BANGALORE: While most of his peers are doing nine-to-five jobs or running their own businesses, this young college graduate enthusiastically works to give opportunities to college students — opportunities that didn’t come easy to him during his years as a student. Whether he is organising fests or giving internships, Nouman Khan — all of 21 — feels that guiding the youth to a better professional life is the best job that he can ever think of for himself.
His first experience of being an organiser was as the cultural president of Presidency College. “This was how I learnt to conduct myself in a professional set up — finding sponsors, speaking to officials and celebrities,” says Nouman whose college began winning overall trophies in college fests under his leadership.
A familiar sight at personality contests during his college life, Nouman admits cheerily, “I have no talent whatsoever; I cannot sing or dance or dabble with any instrument.” And on a serious note, he adds, “But I do believe that connecting with people is my talent.”
Currently working at Letsintern — a youth oriented organisation, first of its kind, that provides a free portal for students to find internships with leading firms— Nouman heads the organisation’s campaign called ‘Start-young’ which defines his work for the youth. “This campaign is to motivate students during their college days so that they learn to be professional and hence become doubly employable after graduating,” he explains.
Greatly concerned about the lack of professional decorum among the majority of college kids, Nouman feels that students should be guided right from the simplest tasks. “A single unprofessional email to a potential employer could completely deflate one’s chances of getting a good job. Students should be made aware of the importance of good communication skills,” he says.
Preceded by his father who has been running a business for over 35 years, Nouman admits that what he does is often mistaken for a streak of rebellion at home.
“I was placed in IBM, fresh out of college but instead, I chose to work with a start-up company that would help me connect and work with the youth. But I’m doing what I love; the best rewards are those which others cannot see,” he says.
Invited as a judge for marketing fests in 16 colleges just over the last six months, Nouman has also discoursed on personality building and career guidance as a chief guest and guest lecturer in three institutions – Jyothi Nivas College, Mount Carmel College and KLE Law College.
Although his biggest feat, feels Nouman, was organising India Fest this year as head of the south zone. “Letsintern has been organising the fest for the past three years and it was a wonderful platform to connect with some of the most talented youth in the country,” he says.
And what comes next is a lot of brain-storming, feels Nouman. “I have a lot of ideas that I need to narrow down to turn them into platforms for the youth,” he says.
These platforms include a website through which students can connect with him for free career guidance and counselling, and also pages on Facebook and other youth frequented social networking sites.
“Make professional mistakes as early in life as you can so that later you know exactly what you are doing,” says Nouman.