|
3. SCORING
IN THE INTERVIEW
The
key is to remain calm, act confident and say the right things.
Reaching before time, dressing neatly, holding the
bag in the left hand and keeping the cell phone on silent are some of the
obvious things to do when you are going for an interview. Here are a few
more tips that can help you score well in the interaction.
Know your company
You must have read up on the company before you applied. After you get
the interview call, dig deep into its affairs. The interviewers will expect
you to know about the company, its products and the market it operates in.
Don’t just look up the company website though. Go through news items and
reports by independent analysts on the company to get a better perspective.
Don’t run down current employer
Why do you want to leave your current job? It’s an obvious question, so
be ready with an answer. Say you are looking for a more challenging
assignment, or want to learn new skills and gain greater exposure. No
matter how much you hate your job, don’t badmouth your current employer.
Nobody wants to hire a whiner.
Focus your attention
Interviewers ask a lot of questions, including some open-ended ones.
Don’t stray away from the topic being discussed. It’s better to give a
concise answer that’s to the point than explain in detail about something
that is peripheral.
Show interest, not desperation
Companies are looking for committed employees. Don’t let the
interviewers think that you only seek a job. Convince them that you are
looking for a career by becoming a part of the company’s culture. Let them
know that you have researched the company thoroughly and look forward to
becoming a part of it. Focusing only on the salary and perks sends the
wrong signals.
Ask the right questions
At the end of the interview, a candidate is often asked if he has any
questions. Don’t waste this opportunity on vague questions or something
that can be easily researched on the Net. Ask about the responsibilities
that you would be handling, major projects that can come up and other
things you would be permitted to do.
Send a thank you note
After the interview is over, send a thankyou note to the interviewer.
Avoid sending an SMS, because some people see it is as too informal. An
e-mail is a better option. Only don’t make the note too long. Keep it short
and sweet.
ETW 140407
CAREER
SPECIAL Is it time to change your job? (4)
If
you are underpaid, overworked or just plain bored with your job, here’s a
guide to changing the situation.
THIS SERIES OF ARTICLES LOOK
at why you should not resign yourself to
this misery.
|
2. NEGOTIATE A GOOD SALARY
Wait patiently and don’t hesitate to ask for the
compensation you want.
It may be the last leg of this journey, but
negotiating the salary is perhaps the most crucial. Here are some tips
on how to strike a great bargain with the new employer.
Don’t discuss pay too early
Don’t make the mistake of quoting your salary expectations before
you are asked to. Experts say one should be ready to talk about
compensation, but not initiate the discussion. If you jump the gun and
state your expectations too early, the employer will be forced to take
a decision which could also go against you. Wait patiently till the
company has decided that you are the best man for the job. Then you can
ask for a good remuneration and, believe us, the company will try its
utmost to meet your expectations.
Don’t commit too quickly
Bargaining is part of the game. You should not fault an employer
for giving an offer that doesn’t sound great. A lot of people fail here
because they think the company will take back the offer and hire
somebody else. It doesn’t work that way though. Most companies expect
candidates to negotiate. So, don’t be afraid to push the envelope and
say no. Even if it doesn’t sweeten the deal, no company will take back
the offer because the candidate rejected it.
Mention your options
If you have been shortlisted by another employer or already have an
offer, tell the interviewer about it. This is also useful when you are
negotiating an increment at your current company. The fact that you
have a choice, will force the employer to improve the offer. Don’t make
up stories of offers in your pocket, though. It’s not difficult to
crosscheck and shows you in a poor light.
Designation and grade matter
Even if the salary looks good, don’t agree to the offer if it is a
step down for you in terms of designation and salary grade. Though
designations and grades vary across companies and sectors, don’t accept
something that is lower compared to your current assignment. A higher
grade is better because you can expect a raise without needing a
promotion.
Analyse offer in detail
Even if you are a chartered accountant, you can’t instantly analyse
the pay package offered to you. One needs to look at the taxability of
the various components of the compensation package. Calculate the
take-home pay and the percentage hike to know if it is good, bad or ugly.
Don’t sign on the dotted line till you know your final take-home pay.
ETW 140407
CAREER SPECIAL Is it time to change your job? (5)
If you are underpaid, overworked or just plain bored
with your job, here’s a guide to changing the situation.
THIS SERIES OF ARTICLES LOOK
at why you should not resign yourself
to this misery.
|
3. Stop doubting your own
capabilities
YOU can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people
all the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time, goes
an old saying. The problem is that many people believe this is
about themselves. They live in constant fear that their current
position at the workplace is a quirk of fate and they might lose
their job if somebody ‘found out’ about their capabilities.
Psychologists have termed this fear as the Imposter Syndrome, where
the individual thinks of himself as an imposter who doesn’t have
the credentials to be where he is. This feeling is especially
common among females, who tend to attribute their success to a
combination of luck, help and oversight.
Unfortunately, this overwhelming feeling of self-doubt has a
bearing on the individual’s income and his ability to negotiate a
better salary for himself. It’s only logical that a person who
fears losing his job will gratefully accept whatever comes his way.
Are you also suffering from the Imposter Syndrome? You have to
learn to believe in yourself and dismiss the notion that you got
the job because you were lucky. One of the symptoms of Imposter
Syndrome is that the person doesn’t discuss his fears even with his
closest acquaintances. The fear of ridicule is just too
overwhelming. Speak about your fears to a close friend or a
colleague. Ask them to talk about your good qualities. You could
also consult a therapist.
Laughter is the best medicine—for this condition as well. People
suffering from the Impostor Syndrome do not joke or relax at work
out of fear that they will be seen as shirkers. Just relax and
enjoy your work. Mingle with co-workers and try and laugh as often
as possible.
Sufferers of the condition try to seek perfection in everything.
You must change this by accepting people as they are. When you will
see the strengths and weaknesses of other people with compassion
and understanding and accept the flaws in them, you will start
seeing yourself in the same way.
The Imposter Syndrome also makes people downplay any praise that
comes their way. They feel the person is only saying that to make
them feel good. So, the next time you get a compliment, don’t deflect
the praise. Just thank the person and bask in the feeling that you
are good. You owe it to yourself.
ETW 140407
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment