Changing direction!

First up, I humbly apologize for not posting anything for the past few days. I hate to admit this but I needed a break of sorts and used the time to finish up on a few old things which were pending. I also used the opportunity to strengthen my mind and “develop” some semblance of sanity in these difficult times! I might get irrational and I hope my readers understand!

We all know of mid life crisis. But how about crisis aversion. There are many return students who get into grad studies after 5-10 years of work in the industry. And some move on to get into academia…..

Many professionals are reshaping their careers and returning to study after stints in high-paying jobs. 

As many of his peers were considering retirement, Mr Warwick Lyon left a 40-year career in the IT industry and a $100,000 salary to go back to university. “I have dropped back to nearly half of what I was earning in the computer industry but it doesn’t worry me,” he says. “As you get older you realise money doesn’t mean much, it is the quality of life that matters. I wasn’t doing anything productive or making the world any better.”

Although his career U-turn came late, Mr Lyon is an example of a 21st-century trend. Young, established professionals in their late 20s and 30s, in particular, are driving a phenomenon as they ditch well-paying careers to change direction, mosyt often by getting into academia, but often in much more radical ways. Not happy with law? What about zoology? Bored with accountancy? What about astronomy? So you might find a law practitioner coming in with you for grad education in aeronautics…….

Of course, none of this comes easily. Reshaping a professional life means a return to the rigours of university study, the likelihood of another hefty bill (some postgraduate courses such as law and medicine can creep past $80,000) along with at least a short-term drop in income – and the near-certainty that they will start at the bottom of the ladder in their new field.

Career consultant Julie Farthing has experience of this group. “It’s usually professionals and they’re going back to do another degree,” she says. “They are people in their late 20s and early 30s who get to a particular stage in their career quite early and they’re going, ‘Well, there’s nowhere else to go or where I am isn’t really that exciting’.”

Whether triggered by boredom or a need to develop a lifelong passion, for many the process begins with a realisation that they have made a grave mistake.

For such people, the task is really cut out! To cope with the entire education process once again would mean facing the rigors of academic life. For such candidates, there needs to be a radically different approach when it comes to application and preparation!

Here are a few links for those who either want to know more about this phenomenon and associated planning and intricacies….

http://www.quintcareers.com/career_change.html

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careerchoicechan/Career_Choice_or_Change.htm

Getting a job!

For international students, getting a job after graduation is always high on the agenda. The needs are pressing for sure. They often have to pay back loans incurred and also support their families. Understandably, many try and get a job in USA. Though I must confess, I am not inclined towards this idea at all. But I feel, I should try and list out some points I got from an article as it might help the prospectives (considering the fact that most would have almost finished their graduation). Please understand that most of these problems are associated with students going to “not so good” colleges and mostly MS candidates!

For many international students, the United States is considered the land of job opportunity—an excellent place to gain experience and to launch an engineering career. Top dollars and companies are out there fueling our desire to get in. However, more often than not, international students find it difficult to get jobs.

It’s important to remember that regardless of your homeland, most students find it challenging to get their foot through the door of the job market. But, because of a variety of factors, international students have to work as hard or sometimes harder, to ensure success.

“An international student may have excellent grades and graduated from a good American university, but that alone won’t convince a prospective employer he has the best candidate for a job,” says Steven Rothberg, a Canadian who attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and later founded the Minneapolis-based college recruiter. “That’s just the beginning. You have to show that you can add value to the company.“

But international students have some disadvantages when entering the playing field. The obvious one is the language. “Frankly, many international students—particularly those in the engineering discipline—have a hard time communicatingin English. This can be a serious obstacle in the job interviewing process,” says Bob Santore, executive vice president with Comforce, a Redmond, Washington - based information technology recruiting firm that has placed hundreds of international students with U.S. companies. Recruiter might view communication issues as potential trouble centers in future work environment for the candidate in question.

But while language skills are important, social skills are even more so. “I find that a lot of international students need more help with their job interview preparation than do Americans,” Santore explains.

International students can further hurt their employment chances by not getting work experience while in school. Several sources noted that international students don’t apply for internships often enough. “It’s so expensive to go to school in the U.S. that many international students try to graduate as fast they can,” Rothberg says.

Often, finding a job can be harder for an international student simply because some employers will say, “Why bother,” given the time, effort and paperwork involved in the hiring process. “It doesn’t happen that much, but it has been a consideration for employers inexperienced in hiring international students,” Santore reveals.

So, yes, there are factors at work that make it tough. But good things will happen in the job market to prepared people. The fact is, many opportunities are available to level the job-hunting playing field for you.

Some methods which could be used to improve you chances as stated by professionals include: 

Work harder to improve your language skills.
Watch more television shows-in English, that is. Hire a tutor or take a four to six week immersion course, if you can afford one. Take an English course, or several, if necessary. And, as Thomas Jacob explains, “Hang out with and around Americans. Too many international students like to hang with their own native language speaking kind. That won’t help them get the skills they need to succeed in the job market.” Jacob, who is from England but works in New York City in high finance, is a 1998 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is not that necessary for people who are adept in english communication…but that doesn’t mean you would neglect this point altogether. It is always wise to learn the culture and values of the people you live with. It can benefit in ways which are sometimes beyond comprehension!

Network more
Remember the old axiom—it’s who you know that often gets you a job. “A friend’s father, an aunt, a brother can all be great networking sources, but you have to talk to them,” says Mary Spaeth, executive vice president of the Washington, D.C.-based AngleTechnology LLC, who adds, “And don’t forget your professors. They generally have amazing professional networks as well.” Rothberg encourages international students to contact the alumni office at their university and get the names and phone numbers of alum from their homeland who majored in engineering and computer science. “Call and offer to take them for coffee or dinner if they live close enough,” Rothberg says. “Tell them you know about their successful career and that you want to get where they’re going. Ask them for some tips and advice on how to do it. I get a call once a year from a Canadian student studying at the University of Minnesota who does exactly that. I’m flattered and, of course, I help.“

Get some work experience
Check your university to see what internships and other experience-gathering opportunities are available. Quiz your professors and classmates. “Go to your country’s consulate and get a list of companies from your homeland that have operations in the U.S.,” Jacob advises. “Then call them to see if they offer internships in your major.“ Understand the norms carefully though as it is illegal for F1 Visa holders to work. So do keep your interest upto an internship!

Milk your career placement center’s resources
Studies show that only about 14% of university students use the career placement center. Don’t be one of those deadbeats. The center can help prepare you for a job interview. For example, they’ll do mock interviews with you and tape them so you can critique your performance. They have valuable resources in the form of books, articles, counsellors………

Attend job fairs
This is an excellent opportunity if a student’s personal resources and contacts are limited, Spaeth says. “International students should be working hard to turn themselves into business professionals from the first day they step foot on an American university campus,” she advises.

At the end of the day, How tough, getting a job can be depends on the individual involved! I hope those interested in getting a job in USA would take note of these points and also research more to try and understand the nuances involved and also add any new points they stumble across through comments so that others may benefit!!

Source: http://www.graduatingengineer.com/

Useful link: RESOURCE

Formal Dressing!

Interviews and Career fairs are a common sight and the part and parcel of a graduate student’s life! We need to be at our best and that needs some attention at times! Most schools have a specific web-page providing all the necessary information for a good first impression! I decided to give a picture of sorts as to what is to be expected! It might help in deciding on the kind of wardrobe that one might take along to States (for the lucky souls who got admits and visa……will get rather)……. Here is what Princeton University (Career Services) has to say (use the link for more exhaustive information).

Given that first impressions can greatly influence a hiring decision, the manner in which you present yourself during an interview can make a big difference in your ability to advance further into the interviewing process. Although your attire plays a supporting role to your performance during the interview, it is important in making that “first impression” which can be a critical factor in your success.

A Goldman Sachs recruiter emphasizes the importance of having a conservative appearance: “Although appearance is important you want to make sure that you are remembered for your skills and not your clothing. It is important to dress smart and conservative. We recommend wearing a dark colored suit with a neutral colored shirt or blouse. Skirt or pant suit is appropriate for women. Avoid busy-patterned ties and excessive amounts of jewelry or accessories. You want the interviewer to focus on you and not what you’re wearing.”

Attire: Always present a neat, well-groomed, and professional appearance during interviews. How you dress may depend upon the job for which you are applying; however, you don’t want to assume one setting is necessarily more casual than another. It is probably best to stick with a suit regardless of where you are going, UNLESS you have received specific information to the contrary.

Monique Ayotte, Vice President, Admissions, Teach for America reiterates this: “We recommend that students dress professionally for all interviews, including those with Teach for America. Teach for America, like most employers, requires professional dress in the workplace and we believe this sets a positive tone from the very beginning.”

Interview Attire for Men

Suit, Shirt, Tie, Shoes and Socks, Cologne…..

Suit: In most interviews, it is recommended that men wear dark or gray suits (solid or subtle pinstripes). In organizations that are less formal (possibly nonprofit, education), one might consider a blazer, shirt and tie rather than a full suit.

Shirt: Dress shirts should be solid, preferably white, cream, or pale blue. Be sure the shirt and suit are pressed/ironed.

Tie: A variety of ties may be worn, keeping in mind that muted colors in solid, stripes, or small patterns are preferred.

Shoes and Socks: Make sure your shoes are polished. Leather, lace-up, or slip-on business shoes, preferably in black or cordovan, are preferred. Socks should be a dark color (never white) and of mid-calf height so that no skin is visible when you sit down.

Cologne: Minimize or avoid the use of cologne; many interviews take place in small spaces, and if your interviewer is allergic, it could be an unpleasantly short interview!

Hair and Facial Hair: Neatly groomed hair is appropriate. If you happen to have long hair, consider putting it in a ponytail to keep it out of your face. Beards and mustaches should be well-groomed.

Jewelry: Wear a conservative watch. If you choose to wear other jewelry, be conservative. Be aware that wearing earrings might not always be viewed positively.

Backpack: If you can go to the interview without your backpack, do so. Carry a portfolio with a notepad, copies of your resume, a pen, and any other pertinent information

Interview Attire for Women

Suit, Shirt, Shoes and Hosiery, Simple or no jewelry, Cologne, Cosmetics

Suit: In most interview settings, it is recommended that women wear suits in plain, neutral, or dark colors (black, navy, brown, gray). In organizations that are less formal (possibly nonprofit, education), one might consider a sweater set and skirt, or a dress, rather than a full suit. Skirts should be knee-length. Tailored pantsuits are appropriate.

Shirt: Wear a tailored blouse underneath the suit jacket. White or ivory or a light tone that matches your suit is appropriate. Short-sleeved blouses are preferred over sleeveless blouses.

Shoes and Hosiery: Basic pumps, polished, with medium or low heels are appropriate; they should be dark and match the interview suit (or be a shade darker). Hosiery should be sheer and a neutral color.

Jewelry: Simple jewelry is best, with no dangling bracelets or large, clunky jewelry to interrupt your conversation.

Cologne, Cosmetics: Be conservative with perfume and makeup; when in a small space, even a little perfume may be too much (particularly if someone is allergic), so consider not wearing any. Nail polish should be a light shade or clear.

Hair: Styling should be simple and should not distract you from your focus on the interview.

Backpack: If you can go to the interview without your backpack, do so. Carry a portfolio with a notepad, copies of your resume, a pen, and any other pertinent information. If you are also carrying a purse, keep it

Career fairs tend to be “business casual”. Business casual does not mean cutoff shorts, jeans, flip flops, and wrinkled khakis! Remember – you want to make the best impression possible, so even though you can be more casual, you should be neat and conservative. If you are attending any career fair off campus, review the fair’s web site for attire guidelines. When in doubt, a suit may be best; but again, consider the nature of the employers that will be attending the fair and make a final decision about dress accordingly.

Other Source: JOBSEARCH

Salaries 2006-2007

I saw the list of reported salaries for graduates from different fields from UT Austin. The data includes the national average values as well. I feel it can act as a good comparative chart to add on to the earlier data that I have provided!

link: http://ecac.engr.utexas.edu/students/perm_Salary.cfm

Another useful source is the salary.com website! I feel it could be of use for everybody!

link: http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_newsearch.asp

CV to Résumé – steps

Well friends, for those of you who might be looking for a job outside the academe, this should prove very handy. For others, I guess its high time that we all realize what is the exact difference between the two and how to prepare a résumé from a CV! This article has been republished from chronicle.com . Also refer to my previous article on resume writing tips to better understand this article. For copyright consideration, I would request you to read the original article (link at the bottom).

Think of a résumé as a compelling introduction of your experiences and skills as they relate to a particular career or job. By contrast, a curriculum vitae displays your academic credentials and accomplishments in great detail.

A résumé indicates to employers your seriousness of intent. By the time you are actually seeking jobs, your résumé — along with a cover letter — is essential for getting an interview, unless you have managed to network your way to an interview.

Although they provide incomplete information, résumés are typically your only means of persuading an employer to take a risk on a career changer. Therefore, you need to tailor your presentation of skills, experience, and motivation to fit the requirements of the job you are seeking, while making the entire “package” irresistible.

Erin Keay (a pseudonym) asked for help in converting her C.V. to a résumé. A Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience and a columnist for The Chronicle’s Career Network, Erin is considering alternative careers in science journalism and publishing, public relations, and industrial research. We present her C.V. first, and then the annotated Résumé we created for science writing and editing jobs. (She would submit a slightly modified C.V. for industrial-research positions.)

In general, note that résumés require you to be both more concise and more general than C.V.’s. Your résumé will emphasize the experience and skills most relevant to the new career and probably play down your academic credentials and experience, as does Erin’s.

Here are some common-sense rules for creating a résumé:

• Try to keep a résumé to one page, particularly for business and media fields. (There is a rough rule of thumb that more than 10 years of experience warrants a second page.) If it goes to a second page, make sure the first page contains essential information and the second page includes your name. Often you can present the second page as an addendum listing publications and similar material, as Erin does.

• Make the résumé visually effective to communicate professionalism and clarity. Make it easy for the eye to scan, using capital letters, bold print, underlining, and spacing to highlight your strongest credentials. Don’t make it too dense, busy, or cute. Use a white or cream bond paper (the same as for your cover letters).

• Be consistent in your use of grammatical structure and style, and make sure your grammar and spelling are perfect. Proofread your résumé several times and then have someone else proofread it as well. Use accurate, accessible language; be judicious about abbreviations and jargon — even those of your targeted career.

• Be aware that information presented at the beginning of a section, at the left-hand margin, or in a column gets extra emphasis; therefore, it is generally not advisable to put dates in the margins. (Note, however, that dates in the margin appear to be standard for résumés in business fields.) Present information in order of its importance; for example, if you happen to have substantial experience or want to de-emphasize your doctorate, put Experience before Education. Or consider putting a Skills summary first if that is your strongest point. Erin places Education first because it is important for a job in science publishing and writing, and because she has relatively little relevant experience.

• One increasingly common beginning for a résumé, which Erin has adopted, is a Summary or Highlights of Qualifications section. Here you summarize the qualifications most relevant for a particular career or job, including experience, credentials, and skills. In general, avoid “Job Objective” statements, because they usually sound vapid or canned and can limit you.

• Select the best format for your qualifications and experience: reverse chronological, functional, or a combination. The reverse chronological, starting with the most recent and working backward, is easiest to construct. Functional formats are most appropriate for people who have little work experience or whose capabilities have been demonstrated in non-professional situations. The functional résumé categorizes your experience (including paid and unpaid work and personal achievements) by skill, followed by a brief section listing employment history. Functional résumés are harder to pull off successfully, partly because readers wonder if you are hiding something. For that reason, a modified chronological résumé (items described in reverse chronological order within different categories of experience) is often more effective for career changers. In Erin’s case, it allows her to emphasize the experience most-closely related to the field she hopes to enter.

• Personal information such as age, marital or health status, and race or ethnicity should be omitted. Although information about citizenship or visa status is not required, it might be wise to include a reference to U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status if your nationality is ambiguous.

• References and even the phrase “References furnished upon request” are usually omitted. However, before you go on the job market, you should line up your references — preferably a mix of academic and non-academic ones. Explain what jobs you are seeking and prime them (with a typed list, perhaps) to emphasize your skills and traits appropriate for that work. For the job interview, you might prepare a list of references with contact information, in case employers ask for names.

Author of the original article is the assistant director of career services for Ph.D.’s at Harvard University.

8. Industrial Engineering

It is not just the industrial engineers, but we are increasingly seeing a large number of machanical graduates getting into industrial engineering. So what exactly is the future for this field?

Just to give a little introduction:

Industrial engineers determine the most effective ways for an organization to use the basic factors of production people, machines, materials, information, and energy to make or process a product. Industrial engineers plan, design, implement, and manage integrated production and service delivery systems that assure performance, reliability, maintainability, schedule adherence, and cost control. Industrial engineering, perhaps more than any other engineering discipline, is involved with the human and organizational aspects of developing the desired system. Traditionally, industrial engineers have been involved in facilities and plant design, plant management, quality control, human factors engineering, and production engineering.

Sixty percent of industrial engineers are employed by manufacturing companies, but industrial engineers can be found in every kind of organization including banks, hospitals, finance, agriculture, public utilities, wholesale and retail trade, transportation, construction, and government. Industrial engineering has been strongly impacted by recent changes such as advances in computer technology, automation of manufacturing systems, developments in artificial intelligence and data base systems, the revolution in management practices as reflected by the “quality movement,” and the increased emphasis on strategic planning.

To be specific industrial engineers get employed in Industries concerned with plant efficiency and quality control. Instrumentation/production Engineers involves in designing, constructing and maintenance of instruments. Government, Public and private sector having user industries, Instrumental Manufacturing Industries and Industrial Automation Industries. They can engage in construction and maintenance of sailing vessels as well.

This is what it was at the turn of the century in USA!!  

“I’ve been in this business for 25 years now and I would say the job prospects for industrial engineering graduates are as good as I’ve ever seen them,” proclaims Dr. Jasper Shealy, professor and department head, industrial and manufacturing engineering, at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York.

And Shealy isn’t the only academician raving about employment opportunities for new industrial engineers (IEs). Professors and engineering department chairs at both Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, are equally enthusiastic.

OPTIONS ABOUND
“The employment outlook is excellent,” notes the University of Michigan’s Dr. John Birge, who is professor and department chair, industrial and operations engineering. “Major manufacturers, consulting firms and big accounting firms nationwide are recruiting heavily,” he says, noting that systems integration work, “Year 2000″ problems and the financial service sector are driving much of the demand for quality engineers right now.

“Manufacturing, service, healthcare, transportation, communications…these are all areas where jobs exist,” he adds. “And there’s a lot of work coming out of consulting firms. Price Waterhouse is just one example of a large company grabbing as many people as they can.”

At Northwestern, Dr. Mark Daskin, professor and department chair, industrial engineering and management services, notes that the positive employment outlook is evidenced by the sheer number of students receiving and accepting solid job offers. “I haven’t heard of any students having problems,” Daskin reports. “A lot of students have at least one offer, many have accepted positions and some even have multiple offers.”

Daskin attributes the upbeat job climate to an overall healthy American economy. Add to that the aggressive recruiting being conducted by many consulting firms, where roughly half of Northwestern’s industrial engineering grads go to work, and the news is good, to say the least. The downturn in the US economy was a reason for a subtle dip in the demand. However, the system is cyclic and again the problems might arise with the US economy on the verge of another recession. 

Like Birge at the University of Michigan, Daskin also notes the growing number of financial services businesses seeking to hire engineering grads as more firms turn their focus to information systems. “This kind of work includes things such as helping industry identify the information technologies that are going to be needed and setting up both the technical and organizational systems that are going to use high-tech information processing,” Daskin explains.

Along those lines, Birge comments that systems integration is an ever-increasing focus for a lot of firms today. “People are looking at trying to get systems to do more things for them,” he says. “They’re trying to build intelligence into the systems they already have. IEs are well-prepared for that because they are trained to take a systems view.”

Technological advancements in the logistics field are also driving a lot of employment, according to Birge. “Managing and structuring global satellite systems has been a particularly strong area for industrial engineers,” he says.

A slight variation on the hiring trend comes from Shaly at RIT. “It appears that more medium-sized companies, as opposed to the very large or very small companies out there, are recruiting our students,” he says.

CRUCIAL CO-OP CONNECTIONS
Thanks to a strong cooperative education program at RIT, graduates there rarely have difficulty finding industry positions, particularly in a climate so positively fueled by a healthy economy. “Our co-op based program gives RIT students a major advantage,” Shealy says. “Roughly half of the job offers that come through are from co-op employers. As a result of five quarters of co-op experience, our students have a wealth of practical experience to draw from. When they join a company they are already contributing members.”

Louise Carrese is the co-op coordinator for industrial engineering at RIT and she couldn’t agree more. “Our co-op program provides a pipeline for job opportunities,” Carrese says. “In the area of industrial manufacturing, right now the demand far exceeds our supply. We’ve had an absolutely outstanding fall and winter recruiting period. We’ve had a record number of companies coming to campus.”

Carrese cites big names like Eastman Kodak, General Motors and Corning as heavy recruiters at RIT. Additionally, smaller companies and service industries are seeking experienced graduates.

“The truth is,” Carrese notes, “most of our students start their careers as industrial and manufacturing engineers and then go into business for themselves as consultants. That seems to be the general progression.”

Although reputable universities like RIT draw recruiters from across the country, Shealy believes the strongest pull for his students comes from employers in the Northeast. “Our reach is nationwide, but we’re more regionally driven,” he says.

As for graduates of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Birge says there’s no limit to the kinds of offers likely to come in. “Our students get hired in virtually every sector of the economy,” he reports. “It’s hard to think of places that wouldn’t be hiring. Companies are competing in the areas of responsiveness and customization. Responsiveness is something that requires the development of efficient procedures and efficient systems. That’s the kind of thing IEs do.”

Birge sites Intel as one company hiring a particularly large number of grads from the University of Michigan. “Even chip manufacturers, such as Intel, and semiconductor manufacturers are becoming more efficiency-based rather than just product-based,” he comments.

THE SKILLS THEY SEEK
In keeping with all of the economic and business trends affecting employment in the industrial engineering sector, good problem-solving skills seem to be at or near the top of every recruiter’s wish list when seeking new-hires. “Employers want someone to be able to take a systems view of things, to look from a broad perspective and be able to isolate the essential parts of any system,” Birge says.

“Computing skills are another important emphasis in our program,” he adds. “We want our students to be familiar with systems, but also in terms of diagnosis, to be able to lay out a system, define procedures and processes. We also try to give students a good sense of the bottom line, which is what employers want to see.”

Daskin of Northwestern notes that in addition to a strong technical background, employers like to see experience in team projects, as well as a solid grip on written and communication skills. “About 30 percent of our graduates have been through a co-op program, so they have a lot of exposure to the business world already,” he says.

Lastly, according to Carrese of RIT, companies want new-hires who can hit the ground running. “They want to see a good sense of inner logic. And they want people who can work as part of a team,” she says. “Most of the time you’re not designing or reviewing projects in a vacuum. You’re sitting around the table with a whole team of people who at some point will design, touch or use the product being developed.”

Some good courses in industrial engineering are at:

Georgia Institute of Technology
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Pennsylvania State University–University Park
University of California–Berkeley
Stanford University
Northwestern University (McCormick)
Purdue University–West Lafayette(IN)
Cornell University
Texas A&M University–College Station (Look)
Virginia Tech
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Columbia University (Fu Foundation)
University of Southern California (Viterbi)
North Carolina State University
Lehigh University (Rossin)
University of Florida
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University of Texas–Austin
Arizona State University (Fulton)
Ohio State University
University of Pittsburgh
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
NIT Calicut
NIT Bhopal
NIT Rourkela
NIT Durgapur

Source: http://www.graduatingengineer.com/

Suggested reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_engineering

Good Candidate

So just what makes a good job interview candidate?

We know that by the time we are called to a job interview the organisation has seen our CV and believes we can do the job but then again so can all the other candidates.

So how do we prepare for a job interview and just what do we have to do to stand out of the crowd and impress on the interviewer that we are the right person for the job?

Here are a few pointers which I picked up from the internet. These pointers are reminders at best as we have known them for a long time and my intention here is to make sure that they remain fresh when grads go for internship or job interviews.

1. Be Prepared:
There is no excuse for not preparing properly for a job interview. You will have had at least a few days warning and quite possibly a lot more time. Research the company, review your CV and practice your answers until you can deliver them smoothly and naturally.

2. Focus on your strengths:
Remember that the organisation knows that you CAN do the job and they want you to confirm this to them during the job interview. Don’t let any negative experiences or a gap in your career for example, negate all the great work you have done.

3. Step into the Interviewers Shoes:
What exactly is the interviewer looking for from you? Imagine yourself in the interviewers place and try to get a feel for what they need from you. Once you can do that effectively you will be able to build a relationship with them from the first moment of the interview.

4. Listen:
Focus on the interview questions being asked and if you are not sure of the meaning of the question, check with the interviewer. This is a two way conversation and the interviewer will respond favourable to being engaged like this. Obviously don’t do this with every question.

5. Relevant Answers:
Keep your answers relevant to the interview question and do not ramble. You may have an interesting story to tell or a great skill but if it is not required in the job don’t mention it.

6. Body Language:
Smiling, maintaining eye contact, a relaxed focused posture, restrained gesticulation are all examples of good body language which will work for you in the job interview.

7. Ask Questions:
You will be given an opportunity to ask questions usually at the end however you do not have to wait until then. As in any conversation there will be an appropriate time when you can interject and ask relevant questions. Be aware that questions about salary, working hours, holidays etc should not be asked at this stage.

Good Source for enhanced preparation: http://www.interviewtips.org/

Golden words!

We all are after all human beings. We have our ups and downs and we do like to criticize and judge others whenever we get an opportunity. It is true that at the heart of this assertion lies a universal truth. Without this one “virtue”, our society would no longer have any mechanism to check on the things that are horribly wrong and if unchecked can ultimately lead to its annihilation. But I recently read an article which I loved tremendously. It was more of a memoir by a very renowned counsellor Dr. Marshall Goldsmith who got his PhD from UCLA. It involved a conversation he had with his mentor Dr. Case at UCLA and i just had to put it down here! As a part of the city council (LA) Dr. Case did outstanding work and Marshall was under him as a student. Marshall was fretting about the issues pertaining to inefficiency and bias which was rampant in the council to which Dr. Case gave him two options (I will quote directly from the article)…….

“Then he delivered the advice I will never forget: “Marshall, you are becoming a pain in the butt. You are not helping the people who are supposed to be your clients (LA city council). You are not helping me, and you are not helping yourself. I am going to give you two options: Option A: Continue to be angry, negative and judgmental. If you chose this option, you will be fired, you probably will never graduate, and you may have wasted the last four years of your life. Option B: Start having some fun. Keep trying to make a constructive difference, but do it in a way that is positive for you and the people around you.  

“My advice is this: You are young. Life is short. Start having fun. What option are you going to choose, son?”  

I finally laughed and replied, “Dr. Case, I think it is time for me to start having some fun!”

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that things are not always as efficient as they could be. Almost every employee has made this discovery. It also doesn’t take a genius to learn that people are occasionally more interested in their own advancement than the welfare of the company. Most employees have already figured this out as well.

I learned a great lesson from Case. Real leaders are not people who can point out what is wrong. Almost anyone can do that. Real leaders are people who can make things better.“

Dr. Case’s coaching didn’t just help Marshall get a PhD and become a better consultant. He helped him have a better life, and his advice can help us too. First, let us think about our own behavior at work (it can be an office or a university…anything!!). Are we communicating a sense of joy and enthusiasm to the people around us, or are we spending too much time in the role of angry, judgmental critic? Second, do we have any co-workers who are acting like Marshall did? Are we, in turn, just getting annoyed with them, or are we trying to help them in same way that Dr. Case helped Marshall? If we haven’t been trying to help them, why not give it a shot? Perhaps they’ll write a story about us someday….. ……