Qs 1. I am here today because…

 

Answers:

Mr. Hasan Tariq: I am here today because I am the ambassador of the company I work for, ICI. I am here to share learning on what students need to equip themselves for this challenging world, as I have been in the industry for 10 years.

                                                                   

Ms. Huma Baqai: We, the faculty from IBA, are here to tell about the amazing things happening at IBA and what further steps we can take.

 

Mr. Zafar Siddique: IBA is undergoing a process of change because it has benchmarked the highest standards. A different line of thought Dr. Ishrat brought was teaching us to benchmark against international universities and not local ones. Brining IBA amongst the top 100 universities in the region will require a lot of commitment from the faculty and students.

 

Qs 2. How would you rank IBA as a business school of choice in Pakistan: # 01 or # 02? Any other? And why?

 

Answers:

Mr. Mairajuddin (Novartis): IBA surely is number 2. Number one is LUMS. This is because:

o   The impression of LUMS on me and my colleagues. I’ve had the opportunity to access students of many institutes and we found out that the students of LUMS are far better. It’s not easy to justify my choice but students of LUMS have more of an external focus which those of IBA lack.

o   Also, I used to study very less and still managed decent grades with very little planning where as my friend at LUMS used to plan his sleep hours. That is the type of rigorous procedure a university should have.

 

Mr. Omair Shamsi (Engro Corp.): in terms of quality of students there is no difference in the university they go to. It’s the market of that university in the corporate sector. At Engro, Lums and IBA are pretty much at the same level so we believe it’s more on the individual’s quality.

When we talk about quality of students it is about the individual aptitude- universities do not make difference. It’s the market of that university in the corporate sector. In our company we have equally successful people from either university. We celebrate diversity and at the end it comes to individual quality.

 

Ms. Katrina (Engro Fert.): Institute does put little barriers but to us it does not make any difference.

 

Ms. Nuzhat Hussain (Chevron): We rank IBA at No. 1. we have had a good experience hiring IBA students, and this experience goes back to 20 years. Other university graduates are also good, and though it depends person to person, by and large our experience with IBA has been wonderful.  

 

RBS HR head: I would choose LUMS as one because they have a very external focus. Their students are able to give reasons for their choices, and very illustrative and elaborate in their answers. I feel the students at LUMS come from a very strenuous routine. The lay of the land at LUMS is far better than that at IBA. They have a lot of interest in their field whereas that seriously lacks at IBA. Students at IBA are not interested at doing or attending anything out of the course books for which they are not marked, whereas students at LUMS have a lot of keenness, grit and understanding of what they are studying. When RBS came for a visit to IBA the attendance was very low, and this reflects the lack of interest by the students.

 

Mr. Zafar Siddique: We will try harder to become No. 1. IBA is changing and the highlights are:

o   Curriculum redesign

o   IBA Faculty: creating a faculty to student ratio of 1:18; using the theory of Professors in practice that is, have professors with experience teaching at IBA

o   Automation

o   Physical Infrastructure

o   Community Outreach: We are not Karachi-centric, if we were why have a hostel for past 45 years? And other programs reflecting this outreach vision are the NTHP program and hostel redesign

o   Entrepreneurship Focus

o   Job Fair

 

Qs 3. What are the 3 key competencies employers look for in potential employees? 

 

Answers:

Organization 1:

1.       Ability to adapt to change and grow: this includes adapting to technology, globalization, regionalization, internet, diversity. The concept of working virtually with just a laptop and a phone is booming now and individuals should be prepared to adapt to it

2.       Thinking Entrepreneurship: and this is true for even the larger organizations so that you can offer your solutions

 

Organization 2:

1.       Perseverance

2.       Soft Skills

3.       Be able to show your results: as at the end of the day it is all about the bottom line

 

Organization 3: Ms. Shafaq (Engro polymer):

1.       Intelligence (Aptitude test for recruitment)

2.       Passion for your profession: if you are not at the place where you wanted to be, reconsider

3.       Whatever you have done, were you good at it?

3.Were you actually good at the projects you did before and on all the work that you have written on your resume?

 

Organization 4: Mr. Amjad Manzoor (State Bank of Pakistan):

Especially for people going into large public sector organizations:

1.       have open-mindedness and the will to learn from the experience of your seniors because such people gel well with the other employees.

2.       Look for long-term stability. And look for your turn for advancement and promotion and not just every year. Have some patience

2.

Organization 5:HR Head, Mr. Amin Bandani (Siemens):

1.       Edge:  different way of looking at things, innovative ideas, out-of box thinking, self-determination.

2.       Energy: initiate

3.       Energize team player, mentoring, analytic, and learning

4.       Execute: show results

5.       Passion: customer focus, professional ethics

 

Organization 6: Ms. Hafsa Abbasi (Engro polymer):

 

1.       Can-do attitude: Positive mindset  which you can link to confidence too

2.       Self discipline

3.       Resilience and the ability to bounce back

IBA students in our organization have been up to the mark on all the above standards

 

Organization 7;Mr. Nasir Afghan: IBA aims at developing world class leaders. They will have functional knowledge but their competitive advantage would come from their leadership skills.

Students should focus on learning rather than grades.

 

Qs 4. What are the reasons employers prefer IBA graduates? Where do we need to improve?

 

Answers:

Muhammad Asad Khalil (ICI - MT):

We lack having a broad perspective of things. IBA students cannot supplement their answers with substantial examples. For example, when they explain their interest as swimming or tennis they will not have enough substance to support it and to be able to explain it.

 

Next:

IBA grads make a positive contribution to organization as individuals and in a team, they are ethical, they have a lot of prep and knowledge but they lack the depth and the clarity of communication and thinking. Being specific is a problem for them.

 

Qs 5. What are the 3 major mistakes fresh graduates commit during job interviews?

 

Answers:

 

During interviews there are many mistakes made and the employers understand the nervousness factor. However, three major things to avoid are:

1.       Don’t lie. It is foolish because the panelists are experienced and you reflect on your integrity. Be straight forward and confident

2.       Keep eye contact because that reflects on your confidence

3.       Don’t be abrupt in your answers. Do not give one word answers elaborate on your answers-try and lead your interview into a conversation. If you have not done anything in that specific role asked about, try linking it from other examples as it shows your quick thinking.

3.

 

 

 

Ms. Seemi Shafi:

Research the organization before going for an interview because if you do not have enough knowledge than it is discourteous

 

Mr. Adnan Khairati (Telenor):

1.       Know what you have written on your resume

2.       The eye contact, the body language

3.       Get some background about whom you are going to meet as it will help you connect better

4.       IBA grads talk a bit too much so that’s a little putting off for the interviewee. You should only elaborate on the information asked of you nothing more nothing less that is irrelevant just for the sake of talking and stretching your interview.

 

Mr. Omair Shamsi (Engro.):

Be careful of how you present yourself, you need to sell yourself well because interviewer forms an impression in the first few seconds.

 

Ms. Adeela (Engro. Corp):

1.       Clarity of thought

2.       Do some self analysis before you come for an interview

 

Written feedback received from Guests who had to leave early:-

Fresh graduates must keep the following in mind while going for job interviews:

Ø  Appearance neat and proper

Ø  Spoken English: ability to communicate and present ideas

Ø  Being energetic and enthusiastic in their responses

Ø  Technical knowledge (e.g. can define basic ratios but cannot interpret the same)

Ø  Explain details of their project work

Ø  Display out of the box thinking

Ø  Listen!

Ø  Grammatical errors in spoken English-some speak with American accents!

Ø  Importance of Punctuality

 

Dr. Ishrat Hussain: It is not very easy to get all actors in one room. And try to put yourself in the mirror that they have put before you. Three think-aways:

1. Although national boundaries exist we are moving towards a borderless global village. So we need to equip ourselves with skills necessary in the multi-cultural and multi-ethnic world. Only those who are able to solve problems will be the leaders of tomorrow.

2. It is the acquisition capacity of an individual.

3. The fulcrum of global economic relations is changing. The driver of the world economy will be Asia and the developing countries. We are between two giants- India and China. They are not different in their innate intelligence they are different in their mindsets- positive mindset. And all you get from everywhere is gloom and doom.

 

I would be very proud if IBA graduates are well known for their integrity, values and professionalism.