Rajeev Kumar Arora graduated from N.S.I.T. way back in 1991, and has risen high to the post of DGM at VSNL. He gives some good advice to those planning to enter the government sector.

1.Please describe in brief your career path leading to your present position?
After Graduation from NSIT (formerly DIT), I did my master of engineering from DCE and subsequently joined Tata Communications (formerly VSNL). There I have tremendous opportunities to work in different functions and across telecom supply value chain.

 2.What are your functions and responsibilities at this position?
I am currently working as GM- Global Network partnerships and am responsible for program management of on-boarding of partner, creating process and people interlocks between Tata Communications and International carrier partner organizations for extending the reach of our enterprise products. My role involves working across cultures, multiple time-domains and substantially exposes me to the work environments and challenges of globally diversified organizations.

3.What is the scope for rise of a good performer other than normal time-bound promotion?
Nothing beats the meritocracy, hard-work and ethical approach at work place. Good performers are rewarded, new work vistas are opened and these will be the first ones to be considered for any new challenging assignments, projects that organization strategize.

4.What would attract freshers to a government job?
I believe this should be job security, followed by pay hike. It depends upon an individual’s preference. Though not hard core engineering but it will substantially involve the rational that you learnt during your college days.

5. What do you do when you are not at work/to escape monotonicity?
Catching up with my family, friends, sometimes long drives, reading and watching movies. I am always at work. :)

6.Does your job profile allow implementation of new, creative ideas?
Yes, it does allow me the creative freedom for experimentation with new ideas and approaches within the ambit of business.

7.Can you justify the importance of networking by relating it to some anecdote of your life?
Networking helps and this is more effective when you have proven your mettle. I lost on my selection to STPI to another candidate whose dad knew the then director of STPI.

8. How common is it for a person to shift from Government to private sector within the first four to five years of his career? You may share an example.
I have seen many people are willing but then when they face the work realities of the private sector, very few actually turn their will into execution.

9. What new skills do you feel a person needs to learn in order to switch from a Govt. company to a private one and vice-versa once you progress a couple of years through your career?
To keep your progressive self always alive: Acquire skills and not procedures. Learn processes and not the activities. On the soft skills: Enhance your interpersonal effectiveness quotient, time management and business acumen.

10. Is it a myth or a reality that public sector people have more time for their families?
Depends how you take it. I believe, as you go higher in the public sector this is a myth, as you work upon assignments requiring you to stretch your work schedules. This is the reality. There is no shortcut to success, growth and sustenance.

11. Please share any additional information.
Learn the tricks and take your field assignments seriously. The environment gives many a new opportunities and has become much more supportive to individual growth.

12. What is your message to the young and creative students in campus?
Your time has come. So just reach out to take those initial strides confidently. There is always a silver lining in the clouds.