Getting out into the Open World

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Getting out into the Open World
be better prepared for Hobsons Choice
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• Who am I?
• What do I want?
• What do people want from me?
• What should I be telling people?

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• Who am I?
• My CV
• What do I want?
• My Application
• What do people want from me?
• Interview
• What should I be telling people?
• Presentation

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• Who am I?
• My CV
• What do I want?
• My Application
• What do people want from me?
• Interview
• What should I be telling people?
• Presentation

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• My CV
• Static
• Omnibus collection of ones research publications
  and presentations
• An official calling card at professional
  meetings, conferences and conventions
• A document left with recruiters and/or interested
  persons
• Dynamic
• Created on the fly
• Tailored to the job requirements and/or position
• Specific components stressed/dropped on to meet
  requirements
• UPDATE ON A REGULAR BASIS

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• My CV
• Not recommended
• Age
• Ethnic Identity
• Political Affiliation
• Religion
• Hobbies
• Place of birth
• Photo
• Physical Statistics

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• My CV
• Must do
• Keep It Simple Stupid
• Easy to read, short and attractive
• If they didnt hear it, you didnt say it
• MUST BE AS GOOD AS YOU MAKE IT

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• My CV
• Home work prior to any attempt
• Read about the prospective employer
• Magazines, papers etc
• The web
• Friends/college-mates
• Include
• Personal details, education, work experience,
  interests, skills, references
• Restrict length to 1-2 pages
• Style based on chronology/skills
• MUST BE AS GOOD AS YOU MAKE IT

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• My CV
• Mistakes that I am liable to commit!
• Spelling mistakes
• Use of unwanted jargon
• Irrelevant qualifications
• Employment details
• Hobbies
• A CV too long!
• Unnecessary information (why change of jobs?)
• SPELLCHECK VERIFY ALL DETAILS

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• My CV
• The Waterloo of a CV
• Critical information appearing much later in the
  sequence (The impact must be made within 30
  seconds of commencing to read the CV)
• A CV a bit too long!
• Overload or scarcity of relevant information
• Spelling/grammatical errors
• Incorrect personal information
• 85 OF CVs ARE REJECTED BECAUSE
• OF INCORRECT/ INCOMPLETE DETAILS

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• My APPLICATION
• Home work prior to any attempt
• Read the Application blank
• Plan the contents/entries
• Collect all necessary enclosures, have them
  copied (and attested if needed)
• Have a recent photograph (get a new one taken if
  the earlier one is a bit too old!)
• Fill in a dummy form
• Verify the entries and contents
• The actual act.
• Fill in the original form and sign, attach all
  enclosures, put in a large envelope, seal and
  hand over personally (or send by registered post)
• MUST BE AS GOOD AS YOU MAKE IT

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My INTERVIEW Employer Uses it as an opportunity
to know more about the candidate ( besides the
resume/CV) Candidate Uses it as an opportunity
to know more about the company (its culture,
values, future plans and career growth)
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• My INTERVIEW
• Home work prior to the interview
• What aspects of your career are really exciting
  for you?
• What aspects of your career do you really feel
  worried about discussing?
• Can you formulate answers to these questions in
  advance?
• How can you use the interview the know more of
  the prospective employer?
• MUST BE AS GOOD AS YOU PREPARE FOR IT

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• My INTERVIEW
• The Achilles Heel
• What if I dont know the answer that relates to
  the job applied for?
• What if the questions are meant to expose my
  weaknesses?
• What if the interviewer does not know why he is
  asking a question?
• How does my experience management skill fit in
  with the needs?
• How are my opinions about industry/professional
  trends?
• What are my reasons for leaving the current job?
• What are my salary expectations?
• How do I see my growth in the profession/company?
• Are there any issues with my personality and
  relationship skills?
• ANTICIPATE AND PREPARE FOR IT

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My INTERVIEW NEVER LIE
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My INTERVIEWFacing itin FOUR steps
Demeanour Interactions
Answering Questions
Entry, Seating Exit
Presenting oneself and documents
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My INTERVIEWFacing itSTEP 1

• Formal Dress
• All docs in orderin a folder
• Copy of application/CV (as submitted) along with
  the very enclosures (submitted with original
  application/CV
• Models, demos, simulations (in working order)
• SOFTWARE OFTEN FAIL TO WORK
• AT THE INTERVIEW LOCATION!

Presenting oneself and documents
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My INTERVIEWFacing itSTEP 2

• Knock
• Greet
• Sit downonly when asked to
• Lift chairdont pull!
• Face the panel
• Documents on lapnot the table!
• Bend forwardwhile answering
• Face the interviewerwhile answering
• At the endthank and leave
• Step back, turn and walk away

Entry, Seating Exit
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My INTERVIEWFacing itSTEP 3

• Listen to the question, Comprehend and then
  Answer
• In case of a problem, ask for a repetition
• Show confidence
• Be short and brief in your replies
• Reply clearly and loudly
• Avoid humour and/or satire

Answering Questions
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My INTERVIEWFacing itSTEP 4

• Look at the Interviewer
• Provide authentic information
• Avoid fiddling and/or taking things from the
  table
• Have a loud and clear voice
• Reply in simple sentences
• Make in reply specificno add-ons please!
• If complimented, say THANKSif rejected, say SORRY

Demeanour Interactions
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My INTERVIEWFacing itSTEP 4 (contd.)

• Avoid mannerisms/repetitions
• Avoid errors/contradictions
• Handshake only if the interviewer puts his hand
  forward
• Avoid insulting comments/remarks
• Give evidence for only that can be proved!
• Request questions in your area of choice
• If the suggested topic is OK with youplease be
  prepared to answer all questions

Demeanour Interactions
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• My INTERVIEWSome Common Questions!
• Tell us about yourself
• What made you interested in us?
• Why should we take you instead of the others?
• What are your major weaknesses?
• Why did you leave your earlier job?
• Are you overqualified for the job?
• Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
• What are your salary expectations?

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• My PRESENTATION
• About myself
• About my experience
• About my expertise
• About my products/developments
• About my compatibility with the employer

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PRESENTATION SKILLS
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Presentation Scenarios
TYPE
AUDIENCE
STYLE
PROFILE
Work Review
Boss, Chief, Team
Format
Marketing
Decision-makers,
Features, Benefits,
Presentation
Users
Costs
Technical
Knowledgeable,
Aids, Questions
Presentation
Motivated
Answers
Reading a
Learned, Focussed
Results, Support
Paper
(may have a copy of
Material
the paper)
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What goes Wrong?

• Dull Delivery
• Bad Preparation
• Time Management
• Irrelevant Examples
• Improper Use of Aids
• Lack of concern
• No Motivation

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On the Improvement Path
EXCELLENT
V. GOOD
GOOD
Rating
Time/Stage
3 yrs
8 yrs.
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Improvement Path Good
Planning
Practice
Preparation
Presentation
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Improvement Path Good

• Audience Profile
• The Environment
• The Support Material
• Me

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Improvement Path Good

• Me SWOT Analysis
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Opportunities
• Threats

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Improvement Path Good

• An Ideal Speaker
• Communication Barriers
• Generalities
• Tricks
• Skeptical Audiences
• Lesser the Better

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Improvement Path Good

• An Ideal Speaker
• Effortless
• Confident
• Good Eye Contact
• Enthusiastic
• Knowledgeable
• Nice
• Audible
• Neat Visuals

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Improvement Path Good

• Communication Barriers
• Daydreaming
• Debating
• Detouring
• Private Planning

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Improvement Path Good

• Generalities
• Use Conversational Tone
• Use Good Visuals
• Use Pointers
• Address Individuals
• Read Audience
• Effectively handle Questions
• The Secret!

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Improvement Path Very Good

• An Ideal Speaker
• Communication Barriers
• Generalities
• Tricks
• Skeptical Audiences
• Lesser the Better

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Improvement Path Very Good

• Tricks of the Trade
• Arouse Curiosity
• Raise a Query
• Reveal Shocking Facts
• Start with a Casual Opening
• Establish Common Ground
• Include Humour
• Intersperse Quotations

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Improvement Path Excellent

• An Ideal Speaker
• Communication Barriers
• Generalities
• Tricks
• Skeptical Audiences
• Lesser the Better

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Improvement Path Excellent

• Skeptical Audiences
• Limit Objectives
• Include Objective Information
• Establish Common Ground
• Opinions

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Improvement Path Excellent

• Lesser the Better
• Repeated/Rhetorical Phrases
• Threats
• Fiddling
• Showing ones Back to Audience
• Speaking in Bursts
• Speaking Fast
• Singing

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Sustaining Excellence

• Observe other Speakers
• Record Replay your Talk
• Things to Avoid
• Expressions
• Equipment
• Gestures

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OPEN HOUSE