Mary Christina is a Senior Manager with Acara Solutions India. Born and raised in Bangalore, Mary Christina studied computer science at Teresian College in Mysore, which is located in the southwest region of the city and a certified SAP Consultant in CRM Functional and SD Module.

This is Mary Christina’s story.

Tell us where you started.

I used to work as a Quality Manager in the mortgage industry. Then I moved to an international business information company where I served as a Client Relations Officer. After that I worked with a French company, a psychometric test publisher that offers assessment solutions worldwide.

What led you to  Acara Solutions India?

Suddenly, a Sales Head from Acara (formerly Superior Talent India) contacted me on LinkedIn, and then over the phone. I don’t really come from a recruitment background and I didn’t have any experience working for the domestic market, but I thought the role was new and interesting. And the opportunity to stay in Bangalore made a huge difference.

How did your previous experiences prepare you for your Acara?

Even though I had zero experience in the recruitment Industry, I knew I could rely on my expertise in sales and business development. The transition from an international market to a domestic market has been a challenge, but I believe a sales person can work wonders in any industry—if you know your product well and have the ability to sell, you’re all set. It’s been an amazing journey.

What excites you about your work?

Work-life balance is incredibly important to me, which I have at Acara. I also like the autonomy I have because it allows me to innovate. I am thankful for a leadership team that allows me to grow as a professional.

What is challenging about your work?

It can be hard to power through all the “no”s to get to the “yes”s. But that’s the first step in turning the invisible into the visible, which brightens my day.

How has the talent and staffing industry changed or evolved in recent years?

The talent acquisition community has long grappled with the “how”s and “why”s of hiring the right talent. We often debate about when hiring needs should be met. For example, organisations used to measure effectiveness by the turnaround time of a hire. But today, we tend to assess our processes based on the affect they have on revenue.

How has Acara kept pace with evolving industry trends?

Recruiting has seen some drastic shifts over the past decade as a digital revolution has swept away traditional outbound job-hunting methods. Ten years ago, candidates relied primarily on broad reach methods to search for jobs, but Acara has kept pace by implementing a wealth of digital tools at their disposal. We use the internet to take advantage of online job boards and utilise our own software tools to review more positions than ever before.

What do you think the industry will look like 10 years from now?

The world of work is changing. The nine to five isn’t nine to five anymore — Technologies like artificial intelligence, automation, and virtual reality are all altering the way people do their jobs.

What makes Acara Solutions India a great company to work for?

Growth. I started working as an individual and I handle a team now. I learn something new every day, which has made me a better person. Also, Acara recognizes peers and co-workers for excellence, gives people their own control of how they do their work, and helps employees develop personally as well as professionally.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about a lot of things which seem to change over time. Recently, I’ve taken an interest in cooking and hope to get my hands on baking. I also like to start my days feeling strong and healthy, which is why I try to do some core workouts like planks in the mornings or evenings with other basic workouts.

You’re off the clock. What does your day look like?

If I wake up early I go for a jog and head out to my favourite place for breakfast. I like to catch up with my friends and family, watch movies, do some activities – cook, bake and read a book.