HYDERABAD: Perturbed by the discernible lack of employability and soft skills, Vijay Bhasker Pentareddy has been been training MBA students, graduates and IT professionals in job skills since 2009. Over the years, his institute, Last Mile Finishing School, has helped over 4,500 students, mostly from poor backgrounds, to better their communication skills and personality and thus, secure jobs.
Vijay also runs a Facebook group called Kaizen which has over 25,000 members. Unable to secure jobs, many of these students were lost and even suicidal, until they came under Vijay’s tutelage.
Happy to have “proved that all students are employable if one spends enough time with them and gives them proper guidance,” the skill trainer had another proud moment when he was conferred the Karamveer Chakra and the REX Karamveer Global Fellowship, at the fourth edition of the iCONGO’s REX Conclive on November 27, in Gurugram.
“This recognition is like a pat on the back that you are doing a good job. Especially for someone like me who has limited means, this award has brought international acclaim to the kind of work I do,” says an elated Vijay.
The social entrepreneur may have one of the 100 recipients of the award this year--one that puts him in the league of Amala Akkineni, Akhil Akkineni and Pullela Gopichand, the others winners of this award from the city--he sees it as a whole lot of responsibility to do his work even better.
From the training centre in the cellar of his house to a successful startup entrepreneur, Vijay has never shied away from his social responsibility. Kaizen, where information about job opportunities from different sources, videos on interview techniques and counselling is collected and collated for the benefit of those who cannot pay for such services at consultancies, is his way for giving back to the society.
“Nearly 70-80 per cent of those who have benefited from Kaizen are from rural areas,” shares the 47-year-old adding that he aims to continue doing the same work so long as he is able to inspire youngsters. Many of these will also feature in his book that is already underway and currently untitled.
While Last Mile Finishing School and Kaizen focus on improving the employability of MBA graduates, Vijay has a whole slew of plans to improve the education and employment scenario in the country.
“I plan to create a data-driven platform for counselling and career choices for class 10 and intermediate students. Besides MBA graduates, I also want to impart training to corporates, with focus on freshers, most of whom may not have the required skill set for his job profile,” he shares.
Additionally, Vijay also has plans of making Last Mile Finishing School pan India.