Career Development (Placement)

career development

The Community Identity, a Sense of Belonging

Alumni, Campus Life, Career Development (Placement), IILM University, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A community is an identity, an entity. And therefore, it is important.

Community is a group of people in a shared interest or loving space and have similar characteristics. When it comes to human civilisation, a community is a thriving ecosystem having its unique DNA, social and legal structure, beliefs, and practices. Threads of reliance and togetherness among the community members keep it alive. Community is an important facilitating agent of influence and change as it consists of people who share common thought processes and camaraderie. We usually talk about urban, suburban, and rural communities. But communities are varied and formed based on shared lifestyle and beliefs, like religious communities, occupational communities, political ideological communities etc.  All this make the concept of a community very relevant and important for businesses and government and whoever intends to sell an idea, service, product, or positive behaviours.

Building Community

Community building is a field of practice that aims to connect with a target group of people with a message in an effective way. Sometimes also called community development, it is a communication strategy and has time and again proved successful for the enhancement of a community. Community building exercises are important especially in a developing and populous country like India having a huge stratum of poor and rural population with high illiteracy and traditional belief system. Many social development policies and interventions of government and non-government agencies use community centric implementation strategies to bring about positive change. Social marketing of public policies and interventions are most effective when designed in a community specific manner, e.g, ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ interventions will be different for a tribal community in Rajasthan or Haryana which are areas steeped in patriarchy and religious beliefs than rest of India where female infanticide problems are not so grave. Health insurance concept can be promoted in a better way through community-based health insurance schemes (CBHI) to bring more adoption and utilisation of the concept, eg. VimoSewa of Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in Gujarat that built a community of poor and self-employed women. Community buildings help the government in achieving the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In a similar way, the power of community has been leveraged in many other development interventions like immunization, mother and child nutrition, disease or pandemic management, awareness programmes etc. The community members look up to community influencers and their peers to adopt to change rather than a plain reason to change.

Marketer Relevance

The community has always been attractive to the marketer who targets specific markets or niches to sell its products and services. A new whey protein manufacturer targets the gym going and vegan community specifically as it makes more sense to gain ground and a steady revenue stream. Lakers team in basketball is a world-famous brand that has built its own community of Laker fans to whom it sells its Laker merchandise. When Harley Davidson was incurring losses and had reached on the verge of shutting its shop, it tried the community building method (HOG-Harley Owners Group) for its bikes and accessories through its community building strategy.  Podcast uses community building and marketing strategies successfully to run its business in the face of tough competition from video-centric content. Mobile companies like Oneplus and Apple use community building and marketing strategies to promote their products and new launches.

A business can build its community through face to face personal contact, social media presence where the page google analytics can help the business check the leverage. Campaigns, events, theatre plays, festivals, fairs, social work and relevant, quality offerings that connect with the members help to build communities for the products where members feel involved. Marketing efforts for any product or service to the communities is easier and fruitful.

IILM and Community Building

Community building efforts help maintain lifelong connects. Many educational institutions, for example, IILM University, lays a lot of stress in harbouring its alumni community, roping them in for guest lectures, motivational talks and placements and highlighting them on a pedestal pf inspiration for future students. Every student feels part of the IILM family long after he/she has left the organisation. for its social work and CSR initiatives, IILM University also adopts villages in its vicinity and promotes education, healthcare, and other programmes of social upliftment for the poor communities. Students actively participate with full zeal in such programmes and develop a commitment towards community building for the larger good of the nation

Therefore, community building and marketing is important for organisations and businesses to remain relevant and in the competition. It not only empowers the business but also the customer. A thriving community ensures a happy society. Community building will also help in reducing social disintegration, harmful behaviours and will knit fabric of social support, social justice, and economic development along with brand loyalties.

The trend of community building and marketing is getting more prevalent and more niches will be created. It will not be exaggerating to say that community will be the future of marketing. Future marketers and policymakers should concentrate their efforts towards community building to remain relevant in the new age business and marketing scenario. It will be very beneficial for students to opt for Institutions like IILM that have dedicated community building programs which give ample exposure to students in this domain and help with their placements and career development. Students need to take up skills like interpersonal communication, blogging, public speaking, communication design etc. very seriously to gain competitive advantage. such skills are much in demand and will bring an added shine to their personality to make them stand out in the crowd. In this regard, students can further follow the author’s blog on IILM blog site or connect personally for queries and guidance on the email given.

Follow my blogs or write to me at shahana.qutab.phd2019@iilm.edu

Center for Emotional Intelligence

A Psychologist’s Guide to Coping in Uncertain Times

Campus Life, Career Development (Placement), Center for Emotional Intelligence, Faculty, General Blog, Guest Blog, IILM Graduate School of Management, IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM Undergraduate Business School, IILM University, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“Always Expect the Unexpected Because the Only Certainty Is Uncertainty”

Uncertainty in life has many forms. Changes at workplaces, change in priorities, change in rules and regulations. Even if things are safe right now you never know when they would change and you need to be ready to handle that change.

Change is usually not the problem; it’s the discomfort that often bothers us as we are so strongly attached to a particular outcome in life.

When certainty is questioned we usually have a fight or flight reaction and try to safeguard ourselves. Our brain prefers to find a sure shot outcome to the uncertainty we are experiencing. Research proves that anticipating pain soothes us to be calm than anticipating uncertainty only because we know that pain is certain. For example, uncertainty about getting a job is more stressful than actually losing a job.

Now, the question arises what should we do to tackle uncertainty in a way that it doesn’t impact our overall health and well-being.

This is very important for students aspiring to work with multinationals, professionals struggling with changing roles, people disheartened with their job.

  1. Firstly, don’t panic, remain calm and level headed. Living in uncertain times can be discomforting but you can control how to respond to such situations.
  2. Avoid dwelling on things you can’t control. Try changing the habit of ruminating on negative events of life. Why only visualize worst case scenarios. If there is a fear of not getting a job think of ways to enhance your skills. Think positive and believe in yourself. Remember it’s your life and you have the potential to change it.
  3. Add Value to your skills. It’s important to align your skill set to what is currently the need of the industry. Make sure you have those skills that the current time is demanding. Act upon it. Visualize possibilities.
  4. Market Yourself. Do not think I am asking you to boast about yourself; but how would people know your calibre if you don’t tell them about yourself. Get the recognition you deserve. Go for it.
  5. Ensure your profile is updated. Have an eye-catching LinkedIn profile. Express your interest in companies that you aspire to work with. What you post on your profile should be interesting in content and original in nature to attract organizations towards you.
  6. Focus on Financial Well-Being. One tip for life is always having a financial saving of at least six months worth your livelihood. This will be your support during rainy days and you’ll always have time to choose the best opportunity and will never settle for something less in life. Savings are very essential.
  1. Engage in Self care. Healthy routines are magical. Eat well, exercise regularly, just like body needs stimulation so does our mind and thoughts. So feed your intellect with good literature. Practice mindfulness, it makes life a better place and opens doors that you thought were closed.
  1. Risk is real and Fear is optional. Risk assessed is risk management. Understand the uncertainty take calculated risks and overcome your fears to innovate the new you.
  2. Control what you can. We often run for things that are beyond our control. Try making a slight change by focusing on stuff that is within your control. It can be as basic as setting your clothes a night before a strenuous day. Try comforting your days.

If you see your Today. Job insecurity is the “New Reality,” why respond or perceive it as Negative. It might offer better opportunities for your growth and career enhancement.

Take that Extra Mile and prove your worth. Show the world your True Potential. Don’t Stress and rather Invest in this time to uplift your skills and embrace the new shift that the Industries are offering.

This is the only way you can see the New Positive and Let go the doubt and uncertainty around. Be prepared to change with the times instead of resisting to a change. Life’s most treasured moments come unannounced. Instead of being threatened by unexpected outcomes we should learn that they can be hidden seeds of opportunities.

For best professional practices and how to deal with professional challenges follow my blogs on IILM Blogs and LinkedIn or write to me at megha.kochhar@iilm.edu

We at IILM train students to handle complex situations and be proactive professionals in every situation by focusing on multiple skill development, developing emotional intelligence. There is a Center for Emotional Intelligence at IILM University where training programs help students build self awareness, emotional regulation that helps them deal with uncertainty in personal and professional life.

Top-20-Fiction-Books-for-Students-in-2020

IILM’s Top 20 Fiction Books for Students in 2020

Career Development (Placement), IILM Institute for Higher Education, ,

Don’t you feel you are in a situation you had never expected? Whether you are an undergraduate student doing BBA or some other course or you are a post graduate students enrolled in the best B-School pursuing a PGDM or MBA, you must be feeling overwhelmed by this current scenario, unsure about what the future holds in terms of your education and career. It is completely understandable to dwell upon questions such as:

When will schools and Colleges resume face to face classes?

Will I have to miss a year if I am planning to study abroad?

What impact will the lockdown have on my career?

Will I get good a placement after I complete my PGDM or MBA?

How long will the economy take to recover and the job market to open?

At this moment there are no clear answers for any of these questions. There is not much you can do about what’s happening in the outside world, but you can do something about what’s happening to you. You can use this time for self-improvement, upskilling and getting ready to face a future that is uncertain, and you can have a positive and happy attitude to stay mentally and emotionally healthy.

It is a well-known fact that reading is an important skill to be cultivated. It not only improves your spoken and written communication skills, but it also expands your horizons as you read about new cultures and people.

Earlier, I had shared a list of non-fiction books that you all could read for self -improvement and now I am sharing a list of some evergreen fiction books that I would like to recommend for you.

Why Read Fiction

We have all grown up listening to stories from our grandparents and parents, reading fairy tales, tales of adventure, stories from history and from the epics. Storytelling is an important art. A story must be told in a compelling and interesting manner to hold the listener’s attention. The art of storytelling is also important in our professional lives. If we tell a compelling story, we are better able to convince and influence people.

So how does one learn the art of storytelling? If you read some of the best stories written in the world, you will learn how a good story is told. You will learn how to build a plot, structure a story and conclude it satisfactorily. You will learn how to add humour or mystery to get attention. While you learn about storytelling and holding other people’s attention, you will also improve your written and spoken vocabulary and will find that you are able to better express yourself as you read more and more books. And the best thing about reading fiction is that they are entertaining and will keep you occupied and happy.

IILM encourages students to read and has a plethora of books in its library for students to read besides textbooks and subject specific books. I would like to suggest 10 books in the Classic Fiction category and 10 in the Modern Fiction category. A classic is a book that is accepted as being exemplary or noteworthy by being listed in a list of great books, or through a reader’s opinion. So, this list of books is a combination of being in noteworthy lists as well as in my opinion as a reader and a writer. I have stated the genre of the books so that you can also learn how books are categorized by genres and find your favourite genre.

You can pick up any book that grabs your interest but pick up a book you must.

Happy reading!

 Classic Fiction

Moby Dick by Herman Melville: Moby-Dick or The Whale is an 1851 novel which is the sailor Ishmael’s narrative of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for revenge on Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that on the ship’s previous voyage bit off Ahab’s leg at the knee. This is a very popular book over the years and has been part of many notable lists. Certainly a classic! Genre – Adventure Fiction

 

 

 

 

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: This is a story of love triangles, scandalous passion, and the supernatural. The story follows Catherine and Heathcliff’s fraught love. They both marry other people, and their own children suffer their own melancholy fates. An all-time classic. Genre – gothic novel with romance, coming-of-age narrative and revenge tragedy

 

 

To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee: The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town in the USA and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic. Genre – Social drama

 

 

Malgudi Days by RK Narayan: This collection of short stories offers the reader a wonderful chance to experience the ordinariness and pleasant magic of life in India. Meant to be tongue-in-cheek commentaries or light-hearted reflections on the social and political realities of India, Narayan captures and relays a truly authentic feel. The stories hold a universal appeal. Genre – Short story collection

 

 

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly: Frankenstein tells the story of gifted scientist Victor Frankenstein who succeeds in giving life to a being of his own creation. However, this is not the perfect specimen of a living being that he had  imagined it to be, but rather a hideous creature who is rejected by Victor and mankind in general. A gripping read for those interested in science fiction.  Genre – Science Fiction

 

 

 

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: This novel is an epic American Civil War drama that focuses on the life of petulant southern belle Scarlett O’Hara. Starting with her idyllic on a sprawling plantation, the book traces her survival through the tragic history of the South during the Civil War and Reconstruction, and her tangled love affairs with Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler. One of the bestselling novels of all times, this has been made into a famous movie. Genre – Historical Fiction

 

 

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: First published in 1886, this nouvella (short novel), is about a London legal practitioner named Gabriel John Utterson who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr Henry Jekyll and the evil Edward Hyde. Dealing with personality disorder or dual personality, this book has had such impact that it has become a part of the language, with the phrase “Jekyll and Hyde” entering the vernacular to refer to people with an unpredictably dual nature – usually very good, but sometimes shockingly evil. Genre – Psychological Thriller

 

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell: This is an autobiographical work by British naturalist Gerald Durrell which tells in an exaggerated and sometimes fictionalized way of the years that he lived as a child with his siblings and widowed mother on the Greek island of Corfu between 1935 and 1939. It describes the life of the Durrell family in a humorous manner and explores the fauna of the island. It is the first and most well-known of Durrell’s ‘Corfu trilogy’. Genre – Autobiographical Fiction

 

 

Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger: The book originally intended for adults is often read by adolescents for its themes of angst and alienation, and as a critique on superficiality in society. It has become a modern classic or cult classic because of its popular and rebellious tone. This well-written and memorable book was considered so controversial that many American schools banned it because of its “crude language”. For the generation this book came out in, it became a classic. Genre – Young Adult Fiction, Coming of Age 

 

 

 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: A delightful story about four young women this is a book that is popular and enduring for generations of readers young and old, male and female. The readers have fallen in love with the March sisters – the  talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War. Genre – Historical Fiction

 

 

Modern Fiction

 Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Devakurni: Relevant in today’s war-torn world, The Palace of Illusions takes us back to a time that is half history, half myth, and wholly magical. Narrated by Draupadi or Panchaali, the wife of the legendary Pandava brothers in the Mahabharat, the novel gives us a new interpretation of this ancient tale where the fiery Panchaali redefines for us a world of warriors, gods, and the ever-manipulating hands of fate. Genre -Mythology, Fantasy

 

 

Fountainhead by Ayn Rand: This is a cult book by Russian-American writer Ayn Rand whose theme is individualism versus collectivism, not in politics but in men’s souls. She tells this through the story of Howard Roark, an individualistic young architect who designs modernist buildings and refuses to compromise with an architectural establishment unwilling to accept innovation. The book is about the conflict between those who think for themselves and those who allow others to dominate their lives. More than 6.5 million copies of The Fountainhead have been sold worldwide and it has been translated into more than 20 languages. Genre – Philosophical Fiction, Romance

 

God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy: This debut novel of Arundhati Roy is a story about the childhood experiences of fraternal twins whose lives are destroyed by the Love Laws that lay down who should be loved, and how. And how much. The book explores how the small things affect people’s behavior and their lives. It won the Booker Prize in 1997.

Genre – Autobiographical Fiction, Social Drama

 

 

Chanakya’s Chant by Ashwin Sanghi:  In this novel Sanghi takes Chanakya, the greatest strategist of Indian History and makes us question – “What if Chanakya were alive today?”; “What if he were a player in today’s politics?”; “Would his brilliance and principles be relevant in today’s murky politics?” And then, he provides a brilliant answer in the form of Pandit Gangasagar Mishra, a current day politician and kingmaker. Genre – Historical Fiction 

 

 

 

 

The Shiva Trilogy by Amish: The Shiva Trilogy is the tale of the extraordinary man whose adventures 4000 years ago are remembered today as the myths of the Mahadev, the God of Gods. It is chronicled through three books, The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas & The Oath of the Vayuputras. 1900 BC. Fascinating book for those who are interested in history and mythology. Genre – Historical Fantasy

 

 

Harry Potter Series by J K Rowling: Harry Potter is a series of 7 fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. These books are an important read for this generations of youngsters as they have permeated the culture across the world.

Genre – Fantasy

 

 Dollar Bahu by Sudha Murthy: Written in simple and easy language by Sudha Murthy, this is the story of how money corrupts the way people look at one another and how it can almost tear a family apart. An honest tale of how family members going abroad and earning in dollars are more appreciated than those who stay back and look after parents, Dollar Bahu talks about an understanding that mere dollars cannot buy the love and respect. Genre – Social Drama

 

 

A 100 years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquis: This brilliant, bestselling, landmark novel that tells the story of the Buendia family, and chronicles the irreconcilable conflict between the desire for solitude and the need for love—in rich, imaginative prose that has come to define an entire genre known as “magical realism” is a very relevant book in these times of social distancing. The book sold millions of copies; and he inspired a host of writers including Salman Rushdie and Toni Morrison. Genre – Magical Realism

 

 

The Kiterunner by Khaled Hussaini: The Kite Runner is the first novel by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini published in 2003. It tells the story of Amir, a young boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, whose closest friend is Hassan. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of Afghanistan’s monarchy through the Soviet military intervention, the exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the rise of the Taliban regime. The Kite Runner became a bestseller and was a number one New York Times bestseller with over seven million copies sold in the United States. Genre – Historical Fiction, Drama

 

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri: Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of nine short stories by American author of Indian origin Jhumpa Lahiri published in 1999. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award in the year 2000 and has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Social and emotional maladjustment is an overarching theme in Interpreter of Maladies. Genre – Anthology/Collection of Stories

 

 

This is a long list of books to choose from. I do hope you pick up a book or two to read from this list of some of my favourite fiction. I’m sure you will all enjoy reading them and will also expand your horizons
If you have read any of these, please share your view on them or you can email me at

Atima.mankotia@iilm.edu

About the Author:  Professor Atima Mankotia

Books by Atima Mankotia

The author Atima Mankotia has written two books about social issues in India many of which she feels strongly about and hopes to raise awareness about through her writings.

The first book ‘Staring at the Square Moon’ was released in 2017 and featured in the Jaipur Literature Festival 2018.

Watch this video of her session at Jaipur Literature Festival 2018.         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSMzIg3N5CY.

The second book ‘Better than Sex’ was released in early 2020 at the Bhopal Literature Festival.

Atima Mankotia also curates the annual CSOI Literature Festival and is invited regularly as a panelist and moderator to prominent events and literary festivals across the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staring at the Square Moon

This book tells the story of four women whose lives come together in early childhood. They develop special bonds that always connect them even when their lives get disassociated as each follows her own destiny. Each one of them grapples with her past, sometimes thriving, sometimes floundering, always confronting and struggling with the aftermath and consequences of abuse that lurk just beneath the surface threatening to overwhelm and destroy their lives. A peek into the world of abuse that comes in many guises from blatantly brazen sexual and physical abuse to furtively sneaky psychological and emotional abuse that leave agonising scars that are indelible, forever haunting and influencing a woman’s mind. Genre: Social drama

Review

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/reviews/micro-review-staring-at-the-square-moon-is-layered-with-evocative-language-and-a-charming-plot/articleshow/63182835.cms

 

Better than Sex: This recently published novel by Atima Mankotia,  Professor of OB-HR and Communications at IILM, is a delightful social satire. It is a  fun read that takes a peek into the minds ordinary Indians through the story of a middle class Punjabi family from Delhi. It’s  a story that deals with complex relationships, love, passion, romance, family ties and bonds of sisterhood. A social satire and a social commentary, while it is a racy read, it raises many pertinent questions about Indian social norms.  Genre – Social Satire, Drama   

Review   

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/reviews/micro-review-better-than-sex-by-atima-mankotia/articleshow/74170826.cms

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/book-launches/atima-mankotias-book-better-than-sex-is-a-delightful-satire-on-indian-society/articleshow/74138444.cms

The author is a columnist and writes regularly on social issues.

Articles by the Author

Daily O

https://www.dailyo.in/user/11088/atimamankotia

https://www.dailyo.in/variety/sridevi-death-plastic-surgery-actress-dies-at-54-india-boney-kapoor-bollywood/story/1/22622.html

https://www.dailyo.in/voices/padman-akshay-kumar-patriarchy-periods-women-menstruation/story/1/22253.html

https://www.dailyo.in/politics/holi-molestation-womens-safety-delhi-chemical-colours-pichkari-gulal-bhang-grease-drunk-driving/story/1/9687.html

https://www.dailyo.in/lifestyle/indian-marriages-weddings-dance-food-bollywood/story/1/7964.html

https://www.dailyo.in/lifestyle/diwali-gifts-corporate-hampers-festival-offers-freebies-bonus/story/1/7124.html

Huffington Post

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/atima-mankotia-/3-laws-of-the-motherinlaw_b_9746696.html

Th Quint

https://fit.thequint.com/mind-it/coronavirus-quarantine-isolation-cabin-fever-mental-health-anxiety-depression-coping-tools

International Education – Can the Dream Come True?

Career Development (Placement), IILM Institute for Higher Education,

Many Indian students were dreaming of an international education after completing school in 2020. They were geared up for a foreign degree at an international university for a BBA or any other undergraduate degree. However, the academic plans of CBSE Class 12 Students have been delayed and they are concerned about what the future holds. Can these students still aspire for an international education? What are the ways in which their dream can still be fulfilled?

The COVID-19 lockdown has come with a new set of concerns for class 12 students whose board exams were postponed midway. Their future education plans have been put on hold. The latest announcement by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on May 18, 2020 releasing dates for the pending board exams between July 1- 15, may have ended some uncertainty for students but this is only the tip of the iceberg of the much larger picture of uncertainty that surrounds their future education plans.  This situation is more acute for students who were planning to study abroad after their 12th board exams and had already taken admission in foreign universities or were in the midst of applying to foreign universities at the undergraduate level. These students are stuck between a rock and a hard place unable to decide how to fulfil their dreams or plan ahead.

Steep Increase in Students going Abroad in the last Decade

According to the statistics released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian students studying in universities abroad in 2019 is 753,000. This number was expected to soar in 2020. Till about a decade ago, the number of students studying abroad was only 66, 736 and  the steep rise in numbers can be attributed to several factors  which would largely include India’s population of 1.26 billion with an average age of 25 years.

After the global pandemic Indian students have little choice but to cancel their plans of studying abroad due to shutdown of college campuses across the world and uncertainty related to resumption of physical classes. Currently, almost 1 million Indian students are estimated to be studying across universities in US, UK, Europe, Australia, and parts of South-East Asia across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The fear of COVID-19 infection has halted new plans of pursuing education abroad as foreign universities themselves are in a ‘wait-and-watch’ mode. According to Overseas Education Consultants intake for educational institutions in US, UK, Canada, and Europe is very unlikely to happen in September and physical intake of campus will only begin from January 2021.

International Education Dream   

Under such circumstances, what do students who aspire and dream of studying abroad after their class 12th board exams do?  There are many options open but to decide what to do is not easy. Students can take a gap year and risk wasting a year hoping for the situation to improve next year in 2021 and pursue their dream of International education from next year or they could still fulfill their dreams of an international education without a gap year.  Many private universities and Business Schools such as IILM offer an innovative plan for students keen on a foreign degree. Students can take admission in the undergraduate program and study here for a year and take a transfer to an international partner university next year to complete their education abroad. This is the 1 + 2 program offered at IILM.

IILM also offers a 2 + 1 program where students can study at their campus for 2 years and take a transfer to any of their partner universities for one year to complete their education and get an international degree.

Transfer Back to India

IILM also extends support to students in the current scenario of uncertainty where many of them are enrolled in foreign universities and do not want to return to their campuses. IILM offers a lateral entry in its second and third year to students who want to transfer back to India. In the times of the pandemic and even post pandemic, this may be something many parents and students may be exploring and IILM is ready to offer lateral entries to students who do not want to return to their foreign universities.

While times are challenging and uncertain, a good decision now can stand the students in good stead in their future education and career plans.  IILM’s strategy, keeping in view the increased global student mobility, is based on internationalization to help students fulfil their dreams and support them in times of crisis by offering an education that is both globally and locally relevant

For more information: https://ubs.iilm.edu/apply-now/

SmartSelect_20200519-184411_Office Mobile

Placements at IILM – Training, Guidance and Opportunities

Career Development (Placement), IILM Institute for Higher Education, Testimonials,

As I entered the gates of IILM, the red brick buildings with lush green creepers seemed to welcome me. I was looking forward to a great journey of pursuing knowledge beyond traditional boundaries. My experience at IILM for the one year that I have spent here has not disappointed. IILM has lived up to all my expectations and beyond. Let me share a key aspect of IILM that is relevant and important for all the students aspiring to do a PGDM course in a B School. It is a question that is in the minds of every student studying at IILM and those aspiring to take admission in this B School. Yes, I am going to share with you about how Placements happen at IILM.

Preparing for Placements

IILM believes in preparing the students and equipping them with the latest knowledge and skill sets. It offers more than your usual PGDM course, where practical experience and live market exposure are of utmost priority. Our Placement Cell is aligned with the values of our institution and grooms students to make them corporate ready from the day we step into the classrooms, focussing on training and developing the students through innovative methods and best practices inspired by the best B Schools in India and the world.

Career Resource Centre (CRC)

I soon realised that IILM has a robust and active Career Resource Centre (CRC) that is well connected with the corporate world and with all sectors of industry. I was relieved and happy to learn about the placements of IILM students over the years many of whom have been placed in good organizations and are today well recognized leaders and executives in the corporate world. IILM has a great track record of developing industry-ready managers and successful placements. I felt that my future was secure with IILM as it would offer me the best placement opportunities.

If we talk about the internal processes carried out by this department, it includes:

►Helping students choose their career options.
►Assisting in drafting the industry-grade resume and building LinkedIn profiles.
►Organizing mock Group Discussion sessions, Aptitude Tests, and Personal Interviews to prepare the students for the final placement process.
►Giving students proper assistance for the Summer Internship process.

Student Board of the CRC

Another interesting part about the placement cell is that it not only includes faculty members for conducting all due processes, but also has a Board of 4 student secretaries who are responsible for efficiently coordinating/conducting Personal Interviews, Group Discussions, Guest Lectures and other placement related activities. Through this platform the freshers get great experience of the complete placement process which is a crucial learning. Being part of the Placement Cell is a great opportunity for students who begin the process of being managers right at the institute giving them an edge over other students.

I have been fortunate to be an active part of the Placement Cell and have gained crucial and significant knowledge in the one year that I have been at IILM. This has helped me to perceive my professionally journey strategically and make the right decisions during my course at IILM. I have also developed a good network as I have had the opportunity to interact with Alumni and industry experts.

How Mentorship Program helps Placements

I was really happy to learn about the Mentorship Program at IILM that has helped me immensely in my first year. At IILM the journey of every student isn’tstandardised but customised to suit his/her needs. Students are observed carefully, and the CRC is in touch with their mentors to constantly discus their interest and aspirations. The mentor-mentee platform provided me personalised attention and guidance to help me choose the right professional path in accordance with my interests and abilities. I can interact with my Mentors as often as I want to seek their guidance and I have built a relationship of trust with my mentor as have other students of my class. Our mentors help us to discover our core competencies and guide us towards career development programs in those respective fields providing 360 degree assistance to crack our dream job.

Industry Interaction

Apart from these internal activities, I was also part of other experiences that enriched my journey. IILM believes in connecting industry veterans and leaders with budding managers that study here. My friends and I had a very interesting and useful exposure and learning through guest lectures, Industry-institute interaction, industrial visits which were aligned with our course structure. The industry exposure helped us understand how to apply the classroom concepts in real life.

Future is Safe with IILM

I have realised that IILM works very hard to provide its students with the right career opportunities with some of the best organizations coming to IILM for campus placements. IILM believes in providing students all kinds of support such as personalised attention, guidance and trainingto be get their dream jobs.

I am happy to be studying at IILM, an institute that cares, guide, trains and provides the best career opportunities. I believe that my future is in safe hands.

IILM Website: https://www.iilm.edu/

Akash Pk
Batch 2019- 21, IILM LR

Optimized-ART THERAPY- DISCOVER YOURSELF

ART THERAPY- DISCOVER YOURSELF

Campus Life, Career Development (Placement), Center for Emotional Intelligence, Faculty, General Blog, Guest Blog, IILM Graduate School of Management, IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM Undergraduate Business School, IILM University, , , , , , , , , , ,

“Mirror is a reflection of our faces and Art of our Souls”

Art has the ability to change and transform lives, in profound ways. When words fail, we turn to images and symbols to narrate our stories. Through art we can reach out to people with our stories and find a path towards transformation and healing.

As they say there is a lot between the heaven and earth than just dreams. Art therapy has a therapeutic way of rooting the idea of creative expression that fosters healing our soul and leading us towards mental well-being. For years art has been a very communicative way to express our feelings. When we were young we would instinctively use painting, drawing, sketching to communicate and express our emotions, but as we grow, and maturity hits us we often forget the beautiful impact art had on our lives.

Through Art Therapy patients are provided with a safe place where they can explore not very pleasant feelings like fear, anger, aggression, unfulfilled expectations. Feelings that they would otherwise avoid to talk about. Rightly said “Art speaks where words end.”  The field of Art and artistic people has always intrigued me. It feels like artistic people see life through a very different lens. They have immense waves of creativity within and so they life seems so sorted and calm. I wonder how various forms of art give them so much of peace. I guess the only reason why their life is so peaceful is that it’s not humans, but a form of art that is communicated as a Peacemaker and Healer adding the Art Therapy to experience the solace within.

Going back to Ancient history, art has been one of the oldest ways to communicate through wall carvings, sculptures, and paintings right from the Indus valley civilization. It is seen that when a person is unable to speak about his pain, they resort to expressing their feelings through Art.

Healing is totally an internal process which has a lot to do with a sense of positivity and inner strength. Ask an artist and they will enlighten you about the therapeutic impact Art has on them. Art Therapy is a type of expressive therapy that enhances a person’s emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being through the process of creativity. By art we mean everything that stirs our consciousness and inner strength to challenge our mind. This is the process where artistic expression helps lots of people to develop positive feelings, solve problems, change attitudes, boost their self-concept and be more content with themselves.

Art is like a life saving jacket in a world that’s growing crazy. Art keeps you grounded in your roots. It has a meditative impact to develop patience in life. We have to make a choice today either “let Art enter your world or you enter into the World of Art.” Choice is yours to discover the artist in you.

Remember friends Art is not a skill, but an expression and it really does not matter if you think you cannot draw or create. It’s an outlook towards life, which can be seen in the form of a new hobby, learning music, anything that keeps you occupied and for which you feel the desire to create time and it’s  so becoming a part of your life in spite of the busy schedules you have as it heals you from all the stress that you’ve been carrying  as a baggage of life.

It’s practically applicable and as a life skill trainer and therapist, I have seen my students experiencing the magic of art therapy in their lives.  A group of IILM students took this initiative to apply this therapy for the first two weeks and shared such positive results in their level of expression, understanding of situations. One common response was that they learnt to respond rather than react in stressful situations.

Art Therapy gives people medium to express their feelings and problems and tread a happier life that is real and serene in nature. Art as a therapy has proved to be a powerful weapon to combat illness and spread well-being. It allows you to be yourself with no Form and that’s the Beauty. So let’s join hands together to inhale positivity and exhale creativity.

To connect on knowing more about the profound value and benefits of art, colors and visualization therapy write to me on megha.kochhar@iilm.edu

Life-Skills-that-Matter-IILM-Teaches-More-than-Management

Life Skills that Matter – IILM Teaches More than Management

Campus Life, Career Development (Placement), Center for Teaching Research and Learning, IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM Stories, , , , ,

It is common understanding that a Business Management degree prepares you for Business Administration, so you study Management, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Finance, Marketing, Operations, International Business and a range of other subjects. However the 2 year programme at IILM also prepares you with certain other skills such as Effective Communication, Research and Analysis, Critical Thinking, Change Management, Ability to leverage technology, Time Management, People management, Teamwork, Decision making etc. which may be called soft skills but are actually life skills. Let me explain here how these are so relevant in the context of Covid – 19 which all of us are grappling with today.

The current crisis is a situation that almost no one living today may have faced in his or her lifetime, hence there is no way that anyone could have been prepared for, in advance. When it struck, the reactions were quite similar among most, ranging from brushing it off to disbelief to despair, businesses were no different. However during these times of crisis, Effective Communication is of paramount interest. At IILM, students learn who to communicate with, what to say, how to say and when to say. Your stakeholders are the ones who need to hear from you to have that continued trust in you, how you are managing their interest is what you need to tell them and tell them early on. Any message that is delayed looks like an afterthought, so communicate early and communicate regularly. Keep it short but relevant and regular.

The times are different, the challenges are different, the solutions also have to be different. IILM teaches its students to read, research and analyze what is happening the world over and make sense of it and how it affects our businesses and organizations. It teaches them critical thinking skills and inculcates a sense of judgment and positive thinking to manage any crisis situation. As a manager / leader it is important to know that we must be able to adapt to change as per the situation. In the current situation, it is imperative to stay safe and stay at home. If there is life, there will be a tomorrow and we can always plan and rebuild ourselves. There is just no point in being restless, rather take this time to spend with yourself, review what you have done so far, how you would do it differently, what you could have done better.

Technology they say is a leveler, the digital march is going to make it even more uniform. As millions of people are homebound, their major source of information, inspiration, communication, distraction, entertainment is through technology. IILM encourages its students to be technology savvy and Leverage Technology to bring in effectiveness to their work and business. A case in point, in the times of Covid, technology has moved up a few notches, K-12, Higher education and a good number of businesses have gone online, organizations are rethinking the Work from Home concept, also as an effective cost saving tool. All classes at IILM have been conducted on zoom through paid licenses ensuring security and privacy of teachers and students online.

This is a situation which has put everyone under pressure, be it the government, the police, the doctors, the medical supply chain, the food suppliers and the transport for continuing the work assigned. All others are under pressure to stay at home, manage their job, remain balanced, remain strong, stay calm and help others in whatever way possible, big or small. The Business Management program at IILM by the very nature of its being fast paced with classes, tutorials, assignments, simulations, meeting industry experts in Round Tables or Guest sessions, Summer internships, Live Projects, Placements creates the right kind of pressure with tight deadlines and helps students manage time and manage themselves very well.

People are the most valuable resource that one can have. IILM students develop skills of working in teams and learn to respect one another, value their competence and contribution. People Management is what management is greatly about. Students learn through case studies and role plays and address questions such as how to take people along, how to keep them motivated and engaged with the organization when the chips are down. How to make people feel wanted and part of your team are skills that come with practice. As a manager, you are required to take decisions, most of the times with limited resources, limited information and in limited time. IILM teaches Decision making as a process, a step by step approach to make good decisions. With practice, one becomes adept at following the steps and can still be quick. But if you miss some part of the processes in order to be quick, you will be prone to making mistakes, costly ones!

Most importantly, IILM has an NGO club through which students learn to help and support the marginalized sections of the society. We believe empathy is something, which need not be understood and expected when you are in a spot, but the continued will to share and care for others whatever the situation be. IILM is proud of its 12000+ alumni who as Managers and Business leaders running their businesses responsibly and building the nation.

Prof.(Dr.) Kakoli Sen

Seeking-a-Career-in-Investment-Banking

Seeking a Career in Investment Banking

Career Development (Placement), IILM Graduate School of Management, ,

During this COVID-19 erabusinesses are running losses due to lockdown across the globe,people are losing jobs; new opportunities are not being created even companies are cutting jobs to control the cash outflow. The scenario is the same across sectors and countries. In this present scenario when each of us is constantly living in a fear of losing a job it is the time to build some of the key skills to emerge a winner once this lockdown is over and things came back to normalcy. It is the time when one needs to sharpen one’s axe so that when things get normalized one can emerge as winner.

In the present circumstances’ jobs in the field of Finance are relatively safer as one can work from home instead if we compare it with sales jobs especially which involves face to face interaction. Even Finance has various profiles to offer, in this particular blog we will discuss ‘Investment Banking’ as a job profile for an MBA graduate in detail

Investment Banking is a very fascinating job profile for MBA graduates with Finance and Accounting specialization. At first one needs to understand ‘Investment Banks’, they are financial intermediaries that perform complex financial transactions and is mainly involved in the valuation of businesses related activities. Credit Suisse, Barclays Capital, JP Morgan Chase, Goldman Sachs are few of the major investment banks functioning around the world.

Now, coming to investment bankers as they the experts who have in-depth knowledge of current market conditions. The primary role of investment bankers is to advise clients on investments by proper evaluation of risk and return involved in the same. To reach the level of investment banker one need to move in a certain hierarchy as a finance graduate starts his/her career as an analyst with primary responsibility of preparing presentations, setting up conference calls and meetings, etc. With the experience of 3-4 years an analyst moves up in the ladder and reached the position of Associate with the added responsibility of client interaction and managing a team of 4-5 analysts. The next stage in the professional life of an investment banker is the Vice President who is being considered as the expert of the field with the responsibilities like maintaining the client relationship and overlook the operational efficiency at each level of the hierarchy underneath. The ultimate position to reach for an investment banker is to become Managing Director. Managing Director of an investment bank has the responsibility for increasing the business by converting the potential clients.

Investment bankers work on various profiles like Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, Capital Market and Sales and Trading. Corporate Finance is the most widespread profile and is a foundation stone for Investment Banking. In this profile one needs to help clients in capital raising, providing recommendations on restructuring, and help to identify the potential sources of funds. Mergers and Acquisitions profile is built around the valuation of businesses and the negotiation of deals. The Capital Market profile requires a thorough understanding of the capital market and its volatility for both the instruments equity and bond. While the profile of Sales and Trading includes transaction responsibilities in equities, currencies, bonds, etc. on behalf of clients.

To be or not to be an Investment Banker one need to evaluate oneself as if one wishes to have a work-life balance then this profile is not for you. As investment banker profile requires a minimum of 100 hours of workweek along with the ability to perform under extreme pressure to meet multiple deadlines. So, before jumping into the profile need to evaluate yourself on the parameters like skillsets required along with your emotional quotient both of them need to be very high to sustain and perform well in life.

Saquib Akhter
PGDM 2019-21
IILM GSM

Dr. Kumar Saurabh
Assistant Professor-Finance
IILM Graduate School of Management

IILM-Welcomes-Summer-Internships-go-Virtual-in-Lockdown

IILM Welcomes Summer Internships go Virtual in Lockdown

Career Development (Placement), IILM Institute for Higher Education, , ,

“Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Come Summer… and it’s that time of the year when students of B-Schools undertake internships. However, in 2020, the times are uncertain and unusual. No one has experienced such a situation before. The Covid-19 lockdown has forced companies to explore virtual internships or Work from Home (WFH) options. Summer internship for students is mandatory as per government rule and all parameters remain the same, except that it is now has to be done digitally keeping in mind the need of social distancing due to the pandemic.

IILM-Welcomes-Summer-Internships-go-Virtual-in-Lockdown_1IILM, an institute of great eminence, located in the heart of the city with campuses in Delhi NCR, the course structure not only reinforces the inherent qualities of curiosity and creativity but also help in creating and developing the sector-specific skill sets. As we understand, the desire and intention of young ambitious graduates, IILM under the strong mentorship helps students with various internships to choose from as part of the progression.
As most of you are aware, various internship portals have registered their summer internship need with WFH ranging for a period of 2 months to 6 months. Some companies offering stipend and some without stipend. Some private and public sector undertaking has also postponed their internship due to the lockdown. Even in this situation IILM students across campuses took up the virtual internship and we proudly saw an increase in students taking up the projects.

With strong placement team that IILM have, we share ample opportunity to IILM students to enrol in online trainings and WFH which will be considered as summer internship for them. This arrangement seeks to engage students pursuing Under Graduate or Post Graduate students to enrol with companies of any sector within India or abroad, as “Interns”. These “Interns” work on to various Verticals/Divisions/Units; the main being Sales, Marketing, Content Writing, Research, Finance, B2B, CSR projects, and many more. To name few companies are UNGCI, Bajaj Allianz, Feedback Infra, ICICI., etc.

IILM-Welcomes-Summer-Internships-go-Virtual-in-Lockdown_2At IILM, students are also encouraged to intern in their “Family Business” too. As family businesses move from one generation to the next, a key challenge is ensuring that younger family members—future owners and possibly future leaders of the company—feel a connection with the business. The benefits of family internship program can be great, for young family members as well as for the business. The students gain work experience that will prove valuable even if they don’t ultimately work for the family firm. The company benefits from family members’ deeper understanding of the business. In some cases, internships spark the interest of talented young family members who develop into key employees.

The various internships shared by industry expert, allow students to bring new perspectives, innovative ideas and latest research experience into the classroom, work and improve their skills while working in a diverse environment. IILM student’s internship is an opportunity to learn while gaining practical experience. Interns generally find the experience to be rewarding and interesting. In addition, it is a way to enhance their CVs with practical work experience.

Every student at IILM always wonders what an internship during B- School stint would be like. Will it entail any substantial work at all? Companies would not want to invest so much into them. But setting up a successful internship program requires careful planning in order to realize these benefits—and to avoid pitfalls. We, make our students feel comfortable giving ample training of the sector, bringing in guest speaker, alumni sharing experiential knowledge, the skill set required

There are also several benefits from the intern’s point of view in virtual internship:-

– all development occurs online,
– there is no requirement to travel as part of the internship program,
– students can work from anywhere,
– for the most part, a virtual internship works around the students schedule,
– Orientation, meetings and other discussion are held online… Webex, Teams, Zoom, etc.

Good internship is a challenge for all students of B-school and at IILM students’ performance helps them to get Pre-Placement Offers, and join the team successfully. Students carry some great memories and close friends, grow in social networking and we have successful stories where we teachers/ mentors feel cherished about.
Stay Safe! Stay Home!

Mini B. Daniel
Associate Professor of Communication

How Leadership Works: And What Motivates People to Follow.

Blog Catgeory, Career Development (Placement), General Blog, IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM Undergraduate Business School, , , ,

This is one question that every leader thinks, that is how to persuade others to do what you want them to do in the most effective manner. To come to the definite answer to this question, there is a need to start reflecting on what motivates you  to follow or listen to someone. The moment you start reflecting on this basic question, you will immediately start pondering upon what makes you passionate about things in life for which you are ready to expand your comfort zone.  In majority of the cases, it’s all about making an impact  in the lives of others with your work.

Purposive Leadership

The purpose in leadership is all about who you are and what makes you distinct, it’s all about your own unique brand. It is not so much about what you do or your educational qualifications but how you do your job.

It is your ability to articulate purpose behind your work that makes you distinct.  Your ability to help your team members connect with the larger purpose behind your work i.e. making a difference in the lives of others, helps you to connect with your team and motivates them to go to any level to make a remarkable contribution at work.

David Ulrich , Professor of Business Studies at The University of Michigan, who is an expert in the field of human resource and leadership and has authored more than 30 books, shared that leaders in the organisation who enable their employees to find meaning and purpose from their work  create a work culture in which employees are more enthusiastic and generate more value for their customers and investors.

Suresh Narayanan, MD of Nestle India, is one such leader who inculcates a sense of strong purpose amongst his team members and successfully brought the company out from the Maggie crisis and is now steering Nestle successfully during the Covid-19 crises with no retrenchment amongst his existing work force. He shared that it is important to have clarity of one’s purpose in life and it is not about becoming a corporate CEO or an entrepreneur or making a million dollars, but it is all about understanding what you want to be known for, and this makes the whole difference.

How to Lead With Purpose

The first step is to identify your purpose, which needs to be real and authentic. The second important step is to articulate that purpose amongst all your stake holders clearly and persistently. The third important step is to realise that when we use our strengths at work, then we reach in the state of flow, where we become so engrossed at work that time just flows by – and the same is true for our team members. So, help your team members identify their strengths and use it at work. Lastly, create a positive work environment by encouraging a positive work relationship and by giving positive feedback to your team members. Remember, you can help your team members grow by focusing on their strengths. It is only an uplifting and supportive work environment that can help your team members connect to the deeper meaning of their work.

This is what Yuon Chouinard, CEO of Patagonia, an American outdoor clothing company, has done. He clearly aligned his purpose i.e. “cause no unnecessary harm and use business to inspire and implement solutions to environmental crisis” in all his processes, be it product-lines, supply-chain or the pricing of its products. This motivated the company to switch to organic cotton in their clothing lines. The result is that today Patagonia is thriving due to its  focus on overall purpose behind their business and not just the profits.

Purpose Assures Safety in The Times of Crisis.

Leaders who lead with purpose can easily bring their organisations out from crisis. American energy company, DTE Energy, could overcome the 2008 financial crisis by inculcating training programmes for employees that spoke about purpose behind their work. They conducted town hall meetings and conducted culture-binding activities that increased employee engagement to a new level. DTE won a Gallop Great Work Place Reward five years in a row, their financial performance skyrocketed, with the company’s stock price tripling from year end 2008 to year end 2017. Hence, the most important factor that makes an organisation grow amid challenges and crisis is its leadership, with strong purpose which is beyond one’s immediate interests.

Conclusion

Finally, it is important for a leader to help his team members not only to envision the outcome of their daily routines, but also to find meaning in those tasks. So, for me, I not only give lectures but as I teach, I also contribute in preparing Next Generation Business Leaders.

Purposeful leadership is all about creating value and leading a contributive life. It is about being genuine and helping others to develop and display their highest potential. Finally, leaders must create their own brand and think what they want it to be remembered as.