Staying ahead of competition
ASK ARAVIND KANNAN, a final year engineering student at PRRM College of Engineering as to what he is doing to help him secure his first job and he proudly says - "I'm posting my CV on the job portals like Monster and Naukri". The same goes with most of his peers in his college and elsewhere. But is that all? Would a simple CV among millions of other CV's on job portals suffice to get you that elusive job? Even if it did, is that the right approach? Well, the answer is...its not.
Although there is no single method to success, there are certain underlying approaches that will hold one in good stead irrespective of which stream of education they are pursuing or which job they are applying for. Given below are a few pre-requisites.
Networking
It is very important to be socially active. Meeting people - particularly seniors/peers/ acquaintances currently employed and exchanging of views and ideas with them helps one to learn and stay in tune with the current industry developments. What networking also does is, it improves our communication and interpersonal skills and more importantly, it gives us useful contacts and leads to aid in the job search. The most critical aspect of networking is that, the more people who know that you are looking for a job, the more are your chances of them contacting you when an opportunity comes to their notice.
Introspection
Before beginning to look for a job, one needs to ask oneself certain fundamental questions. What differentiates you from the rest? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your long term career plans? How has your graduation contributed to your personality and skill sets? Answering these questions beforehand will ease the pressure of answering these questions in a job interview or even writing a cover letter for a job application for that matter.
Self Assessment
One can never really get a true picture of one's abilities and skills until they assess it against a benchmark. There are several free online self assessment tests that help you in doing this. Also, while interacting with people, you should constantly be learning from them and improving in areas where you are lagging. Free online technical tests are also available that help you test yourself in your field of study.
Make the best use of your free time
In the time between completing your graduation and your first job, put your free time to best use. If you need to improve your communication and interpersonal skills, join language speaking and personality development classes which are widely available today. These classes can also be taken online. If you are 18, learn driving and get your driver's license and also apply for your passport if you do not have one. Driving license and passport are the two most important documents that one needs to have ready when the need arises. Dedicate some time everyday to reading newspapers and magazines and also visiting websites of companies where you are looking to apply for a job.
Resume & covering letters
A well written resume along with a company/job/role specific covering letter is a crucial element of your job search. Companies do not appreciate slack resumes and generic covering letters. A relevant covering letter depicting your knowledge of the company and your relevance for the role in contention will reflect on your interest, dedication and hardwork.
Interview tidbits
An essence or outcome of following all the above pointers would be a good performance at a job interview. Although there is no standard way to tackle a job interview, there are certain underlying principles. A jobe interview is much more than just a question answer round. The interviewer assesses the candidates on various aspects like confidence, clear understanding of one,s strengths/weaknesses and also career expectations, body language, communication and interpersonal skills, ability to handle unexpected questions/situations. Correct answers to all questions asked will not necessarily guarantee you the job. The golden rule to be borne in mind during job interviews is that - sometimes a simple "Sorry I do not know" is all that it takes to impress the interviewer. Its better to be honest than try to pretend knowing the answer. Last but not the least, ensure that you dress appropriately for any interview. Over dressing is as bad as under dressing.
With the job market in a boom phase and the corresponding shortage of skilled work force, getting your first job is not a herculean task anymore. Getting a job that is a right fit to your skill sets and to the organisational needs however needs dedicated effort. Doing things right as well as doing the right things will only help you realise your goals quicker by keeping you ahead of the competition.
T. Muralidharan
is alumnus of IIM-A
Rohit Shenoy
is alumnus of Cardiff Business School, UK
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