Five Ways To Prepare for a Skype Interview

A NUMBER OF tech-savvy companies prefer to take the first cut interview through Skype that allows users to have video chats through the Internet. Mahima Puri puts together the ways to ace an interview via Skype.

1 Establish a Comfort Level It is always preferable to establish a certain level of familiarity with the software and use it for personal purposes, instead of directly using it for professional purposes. “This can be done by having chats with family members and friends on Skype,” says Shiv Agrawal, managing director of ABC Consultants. 

2 Have Test Runs Ensure that your Internet connection has an appropriate bandwidth to support a flawless chat. “Sound is very important. Similarly, the image should not be blurred. Ensuring a smooth interaction will create a good first impression for the candidate,” says Tejinder Pal Singh, life science partner, Transearch International. 

3 Dress Up Formally Though a majority of the candidates are at their homes while interacting on Skype, they are expected to dress up formally. “Usually, the first interaction is to understand the presentation and communication skills. It is advised candidates look their best,” Agrawal says. 

4 No Noise, Please In no way, a Skype interaction should be taken as a casual one, advises Agrawal. This also means candidates should make sure there is no unnecessary noise in the background or there is no one else in the room. 

5 Mind Your Body Language This includes hand movements, shifting in the chair and facial expressions. “Make sure you are not moving too much or talking too loudly,” Singh says.

The Economic Times, Mumbai, 24-07-2012

Five Ways To Create an Impressive Resumé

A RESUME is the first step towards your next assignment, and the stepping stone for building your brand. Anumeha Chaturvedi brings you tips from experts.

1 Keep it Short Though one page may appear to be too short to sum up your career trajectory, Radhakrishnan Menon, founder and MD of LBW Consulting, feels a one-page resume always grabs attention. “It reflects the focus and ability to summarise your career in one page,” he says. Uday Sodhi, CEO of HeadHonchos also feels that it is best to restrict the resume to one or two pages. 

2 Customise Career Goals Highlight your career objectives upfront. Focus on the employer’s needs, and do your due diligence on your prospective employees for stating your objective, says Pallavi Jha, MD and chairperson at Dale Carnegie Training India. 

3 Highlight Career Graph Try to share the story of your career, says Menon. “While it is important to mention about your skill sets in various roles and stints, your past experience should also reflect what you wish to do,” feels Sodhi. 

4 Back Details with Dates An employer frames an opinion on the resume in the first 25 seconds. “Give clear factual information by adding the months and years for stints and education,” says Sodhi. 

5 Format it Correctly The resume has to have eye appeal to attract attention, and that comes with a proper structure and formatting. While personal summary can come in the end, personal accomplishments can be explained in about three-four lines.

The Economic Times, Mumbai, 27-07-2012

Five Ways To Make A Good Presentation

Presentations are de rigueur in the corporate world. Engaging the target audience with the right words is critical for success, says Anumeha Chaturvedi. 

1 Practice Before Hand While some people are confident of impromptu presentations, others are not. “Presenters should practice as much as they can before a presentation ,” feels Rajita Singh, HR head of Broadridge Financial Solutions. One may also make a note of questions that might be asked. 

2 Keep it Simple Since the primary motive of the presentation is to make a lasting impact, it should be simple. “Trying to use big words and corporate jargon is a baggage that professionals carry,” says Singh. “They should use simple words and back it with data instead.” 

3 Use Non-verbal Cues “More than 70% of our communication is through non-verbal means. Hence, the use of hands, eyes, and eyebrows is also important for effective communication,” says Ramesh Shankar, EVP and cluster HR head, South Asia at Siemens. 

4 Evoke Emotions Evoking positive emotions will engage the audience. “If the audience is primarily male, presenters could draw examples from the sports arena; if it is largely female, it could be about relationships,” says Singh. 

5 End with a Catchphrase “Ending one’s presentation with a popular catchphrase or a quote will make it memorable,” feels Singh. If half the people look or sound excited, your mission is accomplished.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 13-07-2012)

Five Ways To Deal With an Incompetent Team Leader

There are very few things at work worse than having to deal with an incompetent boss. But if you do, then take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. Sreeradha D Basu gets you some tips on how to deal with an incompetent boss. 

1 Start on a Positive Note No one wishes to be an incompetent or a bad boss intentionally. Says Makarand Khatavkar, MD & HR head for Deutsche Bank Group, India: "To begin with, try changing how you define a problem: if you define the problem as a person and not as a behaviour to be changed, you create an emotional impasse and close all doors to improving the situation." People cannot change who they are but almost anyone can change the way they act. If you internalise this principle, you can deal with anyone, he says. 

2 Give Support to Your Boss Are you doing anything that is aggravating the problem? All managers are humans and are prone to human fallacies and they do need support of competent staff. "Generally speaking, most bosses are aware of their weak spots but may feel awkward to ask for help. If you recognize your boss’ limitations and support him in overcoming his challenges through your skills, knowledge and judgement, you will be valuable to your boss and gain a lot," advises Khatavkar. 

3 Get Things in Black and White When you’re dealing with an incompetent boss, it’s good to opt for the formal communication route. Such bosses tend to impose their faults on others. So the best way to protect yourself is to communicate in writing, for instance over email. That way, it’s on official record. "You need to have your safeguards inbuilt so you are not made a scapegoat," warns Symbiosis Management Consultants CEO Vinay Grover. 

4 Remember the Context
Very often, problematic behaviour triggers issues that we are sensitive to and provoke unhelpful reactions subconsciously. This means you cannot put the blame entirely on the incompetent boss. Says Khatavkar: "Contextual factors play a major role in your boss’ performance. Most importantly, do not make judgement about your boss based on what you know—you might be blissfully unaware of organisational realities and dynamics that your boss may never speak about. Please incorporate this X-factor before forming any opinion." 

5 Adjust to the Situation If nothing else, just lie low and adjust to the situation. "Make adjustments according to your boss’ style to achieve organisational goals," says Vinay Grover. Figure out just what it is you have to deal with and work out your own coping tactics till the time you are ready to leave.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 10-07-2012)

Five Ways To Network like a Pro at Work

THE SKILL OF establishing and maintaining good network is critical for career growth. Building a good network not only helps reap benefits in your current organisation, but often comes in handy even after you switch jobs. Sreeradha D Basu gets the experts to tell you how to network like a pro 

1 Be Proactive "Be the one to make the first move instead of waiting for others to approach you," advises Prashant Deo Singh, Head- HR & General Affairs, Panasonic India. Many feel a bit hesitant, even scared, to go out and network, and the first few attempts in particular, may even be awkward. But if you hang in there and persevere, it will soon come easily to you. 

2 Reach Out Far & Wide Instead of confining yourself only to people in your department, or at a certain level, try and reach out to as many people as possible. Says Ronesh Puri, MD of head hunting firm Executive Access: "Try and gain acceptability at different levels. That way, your influence will increase." 

3 Think Long Term Networking isn’t a numbers game; it’s more about the quality and depth of the relationships. "That means going the extra mile for the people around you. Don’t think about how you stand to gain in the immediate short term. It’s more about the longterm perspective," feels Executive Access’ Puri. 

4 Get to Know Them Well The best way to build a good rapport with others is to be genuinely interested in them. Learning to communicate with different people from different backgrounds is an important networking skill, and one that will hold you in good stead in your career. "You need to get to know the other person beyond work; find out about his/her family, personal interests and more," feels Deo Singh. 

5 Be Genuine Go the extra mile to interact with and help others at work but be genuine. "If you are the kind who agrees with someone today but turns around and does the exact opposite tomorrow just because it serves your interest, no one will respect you or take you seriously," cautions Ronesh Puri. "Be consistent in what you stand for. Try and create a positive impact and make a difference to people’s lives at work," he says.

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 06-07-2012)

Five Ways To Start Your Career On a Good Note

THE FIRST job marks an important milestone in a professional’s career and the first few months can make or break it. New hires can make the first impression a lasting one, says Anumeha Chaturvedi 

1 Have Positive Attitude Sameer Bhariok, HR director of pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, feels nothing works better than having and expressing a positive attitude. “Let your enthusiasm for your team and the organisation be visible. You are now part of a team, and teams work together to solve problems and get the task done,” he says. Radhakrishnan Menon, founder and MD of LBW Consulting feels new hires should have the mindset of an apprentice. “There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes,” says Bhariok. 

2 Listen and Observe Bhariok says the best career-related advice he ever received was from his ex-boss in his first job: it was to listen and observe before suggesting any changes. “I took that advice and have used it in many situations, even outside the workplace. While innovation is a good thing, it is important to be mindful of the dynamics of your workplace,” he says. A newcomer walking in and talking about ‘better ways’ of doing things will often be met with resistance or negative reactions. 

3 Be a Self-starter New hires are usually assigned small tasks in the first few weeks, but with time, they should start taking initiatives and should seek bigger responsibilities and more assignments. Menon suggests creating a career roadmap. “Professionals should set clear cut milestones and targets for themselves and should review them after the first six months,” he says. “Whatever you do, do not sit around waiting for your next project. There will be people who need help, and they will appreciate your efforts of pitching in if you volunteer for tasks,” says Bhariok. 

4 Keep Boss Informed The boss cannot read minds, so it is important to keep him or her informed of how you are faring. Frequent meetings with your boss are important for establishing a rapport and a relationship. “Request meetings with your boss on a regular basis to review performance. But do not reach out to him for day-to-day minor problems. Instead, seek help from colleagues,” says Bhariok. 

5 Psst...Avoid Gossiping The grapevine is unofficial office news and you can gain valuable insights about the office dynamics and your colleagues through it. But it is important not to contribute to the grapevine. This holds especially true when you are new. “You do not want to begin your career with a reputation for being a gossip monger,” says Bhariok. “And remember how small a world it truly is. Your reputation can precede you for years to come.”

(The Economic Times, Mumbai, 03-07-2012)