Dated January 11, 2006
(Questions answered on career concerns)
What is the correct way to write a career statement?
Kiran Sathe
Chennai
The career statement or summary should be between 20 and 35 words and written in the first person singular.
For instance: "I am a very experienced purchasing manager and team leader with an impressive record of successful negotiations in the ______________ and __________ industry."
A career statement should encapsulate your career aspirations. In wording the statement you should be clear about which of your skills you wish to utilise and the job you are looking for. When placed within your CV it should proclaim your skills and achievements loudly, usually near the top of the CV, therefore preparing the reader to receive positive information about you. Finally, in the context of the interview your career statement can be used as the cornerstone on which you base replies to questions. You may even have the opportunity to state it as response to a question such as: "Tell me about yourself?"
I recently applied for a job, which I didn't get. Any advice on how to deal with such a frustrating situation?
Pankaj Beri
Hyderabad
It is frustrating to get through the interview process thinking you have the position only to find out differently. Résumés get interviews. Since you made it to the interview, your résumé did its job by getting your closer to the door. The focus from here shifts to the conversation that went on during the interview. Were you prepared for the questions, could you have answered them differently? Did your answers push the pressure points for the interviewer?
When leaving any interview, make several notations about the questions asked, the topics your conversation drifted to, and analyse your responses. Some interviews are structured, while others are not; so the responses you provide within casual conversation can also have an effect on the outcome.
The interview potentially meant you had the job, but something went wrong during the interview process — they wouldn't have wasted time unless they thought you could do the job, right? Next time, focus on offering answers that are solutions focused. You can try sending a follow-up letter, however, it may not help. You are probably better off cutting your losses and shifting efforts towards your on-going job search.
Can you give me some tips on how to improve my presentations?
Karthik Mani
Coimbatore
Presentations require some preplanning. A good presentation should always start out with introductions and an icebreaker such as a story, interesting statement or fact, joke, quotation, or an activity to get the group warmed up. The introduction also needs an objective, that is, the purpose or goal of the presentation. This not only tells the participants what you will talk about, but it also informs the audience of the purpose of the presentation.
Speak to the audience, not to the visual aids (such as flip charts or overheads). Speak clearly and loudly enough for all to hear. Do not speak in a monotone. Use inflection to emphasise your main points.
Learn the name of each participant as quickly as possible. Based upon the atmosphere you want to create, call them by their first names or by using Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms.
Listen intently to comments and opinions. By using a lateral thinking technique (adding to ideas rather than dismissing them), the audience will feel that their ideas, comments, and opinions are worthwhile.
List and discuss your objectives at the beginning of the presentation. Let the audience know how your presentation fits in with their goals. Discuss some of the fears and apprehensions that both you and the audience might have.
Vary your techniques (lecture, discussion, debate, films, slides, reading, etc.) Get to the presentation before your audience arrives; be the last one to leave. Be prepared to use an alternate approach if the one you've chosen seems to bog down.
Consider the time of the day when your presentation is scheduled and how long you have got for your talk. Time of day can affect the audience. The `after lunch' session is known as the graveyard section in training circles as audiences will feel more like a nap than listening to a talk.
Try to always complete your presentation ahead of the time scheduled (say 10 minutes) and leave the rest of the time for discussions.
How do I handle a job interview where the interviewer is 20+ years my junior?
Anand Nair
Palaghat
It is important to emphasise the scope of your experience and skills. Make sure you direct the interview to how your strengths match their needs and also to assuage any insecurity they harbour.
1. Assure the young manager that you are not a threat to his/her job by addressing this concern (if any) directly.
2. Emphasise your willingness to be managed by describing your flexibility in working with different kinds of people.
In any interviewing situation, age gap or no, be ready to tell about yourself in terms of your strengths and avoid outlining your employment history from start to present. A long chronological description will work against you by adding to any perception of age, and it will take time away from discussing your more recent, relevant experience and accomplishments.
Finally, be tolerant of any cultural differences you encounter, especially in the area of etiquette. It is likely that someone much younger than you will have a different approach to conducting an interview than you would, so it is up to you to stay composed and professional, no matter what the interviewer says or does.
It may be that your young interviewer is not the ultimate decision maker in your hiring process, but they are definitely a key part if you are meeting with them and you must make the most of the situation to be considered further for the job.
What are the job prospects for Biomedical Instrumentation engineers?
Praveen K
Visakhapatnam
Biomedical engineers possess skills in medical imaging, cellular, tissue and genetic engineering, as well as in the development of biomedical instrumentation and physical measurements. In addition, they can use their web skills to access and interpret biological and engineering databases.
The employment and career prospects for graduates are fairly good as they are in high demand in a wide range of industries apart from the above-mentioned ones eg-- oil refining and gas processing, petrochemical industry, paper and steel manufacturing, food processing and water management, power plants and offshore exploration.
Furthermore, with a broad technical background and strong computer application skills, these graduates can also find employments in computer manufacturing, information technology, telecommunication industry, and other industry and business sectors.
[The FAQ column deals with career concerns addressed to the C&K Management Ltd. P.O. Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com]
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