MOST WANTED MNCs

MICROSOFT

MICROSOFT Bangalore

MICROSOFT PROFILE:

Microsoft is a multinational computer technology corporation. They are a veteran software company, best known for their Microsoft Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software, but they have also ventured into hardware with consumer products such as the Zune and Xbox. They have made a presence on the Web with the MSN internet portal and Microsoft Live search, but have been widely criticized for their failure to penetrate this market.

INITIAL PAY: Around 8.5 per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
The company had been effected by recession and it lay off 17% of its employees in the eurpe-middle and east-africa.

LIFE AT MICROSOFT:
Microsoft gives software developers a lot of personal freedom over both the work and the work environment.


GOOGLE

GOOGLE India

GOOGLE PROFILE:

Google is a public and profitable company focused on search services. Named for the mathematical term "googol," Google operates web sites at many international domains, with the most trafficked being www.google.com. Google is widely recognized as the "world's best search engine" because it is fast, accurate and easy to use. The company also serves corporate clients, including advertisers, content publishers and site managers with cost-effective advertising and a wide range of revenue generating search services. Google's breakthrough technology and continued innovation serve the company's mission of "organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful."

INITIAL PAY:
Coming to the salary, google to a software engineer initially pays 6.5 lakhs per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
It took awhile, but the recession has definitely sunk its teeth into Google's financial performance.

"No company is recession-proof. Google is absolutely feeling the impact,"
-Google CEO Eric Schmidt said.

It has been hit by the recession less than many in the tech world, but it's been hit nonetheless.

LIFE AT GOOGLE:
Working at google is really great…the have many facilities for their employees..if u can find time from ur work u can really have fun.


ORACLE

ORACLE head quarters

ORACLE PROFILE:

Oracle Corporation (Nasdaq: ORCL) is the world's leading supplier of software for information management, and the world's second largest independent software company.
The only software company to offer a full suite of e-business products, Oracle provides:

* An Internet-ready platform for building and deploying Web-based applications.
* A comprehensive suite of Internet-enabled business applications.
* Professional services for help in formulating e-business strategy, as well as in designing, customizing, and implementing e-business solutions.

INITIAL PAY:
Its initial pay is 6.2 lakhs per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
Compared to other MNCs ORACLE is less affected by recession. to say it is recession proof. Good to get placed there.

LIFE AT ORACLE:
Oracle had always had a challenging environment that never stops changing with excellent colleagues.
And of course there has always been a lot of interesting business cases.

IBM

IBM head quarters

IBM PROFILE:

IBM, acronym for International Business Machine, is a multinational computer technology and consulting corporation. The company is one of the few information technology companies with a continuous history dating back to the 19th century. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and offers infrastructure services, hosting services, and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology.

INITIAL PAY:
It would be around 7-8 lacs per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
For all practical purposes, IBM is trading at an eight-year high, in the teeth of a recession.

LIFE AT IBM:
The essence of being an IBMer is captured in the three values, which every IBMer lives by

• Dedication to Every Client's Success.
• Innovation that Matters - for our company and the world.
• Trust and Personal Responsibility in all Relationships.

Infosys

Infosys bangalore.

INFOSYS PROFILE:
Infosys Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: INFY) provides consulting and IT services to clients globally - as partners to conceptualize and realize technology drivInfosys Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: INFY) provides consulting and IT services to clients globally - as partners to conceptualize and realize technology driven business transformation initiatives. With over 49,000 employees worldwide, we use a low-risk Global Delivery Model (GDM) to accelerate schedules with a high degree of time and cost predictability.

As one of the pioneers in strategic offshore outsourcing of software services, Infosys has leveraged the global trend of offshore outsourcing. Even as many software outsourcing companies were blamed for diverting global jobs to cheaper offshore outsourcing destinations like India and China, Infosys was recently applauded by Wired magazine for its unique offshore outsourcing strategy — it singled out Infosys for turning the outsourcing myth around and bringing jobs back to the US.

Infosys provides end-to-end business solutions that leverage technology. We provide solutions for a dynamic environment where business and technology strategies converge. Our approach focuses on new ways of business combining IT innovation and
adoption while also leveraging an organization's current IT assets. We work with large global corporations and new generation technology companies - to build new products or services and to implement prudent business and technology strategies in today's dynamic digital environment.

INITIAL PAY:
Initial pay is 3.25 lakhs per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
Triggered by cost cutting, Infosys, the second largest IT service provider asked its employees to take a break and opt for voluntary work on fifty per cent salary. While the Infosys management will take a call on who can who cannot take the offer, the employee has to be at least two years on rolls before he is eligible for the sabbatical.
Initial pay is 3.25 lakhs per anum.

LIFE AT INFOSYS:
COOL MASTH SUPERB these words may suite life at infi well.
The clipped green grounds at Infosys Technologies include a swimming pool, table tennis, pool tables, cafeterias and a mirrored building shaped like one of the pyramids.they provide good facilities and a good working environment.

DELOITTE

Deloitte head quarters

DELOITTE PROFILE:
“Deloitte” is the brand under which tens of thousands of dedicated professionals in independent firms throughout the world collaborate to provide audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax services to selected clients.

These firms are members of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (DTT), a Swiss Verein. Each member firm provides services in a particular geographic area and is subject to the laws and professional regulations of the particular country or countries in which it operates. DTT helps coordinate the activities of the member firms but does not itself provide services to clients. DTT and the member firms are separate and distinct legal entities, which cannot obligate the other entities. DTT and each DTT member firm are only liable for their own acts or omissions, and not those of each other. Each of the member firms operates under the names “Deloitte,” “Deloitte & Touche,” “Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu,” or other related names. Each DTT member firm is structured differently in accordance with national laws, regulations, customary practice, and other factors, and may secure the provision of professional services in their territories through subsidiaries, affiliates and/or other entitie"
INITIAL PAY:
The initial pay in this company is 4.25 lakhs per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
As all the firms are even delloite is quite a bit effected by recession.

LIFE AT DELOITTE:
Deloitte has been voted for the top 50 companies in Ireland and it were also voted one of the best places to work in Europe. The Deloitte reputation for being a great place to work goes before us. We are proud of the comments both clients and former employees have made about our unique environment ‘a global firm, with the personal touch and feel of a much smaller office’.

You can learn a lot about a person by listening to his or her story. Here, a few people in the member firms share the stories of their lives, their work experiences, and everything in between. A former intern describes his transition into a consultant. A world-traveler explains how he makes time for family. A community activist shows how Deloitte engages its community. So while we can’t tell the stories of all 165,000 people in the member firms, these few provide a brief glimpse into life at Deloitte.

ACCENTURE

ACCENTURE India

ACCENTURE PROFILE:
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments.

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With more than 181,000 people serving clients in over 120 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$23.39 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2008.

INITIAL PAY:
The initial pay is 3.1per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
Due to recession the profits of the company have declined.

LIFE AT ACCENTURE:
Accenture people are some of the most creative, forward-thinking people in the business world. They come from a wide range of cultural, educational and geographic backgrounds and are able to work in a dynamic and professional environment that values each person’s perspective.

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS(CTS)

COGNIZANT INDIA

CTS PROFILE:
Founded in 1994 as a division of Dun & Bradstreet Corporation, Cognizant Technology Solutions began doing large-scale full life cycle software projects CTS works in fields related e-business and application management. CTS is also engaged in offshore development and provide services in other fields like wireless,data warehousing and euro-compliance. They also service varied industries like health care, finance, information services, retail and restaurant and telecoms.
With 50 global delivery centers and approximately over 63,000 associates, we combine a unique onsite/offshore delivery model infused by a distinct culture of customer satisfaction.

A member of the NASDAQ-100 Index and S&P 500 Index, Cognizant is a Forbes Global 2000 company and a member of the Fortune 1000 and is ranked among the top information technology companies in BusinessWeek's Info Tech 100, Hot Growth and Top 50 Performers listings.

INITIAL PAY:
The initial pay is 3.1 lakhs per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
Due to recession it has cut down the number of new entries into the company and the cut off for the aptitude test have increased compared to the previous years.

LIFE AT CTS:
The life at cognizant is cool wid respect to the flexi hr system.....
and infact at any company, life of an IT professional depends on the shrewedness of his/her project lead…the cooler he is the merrier is your life......

HCL

HCL office

HCL PROFILE:
HCL Infosystems is India’s premier information enabling company. Leveraging its 3 decades of expertise in total technology solutions, HCL Infosystems offers value-added services in key areas such as system integration, networking consultancy and a wide range of support services
HCL Infosystems is among the leading players in all the segments comprising the domestic IT products, solutions and related services, which include PCs, Servers, Imaging, Voice & video solutions, Networking Products, TV and FM Broadcasting solutions, Communication solutions, System Integration, ICT education & training, Digital lifestyle Solutions and Peripherals.

INITIAL PAY:
The initial pay is 22000 a month

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
Like all other companies even this is effected by recession..

LIFE AT HCL:
Hcl has a friendly work environment that stimulates and encourages innovative ideas to foster growth and value addition. they are passionate about the work they do. they follow a transparent system keeping the communication channels open, thereby enabling people to communicate ideas and suggestions.

The culture at HCL promotes customer focus, excellent work ethos, operational transparency and teamwork.

WIPRO

WIPRO Bangalore campus

WIPRO PROFILE:
Wipro Technologies deals in following businesses:

• IT Services: Wipro provides complete range of IT Services to the organization. The range of services extends from Enterprise Application Services (CRM, ERP, e-Procurement and SCM) to e-Business solutions. Wipro's enterprise solutions serve a host of industries such as Energy and Utilities, Finance, Telecom, and Media and Entertainment.
• Product Engineering Solutions: Wipro is the largest independent provider of R&D services in the world. Using "Extended Engineering" model for leveraging R&D investment and accessing new knowledge and experience across the globe, people and technical infrastructure, Wipro enables firms to introduce new products rapidly.
• Technology Infrastructure Service: Wipro's Technology Infrastructure Services (TIS) is the largest Indian IT infrastructure service provider in terms of revenue, people and customers with more than 200 customers in US, Europe, Japan and over 650 customers in India.
• Business Process Outsourcing: Wipro provides business process outsourcing services in areas Finance & Accounting, Procurement, HR Services, Loyalty Services and Knowledge Services. In 2002, Wipro acquiring Spectramind and became one of the largest BPO service players.
• Consulting Services: Wipro offers services in Business Consulting, Process Consulting, Quality Consulting, and Technology Consulting.

INITIAL PAY:
The initial pay is 3.25 lakhs per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
Indian IT outsourcing company Wipro is seeing a few customers cancel contracts and more delaying or downsizing deals as a result of deteriorating global economic conditions, its joint chief executive said. But they are quite confident about withstanding the recession.

LIFE AT WIPRO:
The environment at wipro is filled wid competition and leader in each person is brought out.
Rewards recognizing a significant contribution from every employee await you at Wipro. Some of them are given here for your reading:
Performance: If you or your team's performance is of a superlative standard, you win the highest reward our company has to offer - Wipro Hall of Fame. It's in recognition of your sustained and consistent performance.

Innovation: If you come up with the most innovative idea or a solution that other's couldn't think of, you shall be rewarded with Mastermind, the highest acclaim in recognition of your imagination and innovation.

Team spirit: In recognition of your effort in the team, an instant reward is given to you - Feather-in-my cap. If you help your colleague in his hour of crisis, he would nominate you for Thanks a Zillion in recognition of your professional help in bailing him out of a difficult situation. (It can be your peer, boss, or subordinate).

TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES

TCS Bangalore

TCS PROFILE:
TCS is a leading provider of highly flexible financial management software that powers mid-sized businesses. their mission is to maximise the business success of our customers through the installation, maintenance, and support of superior financial management software solutions.

Their objectives are:

• To establish the company as the best global organization for large-scale deployment of financial management software solutions on the Caché platform.
  
• To establish a fully object-oriented component based application, which will enable us to deliver robust software quicker and more efficiently than any competitor.
• To ensure that customers can operate their business software solutions on infrastructures that match their needs.
  

INITIAL PAY:
The initial pay is 2.6 lakhs per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
Due to recession many of the employees were on bench and many lost jobs.

LIFE AT TCS:
They have nice facilities nice hostels and a good environment.

SYMBIOSIS INFOTECH:

SYMBIOSIS INFOTECH PROFILE:
Symbiosis is a global software consulting services company delivering quality staffing solutions from small businesses to Fortune 500 firms. their talented staff leverage deep project experience and deliver on time and efficient business technologies to their clients.

Mission of the company is:

• To remain the outstanding provider of continually evolving market responsive IT education.

• To create proactive IT professionals dedicated to excellence who deliver innovative solutions that improve the performance of their organization..

INITIAL PAY:
The initial pay is 1.75 lakhs.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
The financial meltdown has stripped many people of their jobs, closed down companies and made everybody insecure. Not a nice thing to happen, one would say. But even in this darkness, there seems to be a ray of hope — a few people actually feel that recession is a positive thing.
Is it true? Says Sunil Kumar, CEO, Symbiotic Infotech Pvt Ltd.,
“Yes, recession has been a boon in disguise. After recessionary trends in the economy, we have not been losing any employees — which in turn is helping us in our efforts to complete projects and plan new business development programmes on time. This is boom time for our industry. People have started using more of our services — alerts like astrology, jokes, devotional etc. The usage on all of the services has only increased during this time.”
Employees don’t want to lose their jobs and are giving their best to tide over the tough situation. This has become a tool to bring out the strength and weaknesses of employee(s) — which has in turn, directly or indirectly left the employees with personal growth.

LIFE AT SCIT:
Verygood environment and gr8 infrastructure provided for people. life is good here.

KANBAY

KANBAY INDIA

KANBAY PROFILE:
Kanbay is a financial services-focused IT provider. they have acquired considerable domain expertise delivering solutions to their large list of clients over the past fifteen years. Collectively, their associates have hundreds of years’ experience in the credit card, mortgage, auto finance, and consumer finance industry segments, where they have learned firsthand about the specific IT challenges these firms face. Furthermore, approximately 70% of their hires are lateral hires from other consulting firms who bring with them relevant industry experience and knowledge of how to apply technology effectively and efficiently to the financial services domain.

INITIAL PAY:
The initial pay is 3 lakhs per anum.

CAPGEMINI

CAPGEMINI KOLKATA OFFICE

CAPGEMINI PROFILE:
Technology and outsourcing are the twin pillars of Capgemini. The company is one of the world's leading providers of systems integration and consulting services, with operations in more than 30 countries. It offers enterprise systems development and implementation, as well as analysis and consulting services to help businesses choose the technology best suited to their needs. The company provides a range of business process outsourcing (BPO) services in such functional areas as customer relationship management (CRM), finance, human resources, and supply chain management. Capgemini's services also include traditional management consulting.

INITIAL PAY:
The initial pay at this company is 3 lakhs per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
Like all other companies even this is effected by recession..

LIFE AT CAPGEMINI:
Goal at Capgemini U.S. is to foster and maintain an equitable work environment - one where the right person for the job is hired, assigned and promoted every time, based on their skills, talent and performance.

POLARIS

POLARIS INDIA

POLARIS PROFILE:
Polaris Software Lab Ltd is one of India's leading software companies. Polaris has intimate understanding of the Money business and provides solutions and services to some of the world's leading giants in the money vertical. Polaris has expertise on Investment Banking, Retail Banking, Credit Cards, Corporate Banking, Life Insurance etc. Polaris has a strong global presence with Sales and Marketing and Development centers spanning across 22 locations in over 14 countries. Headquartered in Chennai (India), Polaris has operations in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Singapore, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Japan.

INITIAL PAY:
The initial pay is around 7 lacs per anum.

EFFECT OF RECESSION:
Due to recession many of the employees were on bench and many lost jobs.

LIFE AT POLARIS:
COOL Life will be there at polaris but it is bit hard to get placed there.

CAMPUS INTERVIEW

Seven Commandments for Success in Campus Interviews :

Campus Interview … Hmm… is what one looks forward to with enthusiasm, fear and excitement towards the beginning of the final year .

For some it's a make or break, atleast that's the way it's looked at and for some it's a matter of pride. The constant thought in one's mind is - what shall make this click! What is it that the interviewer is looking in me!

Here's what we look for when we visit the various campuses. This by no means is an exhaustive list but is a good indication of the expectations and the mean s to meet these. Freshersworld.com present you the 7-Commandments.

1. Know Thyself

Not everyone is good in each and every field. Each one of us has our fortes and weaknesses too. But that's not a stumbling block! What we look for are people who know their area of specialization and are an expert in it. Therefore, it pays to be a master in some fields if not the jack of all.

The most common mistakes many make is to profess knowing a field of which they know little about. Remember that huge and bulky resumes are as tough to read as they are to make. So, identify your skill set, and keep your resumes simple and straight. Know your limits and polish on your strengths.

2. Testing What You Know and NOT What You Don't.

Many interviewers may ask the student the subjects that she/he wishes to be interviewed upon. Eureka !! Here's a golden opportunity. Answer this wisely! Never end up choosing a difficult subject that you know only little about, rather choose the one you are most confident of.

3. Rack Your Brain - Analyze

The interview is not just limited to testing your knowledge base, but we are also interested in knowing your ability to apply it. Often questions that need to be solved then and there are asked. Now keep in mind - the right answer is not the only thing being looked at. The focus area is also the way in which you attack the problem i.e. approach to problem solving is equally important.

So, remember to put your thinking caps on!

4. Ask for Help!

Murphy chooses to strike at the appropriate time! In spite of the fact that you may know something very well, it might just slip your mind. After all, heavy preparation does takes its toll. Who better to ask for help than the poser of the question (of course, don't try this too often!)!

Remember the interviewer is not there to grill the confidence out of you, but to bring forth the best in. Just in case you are stuck, ask for a hint. Things might just click. Also, stay alert for clues.

5. What are your biggest accomplishments

You may like to begin your reply with: "Although I feel my biggest achievements are still ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with……I made my contribution as part of that team and learnt a lot in the process".

It will be a good idea to close your answer with also specifying what attributes and circumstances made you succeed.

6. Be Calm, have Clear Verbal and Sound Non-Verbal Communication

Calmness shows emotional maturity. True, being calm in a job interview is a difficult proposition, but then that is where it is required! Calmness does not imply being unenthusiastic or apathetic during the interview, but knowing that you are nervous and not letting it come in the way. A clear verbal communication implies clarity of the thought process.

One should also watch out for the impressions made in non-verbal communication. Body language and facial expressions can assist you in establishing a good rapport with the interviewer. Pauses, silences and gestures may all indicate what you mean, understand, or would like to emphasize.

7. Two-Way Exchange Process

The interview process is a two-way exchange of information. Make sure you also understand about the company, its activities, job requirements. The company is in need for good candidates and you need a good company to launch your career.

Interview is an opportunity to present yourself and your skills to your best advantage. Make sure you make the most out of it. And YOU are the best one to do it!!

MISTAKES SHOUD NOT DO

Think about the following points. Do any of them apply to you?

Oversell
Trying too hard to impress; bragging; acting aggressively. Undersell
Failing to emphasize the fact that you have related skills; discussing
experience using negative qualifiers (i.e. "I have a little experience...").
Body Language
It is easy to create a negative impression without even realizing that you are doing it. Are you staring at your feet, or talking to the interviewer's shoulder? Be aware of what your actions say about you.
Lack of Honesty
The slightest stretching of the truth may result in you being screened out.
Negative Attitude
The interview is not an opportunity for you to complain about your current supervisor or co-workers (or even about 'little' things, such as the weather).
Lack of Preparation You have to know about the organization and the occupation. If you don't, it will appear as though you are not interested in the position.
Lack of Enthusiasm
If you are not excited about the work at the interview, the employer will not assume that your attitude will improve when hired.

Six Common Interview Mistakes

AVOID SIX COMMON INTERVIEW MISTAKES

Tip # 1: Don't discuss pay too early
As the manager of a software store for 10 years, I can honestly say that questions about pay in the first interview from anyone other than a temporary applicant always bothered me a little. Temp jobs aside, if you are not really out there just for the money, asking this question right out of the gate is going to make any other questions you ask sound conniving and insincere. Unless the subject comes up, don't wade into the issue of the pay in the first interview. You can talk about it after you impress the employer enough for a second interview.

Tip # 2: Talk tech to techies only
Feel free to discuss what you know, but remember: If you are talking to a nontechnical manager or human resources representative, you are not going to impress them with talk about life in the trenches. My previous supervisor was totally unimpressed with anything to do with technology. A sure way to put the man to sleep was to begin any story that had to do with computers.
When I interviewed for a previous position, the department manager actually had a technically savvy person participate in the interview to ask and respond to questions she would not understand. When I saw this tactic being used, I knew it was not a time to try to impress with a lot of techno babble.
Answer questions about your work history briefly and keep the tech comments to a minimum until you know the history of the company and the people involved in the hiring process. If you have questions about the technology in use at the site, keep your questions specific and relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Tip # 3: Keep your philosophy to yourself
If you hate Bill Gates, Windows XP, and the whole Office Suite, keep it to yourself. Ranting about your tech philosophy can ruin your chances at the position.
I once interviewed a young man for a retail sales position in a software store. When I asked about his opinion of the then-new Windows 98, the applicant ranted about "the revolution of UNIX" and loosening the grip of Microsoft on the PC market. I am not exaggerating; the man sounded like he was ready to sign on to a paramilitary group. I almost didn't have the heart to tell him my company was a Value Added Reseller for Microsoft.
Chances are, you will work with many people who need your help with one of the Microsoft products, so you don't want to blast the tools you will likely be using and supporting. If you are asked about how you feel about a product, be honest, but don't preach. The interviewer probably just wants to see how you respond to such questions.

Tip # 4: Don't climb the advancement ladder in the interview
If you are joining the ranks of a new company, the last thing the interviewer wants to hear is, "How fast can I get out of this job?" Do not ask about opportunities for advancement until the second or third interview. If you are joining a company just to advance into another position, silence is golden. Keep it to yourself unless the interviewer asks or unless it is somehow already known that you'll be advancing quickly. Remember that what you say now can come back to haunt you later. You don't want to brag to someone who might be under your wing after a promotion.
Further, you never know what may happen if you actually get the job. Learn to accept and adapt and, above all, be happy you have a job. Due to downsizing, a former coworker of mine did not move into the network administration position she wanted and was expecting to get. The bitterness fostered by her broken expectations eventually caused her to resign. In the tight job market of the time-similar to the one now-and with her lack of certified qualifications, she ended up seeking work at a local restaurant.

Tip # 5: Avoid the dreaded electronic interruption
Cellular phone and pager etiquette might seem a trivial thing to those that are hooked up, but you can kiss any job opportunity goodbye if you interrupt an interview to take a telephone call, especially if the human resources representative has a low tolerance for personal digital devices. Only if you are exchanging information by invitation should you reveal the fact that you carry a PDA. If you wear it on a belt loop or somewhere that is exposed, lose it, along with any other electrical device hooks and loops, and store them in pocket, purse, or briefcase. If you can't spare the time away from the rest of the world to do an interview, why are you applying for the job?
I have conducted training classes with people who, when asked to turn off their phones and pagers during class, place their devices in silent mode. When giving a lecture to a class or holding a discussion, watching a person being silently buzzed is terribly distracting and also aggravating.
If you think getting rid of electronic communications devices isn't important, just ask any human resources rep who has had a person answer a cellular phone during a job interview. Then ask if the person got the job.

Tip # 6: Remember to say thank you
Beyond thanking your interviewers for their time as you leave, it's vital that you follow up in written form. If the competition for a position is tight, a follow-up thank you note can mean a lot. If the manager is slow to hire, the arrival of a thank-you note can serve as a reminder about the candidate who's awaiting the manager's next move.
Just after you've completed the interview, take note of anything specific you discussed and make a point of referencing it in your thank you letter. Even a nice greeting card is better than nothing.
It may seem like a small detail, but the experts will tell you that this tried-and-true tactic really makes an impact. A coworker of mine, who successfully worked as a job coach, used to keep a stack of generic notes in her desk. When a participant in her program applied for a job somewhere, she would give the person one of these notes to have them drop in the mail on the way home.

INTERVIEW PREPARATIONS

Preparations

The Interview

Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather information. The employer wants to know if you, the applicant, have the skills, knowledge, self-confidence, and motivation necessary for the job. At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume. He or she also wants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organization's current employees and philosophy. Similarly, you will want to evaluate the position and the organization, and determine if they will fit into your career plans. The interview is a two-way exchange of information. It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselves. The employer is selling the organization to you, and you are marketing your skills, knowledge, and personality to the employer.

Interview Preparation

Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview. If you haven't done your homework, it is going to be obvious. Spend time researching and thinking about yourself, the occupation, the organization, and questions you might ask at the end of the interview.

Step 1: Know Yourself

The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that you will know what you have to offer an employer. It is very important to develop a complete inventory of skills, experience, and personal attributes that you can use to market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process. In developing this inventory, it is easiest to start with experience. Once you have a detailed list of activities that you have done (past jobs, extra-curricular involvements, volunteer work, school projects, etc.), it is fairly easy to identify your skills.

Simply go through the list, and for each item ask yourself "What could I have learned by doing this?" "What skills did I develop?" "What issues/circumstances have I learned to deal with?" Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic. Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job. For a laboratory assistant, technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures, slide preparation, and scientific report writing. For an outreach worker, technical skills might include counseling skills, case management skills, or program design and evaluation skills. Generic skills are those which are transferable to many work settings. Following is a list of the ten most marketable skills. You will notice that they are all generic.

• Analytical/Problem Solving

• Flexibility/Versatility

• Interpersonal

• Oral/Written Communication

• Organization/Planning

• Time Management

• Motivation

• Leadership

• Self-Starter/Initiative

• Team Player

Often when people think of skills, they tend to think of those they have developed in the workplace. However, skills are developed in a variety of settings. If you have ever researched and written a paper for a course, you probably have written communication skills. Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of a team player and leader. Don't overlook any abilities you may have When doing the research on yourself, identifying your experience and skills is important, but it is not all that you need to know. Consider the answers to other questions such as:

• How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position?

• What are my strong points and weak points?

• What are my short term and long term goals?

• What can I offer this particular employer?

• What kind of environment do I like? (i.e. How do I like to be supervised? Do I like a fast pace?)

• What do I like doing?

• Apart from my skills and experience, what can I bring to this job?

Step 2: Know the Occupation

The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation. This is necessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the experience and skills required for that occupation, you must first know what those requirements and duties are. With this information uncovered, you can then match the skills you have (using the complete skills/experience inventory you have just prepared) with the skills you know people in that occupational field need. The resulting "shortlist" will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interview.
It is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position, or those similar. There are several ways to find out about an occupation:

• Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human

• Resources/Personnel) or check with Student Employment Services. If you are responding to an advertisement, this may also supply some details.

The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations. Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupation. If you belong to a professional association related to the occupation, use its resources. These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars. It is also a good way to meet people working in the field. Conduct information interviews with people working in the field. Read articles about people in the occupation, and articles written by people in the occupation. Sources include newspapers, magazines and the internet. Find out what the future trends are in the area. Is technology changing the job?

Step 3: Know the Organization

The more you know about an organization, the better prepared you will be to discuss how you can meet its needs. Some of the characteristics that you should know about an organization are:

• Where is it located?

• How big is it?

• What are its products and who does it serve?

• How is the organization structured?

• What is its history?

• Have there been any recent changes, new developments?

There are a number of ways in which you can access this information. Most medium- to large-sized organizations publish information about themselves. You can access this a number of ways:

• On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library

• The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories

• Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by searching by industry and company name

• Finally, you can visit or phone the organization and request some information on their products, services or areas of research

If the organization is fairly small, or fairly new, there may not be much information published. In this case, it will be necessary to do an information interview. Contact someone within the organization, introduce yourself, explain that you are considering moving into the field, and ask if it would be possible to meet with him/her to inquire about the company/organization and about what exactly the position would involve.

Step 4: Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research, you are now ready to prepare questions to ask the interviewer(s). Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily available in company literature. Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate your genuine interest in the position. Be careful how many questions you ask, however, as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run. Pick your questions with care - this is your chance to gather information, so ask about what you really want to know. Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you may have discovered. This is one of the most effective ways to compare different employers, so for issues of particular importance to you (for example, whether they support staff upgrading), you should ask the same questions of each employer. Some sample questions are:

• What are the most significant factors affecting your business today? How have changes in technology most affected your business today?

• How has your business/industry been affected by the recession?

• How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years?

• What future direction do you see the company taking?

• Where is the greatest demand for your services or product?

• Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company?

• Which department feels it the most?

• How do you differ from your competitors?

• How much responsibility will I be given in this position?

• What do you like about working with this organization?

• Can you tell me more about the training program?

• Have any new product lines been introduced recently?

• How much travel is normally expected?

• What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance?

• Will I work independently or as part of a team?

• How did you advance to your position?

• What are the career paths available in this organization?

• When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position?

It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to demonstrate interest on your part. Exercise judgment when asking questions to an employer. When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile, one would not ask the question "What is the history of your company and how was your company started?" You can find the answer to this question in the company's annual report or articles in magazines/newspapers. However, small- and medium-sized companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may be difficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry. This question is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer.

DRESSING

Let's say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared yourself well for the occasion - anticipating the questions and getting ready the answers - but have you given a thought to what you will wear?

If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard look now. Your application's fate depends not just on how well you answer the interview questions, but also on how well you project yourself physically. The first impression your interviewer makes about you is based on the way you look, and you know what they say about first impressions. According to Joe Hodowanes, J.M. Wanes and Associates career strategy advisor, "The way a person dresses is the single biggest non-verbal communication you make about yourself." The right dressing is a measure of the seriousness that you place on the position, as a person normally spends time on his looks if he considers an event important enough.

"Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress sense may exclude you from further consideration," warns Gerry Ditching, managing partner of Filgifts.com. Besides, given two equally good applicants, the compan y may choose to hire the person who is dressed more professionally. Here are some tips to give you a headstart.

Men

Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the best color for shirts. The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather. Also acceptable: pale shades such as beige, blue, and other pastels.

Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an interview or any business purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your executive image.

Ties Optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids, small polka dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and paisleys are all acceptable.

Belts Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look more professional.

Socks Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your attire. Never wear white socks! Check your sock length, too--no skin should show when you sit down or cross your legs. Shoes. Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them, because tassel loafers are very casual. Other suitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy.

Hair. Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those facial hair.

Jewellery. Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the only acceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or leather-strapped watches look professional but not digital watches. Also, avoid political or religious insignias, necklaces or bracelets. Definitely Accessories. As much as possible, use leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume. Use narrow briefcases and avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place.

Women

Three-piece business suits, blouse and skirt or slacks, and cardigan twin-sets. Sleeveless shirts should be rejected. Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like look. Skirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee. Nothing too revealing, please!

Panty-hose or stockings. A must for professional grooming, but nothing with overly fussy patterns. Bring an extra pair, just in case the ones you are wearing run.

Shoes. Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1½-inch heels suggest a more professional look. Dark colors are best.

Hair. Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back. Don't let it fall in front of your face and don't keep trying to fix it during the interview. Avoid large hair ornaments and trendy hairstyles.

Make-up. Be subtle; natural is the key word. Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish are recommended.

Jewellery. Be conservative. Studs of gold, silver or pearls are best. Do away with gaudy fashion jewelers, and those that clank and make noise when one moves.

Accessories. Folders and bags should blend well with the total professional look. Women should match their purse with their shoe colour.

ETIQUTTE

Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table

Hone your interview etiquette................ Churn the right mix of deportment, attitude and dressing skills for a great job talk !

Never make the big mistake of treating an interview lightly. It's not an impromptu thing where you depend on your improvisation skills. An interview requires careful thought and planning before you take it. Keeping in mind some basic attitudes and presentation techniques will help you sail through it with panache.

So if you thought that going for an interview just meant pulling your best suit out of the wardrobe and updating your resume, please think again. You are forgetting the other essentials: body language, basic etiquette and attitude.

Remember that you are actually selling an entire package and the packaging, in this case, is as relevant as the product inside. Ultimately you are presenting yourself as a valuable professional to a new job environment. And you can't do that without minding the basic interview etiquette to get you ahead of the rest of the pack.

An interview is the sum total of many parts. It's not just what you say but how you say it that matters equally. So it's good to brush up on more than just your training skills when you do go in for an interview.

ATTIRE

How you dress for an interview is perhaps as relevant as the way you lay out your resume. Says Nina Kochar of Upgrade Management Services, an organization which coaches' executives in the basic rules of corporate etiquette: "A person who is sloppy in appearance shows a sloppy personality, so you have to be decently dressed." Of course, decently dressed does not necessarily mean being dressed to the gills. In most cases, this would mean you would wear long sleeved shirts and a pair of formal trousers. In fact, Nina Kochar does not recommend suits, especially for younger people. "A lot of young people do not have the money to invest in suits, consequently, they wear ill-fitting or borrowed suits and that looks even worse. A tie, shirt and pant should do the trick for most junior level positions."

Most HR experts would also tell you to mind the accessories like ties, belts and shoes. To be sure, badly matched shoes and ties can have a jarring effect on an interviewer. Similarly, please avoid heavy Jewellery or personal accessories as they would look incongruous on you.

ENTRANCE AND INTRODUCTION

Even though most of us are primed for the basic grilling that we would face during the interview, we seldom pay attention to the way we enter an interview room or how we introduce ourselves. Says Subhashish Mitra, deputy manager, Essar Cellphones: "A lot of people do not think it important to knock properly while entering the interview room. They assume that as an interview is taking place, the panel will be expecting them. To my mind this is a very major faux pas which really jars."

In fact, the best way to enter an interview is to knock, ask for permission to enter and then wait for a while before you actually sit down. Few interviewees know this but the interview panel needs a little quiet time to discuss the previous candidate before they get around to the next one. So your silence till you actually get seated would be very valuable. Try and keep a bag with you for all your papers and certificates; make sure this bag is an unobtrusive as possible.

ATTITUDE AND RESPONSE

This is a grey area for most interview candidates. While dressing up and resume writing are skills you can Go for a mock exercise before the real talk at the job table handle with a little practice, cultivating the right attitude as an interviewee requires a lot of patience and reading between the lines. The usual complaint of most interviewers is that few interviewees are able to stri perhaps the best thing you can do for getting your answer right. Most interviewers like to give a lead to the candidate in the way they ask the question, so it's entirely up to you to note facial expressions and the tone of the words.

Do you show your certificates immediately to the interview panel?

Not till you are asked actually. You might already have sent in your resume, so you shouldn't try and offload all your achievements and skills onto the panel till a turn in the interview leads to such a situation.

Try and take cues form the tonal variations, facial expressions and thrust of questions from the interview panel. That in itself will give you a clue as to where this interview is heading.

TEN THINGS THAT AN INTERVIEWER LOOKS IN YOU!

1. Family Background

2. Education

3. Experience

4. Stability

5. Initiative

6. General Ability

7. Interpersonal Skills

8. Confidence

9. Aptitude

10. Pleasant Looks

How one wished that an interview were a simple meeting of minds and hearts. Just one casual meeting where an employee's future gets sealed. Unfortunately, it's not something as pre-ordained as you would like it to be; it's a pre-meditated exercise which fetches you dividends only if your homework is done right.