Silicon Splash

Blogger template Hacks Blog

2006-09-11T20:09:00.000+05:30

Ask any one - whats better, working on your own blog or working for someone! I am sure you would get the answer that almost all wants to work on their own project. I also started out on this blog as a hobby but now going to work on my blog full time. Recently I baught my first domain www.bloghacker.net and right now developing it as The Best resource for bloggers on blogspot, wordpress and similar freely hosted blog. Right now I am working on putting adsense and affiliate programs on blogspot blogs. You can visit my blog here. I also finished writing Adding videos to blogger blogs mini-series recently. I also plan to add some cool templates for blogger beta in coming future.

So if you are a blogger on blogspot domain then don't forget to visit my blog and bookmark it!

Interview Check List

2006-08-20T19:02:00.000+05:30

Interview Checklist

Attire: appropriate dress and footwear.
A watch. For women, minimal jewelry and makeup, light perfume.
A printout of your resume, coversheet, and other documents you might need.
Address and phone number of where you’re going.
A note pad and pencil or pen.
A list of questions you want to ask the employer.

learn from my first technical interview!

2006-05-02T18:46:00.000+05:30

From job aspirant's point of view telephonic interview have many advantages over personal interview. For starting you don't have to worry about your looks and dressing sense. Just think about giving answer with fluency.

If you wish to crack your telephonic interview then first you need to know why telephonic interviews are conducted in first place. The answer is simple - organisation has large number of applications and this is a very cheap and effective way of sorting potential candidates.

Now that you know why telephonic interviews are conducted you might have guessed what kind of question to expect in such interview - yes! mostly human resource(HR) questions, the one that tests your communication skills, not just over telephone but in real life as well. Confused? Don't worry! Let me tell you about one of my first technical interview that was conducted by Thorough Good, a consulting firm.

They (it was a two-member team) called me on my mobile number which the HR team member had taken in advance. They conformed if I was ready for the interview even though we had already decided on the time and date couple of days back. Anyway after conforming they called me again, this time they were using speaker phone. There was some problem with the quality of voice so they asked if I have any other number where they could call. Lucky my home phone was free so they called me on that number. Its nice to have a hands free handy because this interview can go on for hours non-stop. Mine was only 45 minutes.

I greeted them and they starting asking about myself, my family, education and interests. Since I had given some personal interviews before so I was pretty comfortable with such questions. After the basic HR questions they asked me If I was aware of which field their organization was into, it might sound strange but as a fresh graduate its very likely that the applicant is not aware of what exactly is Business Intelligence. But I had done my homework before the interview date and had good knowledge about the organization, its services and activities. So it was early for me. These type of questions are very common because this shows how much you are interested in job an in the organization. When they see some kind of commitment from your side they believe that you are really interested in this job.

After asking company related questions they started asking questions related to the projects I did during my studies. Now wait before firing me with questions like "but you said telephonic interviews are only for communication skills". There was no technical question involved in that part either. They wanted to test my people skill during that period. One interesting question they asked me was about a team project. They asked if I faced any problem, any unrest in the group. And what part did I play in that situation, was I able to give suggestion to solve that problem, was I able to resolve the dispute - and I was only a team member, not even a manager. There motive was simple. They wanted to know what kind of team member am I.

Another interesting question they asked me was related to my summer internship. They asked if I had notice any special skill in any senior person working in that organization and if yes how exact was did I became aware of that skill and benefit was I able to gain from his skills. And finally they asked me why I wanted to join this particular field and if I don't get this job then what would other option do I have in my mind.

The interview was a success and I got invited for their assessment centre. Though I had to cancel it later because of a date clash with my major exams. During the interview they asked me if I was free on a certain day and since my semester schedule was not with me(my only mistake) I said yes. Later I requested them to postpone or even pre-pose the assessment centre but they didn't agree. So I decide not to go.

Anyway here are few tips to keep in mind if you are appearing for telephonic interview:

Keep your schedule/diary/year planner/ calendar handy. Very Very important (read about if you haven't read it already)
Keep your resume in front of you (another blunder I did in other telephonic interview, but will talk about it some other time)
Find a peaceful place to talk.
Get a hands free and check phone battery.
Keep option of second phone if possible.
You can even write common answers on piece of papers and keep them in front of you (I never did that, I guess I was too confident about my HR skills)
What else.. yeah one last thing..!! enjoy! its just another interview and a great opportunity to improve your people skills

CAT, MAT, GMAT, JMET - MBAs are in demand

2006-05-01T17:02:00.000+05:30

Now job is not the most desired option after graduation. With high demand for managers many companies are offering heavy packages(read 6 figure salaries) to fresh passouts from mba schools.

If you are also interested in studying for your mba exam then start early. Here are some simple but effective tips to start studying early:
Read, read, read.
Develop your word power by reading books on various topics starting from religious texts to business magazines and autobiographies.
Keep an eye on current affairs. Discuss with your friends and family members. Improve your debating skills.
Starting doing simple math calculations like percentage and ratio in your mind.
Try calculation everything in your mind next time you go for shopping.
Get a book of grammar if you have doubt between "has" and "have".

And finally, keep a track record of your development. It will help you keep motivated.

Useful post on meeting myths

2006-04-24T11:36:00.000+05:30

Liz at Successful Blog has written a useful post Job [and Client] Hunting ala Liz. Here she gives general guidance on how to use search engines for your benefit and then later she points out 4 meeting myths followed by some more tips on your first meeting with the potential employer.

Liz's post also contains links to other article she wrote in past that a first time job seeker would find useful. So have a look and let me know how you find it.

Boom in online job recruitment site industry

2006-04-19T20:00:00.000+05:30

Its all high time for job portals as employees shift jobs while employers trying to keep up with the new vacancies. This trend of job hopping is specially seen in software, consulting and similar engineering industry where salary and number of opportunities both are very high.

The online recruitment industry which is around 150 crore is only 10% of the paper based traditional recruitment industry but is growing at the rate of 50% yearly and this is likely to continue for next 6-8 years.

But online job recruitment industry is not easy to setup. It requires huge resources and time. The management should be able to handle the huge amount of applications that the industry receives on daily basis.

They have to invest in offline advertisements too, like newspaper and television and they cost deeply.
Only hardworking and future smart company can survive in this fast time.

Learn a skill and have fun in summer

2006-04-14T03:02:00.000+05:30

Did you know that a lot of foreign students come to India for development internships? Teaching in Ladakh , web designing for Tibetan NGOs in Dharamsala, making documentaries on female infanticide in Tirupur and the like.

There are so many ways in which you can contribute your skills. Why not do an internship this summer. Summer internships are fun, productive and that will look excellent on your CV.

How to write a cover letter - a brief tutorial.

2006-04-13T18:25:00.000+05:30

Cover letter is the first communication between you and your potential employer, but it is not simply a letter of introduction. A good cover letter shows your ability to communicate, a skill that is sought by nearly all employers. Like they say “ First impression is the last impression” and if your cover letter don’t make them interested in you in first place then there is very high chance that your resume won’t make much impact either.So it is very important that you spend time crafting a letter that will make an employer take notice.

You can create a professionally looking cover letter by following these simple guidelines:

When to write a cover letter? If you are not meeting the final decision maker personally then you should write a cover letter. And if you are then just introduce yourself while handing over the resume.
Length. It should be short and to the point. Not more then 3 paragraphs.
Do your research first. Find out about the company and job profile.
Content. It should not be a summary of your resume. But HOW your skill make a good match for the position.
Salutation. Write to a person and not “To Whom it may Concern.”. Find the name(point 2) or try Dear Manager, Dear Hiring Manager or Dear HR Manager.
One cover letter per application. You must make a cover letter that matches the skills and experience required by the employer.
Self-centeredness. To avoid being misinterpreted as self-centered keep your “I” to minimal. Avoid using then altogether if possible.
Overview. Give an overview of the specific skills you have for the position without explaining each and everything in detail.
Pattern. Follow the same writing style and pattern you used in your resume.

Cover Letter Template

—————————-

Applicant’s address and contact information(telephone number and email address)

Date

Contact person’s name(optional)

Title

Company name and address

Subject

Dear HR Manager

First paragraph

State briefly the position you are applying for and how you came to know about the vacancy.
Show interest in the position and company by providing some information.

Middle paragraph

State your knowledge of the required skills and explain briefly why you are suitable for the position.
Describe your background and qualifications.

Last paragraph

Specify the time and day when you will be available for the interview.
Refer to the attached resume.
Indicate your plan of follow-up by telephone.

Sincerely,

(Signature)

Full Name

Enclosures: resume etc.

——————————-

Finally some last minute check before sending the letter:

Double check all your personal information.
Specify the position and job code(if any)
Check for any spelling and/or grammatical mistakes.
Check for any missing or repeated words.
Check for your signature at the end of the letter.

8 tips on writing a technical test!

2006-04-11T08:47:00.000+05:30

Any company coming to campus for recruitment or even hiring on large number normally would have a written test before short-listing for interviews to save time. Written tests can compromise of many sections like reading comprehension, verbal-ability, analytical reasoning, and technical.

In this article I am going to explain how to tackle the technical test. Though this article will cover mostly computer science related issues, but with little change you can use it to your advantage:

A typical technical paper would consist of many sections like programming, algorithm, data-structures, networks and hardware. Try to solve as many problems from the section you are strong in.
Unless it is specifically told to attempt all the sections you should focus on your strong subject only. At the end of the exam even if your score is less then others but you have shown your hold in some area, there is a very good chance that you will make a good impression. Not to mention that if you had tried solving problems from other less comfortable section then you would have scored less mark.
If the questions are multiple choice type with negative marking then resist the temptation of making a guess. Generally the problems are tricky and falling into the trap of examiner is easy.
Isolate the problems you are comfortable with. Choose the problems you have seen before. Avoid solving large problems if the time is less.
Don't experiment. Follow the strategy you have decided for attempting the exam.
Write only what is asked. For example don't write a proper code when only algorithm or pseudo-code is asked. It won't fetch extra marks. It will only slow you down and can even show your errors.
Finally, if there is no negative marks then make intelligent guess. Observe the pattern of the question paper. Are most of the questions require an intelligent approach, or are they testing basic knowledge?.
Save atleast 5 minute to revise the paper. You will be amazed at the number of errors you can find in these 5 minutes.

Finally I would like to say that it pays to prepare before hand for the exams. So study hard and keep your calm. good luck !

How to prepare for an interview - 10 step guide!

2006-04-08T20:50:00.000+05:30

Follow the guidelines given below to prepare for you interviews:

Get your basics right. This includes everything that is part of your course work WHICH is important to the job profile. Not remembering a 1st year course because you studied it 3 years back is not an excuse.
Read your resume. Get familiar with all the projects and skills you have included in your resume. You are responsible for what you have written in your resume.
Degree project and Work experience. These are the two most important parts of your resume. Refesh your memory and try to revise important things you did and goals you achieved as part of your final project and work experience.
Skills required. ask yourself - what are the skills required for the job. If you have them then revise and refresh, if you don't have then study and learn.
Investigate the employer. visit its webpage. know about the company. In one interview I was asked if I have visited the company's webpage. This shows your interest in the job.
Get help from your friends. get all the information from your friends related to the interview, if you are lucky you might find someone who have actually given that interview.
Search. you be surprised to see what you can find on the net. there are test papers, interview experiences and many other useful information available. search if you have time.
Have mock interviews. sit with your friend/family member and have a full-fledged interview. This will help you keep your calm during the actual interview.
dressing. formals never hurts. wear the dress that suits the job profile but if you are not sure then go for formals. dressing casually might even work against you by giving the impression that you are not serious about the job.
checking the venue. Though this is not very important, but if you have time then it would be great if you can check the interview venue a day before the date.

And finally remember that no two interviews are the same. What works for someone might not work for others, so feel free to experiment.

5 simple strategies to get that resume moving!

2006-04-05T20:06:00.000+05:30

So you have prepared your resumes. Congratulation!
Now the only thing left is forwarding these resumes. But where to start? one can start mailing their resume in various ways. Some of them are listed below:

You always wanted to work for that XYZ company. Now is your change. Just check it's web page. Most companies have a section called "career" or "recruitment".
Second best option is to post your resume on any of the free job related sites. They usually works. They worked for me. And the job offers are also from very reputed companies. If can afford then join some of the paid job-site.
Use your friends. Tell them you are looking for a job. They would be more then happy to refer you. Many companies run referral programs where the current employees' can refer a friend. Its a win-win situation for both parties, you gets a job, and he gets some extra bucks ;).
Read newspapers and keep an eye for openings.
Keep in touch with your friends working in your field. You never know who might tipoff you about vacancies in near future.

That sums up almost everything. Let me know if I left anything important.

How to write a good résumé in 5 steps - part II

2006-04-04T06:35:00.000+05:30

Ok! so now you know what not to write in ur résumé, we can actually start writing the résumé. I have explained writing every major portion in separate steps as follows:

Step 1:

Basics. Résumé should start with your name, contact address, telephone number and email address. Make sure all your information is accurate and up-to-date.

Step 2:

Job Objective. Always include your job object and don’t exceed it to more then 6-7 words.

Step 3:

Education History and Work experience. If you are a fresh grad just out of college then include your education history first followed by your summer work/internship or some part time job you might have done. Clearly state the problem, the part you played in that project and your achievements.

If you are shifting job with lots of past experience its better to begin with latest work experience first date-to-date and then education history can follow. About 10-12 years of experience is enough for this section.

Step 4:

Technical skills. Though sometimes it is considered optional to write technical skills, in my opinion it’s always good to include some job related skills. But don’t overload your resume by including every tool you have ever used.

Step 5:

References. This is really an optional part and you can omit if you are not confident about it. If some references are required you can always provide them later on.

That’s all. It wasn’t that hard, was it? Now that you have mastered the art of writing a impressive résumé here are some points to remember:

Keep your résumé short.
Use short paragraphs.
Follow a fixed format. And keep the style consistent.
Avoid using fancy fonts and too small or too large font size.
Avoid using “I” too often.
Always check for spelling mistakes.
Don’t USE TOO MANY CAPITAL LETTERS, IT LOOKS RUDE.
Try rewriting your resume to suit job profile.

By no means do I want to claim this document to be prefect in all aspects. This is just a guideline and a platform to start, and readers should always keep experimenting to get the format that suits their skills best. Your suggestions and comments are most welcome.

How to write a good résumé - "part I" :- 5 important tips !

2006-04-03T19:38:00.000+05:30

"Well begun is half done" - Aristotle

The key word is ’concise’. Résumé should not be more then couple of pages long. If its only one page, great! A typical HR guy receives hundreds of applications every week.

But how to make that five pages long résumé short? Everything looks so important. Keeping the following guidelines in mind while writing the résumé can significantly reduce the size without leaving anything important out:

Select a format and stick to it: selecting a format that suits your requirement is the most important part of making your résumé. Three main formats you can use are:

Chronological format: This format is suitable for an experienced person who is interested in changing his job. The résumé contains a date by date narration of previous jobs.
Functional format: This is suitable for a fresh graduate or if someone is changing his field. You get to show your transferable skills and all sorts of achievements not necessarily part of your job.
Chronological-combination format: Though both the formats have pros and cons, like one might have guessed, the best option is to combine both the formats. This type of résumé contains a narration of past job experiences and also describes the skills. This format is equally suitable for fresh grads as well as experienced applicants.

Put only the graduation and higher academic details unless specifically asked. Hardly anyone is interested in your secondary school details. Though don’t forget to include any awards/achievements you might have got.
Projects/job description should be to the point and not lengthy paragraphs describing every minute detail. That way you leave something to be discussed during interview.
If you don’t remember details of any project then don’t include it in your résumé. Remember, you are in big trouble if you can’t answer questions related to your résumé.
Don’t include projects that are not relevant to the job offered.

getting feet wet - " come on in, the water is nice"

2006-04-02T22:25:00.000+05:30

welcome to my blog.

Over the years internet has evolved into the single most important source of information and everything is just a click away. But sometimes finding relevant info becomes very time consuming and even confusing.

This blog is my attempt at providing relevant info to fresh graduates who want guidance to catch their first job or even if someone wants to brush up his fundae to change his current job.

The articles are based largely on my own and my collegues experiences. But I'd encourage everyone to share their views and knowledge on the topic covered. Only through a collective effort can we make this blog a worthwhile resource for job seekers.