Andhra Pradesh   

A taste of the real thing

Sumit Bhattacharjee

Students are taking to part-time jobs in a big way

TAKE THAT CALL: Taking on a job while in college earns you bucks and instils confidence.

Like the fashion industry, the study pattern of students today keeps changing with every passing day. Gone are the days when students buried themselves in books. Today they talk of a concept called fun-filled study. The philosophy is "Have as much fun as you can during college days, as MNCs are going to drain you anyway." Taking a cue from this `doctrine,' most students in corporate colleges, especially the ones who come from other States, are opting for part-time jobs during while pursuing their courses.

"To have fun and a decent lifestyle one must have money and for that we do not intend to tax our parents. When opportunities are plenty why not earn a few bucks," says Amit, an MBA student who also works at a call centre.

Though the part-time work culture has trickled down from the west, students here do not mind working at a call centre or in a marketing firm to fuel their lifestyle.

Moreover, they believe that working while studying has a two-fold effect. "Primarily we can earn some money by which we can fund our studies and procure the things like a bike or a cell phone or for that matter a Nike shoe, and secondly it gives us hands-on experience by the time we pass out. Experience plays a vital role in the job market. Last year, a senior who worked as a marketing executive in a small firm was straightway considered for the executive level by Nestle for his experience," says Amit.

Grooms attitude

Though money could be the bait the underline is the attitude that they pick up for the long run.

According to Rajgopal of Mafoi, the job market today is vibrant. "Additional qualities like communication skills, soft skills, team spirit and handling of pressures play a vital role in the selection of candidates. A couple of years of soft experience before the acid test can take a candidate miles in the future. One year of experience before the passing out ceremony can build the right attitude that MNCs look for," he says.

Amit who was an introvert before joining the call centre is today one of the best communicators in college. He has shed his inhibitions and is brimming with confidence. "I am ready to take on the shrewdest of HR guys today," asserts Amit.

All one has to do is take the assignment seriously and not just for the heck of it. HR gurus suggest that this could be the ideal grooming ground. "Keep the money aspect aside and treat it as an additional perk. Keep the focus on the job you are in. If you are in a call centre, keep your mind fixed on the quality and deadline or if you are in software development keep the focus on the subject as that is the best practical experience that you can get. The same goes if one is in marketing or in an advertising firm. Today the job market is open and students should try their hand now," says Rajgopal.

A job while studying is the ideal place for one to implement and experiment the theoretical knowledge that he or she gathers in the classroom. After all there is nothing to lose. It can also keep you occupied, focused and serve as the ideal platform to unleash your creative juices.

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