Developing Employability Skills: The Holistic approach with PGDM!!!

In many ways, ‘Campus Placement’ is the major milestone for students in postgraduate management education which marks the beginning of a new world for students of PG management programs to the corporate world.  The PGDM program basically works to create awareness and skills updates of students mapping them to the expectation from the industry/corporate world. The industry generally looks to hire candidates with ‘Employability Skills.’ We at Asian Business School (ABS), create awareness from the very beginning about the same and through this blog, we bring to you a glimpse of the same.

‘Employability Skills’, as defined by job search portals, are transferable skills that are useful in nearly every job. They involve the development of expertise, knowledgebase, or mind-set that makes an individual more attractive to employers. Often, these are known as employment skills, soft skills, work-readiness skills, or foundational skills. And often, these skills are said to improve an individual’s performance, minimize errors, and promote collaboration with co-workers, enabling individuals to perform the desired role more effectively.

However, what one fails to realize is that these said skills may not be a part of the job description. With the current trend in work from home scenarios, preparation for a meeting simply does not mean that you sorted with facts and figures. It also requires the individual to be well-dressed and groomed before joining the online schedule. This, though not mentioned or discussed anywhere, is the need of the hour.

The PGDM program at Asian Business School (ABS) ensures that our students are equipped with such skills. One such essential skill is communication – both in terms of written and verbal, students are trained to understand and imbibe this essential skill which gives them an edge, whether it be negotiation skills, attending PI over the telephone, writing professional emails, etcetera.

Additionally, ‘Body Language Training’ is covered in special modules as some 80% of communication is through body language. Specific mind and brain exercises and tips expose students to the skill of stress-free living and handling adverse situations.

Our PGDM course has adopted a unique learning methodology that is not only full of fun but it also has loads of hidden teachings, such as teamwork, problem-solving strategies, decision making, leadership, conflict management, negotiation, dealing with change, and communication to name a few.  Session on Group discussions helps the learner to understand the importance of being well-read, pitching in one’s idea fearlessly, grabbing on the opportunity to participate in the discussion, or else risk being left out; which is quite similar in the real world.

Interaction with the industry is also essential – hence, industrial visits, webinars, international summits, guest sessions by industry experts, alumni interactions serve as a platform to interact and understand from time to time the requirements related to employability.

The syllabus of top PGDM institutes focuses not just on achieving academic excellence but also on ensuring that its students are role models of the overall development. The idea of the PGDM course is to ensure the student’s readiness to join the workforce. Therefore, the onus lies with the students to make most of the concepts and participate whole-heartedly in the activities planned.   From a unique elaborate Induction schedule to final convocation, a basket of skills input waits for those who are determined to make the world know that “They have arrived!”