During my second year undergraduate management programme at Xavier University, Bhubaneshwar, interning was mandatory. I got lucky with an opportunity to interview at Future Generali General Insurance in Mumbai.
The selection process involved a resume screening followed by a telephonic interview. It was a short interview with questions related to the courses I had covered in the previous semester, and my area of interest in human resources. I was looking forward to working on recruitment and selection since I already had a fair knowledge of it and a practical exposure would have enhanced it. However, they had an upcoming project on onboarding and wanted me to work on it with other HR managers. Subsequently, I was offered me an internship for two months.
I was assigned two projects — implementation of a new onboarding policy and developing a job description for off roll employees.
The onboarding policy intended to make the work environment friendlier and less hectic. To do so, two additions — buddy allotment and customer-centric experience — were made to the existing policy. Under the former, new recruits were introduced to a co-worker to facilitate their job, and the latter required them to work with a seasoned employee from another department and observe the working.
Hands-on experience
I worked closely with the assistant manager, HR, on the onboarding policy. I would confirm the joining date of new recruits and take care of their joining formalities — verification of documents, running a background check, and introducing them to their managers. This, not only helped me experience the responsibilities of an HR, but also made me realise the vitality of those tasks. After few weeks of their joining, I would record their onboarding experience and suggestions.
I prepared job descriptions for off-roll employees, who are hired through consultants, which required me to interact with respective managers to understand all job-related details along with qualifications, key skills, and competencies that the applicants for those roles should have. Initially, I found it overwhelming to communicate with senior managers, but with time, I developed my communication skills. I also learnt to keep calm in every situation.
I took on a bunch of other responsibilities too such as making a presentation on employee activities and coordinating with other branches of the company in Maharashtra to organise International Blood Donor Day and International Yoga Day. Afterwards, I made a report on these activities. This helped me understand the work culture in detail and boosted my confidence.
Sanskrita Patnaik is currently working as an HR associate at VICE Media.
Courtesy: Internshala.com
