on-campus recruitment drives.
2. Publishing of an annual Graduate Directory
MBA graduatesshould be invited to showcase their resumes inthe annual Graduate Directory. This publicationshould be circulated to about 150 national and multinational companies and would be an essential tool for placement of graduates in themarket. A goodGraduate Directory alsoserves to provide knowledge of the university's progress in the academic world.
3. Career Counseling
Guidance and career counseling is an extremely important aspect of development for young adults at the Business School. With this in mind, theStudent Councilor who should be available in the Placement Departmentwill have to constantly engage in assisting students in the entire process of preparing for and actually finding jobs for them. This will undoubtedly, be difficult and an uphill task for those in the Placement Department.
4. Guest Lectures by Industry Experts
Recognizing the importance of networking and relationship management, the PlacementDepartment shouldhave to frequently invite industry professionals for lectures, conferences and corporate events. The aim would be to provide students with the opportunity to establish a strong and lasting contact base before graduation to ensure that they are able to get positions in the industry and business organizations.
5. Workshops Related to Career Management
The PlacementDepartment shouldintroduce periodic in-house workshops such as interviewing techniques, resume writing, behavior patterns in organizations, etc. to the ultimate benefit of students.
6. Career Fairs
The Placementshould organize a Career Fair every year, inviting organizations engaged in their recruitment cycle to make company presentations and answer questions from students. This day long eventshould be managed in collaboration with students and will receive widespread appreciation with media coverage on the Business School. The PlacementDepartment will envisage this as an annual event not only for interactive sessions between students and the corporate world, but also for providing resumes for either immediate employment, in case jobs are available with the organization concerned, or resumes being kept pending by organizations for jobs whenever such an opportunity arises.
7. Job Alerts via Group mail and Notices
The PlacementDepartment should manage a database of job opportunitiesin the market. Studentsshould be provided opportunities through groupmails,noticestobeplacedonNotice Boards around thecampus, in the PlacementDepartment's offices and an online web portal.
