Who's The Boss! By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

Who's The Boss!

By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article?
Get more information from Anil Mahajan, He has made pioneering contributions in the field of Resume Writing and Resume Management.

For Professional Consultations on your resume & your corporate life guidance both Tactical & Strategic, he may be contacted on +91 83760 32607

or at CVSurgeon@Gmail.com

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Author

Death of The Bio-Data By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

Death of The Bio-Data

By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

Since the time I left my job and started a placement consultancy, a lot of water has flown under the various Yamuna bridges. I never felt the need for a resume and, at best, I used to give my bio-data ( “Resume ? what’s that?” ) to companies and consultants.

So what’s the difference? A Bio-data is just like historical data with maybe, or maybe not, a passport size photograph and absolutely nothing else.

What was most important yesterday? The man who is going to interview you (how well you knew him or his Chachiji’s behnoi for instance), and how much he thought you were from a decent family (bhadralok – I suppose!).

The biodata was also normally carried along for the interview.

The biodata contains information in a set parameter — your name, father’s name, nationality, father’s occupation, date of birth, followed by details of your education in a set tabular form. This table is followed by proofs of your lineage from a decent family elaborating on what your mother is doing and what your brothers, sisters and their spouses are doing or have done, if they have studied in or teaching in Welhams School or St. Stephens College, blah blah… well, that was important yesterday.

Today, Competition has set-in in the job market and the biodata is passe’. Today, a resume has become a necessity for getting the job. A resume is a marketing document intended to sell you in the job market, and is designed specifically to highlight your skill-sets for a particular job / career.

It is sad that candidates still spin out a bio-data and send it to companies or consultants under the new title of resume. It is all the stinking old bio-data minus emphasis on family lineage. All the rest is the same… the same tables, the same historical data. Nobody reads it and it is simply thrown into the dustbin.

Just put yourself in the position of a HRD head of a company that releases an ad for the position of, let’s say, Manager-Accounts. You (as HRD head) get as many as 20,000 applications from candidates all over India. You conduct a first scan and around 95% resumes find the graveyard of the dustbin. And mind you, they are all Bio-datas under the garb of resume. The applicant blames God. Or, if he is less God fearing, the theory of probability, when, all along, the fault is his own.

Should you write your own resume? Well that is a million dollar question.

You admire Amitabh Bachhan for his dialogues in Sholay; you still remember Shah Rukh Khan for his great dialogues in Baazigar. But they never wrote their dialogues. Though they are great actors, everything is outsourced to professional scriptwriters or dialogue writers like Salim-Javed etc. Do you go for a haircut with scissors in your hand and cut your own hair? How silly! But isn’t that what you actually do as far as your resume is concerned?

If you care a damn for a good resume and your dream job, your dream job cares a damn for you (I think it’s Newton’s Third law — For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction). In today’s environment, it is very much a good investment to get a professional resume writer to plan out your resume. Of course, in case you do not come across any sound professional resume writer, here are a few tips for writing a great winning resume:

1. Determine your job search objective prior to writing the resume. 

Once you have determined your objective, you can structure the content of your resume around that objective. Think of your objective as the bull’s-eye to focus your resume on. If you write your resume without having a clear objective in mind, it will likely come across as unfocussed to those who read it (and the dust bin is always within easy reach). Take the time to form a clear objective.

2. Think of your resume as a marketing tool. 

Think of yourself as a product, potential employers as your customers, and your resume as a brochure about you. Market yourself through your resume. What are your features and benefits? What makes you unique? Make sure to convey this information in your resume.

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3. Use your resume to obtain an interview, not a job. 

You don’t need to go into detail about every accomplishment. Strive to be clear and concise. The purpose of your resume is to generate enough interest in you to have an employer contact you for an interview. Use the interview to provide a more detailed explanation of your accomplishments and to land a job offer.

4. Use bulleted sentences. 

In the body of your resume, use bullets with short sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs. Resumes are read quickly. This bulleted sentence format makes it easier for someone to quickly scan your resume and still absorb it.

5. Use action words. 

Action words cause your resume to pop. To add life to your resume, use bulleted sentences that begin with action words like prepared, developed, monitored, and presented.

6. Use #’s, Rs. and %’s. Numbers, Rs, and percentages stand out in the body of a resume. 

Use them. Here are two examples:

* Managed a department of 10 with a budget of Rs.1,000,000.

* Increased sales by 25% in a 15-state territory.

7. Lead with your strengths. 

Since resumes are typically reviewed in 30 seconds, take the time to determine which bullets most strongly support your job search objective . Put those strong points first where they are more apt to be read.

8. Play Match Game. 

Review want ads for positions that interest you. Use the key words listed in these ads to match them to bullets in your resume. If you have missed any key words, add them to your resume.

9. Use buzzwords. 

If there are terms that show your competence in a particular field, use them in your resume. For marketing people, use “competitive analysis.” For accounting types, use “reconciled accounts.”

10. Accent the positive. 

Leave off negatives and irrelevant points. If you feel your date of graduation will subject you to age discrimination, leave the date off your resume. If you do some duties in your current job that don’t support your job search objective, leave them off your resume. Focus on the duties that do support your objective. Leave off irrelevant personal information like your height and weight.

11. Show what you know. 

Rather than going into depth in one area, use your resume to highlight your breadth of knowledge. Use an interview to provide more detail.

12. Show who you know. 

If you have reported to someone important such as a vice president or department manager, say so in your resume . Having reported to someone important causes the reader to infer that you are important.

13. Construct your resume to read easily. 

Leave white space. Use a font size no smaller than 10 point. Limit the length of your resume to 1-2 pages. Remember, resumes are reviewed quickly. Help the reader to scan your resume efficiently and effectively.

14. Have someone else review your resume. 

Since you are so close to your situation, it can be difficult for you to hit all your high points and clearly convey all your accomplishments. Have someone review your job search objective, your resume, and listings of positions that interest you. Encourage them to ask questions. Their questions can help you to discover items you inadvertently left off your resume. Revise your resume to include these items. Their questions can also point to items on your resume that are confusing to the reader. Clarify your resume based on this input.

15. Submit your resume to potential employers. 

Have the courage to submit your resume. Think of it as a game where your odds of winning increase with every resume you submit. You really do increase your odds with every resume you submit. Use a three-tiered approach. Apply for some jobs that appear to be beneath you. Perhaps they will turn out to be more than they appeared to be once you interview for them. Or perhaps once you have your foot in the door you can learn of other opportunities. Apply for jobs that seem to be just at your level. You will get interviews for some of those jobs. See how each job stacks up. Try for some jobs that seem like a stretch.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article?
Get more information from Anil Mahajan, He has made pioneering contributions in the field of Resume Writing and Resume Management.

For Professional Consultations on your resume & your corporate life guidance both Tactical & Strategic, he may be contacted on +91 83760 32607
or at CVSurgeon@Gmail.com

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Author

Your Business Resume! By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

Your Business Resume!

By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

During the protectionist times of 45 years there was short supply syndrome ruling the market. I remember my father booked a bajaj scooter for me when I was 6 years old so that I get it after a waiting period of 18 years hopefully before my marriage. But, with capitalism spreading itself under the garb of liberalization, competition is taking strong roots. Every service, including political parties, has the tendency of becoming a Commodity.

And it is imperative for a commodity to move up the value added chain towards branding…

In the job market, the first brunt of liberalisation was borne by candidates. To outwit the competition, companies suddenly realized they need the best professionals to remain on top or sufficiently away from the bottom. Kumbhakarana awakened.

The Biodata became dead. The Resume took over. Family background or royal lineage took a back seat. Skills suddenly were in demand.

For presentation style & effective copywriting, resume writers entered the market.

Brandbuilding became important to job seekers too. Unfortunately, a plethora of obnoxious & purposeless websites on jobs started. 2-minute resumes (frying of a thorough professional in 2-minutes flat/ crash-course fad for definite death) entered the market & became passe’ in English & paasse’ in Punjabi. 2-minute resumes created more problems than they solved. Dude or baby CV writers or fresher / trainees started writing resumes of senior professionals from the backdrop & anonymity offered by big jobsites. This kind of wierdo performances or screwing of a professional’s profile & all essentially money making gimmicks/ fly-by-night initiatives taken by big jobsites created a bitter taste in the job market.

Capitalism is ruthless & spells death to those who are not able to promote themselves. The internet has made competition tough for everybody. If you are a placement consultant you have rest of the world to ward off or you will be in a soup. If you are a call center company, the candidate is the interviewer too & you have to be appealing & attractive enough to cajole him to send his resume to you. Before the candidate sends his resume to you, it is you, the company, who has to prepare a corporate Business Resume with power words & send it to candidates by actually publishing it in the “Ascent” pullout of “The Times of India” or host it in the form of a Flash or DHTML based beautiful company website. This website whether it belongs to a company, a placement consultant or a contractor is meticulously made & hosted as a Business Resume / online portfolio.

So, cheer up, dear candidate, you are not alone in making a resume. When the company is spending so much of its time in making a great resume to promote itself to all the prospective employees like you as the BEST EMPLOYER, it is natural that you should get your resume prepared by a equally good copywriter as a Great marketing tool.

Now Why in hell this Business Resume Talk? (Hell! I am NOT a Placement Consultant…NOR a Housekeeping Contractor…NOR a BPO Company- I don’t need a business resume!)

But you do. A Business Resume can be aptly called a Portfolio. A portfolio lets you dazzle potential clients (prospective employers) with your capabilities and achievements by providing shining or glorious examples of your work. A portfolio’s contents depend on your industry, but may include examples of your work, references, testimonials, a client list, media or press clippings, awards and other evidence of your professional accomplishments. Like the portfolio for a model it should show a leg or a bit of flesh but the flesh should be sizzling enough to get an assignment for the model or called called for discussion by the film maker. Only a great leg be shown.

The rules of the game are simple. If you have great assets, FLAUNT them. You have to be beautiful & bold too to show the entire world that you are beautiful. Localise the places where you are well endowed & showcase them. Tell the entire world in no uncertain words that you are a great head or a great leg or a headhunter or whatever.

It is relief that Job seekers need one & only one kind of resume targeted at companies, unlike companies. Placement consultants need 2 different types of Business Resume- one for the prospective client companies & the second one targeted at job seekers cajoling them to send their resume. Similarly, companies need more than 3 kinds of Business resume. One targeted at job seekers, another targeted at prospective consumers (marketing people call business resume as corporate marketing materials. These include brochures, business cards, letterhead, Web sites and demos etc.) & one targeted at prospective investors in Dalal street or elsewhere or banks.

We have much so much to discuss on this issue. Watch out for the next issue.ter and we move on in the next issue to catch the GateKeepers to the companies i.e., HRD people who are paid by the company to reject your resume.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article?
Get more information from Anil Mahajan, He has made pioneering contributions in the field of Resume Writing and Resume Management.

For Professional Consultations on your resume & your corporate life guidance both Tactical & Strategic, he may be contacted on +91 83760 32607

or at CVSurgeon@Gmail.com

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Author

Yeh Resume Maange More… Part II By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

Yeh Resume Maange  More… Part II

By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

One of the lady readers just rang me up a few days back and she had only one query — “why is the title of the article Yeh Resume Maange MORE when it is talking mainly on cover letters?”.

“You have yourself given the reply to your query, Lady”, I quipped. “A targetted cover letter, precise subject title and well written and focussed resume — yehi sub toh Resume Maange MORE!!!”

In this issue, I will explode certain myths and fallacies attached with resumes.

It is in your interest that your resume should be as widely present as possible or rather, be omnipresent. But you need not tell every placement consultant that your resume is present with every placement consultant worth his name in the country. Unfortunately, you have a nasty habit of committing career harakiri if you send bcc, cc e-mails enclosing your resume. No placement consultant will touch your cc / bcc / flashed resume by top job-sites. This issue was discussed at length in the last issue. So send your resume individually to each consultant. It may involve more hard work, but will yield better results.

You don’t always get a job through top level consultants only. Most of the jobs are provided by small operators in the placement business. Your resume should be present with almost everyone.

Another myth created by vested interests in the market revolve around the don’ts for candidate. Don’t send your resume directly to any company, they say with all stupid and hackneyed fear creating tones or overtones. This is simply bullshit. The payoff possibility outshines any negatives, if any, associated with it. If you are sending your resume to any company for an unadvertised job, you are not losing anything. The only care that has to be taken is to make a carefully worded cover letter for accompanying your resume. There is a market called hidden job market and it comprises over 80% of the total job market. Hidden job market jobs are neither advertised nor given to Placement consultants, search firms & headhunters etc. Logically speaking, anytime an opening comes up in any company, the first thing the HRD man is gonna do is to search his database and if he doesn’t find anybody worth taking, he will pass on the opening to a search firm or the media for an ad. If your resume is present in his database, you get the first- movers advantage. And also no recruiting cost to the employer.

In the last issue of this mag we discussed subject titles, cover letters. In this issue, lets talk about your Resume itself. Your Resume actually asks for More if you are feeling stalled in your job-search efforts. Are employers and recruiters ignoring you? Do you wonder what you could do to improve your job-search results?

As a headhunter, I am often asked such questions as: How do I find more job leads? How do I know what to put in my resume? Why can’t I get interviews? Are cover letters really important? If you have experienced writer’s block while trying to construct your resume, you might find it helpful to think of your resume as a three-layered pyramid.

All the elements of an effective resume will fit within those three layers.

Layer #1: The Pyramid Pinnacle: Your Job Focus

The top layer of the pyramid is your career focus—the starting point of a great resume. Think of a focused resume as the opposite of a one-size-fits-all resume. An early lesson I learned as a headhunter was that employers are suspicious of candidates whose resumes don’t focus on one career objective. They assume the candidate doesn’t know what he/she wants to do, or that the candidate isn’t really very skilled in either objective. If your career background allows you options for two or more career objectives, that’s great; just make sure that you create a separate resume for each objective.

Layer #2: The Pyramid Midsection: Your Selling Points.

The midsection of the pyramid is made up of the selling points that support your career focus. Selling points are all the qualifications that make you a strong candidate for your particular career focus or objective. For example: the selling points of a sales professional might consist of “New Account Generation”, “Major Account Penetration” or “High Volume Closer.”

Whatever your career focus, determine the best selling points to prove that you match the qualifications for the job.

If you are attempting to cross industry or occupational lines in your next career move, think of your transferable skills as your selling points. Communicating transferable skills allows prospective employers to see your expertise and accomplishments outside the context of your former industry or occupation.

Layer #3: The Pyramid Base: Your Accomplishments.

The largest part of a pyramid is its base; likewise, your accomplishments should comprise the largest part of your resume. Like a pyramid’s base, your accomplishments support your selling points, which in turn support your focus. Your accomplishments illustrate the strength of your qualifications. Quantifiable accomplishments that relate to bottom-line corporate objectives are more significant. If you express your accomplishments as benefits rather than as features, they will appeal more to your readers.

Example

Feature: “Developed and implemented town baisakhi festival display.”

Benefit: “Increased sales 35% by implementing town baisakhi festival display. “

Now, the debatable point is whether the pyramid should be inverted or not. I say the pyramid should should be placed in away that your resume talks about your career accomplishments first and job responsibilities (sic) later. In a ASM resume for instance, a company is loaded with 10,000 resumes and all ASMs have virtually the same responsibilities. Come to think of it, when all resume look similar as the responsibilities are almost the same, you need to stand out by citing your achievements as ASM on top rather than hiding them amongst job responsibilities like every body else.

More later and we move on in the next issue to catch the GateKeepers to the companies i.e., HRD people who are paid by the company to reject your resume.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article?
Get more information from Anil Mahajan, He has made pioneering contributions in the field of Resume Writing and Resume Management.

For Professional Consultations on your resume & your corporate life guidance both Tactical & Strategic, he may be contacted on +91 83760 32607

or at CVSurgeon@Gmail.com

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Author

Yeh Resume Maange More… Part I By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

Yeh Resume Maange  More… Part I

By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

As I have said earlier, most people look down the wrong end of the telescope when it comes to reasons why they can’t get that job. They mistakenly blame things like the economy and their age. But the thing that lets most people down is their application. You see, the point of a good cover letter and résumé is to secure the interview.

I am writing this article to discuss a few gospel truths and dispelling wrong myths as usual.

A. First of all we must be clear about the resume and its objective. 

The One and Only One Purpose of the resume is to win an interview. If it does that, it worked. If it doesn’t, it isn’t an effective resume.

· A resume is an advertisement, nothing more, nothing less.  

A great resume doesn’t just tell them what you have done but makes the same assertion that all good ads do: If you buy this product, you will get these specific, direct benefits. It presents you in the best light. It convinces the employer that you have what it takes to be successful in this new position or career.

· It is so pleasing to the eye that the reader is enticed to pick up and read it. 

It “whets the appetite,” stimulates interest in meeting you and learning more about you. It inspires the prospective employer to pick up the phone and ask you to come in for an interview.

· It’s not an official personnel document. It’s not a job application. 

It’s not a “career obituary!” Your resume is YOUR marketing tool, not a personnel document. The resume is a selling tool outlining your skills and experience… It is about YOU the job hunter, not just about the jobs you’ve held. It’s not just about past jobs!

· A good resume predicts how you might perform in that desired future job.

· It focuses on your future, not your past.

· It emphasizes your accomplishments, not your past job duties or job descriptions

· It documents skills you enjoy using, not skills you used just because you had to.

B. What are the most desirable qualities for job seekers in the workplace? 

Your resume must convey that you carry all these essential attributes. I am giving herebelow the following list of in-demand skills:

1. Willingness to share information and ideas.

2. Commitment to teamwork.

3. Responsiveness to change.

4. Ability to work under pressure.

5. Sense of ownership of work and ideas.

6. Willingness to take calculated risks, without fear of consequences.

7. Multicultural experience and/or ability to speak multiple languages.

8. Ability to communicate clearly and honestly with peers, managers, customers.

9. Understanding of business strategy and how you create shareholder value.

10. Commitment to continuous learning, skill development.

Ample presence of these attributes in your resume will give a positive aura to your profile. We have talked about the purpose of resume and what are the most desirable qualities an employer looks for in a candidate.
Let us now move to more things which are essential

C. Bad Transportation of resume: 

A lot of candidates send their applications to the placement consultants and companies via email with multiple recipients in the “to:”, “cc:” or “bcc:” fields. ALMOST ALL BIG JOBSITES having national or international presence broadcast your resume via email with multiple recipients in the “to:”, “cc:” or “bcc:” fields. These big jobsites also flash your resume from their site’s e-mail ID to another of their own e-mail IDs. Now this is criminal. You are deliberately killing yourself in job market – it could be career Hara Kiri or career killing by these jobsites, where you pay for your own COLD BLOODED MURDER. Resumes received this way are treated as spam (i.e. deleted).

Over 90% Placement consultants and recipient companies delete them because they feel that: You are TOO DESPERATE FOR A JOB and you have mailed your resume to every Tom, Dick and Harry in business. A placement consultant doesn’t want to waste his time for the applicant whose resume is widely circulated in the placement circuit like the eye flu.

You are desperate because you are UNEMPLOYED/  UNDEREMPLOYED.

You are Unemployed / under-employed because you are HIGHLY INCOMPETENT.

You are highly incompetent and hence a PARIAH.

You are a pariah and hence your resume deserves IMMEDIATE DELETION.

This immediate deletion could be at the server end through SPAMGUARDS or MANUALLY in his DESKTOP

D. Essentials in the Subject Title 

As a placement consultant, I receive a lot of resumes. Candidates generally do not give any importance to the subject title and their resume also does not get any attention from the recruiters. Like the cover letter the subject title is an under-utilised resource. The following titles from recent posts are losers:

If your title is similar, nobody will bother to read further, because you have done nothing to distinguish yourself from the crowd. Furthermore, you have shown no imagination or initiative. Why would I hire you? One of the best titles I have seen recently was similar to:

Why is this so good? This person thought about the title and told me in eight words that he/she

· has experience,

· experience is in Brand Management,

· experience is in Brand Management is in Dabur,

· wants a Brand Management or related job,

· is only interested in Mumbai.

Not only can this person communicate effectively, he/she is decisive.

After being clear on the purpose of resume, knowing what an employer seeks in a candidate, Transportation hiccups and subject title, let’s talk a little more about the cover letter. Cover letter is an extra page you can add to your résumé that takes the focus off your past and places it on your potential. The fact is, your skills and experiences can qualify you for other jobs in other industries but your job titles in the past can stereotype you. An imaginative cover letter helps to break that cycle.

Lacking in experience? Are you? Thanks to your new cover letter, a few simple changes to your résumé will put you in the race for jobs that may require more experience than you already have.

There is one more thing you need to get that job.

1. Address the issue in your cover letter. 

State clearly your interest in changing industries. Express your knowledge of the industry and its challenges. Point out how your background experiences make you a great candidate. If you are seemingly overqualified, demonstrate your value: better perspective, more patient, and extensive industry knowledge.

2. If transitioning to a new industry, focus your resume on your transferable skills rather than routine responsibilities. 

Back up your transferable skills with illustrative accomplishments. Translate industry-specific jargon into general terminology. Give less “white space” to company names if they are commonly connected with your industry. White space is just what it sounds like: white area around words. Words or phrases surrounded by white space stand out and attract the eye.

Here are a few tips to help you produce a superior cover letter.

Simplify facts: 

A cover letter is not an autobiography. It should be short and sweet, brief and to the point. The cover letter and resume should demonstrate that you meet or exceed the requirements listed in the job description, that you are interested in the position, and that you are available. Any additional information is superfluous.A cover letter should have three to four paragraphs, no paragraphs of over six lines long, with the longest one being the middle one or two, and the shortest one being the final, summation paragraph.

Poor Grammar and, Misspellings a Big NO NO: 

No one wants to make grammatical or spelling errors but many applicants nevertheless submit cover letters with small and thoughtless, yet deadly, errors. Many problems slip through because people have a difficult time seeing the mistakes in their own writing. So ask someone else to proof-read the cover letter for you. If that’s not possible, read the document aloud, slowly and word by word. Every time you make a correction, read the whole document over again. Spell checks can also be typo insinuations, causing writers to change misspelled words into wrong words, as demonstrated by one cover letter writer who boasted that “Referees are available on request.”

NO negatives: 

It’s been said that no politician ever lost an election over a speech that wasn’t made. Don’t lose the election. This is not the place to explain why you left or are leaving an employer.

No Ego-maniacal tone: 

A golden rule for cover letter writing: make sure that by the time you’ve finished your writing, the person most impressed by your letter isn’t you. This is an opportunity for you to give employers an idea of who you are, what you’ve accomplished and how you can contribute to their company. Nobody likes a self-absorbed narcissist, and even fewer less people want to work with one.

Avoid providing a salary history and salary details: 

A salary history is more likely to cost you a job than not.

Make your cover letter easy on the eyes:

It should be easy to scan and have a logical progression.

Don’t repeat your resume. 

Your cover letter is not a summary of your resume – it will be counterproductive.

Don’t repeat worn platitudes and clichés: 

Experienced HRD people who are actually gatekeepers are being paid by the companies to reject the majority of resume ( HRD gatekeepers shall be discussed in great details after the next issue). know that almost every candidate promises “excellent written and verbal communication skills”, and the ability to “think outside the box” and “juggle multiple tasks” while walking and chewing gum or paan. Be different.

Offer a solution to their problem: 

Most employers hire people because the employer needs to accomplish a task—not because they want to provide employment opportunities to the public. Your cover letter should be solution-centric; not “I” centered. Keep the “I would like” stuff to a minimum.

Personalize your cover letter if possible: 

Your cover letter should be addressed to a specific person whenever identifying information is available. Form letters insult the reviewer’s intelligence and indicate that the writer is broadcasting her resume to every employer or has not made an effort to learn more about the company. Generic/canned cover letters can lead to failure. Even if you do not know the name of the recipient, if you conduct basic research, you can customize the cover letter to suit the position and the company. Tell the reader that you are interested in the company and the position, and why.

It’s the sentiment that counts: 

When you tell potential employers why you’re interested in working for them and their companies, be sincere. Don’t bother pouring on a bunch of flattering statements. If you’re interested in a position or company, just say why.

Okay: “Samsung India’s increasing stake in the booming consumer electronics market makes this position intriguing indeed.”

“I’ve admired your company”s products for some time, especially the Samton 56V.”

No good: “You have the most fabulous company ever and it would be the culmination of my life dream to work with you.”

“I would DIE to work at Samsung India Electronics Ltd.”

A sample cover letter

Your name

Your residence address

Your Tel no.

Your e-mail ID

Contact name, Contact job title and deptt.

Contact company, Company address, Company tel no.

Company e-mail ID

Date

Dear Mr/ Ms/ contact,

The first paragraph tells why you are contacting this person, then either mentions your connection with that person or tells about where you read about this job. It also quickly states who you are. Next it impresses them with your sincere, researched knowledge of their company. The goal is to demonstrate that you are a worthy applicant and attracting or luring them to read further.

The second paragraph tells them more about yourself, particularly why you are an ideal match for the job by summarizing why you’re what they are looking for. You may also clarify anything unclear in your resume.

The third paragraph is an optional extension of the second paragraph

The last paragraph is your goodbye. You thank the reader for his time. Include that you look forward to their reply or give them a time when you’ll be getting in contact by phone.

Sincerely

Sign here

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article?
Get more information from Anil Mahajan, He has made pioneering contributions in the field of Resume Writing and Resume Management.

For Professional Consultations on your resume & your corporate life guidance both Tactical & Strategic, he may be contacted on +91 83760 32607

or at CVSurgeon@Gmail.com

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Author

Tells Nokia…Why Interview Aapne Clear Na Kia By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

Tells Nokia…Why Interview Aapne Clear Na Kia

By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

The Beware Factor

Interview: 10.00 AM

What if…

I hire him…

He wins Pitches…

Mr. Popular…

He Takes my Job!!!

So, I better not hire him.

What we discussed in the last issue on “The Beware Factor” has been amply demonstrated in the recent ad on TV by Nokia.

The power of negative imaging generates fear in the hiring manager – and it is a power that is abundantly & universally present among all professionals. Hiring manager, therefore, tend not to select people who appear better than them.

One notable exception was Henry Rockefeller. He was asked by a news magazine as to what was the secret of his success.

“I always select professionals better than me.”

The stark reality is that almost cent per cent of hiring managers either go for a professional appearing a shade or a couple of shades lower in ability. The hiring manager is not the owner of the organisation, and he doesn’t want to have nightmares about losing his job. He find the easiest solution: REJECT THIS MAN under one pretext or another.

So where is the solution for the candidate?

Either try to appear a shade lower than the interviewer or try to appear like his alter ego (again a shade lower) as a bit of narcissism is present in everybody. You see your face everyday in the mirror & never hate it. Even Mogambo likes himself. Being a hiring manager’s alter ego needs a careful research of the interviewer both offline, before the interview and online during the interview. Relating is a deadly tool & coupled with Alter ego tool generates a strong Potion to effectively nip the “The Beware Factor” in the bud.

Common Ground

One of my readers could not fully understand the Relating concept & called me up. He was to appear in an interview in a durables company & the hiring manager was some Bannerjee. He thought that relating meant the interviewer would select one of his Relations or a Bengali fellow. It took me half an hour to explain the concept of relating which is Continually Building Common Ground. You are not being interviewed for a govt. job where Bhai Bhatijabaad(nepotism) matters the most. It is a case of one of the private sector organisations, where delivery & results are most important. Selection tool “Relating” dwells on the comfort level. More the comfort level you can generate into the mind of the hiring manager, better are your chances of selection. Now, why the hell he is looking for comfort level? Because, he would find himself comfortable in generating results for the company with you as a subordinate. Comfort level, Relating Concept and Beware factors have been sufficiently discussed. Another psychographic factor I am gonna discuss now is “Handle Tool Factor”.

Interview the Company

When you go for the interview, “Interview companies for your job – don’t let them interview you”.  For most job seekers, this is an important attitudinal distinction.  Many of us forget that the decision to accept a position is far more critical for us than it is for the employer.  If they make a mistake, they just go through the recruiting process again.  You, on the other hand, have invested an amount of your professional lifetime that is gone forever.

Viewing it that way, your “selection” takes on a different perspective.

A majority of job seekers go to the interview simply to get grilled. You don’t get an opportunity for asking any questions during an interview, except sometimes in the end. The interviewer is bombarding you unknown missiles & you are trying your best to answer. The “Handle Tool Factor” helps you in turning unknown missiles into known missiles. You ask a small question or make a statement somewhere in the beginning, so that the subject of discussion revolves throughout around your expertise.

For example, In case you are exceptionally good in network marketing and you have done enough homework on knowing the weak points of the interviewing company in marketing, casually mention in the beginning itself that you know the company is facing problems in network marketing.

Now, most of the questions shot by the interviewer will be known missiles & will revolve around the subject of your core-competence. Other nasty questions on your probable weak links elsewhere will most probably be warded off. In the final analysis, you don’t get a job — you pick one.

You must develop an attitude of not falling prey to the unpredictable situations but instead try to foster or help create development of a situation favourable to you.

How much do you expect?

How much do you expect? This is the most frequently asked question in an interview. Giving a figure right in the beginning to the HRD gatekeepers doesn’t help. If you need a job badly & that too on your terms, try to delay answering this question till the interview with the hiring manager is over. As a headhunter, I have utilised this delaying tactic in getting higher salaries for candidates I have sent to my clients. I train the applicant into replying differently to the HRD folks in the first phase, or otherwise HRD will bid him good bye, feeling he is expensive or is not cost effective without realizing his worth (the worth can be realized by the hiring head only).

Once you have the hiring manager on your side i.e., he has started liking you immensely, it is the time to play your “Taking Advantage of the Situation” card. Now you ask for a higher salary & you get it only because suddenly the hiring manager is pleading with the HRD into hiring you as he has developed a strong feeling that you would be an asset to him (probably he has realized that you alone can put, let’s say, the hydraulic system in order, or lift the dwindling market share) and he is damn interested in preserving the asset.

Normally the jobseekers give in right in the beginning. Either they are outrightly rejected for asking for too much, or they settle for too little or even peanuts as they know they need the job badly & they don’t risk negotiation. Job seekers who give “yes, but…” excuses for accepting less than they’re worth suffer from Negotiating Impairment Syndrome, which is characterized by a discounting or outright denial of opportunities to negotiate for more money.

Back to Mr. Disaster

Lemme continue with Mr. Disaster attending a mock interview session with me.

Now, I am sick of this man & shoot a question to him. “You left company XYZ in January 1984 & joined company ABC in October 1985. What were you doing all these months? The man, who was no longer slouching, starts tapping his foot more furiously. This is fidgeting. It is criminal to indulge in fidgeting like playing with your hair, clicking pen tops, tapping feet or unconsciously touching parts of the body. Nobody likes others indulging in fidgeting & rejection in the interview is guaranteed 100%.

I have been trying in vain to make eye contact with him for the last 25 minutes. You must build chemistry with the interviewer by looking the interviewer in the eye. You don’t want to stare, as this shows aggression. Occasionally, and nonchalantly, glance at the interviewer’s hand as he is speaking. By constantly looking around the room while you are talking, you convey a lack of confidence or discomfort with what is being discussed.

The bugger is nervously giving incoherent reply to my question on the gap in service again without eye contact. Check your CV for possible gaps! Make sure you know how you are going to explain time gaps on your CV. 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.

Mr. Disaster is nervous? Neither being nervous nor being incoherent helps. Both these unwanted traits drive the final nail into the coffin. Take a deep breath and remember you’ve already passed the first test, generally a screening of your resume by either a placement consultant or HRD fellas or by both. You better know they’re interested or they wouldn’t be taking the time to interview you. Therefore, go into the interview knowing you’ve already got them on the hook. Be confident, yet not boastful.

I think space constraints signal me to sign off now.

No two interviews are the same, so you can’t plan exactly how the interview will go, but it is important to have a Interview Strategy. It is imperative that you face the interview as a selling meeting; meaning building personal chemistry and establishing an open dialogue for free information exchange.

Success is not necessarily what you say, but how you say it.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? 

Get more information from Anil Mahajan, He has made pioneering contributions in the field of Resume Writing and Resume Management.

For Professional Consultations on your resume & your corporate life guidance both Tactical & Strategic, he may be contacted on +91 83760 32607

or at CVSurgeon@Gmail.com

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Author

Interview Questions and Answers By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

Feel Good Factor - Is your Interview Shining?

Interview Questions and Answers

By Anil Mahajan, MBA PGDIT (IIFT)

The discussion in this issue delves into understanding and anticipating each phase of the interviewing cycle as also how to analyze employer’s needs and positioning yourself as a top candidate.

Many job seekers are not adept at verbally marketing themselves or their skills at the highest level during interviews and I understand from several phone-calls, our past discussions on various psychographic factors like “Nokia / The Beware Factor”, “Common Ground / Relating Concept / The Comfort Factor” & “Handle Tool Factor” were dynamite in paving way for many of you to ace each interview! All these & other factors we have discussed in earlier issue go towards creating a Feel Good factor in the interviewer & we will discuss specifically the ways to reply to the questions generally asked in the interview.

There are several more frequently asked questions. These should be replied to in a way that creates a feel good factor. It will help to make your interview “shining”. Golden rules include Preparing an outline of the duties and responsibilities of the job you will be interviewed for. It also includes using the two second rule when on a job interview. After a question is asked of you, wait 1-2 seconds before responding. This will ensure the employer finished asking their interview question before you answer.

One common mistake candidates make during an interview is talking too much.  It’s important as a golden rule to listen to the question asked and then answer that question.

l employer.

What are your weaknesses? 

Everybody has weaknesses, but don’t spend too much time on this one and keep it work related. Along with a minor weakness or two, try to point out a couple of weaknesses that the interviewer might see as strengths, such as sometimes being a liYou may need to improve your interviewing skills & learn Interview Guru Mantras, but more importantly, you may be shooting yourself in the foot with your resume and cover letters. They may be just strong enough to land you interviews but weak enough to cause problems during the interview.  If your resume brings out your weaknesses during an interview, it can damage your image beyond repair, and most job seekers do not have the confidence or verbal marketing skills to bring their interview and image back on track!  Remember the resume is what guides an interviewer in asking you questions and if it brings up negatives or markets you weakly then your resume may indeed be causing you many problems. This resume matters including development have been discussed in much details in earlier issues.

Why do you want to leave your current job? (Why did you leave your last job?) 

“I’ve worked with M/S Present Co. for three years. During that time I’ve achieved all of the goals I set myself and I’ve enjoyed every minute. Now, however, my aspirations extend beyond those of M/S Present Co. I would like to tackle a new challenge in a different environment.” Be very careful with this. Avoid criticizing other employers and making statements like, “I need a higher salary.” Instead, you may make generic statements such as, “It’s a career move” or ” I am looking for greater challenges”. While this is a straightforward question, you should make sure to accentuate the positive in your answer. Do not tell the interviewer that you’re bored with your current job!

What are your strengths? 

Point out your positive attributes related to the job. Including any skills that you’ve had in the past that would relate to the job and will add value to your new potentiattle too meticulous about the quality of your work. (Avoid saying “I work too hard.” It’s a predictable, common answer.) For every weakness, offer a strength that compensates for it.

How do you describe yourself? 

Answer with positive, work-oriented adjectives, such as conscientious, hard-working, honest and courteous, plus a brief description or example of why each fits you well.

What do you know about our company? 

The interviewer wants to know how hungry you are for this job. If you haven’t even prepared for the interview, by doing the most basic research, then the chances of you getting the job are actually zero. You can be sure that other candidates will have done their research. Check out the firm’s website (if they have one). You should also contact the placement firm or try to get information from other sources. Saying it in a positive way helps “I know that HCL has been in existence for twenty years. It was founded by Mr. Shiv Nader in his garage & penthouse in Defence Colony & he has built it into a leading IT firm in the country with aspirations to make it a Global one. It’s renowned as an ambitious and highly progressive company and I believe it has a very bright future. I also like the fact that HCL isn’t a company that rests on its laurels.” The answer is just great.

What do you know about our products? 

The interviewer is trying to discover whether you have done the necessary groundwork to lay the foundation for a successful interview or you have been lazy and taken the easy route. This could be a strong indication of your work ethic and future behavior. The interviewer is also trying to assess how genuine your desire to work for this firm is. After all, why would you want to work for a company whose products are unknown to you. You shouldn’t go into too much detail about each and every product here. Demonstrate your knowledge of the firm’s major product(s) and how you perceive they fit into the firm’s future strategy. You can also use this question to express your strong desire to work for the firm by illustrating a desire to be involved in the development of these and future products. You can learn about the firm’s products by searching on the Internet.

Why do you want to work for our company? 

Simply Avoid the predictables, such as, “Because your company is a great company.” Instead say why you think it’s a great company.

Why should I hire you? Point out your positive attributes related to the job, and the good job you’ve done in the past. Include any compliments you’ve received from management.

What past accomplishments gave you satisfaction? Briefly describe one to three work projects that made you proud or earned you pats on the back, promotions, raises, etc. Focus more on achievement than reward.

What makes you want to work hard? 

Naturally, material rewards such as perks, salary and benefits come into play. But again, focus more on achievement and the satisfaction you derive from it.

What type of work environment do you like best? Tailor your answer to the job. For example, if in doing your job you’re required to lock the lab doors and work alone, then indicate that you enjoy being a team player when needed, but also enjoy working independently. If you’re required to attend regular project planning and status meetings, then indicate that you’re a strong team player and like being part of a team.

If offered to you, how long do you plan to stay in this role? “I approach every new job with a long-term view. I would like to think that I can make a positive contribution to your company for the foreseeable future.”

Recruiting, hiring and training a new employee is an expensive process and represents a major investment by an employer. The interviewer wants to ensure that your goals are compatible with the firm’s investment.

Ours is a much bigger company than you’ve ever worked at. How do you feel about that?

“I’m very excited. I’ve worked at three small or medium sized companies during my career and while there have been different challenges at each, I’ve always been successful. I’m looking for a new challenge in a large organization where I can apply my talents. This position in your company certainly matches what I’m looking for.”

The interviewer wants to know whether you feel overwhelmed by the position you’re applying for or indeed whether you’ve given the challenges arising from working in a large organization any thought. A sensible reply would show that you believe you have the experience to tackle the position and also that you’re excited by the challenge ahead.

This is a much smaller company than you’ve ever worked at. How do you feel about that?

“It’s great. I’ve learnt a lot working in a large organization and I’m looking forward to applying my knowledge and experience in a smaller arena. I’m under no illusions that the task ahead will be every bit as challenging as my previous role, if not more so, but it’s a challenge that I’d relish.”

The interviewer is trying to assess your approach to a move to a smaller organization. Candidates that convey a belief that they’re in for an easier ride or display a laissez-faire attitude will lose credibility rapidly.

I suggest readers to pass me some more typical questions asked in the interviews. We can discuss them threadbare & try to arrive at more positive answers that can make the interview shining.

Questions about some of the terminology used in this article?
Get more information from Anil Mahajan, He has made pioneering contributions in the field of Resume Writing and Resume Management.

For Professional Consultations on your resume & your corporate life guidance both Tactical & Strategic, he may be contacted on +91 83760 32607

or at CVSurgeon@Gmail.com

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Author