Dr Santrupt B Misra, Director, Group HR & IT Aditya Birla Management Corp

Opportunities in retail
Talking about the professionals in retail industry, only some categories require exclusive retail experienced candidates like merchandising, for others like HRD and finance anyone would fit in. Front line candidates can carry any field experience related to sales and marketing. Meanwhile, for back-end staff including distribution, core knowledge of the retail formats is a must.

At entry level including freshers, prior experience is not given much importance. But for beyond entry level, employers do consider previous work experience as a bonus. It is important to know how relevant is the experience of a candidate and what financial relevance the candidate holds.

At Aditya Birla Group, the criteria of selection of candidates is governed by their attitude to people, initiative, qualification and over all blend and fit to the cultural environment. We set parameters and have psychometric tests and group discussion with the candidates to derive their background details and know their insight. Apart from that, there are summer internships in which candidates are selected from their colleges and given projects to work upon; this gives us an opportunity to assess capability.

Job cuts
Talking about the job cuts by different established companies because of economic slowdown, one needs to understand that there are economic phases when one needs to sacrifice the minority in order to save the majority from suffering. So, nobody enjoys doing it but the concerned company should take these decisions keeping dignity and fairness in mind.

However, it depends on the mindset of the company to cut job actions, otherwise there are other alternative as well to act against the economic crisis. The salaries could be cut, leave without pay can be sanctioned, as these are better alternatives instead of a job cut. These kinds of innovative plans can prevent the present scenario, companies and their employees are facing.

HR training
We may be very enthusiastic with our advertising expenditures but we train the front line staff to maintain a dignified distance from the customer, when they visit the store, as an over-enthusiastic staff can intrude into the privacy of the customer.

(As told to Shailesh Shah)