Career Development

Resume writing, interview preparation, job search strategy, and professional growth 38 articles

Should i go for MBA or MS, or rather should i directly look for a job?

All engineering students at some point of time have this thought in their mind.

Job
India		with Studies
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
Income generating option	economy encourages higher education	Earn and study together	Online and long distance courses are not given much importance
Independent living	Lesser paying jobs	Higher education	Missing necessary exposure
Helping parents with money	Lower post of working	Helping parents with money	Hectic life schedule for handling both job and studies
Earning for oneself for further studies	Hard work needed for upraises		Requires a lot of hard work

Master’s Degree
India		Overseas		MBA
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
Melding with the environment	Entry is very difficult	International Exposure	Expensive	More job opportunities	Expensive
Economical	Tough competition	Independent living experience	Away from friends and family	Enables you to start your own business	A good university is a must
Family and Friends are available when needed	More theoretical studies than practical exposure	More emphasis on practical knowledge than theory	Not very suitable living conditions	Managerial skills	Not a guarantee for success
Quality education	Gender, Religion, Caste may come into play	Pays well in India	Hassle of VISA approval and work permit	Helps in personality development and betterment
Appropriate weather conditions	Not sufficient exposure to students	Lesser competition	Expensive living

at least include the following sections: contact information, objective, professional / work experience, education, computer skills and language skills.

Contact Information (required)

Include your full name, permanent and local addresses, phone (include area code), email address, and web page (if applicable).

Objective (encouraged)

Write a brief statement summarizing the career field you are interested in and the nature of the position you are seeking.

Examples of Resume Objective – GRAPHIC DESIGNER

To obtain a position in the advertising industry as a Senior Graphic Designer

Seeking a position as a Senior Graphic Designer with management responsibilities in the advertising industry

Examples of Resume Objectives – ENGINEER

Seeking an engineering position with emphasis on new product development within the IT industry

To obtain an Engineering position as Innovation Manager within the Machinery Manufacturing Industry

Professional Experience / Work Experience (required)

Refer to Chronological, Functional or Combination to determine which style of resume is best suited to your needs.

All resumes should include:[USA]

Examples of achievements (where possible, quantify achievements as $ or %) ie. grew international sales by 123%, responsible for sales budget of $300,000, designed and executed marketing budget of $15,000 resulting in ROI of $1,100,000

Include examples of experiences (where possible match these to the experiences sought by the employer) ie. job description reads “applicant must have experience in Tradeshows” a possible bullet point could be: Tradeshows: extensive experience in tradeshow co-ordination including; stand design & setup, promotional marketing, customer lead generation and follow-ups.

Include skills relevant to the job: examples include; communication, leadership, project planning, financial planning etc. For each give an example to prove your competency in this skill.

Education (required)

Summarize your educational achievements (colleges attended, locations, graduation dates, certificates, academic majors, minors, and course concentrations).

Start with most recent degree awarded and work backward in time.

Unless you are a recent graduate (ie with 3 years or less work experience) you do not need to list high school

Unless it is relevant in some way, or if school is particularly well regarded.

GPA is optional. Include it if you feel it will enhance your resume.

If a recent graduate, you may wish to include relevant coursework or training workshops attended (ie ‘laboratory techniques’ / ‘quantitative research methods’) if this improves your credibility.

Computer Skills (required for office jobs, otherwise optional)

List the programs you are familiar with ie. Outlook, Internet Explorer, Excel, Word, Publisher, Adobe Photoshop, Accounting Software (name the specific software).

Language Skills (optional)

If you speak more than one language then you should consider including language skills. Make certain you accurately represent your skill level for both written and verbal (ie. Spanish: Written 6/10, Verbal 8/10).

Member Associations (optional)

If you belong to organizations that are relative to the industry or job you are applying for you may choose to include these in your resume. The general rule is, include this section if you feel it will strengthen your application.

References (optional)

This is entirely optional. If you choose to include references, make sure they are aware that they may be contacted by a recruitment agent and inform them as to the type of job you are applying for. It is good practice to send a copy of your resume to your reference to remind them of the activities you performed and responsibilities you had whilst working for them. This is strongly advised in the time since employment with your reference is 1 year or more in the past.

Resume Recommendations

· Tailor your choice of content so that it’s highly relevant to the type of job you are applying to

· Use bullet points and try to keep each point to one line where possible

· Each bullet point should be succinctly written and get the point across clearly

· Where possible try to quantify achievements with percentages %, numbers # , and dollar $ terms

· Use key words that you know are relevant to the positions you are applying for

· Under each heading put your most powerful examples first – never save the best until last

· Avoid using informal language / slang

· Avoid industry specific acronyms and abbreviations (some recruiters hiring or short listing on behalf of their client, may not be experts in the field for which recruiting, therefore could miss valuable skills or expertise relevant to the job)

· Use the correct tense when describing past and present accomplishments

· Proofread for: readability, conciseness, spelling and grammar. It is prudent to ask somebody to proof read your resume in case you missed something.

Avoid where possible

· Including content that is irrelevant to the positions you are applying for as it dilutes your highly relevant points – less is more!

· Saving your best credentials for last, remember the initial screening can be as quick as 20 seconds (for this reason we highly recommend including a “summary of qualifications” section at the very beginning of your resume.

· Using personal pronouns such (my, me, I)

· Including scanned copies of qualifications or certificates with your application (unless specifically requested)

· Including a photo, unless specifically requested (research indicates including a photo can be detrimental to your application).

· Printing your resume on textured or colour paper (neither scans well)

You and Your Technical Skills
1. What interests you about this position?
2. What are your technical certifications?
3. What do you do to maintain your technical certifications?
4. What automated-build tools or processes have you used?
5. What development tools have you used?
6. What languages have you programmed in?
7. What source control tools have you used?
8. What technical websites do you follow?
9. Describe a time when you were able to improve upon the design that was originally suggested.
10. Describe the most innovative change that you have initiated and what you did to implement this change.
11. Given this problem (problem is based upon job requirements), what solution would you provide. Explain your thought process.
12. How do you handle multiple deadlines?

13. How do you keep current on this industry?
14. How do you troubleshoot IT issues?
15. Tell me about the most recent project you worked on. What were your responsibilities?
16. Tell me about the project you are most proud of, and what your contribution was.
17. Give an example of where you have applied your technical knowledge in a practical way.
18. What is the biggest IT challenge you have faced and how did you handle it?
19. You are working at a client site and the CTO of the client company has asked if she can see you. The CTO wants to know how much it would cost to bring in five more people on your team. She gives you very vague requirements of the job she is looking for you to do. What would you do?
20. You have been asked to research a new business tool. You have come across two solutions. One is an on-premises solution, the other is cloud-based. Assuming they are functionally equivalent, why would you recommend one over the other?
21. You have submitted a piece of code that has broken the client’s website in production. You have found this bug while you were testing, and nobody else knows about it. What is your next move?
22. You have learned that a business unit is managing a major component of the business using Excel spreadsheets and Access databases. What risks does this present, and what would you recommend be done to mitigate those risks?

Job and the Company
1. Describe the skills you have that qualify you for this job.
2. Do you prefer to manage people or ideas?
3. Describe your production deployment process.
4. From the description of this position what do you think you will be doing on a day-to-day basis?
5. Have you worked with software vendors? How do you handle vendor relations?
6. How important is it to work directly with your business users?
7. How would you rate your key competencies for this job?
8. If hired, is there anything you would change about this IT team?
9. What challenges do you think you might expect in this job if you were hired?
10. What companies do you see as the biggest competitors to this company?

1. How would you describe the responsibilities of the position?
2. How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?
3. Is this a new position? If not, what did the previous employee go on to do?
4. What is the company’s management style?
5. Who does this position report to? If I am offered the position, can I meet him/her?
6. How many people work in this office/department?
7. How much travel is expected?
8. Is relocation a possibility?
9. What is the typical work week? Is overtime expected?
10. What are the prospects for growth and advancement?
11. How does one advance in the company?
12. Are there any examples?
13. What do you like about working here?
14. What don’t you like about working here and what would you change?
15. Would you like a list of references?
16. If I am extended a job offer, how soon would you like me to start?
17. What can I tell you about my qualifications?
18. When can I expect to hear from you?
19. Are there any other questions I can answer for you?
20. Do you have any reservations about my qualifications?

NOT to Ask

1. What does this company do? (Do your research ahead of time!)
2. If I get the job when can I take time off for vacation? (Wait until you get the offer to mention prior commitments)
3. Can I change my schedule if I get the job? (If you need to figure out the logistics of getting to work don’t mention it now…)
4. Did I get the job? (Don’t be impatient. They’ll let you know.)

Part 1 of 5: High School Preparation

1. Love programming. If you’re in high school, and you haven’t yet explored programming, do so. If you’re not interested in math or science to begin with, you should probably explore other options.

You must know at least the basics: C++, C# or Java, javascript/Html/Css.

2. Get all the math you can in high school like algebra, calculus, and geometry, it might be worth it if you try trigonometry and graphing. Try to advance to college level math before leaving high school, you’ll need a ton of math to complete any Computer Science program and Engineering program.

Part 2 of 5: College Curriculum

1. Plan on getting a degree. With all the success stories of college drop outs becoming billionaire CEOs in the 90’s, there is a certain lure that “as long as I think outside the box and have outstanding problem solving and programming skills I don’t need a four year degree”. It’s difficult for entry level software engineers to obtain a position without a four year degree, and an internship without being enrolled in a college curriculum at all.

2. Qualify your degree by what you want to do. If your love is game design and you wish to enter that industry as a game programmer, you’ll need a Computer Science degree. If you want to work for IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Google, etc., then a Computer Science degree may be good for you. If you’re looking to work for a non-technical corporation building mostly business applications, consider a degree in Management Information Systems or one of the many business technical degrees now offered. This type of degree is best for most, because it provides management and general business skills and doesn’t focus on a lot of information that will not be useful to most.

Part 3 of 5: Extra College Curriculum

1. Supplement your classwork with personal research. Search job boards and note what technologies are hot and buzzing. The colleges simply can’t keep up with everything, so you’ll need to buy additional technical books and teach yourself.

2. Unless you’re planning to get your foot in the door through an intern position, try to find side projects while in school. No one wants to take a risk and hire someone fresh out of school without projects under their belt. Internships are great at taking care of this problem, but unfortunately a lot of students can’t land an internship or do so only to discover they would prefer to work elsewhere. The only way to give yourself options is to find some non-classroom work to put on your resume.

3. Develop contacts with software engineers. If possible try to connect with software developers and work on some projects under their guidance.

Part 4 of 5: The Difference between Engineer & Programmer

1. Understand that software engineering is not the same as programming.Every software engineer knows how to program, but not every programmer is a software engineer. Here’s the principal difference between the two:

Software engineering is typically a group effort, with differing and often fluid roles and responsibilities for the group members.
Engineers develop software to meet specifications set by their respective companies designed for their client, and generally must adhere to specific standards and practices.
Engineering projects have timelines, release dates, and considerable interaction between people responsible for various components.

Part 5 of 5: Extra Activities

1. Always do some extra activities apart from studies and related to any software that has some real time solution of any problem. Whenever you have free time spend it searching on the internet about new technologies in the market and also watch for the technologies that will be useful in the future.

2. After studying about all the fields related to Computer Science, choose a particular direction in Software Industry. Narrowing your choice down will help considerably in planning your career. Always think simple because the Software Industry itself is very complex.

3. Learn about the field. The major difference between programmer and engineer is simply that engineers design tools; hence those are used by programmers to build solutions.

1. Compare and contrast REST and SOAP web services.
2. Define authentication and authorization and the tools that are used to support them in enterprise deployments.
3. Describe the difference between optimistic and pessimistic locking.
4. Describe the elements of an in tier architecture and their appropriate use.
5. Have you used Eclipse?
6. Have you used Visual Studio?
7. How did you manage source control?
8. How much (what percentage) of your time do you spend unit testing?
9. How much reuse do you get out of the code that you develop, and how?
10. How would you describe the ideal working environment?
11. If you know you aren’t going to make a project deadline what will you tell your manager and/or the client?
12. In databases, what is the difference between a delete statement and a truncate statement?
13. In network security, what is a honey pot, and why is it used?
14. What are the most important database performance metrics, and how do you monitor them?
15. What are transaction logs, and how are they used?
16. What did you do to ensure quality in your deliverables?
17. What do you consider documentation and why is it important?
18. What do you do to ensure you provide accurate project estimates?
19. What do you expect in the solution documents you are provided?
20. What elements are necessary for a successful team and why?
21. What have you done to ensure consistency across unit, quality, and production environments?
22. What is a cross site scripting attack, and how do you defend against it?
23. What is a SAN, and how is it used?
24. What is clustering, and describe its use.
25. What is ETL and when should it be used?
26. What is most important – quality or quantity?
27. What is structure?
28. What is the difference between OLAP and OLTP? When is each used?
29. What is the role of continuous integration systems in the automated-build process?
30. What is the role of SMNP?
31. What is the role of the DMZ in network architecture? How do you enforce relational integrity in database design?
32. When is it appropriate to denormalize database design?
33. When is the last time you downloaded a utility from the internet to make your work more productive, and what was it?
34. Which do you prefer; service oriented or batch oriented solutions?

Decide what kind of job you want. In order to streamline job application process, examine what your needs and desires are for employment. You can narrow down your options by taking a few things into consideration:

• Consider career field. Whether you are transitioning from another field or are looking to make a lateral move, it is important to find work that is both challenging and rewarding for you. Knowing what you don’t want to do is just as important and knowing what you do want to do.

• Consider skills required for a particular position. Feeling like your skills are being well utilized and acknowledged is key to feeling satisfaction at a job. Having an idea about which of your skills will be tapped, and which you will be able to develop, is key to deciding on a worthwhile job.

• Consider your salary and benefit requirements. Be honest and realistic about your bottom line. If you need health coverage and require a certain amount of income per month, it is best to hone in on jobs that fulfill those requirements

Do your research. Before you begin sending out resumes and cover letters, look into companies you are applying for.

• Get a sense of company’s personality and values by reading its mission statement. This information can come in handy when writing your cover letter and in an interview situation.

• Read up on new products or services company is providing. This information is often located in company’s “news” section. This section can also be a source of information on community activities company is involved in.

• Review jobs or careers section of company website for insight into job openings. You may find more options for employment in other departments or locations.

Write a resume. Even if job you want doesn’t require submission of a traditional resume, having an up-to-date resume is highly recommended. Resumes not only outline your education and work history, but they can also point to specific projects you’ve worked on or awards you’ve won. Information to include on your resume should entail:

• Your current contact information, including your full name, phone number, mailing address, and email address.

• Your educational background. List colleges you have attended (beginning with your most recent), year you attended, and any degrees or certificates earned. You may opt to include your course of study.

• Your work history for the past few years. The unofficial rule is one resume page per ten years of experience. Be aware that large gaps in employment, or multiple jobs within a short amount of time, will be something you may be asked about in an interview. Be sure to include dates of employment, the company name, your title, and a brief description of your activities.

• Your relevant skills. This is your opportunity to list all the skills you have acquired through the years. Knowledge of office equipment, familiarity with computer operating systems, software programs (such as Microsoft Office Suite or Adobe Creative Suite), typing speed, database experience, and other relevant information should be included in your resume.

Contact the employer to ask about the application process. You will likely have your call routed to the hiring or human resources manager. If they have openings, they may ask you to either come in to fill out an application or that you send them your resume and cover letter by mail or e-mail. Be sure to note this contact’s name, and address all future communication to this person, by name.

Write a cover letter, if necessary. Make sure it is specific to both company and job. If possible, address contact letter to a specific contact person. This demonstrates that you took time to research information and are not simply mass-emailing every employer you can find. Consider discussing following topics in your cover letter:

• How company’s personality and mission align with your own values.

• How your background makes you a valuable asset to role and to company.

• What it is you hope to gain from working in this role.

• What unique talents would you bring to this position?

• What specifically interests you about this position?

Get a second (or third) opinion. Ask friends or family members to review your resume and cover letter for typos. They may be able to point out things that are missing, or items that could be rephrased.

• If possible, get advice from someone working in the field you are applying for. Speaking to recruiters or hiring managers may be beneficial as well, as they are familiar with the qualities and qualifications employers are looking for.

Locate references. Though you may not have to provide a list of references right away, it is wise to tap people early to ask whether they would consider being a professional reference for you.

• It is recommended that you secure at least three references. At least two of these references should be people whom you have worked with and who can speak to your job performance.

• Be sure you have your references’ updated contact information, including mailing and email addresses, phone number, current title, and current company.

Apply. Once you have fine-tuned your resume and cover letter, it is time to begin the application process. Applications are typically submitted in one of three ways:

• In person. Bring a packet containing all your materials to the prospective employer’s workplace. It is recommended that you ask ahead of time for the best time to deliver your materials. When you arrive, ask to speak to the hiring manager and try to hand your materials to them personally. This allows the hiring manager to put a face to the name. It is recommended that you dress professionally and present yourself well.

• Online. Online applications vary–some may ask you to fill in fields, while others may require that you attach PDFs of your cover letter and resume. Some companies request that you email your materials to their Human Resources department. It is important to follow directions–if they ask that you send your resume in the body of the email, do not send an attachment!

• By mail. If requested, be sure to include the name of the hiring or HR manager on all of the correspondence. Ensure that you have the proper postage for the weight of your application packet.

Follow up. Checking on the status of your application shows your interest in the position and ensures that your application materials have made it to the appropriate person. Calling right away can seem demanding and off-putting. Follow these suggestions for reaching out:

• Pay attention to job “close date.” Most jobs posted online will have a posted closing date. Calling the hiring manager before this date can make you seem overly eager and desperate.

• If there is no close date, a good rule of thumb is to make contact one week after application submission.

When you do call or email the hiring or HR manager, try to make the tone of you communication friendly.
Avoid demanding comments like,
“I haven’t been contacted yet.” Instead, ask questions such as
“Have any decisions been made yet?” or
“Can you tell me a little more about the hiring time frame?”

Asking if you might contact them again in one week if no word has been given is a polite way to be proactive

Co-Workers and Supervisors
1. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a co-worker who wasn’t doing his/her fair share of the work. What did you do and what was the outcome?
2. Give me an example of a time when you took the time to share a co-worker’s or supervisor’s achievements with others?
3. Tell me about a time that you didn’t work well with a supervisor. What was the outcome and how would you have changed the outcome?
4. Have you worked with someone you didn’t like? If so, how did you handle it?
5. Tell me about a time that you helped someone.
6. Tell me about a time that you misjudged a person.
7. How do you get along with older (younger) co-workers?

Your Abilities
1. Describe a decision you made that was a failure. What happened and why?
2. Tell me about a time that you worked conveying technical information to a nontechnical audience.
3. Tell me about a time that you worked with data, interpreting data, and presenting data.
4. Why do you think you will be successful at this job?
5. Tell me about a time that you participated in a team, what was your role?
6. Tell me about a time when you were faced with conflicting priorities. How did you determine the top priority?
7. Tell me about a time when you failed.

You
1. What would you do differently if you could start your working life over?
2. How do you balance life and work?
3. What is your preferred way to communication – instant message, phone, or email?
4. Do you check voicemail and email when on vacation?
5. What is your favorite book? How about your favorite movie?
6. What historical figure do you admire and why?
7. If you could choose anyone (alive or deceased) to have lunch with, who would it be?
8. If you could be any animal on a carousel what would you pick and why?
9. What did you do during this six month gap in employment?
10. What do you love?
11. What led you to this point in your life?
12. Do you consider yourself successful?
13. What inspires you in a job?
14. What excites you most about the position and what do you think would be stretch for you?
15. Who are the influencers in your life?

Your Career Goals
1. Start with your graduation from college and explanation the rationale behind each of your career moves.
2. Also explain the thinking process that went into making each if those decisions.
3. How many hours a day/week do you need to work to get the job done?
4. If you stayed with your current company, what would be your next move?
5. How do you measure success?
6. Describe your dream job.
7. Describe a job that would be your worst nightmare.
8. If you were the CEO of this company what would be the top two things that you would do?

More Difficult (and Some Strange) Questions
1. Are you a risk taker?
2. Are your parents married?
3. If you could meet with an historical figure, who would it be and why?
4. If you were an animal what would you be?
5. If you were a fruit what would you be?
6. It’s your dime.
7. Convince me to hire you.
8. How do you feel spiritually about divorce?
9. We unplugged that clock on the wall. Why did we do that?
10. Which do you think you are the most like, and why… a chameleon, a wolf, or an owl?
11. Why shouldn’t I hire you?
12. What does your current employer think you are doing today?
13. What is your favorite amusement park ride?
14. What is your favorite game?
15. What was the most recent book you have read?
16. What would you bring to a pot luck lunch?
17. Who is your favorite singer?

1. Tell me about how you worked effectively under pressure.
2. How do you handle a challenge? Give an example.
3. Have you ever made a mistake? How did you handle it?
4. Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.
5. Describe a decision you made that wasn’t popular and how you handled implementing it.
6. Give an example of how you set goals and achieve them.
7. Give an example of how you worked on team.
8. What do you do if you disagree with someone at work?
9. Share an example of how you were able to motivate employees or co-workers.
10. Have you handled a difficult situation? How?

Co-Workers and Supervisors
1. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a co-worker who wasn’t doing his/her fair share of the work. What did you do and what was the outcome?
2. Give me an example of a time when you took the time to share a co-worker’s or supervisor’s achievements with others?
3. Tell me about a time that you didn’t work well with a supervisor. What was the outcome and how would you have changed the outcome?
4. Have you worked with someone you didn’t like? If so, how did you handle it?
5. Tell me about a time that you helped someone.
6. Tell me about a time that you misjudged a person.
7. How do you get along with older (younger) co-workers?

Your Abilities
1. Describe a decision you made that was a failure. What happened and why?
2. Tell me about a time that you worked conveying technical information to a nontechnical audience.
3. Tell me about a time that you worked with data, interpreting data, and presenting data.
4. Why do you think you will be successful at this job?
5. Tell me about a time that you participated in a team, what was your role?
6. Tell me about a time when you were faced with conflicting priorities. How did you determine the top priority?
7. Tell me about a time when you failed.

You
1. What would you do differently if you could start your working life over?
2. How do you balance life and work?
3. What is your preferred way to communication – instant message, phone, or email?
4. Do you check voicemail and email when on vacation?
5. What is your favorite book? How about your favorite movie?
6. What historical figure do you admire and why?
7. If you could choose anyone (alive or deceased) to have lunch with, who would it be?
8. If you could be any animal on a carousel what would you pick and why?
9. What did you do during this six month gap in employment?
10. What do you love?
11. What led you to this point in your life?
12. Do you consider yourself successful?
13. What inspires you in a job?
14. What excites you most about the position and what do you think would be stretch for you?
15. Who are the influencers in your life?

Your Career Goals
1. Start with your graduation from college and explanation the rationale behind each of your career moves.
2. Also explain the thinking process that went into making each if those decisions.
3. How many hours a day/week do you need to work to get the job done?
4. If you stayed with your current company, what would be your next move?
5. How do you measure success?
6. Describe your dream job.
7. Describe a job that would be your worst nightmare.
8. If you were the CEO of this company what would be the top two things that you would do?

More Difficult (and Some Strange) Questions
1. Are you a risk taker?
2. Are your parents married?
3. If you could meet with an historical figure, who would it be and why?
4. If you were an animal what would you be?
5. If you were a fruit what would you be?
6. It’s your dime.
7. Convince me to hire you.
8. How do you feel spiritually about divorce?
9. We unplugged that clock on the wall. Why did we do that?
10. Which do you think you are the most like, and why… a chameleon, a wolf, or an owl?
11. Why shouldn’t I hire you?
12. What does your current employer think you are doing today?
13. What is your favorite amusement park ride?
14. What is your favorite game?
15. What was the most recent book you have read?
16. What would you bring to a pot luck lunch?
17. Who is your favorite singer?

1. What is your greatest strength?
2. What is your greatest weakness?
3. How do you handle stress and pressure?
4. Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it
5. How do you evaluate success?
6. Why are you leaving or have left your job?
7. Why do you want this job?
8. Why should we hire you?
9. What are your goals for the future?
10. Tell me about yourself.

You will not judged by what you have studied but what you do after education.

Campus Placement
Job Hunt

Pros:Income generating option, Independent living, Helping parents with money,Earning for oneself for further studies
Cons: Today’s economy encourages higher education, Lesser paying jobs, Lower post of working, Hard work needed for upraises

Masters Degree

Pros: melding with the environment, Cheaper, Family and Friends are available when needed , Quality education, Appropriate weather conditions
Cons: Enterence test good marks, Tough competition, More theoretical studies than practical exposure, Gender, Religion, Caste may come into play, Not sufficient exposure to students

Do an MBA

Pros: Knowledge of two fields ( Science and Commerce ),More job opportunities, Enables you to start your own business,Managerial skills, Helps in personality development and betterment
Cons: Expensive, good university is a must, No guarantee for success

Prepare for Civil Services
Short Term Courses
Go Abroad

Pros: International Exposure, Independent living experience, More emphasis on practical knowledge than theory, A foreign degree pays well in India , Lesser competition
Cons: Expensive, Away from friends and family , Not very suitable living conditions, Hassle of VISA approval and work permit, Expensive living

Join the army
Be a Change Maker
Explore the artist in you

The world’s ‘digital universe’ will grow to 8 ZB by 2015. While this figure is very daunting, the bigger challenge is the different data forms and formats within that 8 ZB data. IDC predicts that by 2015, over 90 percent of that data will be unstructured. Just think, every 60 seconds, the world generates massive amounts of unstructured data:

98,000+ tweets.

695,000 Facebook status updates.

11,000,000,000 instant messages.

168,000,000,000+ emails sent.

1,820,000,000,000+ bytes of data created.

§ Surveillance Footage: Generic metadata (date, time, location, etc.) is automatically attached to video files. However as IP cameras continue to proliferate, there is a greater opportunity to embed more intelligence into the camera on the edges so that footage can be captured, analysed, and tagged in real time. This type of tagging can expedite crime investigations for security insights, enhance retail analytics for consumer traffic patterns and of course improve military intelligence as videos from drones across multiple geographies are compared for pattern correlations, crowd emergence and response or measuring the effectiveness of counterinsurgency.

Embedded and Medical Devices: In future, sensors of all types including those that may be implanted into the body will capture vital and non-vital biometrics, track medicine effectiveness, correlate bodily activity with health, monitor potential outbreaks of viruses, etc. all in real time thereby realising automated healthcare with prediction and precaution.

Entertainment and Social Media: Trends based on crowds or massive groups of individuals can be a great source of big data to help bring to market the “next big thing,” help pick winners and losers in the stock market, and even predict the outcome of elections all based on information users freely publish through social outlets.

Consumer Images: We say a lot about ourselves when we post pictures of ourselves or our families or friends. A picture used to be worth a thousand words but the advent of big data has introduced a significant multiplier. The key will be the introduction of sophisticated tagging algorithms that can analyse images either in real time when pictures are taken or uploaded or en masse after they are aggregated from various Websites.

§ Virtualized: A converged infrastructure requires the virtualization of all heterogeneous resources: compute, storage, networking, and I/O. Virtualization separates the applications, data, and network connections from the underlying hardware, thereby making it easier and faster to reallocate resources to match the changing performance, throughput, and capacity needs of individual applications. This end-to-end virtualization improves IT flexibility and response to business requests, ultimately improving business speed and agility.

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Resilient: A converged infrastructure integrates non-stop technologies and high availability policies. Because diverse applications share virtualized resource pools, a converged infrastructure must have an operating environment that automates high-availability policies to meet SLAs. A resilient, converged infrastructure provides the right level of availability for each business application.

Open: Products are being built using open standards. This avoids vendor lock-in. Also interoperability and portability are easily accomplished.

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Orchestrated: A converged infrastructure orchestrates the business request with the applications, data, and infrastructure. It defines the policies and service levels through automated workflows, provisioning, and change management design by IT and the business. Orchestration provides an application-aligned infrastructure that can be scaled up or down based on the needs of each application. Orchestration also provides centralized management of the resource pool, including billing, metering, and chargeback for consumption.

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Modular: A converged infrastructure is built on modular design principles based on open and interoperable standards. A modular approach allows IT to integrate new technologies with existing investments without having to start over. This approach also gives IT the ability to extend new capabilities and to scale capacity over time.

Facebook and Twitter chats are underused job hunting tools: there are lots of local groups sharing job opportunities on Facebook if you search by job type and location. Also don’t forget Twitter chats. These are regular, often weekly online conversations built around a theme, a set of questions and field of work. Here’s an anecdote I’ll share. A graduate was applying for a job with a company and engaged consistently with their Twitter feed during the application process. He got selected for interview and they told him they had warmed to him as a result of his engagement beforehand. He still had to perform at interview but he got the job.

Stick to creating profiles on popular social networks: for the moment you’re better spending your time on the established networks for networking and recruitment purposes. The bulk of potential contacts will be there and are comfortable using it. Meanwhile, I’d recommend keeping an eye on new sites – such as WorkProfile and Ello – but don’t spend a massive amount of time there searching for a job until they’re more established.

Clean up your online profile: first, if you are planning to use your current personal social media account for the purposes of your job search, I’d advise clearing up any digital dirt. Any photos you’d rather not be judged on, any comments or interactions that could potentially reflect badly on you etc. If you are using a separate social media profile for this purpose, then make sure your privacy settings on your personal accounts are set accordingly. Also complete your social media bios so that they give any visiting recruiter a clear idea of your skills, experience and ambitions.

Should two types of jobs go on one online profile? It largely depends on whether your freelancing is closely related to your job in terms of skills and experiences, if so, I would definitely keep them all in one profile. And even if not related, then I would suggest having both in one profile as having different interests will make you come across as an interesting and rounded person.

Use LinkedIn to highlight achievements outside the workplace: such as awards, voluntary activity and personal activity that might be relevant such as captaining sports teams. You can re-order sections so that this goes near the top. In particular, the personal description should be carefully thought through – this is your window to show people how you think about yourself.

Keep an eye on relevant jobs through targeted Twitter feeds: jobs sites and some corporate companies have career Twitter pages. You can raise your profile by following (and messaging) relevant hiring individuals as well as ensuring your LinkedIn profile is up to date and filled with great info so that you are at maximum visibility.

Remember employers will look at your social sites: it is very possible that they will look at Twitter and Facebook to see what you post and learn more about you. You don’t need to get rid of your photos. You need to make sure, however, that your photos are not inflammatory in any way. Your photos should not be embarrassing or compromising. We all have a personal life; this is a window into who we are. You just need to be cautious about what you post and make sure it is clean.

Be polite when approaching recruiters online: as well as being pro-active there is protocol and social niceties to observe. I have seen people on Twitter rather aggressively approach recruiters and when you see their timeline it’s like a constant barrage of the same question sent to multiple people. The interview and potential recruitment starts the moment you follow a recruiter on Twitter, so make sure your profile, timeline and any subsequent tweet to them is professional, courteous and plain nice. Say thanks afterwards as well.

Source: http://goo.gl/0IsAqZ

Extended Device Ecosystem	Sentient and Smart Materials	Extreme and Deeper interactions.	Infrastructure Optimization	Unified Platform and Middleware Solutions
Trendy and handy	Attaching scores of edge technologies	Connectivity Standards	Programmable	Intermediation
slim and sleek mobile	calm	Technologies	Consolidated	Aggregation
wearable	infinitesimal and disposable sensors and actuators	Platforms and Appliances for device-to-device	Converged	Dissemination
implantable and portable	stickers tags labels motes dots specks	device-to-cloud	Adaptive	Arbitration
and energy-aware devices	ordinary objects to exhibit	cloud-to-cloud	Automated	Enrichment
Instrumented interconnected	extraordinary capabilities	on premise to off-premise	Shared	Collaboration
intelligent devices			QoS-enabling	Delivery
			Green and Lean Infrastructures	Management, Governance

New-Generation Databases	Real-Time, Predictive, and Prescriptive Analytics	Process Innovation and Architecture Assimilation	A Bevy of Pioneering Technologies	Next-Generation Applications
SQL	Big Data Analytics	SOA	Virtualization	Social
NoSQL	In-Memory Computing	EDA	Miniaturization	Mobile
NewSQL		SCA	Integration	Cloud
Hybrid Databases for the Big Data		MDA	Composition	Enterprise
		ROA	Sensing	Web
		WOA	Vision	Analytical
			Perception	Embedded Application
			Mobility, Visualization.

§ Extended Device Ecosystem: Trendy and handy, slim and sleek mobile, wearable, implantable and portable, and energy-aware devices (instrumented, interconnected and intelligent devices).

§ Sentient and Smart Materials: Attaching scores of edge technologies (invisible, calm, infinitesimal and disposable sensors and actuators, stickers, tags, labels, motes, dots, specks, etc.) on ordinary objects to exhibit extraordinary capabilities.

§ Extreme and Deeper Connectivity Standards, Technologies, Platforms and Appliances for device-to-device, device-to-cloud, cloud-to-cloud, and on-premise to off-premise interactions.

§ Infrastructure Optimization: Programmable, Consolidated, Converged, Adaptive, Automated, Shared, QoS-enabling, Green, and Lean Infrastructures.

§ Unified Platform and Middleware Solutions: Intermediation, Aggregation, Dissemination, Arbitration, Enrichment, Collaboration, Delivery, Management, Governance, Brokering, Identity, and Security).

§ New-Generation Databases: SQL, NoSQL, NewSQL, and Hybrid Databases for the Big Data World.

§ Real-Time, Predictive, and Prescriptive Analytics: Big Data Analytics, In-Memory Computing, etc.

§ Process Innovation and Architecture Assimilation: SOA, EDA, SCA, MDA, ROA, WOA, etc.

§ A Bevy of Pioneering Technologies: Virtualization, Miniaturization, Integration, Composition, Sensing, Vision, Perception, Mobility, Knowledge Engineering, Visualization, etc.

§ Next-Generation Applications: Social, Mobile, Cloud, Enterprise, Web, Analytical, and Embedded Application Categories.

Know what you want
At the beginning or even at the peak of your career, always be clear about what you want:

· What you want from your job?

· Why you are doing what you do?

· When do you need to switch career tracks?

· Are you doing what you love?

The more you know what you want, the more you will understand yourself.

Why you do what you do
Faced with challenges or even when you are far along any endeavor, remind yourself why you’re doing what you do.

· You will have a clear perspective of the direction you are heading towards.

· You will have a better focus and not lose sight of what you truly want.

· Doing this at intervals is very crucial because we easily tend to lose sight of our roots

· This will help you to never forget where you come from and the reason for your actions.

Check your quadrant
Be a “first quadrant person”. On a graph-chart there four quadrants.

1. The “+ +” first quadrant of the top left is an analogy for people who succeed and help people around them to succeed too.

2. The “+ -” second quadrant represents people who succeed by sabotaging their colleagues.

3. The “- +” third quadrant signifies people who don’t succeed but allow others to step on their accomplishments to succeed.

4. The “- -” fourth quadrant represents people who don’t succeed and won’t let their colleagues succeed either.

If you are going to follow the quadrant theory, do your best to be in the first quadrant.

Do what you love
Do your best to find what you love doing and accomplish it.

· If you have found your passion in life, you are the lucky one.

· If you haven’t, you might as well start enjoying what you already do.

· After all, no job is insignificant.

Make friends at your work place and it will probably be like the boring math lecture that you enjoyed simply because your closest pals were around you.

1. First make an attractive CV. Work really hard on your CV as this will be basis of your entire job search. See how and use the Tips

2. Prepare a cover letter / cover Email highlighting your skills and tell the why they should hire you.

3. Create a profile on popular job sites – naukri.com, monsterindia.com, timesjobs.com, shine.com etc & start applying for jobs on these sites

4. Create / update your LinkedIn.com profile with latest info. Add your skills & Achievements

5. Scan the job section in newspapers daily & apply.

6. Subscribe to any Job news paper like ‘Employment News’ and apply for jobs from it.

7. Register with your local government Employment office in your area.

8. Tell people who are working that you are looking for a job – friends, family members , neighbors anyone.. Make a list of all of your friends, relatives, and acquaintances who are working with well known companies. Call each one and ask them if they know of any openings that they could recommend you for.

9. Search for job consultants / agents on internet , create a list of them and send them your CV. Never go to just one agency. Always go to as many as possible. It is easy and it increases your chances a lot!

10. Move to / relocate yourself to Metros where job opportunities are more like Pune, banglore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Noida, Chennai etc

11. Contact you seniors from your college through social media such as Facebook, twitter etc who are already working and ask for openings in their companies

12. Attend Job fairs and Job seminars

13. Prepare well for interviews in advance. Practice your answers for standard questions in most of the interviews such as : ‘Tell me about yourself?’ ; ‘What do you know about us ?’ ; Where do you see yourself 5 years from now ?’; ‘what’s your future plans?’

14. Research the company. Become familiar with the past of the company. Who started it? Where? Who runs it now? Be inventive, and out do the other candidates.

15. When you go for the interview – dress appropriately to create the right impression

16. Prepare for a Situational interview. Be ready to answer questions such as “Describe a time you had to work with someone you didn’t like.” “Tell me about a time when you had to stick by a decision you had made, even though it made you very unpopular.

17. If you are still studying or yet to complete your course, try starting with volunteering jobs for an organization that focuses on something that you’re passionate about or part time assistance jobs. This will help you to have a good understanding of your future job as well can highlight in you CV. You should emphasize your volunteer experience on your resume, as companies that take care of their workforce well tend to favor candidates who help the public somehow.

18. Also another option is to be self-employed or an entrepreneur, in which case your mission is not to find and get a job, but to create a job.

19. So now stop complaining about no work, get off the sofa and go knock on doors with resume in hand. If you do that all day, every day.

Source :: edufive.com

Bottom of Form

try websites like http://in.incruit.com india job search web site that aggregating all job incruiting portals and company career web sites. It delivers emails daily to you which contains keyword and conditions you choose.
indeed.com and simplyhired.com … they aggregate all job portals and company career sites. It’s way more efficient as it results get delivered in my inbox on weekly basis.
site http://degreejob.com and have heard good things about it. This may help you to get answer of your question. They enable you to search jobs posted on 1,000’s of websites. Employers also post jobs directly on Indeed.
Try websites such as naukri.com and monster.com

o Monster.com -Best

o Naukri.com- Best

o Timesjobs.com- Good

o Shine.com

o Coolavenues.com

o firstnaukri.com

o clickjobs.com

o wisestep.com

o babajob.com

o vivastreet.co.in

o clickindia.com

o click.in

o freshersdreams.com

o PlacementIndia.com

Promising one with a steady flow of investments from top industries specifically in the field of IT.

Data Scientist

India has been breeding the world’s top data scientists serving not just the world’s top companies but even in government agencies. According to the 2011 Nasscom-Crisil study, the analytics market will grow into the size worth $5.6B this year employing up to 200,000 individuals. Entry-level data scientist can earn 6-8lakh per annum while a senior advisor can reap up to 25lakh.

Senior IT Professional

Significant increase in hiring IT professionals with more experience. Opportunities for senior IT professionals doubled for many years catering not just to IT sectors but also in industries like retail, BPO, and banking.

A very profitable career, senior IT professionals earn 10-17lakh annually while those with 20 years of experience can reap at least 45lakh.

Mechanical Engineer

India is a nation of engineers and there is a solid demand for this workforce in the economy both in the private and public sectors. Industries hiring mechanical engineers are power, oil, construction, and pharmaceuticals? To name a few. Mechanical engineers can earn from 1.2lakh to 7.2 lakh annually.

Software Developer

India holds the biggest share when it comes to the IT sector. For years, software engineers will still be one of the highest paid employees in the Indian job market with average annual salary from 41-72 lakh.

Aspiring software developers will be delighted to know that there will still be thousands of vacancies for software developer jobs for 2015 and for the succeeding years.

Bankers

With the Reserve Bank of India opening 2000 branches all over the country, fresher’s and experienced candidates can expect more and more banking job vacancies for this year. On top of government banks are job opportunities from rural, private and big corporation banks in India with thousands of demand from future bankers.

Interested applicants must be updated with bank exams schedules. There are many banking jobs available like banking officers and investment bankers. With the rise of many industries in India, the banking sector also booms with employees enjoying good salary rates of up to 70lakh per year.

Digital Marketers

With an Internet population of 200 Million, companies have a good target market to in marketing their products and service online. And this does not include the global landscape dominated by digital marketing when consumers would check for online reviews or online sites before actually going to the store. Add the fact of the rise of e-commerce not just in India but also across the globe.

There is an estimated 16,000 job vacancies available for aspiring digital marketers from companies across all sectors from construction to retail. Digital marketers earn at least 16lakh annually.

Counsels and lawyers

As new companies are launched regularly like startups and bigger companies expanding their territories, more and more legal professionals are hired. For smaller enterprises like startups, legal professionals are needed for contracts while big Indian companies expanding overseas as well as multinational companies investing in India require an expertise in international law.

Lucrative salaries await for potential lawyers and counsels depending on seniority and the complexities of their job descriptions. For this job, annual salaries have an average of up to 1.5cr.

Teachers

With its population continues to swell, there will always be a constant need for quality education. If you don’t know what career to have, why not join the education sector? Teaching is one of the most reputable jobs in India and thanks to salary modifications in recent years; there is a high hope for those who are looking for teaching jobs in India.

From basic to high school teachers, there are more teaching positions offered in both public and private sectors? Universities, polytechnic colleges and vocational schools. There is also a demand for English teachers in India. Teachers can earn from 3-20lakh per year.

Retail Planner

India’s economy has a steady increase in retail, from 7%in 2013 and projected to increase up to 10% in 2018. A big factor to such retail growth is e-commerce, completing the strong structure of India’s IT sector. With e-commerce, more and more online stores are launched while big companies work on building an online store to complement their stand-alone shops.

A retail planner in India can earn from 2.5-6lakh per year. As a retail planner, top job duties include research, tracking, and sales.

Product Managers

Subsequently, there will be an increase of demand for product managers for 2015. Just like retail planners, this is spurred by the growth of the online industry. Candidates with MBAs are most likely hired to be product managers with an annual salary starting at 60lakh.

Related job titles under this scope are associate product managers, senior product managers, and e-commerce product managers who are tasked to administer new, existing, and future products within the business organization.

India’s job market for 2015 is a promising one with a steady flow of investments from top industries specifically in the field of IT. Likewise, with campaigns from the government, expect more jobs like mechanical engineering jobs in Coimbatore that you can easily search on job tonic. Take a look at this list and you might be the perfect candidate.

Sending Emails

Make sure your e-mail includes a courteous greeting and closing. Helps to make your e-mail not seem demanding or terse.

Address your contact with the appropriate level of formality and make sure you spelled their name correctly.

Spell check – emails with typos are simply not taken as seriously.

Read your email out loud to ensure the tone is that which you desire. Try to avoid relying on formatting for emphasis; rather choose the words that reflect your meaning instead. A few additions of the words “please” and “thank you” go a long way!

Be sure you are including all relevant details or information necessary to understand your request or point of view. Generalities can many times cause confusion and unnecessary back and forths.

Are you using proper sentence structure? First word capitalized with appropriate punctuation? Multiple instances of !!! or ??? are perceived as rude or condescending.

If your email is emotionally charged, walk away from the computer and wait to reply. Review the Sender’s email again so that you are sure you are not reading anything into the email that simply isn’t there.

If sending attachments, did you ask first when would be the best time to send? Did you check file size to make sure you don’t fill the other side’s inbox causing all subsequent e-mail to bounce?

Refrain from using the Reply to All feature to give your opinion to those who may not be interested. In most cases replying to the Sender alone is your best course of action.

Make one last check that the address or addresses in the To: field are those you wish to send your reply to.

Be sure your name is reflected properly in the From: field. Jane A. Doe (not jane, jane doe or JANE DOE).

Type in complete sentences. To type random phrases or cryptic thoughts does not lend to clear communication.

Never assume the intent of an email. If you are not sure — ask so as to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

Just because someone doesn’t ask for a response doesn’t mean you ignore them. Always acknowledge emails from those you know in a timely manner.

Be sure the Subject: field accurately reflects the content of your email.

Don’t hesitate to say thank you, how are you, or appreciate your help!

Keep emails brief and to the point. Save long conversations for the old fashioned telephone.

Always end your emails with “Thank you,” “Sincerely,” “Take it easy,” “Best regards” – something!

Formatting Emails

Do not type in all caps. That’s yelling or reflects shouting emphasis.

If you bold your type, know you are bolding your statement and it will be taken that way by the other side – X10!

Do not use patterned backgrounds. Makes your email harder to read.

Stay away from fancy-schmancy fonts — only the standard fonts are on all computers.

Use emoticons sparingly to ensure your tone and intent are clear.

Typing your emails in all small case gives the perception of lack of education or laziness.

Refrain from using multiple font colors in one email. It makes your email harder to view and can add to your intent being misinterpreted.

Use formatting sparingly. Instead try to rely on choosing the most accurate words possible to reflect your tone and avoid misunderstandings in the process.

Email Attachments

When sending large attachments, always “zip” or compress them before sending.

Never send large attachments without notice! Always ask what would be the best time to send them first.

Learn how to resample or resize graphics to about 600 pixels in width before attaching them to an email. This will greatly reduce download time.

Never open an attachment from someone you don’t know.

Be sure your virus, adware and spyware programs are up to date and include scanning of your emails and attachments both incoming and outgoing.

It is better to spread multiple attachments over several emails rather than attaching them all to one email to avoid clogging the pipeline.

Make sure the other side has the same software as you before sending attachments or they may not be able to open your attachment. Use PDF when possible.

To, From, CC, BCc, RR, Subject:

Only use Cc: when it is important for those you Cc: to know about the contents of the email. Overuse can cause your emails to be ignored.

Don’t use Return Receipt (RR) on every single email. Doing so is viewed as intrusive, annoying and can be declined by the other side anyway.

Include addresses in the To: field for those who you would like a response from.

Include addresses in the Cc: field for those who you are just FYI’ing.

Make sure your name is displayed properly in the From: field.

Remove addresses from the To:, CC; and BCc: field that don’t need to see your reply.

Always include a brief Subject. No subject can get your email flagged as spam.

Think about your motives when adding addresses to To:, CC:, BCc. Use your discretion.

Never expose your friend’s or contact’s email address to strangers by listing them all in the To: field. Use BCc:!

Make sure when using BCc: that your intentions are proper. To send BCc: copies to others as a way of talking behind someone’s back is inconsiderate.

Email Forwarding

Don’t forward emails that say to do so–no matter how noble the cause may be. Most are hoaxes or hooey and may not be appreciated by those you send to.

If someone asks you to refrain from forwarding emails they have that right and you shouldn’t get mad or take it personally.

When forwarding email, if you cannot take the time to type a personal comment to the person you are forwarding to–then don’t bother.

Don’t forward anything without editing out all the forwarding , other email addresses, headers and commentary from all the other forwarders.

If you must forward to more than one person, put your email address in the TO: field and all the others you are sending to in the BCc: field to protect their email address from being published to those they do not know. This is a serious privacy issue!

Be careful when forwarding email on political or controversial issues. The recipient may not appreciate your POV.

Email and Perception, Privacy, Copyright

Choose your email address wisely. It will determine, in part, how you are perceived.

Try not to make assumptions when it comes to email. Always ask for clarification before you react.

Posting or forwarding of private email is copyright infringement — not to mention downright rude. You need permission from the author first!

Even though it isn’t right; emails are forwarded to others. Keep this in mind when typing about emotional or controversial topics.

When there is a misunderstanding by email, don’t hesitate to pick up the old fashioned telephone to work things out!

Know that how you type, and the efforts you make or don’t make will indicate what is important to you and if you are an educated courteous person.

If you forward an email that turns out to be a hoax, have the maturity to send an apology follow up email to those you sent the misinformation to.

When filling out a contact form on a Web site, do so carefully and with clarity so your request is taken seriously.

If a friend puts your e-mail address in the To: field with others you do not know, ask them to no longer expose your address to strangers without your permission.

Business Email

Think of your business email as though it was on your business letterhead and you’ll never go wrong!

If you cannot respond to an email promptly, at the very least email back confirming your receipt and when the sender can expect your response.

Emailing site owners about your product or service through the site form is still spam. Ask them if they want more info first!

When replying to emails always respond promptly and edit out unnecessary information from the post you are responding to.

Formality is in place as a courtesy and reflects respect. Assume the highest level of formality with new email contacts until the relationship dictates otherwise. Refrain from getting too informal too soon in your email communications.

Never send anyone an email they need to unsubscribe from when they didn’t subscribe in the first place!

Be very careful how you use Reply to All and Cc: in a business environment. Doing so for CYA or to subtlety tattle can backfire and have your viewed as petty or insecure.

When replying to an email with multiple recipients noted in the To: or Cc: fields, remove the addresses of those who your reply does not apply to.

Never send business attachments outside of business hours and confirm that the format in which you can send can be opened by the other side.

Chat, IM, Texting

When Texting or participating in IM and Chat, try not to be overly cryptic or your meaning can be misread.

Use Instant Messaging (IM) for casual topics or informational briefs. IM is not the place for serious topics or confrontational issues.

Start by always asking if the person you are IMing is available and if it is a good time to chat. Refrain from IMing during meetings or when your attention is required.

Practice communicating briefly and succinctly.

Always consider if calling the other party on the phone is better when Texting about sensitive topics.

IMing is not an excuse to forget your grade school education.

If you are not a smooth multi-tasker, do not continue multiple IM sessions and leave folks hanging while you communicate with others.

Learn how to use the features of your IM program. Specifically your “busy” and “away” message features.

Never IM under an alias to take a peek at friends’ or associates’ activities.

Take into consideration who you are communicating with to determine the acronyms and emoticons that should be used – if at all.

Social Media, Blogs and Forums

Keep in mind when Tweeting, on Facebook or message boards that you are in a global arena.

When discussions get out of control; don’t stoop to name-calling or profanities. You are better than that!

In forums, keep your signature file to no more than 2-3 lines.

Keep commercialism to no more than a link at the end of your comment or contribution.

Stay on topic and discuss issues only relative to the thread/topic in question.

If new to a group or forum, “lurk” for a while to get a feel for the community and personalities of the regulars before you post.

Never give out personal information or specifics to your location on online — nor should you give out the personal information of others!

Keep in mind there will always be differences of opinion. Try to remain objective and not personalize issues.

Don’t fall for trolls. Trolls are folks who will post rude comments just to get a rise out of everyone.

Be sure to down edit, or remove any part of the post you are replying to that is no longer necessary to the ongoing conversation.

Email Considerations…

Before getting upset because you perceive someone didn’t respond, check to see if their reply was inadvertently deleted or sent to your Trash or Junk folder.

With emotionally charged emails, wait until the next morning to see if you feel the same before clicking Send.

Feel free to modify the Subject: field to more accurately reflect a conversation’s direction.

When it comes to your email communications, know who you can trust; trust only those you know.

Take the time to review each email before clicking Send to ensure your message is clear and you are relaying the tone that you desire.

Never use an old email to hit reply and start typing about an entirely new topic.

Regardless of how noble a forwarded email may be, don’t just forward without investigating its authenticity

Always add the email addresses of Web sites and new contacts immediately to your approved senders or address book so they get through Spam filters.

Before completing a Web site’s Contact form; make an effort to review the site to be sure the information you seek is not already available.

Take a quick look at the e-mails in your Trash before you delete them just in case a good e-mail landed there by mistake.

Don’t mass e-mail people who didn’t ask to be on your personal “mailing list”.

Double check that your adware, spyware and virus programs are set to automatically update at least once each week so the software knows what to protect you from.

1. Beware of hidden readers

2. Write as if Mom or the boss is going read it

3. Remain gender neutral

4. Keep harassment and discrimination policies in mind

5. Don’t use email to let off steam

6. Control the urge to “flame”

7. Respect other people’s time

8. Never reply to spam

9. Do not email the world

10. Copy with care; reply to all with care

11. Don’t oversell your message

12. Ask permission before forwarding

13. Be cautious in sending attachments

14. Always use a salutation and signature

15. Beware of the exclamation point

16. Resist the urge to capitalize – Also applies to all lower case letters

17. Use correct spelling, grammar and punctuation

18. Think before requesting a receipt

19. Keep editorial comments to yourself

20. Treat others as you would have them treat you

21. Consider e-mail’s limitations

22. Always use a descriptive subject line

1. Take Another Look Before You Send a Message

How to avoid embarrassing emails and not send anything you do not want sent.

2. Do Not Default to “Reply All”

“Reply” is good. “Reply to All” is better. Right?

3. Keep Emails Short

Do not intimidate recipients with too much text.

4. Properly Format Your Email Replies, and Be Lazy

Do you think quoting original text in your email replies perfectly is a lot of work? Don’t let the ‘>’ intimidate you! Here’s a very comfortable, relaxed, quick and still clean and compatible way to reply properly.

5. Write Perfect Subject Lines

Do you make these mistakes in your email subjects? (The key to getting your messages read is not to be clever.)

6. Clean Up Emails Before Forwarding Them

Forwarding emails is a great way of sharing ideas, but make sure the original idea is not hidden in obfuscation.

7. When in Doubt, Send Plain Text Email, Not Rich HTML

Not everybody can receive your fancily formatted emails. Some may even react furiously. To be safe rather than sorry, send plain text emails only when in doubt.

8. Don’t Forward Hoaxes

Email hoaxes often contain stories that are intriguing, and sure to irritate. Here’s how to spot and stop urban legends.

9. Use Antivirus Software, Keep Up to Date

Make sure you’re not spreading worms and viruses via email or act as a vehicle for spreading spam. All this can be caused by malicious emails. Fortunately, there’s protection.

10. Explain Why You Think What You Forward Will Interest the Recipient

More and better communication makes better relationships. Here’s a way to spot and share relevant information and foster ties by forwarding emails and links

11. Do Let People Know Their Mail Has Been Received

Did the spam filter eat my message? Spare others this nagging question and let them know you got their email.

12. Ask Before You Send Huge Attachments

Don’t clog email systems without permission.

13. Talk About One Subject per Email Message Only

Help make the world less confusing. Try to talk about one subject per message only. For another subject, start a new email.

14. Punctuation Matters; in Emails Too

Comma, colon, hyphen and semicolon — all exist for a reason: they make it easier to understand the intended meaning of a sentence. Don’t make life more difficult and possibly less interesting for the recipients of your emails. Pay some — though not too pedantically much — attention to punctuation.

15. Use Acronyms Sparingly

DYK? Not everybody knows every acronym, and they don’t save that much time anyway.

16. Resize Pictures to Handy Proportions for Emails

When your photos look good in your email, you look good, too! Here’s how to make sure your images are not larger than screens and mailboxes by resizing them in style — online and for free.

17. Writing in All Caps is Like Shouting

Don’t shout in your emails (and all caps is so difficult to read).

18. Be Careful with Irony in Emails

No, really! I mean it. Honestly!

19. Catch Typos by Printing Your Emails

You can often find typos or misplaced commas neither your spelling checker nor you yourself catch when proofreading on the screen.

20. Avoid Embarrassing Emails

Avoid embarrassing emails by sending them to yourself only (by default)

21. Set Your System Clock Right

Make sure you don’t send messages from 1981. More »

22. In Doubt, End Emails with “Thanks”

If you don’t know how to say good-bye at the end of an email, there’s one thing that will almost always be appropriate. Thanks. More »

23. Where to Put Your Signature

Without a line sub-scripted “sign here”, how do you decide where to place your email signature? Look here. More »

24. Wondering “How to Put That in Writing”, Write “That”

Tell it like it is. Have you noticed how people who you understand perfectly well when you listen to them become cryptic when they start writing?

25. Compress Files Before Sending Them via Email

Smaller is more beautiful, at least when it comes to email attachments. So make files smaller before your send them via email

Useful link:: http://www.getsidekick.com/email-etiquette-tips

The creative application of scientific principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under specific operating conditions; all as respects an intended function, economics of operation or safety to life and property.

Branch	Field	Intro
Chemical	Agricultural	Agricultural engineers look for solutions to problems involving the use of plants, animals and the natural environment. In the past, they focused largely on improvements to crop and livestock production. While this function continues, the scope of practice is widening to include land and resource management, pollution concerns, machinery for growing…
Chemical	Biological and Biosystems	Biological and Biosytems Engineers draw on the biotechnologies found in the food, pharmaceutical, petroleum and textiles industries and combine them with engineering design. Engineers in these areas may develop processes in which microorganisms produce antibiotics more efficiently, or conduct research into how microbes can be used to digest oil spills.
Chemical	Chemical	Chemical engineers apply principles of chemistry, mathematics and physics to the design and operation of industrial equipment and methods for the manufacture of chemical products. The fibers in clothing, soaps and detergents, leather, paints and plastics are all designed and produced by chemical engineers.
Chemical	Environmental – wind turbines	Environmental engineers develop feasible solutions to problems affecting the welfare of humans and nature. They work to prevent pollution of the environment by designing systems of air and water quality control, vibration and noise reduction, and hazardous waste disposal. They also work to clean up contaminated soil, water and air.
Chemical	Food s	Food engineers apply the concepts and principles of engineering to the conversion of raw food stuffs into safe consumer products of the highest possible quality. They work in the areas of food handling, processing, packaging and distribution.
Chemical	Forestry	Forestry engineers study the effects of industrialization on nature, silviculture, hydrology and renewable resources. They are involved in the development of sustainable forestry as well as the design of lumber harvesting and processing equipment.
Chemical	Material	Material engineers study the properties of existing materials, find new ways to work with them and develop new materials. Material engineers work in a variety of fields. For example, the petrochemical industry requires material engineers because many modern materials, such as synthetic rubbers and plastics, are made from the by-products of petroleum…
Chemical	Plastics	Plastics engineers study the properties of polymer materials. They also design machines used to manipulate and shape plastics.
Civil	Building	Building engineers acquire knowledge in the planning, design, construction, operation, renovation and maintenance of buildings, together with an understanding of impacts on the surrounding environment. Building engineers explore all phases in the life cycle of a building. They identify problems and find appropriate solutions to improve the quality of living…
Civil	Bridges	Civil engineering is one of the oldest types of engineering. It involves the design, construction and management of municipal infrastructure, highways, railways, transit systems, airports, harbours, bridges, tunnels and buildings. Civil engineers also ensure the availability of high quality water supply and sewage treatment facilities.
Civil	Construction	Construction engineers are involved in all aspects of construction projects. They are responsible for overseeing the constructing process from planning through delivery.
Civil	Water resource	Water resource engineers protect water supplies and ensure that development of new resources does not disrupt natural processes and water tables. They help in the assessment of pollution sources, the control of flood damage and soil erosion, and the resolution of conflicts over water reserves.
Electrical	Communications – GPS	Communications engineers plan, analyze, design, implement, operate, test, maintain and manage communications systems and networks. They play a key role in the ongoing development of the Internet and associated technologies.
Electrical	Computers	Engineers who specialize in electronic systems are concerned with the design, analysis and manufacture of electronic circuits and devices.
Electrical	Electrical	Electrical engineers are involved in the generation, production, transmission, distribution and application of electrical energy
Electrical	Electromechanical Systems	Electromechanical systems engineering focuses on all the devices which make electrical and mechanical systems work together. People in this field often work for the automotive, power production or airline industries.
Electrical	Electronic systems	Engineers who specialize in electronic systems are concerned with the design, analysis and manufacture of electronic circuits and devices.
Electrical	Software	Software engineers are trained for the specification, design, development and maintenance of software systems and products. They apply both the principles of engineering and computer science in the design of large-scale and embedded software control systems.
Engineering Sciences	Chemistry	Chemistry, the way atoms and molecules react and interact, plays some role in just about everything.Engineering chemists use their knowledge of chemistry to develop solutions to engineering problems. They most often work with problems relating to the environment, oil and gas production, and materials development.Engineering chemists differ from all other…
Engineering Sciences	Math	Engineering mathematicians use theories and techniques, such as mathematical modeling and computational methods, to formulate and solve practical engineering problems in our world.
Engineering Sciences	Physics	Engineering physicists examine the role that physics play in engineering. They are involved in power production, astronomical research, and the design of spacecraft.
Geotechnical	Gas pipelines	Gas Engineers work in the exploration, recovery, development and processing of natural gas reserves. Gas Engineers are involved in such things as determining the best location for drilling new wells, operating gas facilities, and monitoring and forecasting reservoir performance.
Geotechnical	Geological	soil samples Geological s apply geological data, techniques and principles to the investigation of natural materials such as rock, soil and ground water. They determine the suitability of various locations for buildings, dams, highways, airfields, pipelines and tunnels, and are involved in the design of these structures.
Geotechnical	Metallurgical	Metallurgical engineers study the properties and characteristics of metals and other materials. They research, develop and monitor the processes for extracting metals from ores, develop new alloys and metals to meet specific requirements, and produce metal and non-metal products.
Geotechnical	Mineral	Mineral engineers are involved in the exploration, evaluation, development, extraction, processing and conservation of minerals like salt gypsum and sulfur. Mineral engineers also work to transform low-value, impure raw materials into commercially valuable products.
Geotechnical	Mining	Mining engineers discover, extract and prepare minerals from the earth’s crust to be used by manufacturing and energy industries. This involves exploration, testing, mine design and construction, as well as equipment and operations management. Mining engineers calculate the size of ore beds and determine if the ore can be extracted economically, develop…
Geotechnical	oil	Oil engineers work in the exploration, recovery, development and processing of oil reserves. Oil engineers are involved in such things as determining the best location for drilling new wells, operating oil facilities, and monitoring and forecasting reservoir performance.
Geotechnical	Petroleum	Petroleum engineers work in the exploration, recovery, development and processing of oil and gas. Petroleum engineers are involved in such things as determining the best location for drilling new wells, operating oil and gas facilities, and monitoring and forecasting reservoir performance.
Management	Industrial / Manufacturing	Industrial engineers and Manufacturing engineers use their expertise in equipment, material, procedures, human resources and production methods to assist organizations in improving their efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. Industrial engineers are concerned with the management side of operations, while Manufacturing engineers focus on the…
Management	Integrated	Integrated and Unified Engineering are interdisciplinary fields that recognize that the trend in industry is towards diversity and sophistication. Engineers in these two fields follow a general course in which they study aspects of all the major engineering fields – civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical etc. Engineers with this kind of general background…
Management	Production	Production engineers design, control, and continuously improve integrated systems of personnel, materials, machinery and money that produce goods and services. Their goal is to produce goods and to provide services of high quality in a timely, cost-efficient manner.
Management	Systems	Systems engineers assist and support policy-making, planning, decision-making and associated resource allocation or action deployment. They study the interaction of science, organizations and the environment.
Mechanical	Aerospace	Aerospace engineers are responsible for the research, design and production of aircraft, spacecraft, aerospace equipment, satellites and missiles. Work done by aerospace engineers has made such things as speedy mail delivery and moon travel possible. Canadian aerospace engineers designed the Canadarm used on the Space Shuttle and Space Station Alpha.
Mechanical	Automotive	Automotive engineers design, build, maintain, and operate self – propelled vehicles for use on land or sea, in air or space.
Mechanical	Biomedical	Biomechanical and biomedical engineering combine the discipline of mechanical engineering with human anatomy and physiology. Work in this area may include designing prostheses, developing movement systems for people with spinal injuries, and refining equipment for athletes in high-performance sports.
Mechanical	Geotechnical – geomatics	Geomatics engineers collect, display and analyze data about the Earth’s surface and its gravity fields for such uses as mapping, legal boundary delineation, navigation and monitoring changes in the environment. Much of their information comes from images provided by the network of satellites orbiting the earth. Geomatics engineers also help airplane…
Mechanical	Mechanical	Mechanical engineers use the principles of mathematics, material science, physics and economics to design, manufacture and maintain mechanical equipment. Our household appliances, ventilation systems, cars, ships and airplanes have been designed, tested and manufactured by mechanical engineers.
Mechanical	Naval	Naval architectural engineers and ocean engineers conceive, design and construct ships, offshore structures and other marine vehicles. They may work in design, shipbuilding, fisheries, transportation, national defense, or the oil and gas industry.

• What is your current experience of interviews? Feedback that you have received about your
performance at interviews and your own personal reflections.
• Reflecting on these experiences: what contributed to this experience? How did you prepare,
were you last minute.com? How confident were you? Did you research the company
sufficiently? The job specification – did you match the criteria?
• Evaluating the experience: Deepening your awareness and reflections on your previous
experiences. Bringing in additional information such as personal style, any information that
can help you make sense of the situation.
• Plan for next time: from focusing on your previous experience and what you have learned
from working through this learning cycle, you will have started to formulate an action plan
of how to approach your next interview.

1. Choosing the right language: that create a positive mantra about being well prepared, are answering the questions with ease and have practiced out loud so have heard yourself answering questions.

2. Your physical preparation: what you are wearing, that you are well hydrated & energized, that your body language is open and are relaxed, confident and smiling at interviewing panel.

3. That you have the right focus: thorough preparation into company that are applying to work with, knowledge of the job from the job description and job specification, applying your experience and skills to match what they are looking for.

State and achieving interview success

Physiology

· Open body language; smiling at the panel.

· Wear what look, feels comfortable and you will feel confident wearing.

· Being relaxed.

· Being energised.

Language

· Positive self talk, having practicing answers.

· Adapt what you are saying to their language and their job specification.

Focus

· Knowledge of the role, organization, your skills & experience.

· Positive mental rehearsal – seeing yourself succeeding and answering the questions well.

A competency is a behavior specially Role requerement. Majority of companies will break down each vacancy into a number of core competencies and the interview panel will ask questions that require the candidates to show evidence of demonstrating them.

Some of the most popular competencies are:
• People management
• Communication skills
• Team working skills
• Leadership skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving
First 90 seconds of the interview are crucial, so practice introducing yourself positively, using open body language, smiling and giving the whole panel eye contact.

Tell me About Yourself

Most Important

Positive mental rehearsal
Don’t try to mugup
Don’t be an Imposter
Don’t Bluff

Conventions or Exhibitions:
Major conventions/exhibitions are fantastic places to network and meet new people. Keep track of the people you contact and make sure you have a pen and paper so you can write down their contact details. Most importantly follow up with these people within a couple of days following the convention. The longer you leave it the more likely they are to forget who you are.

Job Fairs:
Similar to conventions/exhibitions. This is a no-brainer. Going to a job fair is a good way to meet people who are currently hiring, submit your resume, and also learn about what specific companies are looking for in an employee.

Friends, Classmates and Alumni:
Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends, classmates or alumni to help with your networking. You just never know who can help or most importantly who has contacts that may be able to help you.

Community and Volunteer Work:
Make a difference in the world and network at the same time! Community service is always looked upon favourably by companies but also will give you an opportunity to network with different members of the community.

Networking Meetings:
Search for networking meetings in your community. Networking meetings often require a small fee (for non-members). However this will enable you to meet a whole range of people from different backgrounds and occupations. Many times all you require is a small lead to kick start your career and networking events can be the perfect place to make this happen.

You might have been a good student back in college, but your boss might think differently about you today. Your work ethic is good – you’re consistent and creative, but your boss doesn’t share the same sentiments… and this might all be because of your body language. Body language is very integral in building or destroying your career.

If you are currently completing an internship or you have a new job, employers tend to look for small details when evaluating the effectiveness of your performance, and this includes body language.

Your body language forms an impression to your employers. A smile or frown translates to an opinion. The employer asks themselves if you are likeable or if you can be trusted. What the employer believes about you could be used as a yard stick to gauge your reputation.

Body language can be used to determine if you are hard working, result oriented, slack, or lazy. If you are always fidgeting, yawning or staring at the widow when you are conversing with your boss, then this gives an impression that you are always distracted and you cannot concentrate for long periods.

You can effortlessly prevent these career hazards by simply putting positive body language to use. This will remove any doubt from your employer and if he or she is to judge you, let it at least not be through body language because in most cases it is not always a true reflection of your personality. You should always be enthusiastic and positive, which creates the feeling that you are charismatic.

This demonstrates to the employers that you are hard working and reliable, and this gives them a good impression about you. The key body language practices that you should put into consideration are simple to implement and most importantly will create the professional impression to help you succeed in your job.

Don’t forget to smile!
A smile is always welcoming, and it shows people your warmth and that you are friendly. Even if your boss frowns at you, you just smile back. Portray a professional image that you approachable and welcoming

Remember the importance of eye contact
Making eye contact gives the impression that you are concentrating on what you are being told and you are more likely to execute the instructions with acute precision. Poor eye contact demonstrates a lack of confidence, immaturity and can be considered a demonstration of low self-esteem.

Listen and be interested
Finally, you should have a genuine interest on what you are being told. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to help improve your knowledge and understanding. Avoid the career pitfall associated with negative body language. Negativity can easily be spotted around the office and will be remembered by management when the time comes for salary increases, promotions and recognition.

1: The smartest person always gets the job
Definitely not true – companies these days are more interested in the complete worker. Having brains is always an advantage, but it’s not the only thing that hiring managers are looking for. In today’s economy, an employer wants to know that, if required, you are able to complete a wide range of jobs. Having transferrable skills, a can do attitude and a willingness to learn and be involved in all aspects of the business is key to nailing the job interview.

2: Direct experience is most important
Transferable skills are key. In certain industries the job specification may require direct experience, but in many circumstances being able to show that you have the skills to succeed is just as important. Do not get discouraged if you feel that you lack the right skills to get a new job. Concentrate on the value added skills that you have and highlight these skills on your resume and in the job interview.

3: Dating a co-worker will lead to career doom
An urban myth. I have even heard of stories where dating the boss has resulted in career success (not recommended!). Always remember to perform your role to the highest quality and it does not matter who you decide to date! (Note – public displays of affection are a big no no! – this type of behaviour is best saved for non-work hours).

4: Applying for jobs online is the only way to find a new job
Job searching online is one of many different approaches you should take. Before you even begin to apply for jobs, ensure that you have a professionally written resume. No matter how many jobs you apply for, it doesn’t matter if your resume is not selling your skills. With the growth of social networking online, sites such as LinkedIn can be a fantastic way to approach people who you typically could not just pick up the phone and call.

5: Writing a cover letter is a waste of time
Every time you apply for a job you should accompany your resume with a targeted cover letter. The only exception is when the job specification clearly states not to send a cover letter. Most times a hiring manager will read your cover letter before opening your resume. If your cover letter does not shine, there is a good chance your resume won’t even be opened. You may have the greatest resume written by a professional resume writer, but it means nothing if your cover letter is letting you down.

Internships:Professional internships are often one of the best ways to further educate yourself about your specific field and to gather an abundance of reputable networks for potential future jobs. It goes without saying that having internship will look good on your resume and instantly impress potential employers. Internships are also a great way to get a shoe in the door into a particular company. Going forward, as you have already gained first-hand experience of the business and its culture, you will have a huge advantage over your competitor’s when the time comes to hire new graduates. Which would you prefer – blindly applying for the role with potentially hundreds of other candidates or being able to reach out to one of your contacts within the business?

When you dedicate the vast majority of the first quarter of your life to schooling (plus the costs involved in getting an education) it is imperative to ensure that you make the most of your education and begin to set yourself up for the “real world”.

In order to take advantage of the skills that you have learned, there are a various extra-curricular activities you can do to ensure that you get the most out of what you have paid for. Internships, part-time jobs and volunteer work are the best ways to not only benefit yourself long term but you cannot go wrong with having a little extra “coin” in the pocket right now.

Part-Time/ Casual Jobs:
Generally speaking most university students will aim to work part-time during their studies. Not only will you learn real life experiences and grow your networking contacts, it is also possible to make a reasonable income which will help in creating a more balanced approach to your university life. It goes without saying that if you can get a job in your chosen field, this can certainly benefit you going forward. However, any type of job will still be considered as work experience to future prospective employers.

Volunteer Work
Volunteer work is extremely popular amongst graduates. It can be a way of making a difference in the world whilst accumulating experience. It also looks impressive on a resume. Performing volunteer work can teach you an abundance of life skills and provide you with the opportunity to help those in need or to raise funds for a cause that you feel strongly about. In the cut throat world of job seeking, having volunteer work on your resume is always a positive and portrays a positive image and good first impression to the hiring manager.

Does Your Resume Stand Out?
When applying for graduate positions the more value added experience you can include on the resume the greater your chance of finding success. By performing extra-curricular activities, working part time or volunteering your time, will give you an edge over other job candidates who only share similar educational backgrounds to yourself. Remember that as a graduate you need to distinguish yourself from the crowd and brand yourself as a well-rounded job candidate.

• Generic resume

• Resumes that do not inspire

• Clichéd resume

• Your resume does not use key words

• Your resume is formatted incorrectly

• Your resume is not targeted

• You don’t use a cover letter

• Your cover letter is boring/generic/clichéd

• Your resume and cover letter are too embellished

• Your job search is restricted to the Internet/Google/Yahoo

• You are only seeking out the perfect job (Is there such a thing?)

• Spelling mistakes / bad grammar

• Lack of professionalism

• No follow up

• Unqualified / Overqualified (you need to be realistic)

Strategic Key Words:
A great way to pimp your resume and ensure that it stands out and gets noticed by software programs is to use strategic keywords throughout your resume. Recruiters or hiring managers will often skim over resumes and look for keywords or they may use software programs to find keywords. These can be changed depending on the job you are applying for.

Remove all unnecessary information:
The best looking resume contains only relevant information that adds value to your job application. If your existing resume has the title “curriculum vitae” or “Professional CV”, remove this immediately. It goes without saying that if you are applying for a job, your application is obviously your curriculum vitae – there is no need to include this irrelevant information. Take a read through your resume and ensure that only value added information is included.

Achievements and Recognition:
An achievements and recognition area on your resume can really make your application stand out over the competition. Rather than boring the reader with all the daily duties you perform, inspire the reader with achievement statements that show off all the wonderful skills and achievements you have performed. Remember, the best way to present your achievements is to back them up with examples. Qualitative examples are even better!

Friendly Font:
When you sit down to read a book, do you ever stop to think about the font? Of course you don’t because typically all books are written with an easy to read font. Could you imagine reading through a novel that used hard to read fonts? You would put the book down before you completed the first chapter! The same goes for your professional resume. Use an easy to read, modern font (I like the font “Calibri”) and make it as easy as possible for the reader.

Modernise :
Give your resume a new modern look. Do not use old and out-dated resume templates that are floating around the internet. Although these templates may be free, they are a free for a reason! When you open up your resume ask yourself the question – “If I were a hiring manager, would I be impressed with this resume?” If the answer is no, then it’s time for a change and a makeover is needed.

•Tell us about your dissertation.

•How does your research relate or compare to what has been written already? How did you contribute to the field?

•What has been the most difficult challenge you have faced?

•If you were going to begin again, what changes would you make in your dissertation?

•What are your future research plans? What resources do you need to conduct that research?

•What is your most important publication? Do you have plans for others? Why don’t you have any publications?

•What makes you a good teacher?

•What’s your teaching philosophy?

•What about teaching has been challenging? Enjoyable?

•How would you teach a survey course in your field?

•What special seminars could you offer?

•Having not taught a large lecture course, how would you?

•What would be your favorite course to teach?

•What are your strengths outside of the classroom, such as in volunteer/community service projects?

•What contribution can you make to the department?

•Why are you interested in this school?

•If you have more than one job offer, how will you decide?

•What limitations might you have in the selection process?

•Tell me a little bit about yourself.

•What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?

•How would you describe your best day?

•After attending this school, what single most important statement conveys your experiences while enrolled?

•What do you think determines an individual’s success in a work situation?

•Do you consider yourself a leader or a follower? Why?

•Do you prefer working with others or by yourself? Why?

•How do you work under pressure?

•Why are you interested in this organization? What about this job do you find the most attractive? Least attractive?

•What are your short-term goals? Long-range plans?

•What major problem(s) have you faced in the workplace?

•How long would it take for you to make big contributions?

•What do you consider to be your most significant accomplishment? Why?

•Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of and why.

•What will be the most difficult aspect of making the transition from college to your career? Why?

•Are you willing to relocate? To travel?

•What would your references say about you?

•Why should we hire you?

Improper interview questions are those that do not pertain to the nature of the job or to the applicant’s ability to perform that job, or those which are not asked of every candidate. They are illegal when the information is used in a discriminatory manner to make a hiring decision. Federal, state, and sometimes even local laws exist which prohibit employment discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, citizenship, and disabilities. The following are examples of some of the specific areas that employers cannot ask or inquire about during an interview:

•Race: Any question related to complexion, color of skin, or other inquiries directly or indirectly indicating race or color

•Religion: Any question related to religion or religious preferences or affiliations

•National Origin/Citizenship: Questions related to your nationality, lineage, ancestry, national origin, birthplace, descent or parentage

•Disabilities: General inquiries about disabilities or health conditions that do not relate to job performance

•Arrest Record: Employers cannot ask you if you have ever been arrested but they can ask you if you have ever been convicted of a crime that is reasonably related to the performance of the job

•Family Obligations: Questions regarding marital status, family plans, children, elder care

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to improper and illegal interview questions. Should you be asked a question on one of the above topics, you may tell the employer that you are uncomfortable answering because it may reveal your membership in a protected group. If you prefer a less direct approach, you might instead try one of the following strategies: answer in brief and move on to a new topic area, or ignore the question altogether and redirect the discussion to a new topic area.

•Describe how you organize your work day and week.

•Give an example of your leadership experience.

•Give an example of a time when you were able to communicate with another person or group, even though they may not have liked what you were saying.

•How do you ensure someone understands what you are saying? Give an example.

•How do you measure success? Give an example.

•Give examples of some of decisions that you have had to make rapidly and those that took more time.

•Describe a major project in which you needed help. What did you do? Why did you ask particular people to help?

•Describe a situation where you had to adapt to an initially uncomfortable environment.

•Tell me about a time when you had a personality conflict or disagreement with a co-worker. How did it resolve?

•Tell me about a time when you had to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

•Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.

•Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.

•Give a specific example of when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.

•Give an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.

•Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone’s opinion.

•Give a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.

•Describe how you learn a new technical skill.

•Describe the most significant technical report or presentation you have completed.

•Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.

•Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.

•Give an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.

•What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give an example.

•Tell me about a difficult decision you made this last year.

•Give an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish failed.

•Give an example of when you showed initiative and took the lead.

•Tell me about a recent situation in which you had to deal with a very upset customer or co-worker.

•Give an example of when you motivated others.

•Tell me about a project that you delegated effectively.

•Tell me how you handled an ethical dilemma.

HEADER

□ Does your header contain one email, one phone number, and one

address? (LinkedIn URL optional)

□ Is your email appropriate?

□ Have you set up your voicemail with a professional message?

□ Is your name slightly larger and bold?

INVENTORY YOUR EXPERIENCE

□ Education, Trainings, Certifications

□ Research, Relevant Coursework, Projects

□ Previous Employment (Experience), Internships

□ Military Experience

□ International Experience

□ Community Service, Volunteer Work

□ Activities, Campus Involvement

□ Leadership Experience, Honors, Awards

□ Technical Skills

□ Languages (not including English-if applying in the U.S.)

□ Professional Associations

ORDERING YOUR EXPERIENCES

□ Are your most relevant experiences (paid or unpaid) to the top and

left of your resume?

□ Did you use section headers related to YOUR experiences (paid or

unpaid)?

□ Do you have more than one item in each section? If not, can you

combine sections?

□ Are your bullet points formatted similar to the examples in the Career

Center Resume & Interview Guide?

□ Do your bullet points include transferable skills as well as job duties?

□ Are the job duties you’ve included relevant to the position you are

applying for?

□ Have you exaggerated any of your experiences? If so, revision is

recommended. Honesty is very important.

FORMAT

□ Have you used a template? If so, it is typically recommended to start

over with your own original document.

□ Have you double-checked grammar and spelling?

□ Are you on one page? This is the standard for undergraduates. If you

are on two pages, you might want to check with a Career Center

advisor or faculty member.

□ Have you included your high school or activities from high school

(recommended to remove after the end of your sophomore year)?

□ Did you use a font size of 10 or larger?

□ Is your main font a consistent size (you could include larger section

headers)?

□ Are your dates aligned?

□ Have you used a consistent format for all of your dates (12/2018, Dec.

2018, or December 2018)?

□ Are you utilizing white or neutral paper (or resume paper, if possible)

and black text?

□ Have you left off pictures, graphics, and color text/lines (if you’re not

in a design-oriented field)?

PROOFING

□ Have you had someone else review your resume?

□ Have you used the Career Center Resume & Interview Guide to view

examples?

□ Does your resume appear balanced on the page (not a lot of white

space on the left or right sides)?

□ Is your degree and GPA (if you wish to include/ typically if it’s 3.0 or

higher) listed correctly according to KSIS?

□ Have you used capitalization/punctuation/bolding/italics consistently?

□ Have you used different action verbs (at the beginning of each bullet

point)? (pg. 9-10)

□ Did you change your bullet points or move your sections to tailor your

resume to the position? (pg. 7)

□ If you are applying for Federal positions on usajobs.gov are you aware

that your resume could be different? Have you researched the

differences?

□ ARE YOU PROUD TO PRESENT THIS DOCUMENT TO AN EMPLOYER OR

GRADUATE SCHOOL?

•What specific skills or personal characteristics do you believe are important for successful performance in this position?

•What are the things you like most/least about working here?

•What qualifications are most important to a person’s advancement within your company?

•What type(s) of training programs will be made available to me as a new employee?

•What do you consider to be the biggest challenge(s) I would face if I am hired?

•What would a typical day be like?

•How often will my performance be evaluated?

•Why are you looking to fill this position? Is it a newly created position?

•Can I let you know why I want this job?

•How do you typically make a decision?

•What has been your career path in the organization?

•What will be the measurements for my success in this position?

•What business problems keep you awake at night?

•What would you consider to be exceptional performance from someone in the first 90 days in this position?

•What is your vision for your department over the next two to three years?

•What are your organizational values?

•When can I expect to hear from you on your decision?

•How would you describe your organizational culture?