- Supporting the youth beyond basics
By Meleeza Rathnayake
With the current pandemic situation, staff retention has been an issue that has been widely discussed. A steady income and a stable employment are what people around the world are striving for. In this backdrop, the youth advocates at the University of Kelaniya have looked beyond the basics to support the growth of the country.
The Professional Development Avenue of the Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya (RACUOK) recently conducted a unique event dubbed “ViewMe” with the goal of re-creating a corporate environment. The event gave undergraduates preparing to enter the vast corporate world with a simulated interview experience. RACUOK aims for innovation in order to provide the greatest potential contribution to society, and “ViewMe” is one such project to assist students who are preparing to enter the business sector.
“The organising team focused on candidates individually, leading and helping them throughout the process, and meticulously collecting cover letters and CVs in order to give a far more realistic and beneficial interview experience. As a result, the approach brought value to the interviews by tailoring each feedback to each particular personality that faced the interview,” said ViewMe Co-Chair Rtr. Rahma Zuhri.
Prior to the interview process, the project consisted of two sessions, performed by business experts to educate participants on the conditions that must be met before facing an interview. Unilever Sri Lanka Senior HR Business Partner – Corporate Functions Keshavi Puswewala, University of Kelaniya Senior Lecturer Dr. Prabhashini Wijewantha, Ruby & Violet Studio Creative Director Ludmila Bopitiya, and AIA Insurance Lanka Life Insurance Specialist Ashane Wàdasinghe led the sessions.
CVs and cover letters were collected from applicants for five employment openings in various fields, after which interviews were held. Professionals conducted the interviews in order to present the applicants with an interview experience via the Zoom platform. Each candidate received descriptive comments on how they performed throughout the interview, highlighting their strengths and areas for improvement.
The event lasted four months, from choosing the organising committee to conducting interviews and gathering participant input, from 7 August to 7 December 2021. Registrations for all undergraduates were open, and essential information and instructions were issued to all universities.
The organising committee focused on applicants individually, directing and supporting them throughout the process, and collected cover letters and CVs systematically in order to provide a much realistic and valuable interview experience. Thus, the process added value further to the interviews, as each feedback was customised according to each individual who faced the interview.
“During the processing of the project ‘ViewMe’, various difficulties arose. One of the biggest issues was that because the candidates were undergraduates from several institutions and had examinations, finding a date that worked for everyone was difficult. However, the organising team recognised the situation and ensured that everyone was allowed to attend the project by responding to the matter in a timely manner. Despite the packed timetable, the committee effectively handled the difficulty, allowing all candidates to participate,” added Rtr. Zuhri.
Facebook: Rotaract Club of University of Kelaniya
Instagram: @racuok
CORRECTION
On the feature that was published on 4 November 2021 on the “Voice Unheard by Meleeza Rathnayake” column, there has been an error made with regard to the supporting organisations on the story “RIC Law Journal 2021”. Please note that RIC Law Journal 2021 is further supported by the Royal Institute of Colombo and its academic and non-academic staff in its laws programme.
