For Freshers

    1. Research the company

Many times, the first question INTERVIEWER ever ask is ‘You must have gone through our web-site. In many cases, the candidates make excuses – I just browsed the website casually. I didn’t have time. I thought I would find out during the interview. Get details about the company and products during the research. No one expects that you know the latest quarterly reports in mind, but you should know enough for the interviewer to feel you’ve not made a superficial statement.

  2. Talk about projects you have done

The best way to grab attention is to talk about projects you were involved in, if you have been. If you’ve already worked on open source projects or contributed something that will set you apart. But please don’t embellish your contributions or hype your college projects.The project you did to create a website for your college canteen may seem like great work to you, but it doesn’t seem much if you’re a company that’s building products for consumers across the world.

  3. Keep your resume crisp    

  Make your resumes short and retain only interesting stuff. As a fresher, you’ll be tempted to write long paras because your resume looks shorter than your friends. Highlight the skills that the job requires. If you’ve done your research, you will be able to tailor your resume for the job on offer. If you’re wondering, the answer’s yes. You should have multiple versions of your resume ready. But please. Leave the long-winded essays for your college papers. Just be crisp about your achievements.   

  4. Practice your introduction

Most people have short attention spans. You’re competing for attention with so many others. Start your introduction strong so that you capture the listener’s attention. Focus on points that are your strengths – if you’re not from a leading college, it makes more sense to talk about relevant projects and why you’d like to work for the company. Do not start with statements like ‘If given a chance, I will do very well for the company’. That’s understood. And do not make generic statements like ‘I’m very passionate’.

 5. Curate your online presence

Once the company decides that you make the shortlist, many also search for you online to see if there’s anything else they find.

Maintain a LinkedIn profile, even if you don’t have work experience. LinkedIn has a public part of the profile that shows up when someone searches your name.

LinkedIn recently announced CheckIn, an app that lets companies gather information about aspirants and contact them post the event. That’s yet another reason to maintain a good LinkedIn profile.

                    

                        All the best with your job search!