Career Preparation And Planning | How to go about it in a systematic manner?

Preparation and Planning will enable and enpower you to take right decisions, without fear and shall remove the state of uncertainty . A well prepared student can understand the options and choices available and how to turn the odds in his/ her favor.

• Well prepared is well armed to plan for and face the future.
  
• This is an exciting phase in your life and do not be apprehensive about it.
  
• All the great people and high achievers started somewhere. You are therefore not alone.
  
• In today’s competitive world full of new options and opportunities, you have the power of choices.
  
• You can well exercise them by putting yourself in a stronger position through preparation and planning.

How to go about it in a systematic manner?

1. Analyse and understand yourself.

• Note all the facts starting from the physical data.
  
• The subjects you are interested in and find easy to understand.
  
• The subjects in which you have been scoring well.
  
• The sports you are interested in and good at.
  
• Interests and hobbies. (Interested vs. good at)
  
• Personality type-introvert or extrovert etc.

2. This list is for your own self and therefore you should be honest and frank.

3. Also note that every individual is different and no single personality type is better than the other.

4. Prepare your own S.W.O.T (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis in writing.

• You may be shy, good in science subjects, may be a good chess player, but may find it difficult to express yourself due to lack of confidence or command over language.
  
• You may want to do a course, where admission may be difficult and it may also be very expensive.
  
• If you have outstanding achievements in some fields, like being a top ranker, college captain of the basketball team, a very good guitarist, a talented artist etc., mark them separately.
  
• Also list separately the things you are passionate about- e.g. music, sculpture, studies, public speaking.
• Would you like to take them up as your profession?
  
• Are you prepared to invest the required time and energy?

CONCLUSION

Career planning starts with a clear understanding of yourself. The process suggested is simple and interesting. It provides a good starting point and as the saying goes ‘well begun is half done’.

Before During and After an Interview - A Few Tips | Interview Tips | How to handle an Interview Successfully

A call for an Interview is the first step towards getting hired for a job.

This means that: -

• Your Resume has created a favorable impression.
• Your qualifications and work experience have been found to be appropriate for the job.
• Now is the time to present the best of your ‘Body Mind and Soul’ that is Appearance, Expertise as a professional and the Core Values you firmly believe in.
• So get going without any further loss of time.

Before the Interview

Normally organizations provide a reasonable time gap between the call and the actual Interview.

Tips on Preparing for the D-Day

• Gather as much information as you can about the company or organization that has invited you for the interview. This will give you a clear idea about the philosophy, work environment and reputation of the company.
• Read the job description carefully as to what they expect from you. Evaluate your qualifications, experience, and core competences, areas of strength and accordingly draw up a questionnaire along with your replies to the expected questions.
  
  
• Brush up your communication skills.
• Interviewers normally ask you to highlight your positive and negative traits. Positives of course can be emphasized more easily but even the negative traits can be presented in a positive light. For example, ‘I am a little impatient with the people who are not focused enough, or non serious about the work in hand’
• If you describe cost saving as your core competence, always go prepared with a convincing plan in hand.
• Do not forget to confirm the date and venue before you head for the interview. Sometimes the interview schedule can get changed or cancelled. Although the companies do inform the candidates before hand but it is good to double-check in case you have somehow missed the communication.
• Put together in advance a copy of your Resume/The Application Form and the original Interview Letter along with all your Testimonials. Organize them in such a manner that any paper can be presented to the interviewer(s) quickly as per demand.
• Dress Up - Men should keep a smart suit, shirt, tie and a pair of shoes for the day. Ladies have to choose their dress more carefully, taking into account the type of organization, its culture and the product line etc. A neat business suit or an Indian dress can be chosen.
• There is no harm in organizing a Mock Interview with the help of friends, especially if you are attending an interview for the first time.
• Go with a positive frame of mind, without worrying much about the outcome.
• Prepare some questions to ask the interviewer(s) after the interview is over. This shows that you are keenly interested in the job and have studied the company profile properly. Sometimes saying that you have ‘No Questions’ may reflect lack of interest and may put off the interviewers.

Perfecting the Art of Group Discussions | GD tips and tricks | How to manage and win a Group Discussion

The Management institutes and Companies organize Group Discussions for the purpose admissions and recruitments of freshers.

The purpose of GD being: -

• To judge the leadership qualities.
• Analytical abilities.
• Problem solving capabilities.
• Communication Skills.

Structure of Group Discussions 

As obvious from the name itself, Group Discussions take place within a group of people. (say 10 to 30)

A Debatable Topic or Problem is presented either in writing on a blackboard or is stated verbally by the person in charge, representing the organization.

This person is called the Moderator or Coordinator or Facilitator.

There is also a panel of judges, who just silently observe and evaluate the candidates.

Responsibilities of the Moderator are: -

• To introduce the topic to the group of candidates.
• Guide and control the flow of discussion among the group members.
• Maintain discipline, as the discussion may get too aggressive or even unruly at times.
• Keep the time-as only a limited period; say of 20-30 minutes is assigned to each session.
• To also judge and evaluate the candidates on the basis of their initiative, capabilities and other factors of importance (This is valid when the moderator is also acting as a judge)

A Group Discussion in Progress

A Group Discussion in progress is a virtual war of words. Before the actual discussion ensues, the candidates are given the topic and are allowed about 5 minutes to mull over the subject and prepare their arguments.

This is how it typically moves forward and what needs to be kept in mind: -

• One needs quick and original thinking.
• The topic may be related to current affairs or some industry related problem.
• A sound knowledge of national and international affairs is a must.
• Once the group settles back, one of the members is supposed to initiate the discussion. There can be more than one person trying to begin. In that case one needs to be really assertive and aggressive to take the lead.
• Contrarily if only one person opens the dialogue, then he/she will surely be noticed but one should be noticed for the substance rather than saying something meaningless.
• Other members should immediately pick up the thread and carry the discussion forward.
• Remember that time is of vital importance and before any one realizes it will be up and the discussion will be declared closed.