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Five Indispensable Skills to have On and “Off” your CV

Five Indispensable Skills to have On and “Off” your CV

Different jobs require different skill sets, and there is no one generic set of skills that will qualify you for any job in the world. However, there are certain indispensable skills, that no matter what your profession is, will always help you. Not only do they come in handy in your own career growth, employers actively seek candidates with these skills. Ensuring that you have these indispensable skills on your CV, and are confident of them, is something that will play a pivotal role in helping you move closer to your dream job.

1. Communication Skills – Written and Verbal

Being a good communicator solves almost most of your problems. It also keeps you away from problems. Communication skills are a must have, regardless of which profession you belong to. Being able to articulate yourself in an effective manner makes you inherently more employable. A further aspect of communication skills, which is an extremely important part, is interpersonal (communication) skills. In the world of work, it is not only important to be able to articulate your opinion effectively, it is equally or more important to keep all channels of communication open and listen more than articulating. This is where your interpersonal skills play a big role, as they determine your dynamics with those around you. Here’s something to help you improve your communication skills.

2. Adaptability:

To have focus and pursue a task right through the end is an extremely desirable quality which employers actively seek. However, in a lot of situations one is required to be flexible, or, to adapt to whatever the need is according to the current scenario. This might include a shift in focus and hence efforts. But if you are able to make the best of the situation you are out in, you prove yourself as being a valuable human resource to your organization. If you have these skills, it will reflect in your CV through your experiences, and how your referees speak for you.

3. Self-confidence and willingness to Learn

It is one thing to be unnecessarily boastful about one’s skills, and quite a different thing to be confident of one’s skills. It is important to know what you are capable of, and to be able to demonstrate it through your actions. To be able to reaffirm the same through your communication skills is something that gives you an edge over most other candidates when you’re job hunting. It is equally valuable to know where you lack, and to be willing to imbibe or learn those skills. Be confident of your knowledge and your skills, but also be aware that you are “work in progress”, and that everyday you are getting better at what you do and that you should keep learning.

4. Leadership Skills

Leadership skills aren’t sought only when you are applying for a managerial post. Regardless of whether or not the description of the job you are applying to explicitly requires leadership skills, or experience in leading teams, the said skills are crucial for success in any job. Being able to demonstrate that you possess leadership skills infuses the potential employer with confidence. The fact that you will not only be able to manage yourself through self-motivation and discipline, but will also be able to handle a team if necessary is made evident. Thus amplifying your chances of growth within the organization, right at the outset.

5. Team Work

Your success in any organization, depends a lot on how you are able to function within, and as a part of a team. In fact, this is a pre-requisite for most jobs you might be looking out for. To site just one example, as a part of the hiring process for most jobs you will be put through a group discussion round. Its purpose is to have you illustrate your capabilities when you work as a part of a larger team. Employers attribute a lot of value to this skill because how employees function as a team is crucial to the goals and larger progress of any organization.

Spending time on honing these indispensable skills is something that will surely be rewarding in a very fulfilling sense in the trajectory of your professional success. While we have listed just 5 indispensable skills here, we would love to know what skills you think should have made it to this list. Share your opinions with us by commenting on this post!

What do Recruiters Want from a Job-Hunting Candidate ?

What do Recruiters Want from a Job-Hunting Candidate ?

What do recruiters want ? A recruiter starts work every morning with one objective – find the best candidate for his/her client and fill the open position ASAP. A candidate hunting for a job wakes up with this thought – may today be the day when I land my dream job. Notice the similarity between the two objectives – so why not work together with mutual respect  to achieve this common goal?

This post is from the view-point of a recruiter for the job-hunting candidate (let’s for the sake of convenience, assume the sex of the recruiter to be female). She wants you to succeed because your success would eventually ensure her’s. And she has a few expectations from you, the potential hire, so that the common goal of a win-win job hunt for both can be reached. So here is how you can help her help you:

What do Recruiters Want – Craft a complete resume

Your profile should be tailored for you – please skip the long sentences with all the nice-looking buzz words. A recruiter will spend a maximum of 30 seconds to determine if your profile is suitable. Be direct and prepare your resume in such a way that your qualifications, skills and achievements are searchable and stand out. Link to your work portfolios or online profiles (Social media links, LinkedIn is a must, About.me, etc.) or blogs so that there is an additional outside reference for your skills.

What do Recruiters Want – Be Visible

Update your profile (and also your LinkedIn profile) regularly. A resume should always be a work-in-progress document and have your latest details – your latest contact details (make sure your email id is a professional one.- crazylover777@xxx.com is a sure reject in the first 5 seconds of a resume review), your years of experience, your preferred job location/s, new skills all help the recruiter shortlist your candidature quickly.  Regular updates also help keep your profile on the top of search results in job boards. Create a separate folder in your mail box for achievements to store those appreciation mails and promotion letters. Refer to this folder every three months for additional updates to your resume.

What do Recruiters Want – Be Responsive and Responsible

The common courtesy rule: treat people the way you would want to be treated – applies with recruiters as well. Do respond to emails and calls – even if it is a “no, thank you”. If you are busy, a short email or text stating your availability (even when it is “please don’t contact me ever”) will save the recruiter time and not keep her hanging. If you do give a time slot, plan ahead and be available – being late for an interview is just not professional. If you can’t make it, make sure you inform in advance.

What do Recruiters Want – Be Honest

Know what you want. Think it through before committing yourself. If you are not clear about which career path to take, be upfront and discuss this with the recruiter. She will respect this and may be able to provide you with options or opportunities that work for you. Nothing is more frustrating to her than last-minute surprises – if you are not interested, just say so. If you are not ready for the interview – let her know, her information and insights can help you prepare for it. If you have another offer (a promotion, another job) – let her know, it may help you get a better offer. If you don’t want to join after accepting the offer, let her know – don’t wait for the day of joining and then not turn up. Nothing could be more unprofessional.

What do Recruiters Want – Engage

Network with recruiters. If you have had bad experiences with one recruiter, don’t lump the rest in the same bucket. Find the recruiters who work in your industry and who understand your career goals and reach out. Keep in touch. Build a relationship – this is one person you need in your corner when you are looking out for a career change. Keep track of the recruiter and through her, her clients, just like she is keeping track of you. Refer your friends. Find out about hiring trends and upcoming opportunities from her. Give value and get value back – this can definitely be a mutually beneficial relationship. Maybe you don’t need a job now, but she could open up a few doors for you when you do need one.

All of the above will help you in building relationships with the Best Recruiters and make you the favourite go-to candidate for recruiters. Recruiters can be the wind beneath your wings when you need to change jobs or need to hire for your team. (And don’t forget all the great side benefits of having a friend for life :))

Your Job Search Websites Checklist – Top Job Portals – Part I

The title of the post says it all, so let’s dive right into learning about some of the best job portals you should definitely check out when actively looking for a job.

Monster 

Monster is how it all began. This site is the one of the oldest  job portals in the world and has very successfully managed to sustain itself still as one of the most efficient search engines. The site not only lists full time jobs, it also lists part time and hourly jobs in every career field that there is. Monster (monster.com/monster.co.in) goes beyond simply listing jobs, it also publishes tons of relevant career related articles and advice.

The privacy feature on Monster works as a boon if you do not want a company to come across your resume, and especially if that company is currently where you are working at! Speaking of sustainability (and scalability) of a business model for over 2 decades in the most fiercely competitive market – the internet, Monster has probably been able to thrive and grow by constantly innovating. It is the father of the BeKnown application for Facebook, which allows you to take your job search to the biggest social network in the world.

Naukri.com

is another job-hunting behemoth of India that has been around since 1997. Naukri has a well organized website, advertising jobs by sector, location, designation, skills and company. It also provides career services by the name of Naukri FastForward, which include resume writing help, resume reviews as well as getting connected with recruiters in your domain. Having survived tough competition for decades, the quality of these services can be trusted.

LinkedIn

It shall come as a surprise to none that LinkedIn is the world’s largest network of professionals, approximately 225 million! LinkedIn has surely become the go-to site for job hunters and for employers alike. The user interface is fairly simple, your profile on LinkedIn is your resume which lists all your work experience and skills and connects you with other professionals. The site also directly lists jobs by employers.

A unique feature of LinkedIn is its inbuilt referral system, if one of your LinkedIn connections is LinkedIn with a professional at a company you are applying or wish to apply to, you can ask them to connect you. A lot of companies require you to just apply through your LinkedIn profile, which is increasingly becoming a trend. It is surely worthwhile to spend some time every once in a while updating your profile and connecting through LinkedIn just for the sake of networking, even if you may not be actively looking for a job at the moment.

Sheroes.com

Sheroes is a Careers community for women in India. Sheroes has a group of mentors to coach women and help them find the perfect job. Much more than a job-listing search engine, Sheroes organizes events in major cities across India frequently and has succeeded in forming a community of over 5000 ‘Sheroes’ – women who have benefited from this website. Along with job listings including flex-work opportunities relevant to women, this website also provides the opportunity to connect with a lot of people who have been through the job-hunting process.

Craigslist

Craigslist is what you might call your old school classifieds gone tech savvy. Starting from jobs, to housing, goods and services and even romance and advice, it has it all! The good thing about Craigslist is employers directly post their requirements and it is not moderated, also, it specializes in finding jobs in your vicinity. On the flipside however, the listings are way too broad and you may have to spend some time trying to narrow down on your searches, also, it does not have a feature where you could post your resume or sign up for emails.

Facebook

Though one wouldn’t say Facebook is competition for all the other platforms listed here, one wouldn’t be wrong in saying that it is more than just social networking, it is more than just check-ins, pictures and posts. Employers and job seekers alike are increasingly taking to Facebook to look for jobs and also for reviewing their prospective employees or employers. The free Facebook page facility has been a blessing for especially the startup scene, in trying to draw attention to the work they are doing and also post their requirements for employees/entrepreneurs. The highly successful Delhi and Bangalore Startups pages are only two examples of the same. Also, while you are on Facebook looking for a job, do spend some time cleaning up and organizing your profile, it really means more than you can fathom!

Read on in our next post for all the other top job portals /channels/platforms that you need to check out when searching for a job.

Happy Hunting!

Stop! Before You Say Yes To The Job Offer – 5 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Taking A Job

Stop! Before You Say Yes To The Job Offer – 5 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Taking A Job

In our previous post, we spoke about what the five most important questions are that you must ask your prospective employer before accepting a job offer. In this post, we talk about the more important bit – the five questions you need to ask yourself  before accepting the offer.

Do I really want this job?

Answer the question in all sincerity and honesty. Understand what the profile expects of you and if you will be able to deliver. Go through the job description again and check if this was what you had signed up for. Once you receive the job offer, it is important to understand if you are taking up the job because you need  it or you want  it. Of course, we all need to earn money. That in itself though, may not sustain as motivation enough in the long run. Analyze what your motivation is for taking up the job and whether it is going to be sustainable in the long run.

Am I getting what I deserve (in terms of salary and benefits)?

The pay package you receive can sometimes be the only thing to pull you out of bed on groggy Monday mornings. While the negotiation ideally should have been done before you received an offer, make sure you do not settle for less than what you think is a fair deal. Also, it must be a package. Consider the additional benefits that you should be receiving like transport, accommodation benefits, and tuition reimbursement should you decide on further education. You may also compare the package you are receiving to that of friends or colleagues holding similar positions.

Can I grow here?

This question will be your moment of truth. For a healthy career graph, the job offer should give you scope to grow in terms of responsibilities as well as financially. Ask yourself if the job will provide you sufficient opportunities to grow and learn as an individual and professionally. It should also be an opportunity that makes use of your talent and skills, only then will you truly enjoy what you do.

Do I see myself blending into the work culture here?

You must realize that you would be spending about eight hours, if not more, on an average per day at your chosen work place. Give the work environment and culture some serious thought before committing. If possible, also try to meet and interact with your future co-workers, especially if you are going to be working as a part of a team. A lot of times, this may not be possible practically.

A good way to go about it through the official route, would be connecting friends or acquaintances working in the company informally. However, your informal interaction must be strictly in a professional manner. It should not affect your reputation or career if you go ahead and join. Virtual spaces like Quora, Glassdoor and LinkedIn are your safest bet, to give you an idea about how happy employees at the given organization are, and what their views are regarding the work culture there.

Will I be able to maintain the work-life balance?

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. If the job schedule is so tough that it will keep your nose to the grindstone, you will get frustrated with it very soon. “Me time” is more important than we give it credit for. Ask yourself if your work life will complement your personal life and whether it will allow you enough breathing space. Whether the work hours be flexible? If you will get enough paid leaves? And if you will have enough time to enjoy a fulfilling personal life? Do you think you will look forward to Monday mornings? (Well, said no (wo)man “yes” ever!)

So before you say yes to a job offer, weigh the pros and cons very carefully to arrive at a decision. Spending some time introspecting about how you actually feel about taking up the offer is something worth doing especially if this is something you have been looking forward to for some time now.

In short, look before you leap!

Stop! Before You Say Yes To the Job Offer – 5 Questions You Must Ask the Employer

Stop! Before You Say Yes To the Job Offer – 5 Questions You Must Ask the Employer

If you’ve been waiting long enough for that job offer, it is likely that you would say “yes!” immediately. However, let’s agree that most of the times, decisions made on an impulse may not be the best ones, especially when they are regarding your career. When you receive the job offer, the first thing you should ask your prospective employer is for a deadline to seal the deal. A cooling period of at least 24 hours is necessary before you accept or decline the offer, even if you may have made up your mind regarding the offer before you even got it. Here are a list of five questions you absolutely must ask the employer before accepting the offer.

What is the salary structure and the benefits plan?

You may have fought tooth and nail while negotiating the numbers to get your salt’s worth, however, numbers are more complicated than one might think. Ask clearly regarding your take-home amount after tax, bonus and incentives (and its basis for calculation). Find out about your employee insurance benefits. There are many kinds of insurance, like health, maternity, et al. Make sure you know what the insurance covers. Ask in detail regarding transport and accommodation reimbursement, if any. Make a list of all the benefits you can think of, and know other people receive in similar kinds of jobs, so that you don’t forget. Ask the organization to list the benefits they finally agree upon, on paper, before you accept the offer.

Will my moving expenses be covered?

It is not unusual for companies to pay for your moving expenses (which is equal to the transport expenses for you and your stuff), in fact, it is expected (though not mandatory). If they do not mention the details regarding the reimbursement of your moving expenses, make sure you ask. Most companies also arrange accommodation (which includes meals) for you while you house hunt and are in the process of settling in. Understand the rules of the reimbursement carefully to avoid complications later. If they do not have a policy of providing for moving expenses, try and negotiate for one.

Are the work timings flexible? Will I have the option to work from home on certain days?

Is it going to be a typical 9 to 5 job with strict sign ins and sign outs or can it be a flexible one? If yes, what are the terms and conditions of the flexibility? Ask in detail regarding the timings and also if you have the option to work from home on a rain check day. Do ask about the consequences in case you fail to adhere to the rules for timings if they are not flexible.

How many paid holidays do I get?

Balancing work and life is tough and paid holidays are a crucial determinant for the balance 😉  While you may feel inhibited asking about holidays even before starting work, it is very wise to go ahead and ask anyway. No point whining over it once you’ve accepted the offer. Also make sure to find out if your holidays can roll over from one calendar year to the next.

Will the company support my decision to continue my education in the future?

If your plan is to achieve some work experience and continue with further education few years down the line, you may as well discuss about the company’s policy to support employees’ education. Find out about the tuition fee reimbursement, if any. Of course, if the company does invest in your education, it would expect you to come back and resume work post your studies. If not reimbursement, the company may also provide loans with a subsidized interest rate. Even if you may not be planning on getting another degree any time soon, it is anyway wise to find out in detail regarding their policies for employee education before accepting the offer. It is essential to keep polishing your skill set and education is one of the best ways to go about it.

These are the five crucial questions that we think you must ask before saying aye or nay ! There are also a few important questions that you must ask yourself before accepting the job offer, read more on that here. Do you think there are other equally or more important questions? We would love to hear from you.

And if you have asked yourself these questions and have decided to go ahead and accept the job offer, we at OBOlinx wish you much success in this new step of your career journey!