Tell us a little about your education background?
I did undergrads from Islamic University of Technology majoring in Mechanical Engineering, before which I did my O’ and A’ Levels from the Aga Khan School, Dhaka.
What was your first job after graduation?
My first job was as a Management Trainee in British American Tobacco, Bangladesh (BAT).
How did you get the job?
BAT hosted a workshop in IUT; I dropped my resume there and received a call back. What was to follow was a month of long, exhilarating interviews and assessments! The assessment center, in particular, was the most challenging aspect of the recruitment process, for it wears you down both mentally and physically.
It’s a daylong session, debating on business models with strangers in a locked room surrounded by top business managers from BAT; their intimidating questions did little to calm the situation. The best part of this is you figure out your strengths and weakness if you don’t know them already. After the assessment, a final interview follows with the head of Supply Chain and Human Resources, which was like a walk in the park after the assessment.
What was your biggest accomplishment in that position?
For me, overcoming the biggest personal challenge was my biggest accomplishment and that would be shop floor people management. The beauty of BAT manufacturing is that it provides the opportunity for young individuals to come in and work directly with the shop floor employees, hand in hand. Now understanding them, talking to them about their problems or breaking a meal with them to get desired production level was very fulfilling for me as a human being.
Looking back, what is the most valuable lesson you picked up from your first job?
My valuable lesson from my first job was to stand up firmly for what I believe in and to do things with an open mind.
Did your first job change your mind about what you wanted to do with the rest of your career?
Yes! It convinced me to pursue a career in Supply Chain Management.
Who inspired you the most in your first job?
The list would be quite long! At BAT, there is a saying ‘Bring Your Difference’ and that’s what everybody does, everyday! No matter what the job description is, everybody strives to add value to the organisation and the sheer amount of dedication and ownership of work is fantastic.
