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Competition is expected to be fierce for engineering graduates in the coming decade.
To land a job in a competitive field, graduates must go beyond the obvious and prepare extensively, advises Vijay Gupta, director-global human resources, Rahi Sytems, a global IT services and solutions company.
Organisations in India are embracing technology to address the business challenges that have arisen as a result of the pandemic.
According to the job search site Indeed, all the key metro cities in India including Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Delhi witnessed a growth in tech job roles.
The rapid adoption of technological solutions across organisations and work-from-home structures, scaling up businesses online, and ramping up their technology infrastructure to scale up businesses have also resulted in an increase in demand for tech jobs post-pandemic.
To stay relevant in their careers, IT professionals must constantly upgrade and update their skills.
The current situation has accelerated the demand to upskilling and reskilling in trending areas like Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, AI/ML, People Analytics, Digital HR, Full StackDevelopment, and IoT.
In the pre-pandemic world, technology companies frequently discussed employee upskilling and reskilling, but no significant action was taken. However, as a result of the pandemic-induced job market uncertainty, upskilling initiatives have recently gained renewed importance.
With companies shifting to a more data-driven approach, professionals and fresh engineering graduates are investing in upskilling courses for career progression, higher compensation and increased chances of better opportunities.
The key to acing any job interview is preparation, which includes researching the company, practising model responses and deciding the appropriate attire.
Here are ten tips to remember when preparing for your first job interview:
1. Job vs career
Don't consider a job in isolation, but rather as an essential piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is defined by a career.
It is easier to face the interviewer confidently if you are clear about how the job will help you in your overall career vision.
It also allows you to focus on your priorities without being influenced by other factors such as money, location, designation, or leadership position.
2. Be well prepared
Make sure you are well prepared for the interview.
Examine the organisation and their businesses and gather as much information as possible about the role; the initial contact, whether with internal recruitment team or the external recruitment consultant, can provide you with valuable information about the organisation and the position.
Before agreeing to an interview with the company's technical experts, insist on reading the job description (JD). At this point, keep your attention on the job description and your potential role and position within the organisation.
3. Draft a smart CV
Creating a CV entails more than simply compiling a list of your accomplishments together.
Your CV must capture people's attention. Ensure it's up to date and filled with eye-catching experiences.
Emphasise the experiences that are most relevant to the organisation. As a result, tailor your resume to each job you apply for.
4. Be honest
Try and present your profile as honestly as possible without tweaking it to match the job profile you are applying for.
Any expert interviewer will see right through a dressed up resume immediately, and you would start on the wrong foot.
5. Work on your soft skills
Working on soft skills is also essential because that is how you will arrive at your destination.
Business communication must be improved because it is essential for growth.
To effectively communicate your ideas, you need to present them in a manner that makes your audience feel involved, which necessitates the use of both basic and technical skills.
Furthermore, the majority of technical communication between team members and management is now done via e-mail.
6. Networking is the key
Networking is also important; it is critical to develop a strong network to land a good job.
It will also help find information sources to help you advance your profession.
Unless you network with others, you will never know what opportunities are available.
7. Have a sense of teamwork
Developing a sense of teamwork is necessary.
Getting the job you desire is a priority but it is important to develop a sense of teamwork because working in a group is inescapable and cultivating these traits will be extremely beneficial for a bright career.
In many job interviews there may be group discussions, ensure that you do not outshout or be dogmatic.
8. Ability to communicate/work in a global atmosphere
While the technical skills, expertise, certification, etc are essential qualifying criteria, please do not treat them as the final selection criteria.
In today's world, organisations are expected to work through seamless integration and collaboration globally with people from different backgrounds, time zones, and cultures.
Hence hiring managers give great importance to communication, interpersonal skills and collaborative mindsets.
If you are applying for a team leader's position, the organisations will want to assess you for that too.
9. Etiquette and attire
Common sense and etiquette are timeless.
Punctuality, appropriate attire, ensuring there is no disturbance (during the interview) and cutting out ambient noises make a great impression on the interviewers.
If it's an online interview, log in a little early and check your microphone and video settings to minimise background noises or distracting elements.
10. Listen
The final piece of advice is to listen, listen and listen more through the interviews.
This will help you comprehend the questions better and answer them accurately.
If you are patient and listen carefully, it will also help you understand the thought process of the interviewer.
Remember, competition is expected to be fierce for engineering graduates in the coming decade.
To land a job in a competitive field, graduates must go beyond the obvious and prepare extensively.
Job interviews are always a difficult and nerve-racking part of the job application process, regardless of your background or level of experience.
There are numerous career paths you can take to become a successful engineer, as well as numerous fields in which you can work.
Whatever path you choose, adhering to these key guidelines will help you achieve your goals more effectively.
