So what does it take to become a successful HR professional? Are there any particular skills and qualities you need to embody to be at the top of your game in the field? What is the industry looking for from HR managers of tomorrow? These and some other relevant questions were answered for the benefit of students by experts in the field at the “Attracting and Retaining Millennials: Opportunities & Challenges” themed HR Summit organized by Jaipuria, Lucknow.

While the leading names enlightened the audience with different perspectives on the topic of the summit, they also took time to answer questions that could offer valuable insight to the students. Mr. Sumant Pai, Head (HR), Yash Papers Ltd summed up the experience for the speakers at the summit when he said, “It was a highly knowledgeable crowd and there was healthy interaction from both sides of the stage. The motive of the summit was to direct the force of generation Y towards a prosperous future and I think we managed to do that.”

One of the speakers for the day was Ms. Debyani Sinha, an alumnus of the institute and the DGM (HR), NEC Technologies India Ltd. She drew comparisons between the present day environment and the days when she was a student: “I see a sea change here and that is good news for all of you. I feel there are tremendous opportunities ahead of you and it’s good to see that culture of change as compared to the times when I was a student here.” She further urged students to have a positive attitude, be open to learning and make sure they are presentable and well mannered.

Mr. Prashant Srivastava, Head (HR), Orient Electric, CK Birla Group Co., is a renowned name in the industry and understands how the corporate world functions. When asked about the qualities recruiters look for in candidates, he replied, “Firstly, you should have a strong understanding of your concepts. You also need to be open-minded and have an opinion on any subject that you are not scared to express.” Mr. Harshit Malviya, Regional Head – HR, Mahindra Finance elaborated on the subject: “I want my candidates to be witty. They should be aware of the basics and adaptable to work in different environments.”

Mr. Chandra Shekhar, Zonal HR Head – North, Ultra Tech Cement, focused on the seriousness of the candidates and their knowledge: “I like them to have substance besides being able to present themselves well. Their exposure to the corporate world through interactions with professionals also helps.” Now that’s something this HR summit and several other initiatives taken on by the institute have managed to achieve. The professionals present on the day also offered students advice on how to further their careers after gaining a foothold in the industry.

The leading names from the industry thus offered a peek into the corporate world for students who went back home knowing more about the field. The engaging session also served as an inspiration for those interested in making a career in HR.