Aminath Guraisha is a second-year student in Villa College, undertaking her Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Human Resource Management. She is a member of the Student’s Association at the College, where she holds the position of the Social and Cultural Secretary.
What attracted you to HR? Why are you studying it?
At a very young age, in grade 8, I was in Science Stream. I took Travel & Tourism as an Optional Subject. Although it was basically about the tourism industry, one of the topics the subject covered was Human Resource Management. That’s when I first got interested. I felt that this was something that I could do, and something that I could be passionate about. The prospect of being able to work and meet different types of people attracted me to HRM.
I am studying HRM, because I would like to learn how to handle the challenges it comes with and to be able to implement the knowledge I will gain through my studies. Anyone with the basic skills of managing could be successful, but studying is important, because there will be situations where theories should be applied and where you cannot simply rely on skills and experiences alone.
What aspects of HR do you hope to specialize in upon graduation?
I haven’t started working in any HR related jobs yet, so I’m not entirely sure which aspect of HR I would like to specialize in. Although in the Maldives, Tourism is one of the major industries and there is a lot of area to grow along with, that’s where I would like to apply my HR knowledge. Although, there are courses that specialize on HR in the Tourism Industry, I wouldn’t say studying Business and HRM stops me from pursuing a career in the Tourism Industry of Maldives.
The top three things you want from your HR Career?
Firstly, I want to apply the knowledge I have learned throughout this course and implement it properly to become successful in HRM. Secondly, I would like to be able to effectively understand the needs of team and the company to help both achieve their targets. Lastly, I would like to break the stereotype, that women cannot be successful in managerial positions and be good at what they do.
What challenges do you forestall?
One of the challenges that I would go before is that managing different types of people with different attitudes. Having to understand each one of their individual needs, not only at a professional level, but to understand their social and personal goals to a certain extent, would be challenging. Since HR is all about building co-operation and managing the teams within the organizations structure to ensure that the company can flourish and expand. This can be done to a large extent, by understanding your employees, and working within the HR department, to ensure that their needs and goals are met. Personally, working to understand their needs at a social level would be challenging for me, though I hope, with experience, it will become second nature.
Your HR career five years from now?
I hope to go further in the field, after finishing my studies and gaining enough experience. Five years from now… I hope to be at the top, or at least making my way towards presumably an HR Manager, working for one of the major companies in the Maldives. Being interested in the Tourism Industry, I would like to grow my career within the parameters of that industry and work with their HR team to reach my goals. I would also like to believe that I reached this goal, not only by being a manager, but by being a successful one.
What hobbies do you have?
I have several hobbies; from spending my time reading stories books, to playing sports like handball. One thing that I cannot live without, is dancing. That’s usually how I spend my free time and wind down after a hectic day.
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