How to Face GD

A Group Discussion consists of:

1. Communication Skills
2. Knowledge and ideas regarding a given subject
3. Capability to co-ordinate and lead
4. Exchange of thoughts
5. Addressing the group as a whole
6. Thorough preparations
   

Communication Skills

The first aspect is one's power of expression. In a group discussion, a candidate has to talk effectively so that he is able to convince others. For convincing, one has to speak forcefully and at the same time create an impact by his knowledge of the subject. A candidate who is successful in holding the attention of the audience creates a positive impact.
It is necessary that you should be precise and clear. As a rule evaluators do not look for the wordage produced. Your knowledge on a given subject, your precision and clarity of thought are the things that are evaluated. Irrelevant talks lead you nowhere. You should speak as much as necessary, neither more nor less. Group discussions are not debating stages.
Ability to listen is also what evaluators judge. They look for your ability to react on what other participants say. Hence, it is necessary that you listen carefully to others and then react or proceed to add some more points. Your behavior in the group is also put to test to judge whether you are a loner or can work in a group.
You should be able to convey your thoughts satisfactorily and convincingly before a group of people. Confidence and level headedness in doing so is necessary. These add value to your presentation. In case you are not good at it, you might gain by joining an institute that offers specialized courses in public speaking. For instance, British Council Division's English Language Teaching Centre offers a wide range of courses like conversation skills, business communication skills, business writing, negotiation skills and presentation skills. Mostly people attend these courses to improve their communication skills. Students here are involved in activities which use communication skills and teachers provide inputs, monitor and facilitate the classes. The course at the Centre makes you confident enough to speak before people without any nervousness.

Knowledge and Ideas Regarding a Given Subject

Knowledge of the subject under discussion and clarity of ideas are important. Knowledge comes from consistent reading on various topics ranging from science and technology to politics. In-depth knowledge makes one confident and enthusiastic and this in turn, makes one sound convincing and confident.

Leadership and Coordinating Capabilities

The basic aim of a group discussion is to judge a candidate's leadership qualities. The examiner withdraws and becomes a silent spectator once the discussion starts. A candidate should display tactfulness, skill, understanding and knowledge on varied topics, enterprise, forcefulness and other leadership qualities to motivate and influence other candidates who may be almost equally competent.

Exchange of Thoughts

A group discussion is an exchange of thoughts and ideas among members of a group. These discussions are held for selecting personnel in organisations where there is a high level of competition. The number of participants in a group can vary between 8 and 15. Mostly a topic or a situation is given to group members who have to discuss it within 10 to 20 minutes.
The purpose is to get an idea about candidates in a short time and make assessments about their skills, which normally cannot be evaluated in an interview. These skills may be team membership, leadership skills, listening and articulation skills.
A note is made of your contributions to the discussion, comprehension of the main idea, the rapport you strike, patience, assertion, accommodation, amenability, etc. Body language and eye contact too are important points which are to be considered. .

Addressing the Group as a Whole

In a group discussion it is not necessary to address anyone by name. Even otherwise you may not know everyone's names. It better to address the group as a whole.
Address the person farthest from you. If he can hear you everyone else too can. Needless to add, as for the interview, attend the group discussion in formal dress. The language used should also be formal, not the language used in normal conversations. For instance, words and phrases like "yar", "chalta hai", "CP", "I dunno", etc. are out. This is not to say you should use a high sounding, pedantic language. Avoiding both, just use formal, plain and simple language. Hinglish, (mixture of Hindi and English) should be discarded.
Confidence and coolness while presenting your viewpoint are of help. See that you do not keep repeating a point. Do not use more words than necessary. Do not be superfluous. Try to be specific. Do not exaggerate.

Thorough Preparation

Start making preparations for interview and group discussions right away, without waiting till the eleventh hour, this is, if and when called for them. Then the time left may not be adequate. It is important to concentrate on subject knowledge and general awareness. Hence, the prime need for thorough preparation. Remember, the competition is very tough. Only 460 candidates make it to the final list from 2.75 lakh civil service aspirants each year.
It may so happen that you are called for interviews and group discussions from three or four organizations but are not selected by any. The reason obviously lies in your not being well-prepared.
In a group discussion you may be given a topic and asked to express your views on it. Or in a case study GD, students have to read a case study and suggest ways of tackling the problem. For this you should have a good general knowledge, need to be abreast with current affairs, should regularly read newspapers and magazines. Your group behaviour and communication skills are on test, i.e. how you convince the others and how clearly you are able to express your points of view. You should be articulate, generate ideas, not sound boring, should allow others to speak, and adopt a stand on a given subject. During the course of the GD this stand can even be changed, giving the impression that you are open to accommodate others' viewpoints.
Additional marks may be given for starting or concluding the discussion.

Points to Remember
· Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success.In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.
· Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others.
· Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality.
· If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later.
· A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.
· A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral.
· Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward.
· Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short.
· Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint speak of you positively.
· Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.

How to Initiate in a Group Discussion

Initiation Techniques

• Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy.When you initiate a GD, you not only grab the opportunity to speak, you also grab the attention of the examiner and your fellow candidates.
• If you can make a favorable first impression with your content and communication skills after you initiate a GD, it will help you sail through the discussion.
• But if you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts and figures, the damage might be irreparable.
• If you initiate a GD impeccably but don't speak much after that, it gives the impression that you started the GD for the sake of starting it or getting those initial kitty of points earmarked for an initiator!
• When you start a GD, you are responsible for putting it into the right perspective or framework. So initiate one only if you have in-depth knowledge about the topic at hand.

Body of the group discussion

• Different techniques to initiate a GD and make a good first impression:

i. Quotes

ii. Definition

iii. Question

iv. Shock statement

v. Facts, figures and statistics

vi. Short story

vii. General statement

i. Quotes:

Quotes are an effective way of initiating a GD.If the topic of a GD is: Should the Censor Board be abolished?, you could start with a quote like, 'Hidden apples are always sweet'.For a GD topic like, Customer is King, you could quote Sam (Wall-mart) Walton's famous saying, 'There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company -- from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.'

ii. Definition:

Start a GD by defining the topic or an important term in the topic.For example, if the topic of the GD is Advertising is a Diplomatic Way of Telling a Lie, why not start the GD by defining advertising as, 'Any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods or services through mass media like newspapers, magazines, television or radio by an identified sponsor'?For a topic like The Malthusian Economic Prophecy is no longer relevant, you could start by explaining the definition of the Malthusian Economic Prophecy.

iii. Question

Asking a question is an impact way of starting a GD.It does not signify asking a question to any of the candidates in a GD so as to hamper the flow. It implies asking a question, and answering it yourself.Any question that might hamper the flow of a GD or insult a participant or play devil's advocate must be discouraged.Questions that promote a flow of ideas are always appreciated.For a topic like, Should India go to war with Pakistan, you could start by asking, 'What does war bring to the people of a nation? We have had four clashes with Pakistan. The pertinent question is: what have we achieved?'

iv. Shock Statement

Initiating a GD with a shocking statement is the best way to grab immediate attention and put forth your point.If a GD topic is, The Impact of Population on the Indian Economy, you could start with, 'At the centre of the Indian capital stands a population clock that ticks away relentlessly. It tracks 33 births a minute, 2,000 an hour, 48,000 a day. Which calculates to about 12 million every year. That is roughly the size of Australia. As a current political slogan puts it, 'Nothing's impossible when 1 billion Indians work together'.'

v. Facts, Figures and Statistics

If you decide to initiate your GD with facts, figure and statistics, make sure to quote them accurately.Approximation is allowed in macro level figures, but micro level figures need to be correct and accurate.For example, you can say, approximately 70 per cent of the Indian population stays in rural areas (macro figures, approximation allowed).But you cannot say 30 states of India instead of 28 (micro figures, no approximations).Stating wrong facts works to your disadvantage.For a GD topic like, China, a Rising Tiger, you could start with, 'In 1983, when China was still in its initial stages of reform and opening up, China's real use of Foreign Direct Investment only stood at $636 million. China actually utilized $60 billion of FID in 2004, which is almost 100 times that of its 1983 statistics."

vi. Short Story

Use a short story in a GD topic like, Attitude is Everything.This can be initiated with, 'A child once asked a balloon vendor, who was selling helium gas-filled balloons, whether a blue-colored balloon will go as high in the sky as a green-colored balloon. The balloon vendor told the child, it is not the color of the balloon but what is inside it that makes it go high.'

vii. General Statement

Use a general statement to put the GD in proper perspective.For example, if the topic is, Should Sonia Gandhi be the prime minister of India?, you could start by saying, 'Before jumping to conclusions like, 'Yes, Sonia Gandhi should be', or 'No, Sonia Gandhi should not be', let's first find out the qualities one needs to be a a good prime minister of India. Then we can compare these qualities with those that Mrs. Gandhi possesses. This will help us reach the conclusion in a more objective and effective manner.'

Summarization/ Conclusion

· Most GD do not really have conclusions. A conclusion is where the whole group decides in favor or against the topic.
· But every GD is summarized. You can summaries what the group has discussed in the GD in a nutshell.

Keep the following points in mind while summarizing a discussion:

1. Avoid raising new points.
2. Avoid stating only your viewpoint.
3. Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.
4. Keep it brief and concise.
5. It must incorporate all the important points that came out during the GD.
6. If the examiner asks you to summaries a GD, it means the GD has come to an end.
7. Do not add anything once the GD has been summarized.

what to "Do" and "Not to Do" in Group Discussion

1. Be as natural as possible. Do not try and be someone you are not. Be yourself.
2. A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal. The evaluator wants to hear you speak.
3. Take time to organize your thoughts. Think of what you are going to say.
4. Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject.
5. Don't start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject.
6. Work out various strategies to help you make an entry: initiate the discussion or agree with someone else's point and then move onto express your views.
7. Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition. If you do not give valuable insights during the discussion, all your efforts of initiating the discussion will be in vain.
8. Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say.
9. Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your points across clearly and fluently.
10. Be assertive not dominating; try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussion and analysis.
11. Don't lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to. The key is to stay objective: Don't take the discussion personally.
12. Always be polite: Try to avoid using extreme phrases like: `I strongly object' or `I disagree'. Instead try phrases like: `I would like to share my views on…' or `One difference between your point and mine…' or "I beg to differ with you"
13. Brush up on your leadership skills; motivate the other members of the team to speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to say "let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say," or "Raghu, let us hear your views" - Essentially be subtle), and listen to their views. Be receptive to others' opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive.
14. If you have a group of like-minded friends, you can have a mock group discussion where you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback.
15. Apart from the above points, the panel will also judge team members for their alertness and presence of mind, problem-solving abilities, ability to work as a team without alienating certain members, and creativity.

Tips to Build Self Confidence before 15 Minutes of an Interview

1. Step 1

play music

Sensory Check-

I’s time to get mentally prepared. Find a good radio station or have a power song selected ahead of time and turn up the volume. You want to get the blood flowing and the adrenaline charged. Try blasting the air conditioner . Cold, crisp air will awaken the senses.

2. Step 2

review documents
Document Check-

Make sure you have everything you need before the interview. If you forgot something, don’t sweat it. It’s better to know before going into the building than to look ill-prepared inside. Check your folder for resumes, your list of questions to ask, applications, notepad, pens, references, and transcripts. Be able to easily access these things without fumbling through your briefcase or portfolio. Use them only as needed. Look over the job description one last time so that the specific job qualifications are fresh in your mind. Now is also a good time to turn off that cell phone .

3. Step 3

prepare mentally
Self Check-

This is no time for self-doubt. All thoughts should be positive. Have a list of your successes ready to glance over to remind you of how great you really are. Quickly counteract any negative self-talk with positive statements. Don’t feel bad about the negative thoughts, just think of some positive ones instead. This is a time to feel good about yourself so that you will project confidence in the interview. If you are plagued by chronic self-doubt, fake it till you make it. Act the part of

confidence and you will soon find it is no longer an act.

4. Step 4

practice sales pitch
Sales Pitch Check-

Practice your 25 second sales pitch one last time. You are going into the job interview to sell yourself. Be ready to present a positive professional attitude. Companies are looking for: a willingness to learn, an ability to be an active team member, knowledge of the relevant job skills, an organized thought process, and the ability to communicate well. Review this list and find ways to communicate each of these points during the interview.

5. Step 5

visualize success
Mental Check-

Great athletes visualize their accomplishments before actually performing them. Use this tactic before the interview. Visualize yourself shaking hands, making eye contact, remembering names, smiling, being comfortable and professional. If you think it, it will happen.

6. Step 6

restroom stop
Restroom Check-

Head into the building and stop in the restroom for one last appearance check. Make sure buttons are buttoned correctly and you don’t have food stuck in your teeth. Don’t forget to smile! Wash your hands and use a lot of soap. All employees in the building use this restroom and this soap. By using the same soap, you will smell like you belong. It’s a subconscious thing, but it works.

7. Step 7

interview time
Time to Perform-

It’s interview time. If you have followed the steps above, you will feel fully prepared and confident. Go to the reception area and introduce yourself. Remember the receptionist’s name and use it on the way out. You’ve done everything you can to prepare, and now it is time to perform. Have fun, be confident, and be the best you possible.

Opportunity to be a Management Trainee/Business Development Executive

Larsen & Toubro InfoTech Ltd

Designation: Management Trainee / Business Development Executive in Insurance BU

Job Description: Core pre sales activities for BD like proposal management and coordination, marketing activities like branding, client visits, presentations, design and delivery Market intelligence / research activities Support for new account acquisition, develop Go to market strategy for regions and verticals Work with the practice, account & the sales teams to develop presentations and other client-facing materials to support account teams from a marketing perspective and periodic reports to summarize and assess L&T InfoTech’s relationships with clients. Understand client annual plans and other necessary information (based on industry issues and associated client needs) to develop communication and marketing strategies for specific clients. Farm existing accounts Develop Key Account Plan, road map for building relationships globally Own RFP responses, presentations, capability documents and case studies and coordination with delivery & other support groups Provide new ideas to farm the account Lead customer visits to ensure that the objectives are fulfilled, L&T InfoTech positioning is effectively communicated Budgeting – Providing inputs for Yearly budgets and mid-term reviews Business Documents and Reports (Research document, Detailed Competition Analysis, Review documents for business meetings) Utilize standard templates, materials, and tools to drive the development of client facing materials for relationship-building meetings

Desired Profile:

Required Technical Skills: Excellent written and oral communications Skills, including Strong English grammar skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office.
Required Specific Skills: Basic knowledge of insurance processes, Strong relationship building/relationship management skills. High-performing team member with ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously. Ability to gain a deep understanding of client issues and needs. Excellent capabilities to support large accounts and knowledge of information technology requirements, familiarity of IT Skills with strong selling drive
Experience : 0 - 2 Years
Industry Type : IT-Software/ Software Services
Functional Area : Sales, BD
Education : Any Graduate / MBA/PGDM - Marketing
Location : Chennai, Pune
Keywords : Business Development, Insurance

Contact: Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd L&T Technology Centre,
Saki Vihar Road,
Powai,
MUMBAI,(Maharashtra),
India (400072)
Website : http://www.Lntinfotech.com

INTERVIEW THE INTERVIEWER

The interviewer’s last question is frequently the most important one. That’s when the interviewer smiles and says: “Now, do you have questions for us?” Your response at this point often determines if you continue as a job seeker or transform into a job getter.
Every job, interview, if the job seeker is lucky, gets to this stage of the job interview. What you do now controls whether or not you get an offer. The resume gets you in the door, but whether you leave as a job seeker or employee depends on how you conduct yourself during the interview.

Fifteen Rules for Framing Better Questions
The art of asking questions is considering what responses you prefer and framing the questions to maximize your chances of getting the answers you want. Here are 15 rules for asking better questions.
-Ask open-ended questions.
-Keep it short.
-Don’t Interrupt
-Getting to Yes
-Use Inclusive Language
-Ask Questions the Interviewer Can Answer
-Avoid Questions that are Obvious or Easy to Determine
-Avoid “Why” Questions
-Avoid Asking Questions that Call for a Superlative
-Avoid Leading or Loaded Questions
-Avoid Questions that Hint of Desperation
-Asking Questions that Focus on What the Company Can Do for You
-Don't Ask Questions that are irrelevant to the job or organization.
-Relax and smile.
Ten Great Questions To Ask
-What’s the makeup of the team as far as experience? Am I going to be a mentor or will I be mentored?
-What does this company value the most and how do you think my work for you will further these values?
-What kinds of processes are in place to help me work collaboratively?
-What can I bring Company XYZ to round out the team?
-Do team members typically eat lunch together or do they typically eat at their desk?
-What’s the most important thing I can do to help within the first 90 days of my employment?
-Do you have any questions or concerns about my ability to perform this job?
-When top performers leave the company why do they leave and where do they usually go?
-What do you see in me? What are my strongest assets and possible weaknesses? Do you have -any concerns that I need to clear up in order to be the top candidate?
-Who are the “coolest” people on my team? What makes him or her “cool"? Can I meet them?
The Dumb Dozen
12 Dumb Questions Candidates Actually Asked
-Is it possible for me to get a small loan?
-What is it that your company does?
-Can I see the break room?
-How many warnings do you get before you are fired?
-Can you guarantee me that I will still have a job here a year from now?
-Would anyone notice if I came in late and left early?
-What does this company consider a good absenteeism record?
-The job description mentions weekend work. Are you serious?
-What is the zodiac sign of the company president?
-Will my office be near an ice machine?

Jobs for Finance/Marketing Freshers

Company- New Global Technologies

Location:
Chennai, Bengaluru/ Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Hyderabad/ Secunderabad, Delhi/ NCR

Key Skills:
MBA fresher, fresher, MBA marketing, Marketing executive, MBA finance, HR, Accounts, Taxation, audit,cs

Specialization:
Employee Relations, Recruitment, Audit & Risk, Import/Export Accounting, Business Analyst,Market Research

Job Function:
Accounting/Tax/Company Secretary/Audit, HR/PM/IR/Training, Marketing/MR/Media Planning
Industry:
Accounting-Tax/Consulting, Insurance, Recruitment/Placement Agencies

Experience
0-5 years

Qualification:
School & Graduation –
Management Graduate

Level:
Junior - Executive, Assistant

Job Details:
Job DescriptionWe are looking for talented fresher onMBA marketing, MBA finance, MBA HR ,BCOM Accounts, Taxation, audit, cs Candidates should have excellent communication skills.Desired Candidate ProfileApplicant should be an MBA/BCOM. Candidates should have excellent communication skills must.Interested candidates send your resume to hr.newglobal@gmail.com

Company Details:
Its a global consulting and service provider, delivering techny-driven business solutions that meet strategic objective of their clients. They deliver unmatched business values through combination of process excellence, outsourcing, quality framework and service delivering innovation to clients across different vertical industries.

Scope of PGDM Part -I

The scope for a PGDM graduate is unparalleled. Apart from attractive pay packets and placements being offered at college-level itself, it opens doors to various sectoral opportunities. The Indian Corporate world has seen many PGDM professionals occupying top slots in the corporate ladder.

Apart from Corporate careers, one can opt for entrepreneurship, work in co-operatives, NGO’s as the opportunities are literally unlimited. Even when the industry goes through trends/fads, like the recent dot com fad, PGDMs are the first in and among the first out, thereby reaping the benefits of a rising industry and the smartness of exiting to a different industry when the fall happened. This is due to the multi-dimensional, multi-tasking quality an PGDM possesses. For example: A PGDM with Finance specialization does not necessarily fare poorly when the industry hits the doldrums. He gets onto marketing of financial services (say, marketing of mutual funds or insurance products), thereby reducing career risk.

Today, a Management Degree has become an attractive proposition, as there are attractive entry level salaries (including $ salaries offered by some MNC’s) and typically, a Management Graduate gets absorbed into a Company through the Campus Placement Program of the Institute. The PGDM Program offers a lucrative career option to both experienced professionals as well as fresh graduates.

Phone Interview Questions

Phone interviews are conducted just like in-person interviews. They are used by hiring managers and recruiters as a tool for screening candidates for employment.
It's important take time to review the typical phone interview questions you'll be asked and to prepare answers. In addition, plan on being prepared for a phone conversation about your background and skills.
Phone Interview Questions About Your Background
Name of company, job title and job description, dates of employment.
What were your starting and final levels of compensation?
What were your responsibilities?
What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them?
Why are you leaving your job?
What are your salary expectations?
Phone Interview Questions About the New Job and the Company
· What interests you about this job?
· Why do you want this job?
· What applicable attributes / experience do you have?
· Are you overqualified for this job?
· What can you do for this company?
· What do you know about this company?
· Why do you want to work here?
· What challenges are you looking for in a position?
· What can you contribute to this company?
· Are you willing to travel?
· Is there anything I haven't told you about the job or company that you would like to know?
Phone Interview Questions About You
· What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you?
· What is your greatest weakness?
· What is your greatest strength?
· Describe a typical work week.
· How would you describe the pace at which you work?
· How do you handle stress and pressure?
· What motivates you?
· Tell me about yourself.
· Questions about your career goals.
· What type of work environment do you prefer?
· How do you evaluate success?
· Job interview questions about your abilities.

Phone Interview Tips Part- I

Employers use telephone interviews as a way of identifying and recruiting candidates for employment. Phone interviews are often used to screen candidates in order to narrow the pool of applicants who will be invited for in-person interviews. They are also used as way to minimize the expenses involved in interviewing out-of-town candidates.
While you're actively job searching, it's important to be prepared for a phone interview on a moment's notice. You never know when a recruiter or a networking contact might call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk. Review these tips, then take a look at our phone interview tips video for more advice on how to pull off your phone interview without a hitch.
Be Prepared to Interview
Prepare for a phone interview just as you would for a regular interview. Compile a list of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as a list of answers to typical phone interview questions. In addition, plan on being prepared for a phone conversation about your background and skills.
 Keep your resume in clear view, on the top of your desk, or tape it to the wall near the phone, so it's at your fingertips when you need to answer questions.
 Have a short list of your accomplishments available to review.
 Have a pen and paper handy for note taking.
 Turn call-waiting off so your call isn't interrupted.
 If the time isn't convenient, ask if you could talk at another time and suggest some alternatives.
 Clear the room - evict the kids and the pets. Turn off the stereo and the TV. Close the door.
 Unless you're sure your cell phone service is going to be perfect, consider using a landline rather than your cell phone to avoid a dropped call or static on the line.
Practice Interviewing
Talking on the phone isn't as easy as it seems. I've always found it's helpful to practice. Have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview and tape record it so you can see how you sound over the phone. Any cassette recorder will work. You'll be able to hear your "ums" and "uhs" and "okays" and you can practice reducing them from your conversational speech. Also rehearse answers to those typical questions you'll be asked.
During the Phone Interview
 Don't smoke, chew gum, eat, or drink.
 Do keep a glass of water handy, in case you need to wet your mouth.
 Smile. Smiling will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice.
 Speak slowly and enunciate clearly.
 Use the person's title (Mr. or Ms. and their last name.) Only use a first name if they ask you to.
 Don't interrupt the interviewer.
 Take your time - it's perfectly acceptable to take a moment or two to collect your thoughts.
 Give short answers.
 Remember your goal is to set-up a face-to-face interview. After you thank the interviewer ask if it would be possible to meet in person.
After the Interview:
 Take notes about what you were asked and how you answered.
 Remember to say "thank you." Follow with a thank you note which reiterates your interest in the job.

How to Dress for an Interview

The first impression you make on a potential employer is the most important one. The first judgment an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That's why it's always important to dress professionally for a job interview, even if the work environment is casual.
You'll want that first impression to be not just a good one, but, a great one. The candidate dressed in a suit and tie is going to make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in scruffy jeans and a t-shirt.

Men's Interview Attire
· Suit (solid color - navy or dark grey)
· Long sleeve shirt (white or coordinated with the suit)
· Belt
· Tie
· Dark socks, conservative leather shoes
· Little or no jewelry
· Neat, professional hairstyle
· Limit the aftershave
· Neatly trimmed nails
· Portfolio or briefcase
Women's Interview Attire
· Suit (navy, black or dark grey)
· The suit skirt should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably
· Coordinated blouse
· Conservative shoes
· Limited jewelry (no dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets)
· No jewelry is better than cheap jewelry
· Professional hairstyle
· Light make-up and perfume
· Neatly manicured clean nails
· Portfolio or briefcase
What Not to Bring to the Interview
· Gum
· Cell phone
· Ipod
· Coffee or soda
· If you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home (earrings only, is a good rule)
· Cover tattoos
Interview Attire Tips
· Before you even think about going on an interview, make sure you have appropriate interview attire and everything fits correctly.
· Get your clothes ready the night before, so you don't have to spend time getting them ready on the day of the interview.
· If your clothes are dry clean only, take them to the cleaners after an interview, so they are ready for next time.
· Polish your shoes.
· Bring a breath mint and use it before you enter the building.

Tips for an Interview Winning Resume

An employer can receive hundreds of resumes in response to an advertised position. For every hundred resumes an employer receives, only a few resumes stand out from the crowd. Want your resume to shine in the eyes of the employer you want to attract? Start by including a well-written resume cover letter with the resume. Then, follow these resume guidelines to create an interview winning resume that is head and shoulders above the crowd.

• Formatting and feel, on a mailed-in resume, matter. Your resume, at first glance, can impress or depress the employer. Lots of open space, a clear, easy-to-read font such as 12 point Arial, and easy-to-find and skim information, entice the employer to read on. With electronic publishing, every mailed resume should be freshly printed on high quality paper. And don’t even think of sending your application to my company in your current employer’s envelope, or with metered postage. Think about what this says about the integrity of the candidate. I receive, at least, one of these a week. Envelopes do matter.

• You will likely grow tired of hearing this but correct spelling, appropriate grammar, no missing words, and no typing mistakes make your resume an employer-pleaser right out of the starting gate. An error-free resume is rare. Indeed, some hiring managers will not further consider your candidacy if they find even one mistake. Every mistake makes me pause and think. Every mistake makes me question your carefulness, care, and attention to detail.

• Contact Information: In this era of instant messaging, email, and cell phones, there is absolutely no reason to make contacting you difficult for the potential employer. Yet, over half the resumes I receive have no contact information except a home phone number. And guess what? You’re never home. Give the potential employer your cell phone number, even if you have to buy a mobile for your job search. Avoid the dreaded phone tag that may make you miss out on an interview altogether.

• Write and customize an “objective” for each job and employer. The objective is your opportunity to connect your skills, experience, traits, and job requirements with those the employer is seeking. Read the job posting carefully and you can pick out exactly what the employer believes he needs.

• Include a customized section called “Career Highlights / Qualifications.” This section of the resume is usually a series of bulleted points that emphasize your most important career experience, your skills, your personality traits and characteristics, and some key accomplishments from your work history as they relate to the job for which you are applying.

• For each former employer, clearly indicate the company name, your position, and the dates of your employment. Provide a brief overview statement that tells me about what the company does its sales, products, and customers. This helps me assess your experience. Then, tell me exactly what you did for the company in a brief statement. Don’t make me look for information, read between the lines, or try to guess. I won’t and your resume will end up in the dreaded job file for the required year

• Education statements matter. State dates of attendance, majors, minors, and degrees. Don’t make me guess whether you have a degree or just took a few classes. I will figure it out and it ticks me off to have to figure it out.

• Do include a section that lists awards and other recognition. President of the Junior Class, Secretary of the Synchronized Swim Team, four year merit scholarship winner, or college economics prize winner will catch my eye much faster than a resume without awards and recognition. (Of course, you’d include this section on a resume only if you have an award or recognition to list.)

• Do include a personal section that highlights accomplishments, and anything else that will raise the value of you, as a potential employee, in the eyes of the employer. In this section, catching my eye recently is: volunteerism; involvement with philanthropic causes; publications; team and individual sports participation; leadership positions in school or community organizations (especially in resumes without an “Awards and Recognition” section) or even, “I self-funded my college education by working part-time during all four years of school.”
Well, this is the advice about what catches the attention in a resume. I can’t speak for every employer, but know that you can’t go far wrong – and you may go far in the right direction - if you heed these recommendations. When your resume is competing with hundreds of others for attention, you need to do the right things right to be heard above the noise. You can create a winning resume.

How to create great first impression

It takes just a quick glance, maybe three seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed.
With every new encounter, you are evaluated and yet another person’s impression of you is formed. These first impression can be nearly impossible to reverse or undo, making those first encounters extremely important, for they set the tone for the all the relationships that follows.
So, whether they are in your career or social life, it’s important to know how to create a good first impression. This article provides some useful tips to help you do this.

Be on Time
The person you are meeting for the first time is not interested in your “good excuse” for running late. Plan to arrive a few minutes early. And allow flexibility for possible delays in traffic or taking a wrong turn. Arriving early is much better that arriving late, hands down, and is the first step in creating a great first impression.

Be Yourself, Be at Ease
If you are feeling uncomfortable and on edge, this can make the other person ill at ease and that’s a sure way to create the wrong impression. If you are calm and confident, so the other person will feel more at ease, and so have a solid foundation for making that first impression a good one.

Present Yourself Appropriately
Of course physical appearance matters. The person you are meeting for the first time does not know you and your appearance is usually the first clue he or she has to go on.
But it certainly does not mean you need to look like a model to create a strong and positive first impression. No. The key to a good impression is to present yourself appropriately.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and so the “picture” you first present says much about you to the person you are meeting. Is your appearance saying the right things to help create the right first impression?
Start with the way you dress. What is the appropriate dress for the meeting or occasion? In a business setting, what is the appropriate business attire? Suit, blazer, casual? And ask yourself what the person you'll be meeting is likely to wear - if your contact is in advertising or the music industry, a pinstripe business suit may not strike the right note!
For business and social meetings, appropriate dress also varies between countries and cultures, so it’s something that you should pay particular attention to when in an unfamiliar setting or country. Make sure you know the traditions and norms.
And what about your personal grooming? Clean and tidy appearance is appropriate for most business and social occasions. A good haircut or shave. Clean and tidy clothes. Neat and tidy make up. Make sure your grooming is appropriate and helps make you feel “the part”.
Appropriate dressing and grooming help make a good first impression and also help you feel “the part”, and so feel more calm and confident. Add all of this up and you are well on your way to creating a good first impression.

A Word about Individuality
The good news is you can usually create a good impression without total conformity or losing your individuality. Yes, to make a good first impression you do need to “fit in” to some degree. But it all goes back to being appropriate for the situation. If in a business setting, wear appropriate business attire. If at a formal evening social event, wear appropriate evening attire. And express your individuality appropriately within that context.

A Winning Smile!
“Smile and the world smiles too.”* So there’s nothing like a smile to create a good first impression. A warm and confident smile will put both you and the other person at ease. So smiling is a winner when it comes to great first impressions. But don't go overboard with this - people who take this too far can seem insincere and smarmy, or can be seen to be "lightweights".

Be Open and Confident
When it comes to making the first impression, body language as well as appearance speaks much louder than words.
Use your body language to project appropriate confidence and self-assurance. Stand tall, smile (of course), make eye contact, greet with a firm handshake. All of this will help you project confidence and encourage both you and the other person feel better at ease.
Almost everyone gets a little nervous when meeting someone for the first time, which can lead to nervous habits or sweaty palms. By being aware of your nervous habits, you can try to keep them in check. And controlling a nervous jitter or a nervous laugh will give you confidence and help the other person feel at ease.

Small Talk Goes a Long Way…
Conversations are based on verbal give and take. It may help you to prepare questions you have for the person you are meeting for the first time beforehand. Or, take a few minutes to learn something about the person you meet for the first time before you get together. For instance, does he play golf? Does she work with a local charitable foundation?
Is there anything that you know of that you have in common with the person you are meeting? If so, this can be a great way to open the conversation and to keep it flowing.

Be Positive
Your attitude shows through in everything you do. Project a positive attitude, even in the face of criticism or in the case of nervousness. Strive to learn from your meeting and to contribute appropriately, maintaining an upbeat manner and a smile.

Be Courteous And Attentive
It goes without saying that good manners and polite, attentive and courteous behavior help make a good first impression. In fact, anything less can ruin the one chance you have at making that first impression. So be on your best behavior!
One modern manner worth mentioning is “turn off your mobile phone”. What first impression will you create if you are already speaking to someone other than the person you are meeting for the first time? Your new acquaintance deserves 100% of your attention. Anything less and you’ll create a less than good first impression.

Key Points
You have just a few seconds to make a good first impression and it’s almost impossible ever to change it. So it’s worth giving each new encounter your best shot. Much of what you need to do to make a good impression is common sense. But with a little extra thought and preparation, you can hone your intuitive style and make every first impression not just good but great.

18 ways to improve the body language

1. Don’t cross your arms or legs –You have probably already heard you shouldn’t cross your arms as it might make you seem defensive or guarded. This goes for your legs too. Keep your arms and legs open.

2. Have eye contact, but don’t stare – If there are several people you are talking to, give them all some eye contact to create a better connection and see if they are listening. Keeping too much eye-contact might creep people out. Giving no eye-contact might make you seem insecure. If you are not used to keeping eye-contact it might feel a little hard or scary in the beginning but keep working on it and you’ll get used to it.

3. Relax your shoulders – When you feel tense it’s easily winds up as tension in your shoulders. They might move up and forward a bit. Try to relax. Try to loosen up by shaking the shoulders a bit and move them back slightly.

4. Nod when they are talking – nod once in a while to signal that you are listening. But don’t overdo it and peck like Woody Woodpecker.

5. Don’t slouch; sit up straight – but in a relaxed way, not in a too tense manner.

6. Lean, but not too much – If you want to show that you are interested in what someone is saying, lean toward the person talking. If you want to show that you’re confident in yourself and relaxed lean back a bit. But don’t lean in too much or you might seem needy and desperate for some approval. Or lean back too much or you might seem arrogant and distant.

7. Smile and laugh – lighten up, don’t take yourself too seriously. Relax a bit, smile and laugh when someone says something funny. People will be a lot more inclined to listen to you if you seem to be a positive person. But don’t be the first to laugh at your own jokes, it makes you seem nervous and needy. Smile when you are introduced to someone but don’t keep a smile plastered on your face, you’ll seem insincere.

8. Keep you head up - Don’t keep your eyes on the ground, it might make you seem insecure and a bit lost. Keep your head up straight and your eyes towards the horizon.

9. Slow down a bit – this goes for many things. Walking slower not only makes you seem more calm and confident, it will also make you feel less stressed. If someone addresses you, don’t snap you’re neck in their direction, turn it a bit more slowly instead.

10. Don’t touch your face – it might make you seem nervous and can be distracting for the listeners or the people in the conversation.

11. Don’t fidget – try to avoid, phase out or transform fidgety movement and nervous ticks such as shaking your leg or tapping your fingers against the table rapidly. You’ll seem nervous and fidgeting can be a distracting when you try to get something across. Try to relax, slow down and focus your movements.

12. Don’t be afraid to take up some space – Taking up space by for example sitting or standing with your legs apart a bit signals self-confidence and that you are comfortable in your own skin.

13. Lower your drink – don’t hold your drink in front of your chest. In fact, don’t hold anything in front of your heart as it will make you seem guarded and distant. Lower it and hold it beside your leg instead.

14. Realise where you spine ends – many people (including me until recently) might sit or stand with a straight back in a good posture. However, they might think that the spine ends where the neck begins and therefore crane the neck forward in a Montgomery Burns-pose. Your spine ends in the back of your head. Keep you whole spine straight and aligned for better posture.

15. Don’t stand too close –one of the things we learned from Seinfeld is that everybody gets weirder out by a close-talker. Let people have their personal space, don’t invade it.

16. Keep a good attitude – last but not least, keep a positive, open and relaxed attitude. How you feel will come through in your body language and can make a major difference. For information on how make yourself feel better read 10 ways to change how you feel and for relaxation try A very simple way to feel relaxed for 24 hours.

17. Use your hands more confidently – instead of fidgeting with your hands and scratching your face use them to communicate what you are trying to say. Use your hands to describe something or to add weight to a point you are trying to make. But don’t use them to much or it might become distracting. And don’t let your hands flail around, use them with some control.

18. Mirror - Often when you get along with a person, when the two of you get a good connection, you will start to mirror each other unconsciously. That means that you mirror the other person’s body language a bit. To make the connection better you can try a bit of proactive mirroring. If he leans forward, you might lean forward. If she holds her hands on her thighs, you might do the same. But don’t react instantly and don’t mirror every change in body language. Then weirdness will ensue.

You can change your body language but as all new habits it takes a while. Especially things like keeping you head up might take time to correct if you have spent thousands of days looking at your feet. And if you try and change to many things at once it might become confusing and feel overwhelming.
Take a couple of these body language bits to work on every day for three to four weeks. By then they should have developed into new habits and something you’ll do without even thinking about it. If not, keep on until it sticks. Then take another couple of things you’d like to change and work on them.

General Tips To Overcome An Interview

Exclusively for Campus/Off-campus :
So what if you are not a mountaineer. Or a keen hiker. You still cannot treat your interview like a careless morning trot along a jogger's path. Your jaw-jaw at the interview table is nothing less than a cautious climb up a mountain trail--which begins around your early childhood and meanders through the years at the academia before reaching a new summit in your career. And as you retrace your steps down memory lane make sure that you post flags at important landmarks of your life and career, so that you can pop them before the interview panel scoops them out of you. You don't want to be at the receiving end, do you?
Face the panel, but don't fall of the chair in a headlong rush-and-skid attempt to tell your story. Take one step at a time. Here are a few preparation tips from the Team of Freshersworld.com that books on interviews sometimes overlook. Remember, as a fresher you do not have anything to loose but to gain.

TYPICAL QUESTIONS THAT AN INTERVIEWER WOULD ASK:

1.Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work/Study-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done well at your college and how you wanted to perform in the first job.

2. Why Should We Employ You?For this question, your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the job. Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers. However, structure them to suit your requirements.
I have good co-ordination skillsGood analytical skillsI can persuade people to see my point of view, and get the work doneMy greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies, I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targetsCan say “no” to people when required to do so!I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates, and would like to see them growI am a good team playerI am very flexible, and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditionsI have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here, give appropriate details and examples)

3. Do You Have Offers From Other Companies ?This is of course a difficult question to answer. Obviously, you must have applied to other companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other companies already. Therefore, do not lie that you have not. However, you are on thin ice here! The interviewer could be checking your honesty. On the other hand, he/she may also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy?Whatever your answer, it should match your career goals.

4. What Salary Are You Expecting?Try not to get into salary details early in the interview. If pressed, you could say that it all depends on the job, and would like to talk about it after a job offer. Say this in a convincing tone. In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews, give a direct answer. Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind.

SALARY EXPECTATIONS :

1. How much do you expect?If you have done your homework, you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid. Quote the range upfront.
2. How much do you think you are worth?Work out how much you should be paid, given the market value of the job and your skills. If you can bring some extra skills to the table, do not hesitate to ask for more than the market value.
3. What kind of a culture are you comfortable with?It is better to be frank about your preferences. Your interviewer will get a clear idea about your expectations.
4. Which is more important to you-salary, perks or growth opportunities?This one will reveal the real you. So be sure what you are going to say. Above all, be true to yourself. If you think this is a negotiation move, then say clearly that you will never sell yourself short.
5. What do you know about our company?Do not give your opinions about the company. Stick to reported facts that you have gathered from newspapers and so on. Talk about the product portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of the company. Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworld.com or PlacementWeek.com
6. Why should we choose you over someone else?Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your College/Project Team and highlight the quality required.
7.Your qualifications are excellent, but you may be overqualified for the position we have to offer?Point out that more experience can never be a drawback. If you are multi-skilled, then highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people. It needs people within different departments to work together. Also emphasise that the company's future growth will be an exponential function of your experience.

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK :

Interviewers usually round off by giving you an opportunity to ask questions. Treat it like a welcome opportunity.You could ask questions like.

a) Tell me about your company.

b) Now that I have outlined my career goals, do you think you can offer me the opportunities I need?

c) What kind of training and learning can I expect in your company?

d) Describe the work culture and the management style of your company?

e) What is the long-term vision of your company?
As a fresher, current position and status can impact the way you are interviewed. Fresh Out of College The basis on which you will be judged is your academic background, family background, and interests.If looking for your first job, ensure that your previous experience, even if it is part-time, is noticed.Mention projects or responsibilities you may have undertaken. This will indicate your area of aptitude.You should be willing to put in regular hours, in line with the company's policies. The interviewer needs to know whether you can be punctual and put in full-time work.In case you have applied for the post of management trainee, you should display an ability to adapt, and indicate all-round interests. Moreover, you should have good interpersonal skills.You should be enthusiastic to learn, and show commitment towards the organization, as the company will be spending a lot on your training.

Bring with you :

a) Copies of your resumes

b) References and letters of recommendations.

First Impressions :There is a common saying that minds are made up within the first 5 minutes of an interview. So keep in mind these important first impression indicators. Walk in the door as if you already work there, carry yourself as though you feel perfectly comfortable with the situation. Arrive on time or a little early. In the waiting area, politely tell the receptionist who you are meeting and in a friendly way, ask where you should sit. Take slow, deep breaths to help you remain calm and focused. When introduced to the interviewer, have a firm, but not painful, handshake. Smile. Have good posture when sitting or standing. Introduce yourself in a relaxed, confident manner. Have a well-groomed, professional appearance. Project a feeling of confidence. Bring extra copies of your resume, some thing to write on and something to write with.

How to make Life 100%?

If
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
is equals to
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

L+U+C+K
12+21+3+11 = 47%

So What Makes Life 100%???????????

Is it MONEY??????
M+O+N+E+Y
13+15+14+5+25 = 72%

NO
Is it LEADERSHIP????????????
L+E+A+D+E+R+S+H+I+P
12+5+1+4+5+18+19+8+9+16= 89%

No
What we really need to go on top......

A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5= 100%

Every problem has a solution, only if we change our ATTITUDE.
It's only our ATTITUDE towards LIFE and WORK that makes our LIFE & CAREER 100%.

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
Change Your ATTITUDE………
IT will change your LIFE in a better way!!!!!!!!!!