Are Low Grades Impacting Your Placement Offer? BP Biddappa - Executive Director HR | Unilever
The dictionary definition of a grade means a particular level of rank, quality, proficiency, or value. A grade (CGPA) is a parameter to ascertain the “quality” or “proficiency” of a student in a particular subject. Proficiency is ascertained by means of class assessments, project reports, and case studies, examining one's acumen from every possible perspective. That's the whole idea of allocating grades to students.
Many MBAs worry that their Grades pre-MBA or that during MBA will affect their final placements in terms of the recruiter and package of their choosing. Our education system has emphasized a little more than needed on Academics. Our DNA, as a society is hardwired to get good grades!
At the recently concluded IGNITE Pune, a bright-eyed MBA aspirant wanted to know from BP Biddappa, Executive Director HR, Hindustan Unilever Ltd and Vice President HR, South Asia at Unilever; if marks adversely affect the package on offer.
The popularity of this question left Biddappa spellbound. Having this fresh insight into how the current day B-Schooler thinks, he launched into explaining how things have changed over time.
He went on to enlist his own B-School days to show that what happened in the past need not continue to happen today or tomorrow.
HUL recently did an internal study where they found that India has close to 5500 B-Schools which churns out half a million postgraduates entering the Business World. He looked at the audience straight in the eye and said: "You represent the top 1 percent of this group!"
Biddappa reassured them that they, as is have jumped through enough hoops to reach where they are today. Therefore, they should not underestimate the magnanimity of their achievement.
Reiterating himself about the importance of Grades he says that the audience chose to go to TISS or IIM A or whichever Institute they are in today. As opposed to School or College where the family and the society dictates that they should become an engineer or a doctor! The recruiter simply wants to see your agency for that decision and follow through. And good grades are one indicator of this effect.
However, he said: "there are many more such indicators that reflect conscious effort and consistency". Good command over the subject, knowledge of the latest happenings and inferences drawn from these observations reflect conscious effort into the decision you took while joining your Institute. Hence, let your work reflect the curiosity you have for things in the outside world in your field of choice.
Biddappa went on to say that everyone in this room is of a certain caliber. One of his bosses observed that everyone here is triple distilled. From going to the best of Schools to the best of Colleges and now to the most Premier B-Schools.
Now having gotten into these premier B-Schools it helps to have great grades. Yes, it helps. As it goes to show people that you took this seriously and worked towards it, showing consistent excellence. In essence, anybody looking at your CV should see meaningful engagement. This should reflect in the form of good grades or by any other channel.
Kriti Kaur, Employer Brand Manager at Hindustan Unilever Ltd, said that HUL adopts a very holistic approach when it comes to judging how well the student utilized their time. HUL is picking up Leaders from various Campuses, for its Business. Because they are recruiting future CEOs and CXOs. HUL isn’t simply recruiting a scientist who has to perform a systematic task of mapping a Gene.
He says that one should work hard towards getting good Grades. It is great if you have done well in Class 12th. There is a big data analysis that shows that it is a contributing factor. Ultimately this is a pyramid right. You are coming to the top of a set of institutes.
Looking back at the importance of Grades, even when you want to join your DPS, Cathedrals or Bombay Scottish for class 10th to Class 12th, the first thing they ask is previous mark sheets.
Grades, therefore, are not unimportant. Above all, when you get to this stage, there is a lot more stuff that's important. A lot more!