Hello all,
I want to raise a very relevant topic for discussion today on Cite HR, and I hope you will participate enthusiastically. Please go through it and post your opinion.
Geeta did her MBA from a B-school that was simply AICTE approved and nothing else. Students there were below average, though Geeta was very good. Her educational background: Throughout first divisioner and silver medalist at graduation and post-graduation level (she did her graduation and masters in English literature).
However, after completing her PG, she decided to opt for MBA and having no idea of good colleges (plus fear of parents marrying her off after PG if she did not take up anything new to study) took admission in the first college that sent her an admission letter only to realize that she had been trapped in a below-average grade B-school. But she had already invested 1 lakh by then so couldn't back off.
She worked very hard and got a chance to appear in the selection test of one of the leading MNCs in India after getting a reference from an ex-employee she knew. She topped in that grilling test schedule that continued for 3 months in stages, overtaking even the IIM candidates.
Everything went off smoothly for one year, and then some of her seniors started doubting her potential just because she wasn't from a leading B-school. Her subordinates from premier B-schools were trusted more by the seniors, as a result of which her promotion was affected. Demotivation set in, and her performance started deteriorating.
This is a true story of an employee I know personally.
My question is: how justified it is for HR professionals to just look at the packaging and judge the matter instead of looking inside to see what it contains? I agree that students from leading B-schools are excellent, but at the same time, should there be discrimination in the face of those from non-premier B-schools if they are very promising?
Post your views and also what can be done about it to bring about change in our biased mentality.
From India, Mumbai
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14I want to raise a very relevant topic for discussion today on Cite HR, and I hope you will participate enthusiastically. Please go through it and post your opinion.
Geeta did her MBA from a B-school that was simply AICTE approved and nothing else. Students there were below average, though Geeta was very good. Her educational background: Throughout first divisioner and silver medalist at graduation and post-graduation level (she did her graduation and masters in English literature).
However, after completing her PG, she decided to opt for MBA and having no idea of good colleges (plus fear of parents marrying her off after PG if she did not take up anything new to study) took admission in the first college that sent her an admission letter only to realize that she had been trapped in a below-average grade B-school. But she had already invested 1 lakh by then so couldn't back off.
She worked very hard and got a chance to appear in the selection test of one of the leading MNCs in India after getting a reference from an ex-employee she knew. She topped in that grilling test schedule that continued for 3 months in stages, overtaking even the IIM candidates.
Everything went off smoothly for one year, and then some of her seniors started doubting her potential just because she wasn't from a leading B-school. Her subordinates from premier B-schools were trusted more by the seniors, as a result of which her promotion was affected. Demotivation set in, and her performance started deteriorating.
This is a true story of an employee I know personally.
My question is: how justified it is for HR professionals to just look at the packaging and judge the matter instead of looking inside to see what it contains? I agree that students from leading B-schools are excellent, but at the same time, should there be discrimination in the face of those from non-premier B-schools if they are very promising?
Post your views and also what can be done about it to bring about change in our biased mentality.
From India, Mumbai
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Sad to hear this, but I do agree that these things do take place. Even I have an experience where a candidate got selected just because of attending a good B-school, but that person was not even able to operate computers, had no knowledge, etc.
It's not at all good to select someone on this basis, but it's a sad reality that is taking place all over. I do agree students from B-schools are very good, but others are also very good. It's important to judge someone based on their competencies, skills, and knowledge.
Still, I have hopes. Let's be optimistic. :)
Thanks for bringing up this topic.
From India, Delhi
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It's not at all good to select someone on this basis, but it's a sad reality that is taking place all over. I do agree students from B-schools are very good, but others are also very good. It's important to judge someone based on their competencies, skills, and knowledge.
Still, I have hopes. Let's be optimistic. :)
Thanks for bringing up this topic.
From India, Delhi
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Ya sonali but its not only HR the whole management think like that na...still as HR we can try to change the senario lets see wht say dear :)
From India, Delhi
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From India, Delhi
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Hi Sonali,
This is really shocking for me. How can a leading MNC do this to its employees? I believe jobs/tasks should be allotted based on one's abilities, skills, talents, and knowledge, not on the grounds of the institution they belong to.
For example, Microsoft is an organization that accepts even diploma graduates; they just look for one's skills.
Regards,
Poonam
From India, Bangalore
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This is really shocking for me. How can a leading MNC do this to its employees? I believe jobs/tasks should be allotted based on one's abilities, skills, talents, and knowledge, not on the grounds of the institution they belong to.
For example, Microsoft is an organization that accepts even diploma graduates; they just look for one's skills.
Regards,
Poonam
From India, Bangalore
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Hi Sonal Shree,
This story is heartrending, and I agree that such things do happen. But let's look at it from a positive side. Geeta was not from a good B-school, yet she managed to beat people who are from good B-schools. That proves she is competent, skilled, and knowledgeable than other guys.
In my opinion, she should not feel bad and demotivated for the very fact that she has not grown. I understand that recognition is what every individual needs and wants, but sometimes the management fails to appreciate the employee. I attribute this failure to two things. Firstly, the HR policies are not in place in that particular organization, and according to you, only because of a senior manager, this is happening. But the work she has done in the last three months (a quarter) cannot be undone.
Secondly, talking about the expectations of human beings. One should concentrate on self-improving by upgrading skills. Self-talk can be useful in this case, and stop worrying about growth. It will come to her when she expects the least, which I am sure will be difficult. She needs encouragement, appreciation for the work. If nothing works out, she needs to quit the concern, which is the ultimate decision.
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This story is heartrending, and I agree that such things do happen. But let's look at it from a positive side. Geeta was not from a good B-school, yet she managed to beat people who are from good B-schools. That proves she is competent, skilled, and knowledgeable than other guys.
In my opinion, she should not feel bad and demotivated for the very fact that she has not grown. I understand that recognition is what every individual needs and wants, but sometimes the management fails to appreciate the employee. I attribute this failure to two things. Firstly, the HR policies are not in place in that particular organization, and according to you, only because of a senior manager, this is happening. But the work she has done in the last three months (a quarter) cannot be undone.
Secondly, talking about the expectations of human beings. One should concentrate on self-improving by upgrading skills. Self-talk can be useful in this case, and stop worrying about growth. It will come to her when she expects the least, which I am sure will be difficult. She needs encouragement, appreciation for the work. If nothing works out, she needs to quit the concern, which is the ultimate decision.
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As far as the question of 'how a leading MNC could do this' is concerned, I know one thing: there are still many loopholes even with leading organizations. We have to admit that a brand is what attracts people, but at the same time, discrimination is bad if real talent comes in the way.
From India, Mumbai
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From India, Mumbai
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Hi Rajni. Yes, it's true that the positive aspect cannot be relegated to the background. Geeta managed to be the best, and I think she would have climbed the organizational ladder faster had this B-school factor not come in the way.
From India, Mumbai
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From India, Mumbai
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I agree with what you said. In this competitive world, we give importance to the brand rather than the real worth of the product. That is what happens even with individuals. One cannot survive only with a degree from a business school for long. If they don't prove themselves, the organization will terminate them.
Additionally, organizations have to keep in mind how much they spend on recruitment. They should be careful while hiring people rather than resorting to terminations. Many of us, being part of HR, make the same mistake repeatedly. We talk a lot about competencies and such, but when it comes to recruitment, most of us don't pay attention to anything except filling the position. This trend needs to change, and importance should be given to those who truly deserve it.
From India, New Delhi
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Additionally, organizations have to keep in mind how much they spend on recruitment. They should be careful while hiring people rather than resorting to terminations. Many of us, being part of HR, make the same mistake repeatedly. We talk a lot about competencies and such, but when it comes to recruitment, most of us don't pay attention to anything except filling the position. This trend needs to change, and importance should be given to those who truly deserve it.
From India, New Delhi
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Hi Prathima,
I agree with your view on this when you say it's a mistake of the HR folks. True mapping an employee according to their competency is what is needed. But in this case, the employee was competent enough and she was mapped to the right place. The problem was recognition and appreciation. In my view, the management and the HR policies of the particular company are faulty.
True, many people give importance to brand but not the real worth. An example is if I wear a shirt made by a larger brand like Louis Philippe, people look at me. But if I wear a t-shirt purchased from a pavement, they give you a disgusting look. What they fail to realize is probably both were made on the same loom.
What we take from this is where you are from does not matter but what you have is what matters the most.
Cheers!!
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I agree with your view on this when you say it's a mistake of the HR folks. True mapping an employee according to their competency is what is needed. But in this case, the employee was competent enough and she was mapped to the right place. The problem was recognition and appreciation. In my view, the management and the HR policies of the particular company are faulty.
True, many people give importance to brand but not the real worth. An example is if I wear a shirt made by a larger brand like Louis Philippe, people look at me. But if I wear a t-shirt purchased from a pavement, they give you a disgusting look. What they fail to realize is probably both were made on the same loom.
What we take from this is where you are from does not matter but what you have is what matters the most.
Cheers!!
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Brand is really important. If I say that I need to buy a refrigerator, then I would go for branded ones like Godrej or LG. No matter how much one convinces me to go for a local brand, no matter how good it may be, I will not agree to it.
What do you people have to say about this?
P.S. Do not think that I am against Geeta. In fact, I am just presenting a logic and inviting your views on this.
From India, Mumbai
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What do you people have to say about this?
P.S. Do not think that I am against Geeta. In fact, I am just presenting a logic and inviting your views on this.
From India, Mumbai
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HR-Policy-024 - Employee Recognition Policy - 30-07-2012.docx