Mumbai: Havas India has flagged off the third edition of its flagship internship programme, Havas SPARK. Launched in 2021, the programme set the bar high in terms of interest from applicants and outcomes as evidenced by the number of interns hired, which was 16 and 22 in 2021 and 2022 respectively. This year, the initiative aims to onboard 20 interns, putting greater emphasis on the specifics and rigour that each role brings, while simultaneously providing more opportunities for interns to work in tandem with the senior leadership team across the network’s various agencies & divisions.

A focused and hands-on approach helps Havas SPARK go beyond just being a means to identify and hire fresh talent to strengthen the talent pipeline and drive novel perspectives across the different functions within the network. The mentors and especially the senior leadership are heavily invested in the different aspects and milestones that round-off the entire SPARK experience. Drawing on the 3Ps that guide operations at Havas India – People, Product, & Performance – the programme addresses prevalent misconstrues of talent dearth and drain in the media & advertising industry.

Havas India Group CEO Rana Barua said, “Havas SPARK has become a standout program in our network and the industry. It embodies our commitment to making meaningful contributions to the community and advertising world. It has now become the definitive standard for nurturing and introducing new talent nationwide. This ensures that our legacy and future are in capable hands, as we not only build a successful business but also empower these young minds to become tomorrow’s leaders.”

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Havas India Group CHRO Vandana Tilwani added, “I am extremely excited to launch Havas SPARK 3.0. This year’s edition has been meticulously crafted to provide our interns with the best possible exposure to the industry and familiarity with its working methods. By the time they graduate, we will already have a team capable of showcasing their finest abilities. Our structured and practical approach ensures that the interns will be the best-in-class in the industry. Interns from our previous batches are now firmly rooted in the Havas India ecosystem, and we are looking forward to the new pool of candidates to once again embark on this rewarding journey together.”

This year’s programme will include formal and on-the-job learning opportunities, working on challenging live projects with clients, and the opportunity to secure full-time employment within Havas India upon completion. Following a thorough screening process, the candidates are shortlisted and go through interviews for the final round. The selected candidates are then trained for 6 months by the network. In addition to their day-to-day assignments, every year, preceding their graduation ceremony, the interns also ideate and publish a whitepaper as part of their final evaluation. Following successful completion of the programme, these interns are recruited across various functions under the integrated One Havas model across creative, media and health.

For Havas SPARK 3.0, incoming interns will be role-matched to interns-turned-employees from previous batches who will serve as ‘buddies’ to help them acclimatize to a new working atmosphere and be a peer point of contact. Furthermore, the 23 interns-turned employees from SPARK batches 1 and 2.0, will help set the context for the whitepaper that forms part of the final evaluation for the incoming interns. In addition, they will also help take forward any innovative ideas the incoming interns come up with.

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