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Make Students Placement Ready

Dr. Karthikeyan Balakumar, Chairperson of Placements at IIM Sirmaur, led a workshop advocating open communication and technology utilization for better placement outcomes. He emphasized maintaining strong industry relationships, streamlining recruitment processes, and fostering two-way communication. Dr. Balakumar's background in sales and a Ph.D. in Marketing from IIM Calcutta underpin his expertise in retailing and channel management.

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Dr. Karthikeyan Balakumar, Chairperson- Placements, IIM Sirmaur led a workshop for placement officers, on strategies for ensuring students' successful placements. He advocated for open communication through regular batch meetings, & discussions on the prevailing job market conditions. Additionally, he stressed the utilization of technology and data to enhance placement outcomes. This involved maintaining records on the college's rapport with various companies and facilitating informed decisions for future batches. Furthermore, Karthikeyan highlighted the significance of having good relationships with organizations & assigning a single point of contact for each company, promoting trust and reliability.

Noteworthy Insights

During this workshop, Dr. Karthikeyan highlighted several crucial insights aimed at enhancing the recruitment experience for firms and fostering better communication between educational institutes and industries. He emphasized the need to streamline the recruitment process by identifying students genuinely interested in specific profiles, thus ensuring a seamless experience for both parties involved. Moreover, he advocated for the provision of feedback at both program and admission levels, promoting transparency and improvement. He urged for a shift towards a two-way communication model, where institutes understand the perspectives of industries and vice versa, fostering a relationship of equals. Importantly, he stressed that a one-size-fits-all policy is suboptimal, underscoring the necessity for tailored approaches to meet the diverse needs of both students and employers in the ever-evolving job market.

About The Speaker

Dr. Karthikeyan Balakumar is the Chairperson for Placements and Career Development at IIM Sirmaur. He earned his PGDM with a Gold Medal from IIM Tiruchirappalli and later worked in channel sales for TTK Prestige. He holds a PhD in Marketing from IIM Calcutta, focusing on retail channel strategies. Dr. Balakumar has received grants and published in reputable journals like the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. He regularly contributes to his website drkb.in and is interested in retailing, channel management, sales management, and public policy. He is also an Assistant Professor at IIM Sirmaur specializing in Marketing.

Edited by

Tanvi Ghildiyal