Dated September 29, 2004
What interests you most about this job? What is the appropriate answer for such questions in job interviews?
Arinab Upadhaya
Nagpur
Answering this question properly requires you to fully understand the job description. Such understanding enables you to respond with specific explanations. This also reflects your enthusiasm. Some good responses include: challenging, exciting, scope for learning and developing, departmental growth, teamwork, etc. This question can also be turned around so that you can gather more information from the interviewer regarding the job and the company's expectations.
Is it necessary to have a well-prepared resume? What role does resume play in a candidate landing a job?
Rohit Bakshi
Delhi
A well-written resume accurately representing your knowledge, experience and abilities enhances your profile and impresses upon the prospective employer. You can be viewed more favourably than your competition if you are better prepared and better equipped for the job. A well-written resume demonstrates your qualities much in advance.
It should be a factual and flattering representation of your work experience and future potential for a prospective employer. The resume should be clear and concise and speak volumes about your potential as an employee.
Employers do not wish to read reams of information; they simply want to gain an insight into the character and ability of the potential employee.
Your resume simply gets you a foot in the door and this can be achieved only if your resume receives the attention it deserves.
It should reflect your achievements, your actions and your personal characteristics. It should detail your contribution to the organisation you were employed with and not personal opinions or observations. Simply put, a resume is a very effective screening tool, which saves time and money for the recruiter. Prospective employers will quickly determine if you are a candidate with skills and abilities that match their requirements.
As you prepare to write your resume, keep the above points in mind and use the opportunity to brighten your chances of being considered for the job. Your resume will gain you the interview you desire but remember it can only do this if it is well written and effective.
The main objective of a resume is to get you that all-important interview call where you can personally demonstrate your potential to your prospective employer.
What are the common mistakes we make while preparing the resume?
Karthick
Singapore
In an increasingly politically correct world, we have changed our perspective and our requirements with regard to the information we need to incorporate in a resume.
The following information is neither relevant nor beneficial when you create your resume. Since age, sex and marital status do not have any impact on your ability to perform your job, preferably should not have any place in the resume.
Political or religious affiliations are in no way relevant to how you perform your job and it may differ from your prospective employer's views. It may put an unnecessary obstacle in your way at the very outset.
Information about hobbies / leisure activities, unless it has a strict bearing on the job you are currently applying for or would positively strengthen your resume, is superfluous. Voluntary Work: Some employers may applaud your commitment to public service but others may see it as a potential distraction.
Jargon: Be conscious about use of jargon. Everyday language for you may be meaningless to the person reading the resume. It reflects poorly on you.
Do not include details of your pay expectations. This information will do two things - either undersell you or overprice you. Either way it is unreal to include it in your resume.
Do not give out reasons for leaving previous employment. If asked at interview level, temper your answers so that you do not criticise former employers in any way. Explain gaps in employment. No explanation leaves scope for an employer to arrive at wrong conclusions.
Deceit will always catch up with you. If there are areas that you prefer not to disclose, omit them entirely or be sparing with the truth, just don't lie. Once the untruth is discovered, your chances of securing employment vaporise.
Ambitions: This is a difficult area to cover. So, it's advisable to leave this information off the resume altogether. If asked in the interview, you may choose to brief about your ultimate ambitions and goals; but committing it on paper is a different matter as it would be open to interpretation and thus can generate wrong conclusions.
I am in my first year B Com and wish to pursue Chartered Accountancy. What are the career prospects for chartered accountants?
Vasudha Chary
Gajwal
A career in finance promises a challenging and extremely rewarding professional life. On becoming a Chartered Accountant, several opportunities open up. CAs can work in a firm or set up their own private practice.
A few of the areas where opportunities exist for Chartered Accountants are: in capital markets, business houses and industry, consultancy firms, etc. Their role is significant in activities like preparation of project reports, market research, management accounting, cost analysis, budget planning, working capital management, inventory control, policy planning, securities consultancy, auditing, etc. With the country liberalising its policies and approach, opportunities are expected to increase further.
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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