Career building, CV writing and facing the interview board

BUS 251, Taufique Hossain

Types of companies in Bangladesh

Telecom FMCG & Retail Bank & Financial Garments Energy Real Estate NGOs

Advertising agencies HR agencies Research firms Media

Things to look for in a job

Salary Bonus Other benefits

Type of work Job environment Management style Career growth

opportunity Status

Employers approach to employment process

Looking for someone inside the organization Relying on contacts and personal

recommendations Hiring an employment agency or search firms

Your approach to the employment process

Stay abreast of business and financial news Researching specific companies Networking Seeking career counseling

Preparing Résumés

Analyzing your purpose & audience Create interest rather than telling every details Research the organization and the type of job Research the people who will be viewing your

CV.

Preparing Résumés

Organizing your CV around your strengths Common problems

Frequent job change Gaps in work history Inexperience Over qualification Long term employment with one company

Composing your résumé

Use short crisp phrases Avoid using the word I Use strong action verbs:Accomplished, achieved, assisted, coordinated, established, generated, implemented, initiated, launched, maintained, organized, participated, performed, supervised, transformed, upgraded etc.

Composing your résumé

AVOID WEAK STATEMENTS USE ACTIVE STATEMENTS THAT SHOW RESULTS

Responsible for developing a new filing system

Developed a new filing system that reduced paperwork by 50 percent

I was in charge of customer complaints and all ordering problems

Handled all customer complaints and resolved all product order discrepancies

I won a trip to Europe for opening the most new customer accounts in my department

Generated the highest number of new customer accounts in my department

Member of special campus task force to resolve student problems with existing cafeteria assignments

Assisted in implementing new campus dining program that balances student wishes with cafeteria capacity

Composing your résumé

Name & Contact Information Introductory Statement

Career objective Qualification summary Career summary

Education Work experience Skills & Accomplishments Activities and achievements

Revising résumé

Too long Too short or sketchy Difficult to read Wordy Amateurish Poorly produced

Spelling and grammar error

Boastful Too generic Gimmicky

Cover Letter

When applying for a job a cover letter should be sent or posted with your resume.

Your cover letter should be specific to the position you are applying for, relating your skills and experience to those noted in the job posting. Your cover letter is your first (and best) chance to make a good impression!

Interview

Preemployment testing Learning about the organization Thinking ahead about the questions Planning for the employer’s question Planning questions of your own

Be ready for warm-up stage

Stay on your toes; even initial small talk is part of the interviewing process.

Greet the interviewer with a smile and direct eye contact. Offer a firm (not crushing) handshake if the interviewer

extends a hand. Take a seat only after the interviewer invites you to sit or

has taken his or her own seat. Listen for clues about what the interviewer is trying to

get you to reveal about you and your qualifications

Understand the question and answer stage

Let the interviewer lead the conversation. Never answer a question before the interviewer

finishes asking it. Listen carefully to the interviewer and watch for

nonverbal signals. Don’t limit yourself to simple yes-or-no answers;

expand on the answer to show your knowledge of the company (but don’t ramble on).

Often you have the opportunity, ask questions from the list you’ve prepared; remember that interviewers expect you to ask questions.

Close on a strong note.

Watch and listen for signs that the interview is about to end.

Quickly evaluate how well you’ve done and correct any misperceptions the interviewer might have.

Don’t bring up salary but be prepared to discuss it if the interviewer raises the subject.

End with a warm smile and a handshake and thank the interviewer for meeting with you.