“I’m used to challenges and I face them with gusto all the time,” gushed Preeti Bhatia, regional HR advisor at Eaton Corporation, making a clean sweep in the air with her hands.
We were sitting in the tastefully-furnished offices of Eaton Corporation – formerly Cooper Industries – on a hot Thursday afternoon. The two companies integrated in December 2012, making Eaton Corporation PLC a premier and diversified global manufacturer of electrical products. Looking around I was struck by the starkness of her desk, the precise arrangement of her files, the orderly stack of her stationery, and the designated mini-meeting corner with fresh flowers. It seemed there was perfect synergy between the exuberant HR professional and the driven power-management company. Preeti took me down her memory lane to the time when she started off her career as a HR Assistant with HSBC Bank where she got a glimpse into the myriad world of HR and liked what she saw.
A perfectionist at heart, Preeti first equipped herself with a Master’s degree in Strategic HR Management (UOWD) and then plunged headlong into the labyrinthine world of HR. As HR administrator at Barclays Bank, she was involved in all aspects of human resources and under the guidance of her able mentors, blossomed into a full-fledged HR professional. One treasured reference that Preeti glowingly remembers is ‘the human face of HR’. Preeti worked with General Electric on a project before finally accepting a generalist role with Cooper Industries in 2011. As the regional HR advisor, Preeti is the “go-to-person” for all HR functions in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, and the UAE. Having recently integrated with Eaton Corporation, she now works closely with her counterpart in Eaton Corporation to ensure a smooth transition in all areas. “It’s been busy ever since the acquisition last year, so much happening all at once”, Preeti said whilst simultaneously explaining how there was a cross functional team that is managing and monitoring the smooth integration between Cooper Industries and Eaton Corp.
Recruitment was the first challenge given to her as regional HR advisor. The company had been using Bayt.com as well as recruitment agencies for their recruitment needs. However, it was her first exposure to Bayt.com as an employer. A detailed demo of the Bayt.com products and services allayed Preeti’s initial fears of handling recruitment alone and instead confidence won over. She mastered the tips and tricks of the Bayt.com CV Search and was soon able to pull out qualified CVs from the huge reservoir of CVs offered by Bayt.com. “The Bayt.com CV Search works like magic”, enthused Preeti animatedly. For someone hiring sales engineers and sales managers 90% of the time, I asked her about what she looked for in her candidates. “For a candidate seeking a career in sales, the sales pitch starts with the CV. That’s where Bayt.com helps me tremendously. Can you believe we get more than 3,000 applicants for some of our job postings?” she asked raising her eyebrows. Preeti’s zest for her role is evident when she talks about her core responsibilities. She explained how her company had detailed job descriptions and questionnaires for each position. Bayt.com’s keyword search proved to be a reliable accomplice and aided her in screening the right CVs for every position. For the occasional challenging positions thrown her way, refining her search almost always yielded desired results. “One of the most valuable lessons I have learnt in recruitment is to never ignore your intuition as a recruiter. Once I have a good CV, I let my head and heart work in symphony to identify the best talent possible. When candidates clear the HR radar, they are recommended for further rounds with relevant hiring managers.” I asked her whether Eaton Corporation had also been using Bayt.com for their recruitment needs. She shook her head, but added with a smile, “Not now, but I intend to change that!” The energy that seeps through from Preeti seems to color everything in a positive light. Having interacted with her, I can assure you that any new employee who walks into Eaton Corporation PLC is in good hands!
Work Culture at Eaton Corporation PLC Business wise, the products and services of Cooper Industries thoroughly compliment the massive product range of Eaton Corporation. Although we have numerous product lines headed by independent sales leaders, we each make it our personal mission to function in the most collaborative way of conducting business and, wherever possible, educate ourselves about every other line of business, and interact with employees from all divisions. We strive towards the ‘one Eaton’ theme. Future of Recruitment Definitely online. I also believe that human interaction is crucial to complete the formula for a successful hire. Advice to job seekers in today’s competitive market Research, apply and network. Check the job description before you put forth your candidature for any role. A must-read for HR professionals “The HR Answer Book” by Shawn Smith and Rebecca Mazin (Publisher: AMACOM). I see it as my ‘on-the-job companion’. I use it as a reference to respond to different scenarios in the business world. A final insight into Eaton Corporation “Success through People” is our motto. We painstakingly hire the best. Hence, we at Eaton, wherever possible, channelize our resources in best possible way by deploying them into positions they are more cut out for. An inspiring insight, no doubt! I never thought of ‘deployment’ as a positive term. Having heard it from Preeti, I will from now on.
