Navtej Kohli Career Mission Blog

Navtej Kohli adds another important category to Navtej Kohli career mission blog by the name of Interview tips. Navtej Kohli shares some useful interview tips to infiltrate the HR net.

Interview should be a two way interaction between the interviewer and the interviewee. Most of you might have come across a customary question in the HR round ‘Do you have any questions for me?’
Don’t put the interviewing HR off with an apathetic ‘NO’. There is a lot you can ask them and initiate a new set of smart conversation. This reflects your presence of mind. However, don’t ask HR a volley of questions. Be specific; ask to the point and sensible questions to which you can expect answers. You can begin the conversation with a sincere note of thanks and then ask relevant questions.

Here are a few questions that you can ask.

• I would like to know about the work atmosphere here…
• What do you personally find the most enjoyable part of working for this company?
• Does the company follow a structured path in promoting the employees? How does it go?
• I would like to know a little about my day-to-day responsibilities.
• Could you tell me about the management style of this company?
• Would you be able to tell me about this company’s vision/philosophy?
• How would you evaluate this organization’s strengths and weaknesses?

These are some of the general questions you can ask to carry forward the communication. Besides, you are always free to use your head and throw some prudent questions at the HR.

Navtej Kohli Career Mission Blog adds another useful leaf of information brought to you by Mr. Navtej Kohli.

All of us have dreams of a thriving career. However, getting a decent job isn’t a cakewalk, but a few balanced steps can take you to the top of the corporate ladder.
Following steps can help you break through the corporate world.
• Review your career: Align your career path well and clearly mark your interests and priorities. See for yourself what is best for you in the long run, experience or education? Mull over things, do some self analysis and draw results there on.
• Identify you career objectives: be clear about what career you want to pursue. Once you are certain on that work out a plan of action to reach that level.
• Make a growth plan: decide in advance, what steps you need to take to climb onto next level in hierarchy.
• Communicate your goals: there are many organizations that encourage employee development. Talk to your manager and let him know your career objectives and request for his support.
• Lead a project voluntarily: It inflicts that you are keen and willing to work, leaving a good impression about you. It also gives you an opportunity to learn new things, show your leadership traits while placing you at forefront in the company.
• Be updated: keep yourself up to date about the ever-changing trends in the industry and acclimatize with it. Take some reference material like publications or industry reports.
• Do some certification courses: certification courses are small accomplishments that will help you get the better of you your competitors. Polish your skills and use it to the benefit of your company.
• Assume a leadership role: you can take up small leadership roles to prepare yourself for the future. Lead a committee of some NGO or guide a junior in office.
• Build a social network: you can build your own network in or outside your organization. This will increase your visibility and making contacts are also indispensable to your sure shot success.
• Stand out in your present career: Excel in the position you are currently working at. Good work needs no evidences. An average performance will not help you get better in life.

Navtej Kohli is back again with more resume tips.

Resume is the first step to win an interview. You should draft your resume in a way your employer wants to see. A well-written resume gives you an edge over your competitors. You’ve done that- that’s half the battle. The rule of thumb is to mention all the positive points about you, but succinctly. Resume writing is chiefly categorized into three main types i.e. Functional resume, Chronological resume and Combinational resume.

Come, let’s understand each of this format in detail:

1. Functional resume: It carries the details of your functional know-how. Previous employer history may or may not be specified. Functional resume gives you a lot of freedom to mention your skill-set and how it tones with the company’s job profile. This type of format is extremely helpful, if you want to shift your career line.

2. Chronological resume: It follows the reverse chronology, mentioning your service experience from present date rearward. This is the most common and popular type of formats used by job seekers, for it’s easy to write.

3. Combinational resume: As its apparent from its very name, combinational resume is a blend of both functional and chronological resume. It mentions your work experience and qualifications in reverse chronological order, but below each functional skill headline. Perhaps, it is the most apposite way of writing resume, particularly when you have experience galore, that too in diverse domains. However, Freshers shall cling to aforesaid formats only.

When I was a child, everyone used to ask me, ” Navtej, what do you want to be when you grow up?”. And swollen with pride, I used to say, ” I will become an engineer, Navtej Kohli- the engineer.” Today, I’m glad I chose what i actually wanted to be.

There comes a stance in life, when we have to opt for a suitable career so that we can lead a life that is happy and prosperous on all fronts. When it comes to choose a career one wrong decision can change the face of your life for good. In fact, most of you might have observed this at one stage of your life or another. No matter, how hefty sum you take home every month, unless you don’t derive satisfaction from your job, it’s all in vain.

The only mantra of success is to widen your mental horizons and ponder your real purpose in life. In this Navtej Kohli career blog, I took some time out to share my personal views and inferences I have drawn with my life experiences. Occasions are when your parents or relatives might have compelled you choose a lucrative profession like that of a doctor, engineer, lawyer or a manager, for that matter. Instances are also seen where children are placed on an upfront comparison with other successful people.

But the main question remains “what’s that interests YOU?”, “what’s that brings smile on your face and pleasure to your heart?”. First, you need to answer all these questions before embarking upon any career voyage. Don’t make a hasty decision as they say ‘haste makes waste’. Evaluate your basic interests and recognize the skills embedded in your very nature.

Perhaps, you can comfort yourself on a lounger, grip a pen and jot down all the moments of your life where you have accomplished something significant in life. Once a rough draft is ready, rate yourself on each instance, based on how well you faired in each of them. Pick out ten most commendable things you have done and speculate what’s common in all of them. No sooner you are done with it, the answer becomes quite apparent. You may discover situations where you have displayed your ingenious leadership traits, or some other distinguished characteristics. Thus, you’ve now got the food for thought!

This tried and tested method has helped many hit bull’s-eye, as far as the career is concerned, and thus can prove rewarding for you too. So, go ahead and see for yourself what Career destiny has in store for you?

With blooming Internet scope, Online job sites and portals have grown to almost 70,000. While this opens a lot of avenues for you to find suitable jobs, don’t let the technology fool you.

Though, Internet can be a valuable job search tool, no computer or Web site can hire anyone. It’s the people who make the job market work.

A recent survey in The Wall Street Journal puts some light on this. It showed that referrals are still the most widely used hiring method in America, filling more jobs than Internet postings or classified ads. So, don’t overlook your network of personal and professional contacts. It’s still the best way to find out about available positions but not the best way to hire employees.

Here are three ways to help you get the most out of your network.

1. Keep notes
Don’t keep track of your network in your head - get it on paper or on computer.

For each person you come across, jot down their details such as name and the company they work for. Include names of family, friends, neighbors, vendors and clients. You’ll quickly build an extensive list this way!

2. Start with the right attitude
Networking can be daunting for those don’t want to look “desperate” by asking friends and relatives for a job. So never ask for a job.

Instead, see yourself as a valuable resource, a walking solution to some company’s problems. This mind-flip can give you the confidence needed to approach people for information about possible openings.

3. Keep expanding
You can build your network to gigantic proportions by asking each person this magic question: “Do you know anyone else I should be talking to?” Get names and phone numbers, then follow up religiously with these new contacts. And so on, and so on.

Don’t overlook your school’s placement officer as a referral source. One client of mine made the leap from customer service rep to business analyst by talking to people in his university’s employment office and asking to meet employees of his target companies.

The Internet can be a great employment resource. But remember that a successful job search is about making personal connections.

You can make more and better connections — and connect with your next job — if you manage your names efficiently, have the right attitude and ask for referrals to new contacts.

“Job Search is not only about finding the right job but also about building social relations”.