Feature

How Tipsy is the Job-market?

HRM specialist Mr. Sheikh Tashfeen Islam shares his views

Tawsif Saleheen

SPECULATING on the job-market has become somewhat of a preoccupation for many students of our country. On one hand we have heard rumors of a declining job-market, attributed to the current economical and political scenario of Bangladesh. Yet, on the other hand, we have seen certain organizations expand and recruit more employees than they normally do. Under such circumstances, it is understandable if a prospective graduate faces dilemma regarding what to expect once he or she enters the job-market. Keeping that in mind, this week Star Campus takes an exclusive interview with Mr. Sheikh Tashfeen Islam, a respected name in the MNC-s and an expert in the HRM field of our country.

'The job-market in Bangladesh is pretty steady,' says Mr. Tashfeen. Over the last few years the Telecom Industry had been experiencing a boom. Consequently the telecom organizations recruited a large number of graduates every year. However, as the telecom industry has reached maturity and stabilization, their recruitment need for fresh graduates is going down, a fact mistaken by many as an overall decline of the job-market. Majority of the Multi National Companies are recruiting as before. However, some local companies may have cut down on recruitments due to cost pressure in an adverse economic environment.

Mr. Tashfeen adds that although certain job-opportunities and industry segments have become somewhat stagnant for the aspiring graduates, many other opportunities have welled up. Call Centers have created an immense employment opportunity in Bangladesh. Moreover, the Banking Sector of our country is getting increasingly sophisticated with the advent of Investment banking and international opportunity for Bangladeshi bankers in Gulf finance centers like UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.

However, in order to avail these job-opportunities the graduates need to be more employer-ready. Although a large number of graduates enter the job market every year, organizations often find themselves hard-pressed in search of quality graduates.

'If you have quality,' Mr. Tashfeen admits. 'There are always sufficient job opportunities for you.'

When asked how a student can be 'employer-ready' by the time he or she graduates, Mr. Tashfeen replied that prospective graduates need to build up management, generic and functional competencies. For this, the students need to be more proactive and stop studying just for the sake of passing the exams or hogging grades. Being proactive includes going beyond the textbook and learning how different theories offered in a course apply to different organizations in the real world. Students can use the Internet and the social networks that are available in the Internet to understand how organizations and their employees operate internationally. This will not only broaden the knowledge base of the students, but may also open future job prospects. Moreover, maintaining good contacts with the alumni of your institution will give you a better idea of what the employers are really looking for. Doing part time jobs is also a very powerful means of building networks and developing yourself for the job-market. However, part-time jobs should not come at the cost of the education itself. And finally you should make sure that you have good computer and communication skills, a proficiency rudimentary for almost every job.

Mr. Tashfeen concluded that these practices would not only give you the practical skills necessary to excel in the industry, but in fact transform you into a quality graduate that every prominent organization would want to recruit.

Finally, when asked about the prospect of Human Resources as a career choice, Mr. Tashfeen aptly replied that as a human resource manager you have to lead the most volatile and yet the most precious resource of an organization, its people. As a Human Resource Manager you always need to keep your doors open and find specific means to motivate each employee. As a result the job is challenging, and equally rewarding.

The neighbour with whom you went to play every evening, the toothless boy/girl at school with whom you used to share your lunch each day, the aunt who would make you your favourite dishes or the uncle to whom you would keep clinging all through the day in your childhood days- their faces and the memoirs of those small moments become bleak as we approach towards our own life.

However, the relations are not completely forgotten, they remain in a subtle way in the treasure chest of our heart. These bonds, are not to be bygones, instead they needs to be revived whenever you get an opportunity. Feelings are not acknowledged unless expressed, instead of remembering the forgotten relationships- take some time out and try to revive them. The charm you would feel, and the happiness you will give to these people just by keeping in touch with them- is worth every bit of the effort you put for so.

It's not true that we have absolutely no time. It's not time, it's actually the intention and the tug of your willingness that is needed. We have semester breaks, weekends, holidays the free time we get is mostly lost in procrastinating or in boredom. But give it a second thought, only a phone call or a surprise visit to the people who once meant a lot in your life, the people who have been with you in your thick and thin can totally fill the almost lost relationships with full vigour and life.

Remember that distant uncle of yours who would bring you your favourite chocolates and help you ride your bicycle? Remember the aunt who would make you your favourite prickles and send them in jars knowing how much you liked them?

Remember the elderly grandma who would come to your house on occasional visits and make you thrilled with the mamdo bhoot stories at bedtime? Remember the cousin of whom you used to be a big fan of and imitate him in every way? Remember that apu who saved you lot of times from your mom's scolding, while she were staying over at your place for vacation?

Remember those school friends with whom you would hang up on the seesaw or scroll down the slipper with? Just remembering them and putting off a sigh thinking about those happy times is not enough.

You can easily take at least a day out from your otherwise routine life and spend it for them. We meet our university friends everyday, the need to hang out with them and have fun parties does sure have it's own place. But how long does it feel good to meet the faces you meet each day? Try doing something different this semester break and on this Eid holiday. Pay a surprise visit to your distant relations who once used to be your favourite, with whom you spent considerable times of your life, the memory of those moments that still makes you smile with pleasure.

Arrange a day out with your old school pals. Gather your neighbours and have a bar-b-q party at your rooftop. Buy some nice gifs and pay a surprise visit to your kin's place. Spend the day recollecting the fun times you used to spend together. Sometimes call them and talk you heart out, rejuvenating the long lost bonds into a livelier one. Make them feel you haven't forgotten them, that they still have a special position in your life, see them smile with sparkling happiness. It's then that you will feel how much happiness you can bring to those people, just with minimal effort.

Relationships are cherished throughout our lifetime, making us feel special in every other way, providing us with a sense of belonging. It's time you make them feel special just the way they used to make you. We all know we are selfish, but not so much that we would let the bonds just get lost in the course of time, now are we?

Stepping into university, not knowing the style of how grading system works, we relax for the first few semesters until we are struck by some serious problems again. Like the saying goes, 'old wine in new bottle' we are loaded by huge home works, class works, class tests in the name of assignments, quizzes and presentations. On top of all, we get group projects to handle.

Not to forget, group works are conversation starters amongst friends. If we are seating in a café with friends, usually the first question comes as '' How's your courses going on?'' And who ever asks the question, the discussion about different courses are carried out by everyone in the group. With new teams we form, new stories grow, and we have some good memories and some horrible experiences to share.

''Dude, my group members are all good for nothing, I'm pulling the project alone'', ''Dost, please pray that my teammates do not dump the project all over me'' or even, 'Yaar, my team mates are not working''. It's always heart breaking to listen to these woeful words. We all go through similar experiences.

We form teams with over enthusiastic members who promise to give the best and end up providing the best of excuses to skip group meetings. Even if we reach the meeting at 11 am instead of 9 am sharp, we don't seem to miss anything of it. Because, we gossip for hours and by the time we are about to call off the day we realize we haven't done anything about the project! Not to miss out, we are all experts in last minute preparations. With all the gossips and leisure time passed, we start and finish projects at the last moment no matter how close the deadline is. We also specialize in last moment presentations with no preparation at all. In fact, it's considered to be a credit to be able to deliver the best presentations and projects without preparation! After all, we are good, aren't we!

It's not always true that we face horrible situations. We also make some good memories. The teams form within a short span of time, unknown individuals become acquaintances and some of them even become friends forever. The fun part starts as generous cupids in the group tell one of the team members that another member has a crush on him or her. Mostly, the result is zero because love is never reachable. But who cares as long as we receive free treats. Not always the love thing works out. But the team members still shine together. Endlessly chatting in meaningless 'adda' that gives a break from our tedious work.

With my team members like Sithi, Nazat, Shahriar as friends, we do crazy stuff that probably are absolutely meaningless to others. We are having one of the most enjoyable times of being in a group because we all love and care about each other. The story of a team is also same for them. Each group is having their time of life where working hard is just another name of enjoying together. It's almost end of the semester and we all have started to miss our classes already. Who knows what future holds for us. But I hope all of our friends and university students enjoy this wonderful experience of being in a team.