In an exclusive interview with Amrita Das of MBAUniverse.com, Nasha Fitter gives tips on how MBAs can improve language skills, write better CVs, and leave a lasting impression on interviewers. 

The art of communication and presenting oneself before prospective hirers is very important. You might be an all rounder when it comes to academics, but if you fail to impress your interviewer with the right CV and the right words; your knowledge is of no use. For MBAs particularly, communication skills is very important as they are required to go through the GD/PI while chasing their dreams of landing at a leading business school of their choice. Directors, deans and professors of leading business schools, with whom MBAUniverse.com previously spoke with, have reiterated the fact that one of the factors they see in GD/PI is how well a candidate can express himself. 

In an exclusive interview with Amrita Das of MBAUniverse.com, Nasha Fitter, author of the recently released ‘You’re Hired! How to get that job and keep it too’ talks about how important communication skills are for MBAs who want to succeed in today’s business world. Nasha is a teacher, entrepreneur and expert on communications and soft-skills training. She is the founder of Fitter Solutions, a Mumbai-based training firm that has groomed thousands of young Indians for jobs in companies like Wipro, ICICI Bank and Hindustan Lever. An MBA graduate of the Harvard Business School, Nasha has also worked as an investment banker on Wall Street and for an NGO that seeks to narrow the digital divide in India.

Excerpts from the interview by MBAUniverse.com:

Q1. How important is communication in the field of management, according to you?
A. I believe communication is one of the most important skills to have in the field of management. Management is all about convincing, debating with and inspiring people. Regardless if you are communicating with internal colleagues or external partners and customers, being able to speak clearly, articulate well, and connect with people is crucial for success in the business world. 

Q: What are your views on the MBA job market in India?
A: The MBA job market in India is strong, and will continue to get stronger as India evolves into a knowledge based economy. Even in the current global crisis, India is growing. This growth is predominantly fueled by the services sector. Additionally, our domestic services sector – including industries such as retail, mobile services, tourism, financial services and advertising – continue to grow. There are plenty of opportunities for smart MBAs. 

Q: What are the issues faced by a typical Indian MBA when seeking a job?
A: Most Indian MBA’s are technically sound, but fail in basic communication. The areas to focus on are English grammar, pronunciation, intonation, interpersonal skills and overall etiquette. Some things – like dressing well and overall telephone etiquette are easy to learn. Others – like English grammar (fluency), pronunciation and building successful relationships are a little more difficult, and thus more of an effort needs to be placed on these areas. 

Q: What are the common glitches found in applications & CVs? How to improve?
A: For one, the email cover letter which one sends with their CV has to professional. Many HR executives reject candidates just based on how badly the email is written – they don’t even bother to open up the CV! I’ve given detailed steps to follow when writing such a cover letter in my book, but to summarize, every email must have a proper greeting, introduction, reference to the attached CV, reference to following up with the recruiter, and an acceptable salutation. 

Q: How can candidates overcome their spoken English and language problems?
A: I’ve covered all the common spoken English and language issues candidates face in my book ‘You’re Hired!’, and would suggest such a guide to begin the process. Usually, people don’t even realize that many of the things they say are incorrect, and this is what I have attempted to focus on. A trick that I believe works well is to read out-loud. Having the words come out of your mouth is an incredibly powerful way to quickly improve communication skills. And what you choose to read is also very important: while publications like Business Standard and India Today are good, I think young MBAs should also read the International Herald Tribune and the Economist.

Q: How should a laid-off person present oneself before a prospective employer?
A: There is nothing to be embarrassed about if you were laid off. What is important is that you quickly and confidently state the reason, and then focus on the positives. For instance, if you were laid off due to your company downsizing, explain to your employer the situation, say that it was unfortunate, and then quickly shift the conversation to what you learned, how the job fit in your career progression, how you are looking forward to the next opportunity. Always take control of a situation like this and steer the conversation to focus on positive things. 

Q: Tell us about your experience as an Investment Banker at the Wall Street?
A: My experience as an Investment Banker was extremely positive, and served as excellent grounding for me. At a young age, I learned crucial skills like how to work hard and under extreme pressure for long periods of time, how to think analytically, how to speak to CEOs and how to present myself professionally and gain the respect of colleagues, bosses and clients. These skills have served me well since then. 

Q8: How has your life been at the Harvard Business School?
A: The Harvard Business School is an incredible place, and I feel very lucky to have studied there. While I found the case method and having to speak in class on a daily basis to be stressful, these are the skills you need to survive in today’s competitive business world. The higher you go in your career, the more you have to defend your arguments, have insightful ideas, and voice your opinion. These are the skills I believe I learned while at Harvard Business School. Additionally, I was able to form very special bonds with people from all over the world. 

Q: Tell us about your future plans…
A: I am passionate about education. I see too many graduates unable to succeed because they did not receive a good education. My goal is not simply to write books talking about this problem, but actually work to provide solutions. This is what drove me to write my first book – I saw that there were no suitable self-help communication guides in the market, and thus I spent four years writing one. I am also very excited about the work I do at Microsoft – looking at how technology can be used to improve curriculum and learning. I hope to start writing my next book soon!

Q: Any advice for the MBA aspirants and students…
A: Follow your dreams and work hard to achieve them! To me, nothing is more satisfying than doing work I am passionate about. But, it does not come easy. Many people settle in life because they are afraid to work hard for what they want. I think this is unfortunate. My advice for students is to think about the impact you want to have in the world through your work, and then go for it!