Resume: The First Step

Step 1:

The Pakistan’s job market is expanding. With the growth in economy, and incentives from the government, more and more Multinational Companies are venturing into Pakistan’s market. With the economic growth rate of 6.6 per cent this year, the chances are, there will be more entrants into our product and service industry and each new entry, will in turn provide a chance to our talented job seekers to get employed.

Every enterprise wants people who have the potential to become an asset. They look for people who can take initiative, who can take the business forward while taking calculated risks and managing multiple tasks, the individuals who have the vision and a strong grasp over issues related to companies and their busines

There are very few universities in Pakistan that provide career counseling to their students. Most of the job seekers learn the preparatory steps necessary in the job search when they actually start looking for a job after completing their education. For Pakistani youth, getting a job at the right time is considered the single biggest factor contributing to their financial and personal growth.

There are certain things that every job seeker needs to have and present appropriately to get noticed by the prospective employer.

The first step to take is to make a professional Resume.

Resume is your first introduction. A professionally made, well formatted , clear and concise resume gives you a definite edge over some of the not so well made resumes. The first look that a resume receives from the employer decides the course of direction for the employer and the job seeker.

Do not forget to mention the important dates, and try not to leave gaps between the dates. Remember the dates you provide in the resume and support them with the relevant documents.

Mention your skills, strengths and achievements, besides your qualification and experience. Let the employer know what you can contribute towards the collective organizational growth.

Your contact information must be accurate and up to date. Give the phone number and e mail address that can be used to reach you. Much of the initial correspondence now a days ,takes place through e mail. When you apply for a job, check you e mail regularly for any updates from the company you applied to.

Something important to remember; be completely honest about the information you provide in your resume. Lack of honesty is more harmful than lack of experience when you make your resume. Do not mention something in your resume that can not be supported through documents or can not be verified through people. Any discrepancy found in your resume, at the time of interview, at worse, will render the whole exercise futile.

The reward for a well made, attention grabbing resume is, a call for an interview.

How to Give a First-Rate Interview

One of the biggest challenges facing any candidate is how to present themselves intelligently and coherently enough to impress the interviewer.

This is especially true for entry-level job seekers and can be a most daunting task because so much is at stake when we present ourselves for scrutiny before others ( do I feel your stress levels rising? ) Following are helpful tips to put in your repertoire basket and come from tough interviewers themselves:

1.Know your Company:

It is always a good idea to research upon the Company you wish to join. Key things to keep in mind are the growth, development and business changes occurring within the Company. Information of this kind is available through other people working in your choice of concern and through business sections in the papers as well as, on-line profiles on the net (corporate websites).

Merits:
Prior research is a systematic approach, which will impress. The best outcome of this acquaintanceship increases confidence to discuss your future with the Company. It eases edginess during the session because your mind knows you have created a link with the interviewer through your pre-hand knowledge and this in turn, eases the image of the interviewer from a cold, unfeeling machine capable of ruining your fate and thereby adding to your stress levels during the interview to an ordinary human being, someone whose working at the same Company as you might be.

Cautions:
Make sure not to bombard the interviewer with your pre-hand knowledge and do not name your insider informants. Do not get over confident just because you have extra information, as it is no guarantee to get you the job.

Know how to communicate well:

Unless you have a good English-Medium Schooling, which has hopefully strengthened your English Language skills, it is imperative to learn the English Language as it is used in offices everywhere. If you are deficient, this will adversely affect any future employment and growth in a professional environment. Please take language classes (elearning classes included) in order to be able to both speak and write. The best time to do this is before actually entering professional life say, during the vacations following your Matriculation Examinations.

Merits:

Being able to communicate gets your point across to the other person and obviously people who can talk well and talk sensibly tend to be more impressionistic.

Cautions:

Do not try to speak a language if you do not know it and definitely do not speak it with an accent. The interviewer will not be impressed at all. Always communicate in the language you know best. When answering queries take a moment to think up the answer and then speak up in a measured, controlled voice with a confident stance. Never remain silent for too long, no one likes to drag answers out of a quiet mouse. On the other hand, do not try to be over smart- the interviewer is after all the interviewer and will not want to silence a noisy jabber mouth

3.Personal presentation:

Good grooming is important. Do not go to an interview looking scruffy and unkempt. You will be mentally dismissed even before you start speaking. Keep in mind that there are standards to accrue to in a professional environment. Unless you are absolutely sure that the atmosphere is always a casual one where strict dress codes are not applicable, do not try to be individualistically experimental (no slippers or blue hair) this applies to women as well (no low necks, or unbelievably high hemlines).

Merits:

The outer appearance is the first thing people notice about any person and more often than not, there is an unconscious tendency of judging a person by how they look and dress. A well turned out person gives an impression of being ‘in tune’ with the requirements of a job plus, knowing you look good will boost your own confidence levels.
Cautions:

Men should not under dress by wearing jeans and tee shirts and please no crumpled clothes. This last bit applies to both. Also, in your zeal to look good do not over dress. This is especially important for women who might have a tendency to look like a Christmas tree. Too much make-up, jewellery and over glitzy clothes are not suitable.

4. Final Word:

After applying for a job and sending your resume or CV, ask someone you trust to take a mock interview (this exercise will help you prepare for the real meeting) and create answers to typical questions like, ‘why do you want to join this Company?’ ‘What are your future goals?’ Salary negotiations are bound to prop up. Keep in mind your work experience in the field. A person who has worked for five years and over will have the right to ask for a higher package than a fresh graduate; at the same time, a solid degree from a recognized and respected University adds to the strength of your educational resume. The last tip is, be punctual. Tardiness is tantamount to being fired in some places.