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Manage Your Career Make Wise & Informed career Moves Sunil Misar Head- Human Resources Enrichment C-DAC

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Some Thoughts before we begin…. <ul><li>“ Once you find the job you love, </li></ul><ul><li>you never work again!” </li></ul><ul><li>“ Well begun is half done” </li></ul><ul><li>“ Preparation is the key to success” </li></ul>

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Course Outline….. <ul><li>Overview of the Selection Process </li></ul><ul><li>Preparing for the Selection Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Mechanics of Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Alternative methods for job search </li></ul><ul><li>Some and wise career move tips…. </li></ul>

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Job Search Obstacles <ul><li>Knowing what do you really want….. </li></ul><ul><li>Knowing how to get what you really want </li></ul><ul><li>Getting people to help you get what you want </li></ul><ul><li>Differentiating yourself from 1000’s of other “Similar” candidates </li></ul><ul><li>Having realistic expectation </li></ul>

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Overview of the Selection Process <ul><li>Interview is merely one visible step in the procedure of selection……. </li></ul><ul><li>Be aware that there is an acute shortage of employable talent and therefore there is war for talent…… </li></ul><ul><li>Organisations begin the process to scout for talent well before interviews and work to integrate and bond talent well beyond making offers of appointments… </li></ul><ul><li>Try and map the entire process for an organisation … </li></ul>

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Preparing for the Selection Interviews ( What) <ul><li>Understand yourself </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Personality Type and orientation </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Interests, aptitude and preferences </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Knowledge Skills and ability </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Gather sufficient knowledge of the Industry trends, Jobs etc. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Employment opportunities trends </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>General Industry requirements and job profiles </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Understand the mechanics of the selection process thoroughly </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Stages of the selection process </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Eligibility criteria at each stage </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Have several copies of professional, elegant, updated résumé's ready at all times. Different résumé's are needed for different jobs and organisations. Take excellent care of your résumé's </li></ul></ul>

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Preparing for the Selection Interviews ( How) <ul><li>Understand yourself </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Get feedback from Teachers, Parents and friends </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Attempt personality Tests like MBTI, FIRO, PF 16 etc. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Gain access to Skills inventory, aptitude tests etc. </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Gather sufficient knowledge of the Industry trends & Jobs. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Read Newspapers particularly sections like Appointments, Ascent etc. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Carefully read professional trade magazines regularly </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Build active Alumni Network and keep in touch with them. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Visit professional networking sites like LinkedIn and read blogs </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Understand the mechanics of the selection process thoroughly </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Carefully make note of the advertised requirements of all skills </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Listen to the Campus Presentations carefully </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Clarify all your doubts and apprehensions before the selection process </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Keep in touch with Alumni from the company and speak to them before selection process </li></ul></ul>

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Preparing for the Selection Interviews Making and Elegant Professional Résumé’ <ul><li>Locate decent templates of a résumé’. Have several options to choose from. </li></ul><ul><li>Collect every minute detail. Don’t judge too quickly. </li></ul><ul><li>Place the details on template using action oriented powerful language. Make your résumé’ unique and speak for yourself. </li></ul><ul><li>Use professional fonts and attractive layout. Get professional DTP help to fit the matter on the page. </li></ul><ul><li>Get your résumé’ reviewed by professional résumé’ writers, HR professionals and industry professionals to obtain professional impact. </li></ul><ul><li>Develop several formats to suit different job posts and different companies. Presentation style matters. </li></ul><ul><li>Write nice professional covering letters to send résumé's </li></ul><ul><li>Use thick super white good quality paper for printing and have several copes ready for dispatch anytime. </li></ul>

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Some Popular Interview Myths… <ul><li>Best Person Gets the Job </li></ul><ul><ul><li>There is no perfect interview and perfect interviewee…… </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Interviews are like school exams.. more you say better you will do.. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Interviews are about rapport and interaction….. </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Never Say “I don’t know” </li></ul><ul><ul><li>If you don’t know the answer: Admit rather than pretend and bluff.. </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Only good looking people get the job </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Knowledge and skills count more than looks… </li></ul></ul><ul><li>You should try and give perfect answers… </li></ul><ul><ul><li>There are not stock answers its all about you and your way…. </li></ul></ul>

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Some Popular Interview Myths… <ul><li>Interviewers are looking for flaws… </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Interview is the process to find best fit and not reject by listing flaws in a person…… </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Relax and be yourself…… </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Try and be your natural self, being casual and cocky could cost you a job! </li></ul></ul><ul><li>You must ask question to demonstrate your interest…. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Too many irrelevant questions indicate lack of preparation and put off the interviewer.. Ask only relevant and important questions limiting to a few! </li></ul></ul>

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Mechanics of Interviews Factors For Success <ul><li>Clear and Concise Communication Skills </li></ul><ul><li>Willingness to learn news things </li></ul><ul><li>Flexibility and adaptability </li></ul><ul><li>Drive and passion </li></ul><ul><li>Leadership </li></ul><ul><li>Inter-personal Skills </li></ul><ul><li>Integrity and Trustworthiness </li></ul><ul><li>Managing uncertainties and unknown </li></ul><ul><li>Organisation and planning skills </li></ul>

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Mechanics of Interviews Factors Inhibiting success <ul><li>Lack of belief in self </li></ul><ul><li>Fear of failure or risk taking ability </li></ul><ul><li>Poor communication </li></ul><ul><li>Procrastination </li></ul><ul><li>Lack of passion </li></ul><ul><li>Greed and Ego </li></ul><ul><li>Lack of focus </li></ul><ul><li>Dishonesty </li></ul>

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Mechanics of Interviews Desired/ Popular Competencies <ul><li>Competencies are collections of skills that can be applied to several job situation to drive desired outcomes </li></ul><ul><li>Logical and Analytical Thinking </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Ability gather relevant information systematically, apply rationale and logic and solve problems or arrive at actionable decisions. </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Reasoning </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Make sense of a given situation, observe underlying processes and patterns and be able to predict probable future events or course. </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Customer Focus </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Be observant of the explicit and implicit customer requirements take actions to fulfill customer needs, demonstrate empathy to increase satisfaction levels. </li></ul></ul>

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Mechanics of Interviews Interview Types <ul><li>Screening Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Often over telephone </li></ul><ul><li>Basically to ascertain candidate fulfills requirements </li></ul><ul><li>Focused on hard skills </li></ul><ul><li>Serial Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Number of interviews one after other, later they compile notes </li></ul><ul><li>Each person has a focused role </li></ul><ul><li>Be consistent across panels and energetic till the very end </li></ul><ul><li>Group / Panel Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Each interviewer has a specific role </li></ul><ul><li>Sometimes there is an observer </li></ul><ul><li>Tend to be long and throw up variety </li></ul><ul><li>Peer-To-Peer Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Often to establish fit at finer levels </li></ul><ul><li>Don’t be casual and relax </li></ul><ul><li>360 0 examination of candidate </li></ul>

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Mechanics of Interviews Interview Types <ul><li>Technical Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Often by Technical Group Heads </li></ul><ul><li>Can sometimes be rough on HR matters, since Non HR people do it </li></ul><ul><li>Usually very intense and in depth </li></ul><ul><li>Stress Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Normally for filed jobs like sales and jobs that involve stress </li></ul><ul><li>Tests your composure and temperament </li></ul><ul><li>Builds pressure and creates situations that are stressful </li></ul><ul><li>Meal Time Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Usually after to confirm hiring </li></ul><ul><li>Order manageable food </li></ul><ul><li>Don’t relax and be casual </li></ul><ul><li>Blessings Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Normally with CEO after Hiring is decision is made </li></ul><ul><li>Typically to gauge personality and culture </li></ul><ul><li>Be humble and polite and not brag </li></ul>

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Mechanics of Interviews Types of Interviewers and roles they play <ul><li>Senior Executives Focused on larger picture </li></ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Look for Personality / Cultural fits </li></ul></ul></ul></ul></ul><ul><li>Technical Group Heads Very detailed oriented </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Or Project Leads Focuses on the Technical c ompetence </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Examines on the ability to do the task </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Human Resources Concerned with the Eligibility criteria </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Professionals Checks on the cultural fit and soft skills </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Drives, coordinates and owns the selection process </li></ul></ul>

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Mechanics of Interviews Stages of the Interview Rapport Building Make a warm greeting Get to know the interviewer’s background If initiated engage in informal chat to build rapport Job Fitting Tests to what extent you fulfill requirements Re-confirms information given on résumé’ Compares you with other applicants and establish rankings Hiring Decisions Demonstrate your excitement and enthusiasm Confirm long term interests Seek information and clarifications Negotiate joining time, compensation, roles etc.

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Managing Interviews <ul><li>Link job requirements to your background </li></ul><ul><li>Answer common Interview Questions </li></ul><ul><li>Gracefully and diplomatically handle “Lack-Of” or liability and embarrassment </li></ul><ul><li>Take care of body language </li></ul><ul><li>Seek relevant information </li></ul>

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Managing Interviews Link job requirements to your background <ul><li>Meticulously compile detailed job requirements </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Do not ignore implicit requirements </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Make a vivid profile of the job </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Establish links with your background and profile </li></ul><ul><ul><li>List all your achievements, skills, competencies. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Pair off with the job profile and establish vital links </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Prepare a suitable and elegant résumé’ </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Résumé’ reaches before you…make it as good as you can </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Use “KISS” Formula ( Keep It Simple and Short ) </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Choose good quality paper </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Do detailed research on this aspect </li></ul><ul><li>Highlight your unique strengths for the job </li></ul>

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Managing Interviews Link job requirements to your background <ul><li>Make a list of all your achievements </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Take care to list achievements in areas of the job profile. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>For example: </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Planning and Organizing ability </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Improvements, innovation and better way of doing things </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Being part of successful Teams, Projects etc. </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Managing tough situations by flexibility or adaptability </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Learning New things quickly or learning several new things </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><li>Use “CAR Formula to list achievements. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>“ Challenge or the Context” : What was the situation that you faced? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>“ Actions”: What actions did you initiate personally to deal with the situation”? </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>“ Results” : What were the results that followed from your actions? (Quantify as much as possible) </li></ul></ul>

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Managing Interviews Link job requirements to your background <ul><li>More about the “CAR Formula” </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Share your “CAR” Stories with close friends and family and get their inputs. They may see them in different light and the process would improve your stories. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>In your “CAR” stories look for an element of transferability to job situation </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Use your “CAR” stories to make an inventory of your functional skills and abilities. </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Past behavior is a good indicator of future behavior </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>“ CAR” Stories are easy to believe and make you unique </li></ul></ul>

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Managing Interviews Answer common Interview Questions <ul><li>There are many common interview questions but interviewers are looking for following few things only: </li></ul><ul><li>Who is this Person? What does he like and dislike? What type of personality does he have? What are the dominant traits of this person? </li></ul><ul><li>Can this person actually do this job ? </li></ul><ul><li>Will this person fit in my company , team and culture? </li></ul><ul><li>How much this person will cost me? </li></ul>

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Managing Interviews Answer common Interview Questions <ul><li>Studies have shown that, in general, people who get hired: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Follow 50-50 rule </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>50% time speaking and </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>50% time listening </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Answer each question in a timeframe lasting 20 seconds and 2 minutes. No more </li></ul></ul>

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Managing Interviews Answer common Interview Questions <ul><li>Use “CAR” Formula and leave a lasting impression </li></ul><ul><li>Demonstrate clear and concise language to highlight: </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Unique strengths </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Personal accomplishments </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Experience, journey so far and things not listed on résumé’ </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Provide information that is relevant to the position advertised </li></ul><ul><li>Make it like a 2 minute commercial that is mesmerizing </li></ul><ul><li>Bring lots of energy, passion and excitement avoid being routine, boring and mechanical. </li></ul>Tell Me About Yourself……

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Managing Interviews Answer common Interview Questions <ul><li>Avoid general and clichéd answers </li></ul><ul><li>Use powerful action oriented language </li></ul><ul><li>Focus on tangible and concrete job related skills and competencies </li></ul><ul><li>Use “CAR” Story if possible and without being boring </li></ul><ul><li>Be honest, sincere, truthful without being defensive </li></ul><ul><li>Deploy tact and diplomacy and reveal only relevant </li></ul>What are your strengths and weaknesses

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Managing Interviews Answer common Interview Questions <ul><li>Apart from talking about self, make the goal interesting for the company and interviewer too…. </li></ul><ul><li>Make your goal generic and long term, avoid discussing tools and methodologies that indicates lack of depth.. </li></ul><ul><li>Try and show case your interests in welfare of the society, nation, community etc…. </li></ul><ul><li>Avoid being superfluous, pompous, be realistic, genuine and serious. </li></ul>What are your career Goals?

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Managing Interviews Answer common Interview Questions <ul><li>Demonstrate your research on the job, company and awareness of the industry trends. </li></ul><ul><li>Be honest and sincere but don’t abandon tact and diplomacy </li></ul><ul><li>Show your willingness to take bad and sometimes ugly with the good and glamorous ….Nothing is perfect! </li></ul>What is that you like the most in this job/ company?

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Managing Interviews Answer common Interview Questions <ul><li>Examples of embarrassing facts, questions: </li></ul><ul><li>Gaps in the résumé’ ( Education, work experience etc.) </li></ul><ul><li>Not having the most relevant educational degrees </li></ul><ul><li>Not having sufficient exposure in the industry </li></ul><ul><li>Responses: </li></ul><ul><li>Acknowledge : I appreciate and understand you raising this issue…. </li></ul><ul><li>Deploy CAR Formula : Provide genuine reasons for the facts and </li></ul><ul><li>Redirect: Quickly highlight corrective actions initiated by you, lessons learnt and focus on the promising present and bright future </li></ul>Embarrassing, inconvenient facts, data, questions

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Managing Interviews Answer common Interview Questions <ul><li>Highlight your unique strengths </li></ul><ul><li>Link your profile with the requirements of the job </li></ul><ul><li>Demonstrate your research and keen desire to work for them </li></ul><ul><li>Avoid being defensive and be confident of your abilities </li></ul><ul><li>Reflect on the good parts of the interview and acceptances that you gained during this time </li></ul><ul><li>Share your how would you feel if not selected, Tactfully indicate your options and plans,, Avoid being too cocky and arrogant but Never stoop too low… </li></ul>Why should you be hired? Why do you want to work for this company only?

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Managing Interviews Body Language <ul><li>Body language is your state of mind. </li></ul><ul><li>Feel good about yourself…avoid negative talk </li></ul><ul><li>Watch yourself in mirror, on video Tapes </li></ul><ul><li>Take corrective actions early, change doesn’t occur overnight </li></ul>

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Managing Interviews Do you want to ask us something? <ul><li>What makes your company unique in the industry? or </li></ul><ul><li>What set your company apart from others in the industry? </li></ul><ul><li>What are company’s expectations from this position? </li></ul><ul><li>What would be typical 100 day target/ schedule for me if selected? </li></ul><ul><li>What is it that would make incumbent successful in this position? </li></ul><ul><li>How is success measured in the company (apart from Appraisals)? </li></ul><ul><li>What are the development opportunities in the company? </li></ul><ul><li>Are there any success stories that we can share and relate to? </li></ul><ul><li>What is the career plan that we can normally expect in company? </li></ul>An important opportunity to demonstrate your keen desire and thought process. Use it well, don not waste it….. Here are some examples of questions that you can ask…

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Managing Interviews Logistics <ul><li>Maintain timelines and keep margin. Avoid last minute rush. </li></ul><ul><li>Look after the clothing and appearance. </li></ul><ul><li>First impression is lasting impression </li></ul><ul><li>Keep all documents, projects, portfolio etc. handy and neat. </li></ul><ul><li>Interview time matters. Early mornings are better but you can’t control the time always….. </li></ul><ul><li>Maintain your energy levels and look fresh. Manage your food intake. </li></ul>

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Alternative Methods Of Job Search <ul><li>Traditional Methods </li></ul><ul><li>Newspaper advertisements </li></ul><ul><li>Placement Agencies </li></ul><ul><li>Campus recruitments </li></ul><ul><li>Modern Methods </li></ul><ul><li>Job Portals </li></ul><ul><li>Employee Referrals </li></ul><ul><li>Walk in Interviews </li></ul><ul><li>Job exhibitions </li></ul><ul><li>Professional networking sites like LinkedIn </li></ul><ul><li>Résumé’ blog sites </li></ul>Its your career shape it as you wish…. do not depend on others to shape it

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Manage Your Career Some wise tips… <ul><li>Use your contacts …. so-and-so- suggested to call you.. </li></ul><ul><li>Ask for referrals….. </li></ul><ul><li>Learn the art of cold call.. “ I am from X Univ. and I understand you graduated from there… </li></ul><ul><li>Develop electronic networking skills </li></ul><ul><li>Don’t let rejections stop you ever…. </li></ul><ul><li>Build relationships….don’t just talk about yourself alone… </li></ul><ul><li>Emails and SMS are good but hone your skills of talking in person. </li></ul><ul><li>Don’t stop networking even when you get a job, you’ll need people anytime! </li></ul>