Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Interview Questions for first time job seekers

What are your strengths and weaknesses?


 What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This is a competency question again. By how you answer this, the interviewer can determine your self
esteem levels ,tact and confidence.

Why are you looking for a new position?


 Why are you looking for a new position?

Here they are checking to see if you had issues at theother job. Is it just money you are looking for? What
are your priorities? Are you the kind who they can retain for some time or are you going to jump ship
soon? Even your ethical standards.

Why is there a gap in your work experience?-Answering the gap question

Why is there a gap in your work experience?


The truth is that They don't mind the gap but they just want to know whether you were still productive, If they need to train extra, or if you are out of touch. Ensure that you give enough reasons for them to believe that it was inevitable and even if a gap was there you were updating yourself and used the time to develop your skills even better.

What salary do you expect?-Answering the tricky salary question

What salary do you expect?-Answering the tricky salary question

Now this is the tricky question. If you want too less they will think that you might not be good enough. If
you ask too much they will reject you because they cannot afford you. The best thing to do in these cases
is to know exactly how much you want and how much will realistically be paid. Ask how much you
want maybe a little higher. But it is always better to ask what does the company offer to someone of my
skills and competence? Usually a company does not mind paying a little higher salary if they know that the
person can do the job. But always know how much you would want and why? And do not settle for less.

10 reasons why you might not get hired even if you have the qualifications

10 reasons why you might not get hired even if you have the qualifications


1. You have presented yourself improperly

2. You skills are not shown in the light of what the job requires

3. You lack the attitude and may not be the right fit

4. You might not be available soon enough

5. You are lacking in adequate communication skills

6. Your salary requirements are higher than budgeted

7. Your history might show that you do not stick to a company for long

8. You might seem intimidating or a problem causer to the manager

9. You might be over qualified

10. Your references may not be credible enough

Common Interview Questions for practice

Related to the position
Why did you apply for the position?
How did you hear about this position?
What do you know about our company?
How do you think working with us will benefit you?

Career Ambitions
Tell me about your career goals.
What are you looking for in a career?
Do you have plans to study qualifications?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Skills and Requirements
Why should we hire you?
Mention any achievements you have had till date.
Was there any challenges/problems you had in the
previous jobs? Explain how you handled it.
Mention how you have used your skills in the previous job.

Related to Self and Personality
Describe yourself
What motivates you most?
What are your strengths/weaknesses?
How do you spend your spare time?
Problem/Sticky Questions
What salary are you looking for?
Why are you looking for a different job?
Why is there a gap in your work history?

Questions to ask the Interviewer
What kind of a person are you looking for?
What are your expectations from the candidate?
What is the management style and reporting policies?

Questions typically asked to fresh graduates
What made you choose your degree?
What subjects do you enjoy?
Is there a weak subject you had?
What projects did you do?
Tell me how your background suits this position.
What are you career goals?
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Any plans of further studies?
How do you spend you spare time?
Mention any extracurricular activities you were involved in.
Do you have any leadership experience?

Are you really ready to get the job?


 Are you really ready to get the job?


The right job comes to those who are ready for it and who have prepared themselves for it. Before we look for a job we have to ask ourselves- are we ready for the job? Have we prepared ourselves well enough? Then we should list the type of companies that we would be interested to work in.

The following questions when answered will help you:
What are your skills? Why should any company hire you?
What type of company culture would suit you.
What kind of working conditions do you envision?
Dol you prefer a hierarchical system or a flat organisation?
Do you mostly prefer to work alone or in a team?
Do you like to be paid on your performance or by the amount of work hours you put in?

How to use the internet for your job search

How to use the internet for your job search

Job search has now been simplified with the latest advancesand the variety of resources available. The internet has made it possible for jobseekers to read up on the companies they are interested in, send their profile directly to the concerned person by email and also apply for numerous jobs with just a
click of the mouse. You can use the internet and greatly simplify your job search. Since companies are also using websites like monster.com, naukri.com, jobstreet.com etc to directly post their requirements you make use of that to get your resume across.

 The first and foremost requirement for using these job sites is a well written resume. Remember that the person does not get to see you or talk to you. They simply form their judgments based on the resume that you send. So be extra careful when you send a resume and ensure that you send a thoroughly edited and well formatted resume. Please remember that you have to have your resume in a digital format to send it by email. The best way is to type up your resume using the Microsoft word program and save it on your computer. If you do not have your own computer make sure you save it on a CD or a floppy disc. Once you
have your resume in digital format use a computer with internet connection and log on to either www.naukri.com or www.monster.com. I would suggest that you put your resume in all the job portals big and small and the local ones too.

 Once you log on there would be an option where job seekers can upload their resume and create an account. Go ahead and create an account because this lets to organize your job search as these website allow you to put in your profile apply for jobs and keep track of responses. If you go to naukri.com or any of the job portals you will find an option to post your resume. Once you click that it
will ask for all your details you make sure you fill that in and double check to see if you have put your skills and contact number correct. When an employer searches for people in the database they search usually by skills, role, and location and occasionally by qualifications and previous employer names. So make sure you do not leave any field and fill all the information they ask. Upload your resume from the computer or the CD as the employer and download it and see it on their computers and also save it and send to other people so make sure the resume you upload is apt and suitable for the requirement.

Once you have uploaded your details and created an account it allows you to apply for jobs then and there. Most portals also have an option to create a generic cover letter. If not you can make your own cover letter and send it with the mail. Resume by itself are not given as much importance as ones with cover letters. This is because employers receive many resume that people send blindly without checking if the skill sets match or if they are suited for the jobs. So a cover letter indicates that the person is not just sending the resume but has checked the job description prior to it and feels that he fits the job. The cover letter also tells the recruiter why they should look at the resume. Please refer to the tips for making a cover letter in one of the posts..

How to search for a job successfully (and get placed)

                               How to search for a job successfully (and get placed)

1.Analyse your skills and identify the job you want. What do you want to do for the rest of your life? Remember that when you do the work you enjoy it will automatically raise you to the top in your field.

2.Research the field and understand the type of qualifications and potential it holds. Do you have the qualifications and the skills it requires to reach the very top? If you do not then are you willing to get it?

3.Prepare your resume using the resume workbook provided. Initially you can use the sample template for your resume. As you get better at making resumes you can experiment with more creative varieties.

4.Prepare for interviews and have cover letter and resume ready in both digital and hard copy.

5.Create accounts with Job Portals and upload your resume with keywords that employers are looking for. Start applying for jobs and contact placement agencies and distribute your resume. Never miss an opportunity to go and directly meet with hiring managers in companies.

6.Attend as many interviews as you can. See each one as practice for bettering your interviewing skills. Not only will your confidence and attitude improve you would also get a feel for the requirements of employers.

7.If lack of experience is a problem take up jobs on a voluntary basis to build up experience and get references. Be enthusiastic and willing to take up and attempt new things.

8.Send thank you notes after the interview keep in touch with the hiring manager and ask them for similar positions in other companies. Take care to do it without annoying them or being too pushy.

9.Once you get an entry give it all you got and do your very best. Never stop making efforts to progress wherever you are.

Using Consultancies & placement agencies for your job search

 Using Consultancies & placement agencies for your job search

Most consultancies and placement agencies operate in two ways:

1.They charge a fee from the candidate or the employer. Usually it comes to around one month’s salary. You can choose from the list of such companies in the yellow pages directory and start sending them your resume telling them exactly what kind of job you are looking for. They can turn out to be valuable resources for job seekers as they try to get you interviews and have employers take special consideration of your application.

2.If the agency operates by taking money from the candidates makes sure you know their placement record and have references from candidates already placed before you pay them. The consultancies that charge the employer are equally good but since they are looking first and foremost to satisfy employer needs they will call you only if they think you are suitable for opening they currently have.

Sample Thank You Note (post interview)


 Sample Thank you note (post interview)



Dear Mr./Ms _____,
It was a pleasure to meet with you on _________(date) and
discuss the requirements that you had. I believe that my
experience /background in ___________ will help me to
satisfy this need. I would also like to mention that I found
your organization and management style matching the kind
of work environment I was looking for and I am eager to be
a part of your project.
Thanking you
________ (Your Name)
_____________(Phone number)
_____________(email)

How and when to write a thank you note

How and when to write a thank you note

Once your interview is complete you can write a thank you note and send it by email. Remember to always include your name and contact number in all your correspondence.

Sample follow up call script for getting interviews



 Sample follow up call script for getting interviews


You: Hello can I speak to Mr. / Mrs. __________(name of hiring manager)?
Other side: Hold on please
Hiring Manger: Hello
You: Hello, Mr. /Ms. Name. This is _________(your name).
I had sent you my resume and wanted to know if you received it.
Hiring Manger: Hello, yes we received and we will call you once the interview is scheduled OR I have not checked but I will check and get back to you.
You: Definitely, Thank you. I will await your call.

Let us take a look at what we have done.
We have called the hiring person directly and got the job requirements from them and the kind of person they are looking for. We have sent then the resume and followed up to ensure that they got it.This draws attention to your resume amongst all the other ones sent.You initiative and efoort will not go unnoticed. Most companies are in fact hiring people based on their eagerness to learn and willingness to work because they know that these employees even if they are less experienced will be more productive.

Sample Job enquiry calling script for freshers(and anyone)


 Sample Job enquiry calling script for freshers(and anyone)

You: Hello, _________Company?
Other side: Yes, who is speaking?
You: Hi, I noticed a position
advertised_______________(online/newspaper/other) and wanted to know the details. Who should I speak to?
Other side: Please hold on
Hiring in charge: Hello, this is (name) how can I help you?
You: I had noticed position for_____________(position name) on the (Job portal/newspaper). Can you tell me what kind of person you are looking top hire?
Hiring in charge: We are looking for_________ person with____,___,___&___. What are your qualifications?
You: Actually I am a ________ graduate with _____ and
_____ and looking for a similar position. I am interested in this position when are you conducting interviews?
Hiring in charge: We will conducting interviews ______(next week/so on). Please send your resume to be considered.
You: I definitely will. In fact I can send a copy to your email too. May I have your email id please?
Hiring in charge: Ok, you can send it to (email id).
You: Thank you very much for your time.
Hiring in charge: Thank You

By making a similar call you are separating yourself from the scores of other job seekers who send resumes and keep waiting for interview calls. Now the hiring in charge will be expecting you email and will give special consideration to your case provided your resume is customized to the position and proves your suitability for the position.

How to get results for your job search


 How to get results for your job search


1.Your resume and cover letter should be modified to suit the job description. The biggest mistake freshers do is to just send out the same resume for different jobs.

2. Before sending the resume you have top call the employer and get the actual details of the position
in this way you would have introduced yourself and also have an advantage over other candidates. Most
employers are impressed when some candidate calls and speaks to them and expresses their interest in
working for the organization. There are instances where the employer asks them to come for interview
directly and many are hired on the spot using this technique.

3. After you send the resume call the hiring manager and let then now that you have sent and that you will be waiting for their response.

4. Follow-up on the jobs that you are really interested in so that hey are constantly reminded of you .If it is a good company

How to prepare for an Interview

Before you attend any interview you have to get proper information. If you can answer these questions
you can consider that you are prepared.

What is the job description?
You have to know the job description so that you can decide whether you can do it or not. Also if you know
the job description you can make your resumes to highlight the points that establish your eligibility for
the position. Usually companies post the job descriptions on along the announcement of the requirement. But in case you do not know the job description make sure you get it either by talking to the HR manager or to the department head. A job description also helps you modify your resume to highlight the skills that they are looking for. In that way you can ensure that your profile gets the attention.

What exact skills /experience are they looking for?

By knowing this you can predict the questions that they would ask. You can prepare for these questions
beforehand and answer in ways that would impress your future employers.Usually the employer would ask during the interview questions about your previous work experience to find out if you have any experience that they need. So you can have these answers prepared earlier and be ready for these questions. You can also list your skills and experience and see what fits and what you bring in other than these to help the company.

Do you know the exact venue, time and location?
If this is vague make sure you get this information as you do not want to be searching for it in the last
minute.

What is the company? What business are they in?
What services/products do they offer? What is their culture and history?
These are very important questions as you will start to understand the company perspective and what they
are looking for. Your research will pay off as you answer questions put to you incorporating the knowledge about the company, its core business and its unique features.

What do you have to offer to this organization?
What skills, abilities and experience do you bring? It is of utmost necessity to prepare so that you know
what exactly you have to offer and how you can help the company grow or function better. List out your
skills and abilities and be prepared for answering questions about how

How to become a star candidate

A few things if you know and understand you can perform confidently in any interview and meeting with employers.
So read carefully the following:

Most people earn money in different ways:
A business man may sell products/services in return for money. An employee exchanges their time and
services in return for money. So when you go for an interview, understand that they want to pay for your
time, abilities and services.

The company is looking from a purely selfish perspective looking for the answer to the questions,
how this individual will add value to us, enable us to save time/make a profit/increase efficiency etc.

The interviewer wants to know exactly how you add value and is not interested in your life story.

Making an impression alone does not get you a job you have to establish that you fit the requirement
and that the company is going to be better off by hiring you.

The more you can express clearly how you can add value to the position more persuaded the
employer will be to hire you.

If you know your worth the others will see it too and your chances for being hired increases.

Politeness and courteousness pays off as most employers want to hire people they can manage and
work smoothly with.

Do not be too self conscious focus on what you have to offer and in knowing more about what
the job is about. Be honest and frank in your answers and be purposeful. Act with purpose. Walk with
purpose. Talk with purpose. Avoid unnecessary banter.

Remember that companies like to hire competent people .The way you handle the interview
and the questions shows your competence. Answer confidently and to the point.

3 Steps to make a mind blowing attention grabbing cover letter!

1. First, make a connection with your employer. Grab his attention.
2. Second, prove to him that you are the best person for the job.
3. Third and final step, you ask him to take a specific action – call you for an interview.

Creating professional Cover Letters


A cover letter adds a level of sophistication to your resume.  It proves your worth to the company and makes your  employer want to pick up the phone and call you. Many  people don’t know it’s value and think sending a resume is  more than enough. Most employers might actually think you  are lazy,  unprofessional…and not very interested in the job.  Ouch! Did you hear your resume without a cover letter land  in the trash?

 Your cover letter can be your secret weapon to making a  great impression. You cover letter must do one of these  things:
1. Make the employer want to read your resume.
2. Make your employer pick up the phone and call  you for an interview.

So what is a cover letter?
Some say it is an introduction to your resume. True, but  what else? Believe it or not it is a very powerful marketing  tool. It’s purpose is to impress your employer so that she will  cal you for an interview.
A well written cover letter does not have pages and pages of  stories. It is extremely focused and it is targeted at the job  objective of your resume. Like your resume it has to  motivate your employer at a conscious and subconscious  level to take action.

5 Things You Should Never Put On Your Resume

Now that you know what to put in your resume, let me walk you through what you should never put in your resume – these are five things which will guarantee your failure.
1. Salary expectations/history.
Even if you are responding to an advertisement that specifically asks for this information, don’t put it in
your resume! Why? Suppose your expectations or salary history are too high, the employer will ignore
your resume right at the start. If you have quoted too low, you have lost your bargaining power. So, in short
this is a no-1in situation. So remember this, it is always best to discuss all salary requirements at the
interview.

2. Personal data.
This is a waste of your resume space. No employer will actually call you based on your age, marital status,
or “excellent” health. Unless of course the excellent health is required for the job like a warehouse
manager. In India some employers insist on certain personal information being filled in. In this case,
provide minimal information.

3. Smart or not so smart cute gimmicks.
Please don’t even think of placing that cute or funny smiley face on your resume. Unless of course you
want the employer to tear it to pieces and stamp on it. Not only does this convey that you might not be
serious about the job. It might actually divert attention from your qualifications and skills.

4. Your picture.
Don’t give your employer another reason to reject you outright. If they don’t like your looks – or thinks you
are too old, too young, too fat, too thin, too goodlooking, not good-looking – you know where you can
find your resume. Yes, in the dustbin. You have to be judged based on your talents and qualifications - not
on your looks (unless you are applying for a modeling or similar kind of jobs). Again, there are many people
who will deny this vehemently and might even suggest that putting a picture will impress your employer, or
maybe a video. But, believe me; I have rejected so many resumes myself based on the picture. So stay
away from these things.

5. Reasons for leaving previous jobs.
Avoid this always. If you say you were asked to leave your previous job – employers can only hear the word
“fired”. If you say you left on your own, the employer might wonder “how long will he stay with my company”. What is the best thing to do, avoid this issue?

SAMPLE RESUME TEMPLATE


                                                 SAMPLE RESUME TEMPLATE
Your Name
Ph: 9999999999
Address:
123, House Name
City, State PIN code

Title:_________________________________
 

Objective
 

Summary
 

Work Experience

Work Experience1
Company name-Summary/brief about the company
Designation from month/yr- to month/yr
location
Accomplishments

Work Experience2
Company name-Summary/brief about the company
Designation from month/yr- to month/yr
location

Accomplishments
 

Education
Masters College Name, Year of passing
Degree College Name, Year of passing

Optional:
 

Certifications
 

Other Experience (non-work experience if relevant to the job)
 

Associations/Awards/Honours
 

Address:
Other particulars (optional)
Date of birth
Marital status
Current Salary
Expected Salary
Preferred location .etc

Key aspects of a job winning resume

Stating the Objective
You have to state your objective clearly. The kind of role you are looking for and the type of organizations you intend to work with. This gives it a kind of focus that most companies will appreciate.
Eg: Seeking Sr. Developer role with an upcoming International Company

Summary of Qualification/Profile Summary
Here in about 2-3 sentences you can make a sales pitch about yourself including all the keywords that matter in your specific industry. For e.g.:
Sales manager with 7 years of experience in managing 200-300 member sales teams to generate profits for major International companies. Expertise in channel sales, lead generation, negotiation and closure of major accounts.

Experience/Job profile
Here you can list the organizations you have worked with preferably with the latest experience on the top and the older ones at the bottom in that order. Mention the kind of company you worked with. A one or two sentence brief about the company will suffice. Below that in bullet points you can list the various activities
and accomplishments of yours with that company. Again here you have to write in way that brings out your major abilities and accomplishments. Use action words like managed, created, developed, initiated etc. You can choose from the list of words given at the bottom.

Educational Qualifications
Here you list your degree along with the college name and year of passing. It is not necessary to write your percentage unless it is exceptionally good.

Optional
Certifications- if you have any worth mentioning and relevant do mention it under a separate heading

Other Experience- Frequently you might have experience in voluntary organizations or involved in activities that bring out your skills relevant to the specific role that you are seeking. In that case mention that here. But be careful not list just anything. E.g. If you are into event management and you have organized a show for a charity you can mention that here.

Associations/Awards/Honours- If you belong to a prestigious organization, or have been given a noteworthy award or honour mention that under this title.

Other optional details:
You can decide whether you want to include details like Age, Marital status, Locations preferences, Current Salary, Salary expectancy etc if you need. In some cases including this type of information might encourage the employer to make judgments based on a preconceived image and might reject you without interviewing. Some employers specifically ask for this information in which case you can include it.

How to prepare a job winning resume

Preparing you resume is a skill that has to be practiced and perfected. Here you will understand what it is that make a resume attractive to employers. What are the keywords they are looking for and how to put your skills so that employers are compelled to call you?

 What is the purpose of a resume?
A resume is basically a sales letter. Like a sales letter informs a customer about the benefits of a product, the resume/CV gives a jist of your specific abilities and experience that helps a recruiter decide whether your skills and experience would be useful to the company or not. If the recruiter or manager feels that your skills or experience might be useful they will call you for an interview. So the fundamental purpose of a resume is to get you job interviews. If your resume cannot get you job interviews then your resume is useless. If you are applying and not getting responses that means that your resume is not doing its job. You resume must clearly state how you are able to fulfill employer's specific needs, how you can be of use to the company and contribute to its growth. Only then will there be any motivation on the employer's part to call you
for the next stage of the hiring process.

Why a resume has to be like a sales letter?
Like a sales letter a resume has exactly 30 seconds to grab the attention of the reader. It has to clearly state the benefits of hiring you and why you are the best person for the job. It also has to handle weaknesses and show them in different light so that the employer is not put off by it. The end result is to get you a job interview so it has to persuade the employer to call you. So it is very similar to a sales letter and the effectiveness of a sales letter is measured by the amount of sales it makes. Similarly the effectiveness of a resume is measured by the number interviews it gets you. Sales writers are better known as copywriters who create promotional materials for companies. The same techniques that they use can be used to give your resume the edge it needs to get selected.

Basics of a good resume
1. A benefit oriented and clear statement of what
you are and how you are a valuable asset
2. Unique, creative and eye catching in terms of
layout and organization
3. Use of bullets and white spaces to encourage
the recruiter to read on
4. Action words and phrases that position you as
a capable resource
5. Specific number or details included wherever
possible
The more you show yourself as someone able to achieve results for your employer the more offers you will get.
Important Aspects of a good resume
Writing your Name and contact details
Your name has to be prominent in the resume with the phone number just below it so that companies can call you immediately. Many recruiters do not have the patience to go through the whole resume to find your contact numbers so it is useful if you keep it right below your name.
E.g.:
Adarsh Vidyarthi
Ph:9949000000
Address:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Importance of a title
You resume has to have a title that helps the recruiter to exactly identify whether they want to go through he resume or not. The Resume title is important as it gives them exactly what they are looking for.
E.g. “Sales manager with International experience, Customer Service Executive with team lead experience”
E.g.: “Customer Service Executive with team lead experience”

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