Showing posts with label Interview Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interview Tips. Show all posts
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Counsellor - 35
THE COUNSELLOR
Sporting law
I am doing BA LLB from Delhi. I am not interested in litigation or civil or criminal law. I am an extrovert with varied interests - actually passionate about sports (hockey), which I've had to give up because it clashes with my studies. Can you suggest some new or lesser-known field of law that I could look at? I am very confused.
Kehar Singh
Do you know how very lucky you are Jansher?
Just fasten your seatbelt while I tell you about this exciting new area of law that will combine your professional specialisation and your interests.
Sports law is set to be the next cash cow for law majors in India. With sports gaining popularity and prominence, law firms are looking at expanding their portfolio in this segment, which they feel is recessionproof.
Law firms are now preparing all celebrity endorsement deals. Earlier, it was restricted to the two parties involved - the celebrity endorsing the brand and the corporate entity. However, now law firms are increasingly being approached to facilitate such deals as part of their advisory services.
Sports law in India is likely to emerge as a big area of practice in the next five years. And with the sector getting corporatised, there will be
an increased demand for lawyers specialising in this field in the years to come. Their role will be to ensure that the contractual obligations of the athlete are tailored to suit them.
Skill upgrade
I have been working for the last three years in a small private factory after doing my ITI certificate course. I am very keen to upgrade my skills but due to financial constraints, can't leave my job to do a regular diploma in engineering in a polytechnic. Please help me.
Abhilash Chaudhary
Here's an option that will fit you just fine. Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) is launching a diploma in mechanical engineering (DME) in January 2009.
Eligibility for admission to this programme is matriculation (55%) or matriculation with an ITI certificate/certificate in motorcycle service & repair from Ignou. Candidates should be employed in Central or state-level, public or private manufacturing industries or in other related organisations employing similar manpower. Otherwise they should be self-employed in an equivalent capacity.
The prospectus and application forms are available on payment of Rs 100 by hand and Rs 150 by post.
Forms can be obtained from the Programme Coordinator (DME), Room No 104, Block -C New Academic blocks, IGNOU Campus, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 68.
But hurry, the application deadline is October 30, 2008.
Research best
Our daughter who has been a merit-holder throughout, went to Canada to pursue her higher studies in biology. She is now doing research in McGill University while teaching there. We want her to come back now. However, she is refusing to do so because she says there are lesser opportunities for research in India. And even those that exist, don't pay well. Could you please suggest something she can do here that could be equally satisfying?
Kavita
Why not. Better late than never, India has decided to kick-start a talent hunt to strengthen its research base in high-end biomedical research field in the country's laboratories. Under a joint initiative between the department of biotechnology and UK’s Wellcome Trust, the government is offering lucrative packages to attract the best Indian-origin talent across the globe to augment its R&D base.
Under this programme, the early career fellow would get up to Rs 7.16 lakh per annum, intermediate fellows up to Rs 9.65 lakh and senior fellows up to Rs 12.83 lakh per-annum. Besides the salary package, they will also be offered high-end medical facilities for themselves and their families. Only those who have a proven global record in biomedical research can apply as senior fellows. And given your daughter’s passion and capability, I don’t see why she wouldn’t fit the bill.
In all, 70 fellowships will be awarded every year under the programme in different areas of bioresearch for the next 10 years, to begin with. Research professionals would be attached to different institutions to prove leadership in biomedical research, which is an area of tremendous global significance today.
Some Indian biotech firms are also doing exciting cutting-edge research. Perhaps your daughter could explore the option of working with them in her area of interest/specialisation.
Language command
What is group discussion? My English is not very good. Is good command over English compulsory? How should I prepare myself for this and the interview?
Susheel Sharma
As the name suggests, a group discussion (GD) is a discussion on a given topic by a group of participants.
It's very essential to have a good command over the English language both for clearing the written exam as well as the GD and Interview for admission to management courses - particularly the good ones.
Unless you have a decent command of the language, you won’t be able to put your views across - particularly at such short notice. You will get barely 10 minutes to prepare for the topic for discussion. And you don’t know what direction the discussion will take. You don’t need to know literary English but at least enough to put your views across clearly and cogently.
English being the lingua franca of the corporate sector, you must possess excellent written as well as oral communication skills to succeed.
But, nothing is impossible. If you work on building your vocabulary and improving your language skills in dead earnest right away, you’ll be amazed how quickly you pick up the essentials.
Join a coaching class which can give you practice in participating in mock GDs and interviews to gain practice and overcome your hesitation of speaking in public. Alternatively, form a group of your own and discuss a variety of topics within a stipulated time frame, so that when the actual time comes, you are not taken by surprise. Keep yourself updated about current events, economy etc. For the Interview brush up on the subjects that you have learnt during your graduation or if you are working, read more about the latest happenings in your field.
English is not our mother tongue, so it’s quite natural if it doesn’t come to us easily. But, if you make it a regular habit to attentively read books and papers, watch and listen to radio and TV programmes, and avail of every opportunity to converse in English, there's no way you won't succeed. It's only a language after all.
All said and done, GDs and interviews are just tools to test your personality. Be clear about your goals, be frank and be yourself. The rest will take care of itself.
Sunil Sharma
Moderator
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Making the Right Choice
Careers and Placement
THE PLACEMENT SEASON BRINGS WITH IT A HULLABALOO OVER WHOPPING PAY PACKETS AND ENVIABLE CAREER PROFILES. IT’S A STUDENT’S PLAYGROUND, WITH INDIAN AND INTERNATIONAL CORPORATES VYING TO ENLIST THE SERVICES OF THE INDIAN MBA STUDENT. STUDENTS SHARE THEIR VIEWS ON HOW YOU CAN MAKE THE CUT
It's the time when most B-school students are caught up in a whirlwind of activities — multiple applications and interviews — and campuses eagerly await judgement day, when students finally learn whether the blood and sweat of the past two years, and the gamble that started it all — their enrolment and investment in a B-school — is about to pay rich dividends. During placement season, recruiters from every sector descend on B-school campuses across the country to ensure that the best business brains bring their extensive resources and fresh vigour to their organisations. Placement season is critical for students; it is the culmination of two years of the finest postgraduate education available, and often students have but a few crucial moments to make an instant and lasting impression on the recruitment committee. How do you make your efforts count?
PREPARATION & PRESENTATION
When you set out to interact with potential recruiters, you need to be prepared to answer a volley of questions and ensure you make a good first impression. Sandeep Bhattacharjee, an IIM-Kozhikode student, currently dealing with his lateral placements, says, “You obviously have to research the company well, because you will be quizzed about your knowledge of the company. Recruiters look for soft skills and want to see confidence and enthusiasm in a student. They pose several questions and try to put a lot of stress on you.You have to be able to deal with it.” In spite of the intimidating and unpredictable nature of placement interviews, there are certain questions and situations you can be prepared for. Bhattacharjee adds, “When you first enter the room, you’re likely to be asked to go over your resume and be quizzed on it. You will also be asked generic questions about why you are applying to that particular organisation, what you think your strengths and weaknesses are, etc.” Brijesh Shirodkar, a National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) alumni, further elaborates on the types of interviews, saying, “There are usually two kinds of interviews — one for people with work experience, and one for people who started pursuing their MBA immediately after graduation.” Students with prior work experience are questioned to gauge how well they have understood the business process. Brijesh, who has a few years of work experience in the IT industry and landed a job with Cognizant, Pune, explains: “If a student with IT experience is being interviewed by a retail recruiter, they won’t be interested in which IT branch he was involved with, but will checked on how well he’s understood the business process. So retail recruiters will ask him about how retail operations work, and how his IT skills and knowledge can contribute to their business.” Students who have jumped onto the MBA bandwagon straight after graduation have other challenges to face at the interview.“The focus is primarily on academics, on their performance during their MBA programme, and perhaps a little bit on their graduation. Extra curricular activities are extremely important as these demonstrate initiative, leadership skills, and the student’s capacity for teamwork.”
SET CLEAR GOALS
As someone who has invested time and money in pursuing and acquiring a coveted MBA degree, you are expected to be very certain about what you are looking for. A lackadaisical attitude is not going to impress a recruitment committee. Shirodkar says,“You will be asked by recruiters about how you think you can achieve your goals with their organisation.“ The student should be clear on parameters like the company, the brand, the profile he is being offered and so on.
CHOOSE WISELY
In many cases, if you’re made an offer by an organisation, there is pressure to accept, even if you’re having second thoughts about it. However, that isn’t always the case. Rohan Mathur, Member of Placement Committee, IIM Ahmedabad, says: “Students always have an option, especially in case of lateral placements, because they can play the work experience card. They can negotiate several parameters, whether it’s the job profile, the pay packet or even the location. They can insist they want to work in New York and not in London.” To this, Brijesh adds: “Some colleges allow students to keep taking interviews until they find something suitable. Although companies insist on students accepting offers, colleges also insist on keeping their students’ options open.”
MAKE IT ON YOUR OWN
In a situation where you are unhappy with the options open to you, consider individual jobhunting as opposed to compromising on what you want in your first job. Priya Das (name changed), a student from a suburban Mumbai B-school started her own job search when she was dissatisfied with what was on offer during placements. She says, “You will never find the perfect job right away, even if you’re from an IIM. You need to look out for any and every new opening.”
CAPITALISE ON YOUR INTERNSHIPS
Plenty of MBA students pursue an internship during the length of their programme and like with any other internship, it is an excellent opportunity to grow and learn. Be resourceful and use this brief exposure to the corporate world to network and nurture professional relationships. Abhinav Jain, a student of National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) was made a Pre Placement Offer (PPO) from Ernst & Young after a summer internship there, and grabbed the opportunity. He offers, “If you have identified an attractive recruiter and are sure you want to start there, you need to give it your best shot and go about making a lasting impression on your manager. You are normally assigned a project during your internship, at the end of which you are asked to make presentations in relation to it. Your manager, HR personnel and other senior members will be present then. This is your time to make your mark. .” Many institutes encourage this practice. Mathur avers, “We have a system of the ‘dream firm’, so even if students have landed preplacement offers, they can enroll to the placement process as well to take a shot at making it to their top option.”
What do recruiters look for? -
Competence in the sphere you are applying to - Personal qualities such as team work, confidence, clarity of direction and abilty to handle stress
Sunil Sharma
Moderator
Dil Se Desi Group
Sunil Sharma
Moderator
Dil Se Desi Group
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