Dated 21st Apr 2004
How do I target companies that might interest me?
SIDDHARTH
Tamilnadu
Begin early! Assess yourself, your needs, your strengths, weaknesses, the kind of work you enjoy, the environment best suited for your skills and the kind of experience you can contribute. The strengths and patience pay off; recruiters take seriously the candidate with a good understanding of their company, its culture, and its business strategy. Match your skills to be competent enough with the current trends in the industry. Evaluate your skills in accordance to the job, lest you might land up in trouble if you are not able to meet the deadlines. Decide what is ideal for you.
It's my first job. What to convince the interviewers that I will be able to handle the job despite my lack of experience?
GOKUL
Bhilai
Think about the skills that are needed to perform the job you are interviewed for. Lots of skills are transferable and highly valued such as communication, delegating, organizing. First think in terms of verbs...things that must be done. Next, think of adjectives that should describe the person doing the job such as calm, patient, incisive, creative . . .you get the idea.
The next on the list is what is required for the job (verbs and adjectives), come up with as many examples of these attributes in your experience and/or coursework. For example, if you had completed several extensive reports, they involved research, time management and organisational skills.
Being able to translate college experiences to job-needed skills is an art in itself. If you are not certain of the qualities needed for the job, do some research on it yourself. Talk to professional organisations or individuals in the field. Be sure to do some research on the organisation you wish to work for Show them that you are interested and motivated by the fact that you did your 'homework' before applying.
This skill-matching exercise can also give you your key selling points and areas to highlight in your resume and marketing letter.
What do you expect your starting salary to be? How to deal with this?
SHOBA
Vizag
Discussions of salaries and compensation should not be held until an offer is made. Employers are shopping, trying to guess your price tag. This is one of those screening questions used to either screen in or screen out...so a response is important. Have you done your homework? Try researching the price for this job in the marketplace. Cross check with the classified ads or online ads for similar positions. Match your range and your level of experience. Placing yourself mentally for the right price is the first step.
Second step is sharing this information correctly. Do you have enough information about this new job to determine your salary? If not state it and seek the information needed. Before you discuss salary, try finding out details like the reporting requirements and how many people you would be supervising. In addition, what are the skill levels and experience of the staff?" Look for what others are paid in similar positions. When you can no longer stop or seek additional information..."Based on what you have told exclusive of other compensation elements the question of the salary range would crop up. Giving a range will wiggle room and allow for some give-and-take when benefits and other compensation is considered. If you know what you are willing to accept as salary and what the market pays, using a salary range should permit you to be negotiable.
Who according to you is a good team member and how to qualify for being one?
MOHAN
Tiruppur
Consider first the situational context of the question. What is the team environment of the organisation that you are interviewing---do they have a strong, organised team-based work environment or is it based on informal authority and fluctuating teams? Ideally, you should have had an opportunity to research and ask some questions about the organisation to determine how they operate (and if indeed you want to work in that environment.)
Model your responses to the organisation. Obviously, you are describing yourself as a good team member. Your idea of which a good team member may be could be very different from the others and the organisation. This also depends on your stand in the team---new member, leader and who is your support. How you see yourself? How do you make yourself fit into a new team? How do you elicit cooperation from other team members? What do you think the organisation's biggest problem is relative to teams and team building? And, what solution could you provide to resolve issues will be more focused.
What is the purpose of Telephone interviews and how are they carried out?
MITHI
Mumbai
In most cases, companies choose to have a brief telephone interview with a candidate before setting up a personal interview. Telephone screening offers an introduction to the firm, responsibilities of the job and technical skills needed without taking too much of either person's time. Telephone interviews can be difficult since the conversation is not backed up by personal presentation and expressions. Therefore, it is important to keep a few things in mind when preparing for the call.
Always sound alert and interested. Enthusiasm will increase your chances of being invited for an in-house interview.
Eliminate background noise and interruptions. You will seem unprofessional or inattentive if the caller can hear your television, radio, children, computer keyboard, etc. Turn off your call waiting! Try to make your environment sound as quiet as possible to appear 100% focused on the call.
Be prepared. Keep your resume, appointment book and a list of questions you have near the phone.
Give concise answers. Think of questions that might be asked and formulate your answers accordingly. Make sure to give enough detail but don't go off track.
Ask questions. Show your interest in the opportunity by asking questions that are focused on the position. Do not ask about salary or benefits. A telephone interview is not the time to discuss those issues.
Inquire about the next step. At the end of the conversation ask what the next step will be. Express your interest in further pursuing the opportunity!
The faq column deals with career concerns addressed to The C&K Management LTD. PO Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
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