‘HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AT WORK’

Dr Saagarika Ghoshal, director, hr, metro cash and carry india

How do you spot and attract talent?

We focus as much on attracting talent from outside the company, as on nurturing talent within the organisation. Besides hiring fresh graduates from management institutes and experienced professionals from the external market, we follow a structured approach to talent management internally, with comprehensive annual talent reviews and succession planning framework at all levels across the organisation

The best way to retain and nurture stars?

I think it’s pretty clear that if an employee brings great value to the business of the organisation, we have to go all the way to provide them with a progressive and nurturing work environment, all the resources they need at their disposal and the opportunity to grow to the best of their capabilities. The key is to let them know where they stand, and how far they can develop their potential within the company. The talented ones make the best of these opportunities

What kind of a workplace environment do you strive to create?

The kind that makes people enjoy coming to work every day! Many factors are important to create such an environment such as transparency, open communication, recognition, team spirit and the chance to grow personally and professionally

Which skill sets are important when hiring for your company?

Most of the learning is done on the job but what you can’t teach someone is the right attitude. While businessrelated qualifications and experience are a given, we look for people who demonstrate extraordinary authenticity, enthusiasm and an entrepreneurial spirit

Do you check a candidate’s social media profile when hiring?

Yes, we do use social media platforms to check on candidates’ profiles before hiring

What’s unique about your appraisal system?

We are extremely proud of the strong work ethic that is imbued in every aspect of our operations, that is rooted in our guiding principles. Our appraisals don’t just focus on routine operational deliverables, but also on how employees incorporate these guiding principles into their everyday functions with integrity, responsibility and sustainability

Are you hiring at the moment?

We hire as and when the business requires new roles to be created or filled. There is no cyclical hiring period

Positions most difficult to fill?

As I mentioned, we focus as much on grooming people internally as hiring from the external market. Generally, for all our critical and niche positions, we focus on keeping an internal pool ready to fill our key positions, especially in the area of strategic sourcing, merchandising and store operations

Best facilities in your organisation?

Our company offers its employees best-in-class training and development opportunities and ample scope for career growth