Students’ Speak: Why internship is relevant in Human Resources

By: Shalini Mitra

Internships play a very decisive role for management graduates and more importantly, for those with specialization in Human Resources. Shalini Mitra reflects on how internships offer insight into the practical application of classroom learning and insight into the latest industry trends.

As a student of a B-school with a specialization in Human Resources, I genuinely feel that an internship is an important component of the course curriculum. Being a fresher, it was very important for me and for that matter any of my classmates get corporate exposure in this domain because we need to understand the practical applications of the course. The internship made me realize how a company works and how they incorporate the new trends which gaining prominence in the industry.

For the HR domain, there are several projects which can prove to be beneficial from the placement perspective. Projects in areas such as Learning and Development, Compensation and Benefits, Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement are very useful because the companies that visit the campus for final placements offer jobs in these domains only. Prior experience is always preferred because the recruiters will look for candidates who have both prior theoretical knowledge and its practical application.

In general, there are many ways in a B-school where a student can gain some useful insights that will help them during placements. Events like BTL (Business Thought Leadership) is one such avenue where a student can gain a lot of knowledge. In the event, a corporate leader from a reputed firm comes for a talk session which usually lasts for two hours. The speaker generally speaks on a topic that is very industry-relevant and that offers a perspective of how things usually work in the corporate world.

A three-day management conclave called CONVENTUS is also organized where speakers from across industries visit the campus and have an insightful discussion on a topic like Industry 4.0. These events are a great way for a student to get information about the latest trends in corporate space. Eventually, this information is very helpful for anybody sitting for the placements. Mock interviews are also conducted by the college just days before the placement season and the alumni take the interviews so that the students are apprised of their preparation level and are fully prepared for placements. The college gives many opportunities for students to get themselves well equipped and it depends on the individual on how to utilize these opportunities to the fullest.

IMI, New Delhi takes pride in the fact that well-known brands visit the campus during the placement season and the placement activity happens on-campus only. If a student wishes to opt-out of placements then they can simply do so but no off-campus placement assistance is provided.

About the Author:

Shalini Mitra is a second-year PGDM - HRM Student at International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi. She has also been working as a student coordinator at Admissions committee, IMI New Delhi. She has a diverse work experience and has always been the front-runner in all her endeavors.