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Archive for August, 2008
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In Computers on August 15, 2008 at 5:26 pmResume Tips For New College Freshers
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:42 pm|
Around this time every year, most college grads start scratching their heads — almost to the point of baldness — wondering how in the world to write their first resume.To write a first resume that works, keep these four points in mind … 1) Act like a professional The competition for jobs is fierce right now, so you must present yourself in the best possible light. 2) One page is a good length You don’t have to tell your life story in your first resume. Far from it. “Very few new college graduate resumes should be more than one page long,” “Any work experience not related to the job you’re applying for should be left off. Although it’s great that you had a paper route from age 10 to 14, for example, that isn’t relevant to an employer considering you for a civil engineering position,” 3) Stick to the truth Avoid the temptation to sprinkle your resume with buzzwords and skills you don’t actually have. “It annoys hiring managers when they call applicants for an interview, only to find they can’t explain what’s on their resume,” It’s more than annoying to claim more knowledge on your resume than you actually have. It’s flat out lying. And it will cost you dearly when an employer finds out — and they always do. 4) Finding a job is a full-time job Too many first-time job seekers believe employers will magically find them if they just post their resume to a few job sites. “Posting resumes to high-traffic job sites is just a starting point. New college grads need to use their career service offices. They need to network. In short, they need to regard the process of finding a job as a full-time job,” Whether you’re a recent graduate or experienced professional, you should never sit back and wait for your next job to find you. Because you may be in for a very long wait. |
Resume Tips – 3 Biggest Mistakes To Avoid In Resume Preparation
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:41 pm|
3 Biggest Mistakes To Avoid In Resume Preparation 1)Spelling Errors, Typo Graphical Errors and Poor Grammar 2)Long Resumes 3)Personal Information Unrelated to the Job |
Resume Tips – 11 Quick Tips – How To Present well In Interview
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:40 pm|
11 Quick Tips – How To Present well In Interview Tip-1: Listen well Tip-2: Understand clearly what you listen Tip-3: Take time before you respond Tip-4: Make eye contact Tip-5: Use appropriate volume Tip-6: Avoid a monotone Tip-7: Slow down to the point Tip-8: Don’t mumble Tip-9: Pronounce your words correctly Tip-10: Use the right words Tip-11: Be polite, respectful and sincere
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Resume Tips – Forget The Past .. Forget The Present…What NEXT?
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:39 pm|
Forget The Past .. Forget The Present…What NEXT?
I had plenty of experiences relating to job seekers struggles, as i spoken with lots of candidates. I want to share those sort of experiences to make you all strong. One among those candidates, talked with me long back and asked that how to get software job in MNC , as quickly as possible in any route. He is having average communication and average technical skills. He wants to get that job by using money power or influence. He is experienced in other industry and he wants to come in to this suddenly. I asked what the reason is, he told that i want to got to abroad to earn more money, so i have chosen software line. I told him clearly to update the skills what required for software job. But he neglected those words and after 6 months again he back to me and asked what to update to get the software job . I asked what happened these 6 months. He told that he invested nearly 1 lakh for training and placement assurance based institute and they cheated him. Next is he invested 2 lakh rupees to a consultant who promised to him that he will arrange a job in big MNC in different route. That person also cheated him. He felt lot depressed , he left his old job to get a software job. He is in deep depression. He Don’t have money even he don’t have moral support form friends and family members ,as he get cheated from others and lost all . So what NEXT? Like this lots pf experiences .For Lot people .I can able to say only one thing. Forget The past ,if you faced bitter experiences .You learnt lot form those , how you can lead a successful life. try to think what next. How you can able to get what you wish. You have to analyze clearly, whether you are eligible to get the software job or not. if so , what the industry is looking how you can able to update you skills and present those in Resume and at the time of interview. Everybody will get success, the only thing is needed is confidence ..Self confidence, NOT over confidence…..I can say… Forget The Past.. If you faced lots of Bitter Experiences…. —————————————–Questions?——————————————–
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Most Importance & Types of Resumes
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:36 pm
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Prove your resume as a unique one in the interview |
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Mention Experience in your Resume Without Experience
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:35 pm|
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4 Resume Tips- Four A’s for Success
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:33 pm|
First Tip – Abilities We all have skills and talents that separate us from our competitors. Demonstrate to the prospective employer what you are capable of doing, but do so in a way that expresses your enthusiasm and dedication to the job. Show the employer what you can do and how well you can do it. Are you proficient at a particular skill? Let the employer know. This is not just a boring list of what you have done before. It is a marketing piece directed at exciting the prospective employer about hiring you to be a part of the organization. Second Tip – Achievements What have you accomplished thus far in life and how will it enhance your ability to do a great job for your next employer? Don’t just list what you have achieved, but go the next step and be bold about what you have undertaken in the past. Give examples. If possible, use numbers to quantify the work that you have done. For instance, “Utilized new workflow procedure to increase the efficiency of the plant by 20%.” Be realistic, but don’t be afraid to sell yourself. Third Tip – Action Use strong action keywords (verbs) within your resume to convey your ability to take action. Showing problem solving skills and initiative are essential in today’s job market. Think of the responsibilities of your former employment and how you were challenged to excel. Focus on the challenges and how you overcame them. Define the opportunities where you used your resourcefulness and innovative thinking to do something in a different way and how it benefited the company you worked for. Fourth Tip – Arrangement Look at the overall layout of your resume. Demonstrating your amazing abilities and quantifying your accomplishments with bold action words are meaningless if they are convoluted in a format that is unreadable. Use a format that is recognized and that suits your background as well as your goals. The Four A’s of Resumes are important resume tips to keep in mind as they will guide you to prepare resume materials that are of the highest quality. |
AVOID THESE 10 RESUME MISTAKES
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:31 pm|
Avoid These 10 Resume Mistakes 1. Resume lacks focus 2. Resume is duties-driven instead of accomplishments-driven. 3. Resume items are listed in an order that doesn’t consider the reader’s interest. 4. Resume exposes the job-seeker to age discrimination by going too far back into the job-seeker’s job history. 5. Resume buries important skills, especially computer skills, at the bottom. 6. Resume is not bulleted. 7. Resume uses a cookie-cutter design based on an overused resume template. 8. Resume lacks keywords 9. References are listed directly on your resume. 10. Resume’s appearance becomes skewed when sent as an e-mail attachment and/or resume is not available in other electronic formats. |
3 Reasons For Rejection Of Resume – Ways To Avoid
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:30 pm|
Reasons For Rejection
First impressions Poor visual layout Length of resume |
4 Magical ways to improve Self Confidence that leads to Success
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:28 pm|
Devolop your confidence
Here are some helpful tips to build self confidence one success at a time. 1. Make a list of your strong points. 2. Choose two of those things that you want to work on to improve even more. 3. Exude confidence even if you don’t feel like it. 4. Look at yourself in a different way than you are used to doing. |
What new Experience you have in your life – Improve Yourself
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:25 pm|
What Are You Doing That’s Different to Last Year? What did you do yesterday or last week or last month that you had never done before? What new experiences are you having this year that you have never had in any other year of your life? What are you doing to make sure that your life is an exciting adventure rather than a boring routine? When a baby comes into the world it is born into an exciting place full of new and interesting experiences. For the first few years of life that baby is on an adventure of discovery. He or she learns to walk and to talk. She learns to feed herself. She discovers new sensations each and everyday. If you watch a baby exploring his world you will see what an amazingly interesting place this world can be. As we grow into children we learn new things, find new games to play and have new, interesting experiences. Life is still exciting. But somewhere along the way to adulthood most people fall out of “life the exciting adventure” and land in “life the dull routine”. What happened? Adults replace their childhood sense of adventure with a sense of fear. They are afraid to try something new in case it doesn’t work out. They are afraid of doing something different in case they look stupid. They are afraid to go somewhere that they’ve never been in case they don’t like it. They are living each day in fear and allowing fear to steal the excitement out of their life. Why not throw fear out of your life and rediscover the enthusiasm for living that you had as a child? If you want to discover the possibilities for your life you need to become an explorer, you need to try new things and find rewards that you didn’t even know existed. Here are a few possibilities you could try. As you read them watch your reactions and see if you are being ruled by fear or by the enthusiasm of possibility. - You could learn something new just for the fun of it. |
What Employers Look in You during the Interview
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Best of luck to you! |
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Increase your Self Control in 5 Ways |
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Best of luck to you! |
Top 11 Principles to SUCCESSFUL life
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:21 pm|
Top 11 Principles to SUCCESSFUL life Success is not just reserved for a chosen few. Everyone, yes everyone, has the capacity to be successful in every area of his or her life. Success results from cultivating certain habits and sticking to them. Consistency is a must. Successful people have a certain type of personality. Successful people think in a particular way, talk in a particular way and act in a particular way. Do you want to be successful too? Here are 11 principles of success that are bound to help you if you follow them. 1. Develop a clear vision of what exactly you want to achieve in your life. Carry this vision in your mind at all times. This is the starting point to success. 2. Believe without any doubt that you will achieve your dreams. 3. Stay away from negative influences such as negative people, books, articles, etc. Surround yourself with things that boost your belief in yourself and your future success. 4. Take responsibility for your future. Do not depend on anybody. Take responsibility for your life and don’t doubt success. 5. Make a habit of repeating positive affirmations. Speak out your affirmations in present tense as opposed to future tense. Writing down affirmations is even more effective. This helps your mind stay fixed and focused on your goals. This is also a good way to build your self-confidence and deepen your beliefs. 6. Make a firm commitment to action. Once you decide to take action, stay committed and never give up! Once you deter from commitment, your belief becomes shaky and unstable. If this happens, your efforts will collapse like a deck of cards. You will have wasted all the time and energy you invested in your efforts. So stay committed. 7. Set a specific goal. If you know what you really want to achieve, you need to define it by making it a goal. Set specific goals. Your goals should be precise, measurable, realistic and timed. 8. Work out a plan of action. Break down your plan into smaller tasks or units. Do your task in smaller steps. Take one step or two each day while reminding yourself that each step is taking you closer to your goal. Your actions should be filled with faith, determination and purpose. Consistency is vital to reach your goal. 9. Never give up until you have achieved what you desire. Persistence is the key to success. Treat every failure as a learning opportunity. But push yourself towards your goal with stronger faith. 10. Maintain an attitude of gratitude, realizing that your dream is becoming a reality. Look around you and be grateful for things that you already have such as a home, loving family, etc. Just stay grateful. 11. Be a giver – give your time, money and service to others. Be kind and generous to all. Now you know the principles of success. Act on it with faith and persistence – and never give up! |
Blowing off steam may bring your Goal Closer to Reality
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:19 pm|
When working toward a goal, it is common to encounter obstacles and stressful situations. The difference between those that go on to achieve their goals and those that do not is their ability to handle the stress and to move on. Therefore, it is a good idea to come up with a few different stress-busting ideas before starting your journey – and to avoid a few others that will get in your way. [b]Exercise Perhaps the best way to blow off steam and get rid of stress is through exercise. Many people that become stressed or angry begin to feel an adrenaline rush. If used inappropriately, this rush can be destructive. For example, if you yell at people or even physically harm people as a way to blow off stress, you will alienate others and perhaps find yourself in legal trouble. Exercise, on the other hand, provides you with a safe outlet for that adrenaline. It also releases “feel good” hormones that will make you feel better when you are done. In addition, exercise is healthy for you. The healthier your body is, the better capable you will be of handling stress when it hits you. Meditation and Relaxation Techniques Many people also used meditation and relaxation techniques to help themselves cope with stress. It is best to already have an established relaxation technique before you encounter stressful situations. Otherwise, you will have a difficult time successfully implementing these techniques if you only try to use them when you are angry or stressed out. When you engage in a relaxation technique, you concentrate on clearing your mind and controlling your body. Many individuals who use these techniques find that their thinking is at its clearest after engaging in meditation or relaxation. Once you have mastered these techniques at times when you are not stressed, you will be better capable of clearing your mind and getting your body under control when you are stressed. Talk it Out Sometimes, simply talking to someone is a great way to relieve stress. The person you talk to doesn’t even have to offer advice or solve your problem for you. The act of simply talking out the problem and knowing that someone is lending a sympathetic ear is often enough. In addition, talking through the problem often leads to moments of clarity and can actually help you find the answers to your problem. It is best to talk it out with someone after the initial adrenaline rush is complete. But, if you have an understanding spouse or friend, you might even be able to “vent” while you are still angry. Just be sure you are not verbally attacking or otherwise insulting that person while you blow off steam. What Not to Do Just as there are positive ways for dealing with stress, there are destructive ways. Those that utilize the destructive methods for coping are the ones that fail to meet their goals. Drugs, including cigarettes and alcohol, are a popular choice for those having difficulty achieving their dreams. Drugs of all types are unhealthy to the body and cause people to engage in destructive behaviors. In addition, most people who experiment with drugs become addicted. When this happens, the battle of addiction takes over and leaves no room for working toward goals. If you are someone who enjoys having a drink now and again, make sure you never do it in response to a stressful situation. Before you know it, you will become dependent on the alcohol in those situations and addiction will ensue. |
How Infosys turns staff in to LEADERS
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:16 pm|
NEW DELHI: The spirit of professional growth keeps Infosys at the forefront of the fast-changing IT industry. This is quite evident in the fact that the company lays emphasis on its leadership development programmes designed to create leaders of tomorrow.1.What is the vision behind Infosys leadership programme? One of the areas for improvement was the need to have a structured way of developing leaders. So, the vision behind the leadership institute is to create leaders of tomorrow. Our programmes focus on nurturing leaders with a global perspective. We groom leaders and provide them the opportunity to shape the future of Infosys. Every year, we groom about 700-800 employees. 2.How do you identify the leaders in your organisation? There is no specific mechanism by which we identify leaders. We invite application from employees at middle and senior level management to undergo the leadership programmes. We also have a leadership competency department which evaluates these applications on the basis of these nine leadership competencies and selects employees for different set of programmes. 3.Can you throw light on your grooming process and the stages that the participants go through after being selected? Leadership is a continuous process. This is because leadership is all about mastering yourself at some level. Infosys leadership modules cover all sorts of programmes where employees are taught how to manage teams, negotiating, handling conflicts and cultural diversity. We have ‘Leaders Teach’ series where leaders actually share their experiences in particular area. Also, we invite speakers to discuss team strategies, share their experiences and involve teams in group activities. 4.How do you measure the success of these programmes? For every leader we develop a leadership index which is the ranking or the rating that he has been given on a five point scale against each competency. We measure each leader’s score at the year end and draw analysis. 5.How is your leadership programme different from other IT majors Wipro and Satyam? Our aim is to ensure the proper execution of such programmes to groom potential leaders. We have a leadership index which measures how you have achieved and what you have achieved. So our programmes rate each competency. Also, our leadership development is not time-bound. It runs parallel in our day to day functioning. That is where Infosys makes a difference. We also emphasise that to develop a good leader, no one else can develop him, but himself. Only you as a person can develop yourself. We provide the frameworks and the support mechanisms, but the responsibility for development needs to taken by each leader. The definition of leadership that we have is that a leader must go above and beyond expectations. 6.What are the typical challenges that you have faced? The challenge is to get everyone spend an adequate time on development. To keep telling people to further develop is quite a challenge. This is where rating competencies help and we discuss with employees about the skills they have developed and areas of improvement. 7.What do you think should be the role of a leader in tough time ? In any situation, a leader should be able to bring in a lot of positive energy. A leader is someone who raises the confidence of employees and makes them believe that working in this team is a great experience. Employees get motivated when they feel they are adding value to themselves and the organisation. Also, one of the most important qualities of a leader is to listen.
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18 Ways to Improve your Body Language
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:14 pm|
1. Don’t cross your arms or legs – You have probably already heard you shouldn’t cross your arms as it might make you seem defensive or guarded. This goes for your legs too. Keep your arms and legs open. 2. Have eye contact, but don’t stare – If there are several people you are talking to, give them all some eye contact to create a better connection and see if they are listening. Keeping too much eye-contact might creep people out. Giving no eye-contact might make you seem insecure. 3. Don’t be afraid to take up some space – Taking up space by for example sitting or standing with your legs apart a bit signals self-confidence and that you are comfortable in your own skin. 4. Relax your shoulders – When you feel tense it’s easily winds up as tension in your shoulders. They might move up and forward a bit. Try to relax. Try to loosen up by shaking the shoulders a bit and move them back slightly. 5. Nod when they are talking – nod once in a while to signal that you are listening. But don’t overdo it and peck like Woody Woodpecker. 6. Don’t slouch, sit up straight – but in a relaxed way, not in a too tense manner. 7. Lean, but not too much – If you want to show that you are interested in what someone is saying, lean toward the person talking. If you want to show that you’re confident in yourself and relaxed lean back a bit. But don’t lean in too much or you might seem needy and desperate for some approval. Or lean back too much or you might seem arrogant and distant. 8. Smile and laugh – lighten up, don’t take yourself too seriously. Relax a bit, smile and laugh when someone says something funny. People will be a lot more inclined to listen to you if you seem to be a positive person. But don’t be the first to laugh at your own jokes, it makes you seem nervous and needy. Smile when you are introduced to someone but don’t keep a smile plastered on your face, you’ll seem insincere. 9. Don’t touch your face – it might make you seem nervous and can be distracting for the listeners or the people in the conversation. 10. Keep you head up - Don’t keep your eyes on the ground, it might make you seem insecure and a bit lost. Keep your head up straight and your eyes towards the horizon. 11. Slow down a bit – this goes for many things. Walking slower not only makes you seem more calm and confident, it will also make you feel less stressed. If someone addresses you, don’t snap you’re neck in their direction, turn it a bit more slowly instead. 12. Don’t fidget – try to avoid, phase out or transform fidgety movement and nervous ticks such as shaking your leg or tapping your fingers against the table rapidly. You’ll seem nervous and fidgeting can be a distracting when you try to get something across. 13. Use your hands more confidently – instead of fidgeting with your hands and scratching your face use them to communicate what you are trying to say. Use your hands to describe something or to add weight to a point you are trying to make. 14. Lower your drink – don’t hold your drink in front of your chest. In fact, don’t hold anything in front of your heart as it will make you seem guarded and distant. Lower it and hold it beside your leg instead. 15. Realise where you spine ends – many people (including me until recently) might sit or stand with a straight back in a good posture. However, they might think that the spine ends where the neck begins and therefore crane the neck forward in a Montgomery Burns-pose 16. Don’t stand too close –one of the things we learned from Seinfeld is that everybody gets weirded out by a close-talker. Let people have their personal space, don’t invade it. 17. Mirror – Often when you get along with a person, when the two of you get a good connection, you will start to mirror each other unconsciously. That means that you mirror the other person’s body language a bit. To make the connection better you can try a bit of proactive mirroring. 18. Keep a good attitude – last but not least, keep a positive, open and relaxed attitude. How you feel will come through in your body language and can make a major difference. For information on how make yourself feel better read 10 ways to change how you feel and for relaxation try A very simple way to feel relaxed for 24 hours. |
Why Applications are Rejected during the Interview
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 4:12 pm|
Some Major Reasons for Resume Rejection 1. Poor personal appearance. |
Are you ready start looking for New Jobs – Ways for Job Search
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 3:56 pm
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NEW DELHI: The spirit of professional growth keeps Infosys at the forefront of the fast-changing IT industry. This is quite evident in the fact that the company lays emphasis on its leadership development programmes designed to create leaders of tomorrow.
1.What is the vision behind Infosys leadership programme? One of the areas for improvement was the need to have a structured way of developing leaders. So, the vision behind the leadership institute is to create leaders of tomorrow. Our programmes focus on nurturing leaders with a global perspective. We groom leaders and provide them the opportunity to shape the future of Infosys. Every year, we groom about 700-800 employees. 2.How do you identify the leaders in your organisation? There is no specific mechanism by which we identify leaders. We invite application from employees at middle and senior level management to undergo the leadership programmes. We also have a leadership competency department which evaluates these applications on the basis of these nine leadership competencies and selects employees for different set of programmes. 3.Can you throw light on your grooming process and the stages that the participants go through after being selected? Leadership is a continuous process. This is because leadership is all about mastering yourself at some level. Infosys leadership modules cover all sorts of programmes where employees are taught how to manage teams, negotiating, handling conflicts and cultural diversity. We have ‘Leaders Teach’ series where leaders actually share their experiences in particular area. Also, we invite speakers to discuss team strategies, share their experiences and involve teams in group activities. 4.How do you measure the success of these programmes? For every leader we develop a leadership index which is the ranking or the rating that he has been given on a five point scale against each competency. We measure each leader’s score at the year end and draw analysis. 5.How is your leadership programme different from other IT majors Wipro and Satyam? Our aim is to ensure the proper execution of such programmes to groom potential leaders. We have a leadership index which measures how you have achieved and what you have achieved. So our programmes rate each competency. Also, our leadership development is not time-bound. It runs parallel in our day to day functioning. That is where Infosys makes a difference. We also emphasise that to develop a good leader, no one else can develop him, but himself. Only you as a person can develop yourself. We provide the frameworks and the support mechanisms, but the responsibility for development needs to taken by each leader. The definition of leadership that we have is that a leader must go above and beyond expectations. 6.What are the typical challenges that you have faced? The challenge is to get everyone spend an adequate time on development. To keep telling people to further develop is quite a challenge. This is where rating competencies help and we discuss with employees about the skills they have developed and areas of improvement. 7.What do you think should be the role of a leader in tough time ? In any situation, a leader should be able to bring in a lot of positive energy. A leader is someone who raises the confidence of employees and makes them believe that working in this team is a great experience. Employees get motivated when they feel they are adding value to themselves and the organisation. Also, one of the most important qualities of a leader is to listen. |
INTERVIEW TIPS
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 3:53 pm
1. Be on time!
Practice getting to the venue to see how long it will take. Public transport may be useless, the traffic may have been heavy, but however reasonable it won’t affect the fact that your chances are reduced if you are late. Always remember – You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Aim to be early – you can always find a nearby cafe/shop/pub to wait in. And if worse comes to worst and you are going to be late, then definitely ring in and let them know.
2. Be Prepared!
Look at the employers’ website and learn something about the company before you attend your interview. Feed them the opportunity to talk proudly about something positive you have found.
3. Write down and practice possible questions!
Writing them down and practicing them with someone will make it easier to remember when you get to the interview. Use the third person when talking about the job. Avoid sounding as though you assume the job is yours.
It is fine to ask about the package on offer and accommodation – living in and living out are particularly relevant. Don’t forget to find out if the company will guarantee a resort or chalet – many will only allocate you a country. You could also try a fewer more testing questions such as how they differentiate themselves from their competitors or what they think the toughest/hardest part of the job is.
4. What are your weaknesses?
Don’t be Spud from Train spotting! ‘None…ah well, ah’m a bit of a perfectionist actually!’ Try to find an area of your experience/skill that is currently lacking. An interviewer will appreciate your candour – as long as whatever you disclose can be easily remedied.
5. You never get a second chance to make a first impression!
SMILE! Dress professionally in simple business attire. Just because you are going to be working in a ski resort does not mean you should wear Oakleys and a fleece to your interview. And don’t forget that firm handshake and to maintain eye contact – without glaring!
6. Be honest!
There really is no point lying about your background and/or skills. If you get caught, or even manage to get out to resort and then get found out, you can be sure you won’t be around for long! Job interviews are about matching needs – if there isn’t a good match, then chances are that the job won’t work out.
7. Check your CV for possible gaps!
Make sure you know how you are going to explain time gaps on your CV.
8. Talk about specific achievements!
Interviewers like to know how you felt about a particular success. Some will ask for specific examples of things you’ve done that you’re particularly proud of; how you solved problems; how you learned – and improved – from difficult situations.
9. Don’t talk too much!
Spud again – Communication is a two-way thing so give them a chance
10. Take a spare photo & CV with you!
Your interviewer won’t be expecting it so you will impress them. It also helps them remember you after the interview.
11. Be enthusiastic and positive!
Don’t criticize previous employers, particularly within the industry. Focus on positive achievements and views.
12. Be on time!
And finally, Don’t give up!
The fact is that you will not be offered every job however perfect you think you may be for it. Usually it’s because the interviewer was completely blind to the talent that stood before them. However, just on the off chance that it was not, feedback from interviews where you have been turned down can be invaluable for improving future results. Ask politely if they can give you any feedback for the future – there’s a job out there for you somewhere.
Best of luck!!!
COVERING LETTER’S GUIDE
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 3:52 pmWhat are Covering Letters?
A covering letter is a short letter or e-mail sent to accompany and introduce a CV or application form. It is normal and sensible practice to always send one to any employer with your CV, even if they are not expecting it. In many organisations, your CV won’t get to the right person otherwise. Your covering letter also allows you to draw attention to and expand on the most important points of your CV. It is important to produce a good covering letter; one graduate employer has stated that it often rejects CVs without looking at them if the standard of the accompanying covering letter is poor
Quick Guide to Covering Letters
A covering letter is one of the single most important factors affecting whether or not your CV will be chosen from amongst potentially hundreds which may apply for particular vacancies. Employers can be inundated with CVs and it is time consuming and difficult to look through all of these, particularly if they all look similar. Remember, make yourself stand out from the crowd!
- Use the covering letter as a way to highlight key skills, specific modules or work experience from your CV. which is relevant to the job you are applying for.
- It can be used to market yourself, stressing the relevant evidence from your CV
- Unless your handwriting is excellent, always type your covering letter. Pay particular attention to punctuation, grammar and spelling as employers are always critical of poor letters.
- Don’t send off a standard photocopied covering letter for each vacancy you apply for, employers often recognise this and find it insulting. Write a new letter for each job you apply for.
- You can keep a standard covering letter available and then tailor it to meet the differences in each application.
- Many smaller companies are looking for signs of commitment from potential employees and a good, well written and informative covering letter can help show this.
- Take time to structure your letter, it will help if you know something about the company beforehand as you will have some idea of what the company are looking for.
- Do emphasise how your work experience is relevant to the job. You will have learned many skills during this time and they can be highlighted in the covering letter.
- If you have not had a great deal of work experience, you can use the covering letter to explain how your degree subject has taught you valuable skills, for example, creativity, researching new ideas and a flexible approach to your work.
- If possible, address the letter to the person named as the recruitment point of contact rather than a standard Sir/Madam, again it demonstrates initiative and commitment.
Best of luck!!!
GROUP DISCUSSION
In CAREER ARTICLES on August 15, 2008 at 3:50 pm
A group discussion (GD) is a simulated exercise, where you cannot suddenly put up a show, since the evaluators will see through you easily. In this page you can find tips on GD and how to handle them to ensure a positive outcome.
Here’s how most group discussions work
· Normally groups of 8-10 candidates are formed into a leaderless group, and are given a specific situation to analyze and discuss within a given time limit.
· The group may be given a case study and asked to come out with a solution for a problem.
· The group may be given a topic and asked to discuss on the same.
OBJECTIVE
Lets start from the basic. One needs to know what one’s objective in the group is. A good definition of your objective is – to be noticed to have contributed meaningfully in an attempt to help the group reach the right consensus. What does this essentially mean?
1. The first implication is that you should be noticed by the panel. Merely making a meaningful contribution and helping the group arrive at a consensus is not enough. You have to be seen by the evaluating panel to have made the meaningful contribution. What does that mean in practice?
· You must ensure that the group hears you. If the group hears you, so will the evaluator. That does not mean that you shout at the top of your voice and be noticed for the wrong reasons.
· You have to be assertive. If you are not a very assertive person, you will have to simply learn to be assertive for those 15 minutes. Remember, assertiveness does not mean being bull-headed or being arrogant.
· And most importantly, you have to make your chances. Many group discussion participants often complain that they did not get a chance to speak. The fact is that in no group discussion will you get a chance to speak. There is nothing more unacceptable in a GD than keeping one’s mouth shut or just murmuring things which are inaudible.
· Participate in as many practice GDs as possible before you attend the actual GD. There is nothing like practice to help you overcome the fear of talking in a GD.
2. The second important implication is that making just any sort of contribution is not enough. Your contribution has to be meaningful. A meaningful contribution suggests that
· You have a good knowledge base
· You are able to put forth your arguments logically and are a good communicator.
· The quality of what you said is more valuable than the quantity. There is this myth amongst many group discussion participants that the way to succeed in a group discussion is by speaking loudly and at great length. One could not be more wrong. You must have meat in your arguments.
——–” Always enter the room with a piece of paper and a pen. In the first two minutes jot down as many ideas as you can
When you jot down points, keep these pointers in mind.
If it is a topic where you are expected to take a stand, say for example, “Should India sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty?” note down points for both sides of the argument. It will be useful on two counts –
· One, if you do not start the GD and are not amongst the first five speakers and find that everyone in the group is talking for the topic, then it makes sense to take the alternate approach and oppose the topic even if you initially intended to talk for the topic.
· Second, it helps to have a knowledge of how group members who take a stand diametrically opposite to yours will put forth their argument and to be prepared with counter arguments.
3. Everybody else will state the obvious. So highlight some points that are not obvious. The different perspective that you bring to the group will be highly appreciated by the panel. Some pointers on being relevant while having a different perspective are:
· Be careful that the “something different” you state is still relevant to the topic being debated.
· Can you take the group ahead if it is stuck at one point?
· Can you take it in a fresh and more relevant direction?
4. The last implication is that you must be clearly seen to be attempting to build a consensus.
· Gaining support or influencing colleagues is the mantra adopted by many a successful Business Leaders.
· Nobody expects a group of ten intelligent, assertive people, all with different points of view on a controversial subject to actually achieve a consensus. But what matters is “Did you make attempts to build a consensus?”
· The reason why an attempt to build a consensus is important is because in most work situations you will have to work with people in a team, accept joint responsibilities and take decisions as a group.
· You must demonstrate the fact that you are capable and inclined to work as part of a team.
Best of luck!!!
இந்தியா 2020
In INDIA on August 15, 2008 at 3:39 pm
“அப்துல்கலாமின் இந்தியா 2020 ஏதோ அணுகுண்டாலும், ராணுவ பலத்தாலும் அடையப்பட வேண்டிய ஒன்று என்றும் அது ஏழைகளுக்கானது அல்ல என்றும் ஒரு திட்டமிட்ட பொய் பிரச்சாரம் தொடர்ந்து நடத்தப்படுகிறது. முதலில் கலாம் சொன்ன இந்தியா 2020 என்பது என்ன என்பதை பார்ப்போம்.
“2020ம் ஆண்டுக்குள் வறுமைக்கோட்டுக்கு கீழே இருக்கும் மகக்ளின் எண்ணிக்கை பூஜ்யமாக வேண்டும். எழுதப்படிக்க தெரிந்தோர் எண்ணிக்கை 100% ஆக வேண்டும்.இந்தியாவின் மனிதவள மேம்பாட்டு குறியீடு 127லில் இருந்து 50க்கு உயரவேண்டும்.ஒவ்வொரு இந்தியனும் ஒரு பல்கலைகழக டிகிரி படிப்பது சாத்தியமாக வேண்டும்.ஈ கவர்னன்ஸ் திட்டம் மூலம் அரசாங்கத்தை ஒவ்வொரு குடிமகனுக்கும் கொண்டு செல்ல வேண்டும்.ஒவ்வொரு கிராமத்துக்கும் இடையறா மின்சார சப்ளை கிடைக்க வேண்டும்.ஒவ்வொரு கிராமத்துக்கும் குடிநீர் கிடைக்க வேண்டும். இந்தியாவில் உள்ள ஒவ்வொரு குடிமகனுக்கும் கழிவறை மற்றும் சுகாதாரம் கிடைக்க செய்திடல் வேண்டும்.பொறுப்பான செயல்திட்டம் மூலம் தொழிற்சாலைகளை நிறுவி நிறைய வேலைவாய்ப்புகளை உருவாக்க வேண்டும்.இந்தியாவின் மூலை முடுக்குகளில் இருக்கும் ஏழைகளுக்கும் மருத்துவ வசதி மிகக்குறைந்த செலவில் கிடைக்க செய்திடல் வேண்டும்.மேலே சொன்ன மக்கள் நல திட்டங்களை அடைந்தபின் இந்தியா உலக அமைதிக்கும் பாடுபடல் வேண்டும்.
மேலே சொன்ன திட்டங்களை அடைய ஒவ்வொரு இந்தியனும் பாடுபட வேண்டும். இதுவரை அரசு திட்டங்கள் சென்றடையாத ஏழைகளை நாம் சென்று அடைய முயலவேண்டும்.
விவசாயிகளுக்கு நபார்ட் மற்றும் பல வங்கிகள் மூலம் கடன் வழங்கி அவர்களை கடன்சுமையிலிருந்து மீட்க வேண்டும். ஆராய்ச்சியாளர்கள், அறிவாளிகள், பல்கலைகழகங்கள், தொழிற்சாலைகள் ஆகியோர் விவசாயிகளுடன் சேர்ந்து வேலை செய்து உனவு உற்பத்தி, தானியம் பதப்படுத்துதல், விவசாய உற்பத்தி ஆகியவற்றில் கவனம் செலுத்த வேண்டும்.இன்சூரன்ஸ் கம்பனிகள் மைக்ரோ கிரெடிட், பயிர் இன்சூரன்ஸ் ஆகியவற்றை விவசாயிகளுக்கு செய்து தரவேண்டும்.
கார்ப்பரேட்டுகள் கிராமப்புற மக்களுக்கு சேவை செய்வதை தமது சமுதாய கடமையாக நினைக்கவேண்டும். தொலைதொடர்பு யுகம் என்று நாம் பெருமைகொள்வது உண்மை எனில் இதுவரை அணுகப்படடாத மக்களை நாம் அணுகவேண்டும்”
இதுதான்யா கலாம் சொல்லும் இந்தியா 2020.