How to Prepare Effective Resume

The correct way to put down your name and contact details:

 

 Name: 

• Your full name .You must give your first name, middle name if any and last name.
• The name you have on your resume is the same as on your bank account or in your passport.
• If your name has initials in the beginning or the end, don’t ignore them.
• Remember, there may be others with the same first name as yours or the same last name. 

Address:

• Give the correct address with House Number, Street name, City and Zip code or Pin Code.
• If you have just moved into a new address, check the correct address before you put it on your résumé.
• If you are living with someone or moving from place to place, give the address of a family member or friend who can collect and deliver mail to you.
• Check with the person if he/she is ok with receiving mail on your behalf.
• It is not a good idea to receive personal employment related mail at your office address. 

Phone Number:

• Give both your landline number and mobile number.
• Landline: Before your actual phone number, put down your country code and area code numbers with a + sign in the beginning. This information will help international callers to identify the country and area you belong to:

                +91 80 26666666 
                +61 2 62222222
                +1 212 5200000
                +44 121 41431322

• For mobile numbers, add + and country code before the actual number.
• If the phone number belongs to another person or if there is another person who is sharing the use of the phone number on your resume, inform him/or her about it. She/he should be able to give and take messages on your behalf.
• If you are not going to be available at the  particular phone  number  between some  hours,  mention it on your resume…”Call between 8 and  10 PM”, ”Call after “6 PM”.
• It is not a good idea to give the number of your workplace.

E-Mail id:

• It is absolutely important to have an e-mail id. There are many free e-mail providers available. So setting up an e-mail id is easy.
• Choose a good id that is professional. It can have parts of your name or initials or numbers. Avoid names like Scorchingfire@yahoo.com or squeakytablet@rediffmail.co etc.
• If you already have an e-mail id for your friend that sounds unprofessional, get a new one.

The Lure Of English In India

Jai Hind! Jai Bharath! India is a formidable country-multi cultural, multi dimensional and multilingual. If I remember my history right, the Indian rulers fought among themselves and the absence of unity brought its several foreign invaders and thus we were under the British rule for several years.

The British are out but their legacy has had a strong imprint on our soil and the English language is here to stay! It has been made the official language.

Politicians in India are trying to play the regional card and divide the country into regions by their local languages. Ironically English is the unifying force for the masses and more importantly it is Bread and Butter for millions. Hence it is the language encouraged in elite circles, schools, colleges and is definitely the mainstay for Higher Education.

Coming to the lighter side of things I would like to quote a few instances how English wrongly communicated can land you in very embarrassing situations.

As a little girl when I visited an ailing old lady, she said “I feel a lot better after the doctor asked me to take tablets for my romantic heart” (she meant rheumatic heart!)

While in college, I called on my friend and after a long wait she emerged from the room saying,

“Sorry I made you wait, I had to milk my baby.”(Of course she meant she was nursing her baby.)

One of my English students gave me the recipe to make tea, “The luggage needed to make tea is tea leaves, sugar, water and milk. Steer the tea before serving.”

This anecdote really takes the cake: Queen Elizabeth was taking a walk around her garden with one of the Indian ministers. They halted in front of a pond with two swans.

The minister decided to compliment the Queen, “I admire your bathakhs” (Bathakh is Hindi for swan).The Queen blushed.

Wrong Communication can land you in very embarrassing situations. If you do not want to get into similar situations…learn the language well.

A Few Important Interview Questions With Possible Answers

The interviewer’s task is not to confuse or trap you, but to get the best out of you.There are Several methods of interviewing and a wide range of questions-- some related to your profession and some general topics. Normally the  interview skills begins with education based questions and about your hobbies.

1. Tell me something about yourself ?

Start with the present and tell how you are suitable for the job.

I am a post graduate in Economics from Delhi University. I have majored in -(Tell the subject(s) you have majored in). I have been an active volunteer for a center for underprivileged kids since my college days. I play football quite regularly and since trekking is my hobby I have traveled many mountainous and hilly regions of southern India. Reading is another hobby and Thomas Hardy is my favorite author. (make sure that you know something about your favorite author’s books and do not lie if you don’t read!)

2. Which is your favorite newspaper?

The Times of India- is my favorite newspaper. I read other local newspapers like ,for some interesting political articles and other entertainment news.

3. What do you know about our company, organization or institution?

Try and find out something about the company that you are applying to. Visit the website and collect certain amount of information about the company that you are applying for.

You can start by saying—“I know about your company form your website.I was particularly interested in…/impressed by….” Also, explain how you think you will fit in.

4. Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?

I see myself in the senior managerial level of ___________.I am sure that I will be able to be a team lead within the next 12 months since I have been able to do that in the previous company I was working in. I hope to expand our foreign markets in the next two years.(Make your goals sound realistic)

5. Are you ready to for relocation?

Although I prefer to be in my own city, it would not be a problem if I am posted for a short period of three to five years as I believe that traveling and living out of our comfort zone gives good experience and exposure to different languages and culture.

6. After your Engineering you have not worked nearly for two- three years. Can you explain the gap?

Well, I was managing my father’s printing business by taking care of the day to day printing orders, delivering, dispatching and also did the marketing to get orders from clients and improved the profits by 30% in the first two months of joining my father’s business. Later on, I felt I should work in a company for exposure and experience and I applied to various companies and was waiting for a call from a reputed company.

7. You have changed your jobs so frequently with four jobs in six years. You don’t seem to stick to a job for long.?

I joined as a trainee in my first job and was waiting for a permanent recruitment after three months of training as I was promised, but when it got delayed I joined another soft ware company. I became the team lead after six months there. I was advised by my own boss to take on more challenging roles for which I moved on to the next company. My friend who had started his own firm needed my support for a year so I joined him and am currently working with him.

8. What are your goals in life?

My goal is to work in the UK for a few years since I feel exposure to the work atmosphere in Europe will help me go a long way. I would like to return after 10 years to put my experience to good use. (You can talk about your further studies, your special areas of interest in your work or any activities that you are fond of and would like to master.)

9. How consistent are you towards anything that you do?

I was quite consistent in my studies, because when I was given a project to complete in two months I completed before time and even won the best project award. But I think work experience will help me a great deal in achieving consistency as it will be a team work and requires more patience and maturity to handle pressure and stress.

10. What are your strengths?

I am a very strong, positive minded, goal oriented person. I try to achieve the best in my work. I set quite a high standard for myself to achieve distinction in anything that I do.

11. Can you work under a person who is younger than you?

I wouldn’t mind working under a person who is few years younger than me. I believe than one should always be willing to learn from anybody---whatever position or age.

12. Are you good at handling work pressure and deadlines?

I was used to multitasking in my previous job where I handled quality control and customer service for the electrical appliances division. I was handling at least five major electrical appliances and was responsible even for the customer complaints. I have sometimes handled as many as twenty customers a day with ease. In fact it has become a sort of routine for me to meet the deadlines.

13. Why are you leaving the present job?

I feel saturated in my present job. I am looking for challenging tasks which can take up my career graph and give me an identity for my skills and knowledge that I possess rather than just meeting deadlines and doing the same perfunctory job.

14. What is important in a job to you –‘salary or designation’?

I think they go hand in hand. A salary without job satisfaction may not really provide a meaningful growth in career. So I cannot give importance to one and ignore the other. Both are equally important.

15. The government decides to ban auto rickshaws forever- What would be your opinion?

It may not be a feasible idea to ban all autos at once. But a slow and steady phase out will be more justified because the government should be in a position to provide an alternate transport system to distant and interior areas of the city. They should also think of the job opportunities for those rickshaw drivers who may eventually become jobless as a result.

16. Will there be no corruption if educated people take active part in politics?

There can be no guarantee that corruption will be weeded out if educated people enter politics. Unless we believe that all educated people are honest once elected into a position of power, we cannot make such a conclusion. In fact an educated politician might find ingenious ways of corruption!

17. How will you serve the society in spite of your busy work schedule?

I may not be able to make time for it. However, I can contribute by keeping my surroundings clean, and not expect the corporation to clean it .I will try to conserve water and implement rain water harvesting.

18. May I contact your present employer for a reference?

Absolutely, I can give both the phone number and the e-mail ID and they can be contacted on phone after 5.30 in the evening.

19. What will you do if your subordinate always gives excuses for the mistakes committed in his/her work?

I may accept the excuses once or twice, later a warning will be given to minimize mistakes and if it still continues I will choose the last option of firing only if there is no way at all to improve the situation. I certainly will not jump into a hasty conclusion as I believe that people can do well with proper guidance and motivation.

20. Whom will you blame if your team is not performing well?

I think I will take the blame on myself because if the team is not performing well under my guidance I might have failed somewhere to come up to the expectation. I will introspect first before I can come to a conclusion.

So above questions are the most frequent asked questions related to Interview preparation. If you want  corporate resume preparation, you can follow us.

Why Resume Is So Important When Applying For Job?

WHAT IS RESUME?

A resume introduces you to the people who will eventually hire you. Most of the times your resume is the first point of contact or communication with your future employers.

For students looking at higher education or extra courses at various universities, your resume will determine whether you should be admitted into the course or not.

Your resume should have your name, contact information, your career history, your years of education, your capabilities and what you are prepared to commit to your future employers or educational institutions.

WHY IS A RESUME IMPORTANT?

Preparing your resume is the first step in the job-search process. Your resume will help you get into a position that you dream of a position better than what you are in now.

Since a resume is in the form of written communication (either on paper or e-mail), your first aim should be to get noticed for your abilities. If you prepare a well written résumé, the chances are that you will get called for an interview where you can present yourself and speak in detail about yourself.

A  well prepared resume from a less experienced candidate can be chosen over a poorly prepared resume of a more experienced candidate.

A good resume means more chances to get better jobs and positions. A poor resume may mean months of rejection and unemployment.

WHAT IS A GOOD RESUME?

A good resume should display all relevant information about you that your employers are interested in knowing about.

A good resume should be carefully composed, edited and not contain any spelling mistakes.

A good resume should display and highlight all your strengths and qualities that make you suitable for the job you are applying for.

A good resume is nothing but information about you delivered in an attractive and efficient manner.

WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD A RESUME CONTAIN?

• Your Name in Full
• Address-where you will be available
• Phone numbers-land line as well as mobile number
• E-Mail id
• Your educational qualifications-when and where you went to school
• Responsibilities you have assumed
• What you have accomplished
• How you have contributed
• Your abilities, skills and strengths
• Special training/courses attended
• Certificates and licenses you have earned.

WHAT IS A COVER LETTER?

A cover letter is a letter sent along with your résumé. It is as important as your resume because this is your first one-sided interaction with your prospective employer. Your  cover letter states who you are and why you are contacting the addressee.

Job Interview - How To Handle A Telephonic Interview

A lot of employers these days use telephone interviews to identify and recruit candidates for their company. Employers use the telephone interview as a pre-screening method. Employers would like to narrow down the number of applicants who will be invited for in-person interviews. This saves them time, money for preparation and travel expenses for the candidate. For most applicants, this would be the first round of interview. It is therefore essential that you follow the correct Interview Preparation Coaching or telephone etiquettes to get through this round. It is obvious that in the telephone interview, your communication skills will be thoroughly tested.

For active job hunters, always expect a call from one of the recruiters. The call could be at an unexpected time or at an appointed time. In any case, be prepared at all times if it is the first time for you, practice with a friend or family member and take feedback.

Some tips to help you:

Be Prepared:

• Read your resume well. Remember all the points you have put down there. The dates for your education as well as employment history are important. This way, even if you get an unexpected call, you will be able to remember all the details the interviewer is questioning you about.
• Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. This is one question most interviewers ask either directly or indirectly.
• Keep a list of your projects and achievements, along with the dates.
• If your phone interview is at an appointed time, you must keep your résumé, notes to answer technical questions, certificates and other documents handy, so that you do not take a lot of time to answer questions.
• Keep a pen and note-pad handy to take down numbers and other notes.

Body Language:

• Posture is important. Stand or sit upright just as you would in a face-to-face interview. This increases your confidence.
• Your voice and tone change according to your posture. The person at the other end of the phone can always make out if you are in a slouched position or lying down and answering the call, even though they can’t see you!
• Smile. A smile can be heard.
• Be casual and relaxed. If you are nervous, you will stammer a lot and not get your thought process right.

Be a good listener:

• Make listening sounds like “hmm..”,”yeah”,”OK”,”right” etc. to make the other person aware that you are listening and attentive.
• Never interrupt the other person. Instead, you can wait till the interviewer finishes speaking
• Clarify a point that you have not understood. Instead of saying “Please repeat,’ or “Sorry, I didn't get you,” be more specific. You can say,” Are you asking about my recent project or the one I did in college?” or “I am sorry I couldn't hear the last part of your question…did you ask if I have traveled abroad?”Communicate your intentions to the caller. Remember the caller does not know what you are actually doing.
• Explain your behavior to the caller. “I am sorry, I am driving. I can’t hear you. Can I call you back in ten minutes after I park my vehicle?” “I am at work. I can’t speak from my office. Can I call you later?” “Your voice is breaking up. I can’t hear you well. I will go to another place and try again. Can I call you in two minutes?
• If the phone gets cuts off suddenly, call back and identify yourself again. The recruiter may not remember you. You can say,”Hi, this is Mukund. You were talking to me when the phone got cut. Can we continue with the interview or do you want me to call you another time?
• If you want the caller to hold on, you must explain why and for how much time. “Can you hold on for a minute while I find the document you were referring to?”,” Sorry, my pen is not writing. Can you hold on for a moment? I am finding another pen. Yes. I have got a pencil now. Please give me the number.”

How To Prepare Personal Statement

A personal statement or admissions essay gives you an opportunity to present yourself. Moreover,it enables you to distinguish yourself from other candidates.An admissions committee at the university evaluates you, as an applicant through your personal statement.
 

What do the Universities want to know about you?

Apart from your grades and references,Universities would like to read your personal statement in order to know more about you and to find out where you are headed.If you are applying to one of the top colleges,it is likely that everyone applying there will have good grades and excellent credentials.

However, the Universities you are applying to would like to know that you are indeed capable of taking on the demands of your coursework and that you will not drop out of college midway.

Universities get superior rating through where their students get placed,the research they do and through the prestigious posts their alumni hold in the world job market. Your college would like to know if you have the potential to stick to your area of study and make a name for yourself and thereby for the University.

For example Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, Princeton and other such Universities have produced Nobel Laureates and world leaders and students flock to such universities in order to gather experience and benefit from their curriculum, activities and their teaching.

The University would like to know whether you will fit in there and how you will contribute to the University through your academics and other activities.

What are the steps to follow to write a good personal statement?

You must prepare your resume before writing out your personal statement. To each point on your résumé, expand into sentences what your real thoughts on your achievements are like  soft skills and  communication skills. 

For example, under your academic records in your résumé,you may have mentioned your subjects and high school orunder graduate scores.

In your personal statement, explain why you opted for these subjects. Which subject were you most passionate about? Was there any subject you did not perform well in? In that case, how did you try and improve your scores?

A paragraph on your academic achievements should reflect your willingness to work hard and your ability to cope with the course work drawn up for you.

Mention all your strengths.You can start by putting down your strengths in points. Later, qualify your strengths by proving it through facts or events in your life.

Research information about the university or college you are applying to. Information can be found on the university website. Read up from brochures and other internet data about the courses available and the popularity of the college.How are the labs and the library facilities? Find out about the city, town and campus the college is situated in.Now make a list of the things that attract you to the University.

Next,zero in on your course. How does the University of your Choice compare with other universities in this particular subject? How long is the course? What are your career prospects after finishing your course? Most courses will have their faculty listed along with their credentials. Do you have the opportunity to train under eminent faculty members?

Make notes as you keep getting information. You will need all this information to write Your essay.

 

How early should you prepare your Personal Statement? 

Give yourself at least two months to prepare your personal statement. This is because you get so caught up with your exams/work and other admission processes that you are likely to leave the personal statement to the very end.

You may have to hurry to meet the university applications deadline. You may end up making a shoddy, incomplete personal statement and the University admissions committee then sets you apart as a very mediocre applicant.

Sometimes in spite of your good academic scores or excellent school/college records, you may get rejected because, what they see in carelessly structured personal statement is a disorganized candidate and a poor communicator.
 

E-Learning—The New Age Way Of Acquiring Education

E-learning includes all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching

Wikipedia

E-Learning has come as a boon to people seeking to acquire different skills—basic or advanced.

E-Learning cuts across barriers like distance and time, the banes of modern living. E-Learning does not cost much and learning can be self-paced, instructor driven, and interactive. You can be part of a group or receive instruction on your own. You can learn from anyone in any part of the world and be exposed to a global world view.

Benefits of E- Learning

• E-Learning can put up different learning styles and make possibility of learning through a variety of activities.
• Develops knowledge of Internet and computers skills that build self- knowledge and self –confidence throughout their lives and career.
• E-Learning makes easy for employees to formulate learning a continuous part of their job.
• Reduce travel time and travel cost for off campus students and also learning materials allows student study in their own place 

Education actually means acquiring knowledge and skills and is not age, community or gender specific. However, education imparted through classroom training over generations---be it in the form of Gurukuls or schools or colleges has corrupted knowledge seeking, introducing boundaries and petty biases. In India, it was class specific—only people from certain castes got educated.

Skills were restricted to families. A barber’s son remained a barber with no way of getting educated in the lettered word. In the western world churches and religious organizations controlled education and later on, only the moneyed class made it to schools.

Even today, in a far more democratic world, schools and universities are run as money-making industries, restricting admission to a select few. Some religious institutions restrict the entry of women. The middle aged and elderly, have very little scope of starting afresh in a new course or syllabus, since they also have to take care of their jobs, families and health issues.

 A person living in a small suburb or a village may never get to go to a good school.Also, if you are of frail health or disabled, chances are that you may not be able to travel to school.

E-learning content can include:

1. Text
2. Audio 
3. Images
4. Video

 Ways of delivering and accessing e-learning content include:

1. Internet
2. CD
3. USB
4. DVD
5. Mobile phone
6. Personal computer
7. Tablet computer

E-learning transgresses distance. You can study from within your home. You can take classes after working hours. Or…for the busy mother—after your babies are asleep or at school.E-Learning promotes self paced learning. You can start getting educated later in life. You can be forty and join an online university at that age. You can learn from a coach who lives in another country. Even if you are educated enough, you can enhance your knowledge through the many refresher courses available online.

You can later become a coach or a trainer yourself. An online trainer has the advantage of training at flexible hours. You can make your teaching interactive and multi-dimensional using the immense amount of online training tools available in the market today. You can learn and train through your TV and smart phones and tablets very effectively. Knowledge and education is literally at your finger-tips.

With newer and more advanced innovations in technology available every day, the dream for educationists should be that no individual, in any part of the world, should be left uneducated.

Undergraduate and Graduate School Admissions deadlines for the USA

If plan to study in the US either for Undergraduate courses (bachelor’s degrees) or Graduate courses (MS or MBA, MD, LLM etc.) you must meet the application deadlines for each school. International students (such as students from India, Asian countries and other countries that do not have English as their mother tongue), need to write the TOEFL or IELTS that are standardized English tests recognized by the American college boards.

 Some schools might give you an IELTS/TOEFL waiver if you can prove that you have studied all your primary, secondary and high school courses in English.

Basic certificates and test requirements:

1.  Undergraduate courses- High School certificate, SAT scores, TOEFL/IELTS.

2.  Graduate Courses-

                        

•   MS - Undergraduate college leaving certificate (most schools consider only 4 years of  graduation and not 3 years) with marks card, GRE general or GRE subject scores, TOEFL/IELTS.
•   MBA- Undergraduate college leaving certificate, GMAT scores, TOEFL/IELTS scores.
•   MD-  Undergraduate college leaving certificate (some schools insist on American     undergraduate degree),MCAT scores, TOEFL/IELTS scores.
•   LLM- Undergraduate college leaving certificate, TOEFL/IELTS scores.

Additional requirements:

• Resumes- Student resumes listing academic achievements,extra-curriculars and additional courses such as languages or dance/music/art courses.
• Personal statement or Statement of Purpose Essays—In these Essays you should stress on your goals ,your academic and other achievements so far, your reasons for choosing your course of study and how would contribute to the school during your stay there.
• Letters of recommendation from your teachers/professors and/or professional recommendations from your boss.
• For Business schools and many graduate courses you will have to provide information on your work experience if any and a recommendation from your boss on your professional capabilities and achievements.
• For Medical School admissions you will have to provide a list of your voluntary work at hospitals and other health services related work and lab work if any with a letter of recommendation from the hospital/service center/lab.

Planning your applications:

Most schools start classes in fall, i.e. - late August/beginning September. Application deadlines for fall admissions are usually November-December of the previous year.

If you want to get into college in September 2014, you must finish sending your scores and other requirements by December 2013. Be ready with all your scores by October 2013 end.

Since almost all test scores like the GRE,GMAT,SAT,TOEFL and IELTS takes between 2-4 weeks, it is better to take all these tests by June, so that the scores are reported by July end and you can start working on your essays and recommendation letters. MCAT scores take 4-6 weeks to be reported.

It is also safe to take some of these tests as early as May because in case you are not happy with your scores, you can redo the test after a couple of months.

For rolling admissions (round the year admissions), please go to each school’s website to find out details about requirements and admission deadlines.

 For More Information refer the following websites:

1. Collegeboard.org: Offers advice to college bound students,who are currently in High School finishing their PUC, or 12th Grade.Senior students (who finished school a few years ago) who have not matriculated and are going to enrol in college for the first time, are also eligible to apply.This website has a comprehensive college search for colleges in the US and each school requirements and information about the SAT.
2. Princetonreview.com/grad/international-applicants.aspx and gradschools.com gives good information about application deadlines,choosing subjects and programs and test requirements.

                       

How to use proper Phone Etiquette

      Why is phone etiquette important?

• People cannot see you face to face. Expressions in your voice can create an impression, just as much as your facial expressions, gestures and body language.
• When making cold calls, many times, it is the first point of contact for getting a business. 
• While giving instructions or setting a problem right, clarity in voice and tone is very important to avoid confusion in the listener’s mind.

 

      Common etiquettes to follow

• Avoid making calls early mornings, afternoons, late nights and mealtimes. (While making International calls, know the appropriate time in that zone.
• Make business calls well before the close of office hours.
  If you dial or receive a “wrong number”, simply say, “Sorry ,wrong number”.
  If you have made the call, introduce yourself first, explain the purpose of the call and wait for a response.
• Conversations with busy people should be brief as possible. You may ask, “Is this a good time to talk?” or “Do you want me to call back later?”. 
• When the number you are calling is not answered quickly, wait long enough .It is very annoying to have been disturbed just to pick up the telephone and find the caller has hung up.
• The appropriate way to respond to a call is “Hello”.
• Avoid putting a caller on hold for more than 30 seconds. If an immediate response will take time, inform the caller. ”This may take some time, would you like to keep holding or should I give you a call later?” gives a choice to the caller. If you have promised to call back, remember to call. 
• Listen carefully. Never interrupt.
• Reply clearly. Pause. Ask or determine if the person at the other end has understood you.
• Never hang up on a caller. Ask questions like “Will that be all?”, “Is there anything else I can help you with?” before hanging up.
• Try not to mispronounce the name of a person you are making a call to. If it is a difficult name to pronounce, ask the person if you have the right pronunciation if not, correct it by repeating it or asking for the spelling of the name. 
• If you have an unusual name, spell it out and give a clear pronunciation of the name to the person at the other end.
• While taking down a message, confirm by reading it out back to the caller and double check the name, spelling and telephone number.

      Cell-phones

• Same etiquettes as for phones.
• Keep ring tone off in meetings and public places such as office, theatres, movie halls, shops, elevators…any place where it might disturb others.
• While attending a call move to a corner or out of the hall/room and respond in a low voice.
• If you are in conversation with someone, take their permission before responding to call.
• Text messages or SMS saves money and time and does not disturb.