Category: Interview,
Job
Finding job to match your career aspirations
How to find a job
Start early and look for a job from the last semester onwards.
Keep on browsing the career help and job websites like careers-india.com and apply for jobs that fit your qualifications and aspirations. Do not hesitate to apply for jobs even when you are doubtful about your eligibility because that will keep your continuity and practice. Make it a routine to apply for at least 5 jobs a week.
If possible attend to resume critique sessions organized by Career guidance Services. They will train you in systematically presenting the relevant information about you and your achievements to each prospective employer.
Your CV and cover letter has to be custom made for each employer. Your CV should indicate what type of positions you are looking for and what are your passions. Use as many keywords given in the specific job advertisement as possible in your CV so that during the electronic CV search you might be rated higher.
Provide your profile in Social Networking Websites and job boards and always keep it updated. Also get as many recommendations as possible from your supervisors and this will catch the attention of the recruiter.
Collect email id’s of recruiters of probable companies over Google search. It may be available in the Career services websites. Contacting the recruiters directly and communicating your interest might grant you more attention.
Follow up with recruiters regarding applications. Attend all possible interviews. Perseverance and learning from mistakes are really important for job search.
When you attend an interview, make sure that you know all possible details about the company and their job descriptionmethodically. Have questions prepared to ask interviewer.
Make sure that you are prepared for all kinds of questions asked in the interview. Write down possible questions and also write down good answers to it. The answers should contain descriptions of situation, action, and results. The employer would want to know how you handle different types of situations in work environment, and would be happy to hear good examples from your past experiences.
It is especially good if you can point out situations from your past career when you fought failure in succession but succeeded in the end. Focus only on those skills that are required for the specific job.
Take a notepad along with you for the interview so that you could write down important points when the interviewer describes about the work, or focus a problem. You could also scribble down questions that you might ask to the interviewer later when it is your turn to ask. This would impress the interviewer. It would make them feel that you are an organized person, and you have great interest in the job that you are being interviewed.
It is important to be cheerful throughout the interview, and never show any signs of nervousness.
Always behave in a professional way.
For questions to which you did not know the answer, never hesitate to say that you do not know. You can say that you are keen to learn about it or you are not sure but can give it a try.
You can also ask for business cards from each and every interviewer. You would need it to follow up with them later. You can even send a thank you mail to all the interviewers later.
Category: BPO Interview,
Interview,
Job
The interviewer hopes that YOU are the right person for the job. They are under pressure to fill the position so that they can get back to their own work. Therefore you are in a greater position of strength than you think. Concentrate on what you have to offer in the way of qualifications and experience instead of feeling intimidated.
An interviewer has 3 aims:
1) To learn if you are the right person for the job.
2) To assess your potential for promotion
3) To decide whether you will fit into the company environment.
The key to a successful job interview is in preparation
Be prepared: For the types of interview questions you will be asked
Be prepared: To ask questions yourself
Be prepared: To research the company
Be prepared: To look the part
Be prepared: To turn up on time
Job interview questions you may be asked
Q – How would you describe yourself?
A – You should describe attributes that will enhance your suitability for the position. Have some ready in advance.
Q – What are your long-term goals?
A – These should be career orientated. Make sure you have goals to discuss.
Q – Why did you leave your last job?
A – This could be for more responsibility; a better opportunity; increased income. Do not be detrimental to your previous employer. He could be the interviewer’s golfing partner.
Q – Why do you want this job?
A – Your answer should be: more responsibility or better opportunity or similar. Not: because it is closer to home or the gym.
Q – What are your strengths?
A – You should highlight accomplishments and experiences that relate to the position for which you are applying. Also, give examples of situations where your strengths have been demonstrated.
Q – What are your weaknesses?
A – This should not be a list of deficiencies. Don’t mention anything that could make the interviewer question your ability to do the job, for example “I am always late for everything.” Instead, discuss a weakness that could also be a strength such as “I am a workaholic!”
More Examples of Good Interview Questions
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
Describe your current / most recent position.
What made you want to make this change?
What do you most enjoy doing in your current /most recent position?
Describe your future ambitions.
How would you describe yourself?
Good interview questions for YOU to ask
Asking questions at interview has a number of positive effects:
It helps you find out more about the company and the position.
It can be used to divert the interviewer away from a subject you may wish to avoid.
It can help build a rapport with the interviewer.
It demonstrates an interest in the job and the company.
The questions must be about the position and the company. Avoid questions about salary, benefits and facilities until after you have been offered the job.
You should already have researched the company and it’s products and services. Your questions should demonstrate knowledge of the company’s history, successes and problems. If the interviewer is a representative of the personnel department the questions should relate to the company and be general. Specific questions relating to the position should be kept for the line manager who will have a more detailed knowledge.
Example questions relating to the position
What are the main responsibilities of the job?
What are the most difficult aspects of the job?
How did the vacancy arise?
What is the career path relating to this position?
How will my work be assessed?
Example questions relating to the company
What is the company hoping to achieve in the next 12 months?
What new products are the company planning to introduce in the future?
Are any major changes planned for the department/company?
Who are your biggest competitors?
Where to find company information
Information relating to companies, financial data, industries and business trends is available in business magazines which often publish on the World Wide Web and allow you to order Annual Reports relating to specific companies.
Companies often have their own web site.
Newspapers – search on-line press reports including archived articles.
Local library.
Interview Tips – Presentation
Obviously you should be clean and smart in appearance but you should also dress appropriately for the position, for example: a student placement that is more expensively dressed than the Managing Director may have a negative impact.
Clothes should be on the conservative side, which is more acceptable to people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. After all, you are asking to be accepted into the company. Therefore always avoid extremes in hair, clothes, make-up and jewellery. Taking trouble over your appearance shows the employer that the job is important to you.
Interview Tips – Travel
Arrive 15 minutes early.
Make sure you have the correct address and know how you will get there:
Parking? Public transport access?
Do a dummy run if you are not sure.
Make sure you have a mobile phone and a telephone number so that you can ring ahead if circumstances beyond your control are making you late.
Be polite to everyone you speak to, it could be the Managing Director’s cousin! Have a copy of your CV with you.
Summary
You should show interest in all aspects of the job and the company especially if shown around the premises.
Do your homework on the company and the nature of its business.
Take care in how you dress for the interview. First impressions still count!
Some of the main influences on the interviewer are:
Your experience in other employment or life situations
Your personal presentation. How your personality comes across in the interview
Your background and references
Your enthusiasm for both the job and the organisation.
Relevant qualifications for the position.
