After completing my M.Com degree and having some startup experiences, I have now started the next phase of my life: professional life. This is the time to put the knowledge gained from education and internships into practice. My first job is at NRSP Microfinance Bank Limited and I believe that this can prove to be the foundation of my professional life. Meeting new people, building professional relationships and working in a new environment is a new chapter for me.
Honestly, the concept of microfinance is completely new to me. I always knew NRSP only as an NGO i.e. National Rural Support Programme. Whenever I tell someone about my job, I have to explain that it is not an NGO but its subsidiary bank which was established last year. Interestingly, during my university days, when I used to travel in the bus, I often saw the building of this bank which has a design similar to the Noor Mahal Palace of Bahawalpur. At that time, I never thought that one day I would be employed here.
The head office environment is obviously a bit stressful and overdue pressure, as is the case in banking, but the learning opportunities are also innumerable. Monitoring all the branches from a head office is a unique experience. One thing that impressed me the most here is the mess system. Whether it is the CEO or a junior employee, everyone stands in the same queue to get food, sits in the same hall to eat and returns the utensils to the same place. Seeing everyone on an equal footing gives a positive impression.
The bank’s training center also deserves a special mention. We visited it during the initial orientation and it is a modern facility spread over three acres. Lush lawns, swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, modern training rooms, dining hall and accommodation facilities for trainees are all there. The relaxed atmosphere is ideal for learning and growth. I wish I could get a permanent placement here.
The experience so far has been very positive and full of learning. This beginning of my professional life feels like a purposeful and promising journey.
