Entering workforce for first time ?
Job hunting tips, sort of preparation template
Welcome to Sridhar’s newsletter number # 14. Appreciate you being here, so we can connect weekly on interesting topics. Add your email id here to get this directly to your inbox (https://sridhargarikipati.substack.com).
Advice for Class of 2020 or If you are Entering workforce for first time
Class of 2020 is unique, as they have unique story to tell, this week the best article I read over LinkedIn where career advice for Class of 2020 was shared. Here is the link for you to go through.
At the same time when I was reading the article, I was having a conversation with a person who was planning to have late career start. so, for them it is not a career gap, post-graduation they have not entered workforce, so they were looking confused if they can enter the market now. My response was this is the best time. At least for IT Industry, currently we stand at the year where many new technologies are coming up in Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning which most of us with prior decade experiences also does not have skill set. so, it is an open ball game for everyone to skill up and work such projects. I have entered workforce right after college, so I have done some preparation while doing job interviews or later phase in the career when was trying to make job changes. So, thought of sharing this week few key points which class of 2020 or late career folks both need to look out for as they plan to enter workforce.
Choose your industry and set your goals
If you have done specialization in your education, you already know which industry you will get into. As I have seen myself or others during my work time, I have seen people from different background coming into Technology in my case IT Industry or seen some one getting into Entertainment industry or media industry. So, if you are starting without any specific graduation specialization also it is fine, as people move in their career not just within their industries but also from one industry to other. so, keep your interests, skills, strengths etc. on a paper and chose your industry. It can be Technology, Health Care, Media, Entertainment, Consumer retail etc.
Irrespective which industry you choose, do set your goals. Post a decade where you want to see yourself. At the start if you do not know then its fine. it is important to get started, that can be any job even it is not your choice of job in your choice of industry. Do get in and as you go through, you can figure out long term goal. One thing I wanted to share here is, every job you pick it up, do excel in it before moving to other job, so you can keep on adding skills as you move up.
Determine the Right company or group of companies and Role
If you have a dream company with who you want to work for, then do research of what skills they need, so you are not just dreaming. Prepare for the skills needed to join your dream company. Else In case of getting into IT Industry or Consumer retail etc. there are multiple companies and many companies’ looks for common skill resources, titles, roles etc. all will be same. So, choose which role best suits your education background or your recent learning’s where you want to get in as fresher. Master the skills requires to perform job duties of your specific role.
Take help from your Network as you prepare for your role
If you are not on LinkedIn, do create an account for yourself. If you do not know anyone in person in specific role, then LinkedIn is your help. For sure it is going to impact huge in recruitment and networking in future. If you are already on the LinkedIn, then stop ghosting the profile. Keep your profile up to date.
Reach out to a person who is really working on such roles, so you can get clear information on what to read, how to prepare for those roles. If you network well with them, may be they can help you to refer as well in their company or other place. Do not google this part for sure and get yourself bombarded with learning sites, certifications. Person performing the job currently is the best one to give you right learning path/recommendations etc.
Sharing quick notes from prior newsletter # 4 which refers to this point well with short notes.
Apply for Job Openings
Sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, Career Builder, Monster & your own network who can refer you or post your resume for openings in their companies. This part requires huge patience, as you will be sending out resumes from the sites or responding to search engine shared job openings, so have patience during this time and prepare for specific job description more.
Align your experiences to Job description
The skills you learnt in college. All the soft skills can be learnt at any phase of life, irrespective of which industry we select every industry requires to have soft skills. So do not think you have zero experience for the job posting, this is where every fresher journey starts. Look back you were living under the umbrella all your education preparing to come out into the world, even within that umbrella you have gained many experiences, gained soft skills and hard skills.
Make sure to go through job description very clearly. I have seen in my career few times people join interview calls without reading what is written for job description. There is a person on other side of you, who have spent time to write that job description as they are looking for team member to work with them. It goes into recruitment team hands and then come to you. Do understand that they are very important and get familiarize with each line in job description.
Translate your experiences to job requirement
Organize your responses, train at home, in front of mirror.
Document the response well, so you can edit the response during your preparation. Do not be in a situation where you are doing your interview on fly i.e. constructing the answer while in call. Use your time to figure out the Q & A from job description and be prepare yourself ahead with answers. so, for those you can be at your top while responding. Also, this will help the employer to see you as interested candidate as you will be talking in their business language.
Resume and Cover letter
At #4 when you are posting your standard resume over websites for which you are getting job openings list back to you. So here having one generalized resume is must to begin and later as you get job openings back from search engine or recruiters are directly reaching out over your email or LinkedIn messages you will see the job description for the posting (#5 we talked about).
Create the resume for every similar job description by updating your general resume to make it apt to current job posting.
One tip for myself, as I have 14 years of experience. I should list accomplishments more in it, so it can catch other person eye as results are important to what we bring to the table. The tasks performed in each project are similar or more, have them summarized rather keeping 10 bullet points for every project.
Have Cover letter ready, many websites give you a template. Starting of career, it will talk more about your education background, soft skills etc. to present you as best candidate. Person like me with experience, this should give high level summary of accomplishments, Skills, Strengths.
Set up your job references
As you go from one round to next round of Interviews or sometimes in the first email communication itself, you will be asked to share references who can vouch for your experiences. so, do not be surprised at the time of it, get the people on your side ready.
It can be anyone who can help you to share positive feedback. Confirm with them first before you share their details, have a quick conversation with them for roles you are applying for and do not be shy if you must put words into their feedback as well.
Companies when asks for references, having this list of contacts ready is helpful.
Prepare for the job interview
Go over each line of job requirements. So, you can understand the requirement clear. Have your own Q & A of what might be asked. either do in front of mirror or have a friend or family member to role play, so you can be confident in your responses. I remember during my college days when I was attending for campus interviews, our group of classmates used to do group discussions or we have often asked questions like, tell me about yourself, why this company, where do you want to see yourself, strengths and weakness and we prepare ourselves with answers ahead instead of searching for words in Interview seat. Same went even after a gained experience, although however the job description is my day in and out, still revising the concepts or there might be some which we only have theoretical answers but no practical experiences in earlier projects, those will be good to get revised. There is no special recipe here, preparation is different for each one us, point here is to get prepared and attend interview with confidence, so you can give your best shot. Say you are singer, and you are doing your auditions, you must choose your song well ahead and get versed with multiple times before the D-Day. Preparation is real gold, it may or may not help you in that interview but will help you in future and will always be with you.
Interview
How to shake hands, how to greet, Body gesture, Communication, listen well, pitch your sales part well, get yourself clarified about any specifics of the job.
Lot can be said here, but I am limiting this part as its you and only you can turn this anyway. Be confident throughout the interview process. Prior to interview if you must listen to good pumping music if it helps than do that. I remember during my 10th standard, for my shuttle final tournament I did pushups just before my match where I won the gold medal or later during interviews or presentations where I have to do in front of senior business people, I would just stand at my desk for 10 minutes and try to see myself as leader (Like giving speech to 10K people in arena). It is not just one approach; I have seen myself carrying different styles to pump up. Do whatever in your interest to pump you up, so you can go with full confidence to your interview.
Show enthusiasm
Starting from your first email or telephone call with recruitment person to last step of interview process till you get offer in your hand, Show Enthusiasm. Even its an entry level job for you as a fresher, show that you are interested in the job. Understanding the job description, Company culture and their need specifically, even if you need training in the beginning, sound well in your conversation, gain that trust so they can see you as their team mate even before you join them. every conversation you have, gain the information you need as well to see if it’s your best fit and also showcase yourself in best form so other person can see you as potential fit among other candidates.
I know class of 2020 its rough road ahead, so was the road of last recession in 2008 and now Covid-19 impact over world, we have history to support that we will come back stronger. so, use the time well to prepare yourself and I know any person who shows grit towards their goal, will always come back to their winning goal post with flying colors. I know you class of 2020 or anyone getting into workforce first time, if you create your template or pick best from others and customize for yourself, you can easily get into any job with your hard work.
That is my 2 cents on this. See you again.
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