5 of the Smartest Things Ever Said About Job Interviews.....!

In this post I have put together a collection of 5 of the smartest quotes by acclaimed authors regarding Job Interviews. And I am pretty certain that, as you read them, you will understand the rationale behind them. 

Let's try and understand what Todd Bermont meant when he quoted - 

• "So many people out there have no idea what they want to do for a living, but they think that by going on job interviews they'll magically figure it out. If you are not sure, that message comes out loud and clear in the interview." 

How true this rings out for most of us! Look, job interviews are definitely not the place to find out whether you fit into a particular career. You will need to assess yourself much before you even apply for a particular job advertisement. So, for those of you who are in the habit of doing just this, my sincere advice, get serious about what you want to do with your life. Don't let life pass you by without doing anything worthwhile. You are unique, you have something unique to contribute to society, so buckle-up and take job interviews seriously. Find out your true potential in my book and I am certain you will know what you ought to do the next time around!

• "Finding a job that is a good fit is as much about you selecting the right company as it is about them selecting the right candidate."

The above is a quote by Miles Anthony Smith. And what is he trying to say? Simply this, that you will need to match your skill sets and all of your other attributes to a particular job. There has to be synergy. It is a two way process. Your talents, qualifications, experience, whatever, must be in sync with the job at hand. On the other hand, the job description and job responsibilities again should be what you are looking for in a job. If they don't match, it is better that you skip that particular job rather than apply for it and then decide to resign within a few months. Which, believe me, won't do you any good in the long haul!

This is what Jarod Kintz has to say about before going in to be interviewed - 

• "Before job interviews, I think: What colour tie best represents me as a person this company would be interested in?"

Wow! In about twenty words he has summed up the importance of 'dress code'. This is one area I believe that is some what overlooked by many of us. We forget the crucial aspect of understanding the culture of the company we are applying to and don't pay too much attention to what we should wear to the interview. Remember, your personality comes through with what you wear but more importantly, you will need to choose your wardrobe according to the situation and not base it on what you are comfortable with. 

Dan Zevin echoes the same sentiment while on the subject of interviews and dress code. Here's what he has to say - 

• "Never wear a backward baseball cap to an interview unless applying for the job of umpire."

The sum and substance of the above quote is simply amplifying the fact that you will need to dress for the occasion. And this can be achieved only after you have done a thorough research of the company you are applying to. Researching the company not only helps you to understand what the company is all about but also gives you an insight into the culture being followed by its employees. How you turn out for the interview speaks volumes about your attitude, so the next time you are called in to be interviewed, remember, your outward presentation must match the culture of the company. 

And the mother of all quotes - "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." Echoed by the famed Chinese philosopher, Confucius, really sums up very precisely the exercise of getting you know yourself and then going on a job hunting spree. To understand this famous quote, you will need to read between the lines. Ask yourself this question, how can I land a job which I love? The answer to this question would definitely be, when, you as a person, are consciously aware about yourself in terms of your strengths and weaknesses. It is only when you know what you are really good at, those things that you just love to do and enjoy the process, that you will love your job. So, becoming consciously aware about yourself is the key to landing a job that you will love to do.  

Hope you enjoy reading the above quotes and their deeper meaning in terms of succeeding in job interviews!

Till next time...!

      

Job Interviews Are Peanuts...just believe in yourself! - ready for purchase..!

Finally I have done it...! 

My latest eBook on cracking job interviews is out on Amazon and ready for purchase. I must admit that the whole process did take me some months to complete but I am glad that I could follow the prescribed guidelines of Amazon and get it through their stringent review procedures. So you can go ahead and get your copy now.

It is a very basic, simple, straight forward book that I hope connects with you on a one on one level. There is nothing fancy or deep psychological stuff buried in the pages, unlike some of the other books on the same subject. All I have done is given you a upfront communique of what you should expect and how you should go about during an interview. The moment you start reading the book, you will realise that you embark on a journey, a journey that will take you through the following areas of the interview process - 

• Getting to understand interviews.
• Understanding yourself better.
• How do you apply for a job?
• Handling the phone.
• The nuances of the group discussion.
• What you should do before the personal interview.
• What you will need to do during the personal interview.
• Understand why certain questions are asked and how you should answer.
• What you should do after the interview is over.

It is a total package. It is a tool that will help you overcome the interview 'jitters', help you to prepare with the right amount of focus and dedication and eventually come out successful in any job interview!

You can sample and order your copy by clicking here.

It is my sincere wish that this book answers your questions and takes care of your apprehensions regarding job interviews and helps you prepare in the right direction.

Do let me have your views and suggestions. Also please free to leave a comment and I assure you, I'll get back to you.

Happy job hunting! May you get what you so richly deserve... 

Job Interviews Are Peanuts...just believe in yourself! - 2

In my last post, I had given you a gist or an excerpt of the content from my eBook. The idea behind it was to make you aware of the present day job scenario and what you are up against in terms of landing the job of your dreams.

Yes, the competition is stiff, more than what it used to be some years back. Yes, there are more B-school and technical graduates being churned out by various institutes. This is a universal fact and there is little you can do to change this. But, does this phenomenon mean that your chances of getting the job that you always dreamt of, seem remote? Absolutely not. 

On the contrary, the mushrooming of numerous B-schools and tech institutes is a positive sign. It goes to prove that, there is ample scope for those graduating from these institutes to be absorbed in meaningful ways, there are jobs around that can take in these graduates. Look the people, both government or private enterprise, are not fools. These people will not invest huge sums of capital in setting up high class, state-of-art infrastructure to cater to the demand of those seeking industry related higher education. Now again, why would there be a demand for this education? It is simply because there is scope of getting jobs in the relevant fields of specialisation. 

Aside from those graduating from business school or technical institutes, what what happens to you, if you are just a simple college graduate? Well, let me tell you, things couldn't be better for you. 

The reason I say this is pretty simple. You are not bound by the restrictions of specialisation. You have more scope, you have a bigger field to choose from, there are more avenues to explore as compared to those from business or technical backgrounds. 

But the defining factor, and it doesn't matter whether you are a business school graduate, a technical graduate or a simple college graduate, is choosing the right career path. This is imperative. You've got to make the correct decision and I dare say, this is easier said than done! I've seen many bright young people lose their way and make a mess of their lives and this happens primarily because they did not make the time to choose the right career.

Now the obvious question that would come to your mind is - how do I make the right career choice? Let me counter that with this - what would draw you to a particular career path or more specifically, what do you look for in a job? Do you have what it takes to even apply for a particular job opening? Understanding this is vital.

Even before applying for a job, you will need to really get to know yourself. When you begin to have a deeper understanding of yourself, you will become more confident about your abilities and how these can translate into better out-put on your part but more importantly, knowing yourself better will give you the much needed direction as to the career path you should take or pursue. What this actually translates into is avoiding the many pitfalls and frustrations that you will confront by getting into a career without much thought. And being stuck in a dead-end job, stagnating. You certainly don't want this, do you?

My eBook looks at this aspect in detail and tells you how you should go about getting a better understanding of yourself. I have said this earlier and I can't help but re-emphasise the importance of this exercise that you should carry out. Take time out to look at the real you with a magnifying glass, you will not lose anything but have a lot to gain!

Till the next post, all the best. 









    

Job Interviews Are Peanuts....just believe in yourself! - 1

Wow, it's been almost a year since I've posted....! And frankly I tell you, it doesn't feel good to disconnect for such a long period of time. But the good news is that, I am over that and back to giving you simple, basic tips to succeed at job interviews.

Let me be very up front with you. If you recall my last post where I had mentioned that my eBook - 'Job Interviews Are Peanuts...!, was to be on Amazon during December of 2014, but by some quirk of circumstances I couldn't get it out as promised. And I am terribly sorry for messing up. But nevertheless, over the past couple of months, I've put my heart and mind to it and completed the manuscript according to Amazon standards. I am still working on the details of the cover and that should be over shortly. 

In the mean time, I want you to sample a little bit about the book - 

For starters you should know that the job market has undergone drastic changes from what it was, say, about ten years back. From the initial interview to the final selection process, the dynamics have changed tremendously. The competition is fierce. Gone are the days when jobs in the corporate sector were not that over populated with job-seekers. But nowadays with thousands of management graduates, engineering graduates as well as college graduates being churned out by various institutes, all clamouring for a decent job, the going is pretty tough. It is now an employer’s market. They now have a large pool of talented candidates to choose from and they will go for the very best. So for you to be able to compete on an even field in this ever increasing milieu of job-seekers, you will need to understand and develop certain qualities that will help you stand apart from the crowd. This book aims to do just that. The whole purpose of this book is to give you that tool, that advantage so that you will have an edge over the next job applicant. I have gone into detail about the process of group discussion and personal interview, so that you are aware of what is expected of you during these two phases of the interview process. I have also devoted a complete chapter to understanding some of the questions that are commonly asked in interviews and given you their probable answers. It is my sincere wish that these will be helpful to you in your preparation for any interview. 

The above should give you some understanding about what is happening in the job market and what you can expect from my book.

Hope you enjoy reading the small excerpt. More coming up in my next post.

Do let me know your comments and views on the above excerpt.

Till then, all the best!

   

Job Interviews are Peanuts!

Well, that's the title of my latest eBook!

It is live on Amazon.

The book deals in detail about the nuances of preparing, facing and succeeding in any job interview and is a must for every job seeker.

You can check out the sample at https://kdp.amazon.com by searching for the book title in the search field and downloading the same. Or better still you can make a straight forward purchase!

Whatever it is you decide, do let me know your views and comments by way of a review.

Thanks and hope you all enjoy reading the book as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Happy job hunting!

Job Interviews are Peanuts...............!

Now, how many of you subscribe to this idea? Or for that matter how many of you feel that job interviews are an exercise that are designed to pick your brains and brow beat you till you are are ready to drop? An exercise that leaves you weak at the knees with butterflies playing havoc in your stomach? 

Well, for those of you who are with me on this, you need to keep up your optimistic outlook. But for those of you who consider facing a job interview a herculean task, let me give you three good reasons why you need to change your thought process from the present daunting mind set to a more relaxed approach. 

Let's consider the following:

• Your CV: All you people who are of the opinion that, interviews are a tough proposition, take a moment to reflect on this - having been called in for an interview is in itself a positive development! It simply means that, you definitely have something to offer to the recruiters and that is the reason for the interview call up. So what's the big fuss all about? Feel good about yourself for having your achievements recognised. Go and meet them confidently and impress them! 

• Its all about Communicating: The second reason that you doubting Thomas' should realise is that the interview process entails talking or discussing with another human being. You can talk can't you? You have the ability of communicating your thoughts and ideas clearly, don't you? Then where is the problem? This is not some rocket science! Almost all of the discussion would be based on your CV, and this a document which you have prepared, highlighting your skills and achievements, so you know what to expect. Of course there could be a few off beat questions, but then you are smart enough to handle those!

• They are Humans and not Demons: The third reason to understand is that, the people conducting the interview are humans. You need to get it out of your mind that the recruiters are a sadistic bunch from the H.R. department of the organisation, whose sole responsibility is to brow beat and belittle all those who come in contact with them. If your thinking is in this line, then my friend, you could not be more wrong. Look, these guys are doing their job and it is their responsibility to recruit the best possible talent available. You need to give them your best and how do you do this? By thinking of them as humans with the same amount of feelings and emotions, just like you! 

That's it, the three reasons that should make you look at job interviews from a very different perspective! Think about them and reflect on what I have written and I am confident, you will be on a different plane henceforth.

I have just completed my e-book with the same title. It is a in-depth work on the nuances of job interviews and I am pretty confident that it will serve as an excellent guide for all you job seekers.  Very soon it will be available on Smashword and Amazon. I will keep you posted about it going live with the above retailers.

Till then, all the best! Peanuts anyone?

 

8 Simple Steps to Improve your Personal Effectiveness............!

Success at both the personal as well as the professional fronts demand that we understand and master the 'art' of personal effectiveness. The following eight points illustrates this vital area. These are simple, easy to follow and implement steps, which can be adopted by anybody for building and strengthening relationships for greater personal effectiveness!

Lets understand them better:

1. People are interested in themselves: This is human nature. In fact, this trait is so strong in all of us that all our actions and thoughts are directed towards meeting this end! Understanding this selfish trait is the beginning to personal effectiveness. It is the stepping stone which will enable you to deal with and improve your personal effectiveness, no matter what the circumstances. 
2. Talk to people about themselves: The importance here is the person you are talking to and not yourself. By focusing on the other person, you are letting the person know that you are interested in him which in turn will make him appreciate your efforts. This is in tune with our inherent nature. You need to move away from " I " centric conversation to " YOU " centric conversation. This is by no means easy, it will require a lot practise, but the rewards are worth it all.   
3. The importance of making people feel important: The other person is as much important to himself as you are to yourself, so keep an open mind with other people. Remember, we all like to be recognised and made to feel important! So keep the following in mind: 
1. Listen to people: This will make them feel important and give an impression that you care about them.
2. Always compliment: Acknowledging people for what they have achieved is a great way of making them feel important.
3. Names: The name of a person matters. It is important to him and makes conversation more personal. Use the person's name during the conversation.
4. Never hurry your answers: A simple pause before answering gives the impression that you have given enough thought to what has been said. It signifies that the topic is worthy of thinking over.
5. Be " YOU " centric: Talk the other person's language. Your focus should be the other person, not you.
6. Treat everyone equal in a group: The effort here is not to leave out any person in a group. Give equal importance to all present in the group, not only to the more vocal or the leader.
4. Be Agreeable: Any Tom, Dick and Harry can disagree, but it is the more wise and shrewd among us that have mastered the art of agreeing - especially when the other person is wrong! So, to achieve this, try out the following tips: 
1. Change your attitude: This is more of a mindset change! Tell yourself that you will start to agree with people, no matter what. Try and develop an agreeable nature.
2. Let people know that you agree with them: Once you have made up your mind to agree with people, don't stop there. Let people know that you agree with them. Nod your head when you say so.
3. Tell people you don't agree unless absolutely necessary: Hold your response to your disagreement with another. You will be surprised how seldom you have to actually have to tell a person that you disagree!
4. Admit your mistake: Make it a point to admit your mistakes whenever you make one. You will be appreciated for doing so. It will reflect your inner strength and character. Traits which are admired!
5. Don't argue: Won't get you anywhere. In fact whatever progress you make can easily be lost by arguing. So, even if you are right, don't argue. Eventually, the other person will see your point of view.
6. Be wary of fighters: They are every where, and their sole purpose is to fight for the least of all reasons! Be diplomatic in such situations. Remain calm and refuse to be drawn in to the fight. They will usually rave and rant and then fizzle out!  
5. Listen actively to people: This will help you to become smarter and more appreciated by people. You will be considered a better conversationalist than those talkers! This is so because people like to hear their favourite speakers, which is  - themselves. This is an art which can be developed and the following five steps should help you do just that:
1. Maintain eye contact: Perhaps one of the most important aspects of body language is the ability to keep eye contact while talking to a person. Remember, anybody worth listening to is also worth looking at!
2. Lean slightly towards the speaker: This positive body language posture signifies that you are genuinely interested. It also lets the speaker know that you don't want to miss a single word that is being said.
3. Develop a dialogue: This can be done by asking relevant questions. By asking questions or paraphrasing what the speaker is saying, you are letting the person know that you are actually listening to what he has to say. Your questions will add that much more importance and spice to the conversation!
4. Don't interrupt: Would you like it if a person butts in while you are still trying to make your point? You certainly won't! So, when another person is speaking let him finish before you say anything. 
5. Be " YOU " centric: Your effort should be to listen to a person from that person's perspective. Your answers should reflect that and not the contrary. 
6. Praise people, it is never out of place: Praising or complimenting people is food for the soul! We all yearn for it and when it comes our way, it sure brightens up the whole day. So is the case with other people. Saying something kind to another person will not only make that person feel good but also make him appreciate you for the kind words. Its a win win situation, so find out something or somebody to praise. A word of caution here:
1. The praise must be genuine: You must mean what you say. Your words should not sound like hollow syllables! You must attach feelings and emotions to what you say. If you don't mean it then it is better you don't say it! People can see through a guise.
2. The act needs to be praised: Praising the act lets the person know that whatever has been done by him is well appreciated. It also ensures that future efforts by the person has the same level of commitment and quality. 
7. Criticise but in the right spirit: You must understand that criticism is a means to improve a person's out put in whatever sphere and not a means to belittle or put him down. Hence you must use it in the right spirit and manner. The seven points to successful criticism should help you along:
1. Criticise in absolute privacy: This is a closed door, one to one affair. No disturbances, no intrusions. Just you and the person.
2. Create a friendly atmosphere: This will help to 'lessen the blow'. In any case a cordial, friendly environment always yields better results.
3. The act needs to be criticised: This way allows the criticism to be impersonal and ensures that the person is not hurt personally.
4. Provide the answer: If you are criticising a person for doing something wrong, then you better have the right way of doing it, ready with you!
5. Seek co-operation: You need to ask the person to co-operate with what is going on instead of demanding it. It will give you better results.
6. Keep it a one-time affair: Don't continue to criticise for the same mistake over and over again. Criticise once for a particular mistake and then let it rest.
7. End it with a friendly note: After all is said and done, you need to make sure that there is no hard feelings between the two of you! 
8. Thank people: It is our inborn human nature to appreciate and respond to gratitude and by thanking people, you are strengthening that bond. So you need to develop this art of 'thanking' people. Keep the following in mind the next time you want to 'thank' somebody:
1. Mean it: You need to be sincere when you thank people. An insincere word of gratitude will easily be found out!
2. Be clear: Don't mumble your thanks! Say it in a way that shows you are glad saying it.
3. Maintain eye contact: Looking at the person you are thanking, lets him know that you are sincere about it all!
4. Use the person's name: This allows you the personal touch when thanking the person. It makes a huge difference to that person.
5. Look for opportunities to thank people: Be on the look out for a chance to thank somebody! Remember, to thank for the obvious is done by the average person, but if you need to rise above the average, thank for the not so obvious!

So that's the long and short of it! You now have the tools with which you can dramatically improve your personal effectiveness and reach new heights in your personal as well as professional fields. 

I hope you find them useful. Do share them with your friends, colleagues and who ever you think would benefit from them.

Thanks a lot!