Experiential Learning + Extracurricular Activities = Employability

"Success doesn't just come and find you, you have to prepare for it and do the work required to reach it."

Experiential Learning + Extracurricular Activities = Employability   

With the days of rote learning behind us, and demand for experiential learning taking precedence, efforts should be put in to create a learning environment focused on problem-solving. 

Skill gap is probably the one biggest problem India is facing today. Through sufficient Training and Development initiatives at the early stage, we can create graduates who are actually job-ready and corporate culture-fit.

According to Barnes & Noble Inc. study, students learn best by doing, while only 12% of them learn through listening. So how can institutions enable this 'learning by doing' experiential methodology in the classroom? 

With the days of rote learning behind us, and demand for experiential learning taking precedence, efforts should be put in to create a learning environment focused on problem-solving. 

If students are studying about the laws of physics, they should also understand the role and impact of these laws on everything around us. The real world is full of challenges that needs quick thinking for solutions. 

We should make Gen Z students understand the real-life application of what they learn in the classroom. Introducing practical projects, real-time assignments, extracurricular activities and online certifications in the curriculum could come in handy for clear articulation of the concept. 

It will help enhance critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills and at the same time, it will create a generation of confident learners who are self-driven, and enablers of their own future. 

These students plan, organize, promote and execute all student events without any external support or assistance.

Kudos to these happy faces! They are members of a well established student group "Clickrrati Literrati" that has been rendering its services to promote literature among student community at DIT University. 

Interestingly, they plan, organize, promote and execute all the events without any external support or assistance. On top of that, they make sure the events run smooth and completely professional. 

If you’ve ever applied to a job, you’ve probably heard of the phrase extracurricular activities as something you MUST include on your resume.

Studies have shown a close relationship between extracurricular activities and overall personality development, that students who participate in them have well rounded personality with enhanced social skills. 

Extracurricular activities not only add more personality to your résumé but it also improve the quality of the student’s overall job application. Finally, one of the greatest advantages extracurricular activities give you are “real world” life skills like goal-setting, teamwork, time management, prioritization, problem-solving, analytical thinking, leadership, public speaking etc. 

Apoorva Garg proved her mettle through thorough preparation and hard work.

Meet Apoorva Garg, who has proven her mettle through thorough preparation and hard work. She developed a balanced mix of KSA (Knowledge, Skills and Attitude) with the help of experiential learning (by attending T&D sessions regularly) coupled with her active participation in various extracurricular activities during her college days. Today, she is working as a Data Researcher in a well reputed organization. 

So go join a student club, start an online certification or volunteer. What are you waiting for?

*If you like this blog post and wish to share your experiences/ remarks/ views with me, you are most welcome to write to me at pdpbygauravmisra@gmail.com. Thanks!

Interview Tips for Freshers

With right guidance along with one's willingness to change oneself for better, anyone can succeed in a P.I.

Interview Tips for Freshers

"Before anything else, preparation is the key to success and real confidence comes from our preparation."

Meet Harshit, a PGDM student who started his journey from a humble student to a trained Marketing professional. I vividly remember his stages of personality-transformation. With right guidance and with his willingness to change himself for better, he recently got selected to start his career with a reputed bank.

Make sure you are properly dressed in formal attire, are well rested and fresh while you appear in the interview.

Here is a brief list of Top 10 Tips to prepare for your next Personal Interview, 

1. Prepare a tailor-made CV and make sure there are no errors.
   
   
2. Brush up your knowledge in your area of expertise.
   
   
3. Research the organization well before your interview and show your genuine interest during the interview.
   
   
4. Plan your answers beforehand, for FAQs (frequently asked questions).
   
   
5. Practice well before you appear in a real time interview.
   
   
6. Make sure you are properly dressed in formal attire, are well rested and fresh while you appear in the interview.
   
   
7. Be confident, polite and calm during the interaction.
   
   
8. Speak clearly and concisely while answering.
   
   
9. Showcase positive body language and maintain eye contact with the interviewer.
   
   
10. Send a follow-up message to thank the interviewer for his/ her time.
    
    

    

    Before anything else, preparation is the key to success and
    real confidence comes from our preparation.

    
    Long story short, “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success and real confidence comes from our preparation.”

*If you like this blog post and wish to share your experiences/ remarks/ views with me, you are most welcome to write to me at pdpbygauravmisra@gmail.com. Thanks!

Holi at University of Montana

At the University of Montana, I helped develop the Hindi program and increased overall student and
faculty interest in Indian culture and society.

Holi at University of Montana 

I vividly remember as I represented India as a cultural ambassador on various occasions like festivals and cultural fairs, and gave guest lectures on campus as well as at several high schools. 

The vibrancy of colors is something that brings in a lot of positivity in our lives and Holi being the festival of colours is actually a festival worth rejoicing. 

Although Fulbright Commission designated me as a Foreign Language teacher for my American students at the University of Montana I helped develop the Hindi program and increased overall student and faculty interest in Indian culture and society. 

These pictures remind me of beautiful memories of Holi celebration with my American students.

I vividly remember as I represented India as a cultural ambassador on various occasions like festivals and cultural fairs, and gave guest lectures on campus as well as at several high schools. 

These pictures remind me of beautiful memories of Holi celebration with my American students and how they thoroughly enjoyed themselves being drenched in colors.

Received this reply, after I thanked to one of my U.S. friends for joining our 'mini Holi celebration'.

For more pictures and video, please visit the following links, 

Elementary Hindi class celebrates 

Holi

#HappyHoli 

*If you like this blog post and wish to share your experiences/ remarks/ views with me, you are most welcome to write to me at pdpbygauravmisra@gmail.com. Thanks!

How to Communicate Professionally through Social Networking Sites?

More than 90% of hiring managers & recruiters use social network sites to screen candidates.

How to Communicate Professionally 

through Social Networking Sites?

Around 69% rejected the applicants on the basis of the content found on their online profile. 

According to a survey by Reppler.com, more than 90% of hiring managers & recruiters use social network sites to screen candidates and around 69% rejected the applicants on the basis of the content found on their online profile.

Here are 10 quick suggestions to communicate professionally through social networking sites, 

1. What is there on the web stays on the web. Never post any ill-natured content. 

2. Before you post, tweet, or share anything, think about how others might interpret it – will it be perceived as insightful and informative? 

3. Keep private conversations strictly private. It's better to have a different profile or account for your personal connections. 

4. Check the words you use most often - Do you want to relate your personality with these words?  

Before you post, tweet, or share anything, think about how others might interpret it.

5. Compose your posts, updates or tweets in a word processing document so you can check grammar and spelling before you send them. 

6. Check which pages you associate yourself with on social networking websites. 

7. Join groups which will add different dimensions to your online personality. 

8. Build your credibility - Ask your seniors and previous employers for recommendations. 

9. Always give true details about your professional credentials. 

10. Always keep your profile updated. 

Wish you a healthy social networking :) 

*If you like this blog post and wish to share your experiences/ remarks/ views with me, you are most welcome to write to me at pdpbygauravmisra@gmail.com. Thanks!

Are You Afraid of Speaking in Public?

My life's first formal presentation was a disaster as I used to have serious speech anxiety (Glossophobia).

Are You Afraid of Speaking in Public?

Truth be told, when I look back, I must acknowledge that my life's first formal presentation was a disaster as I used to have serious speech anxiety (Glossophobia). Overtime with practice and patience, public speaking became not only my passion but my profession too.

Recently, I addressed an august gathering of more than 1,600 school teachers. It was an absolute honor to be the Keynote Speaker on the occasion of 'Shikshak Samman Samaroh' at Swami Vivekanand Subharti University. Truth be told, when I look back, I must acknowledge that my life's first formal presentation was a disaster as I used to have serious speech anxiety (Glossophobia). Overtime with practice and patience, public speaking became not only my passion but my profession too.

Glossophobia or speech anxiety is a form of social anxiety disorder (SAD).

Glossophobia or speech anxiety is the fear of public speaking. It is a form of social anxiety disorder (SAD). The word 'Glossophobia' derives from the Greek word glōssa, meaning tongue, and phobos, meaning fear or dread. The aspect of speaking publicly whether it be in front of a group of unknown people, or a close group of friends, is what triggers the anxiety for the speaker. A recent study reports that appropriate training and able guidance can help students in improving their public speaking skills drastically.

Today, Simran is a super-confident working professional with zero stage fear and loads of zeal as a public speaker.

Meet Simran Sethi, who started her journey like any other individual with fear of public speaking. I still remember her first presentation, where she tried her best but didn't seem much satisfied with her performance. She took the feedback seriously, followed the suggestions rigorously, worked genuinely on her presentation skills and left no stone unturned to become better as a presenter. Today, she is a super-confident working professional with zero stage fear and loads of zeal as a public speaker. 

Here is a brief list of Top ten don'ts, one should remember as a public speaker, 

1. Don’t use jargon, slang and superfluous words. 

2. Don’t forget to smile. 

3. Don’t speak in monotone. 

4. Don’t talk to the screen or wall. 

5. Don’t forget to show your enthusiasm while you speak. 

6. Don’t look at your feet or at the ceiling (indication of nervousness or timidity). 

7. Don’t go too fast or too slow. 

8. Don’t use jokes unless they are really funny and relevant. 

9. Don’t read or “parrot” the slides. 

10. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know” to a question asked. 

"We grow fearless by walking into our fears."

And also don't forget, "We grow fearless by walking into our fears." 

Good Luck!

*If you like this blog post and wish to share your experiences/ remarks/ views with me, you are most welcome to write to me at pdpbygauravmisra@gmail.com. Thanks!

Let's Respect Their Efforts too!

Thanks to Mamta for her services that she has been rendering with utmost perfection.

Let's Respect Their Efforts too!

Every morning, we come to our office that looks spick and span. Thanks to her services that she has been rendering with utmost perfection.

Meet Mamta (lady in the middle)! A shy but hard working lady who silently comes to our office, cleans the floor, picks up dust & debris, thoroughly cleans with wet mops, gathers and empties the trash on daily basis without fail. She performs all these tasks (and others) with utmost dedication and never fails to impress us with her perfect housekeeping skills. She is courteous and always responds with a smile on her face. Every morning, we come to our office that looks spick and span. Thanks to her services that she has been rendering with utmost perfection. Today, we gave her a little surprise. We thanked her for all her services, appreciated her contributions with a small reward as a token of regards. Her unfailing smile along with a gleam in her eyes was an expression, that all such unknown workers deserve, who work in our offices silently but diligently. Let's appreciate, recognize and thank those too, who are not much in the limelight but their contributions help us to perform our best at work. hashtag#HappyWomensDay

*If you like this blog post and wish to share your experiences/ remarks/ views with me, you are most welcome to write to me at pdpbygauravmisra@gmail.com. Thanks!

How to Crack a GD (Group Discussion)

GD is one of the ways to test problem solving skills, team coordination, leadership role,
initiative taking ability, boardroom behavior, corporate culture fitness etc.

How to Crack a GD (Group Discussion)

GD is one of the ways to test problem solving skills, team coordination, leadership role, initiative taking ability, boardroom behavior, corporate culture fitness etc. Here is a brief list of Top 10 suggestions to crack the GD round.

For companies like L&T, HCL and Deloitte, Group Discussion forms an important part of their selection procedure. GD is one of the ways to test problem solving skills, team coordination, leadership role, initiative taking ability, boardroom behavior, corporate culture fitness etc. among the candidates who participate in the group discussion. If you look ahead and imagine the corporate role, an employee has to have all these skills and should be able to exhibit when required.

Here is a brief list of Top 10 suggestions to crack the GD round,

1. Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is always helpful.

2. If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later. Take time to organize your thoughts. Think of what you are going to say.

3. A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal. The moderator wants to hear you speak. Work out various strategies to help you make an entry: initiate the discussion or appreciate someone's point and then move onto express your views. Remember, a GD is a formal occasion where slang is to be avoided. Language used should be simple, direct and straight forward.

4. A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to express their viewpoints. Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short.

5. Always be polite: Try to avoid using extreme phrases like: “I strongly object” or “I totally disagree” or “How can you say that?”. Instead try phrases like: “I would like to share my views on…” or “One difference between your point and mine…” or "I intend to differ with you"

If you have a group of like-minded friends or fellow learners, you can have mock group discussions
so as to learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback.

6. Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint, speak of you positively.

7. Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.

8. Brush up on your leadership skills; motivate the other members of the team to speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to say "let us hear what Kiran has to say," or "Raghu, let us hear your views" - Essentially be subtle), and listen to their views. Be receptive to others' opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive.

9. Apart from the above points, the panel will also judge team members for their alertness and presence of mind, problem-solving abilities, ability to work as a team without alienating certain members, and creativity.

10. If you have a group of like-minded friends or fellow learners, you can have mock group discussions on Frequently Asked GD Topics so as to learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback.

Wish you a successful Campus Placement ahead!

Wish you a successful Campus Placement ahead!

*If you like this blog post and wish to share your experiences/ remarks/ views with me, you are most welcome to write to me at pdpbygauravmisra@gmail.com. Thanks!