Editor’s Note
Monalisa Behera, MBA (Global), Batch 2023-25, Globsyn Business School, talks about her Summer Internship Experience at MOL Information Technology India Pvt. Ltd., which not only boosted her understanding of and confidence to succeed in the corporate world, but also offered her with the necessary experience, skills, and resources for navigating the ever-evolving marketplace.
My journey on how I landed as an intern at MOL Information Technology India Pvt. Ltd. was rather prosaic but still extravagant for me. This internship was provided by the college, Globsyn Business School located in Kolkata, West Bengal, where I had enrolled myself into a full-time 2-year MBA (Global) Programme, taking HR as my specialization.
I still remember, during the 2nd semester, with each day passing by how impatient and hopeless I was getting. All my friends were placed in good and reputed organizations for SIP 2023-25. I felt like a loser, but still had faith in the teachings and learnings given by my professors and my parents, believing in my capabilities and my God, that I would be getting an opportunity to showcase my achievements and work with an organization that would value for the same.
Trust Yourself When the Path Is Unsure
And one fine day, I got a notification that my CV was shortlisted for an interview with MOL-IT Pvt Ltd. My excitement was out of the world. The very next step I had to focus on, was the walk-in interview round.
It was the day of the interview, and I reached the Company Office 1 hour early so that I could get comfortable with the environment. We had a total of 3 rounds of interviews in two alternate days. Moreover, the 3rd round was almost like a surprise for me, those who were shortlisted from the 2nd round. I left no stone unturned for the same.
That day itself, we got the feedback from the company’s side, and guess what? I did prepare and ace the interviews. I was selected as an HR intern for the Summer Internship Program. It was by far the best day of my life as I had achieved the thing, I was working hard for every single day. But that wasn’t all, as now I have to work more on my personal development, up-skilling, and self-grooming, in order to match the industry standards.
2nd May 2024, Day 1 of SIP as HR Intern in MOL-IT. I still remember, how nervous and clueless I was about what was going to be. Tons of questions were coming to my mind about the company, work culture, people, what kind of work I would be assigned to do, etc.
After reaching the company, we had our onboarding, we were also assigned the laptops and some assets. after that, we were introduced to the team and also shown our workplaces. We were also provided with a welcome lunch. Then, I was introduced to my mentor, Ms. Shabnam Akhtar (Sr. Associate HR), and Mr. Shuvo Das(Associate HR), to whom I will be reporting.
Every member, in fact, the whole office was so courteous and decorous. Next, I will be talking about my learnings and some key takeaways.
WEEK 1-4:
Accepting New Challenges:
I was just getting comfortable with the new place and people, when my mentor came and, on the very first day, I was assigned the task of screening the CVs for a profile, I had no idea about that profile. Of course, my mentor helped me a lot in order to understand the new profile and its requirements. I also did some research from my end to get a better understanding and clarity.
Take One Step at a Time:
This one tip was life-changing for me. Earlier I used to make a whole map of things that I have to do in order to achieve a particular goal. I realized this after my mentors advised me how wrong was my approach. It was they who taught me that you have to make consistent efforts and take small manageable steps. By embracing the journey and staying focused on the present moment, we can overcome any obstacle very easily and effortlessly. “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”
Two Most Powerful Warriors- Patience & Time:
“Patience is not the ability to wait, but how you act while you’re waiting.” It is very easy to lose patience for a particular thing but being able to manage it with time is the greatest power one can hold. By applying this learning, one can use time productively, and remain positive even when certain aspirations take longer to materialize.
Be Composed and Approachable:
HR professionals need to be composed in various ways depending on the size and demand of the situation. It is the responsibility of the HR department to make sure that everybody in the organization feels comfortable and confidently seeks assistance, and shares concerns. There must be open-door policies, regular check-ins, timely responses to queries, and most importantly- Feedback from each and every person.
Ethics and Data Privacy:
Balancing the need for privacy with the business requirements of HR Data Analytics can be a complex task. Striving for transparency, fairness, data security, and employee autonomy will contribute to a culture of responsible data management.
WEEKS 5-10:
Being Analytical and Data-Driven:
Skills related to data-driven working and analytics have emerged rapidly in the last five years. HR professionals must learn to leverage the power of data analytics to make better, evidence-based decisions. This also includes the ability to understand key HR metrics, such as employee turnover, absenteeism, and retention. it also involves the use of complex predictive analytics on HR data
Be Progressive and Tech Savvy:
One needs to embrace technology with upcoming HRMS like Darwin Box and implement Al-driven tools for repetitive and time-consuming day-to-day activities. Moreover, one needs to stay updated with the dynamic changing trends, HR trends, and technology.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills:
HR professionals frequently make decisions that impact both the employees and the organization as a whole. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills both align in ensuring that the decisions that are made, have a whole lot of analysis and evidence-based rather than assumptions. It involves managing the most complex issues in a systematic way and providing the same results that fulfill the organization’s objectives.
Wellbeing Evangelism:
HR professionals have a crucial role to play in ensuring that the employees are happy, healthy, and productive. Workplace stress adversely affects productivity and drives up employee turnover. But if the company supports wellbeing initiatives, the organization as a whole becomes a better place to work and the overall productivity is also increased. During my internship period, I have witnessed how the company invests in the well-being of employees both mentally and physically, through yoga sessions, gatherings and get-togethers, team lunches etc.
Negotiation Skills:
Mastering negotiation skills is also one such essential skill to have for HR professionals. It can secure top talents, maintain positive client relationships, and help drive business growth.
Managerial Priorities:
Being able to manage conflicting ideas and priorities across stakeholders and understand the complexities helps one avoid project pitfalls and get the information and support one needs to make a successful project. It involves navigating both stakeholders’ and vendor parties’ requirements.
Key Takeaways
Networking and Effective Communication:
Networking is a critical aspect of building and maintaining HR connections. By doing so, HR professionals can expand their knowledge, career opportunities, and influence within their organization.
A person can manage humans without interacting with them, and the key to effective interaction is communication both verbal and non-verbal.
Active Listening:
Active listening goes hand in hand with empathy. In a corporate setting, empathy is the ability to see situations from the perspective of all stakeholders, which includes internal employees, stakeholders, the communities, and even the environment. Without active listening skills, navigating sensitive matters will become more challenging.
Learn, Unlearn, Relearn:
The process of learning, unlearning, and relearning is an essential aspect of personal growth and development. This process is vital nowadays for individuals who want to enhance their knowledge, improve their skills, and adapt to new circumstances. As the world is rapidly undergoing changes, and new concepts are emerging, it is very important to apply learn, unlearn, and relearn which will be important in the workplace and in life too.
Integrating Cultural Differences:
In larger multinational companies, cultural awareness and sensitivity are a must. One needs to be aware of the intercultural differences, as, these differences impact how we hire, retain, evaluate, and promote people and navigate employee relations.
Know Your Worth, Work Hard, and Stay Motivated:
Believe it or not, “Consistency is the Key”. One should be aware of what he/she deserves and has to work hard in order to achieve it. Self-confidence is the best outfit one can carry. Success starts with self-belief-remember that.
Being Honest to Your Work:
It’s very important to be honest about your work, and areas in which you can improve, then only one can have the hunger to create more better work. Be honest with your work, with your job, with your employer, and most importantly, be honest with yourself.
Don’t Overstress Yourself:
You have to deal with every situation with a calm peaceful mindset. Nothing is permanent, so don’t stress yourself too much because no matter how bad the situation is, it will change.
Wrapping Up
Just like any other good thing in life, my journey as an HR Intern in MOL-IT also came to an end. I learnt a ton of things and made so many meaningful connections over there. In these few weeks, I also felt like an employee and part of the MOL family. It was all because the team never made me feel like an outsider. I was involved in every fun session too.
I would also like to take a moment to show gratitude to my College mentor, Dr. (Prof.) Debaprasad Chattopadhyay, who was always there holding me back throughout this internship program. It was his generosity that he allowed us to reach him, whenever we had a confusion, even the silliest one.
All of them had equal contributions in making my internship successful.
Monalisa Behera
MBA (Global)
Batch 2023–25
Globsyn Business School