Report on Interactive Session on Career Guidance and Personality Development

CII – Indian Women Network and Christ University

Interactive Session on Career Guidance and Personality Development

The Confederation of Indian Industries-Indian Women Network (CII-IWN) facilitated an interactive session on Career Guidance and Personality Development for the students of Christ University. This Interactive Session was organized by the Department of Sociology and CII IWN along the lines of a Panel Discussion to ensure that the students benefit from the expertise of the panelists.

MCs for the Day: Rusha Ghosh and Medha Bhattacharjee

Invocation

Lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries

Welcome Address by Suparna Majumdar Kar

The Panel comprised of Mrs Priya Chetty Rajagopal, Executive Director -Leadership and Board Practice, RGF India Bangalore; Ms. Shalini Pillay, Head People, Performance and Culture, KPMG India; Ms. Suman Puri, CEO, Just Travel; Mr S V Venkatesh, Convener, Industry Institute Interaction Panel, CII Mysore & CEO, RiiiT, Mysore and Ms Meena Jain, Psychologist & Professional Career Consultant. Ms Priya Chetty Rajagopal moderated this session which was facilitated by Reshmi Mohandas. Suparna Majumdar Kar offered the welcome address.

Panelists

Address by Dr John Joseph Kennedy, Dean, Humanities and Social Sciences, Christ University

Address by Dr Mallika Krishnaswami, Co Dean, Humanities and Social Sciences, Christ University

 The session focused on some of the areas that the students need to focus on and develop in order to enhance employability. This becomes crucial keeping the demographic scenario in mind within which not all the graduates and postgraduates would find employment. As mentioned by the Deans of Humanities and Social Sciences, Knowledge, Skills and Attitude are crucial in the way we groom ourselves and prepare for our professional lives. This was reinforced by the panelists.

The luminaries from their varied respective fields focused on 5 points each that each student could take home from the session. These speakers covered the corporate sector as well as the social sector. Some of these points were communication skills, deportment, drive, perseverance and skills that need to be developed, such as technological skills, and time skills.

A complete personality that encompasses etiquette, emotional quotient, creative thinking, and effective communication (content to context) becomes important. A blend of smart skills and occupation skills is optimum for the career market. Identifying ones goals and creating a brand for oneself becomes significant as well. In order to succeed, the panelists also reinforced the element of joy and engagement with the work that one choses to do.

The panelists also focused on the difference between jobs and careers and spoke about the risks involved with frequent job shifts which could be interpreted as issues with integrity. Also addressed were social media, cyber law and Laws relating to the Prevention of Sexual Harassment in the work place (POSH).

This interactive panel discussion will prove invaluable for our students as they get ready to embark upon their careers.