IN THE RUN UP TO AN INTERVIEW
For planning a perfect career one should take control of their working life and present them-selves in a unique way, creating the right image for himself or herself to the potential employers.
An objective self-assessment including the basic aptitudes, strengths and weaknesses is essential before launching our efforts for job search. We should have a clear picture of our career goals.
THE RIGHT STEPS TO BE FOLLOWED
Well-developed job hunting skills involve several factors of our performance and approach. It is often said that the interview begins long before the actual interview takes place. The employer evaluates us at every stage of contact in the resume, cover letter, and phone calls.
RESUME / CV
We should develop a CV that tells and sells our knowledge, skills, and experience. Of course, we may have to modify the CV to suit the nature of the jobs in different organizations that we contact. The preparation of the CV may be done when we approach the last phase of our graduate studies. Several institutions have facilities for campus recruitment, for which a CV may have to be furnished.
Keep in mind the reader when you prepare a CV In this case your reader is probably a very busy person who may be skimming through hundreds of CV documents, identifying the most suitable person. Your document should stand out not only in the quality of the content, but in appearance as well.
1. Never rush to make an instant resume. Make an objective self-assessment. List the plus and minus points. In other words, make an honest personal inventory. Decide the points to be covered in the CV, and then proceed.
2. Try to bring out the impression that you are a person who can deliver the goods efficiently.
3. Do not clutter up the page with too much matter. Elimination of unimportant details is as important as including the essentials.
4. Use good quality white bond paper.
5. Get the CV printed using a computer, or typed on an electronic typewriter.
6. Never write in your hand, unless the employer asks you to do so.
7. As far as possible limit so that the employer can quickly note the details.
8. Make the layout neat and easy to read. Use tables so that the employer can quickly note the details.
9. Do not use too many fonts.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE COVERED WHILE PREPARING THE C.V.:
1. List the qualifications in the reverse order, so that your highest qualification comes first. Your prospective employer is most interested in your highest qualification. This order is better than the routine chronological order.
2. List your experience also in the reverse order.
3. Make sure that there is no gap of years when you were doing nothing. At least there should be some training, apprenticeship, or social work to fill any blank period.
4. While mentioning your achievements, your membership in a college table-tennis team may be mentioned if you are a fresh graduate. But after 25 years of professional experience this may be irrelevant, since you will have many career achievements to be listed.
5. Do not keep a standard CV to be sent to all prospective employers. The emphasis will have to be different in tune with the nature of work expected from you.
6. Never send photocopies of your CV. Computers can give you any number of originals.
7. Remember that the CV of a person is a constantly growing phenomenon. It grows as you grow. So it will have to be updated periodically.
8. If you have long experience in jobs, emphasize what you have done during the most recent ten years.
9. Do not make any dishonest claims. Be careful when you mention a hobby; you should be able to answer an in-depth question on the subject during the interview. If you fail at that stage, it may create an impression that you are dishonest. It is certain that the CV will be before the interview board, when you are being tested.
10. Whatever you indicate in the CV should be as far as possible in tune with the job requirements.
11. You may give the names of two references who know you well, and who would honestly report in your favour if the company makes an enquiry about you. It is preferable to have persons of repute in your own profession as the referees. Do take the permission of the referees before you send their names.
12. Check and recheck your draft to confirm that there is no error in spelling. No one would like his name or the name of his company misspelt. If necessary, show your draft to a knowledgeable person to correct errors in language.
13. Write a simple but elegant cover letter.
Interview and Group Discussion
Facing an interview is something that brings anxiety to many of us. What we should do is to learn the right strategies for facing an interview well, and to attend a few mock interviews to correct our errors. Skills in-group discussion can be developed by enriching our general awareness, improving communication abilities and attending some practical sessions.
Nowadays interview and group discussions are a process of elimination.
An objective self-assessment including the basic aptitudes, strengths and weaknesses is essential before launching our efforts for job search. We should have a clear picture of our career goals.
THE RIGHT STEPS TO BE FOLLOWED
Well-developed job hunting skills involve several factors of our performance and approach. It is often said that the interview begins long before the actual interview takes place. The employer evaluates us at every stage of contact in the resume, cover letter, and phone calls.
RESUME / CV
We should develop a CV that tells and sells our knowledge, skills, and experience. Of course, we may have to modify the CV to suit the nature of the jobs in different organizations that we contact. The preparation of the CV may be done when we approach the last phase of our graduate studies. Several institutions have facilities for campus recruitment, for which a CV may have to be furnished.
Keep in mind the reader when you prepare a CV In this case your reader is probably a very busy person who may be skimming through hundreds of CV documents, identifying the most suitable person. Your document should stand out not only in the quality of the content, but in appearance as well.
1. Never rush to make an instant resume. Make an objective self-assessment. List the plus and minus points. In other words, make an honest personal inventory. Decide the points to be covered in the CV, and then proceed.
2. Try to bring out the impression that you are a person who can deliver the goods efficiently.
3. Do not clutter up the page with too much matter. Elimination of unimportant details is as important as including the essentials.
4. Use good quality white bond paper.
5. Get the CV printed using a computer, or typed on an electronic typewriter.
6. Never write in your hand, unless the employer asks you to do so.
7. As far as possible limit so that the employer can quickly note the details.
8. Make the layout neat and easy to read. Use tables so that the employer can quickly note the details.
9. Do not use too many fonts.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE COVERED WHILE PREPARING THE C.V.:
1. List the qualifications in the reverse order, so that your highest qualification comes first. Your prospective employer is most interested in your highest qualification. This order is better than the routine chronological order.
2. List your experience also in the reverse order.
3. Make sure that there is no gap of years when you were doing nothing. At least there should be some training, apprenticeship, or social work to fill any blank period.
4. While mentioning your achievements, your membership in a college table-tennis team may be mentioned if you are a fresh graduate. But after 25 years of professional experience this may be irrelevant, since you will have many career achievements to be listed.
5. Do not keep a standard CV to be sent to all prospective employers. The emphasis will have to be different in tune with the nature of work expected from you.
6. Never send photocopies of your CV. Computers can give you any number of originals.
7. Remember that the CV of a person is a constantly growing phenomenon. It grows as you grow. So it will have to be updated periodically.
8. If you have long experience in jobs, emphasize what you have done during the most recent ten years.
9. Do not make any dishonest claims. Be careful when you mention a hobby; you should be able to answer an in-depth question on the subject during the interview. If you fail at that stage, it may create an impression that you are dishonest. It is certain that the CV will be before the interview board, when you are being tested.
10. Whatever you indicate in the CV should be as far as possible in tune with the job requirements.
11. You may give the names of two references who know you well, and who would honestly report in your favour if the company makes an enquiry about you. It is preferable to have persons of repute in your own profession as the referees. Do take the permission of the referees before you send their names.
12. Check and recheck your draft to confirm that there is no error in spelling. No one would like his name or the name of his company misspelt. If necessary, show your draft to a knowledgeable person to correct errors in language.
13. Write a simple but elegant cover letter.
Interview and Group Discussion
Facing an interview is something that brings anxiety to many of us. What we should do is to learn the right strategies for facing an interview well, and to attend a few mock interviews to correct our errors. Skills in-group discussion can be developed by enriching our general awareness, improving communication abilities and attending some practical sessions.
Nowadays interview and group discussions are a process of elimination.
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