Resume Tips

A resume is a marketing tool to promote oneself to the potential employer. It is the very first item through which an employer came to know about the job seeker. So a resume should be capable enough to present you in the best possible way, it should help you to stand apart from the clutter.

The major elements in a resume:

• Personal Information: The personal information should include your Name, Current and Permanent address, Telephone number and E-mail address

• Career Objective: In this section you can include a brief note about your career goal; who you want to become and what you can contribute to the organization.

• Work experience: Include job title, name of the organization, State and job duration under work experience.You can highlight any achievements and also give a brief list of the duties and responsibilities. It is better to present the information in a reverse chronological order.

• Education Background: If you are a fresher give more care in this section. Give details about your education background in a tabular form. This section should include name of the course, name of the institution, board or university of studies,year of pass out and percentage of mark.

• Competencies or Strengths: Tell your strengths and competencies to the employer because only if you are aware of your own strengths others will recognize it. Use bullet points for the same and should prepare to face questions based on this section in any interview. If you can narrate an incident where you have made use of this strength or competency, things will become more valuable.

• Computer Knowledge: List out your knowledge in computer such as the languages you know or course you have done. Your computer knowledge will always be an added advantage for almost any kind of job.

• Projects: Give a brief note about the projects you had undertaken in college or later in Career. It should include the project name, name of the organization where you have done the project, duration, major focus and any additional roles you have done.

• Seminars and Certifications: List out the seminars you have conducted with a short note about the title and purpose of the seminar. Give a list of the certifications you hold if they are an added value to the post you are seeking, otherwise avoid quoting them.

• Achievements: Specify any achievements such as awards, scholarship, any program you organized and any prizes under this section.

• Professional affiliations and community organizations: You can give the name of the organization and the positions you held in this segment.

• Personal Details: Personal details should include your name, name of your guardian , date of birth, languages you known etc.

Points to remember!

• Be honest

Be honest when you write your resume. You need to be sincere and never exaggerate the things in your resume especially your mark, experience etc., it may end up in negative effect.

• Write what the employer wants to hear

When most people write their resume they are not thinking about what the employer is looking for, they're thinking about themselves. The employer is not interested in your autobiography. He is looking for someone who is the most suitable for the position. Your resume needs to tell him or her exactly what they want to hear!

• Proof read

Proof reading your resume is very important, one small typo error may miss your chances of getting hired. So proof read your resume twice, thrice or as many time as necessary. Give utmost care for numbers, dates and email address. Use bullet points and short sentences which will reduce grammatical errors.

• Know well what you write in it

You should know what you write in your resume. Prepare to answer any questions related to resume.

• No hobbies

Unless you are sure that some of your hobbies will support you candidacy, avoid mentioning them. Most of the candidates used to mention listening music and watching TV are their hobbies. Good you are honest but it has no use for your potential employer so avoid mentioning them.

• Update your resume regularly

Update your resume on a regular basis. Add all the new information that you think is relevant, Such as courses, training programs and other academic qualifications that you might receive along the way. This is the best way to keep track of everything and to make sure that you will not end up sending an obsolete document to the employer.

Your resume is not the only resume on the employer’s desk, it's may be 1 out of 100 or 1 out of 500. The better the position and the company you are applying for , the more resumes your resume will be competing against. To beat today's heavy competition for jobs, it's important that you identify and anticipate the full range of needs each employer faces and show how you can solve those needs. Such a resume will help you to stand out as a superior candidate for the job you are looking for. So decide who is reading your resume. Write what the employer wants to hear. Write with essence & depth and be sincere with what you are writing.

Puzzles

1.There is a escalator and 2 persons move down it.A takes 50 steps and B takes 75 steps while the escalator is moving down. Given that the time taken by A to take 1 step is equal to time taken by B to take 3 steps. Find the no. of steps in the escalator while it is staionary.

2. If 5/2 artists make 5/2 paintings using 5/2 canvases in 5/2 days then how many artists r required to make 25 paintings using 25 canvases in 25 days?

3. If the digits of my present age are reversed then i get the age of my son.If 1 year ago my age was twice as that of my son.Find my present age.

4. There are 6561 balls out of them 1 is heavy.Find the min. no. of times the balls have to be weighed for finding out the haevy ball.

5. If i walk with 30 miles/hr i reach 1 hour before and if i walk with 20 miles/hr i reach 1 hour late.Find the distance between 2 points and the exact time of reaching destination is 11 am then find the speed with which it walks.

Why you need soft skills

Most IT support professionals know that the development of technical skills is fundamental to their careers. But learning about the subject matter is only one of the necessary talents every IT pro should cultivate. The human component to support techs’ duties requires good communication and relationship skills, otherwise known as soft skills.

Tips to improve your soft skill

AThe following tips to help IT pros develop the soft skills necessary to advance their careers:

Actively listen
Communicate with illustration
Take the lead
Nurture your inner writer
Step out of the box, physically and mentally

Attitude that matters

Attitude is something, which you need to work on and, you can yourself know the difference in you when you have right attitude.

It will be very difficult for one to understand the difference when we say, “Success is about attitude not aptitude”.

When apply for a job,we send across our resume . Recruiters can only see what qualification and work experience you have but they do not confirm or select you only on basis of your qualifications or experiences.

Attitude is something, which you need to work on and, you can yourself know the difference in you when you have right attitude.

A key to success is “Attitude”

· Attitude cannot be achieved in a days it comes with perseverance.

· Attitude is to be positive in every situation and it should be from within.

· It is how you carry yourself and what you reflect about yourself when you speak, think and do. Therefore, to get a right attitude you must be confident and feel strong.

· It should be your inner feeling and you should trust yourself and tell that you are capable and can bring difference.

· Trust on yourself plays a big role to boost your confidence and with confidence attitude comes easily.

Therefore, if you have known success secret it is your positive determination and your belief in you, which can lead you to the path of success.

After all “Success is about Attitude not Aptitude”. No matter if you do not have enough qualification or experience but if you have right attitude and courage to win then success will follow you.

Success doesn't mean the absence of failures; it means the attainment of ultimate objectives. It means winning the war, not every battle

Telephonic Interview....

While You are actively job searching ,it's important to be prepared for a phone interview on a moment's notice .

You never know when a recruiter contact might call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk .

A successful telephone interview will usually lead to a personal interview.

you sound more confident, firm and pleasant. Your voice tells many things about you.

DOs:

Getting ready for the interview:

• Go to the bathroom before the appointment time in case the interview lasts longer than you expect.
• Drink just plain cold water
• If you use a hand set phone, make sure you have charged it properly.
• Have your resume, paper, pen, and a glass of water handy

Take the call in a quiet area of the house---no kids, vehicles' sound pollution, no dogs, or any other distractions.

Be on time to show that you respect and value the interview appointment

Make sure you do not have another appointment close to the interview---incase the interviewer needs more time.

Read your resume thoroughly to explain your professional or projects' experience

Be prepared to give a positive two or three minute summary of your professional career.

If you did not understand the question, ask him/ her to repeat the question.

Be sincere.

Be enthusiastic.Speak confidently, clearly and slowly.

Ask the interviewer about the client location, project duration, etc.

Ask the interviewer at the end of the conversation where you stand and what the next step is.

Don't:

When you are on the phone, if you don't understand the question, don't pretend that you did. Ask them to repeat the question.

Do not feel nervous.

Don't sound phony.

If you cannot answer certain questions, admit to the interviewer frankly and offer to do more research on the subject and that you think you can get an answer soon.

If you don't know, simply say that you don't know. Be careful not to misrepresent the information or lie to the interviewer. Trying to cover up the truth only makes things worse.

Try to avoid using cell phones. Your client may not hear you properly.

Tips to tackle an Interview

1. Confidence:

Prayer: Pray to God for success before attending an interview.
Be on time: reach at the interview place 20 or 30 minutes before so that you feel confident
Appearance: First impression is the best impression. you must wear neat and clean dress ie formal, don’t attend interview in informal dress i.e means come up like your heroes, if you are wearing shoes please polish it.
Attitude : It means act confidently even if you feel lack of confidence. Take it as a challenge which you have to achieve. Eg. before entering into room say 'may I come in Sir', wish the interviewee ie is good morning sir or mam and so on. take your seat when said and try to say thank you, so that it creates an impression in their mind and its a way to show your respect towards them

2. Be Prepared: Carry a file while attending the interview with all the documents and arrange them in their order. ie; Copies of resume, your educational certificate and experience certificate if any etc. Your resume should be prepared in such a manner it looks like your resemblance.

3. Communication:This is where most of the candidates fail. A candidate should have good command over language. Whenever you are asked to tell about yourself avoid telling in brief. Give important introductions which include name, age, qualifications, experience, strengths, aims etc. Unless you are asked to give a detailed introduction don't give it.

4. Don't try to be oversmart:There are certain candidates who try to be oversmart. Avoid it if you have a habit like that. Be polite and clear while speaking. If you don't know the answer of a question just say i don't know.

5. Detailed study about the company and its officials:It is a trick to attract the interviewer. Make a detailed study of the company and its officials. Try to gain knowledge about the company regarding how long the company has been in business,financial set up, profitability etc. Try to convince them how your personal goal are going to be valuable the company. Convince them that you will be an asset to the company and not liability. Same way when expected salary is asked you should be able to give an answer to that also.

6. Make a thank you note:After the interview you should send a thank you note to the employer and the interviewer, thanking them for spending their their valuable time.

Resume Preparation,...!!!!

The most common reasons for rejecting a resume.

• Spelling errors, typos, and poor grammar [often leads to automatic rejection
• No clear sense of specific accomplishments
• Missing or inaccurate dates [include month and year for employment]
• Missing or inaccurate contact data
• Poor formatting
• Functional rather than chronological arrangement
• Too long for accomplishments
• Long, dense paragraphs
• Inadequate qualifications -- does not match requireds
• Inclusion of irrelevant personal information such as interests or hobbies
• Missing employer information
• Misleading or lying re: qualifications
• Generic, fuzzy, or irrelevant career objectives, goals, and introduction
• Poor font choice or style
• Use of inappropriate or difficult to open digital format such as a ZIP file
• Irrelevant images, graphics, or URLs
• Inadequate summary of skills and accomplishments
• Written in the first or third person
• Unexplained gaps in employment
• Burying important information

Top 6 Job Interview Questions

1.Can you tell us why are you choosing this company ? and why do you want to work for us?

2.can you explain a situation where you didn't meet your goals or objectives ?

3.Explain a situation where you faced conflict or difficult communication problems ?

4If you current manager has to tell about your strengths and weeknesses what would be your strengths and weeknesses?

5.Do you prefer working your own or in a team?

6.Have you ever had a conflict with a boss / colleague /professor or with your family members? How was it resolved?

How to succeed at an interview

Creating a good impression at your interview is vital,

but there is more to it than just dressing well and answering some questions.

Employers will also be judging you based on how you act,

how you handle yourself during the interview,

your appearance and your attitude.

To improve your chances of being hired,

you need to be prepared. Learn how you can make a good impression on employers,

and what you'll need to practise before the interview

How you present yourself at an interview makes a big impression on the employer!!!

Some tips keep in mind ....While facing an interview..!

1. Rest: Get plenty of rest and eat well before the interview.
2. Dress for success: Be well groomed and well dressed. If you had been considering it, now is the time to buy a new suit or outfit. If you look sharp, you'll feel more confident, and you'll impress interviewers.
3. Be prompt: Get there early. Never be late or merely on time.
4. Bring an interview notebook: Prepare a small, three-ring binder that includes your research on the employer, extra résumés, and your questions. Don't go in with a big bag, briefcase, lunch bag, newspapers, or other "stuff." Single-minded, efficient, and organized are the character traits you want to convey.
5. Bring examples of your work: If appropriate, bring a portfolio of your work and some copies you can leave behind.
6. Connect with the interviewer: Open the interview with some small talk to get at ease with the interviewer. Ask about his or her background; that can be very flattering.
7. Eating and drinking during interview: If offered a beverage, it's most polite to accept (and it slows things down a little). If you’re invited to lunch for an interview, pick something easy to eat (pass on the finger food), and never, ever order an alcoholic drink.
8. Get the names of your interviewers: Don't leave the without getting at least the name and title of everyone you've spoken to, even people you've briefly met. Better yet, ask for each person's business card as you are wrapping up a conversation with him or her.
9. Find out what comes next: At the end of the interview, ask about the expected time frame and when the team expects to make a hiring decision. Also mention that you're available for follow-up interviews.

Good Team Player !!!!

Characteristics of a good team player

1.Supportive

2Focused on Organizational Effectiveness

3.Good communicator

4.Innovator

5.Creates positive expectancy

6.Models expected behaviours

7.Able to deal with problem team members

Think Think Think...!!!!

Q.If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it?

Q.If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have?

Q.. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?

Q. How can a man go eight days without sleep?

Q. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become?

Q. What looks like half apple ?

How TO Face A Group Discussion !!!

SOme Placemnt tips........

1. Communication Skills
2. Knowledge and ideas regarding a given subject
3. Capability to co-ordinate and lead
4. Exchange of thoughts
5. Addressing the group as a whole
6. Thorough preparations

Additional marks may be given for starting or concluding the discussion.

Points to Remember

• Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.

• Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others.

• Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality.

• If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later.

• A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.

• A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral.

• Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward.

• Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short.

• Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint speak of you positively.

• Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.