How To Get A Job?

How to use contacts for getting a job?

Contacts do matter.

No matter how great your grades are, it always helps to have a couple of references in your resume.

About to go on a job interview?
Your contacts can help you even here.

The first idea is – If you know someone with a position, in the company you are aspiring for, put it subtly.
Just mention it humbly in your resume or during the interview. In your resume, just mention about your contact under – “REFERENCE” section.

Don’t highlight this fact and in no case, brag about it. It just shows that you have nothing else to boast of.
Bragging about it simply means that you are covering up for your lack of acumen and certainly, etiquettes.

The difficulty lies when you have to mention it during the interview. Because, any wrong choice of words not only creates a negative impression about you, but also about your “reference.”

So, the million dollar question –  How to mention about your “reference” in a polite manner?

Let me give you a couple of ideas.

a)      When they ask you why you want to work with them, you can tell them that you have been told by Mr. X (Here X is your patron) that it is a great company to work with.

b)      When they ask you why they should hire you, you can tell them that you are interested in the job and that you have already done your homework.
Tell them that you have taken your time in learning about the work culture and the job profile of the company. And in all this, you were helped by Mr. X, who also happens to be your family friend.

So far, so good. But, what if you have no contacts?

Well, in that case you can “create” contacts. 

If you are still a student, request the placement cell of your college to give you the contacts of your college alumni working with that particular company.

You can exercise this option even if you are working, but being a working professional gives you an added advantage. You  can ask your friend circle if they have any contacts in the company you are planning to switch to.

In the worst case, you can search LinkedIn, and find out if someone from your alma-mater is working with that company. 

Does this mean that you use tell everyone in the panel about that contact of yours?

A big no.

Be honest.
Because references are cross-checked.

The question arises - what is the point in putting so much of effort to find out about a possible "reference", if you can't even brag about it?
The answer is simple – To  help you sail through the interview and get the job.

But there are procedures to be followed, isn't it?

Mail the person asking if they can manage some time and talk with you.

If the reply is in affirmative, call them at that time. Tell them that you are aspiring to work with them and that you are looking for their advice. Ask them about the work culture of the company.

But in no case, ask them to refer you. They themselves will mention it if they are willing to. At the end of the conversation, thank them for their time.

This not only helps you in learning more about the company, but  also the expectation of the company from you. This in turn helps you prepare for the interview in a more focused manner.

BEST OF LUCK!

How to prepare for an interview

I know that group study never works. 
You start with a good intention to complete the chapter, but then you end up playing the video game. Mock group discussions are even worse. 
You start with some serious discussion about “European Union” or “Syrian Crisis”, but this lasts just for 10 minutes.
Before you even know, all the discussion turns into just one topic – tits.

Sorry! But, true story.

So natural question – Will a mock interview work? 
Depends.

.

It depends how serious you are with your job hunt. But let me assume that you are pretty serious.

So, let me cut the crap and come to the point.

To begin with, the first thing that you need to do is to – 
Form a group.

Form a group, consisting of students seeking the same type of job.

Say for example, you are an engineering graduate. Then, your group should consist of engineering students only, unless you are preparing for general exams such as banking.

Even in such cases, make sure that your group consists of students who not only share the same dream job, but also the same branch. After all, how can you mix a bunch of mechanical engineering students with those from computer science – right?

Next, take these interviews very seriously.
Make it a point to meet at least once in a week.

The important point to remember is that, the interview should be as similar to the real life interview as possible.
Dress in formals, bring your resume, wish your friend in the same way as you would wish the panel, and most importantly, be in time.

In fact, it’s even better, if you act as if your friends actually represent the very same company which you are aspiring for.
Say for example, you are preparing for T.C.S., pretend that it’s an actual T.C.S. interview. Include the questions that T.C.S., panel is likely to ask.

Where do you get those questions?

Come on! Just Google it dude. I know that you are that smart.

Better still, you can even short-list the best candidate from your group. (And don't forget to take a treat from the short listed guy)

Happy Interviewing!