Distinguish Yourselfin the Job market

Joining the dots

•Connect all 9 dots.

•With 4 straight lines.

•Without lifting the pen off the paper

•Without going over the same line twice.

Tip: Use paradigm shifting/ Change your perspective

Thinking out-of-the-box!

If you want something more ...If you want to make a difference ...

SHIFT: Strategize to Help Innovate a Focused Transformation

Distinction

Look, Speak, Act different!

Skills

Experience

Achievements

Habits

Key contributions

Exercise: Write the following for yourself with 3 to 5 bullet points

Resume retooling

Title guidelines:

• SUMMARY for initial bullet points (5 to 7 ... max 10).

• SKILLS for skills section.

• WORK EXPERIENCE for experience section.

Responsibilities:

• Write as bullet-points with action verbs viz. designed, developed etc.

• Avoid using adjectives viz. good, proficient etc.

• Mention qualitative and quantitative aspects viz. what, how, who etc.

General guidelines:

• Use legible ‘Font’ type and minimum ‘Size’ of ’11’.

• ‘Justify’ the sentences to ‘Align’ left and right.

• Keep minimum 0.5” ‘Margin’ on top, bottom, left and right.

Maintain a consistent story.

Achievements (must for recent jobs)

Highlighting Achievements

Writing a Cover note:

• Highlight your skills/ exp. which MATCH the job req.

• Mention similar work done on previous assignments.

• Express distinctive factors (if any) that make you most suitable for the job.

Use Challenge-Action-Result method to elaborate Achievements.

What was the challenge/ situation/ pain/ concern/ need on the job?

What was the action/ effort/ contribution by you?

What was the result/ impact/ outcome/ benefit due to your efforts?

Winners may not do different things,

however they certainly do things differently!

Goal writing

Write the following:

Matching Job description

Industries most suited for your experience

Parallel (similar) industries

Companies/Employers (names) in those industries

Your connections (portals, social sites, associates, groups etc)

Make SMART Goals!

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Results-oriented

Time-bound

Keeping a Log-book Keep a log on the following (weekly/ monthly):

•What do I want to achieve:

•What is my supportive thinking which will help me to achieve:

•What are the activities to strengthen the above supportive thinking:

•What success/ victories did I get due to the above activities & supportive thinking:

Rewrite your script to achieve the results you want!

1118152341818

KROWDRAH

19121291119

SLLIKS

542120920201

EDUTITTA

=

=

=

82

98

100

1

A

2

B

3

C

2625242322212019181716151413121110987654

ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFED

ONLY 10% OF AN ICEBERG IS VISIBLE. REMAINING 90% IS BELOW SEA LEVEL.

The Iceberg

SEA LEVEL

SKILLS

UNKNOWN TO OTHERS

KNOWN TO OTHERS

BEHAVIORHARDWORK

VALUES – STANDARDS – JUDGEMENTS

ATTITUDEMOTIVES – ETHICS - BELIEFS

SEA LEVEL

ATTITUDE

KNOWN TO OTHERS

UNKNOWN TO OTHERS

BEHAVIOR

Interviewing Tips

Screening interview Tips (with recruiters/ hiring managers):

•Rehearse your script.

•Role play with colleagues/ friends.

•Make it enthusiastic and optimistic.

Connect, Converse and Convince!

In person interview Tips:

•Define your strengths (in line with your work).

•Define your weakness (on path of improvement).

•Eye contact, speaking tone, facial gestures, body language.

•Show genuine enthusiasm in listening to the interviewer.

•Answer tough questions without showing nervousness.

•Engage in a strong conversation and maintain interactivity.

•Ask good questions.

Sample Screening questions

General Questions:

• Tell me a little bit about yourself.

(make 3 to 4 short sentences about your exp. and skills).

• What is your expected annual salary/ total compensation?

• Are you on an assignment/job or in-transition?

• When are you available to start?

Connect, Converse and Convince!

Work related Questions:

• Describe a little bit about your last job. (3-5 short sentences).

• Describe your experience in these areas _______ (3-5 short sentences).

• What’s your specific role in these areas/ last job?

• Describe any specific challenges & achievements in your last job.

• What was the team size and structural hierarchy?

Interviewing 101Structured questions

•Work description, KPIs etc.

•Current salary, relocation, availability etc.

•What you see yourself doing after 6/ 12 months.

Use pattern-interrupt to close the deal!

Stress/ pressure cooker questions

•What were your supervisor’s comments on your performance review.

•What comments on your performance review were not acceptable to you.

•Why do you consider yourself a fit for this role/ company.

•Describe a time when you had to convince your supervisor about your idea.

•Describe a time when you had a conflict with a team member.

Behavioral questions

Scenario: For the given scenario what will you do ...

Situation: If ABC – then how will you solve ...

More sample interview questions

• Describe a situation in which you took initiative.

Prepare a portfolio of artifacts to exhibit

• Describe an incident of failure in your job. What were the lessons learned?

• How do you handle deadlines, difficult tasks, stringent rules?

• Describe a time in your job where you provided leadership/ direction to the team.

• Please provide a sample architecture/ plan/design/ artifact (Portfolio)?

• What is your ideal work environment?

Questions/ Concerns