Preparing To Win That Job

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Preparing to Win That JobPreparing to Win That Job

Sandeep SrivastavaB.Sc. Mech. Engg. (NIT-K 1987), PGDM (IIM-L 1989)

© Copyright 2007. PeopleFusion, New Delhi. All Rights Reserved.

® Trademark Registration in respect of the concerned mark has been applied for by PeopleFusion

(IIM-L 1989)

PeopleFusion®

“Bringing People & Organisations Closer”

Why you should bother to read

this?

� 21 years of industry experience� 21 years of industry experience

� MBA like you� Multiple failures and successes

� Have got hired and have hired at multiple levels several times

� Have fired and have been fired a few times

� Grew from Management Trainee to MD/CEO� Past with HCL, NIIT, Silicon Graphics, Bentley

™ © Copyright 2007. PeopleFusion, New Delhi. All Rights Reserved.


� Past with HCL, NIIT, Silicon Graphics, Bentley Systems, Autodesk, UGS-Siemens & Eigen (Laing O’Rourke)

� Now have my own Recruitment & Consulting business

Why you should question

what’s written here?

� My situation & background is unique –� My situation & background is unique –just like yours is/will be

� Industry exposure to primarily

Information Technology

� Different goals and aspirations/needs



� Different goals and aspirations/needs and wants

One Glove Does Not Fit All

What can you Expect from this

Presentation?

� What we will do� What we will do� What to do before the interview

� Resume Tips & Resume Building

� Grooming & Etiquette

� Interview Questions & Tips

� Some Q&A

� What we probably won’t� Career Options at various stages



� Career Options at various stages

� Matching interests to careers

� Future Prospects of various industries

� Emerging Sectors

What is the Biggest Challenge Facing an Organisation today?

The Single Biggest challenge facing an organisation today is the ability to

find the right people to drive it’s growth and other business

objectives while preserving the core



objectives while preserving the core values of the organisation.

The Biggest Secret to success in your job search

� It’s seldom about Ability, it is always � It’s seldom about Ability, it is always about Commitment.

� Most company’s have now realisedthat -

“The best person for a Job is not the one with the best capabilities but the one with with the best capabilities but the one with

the greatest commitment.”

This is not what I mean !!

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The most important stepThe most important step

Ignorance is not bliss. The lack of knowledge can be deadly.



- Joel Orr

Read, Research & Retrospect

� The onus of finding the right job is � The onus of finding the right job is yours, just turning up for an interview

is never good enough

� How much time do you want to invest in your career?




� Know the company really well. The � Know the company really well. The interview is not the time to find out about the company!!� Websites (“Google them”)

� Brochures/In-house magazines, etc

� Pre-placements talks (for campus hires)

� Employees, alumni, etc.



� Employees, alumni, etc.

� Know the job for which you are interviewing really well� How can you make a specific impact?


� Will you be ready to do the job on day one or will � Will you be ready to do the job on day one or will

you require a lot of time to assimilate?

� How will you convince them you can do the

job?

� What can you do to make this company

succeed?



succeed?

� Find out who is on the interview panel finance/technical/sales/marketing – Different

people have different priorities

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Resume TipsResume Tips

You can’t get a job with a good resume but with a bad



good resume but with a bad

one you can lose a job!

Tips to brush-up your Resume

� A lot of how a resume is perceived depends � A lot of how a resume is perceived depends on the hiring manager.

� There are only a few rules rest are guidelines.

� Always tweak your resume for the specific company and job.

� A resume is a creative document and



� A resume is a creative document and therefore everyone will and must have a different and unique one !

1st Rule: Presentation is

Paramount

� Consistent fonts, formatting, style for body, � Consistent fonts, formatting, style for body, different levels of titles, etc.

� Learn to 'really' use MS Word or whatever other word-processor you like.

� Get a few people (friends, parents, professional acquaintances, etc) to read your resume to make sure it is readable, understandable and devoid of errors.



your resume to make sure it is readable, understandable and devoid of errors.

� The best of credentials are overlooked because of a badly presented resume !!

1st Guideline: Check for

Relevance

� Nobody is interested in male/female at the � Nobody is interested in male/female at the levels you are entering.

� Remove nationality, marital status, date of birth, passport number, etc.

� Name of parents, spouse, children is absolutely irrelevant

� If someone is keen on all this they will



� If someone is keen on all this they will probably give you a form to fill anyway.

� Some of this information may actually prejudice the reviewer so best to leave it out.

2nd Guideline: Opening

Content

� Good idea to put a paragraph at the � Good idea to put a paragraph at the beginning which states what you are professionally interested in doing. Something like “I am keen on a sales position” or “I am keen on a technical analyst position”.

� Try to include why you have this interest and how it is relevant to the company.



how it is relevant to the company.

� However if you are making a generic resume leave this out, some companies may screen you out if your objective is a complete mis-match with the job on offer.

3rd Guideline: Follow-on

Summary

� A summary of some key � A summary of some key strengths/achievements, etc might be a good option as bullets. For example:� Quick study, am able to pick-up technical

subjects easily…

� Great organizer and have used this skill to organize events such as …..

� Keen sports person, have played for my college



� Keen sports person, have played for my college team in Basketball…

� Very good speaker & presenter. Have won several debating competitions

3rd Guideline: Follow-on

Summary

� Comprehensive knowledge of Java and ASP which I have used to develop a web portal

� Comprehensive knowledge of Java and ASP which I have used to develop a web portal

� Worked closely with “Helpage India” to help collect funds of Rs.xxx from corporate sponsor

� Make this “your” list and be ready to defend what you have written.

� You should tone down the adjectives to the actual level you feel you are at. Excellent in



actual level you feel you are at. Excellent in “C++” doesn’t mean I used to do some programming in class 10th!!

4th Guideline: Specifically For

the Fresher

� Since you may not have much job experience highlighting some of the special things you did in

� Since you may not have much job experience highlighting some of the special things you did in college will be good.

� Stood first in class or Secretary Cultural club or Captain of College volleyball team

� Did a project to identify the boiling point of water which was selected for the National Science forum or Keen interest in dramatics

Leave out the stuff about your “entrance exam” rank



� Leave out the stuff about your “entrance exam” rank etc., unless your rank was truly outstanding like top 10 or top 100. The fact that you were 500 out of even 50,000 is not worth mentioning.


the Fresher

� Focus on any special projects, summer � Focus on any special projects, summer trainings, etc you did. If you had some real impact, mention them.

� You can either list everything based on chronological events like:� 1995 – 1997 St. Anthony’s School; Academic

achievements; Extracurricular activities; etc and any thing else you want to say



any thing else you want to say � OR put everything under a major heading.

Academics; Extracurricular; Special awards; etc.


the Fresher

� What ever way you present, have a consistent � What ever way you present, have a consistent presentation and don’t repeat yourself unnecessarily.

� You can safely leave out that you were offered a job by “Acme Inc”. However if you want to use this at the beginning then it might be ok –“Although I have been offered a job at Acme Inc as a software programmer, I want to pursue a



as a software programmer, I want to pursue a career as a consultant and therefore I did not accept it.”

� Don’t mix professional and education stuff in one heading.

5th Guideline: Professional

Part

� Professional experience, list it out � Professional experience, list it out chronologically. Current one first.

� Where did you work, what the company does and what you did is important.

� If you got promoted – joined as trainee became a manager in 2 years due to your diligence in the field; any special achievement – met my annual sales quota 3 years in a row; employee



annual sales quota 3 years in a row; employee of the quarter for Q2 FY 04; reduced expenses by 30%, etc.

� Again be factual and be ready to defend what you write.

5th Guideline: Professional

Part

� Unless you are applying for a TECHNICAL JOB � Unless you are applying for a TECHNICAL JOB please don’t mention every technical software project you have done till now and the excruciating details of which exact tools you used!

� Present it as a business problem & solution –“Was a member of the team which helped reduce congestion at Heathrow Airport by developing an advanced ATC system”.



advanced ATC system”.

� A laundry list of all the software you ever saw is not a great list. Focus on the ones you truly excel in and tweak the list to the job on hand.

6th Guideline: The Ending

� Best to leave out salary at this stage. Companies � Best to leave out salary at this stage. Companies may screen you if you are paid too less (yes, this is true!!) or too high.

� Don’t mention your “expected salary” unless you are truly brain dead !

� References are best provided based on relevance once the company asks for them.



once the company asks for them.

� Please leave out “I hereby declare that all the information provided by me in this application is factual and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief - Date: - Signature:”

Will your resume come back to

Haunt you?

� Whatever the temptation don’t lie or � Whatever the temptation don’t lie or stretch the truth. These things have a

way of catching up with you eventually.

� Please read your own resume thoroughly and make sure you can



defend what you have written with examples

You won’t get this reception!!

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The InterviewThe Interview

Appearances do count



Who would you take more

seriously?

OR



Bleary eyed, sleepy guy with stubble & a casual kurta?

Debonair, bright eyed guyin the business suit?

Grooming & Etiquette – Why?

� Differentiates you from others in a � Differentiates you from others in a competitive job market

� Enables you to be confident in a variety of settings with a variety of people

� Demonstrates that you care & are willing to go the extra mile

Honors commitment to excellence and



� Honors commitment to excellence and quality

Etiquette Basics

� Exhibit a positive attitude and pleasant � Exhibit a positive attitude and pleasant demeanor – SMILE ☺☺☺☺

� Use a firm handshake or greeting

� Maintain good eye contact

� Listen carefully & Speak clearly

Nonverbal communication is important



� Nonverbal communication is important

� Show common respect and consideration

for others

Grooming Basics

� Grooming is fundamental� Grooming is fundamental

� When in doubt over-dress rather than

under-dress

� Personal hygiene – hair, nails, etc.

� Women – very light make-up, if at all

No strong perfumes, deo’s, etc.



� No strong perfumes, deo’s, etc.

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The InterviewThe Interview

Finally – The real stuff !!



Tell me something about

yourself !

� An icebreaker used by the interviewer� An icebreaker used by the interviewer

� Limit it to not more than a 30-60 sec & include� Consider introducing some self deprecating humour

as your own icebreaker.

� Educational background (Dept, key electives, rank if any)

� State your professional interest and the reason why you think you will be a good fit for the company and



you think you will be a good fit for the company and job

� Some key parts of your summary of accomplishments

Behavioural Questions

� Trying to determine how you will react to a � Trying to determine how you will react to a situation in the future by trying to understand

your past. Centered around issues like-

� Success, failures, obstacles

� Difficult situations or people

� Ethical issues or difficult decisions



� Ethical issues or difficult decisions

� Adaptability, willing to change

� Public speaking, communication

� Most rewarding experience college, life, etc.

One approach to tackle –

S.T.A.R.

� Situation or Task: Describe the situation you � Situation or Task: Describe the situation you were in or the task you needed to accomplish. � Be specific about the event or situation

� Be sure to give enough detail for the interviewer to understand the event

� Action you took: Describe the action you took and be sure to keep the focus on you.



� Even if you are discussing a group project or effort, describe what you did, not the efforts of the team.

� Don’t tell what you might do, tell what you did.

One approach to tackle –

S.T.A.R.

� Results received: What happened? � Results received: What happened?

� How did the event end?

� What did you accomplish?

� What did you learn?



Other Questions

� Goals: Personal and Professional� Goals: Personal and Professional

� What are your short-term career objectives? Long-term career objectives?

� When and why did you establish these goals?

� How do you plan to achieve your career goals?

� What are the most important rewards you expect



in a career?

� What qualities do you admire most in others?

� How do you determine or evaluate success?

Other Questions

� Skills and abilities� Skills and abilities� What do you consider to be your greatest

strengths and weaknesses?

� What do you do for fun? Hobbies & Interests.

� If you were describing yourself, what five words would you use?

� What two or three accomplishments have given



� What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?

� What is the most important lesson you have ever learned in or out of school?

Other Questions

� Education� Education� Tell me how you chose your branch. Why did

you select this college/university?� Which academic subjects did you enjoy the

most? Least? Why?

� Grades? Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?

� How has your education prepared you for this



� How has your education prepared you for this job?

� Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?

Acknowledgments

� www.Asktheheadhunter.com� www.Asktheheadhunter.com

� www.PeopleFusion.in

� www.CareerCenter.ilstu.edu



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Keeping in TouchKeeping in Touch

http://www.peoplefusion.in

