Crack your interview (without cracking under)

Meeting prospective employers can be a nerve-wracking experience. From asking the right questions to picking a right belt, this guide can help you make the best impression.

Whether you're giving your first interview or the umpteenth one, there's always a bit of "How do I crack this one?" going on in your head. An interview is a daunting task — it's a power game that is always tilted towards the interviewers. But you can tip the balance a wee bit and create a favourable impression on the panel. Being in a city that has as many challenges as opportunities, here's some special advice for today's Mumbaikars.

Choose your kind of job

Mumbai has an amazing array of options when it comes to job roles. So even before you walk in for an interview, think about what work you want to do. Just because you are an IT grad doesn't mean that you have to be a programmer. You could work in an e-learning agency creating technical training modules. You could be a content writer, writing niche content for tech companies. Or, you could completely change your field and get into event management if that's what you really enjoy doing.

Partner at Ernst & Young, Devendra Parulekar strongly suggests that you reflect and find your strengths. "Trained interviewers practise the art of funnelling, where they start asking a broad range of questions and then explore the three-four areas you consider your strengths. So know what you're good at. If you're a fish, don't attempt to climb a tree."

Do your homework

 

Almost all companies in Mumbai have a website. Read up about the company you'd like to work in. If you want to join the finance team, find a senior in their finance department on LinkedIn. Writing to somebody in particular (john.doe@company.com) rather than to a generic email address (careers@company.com) increases your chances of getting a reply. Doing your homework on a company and its job profiles will not only help you bag an interview but will also impress your interviewers.

Plan for the silliest things

 

Which Mumbaikar hasn't faced the wrath of Mumbai traffic? Use Google Maps to plan your travel a day in advance. Consider factors like time of day, rain, festivals, transport strikes, waiting for the elevator and the possibility of a security check at the venue. If you're taking a train, allot time to freshen up at your destination. As a rule, you should be at the waiting lounge of your interview venue at least 10 minutes before time.

 

"Plan to deal with rain, wind or hot weather, because there's a chance that the interview will happen outdoors. Being prepared will help you focus on the interview," says Tristan Fernandes, a content writer who once had a job interview at an outdoor cafe.

Dress appropriately

Are you wearing shorts and chappals because it's a startup? Don't be so sure. If you get the chance, ask the person coordinating your interview what the dress code is. If you're not sure, be on the safer side by wearing formal or semiformal attire, based on your judgement.

Khushbu Merchant, a KPMG senior and corporate blogger, says, "If you're getting interviewed by an MNC, wear a suit to your interview. If you're a woman, blend it with a female touch. That makes an impression that you can stay in touch with your feminine side and still kick some a** at work."

Use an air-conditioned cab service to get to your interview to look your freshest. Avoid travelling by train during rush hour, if possible.

Answer questions carefully

When Akhil Parekh decided to settle in India after working in North America for nine years after his Masters, he realised that the interview styles in the two regions were very different. "Apart from technical skills, people here also focus on personal aspects. 'Are you married?', 'What do your parents do?', 'How much student loan do you still have to pay off?' This is the kind of stuff nobody asks you in North America. But in India, they probably do so to gauge how stable your background is."

In Mumbai, where job hopping is easy, companies want to make sure that you'll stay put for a while. Having greater personal and financial stability decreases your chances of looking for a job elsewhere anytime soon, giving your interviewers confidence in you.

Ask the right question

At the end of an interview, your interviewers may tell you to ask any questions you have. Don't say "Nothing" because that speaks very little of your thought process. If you draw a blank, at least ask where the job location is — many companies have a central hiring team that hires across the city (or country). So while your interview may be in Malad, the actual job may be based in Vikhroli.

Leave with clear next steps

Before you get up from that chair, ask your interviewers what the next steps are. Will you get a call back? How many days will they take to make a decision? Don't be too pushy and blackmailing the panel by telling them you have another offer on the table is not okay.

So, there you have it. Jobs are calling. Where's your CV?

 

Source | Mumbai Mirror | 27 August 2015

8 things you can do in Windows 10 that you couldn't do in Windows 8

Some of the features and functions Microsoft has added to its new all-encompassing operating system

Did you hear there's a new version of the Windows in town? If your Windows 8-toting friends ask you exactly what you can do with the new Windows 10 that they can't do on their own machines, here's what to tell them.

Analyse the storage space on your PC

In the pre-Windows 10 days, you needed a third-party application if you wanted to take a proper look at the layout of files and drives on your system. With Windows 10, there's a tool built-in: Type `storage' in the task bar search box.

Next, choose the storage setting and you can see exact ly wh at types of files (like mu sic, apps or video) are taking up your hard drive space.

Use a fingerprint instead of a password

T his is pa r t of t he Windows Hello biometric platform and whether or not you can make use of it depends on the make and model of computer you're using Windows 10 on. Apart from fin gerprint sensing, it supports face recognition and even iris scanning. So if computer manufacturers are prepared to build this kind of kit into their systems then Microsoft's new OS will be able to support it.

Switch to a dedicated tablet mode

Windows 8 tried to squash a tablet mode and a desktop mode into one ungainly whole, but everything is far more civilised in the new Windows 10 interface. Open up the Action Center to switch manually to tablet mode or get out of it again. In fact you may prefer using the stripped-down tablet mode even when you have a mouse and a keyboard attached.

Stream Xbox One games

Streaming games from one place to another isn't a completely original idea, but the link Microsoft has built between the Xbox One and Windows 10 machines could be the best use of the technology yet. If the kids want to use the big screen in the living room you can stream your Xbox One gaming up to your laptop or desktop upstairs (if your home network can cope).

Share WiFi passwords with your friends

The new WiFi Sense feature (in network settings) has attracted its fair share of controversy but it's an easy way of letting people use your home WiFi while they're visiting (and for you to use theirs in return). Your contacts never actually see the password but if they're linked to you and also on a Windows 10 bit of kit they can just start browsing as soon as they get through the door.

Run modern apps on the desktop

We've already mentioned some of the ways in which Microsoft is refining the tablet vs desktop experience in Windows 10. Another improvement in this new OS is the ability to run mod ern (aka Metro) apps in windowed mode as well as full-screen mode.

The apps themselves have been improved too, so they're worth a second look if you didn't like the Windows 8 versions.

Get chatty with Cortana

Cortana arrives on the desktop.

As on Windows Phone, you can ask question s about the weather or famous pop stars, get direc tions home, set reminders and more.  Besides you c a n a l so get her to turn Wi ndows s et t i n g s such as WiFi and Bluetooth on or off. Click the Cortana button on the `start' menu to get started. Set up Windows to work with iOS and Android

Microsoft has decide to embrace iOS and Android and now makes most of it s apps available for the competing mobile platforms (Cortana apps are apparently imminent) . Run t he Phone Companion app from the Start menu and you can launch a step-by-step guide to get t i n g your iPhone 6 or LG G4 working smoothly with all the data and apps you've .

Source | Economic Times | 26 August 2015

Resume for success Writing a winning Curriculum Vitae is a skill. How do you make a positive impression?

If you’re someone who is done with your studies and are waiting to put your knowledge to some practical use, or someone who is looking for a career change, the first thing you do is either whip up a resume or update one.

While it’s never easy to pour out into a limited amount of space, information and qualifications that make up your resume, it is definitely something that ought to be executed skilfully.

Keep it crisp

It is no longer just the generation of black ink on a couple of white sheets of paper that drone on about what you’ve done, what you will do and how you will do it. In this day and age, the two-page resume which you’ve put so much thought into runs the risk of getting rejected or completely ignored for being too stale or monotonous.

Therefore, it’s a good thing that many individuals, like yourself, have already begun thinking outside the box.

It is an accepted fact that people charged with the responsibility of scouring through scores of resumes have a very limited span of attention. Whether it’s your qualifications or past experiences, key information represented in short, neat and evenly spaced sentences makes a huge difference.

Not only is this style easy to read, you also contribute by saving up on the employer’s time even as they simultaneously learn more about you.

The ultimate goal, on any day, is how the roles that you play and the tasks that you carry out will help you grow as a professional and as an individual as well. You might be sure about what you expect to learn from a particular organisation, but the organisation itself will need to know how you can help the company grow and why you should be chosen instead of the competition.

If the section on your past experiences state that you’ve either led a team or handled a project solo, instead of only saying that you’ve done that, you could elaborate on the process and share the positive outcome. Not only does this imply that you’re capable of dealing with such assignments, it also gives a clear picture of how you can contribute.Setting aside your capabilities and accomplishments, sections of your resume that at times do end up seeming similar to a contenders’ resume, it is vital to share information that is exclusive to you alone. Be it a hobby, a talent or a work experience in a field far from what you’re pursuing now, this section equally contributes in putting you on a future employers’ radar, ultimately leading to an interview call.

It might be too harsh to make a decision based on first impressions. But, when it comes to hiring, one look is all it takes to decide if your resume, and ultimately you, are worth spending time on.

This brings us to the most interesting and creative part of putting together a resume. Today it’s all about colours, optimum usage of space, design, visuals and even the medium itself. From graphical representations to pie charts, crisp tri-fold brochures to animated illustrations, video resumes to resumes printed on actual fabric; there is no dearth of ideas.

While this certainly puts life into the tedious task of compiling a resume, it is important to first know your audience. Quirky resumes might appeal to certain types of organisations while they may be deemed as inappropriate by others.

Last but certainly not the least is the task of stopping yourself from talking any more about yourself. You might wonder if the information provided is solid enough to get you to the next round, and, honestly, this apprehension can never completely be abated.

One way to handle this situation would be to summarise the facts about yourself, your aspirations and what you can accomplish. There’s nothing like a prospective employee who can get to the point right from the start. You may start your resume with this summary or conclude with it. No matter what you choose, you are sure to come across as someone who doesn’t believe in beating around the bush.

Finally, it’s your capabilities and the creative effort you put in that will help you stand out and eventually score the position you desire.

Key information represented in short, neat and evenly spaced sentences makes a huge difference.

Source | The Hindu | 24 August 2015