In India,the weather vanes point to specialization rather than providing ad-hoc need based solutions, for Jobseekers.

Lima Sehgal

The last thing we need is the numbers game, especially when it pertains to the job market. The one major problem in playing the mass circulation game is that, if everyone becomes a player, no one becomes a winner.

Who stops first?

Logic never applied. In our country, where jobseekers are as abundant as the summer sunshine, one would believe that exclusivity would be more saleable. So, one wonders why anyone would want a choice in getting a candidate for a post. Or why would anyone want a voluminous vacancy advertisement response to justify an advertising expense. Or why a company would invite applications from job websites while also dishing out their job requirements to a dozen placement firms.

Perhaps it’s time to ascertain what is encashable. Is it the desperation of the job seeker, who gets his resume circulated by every job website to eliminate the chance of missing out on some pebble on the beach? Or is it the gullibility of the employers who can be made to believe that any one recruitment methodology is more effective than another?

It is also time to ascertain the kind of services required, rather than providing ad-hoc need based solutions. We are past that. The weather vanes point to specialization. And the need of the times is not about having the right answers as much as having the right direction.

Copyright © 2011, Jobnet magazine, issue 90

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the publishers of Jobnet magazine

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal

The great email promise that lures us into the unknown ocean does not necessarily land us on the shoreline of a promised job.

Lima Sehgal

The internet is virtually the continent of the find and found, but as most Job seeking Columbus’ discover, where they land may not be a new continent, but a place of squatters who never move from Google maps.

Data repetition and obsolescence haunts us, but where else can we go?

There is also a real world out there, which is not on the internet. Like Placement Firms who may have never even tried to get an elbow into a website, Headhunters especially, who just rely on the find and get principle of operations. Top positions, for example, need that approach but it also applies to placement firms who keep their operations on their finger tips.

Wading thru the glitter and litter of keywords one finds that the terrain looks familiar and there is no sign of any greener pastures.

So what is attacking the Indian Jobseeker?

Primarily, there is an illusion that on the internet, what one sees one can get. One soon discovers that applying is a different ball game from the search operation. Any Email on the net is an invitation may look like a welcome invitation, but sending that email may probably not result in getting invited.

The more advanced jobseeker, is aware that in India such passivity does not work so in addition one gets aggressive with the email or telephone follow up.

The great email promise that lures us into the unknown ocean does not necessarily land us on the shoreline of a promised job.

So let’s figure out how to get a job rather than where to find one.

Copyright © 2011, Jobnet magazine, issue 190

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the publishers of Jobnet magazine

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal

Employeers also need to impress good candidates during interviews.

Vijaylakshmi D’Souza

You may consider a more relaxed environment like inviting a senior level candidate for lunch at a restaurant or inviting a group of trainees for an orientation meeting or presentation.

Most hiring managers are so focused on the selection process that they neglect the fact that they are also being evaluated by the jobseeker during an interview. Jobseekers examine the environment as well as the employees of an organization and use these inputs for taking a decision about a job offer. Usually companies believe that a posh office décor will suffice but it is not so. A company is also judged by the kind of people who represent the company during an interview.

So take time to prepare for the interview selection and assessment processes but remember you are the first impression of your company that the jobseeker will have. Decide on what kind of first impression you want to create.

Good candidates have choices. They are not going to be desperate to get into your organization. You will have to sell your organization to them and convince them that it is a good choice for them. It can done in subtle or obvious ways.

But the best way to convey this message to them is to make a jobseeker look at the long term perspective and the growth with your company. But be honest. In today’s job market scenario we tend to treat all jobs as short term and temporary. But at least we can be honest about how this stepping stone would benefit the jobseeker.

The important factor that counts is easy to remember – put yourself in the jobseeker’s side to the table to improve your perspective

Copyright © 2011, Jobnet magazine, issue 179

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the publishers of Jobnet magazine

Posted under Articles from Jobnet Magazine

Job Eligibility in India

Lima Sehgal

Eligibility in India is not just a loaded word, but also a bullet.

Reaching the job market for most of us is a journey marked with the miles-stones of our choices – subject streams at school, vocational education, higher education, Et all..

But as anyone knows in India the karmic law that governs choices is inviolate. “ That which is chosen cannot be un-chosen.” And most often choices have to be made at gunpoint, before we have explored or are ready. So it is inevitable if, some of us, use drifting as a methodology, or worse leave it to the others to do the thinking for us.

That is why the Indian Jobseeker is so Bindaas!

Job hunting may still feel like the old familiar terrain, where marks and grades determine your choices, it is not so. Added to that is the new phenomenon of the competition kicking your butt.

We can still recognize the old, familiar attitude. Job hunting for most still remains a vague search rather than an organized lifetime game plan. Worse, interview skills are handled like an entrance exam, where knowing the right answers matters the most. Understanding your competition in the Job market is distilled into how many emails you can send everywhere.

The resources that help in Job hunting has increased tremendously. Never before has the jobseeker got so much easily accessible job information. The search and reach has become fine tuned.

It is time we realized that the air -conditioned job hunt that we have access to enjoy, is no way less in its exact count of sweat drops. It has got no less easier then yesterday, so why are we fooled.

Is not enough to enter a race knowing that you have every chance to win, you must also make sure you understand what kind of race you are in.

Jobnet magazine copyright 2011 issue 107

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal

Has your company asked you to quit?

If you are a working professional you have to be equipped with handling forced resignation.

Very few of us are. The pink slip, forced early retirement, retrenchment, getting booted in a merger … It all boils down to getting the sack.

It is natural to get hurt. It is rejection. But in the work environment today, world wide the hire and fire line of employee treatment is the reality of the times. So it is wise to straighten out your perspective of the problem so when you get derailed you can get back on the rails fast and successfully.

The first shock of “Why, what is wrong with me? – has to be handled. Worldwide thousands of good, efficient people get laid off their jobs. It does not mean that suddenly you got proved a wrong or inefficient person, sometimes the nature of the business climate changes, or the company changes, or the nature of management changes and you become a casualty of change. Or maybe your boss tells you to your face that you are sacked because of poor performance, it may hurt you but definitely it is not the end of the earth. There is always another place to prove your worth.

This is the best time to examine and reset your goals. What do you want to do? What aspects of the job or the company you worked for were positive – or negative? Do you want to change your line? Or the job function? Is this the time to upgrade you skills, or go for higher education?

This is also the best time to examine your feelings? How much jobs satisfaction am I getting out of what I do? Do I feel stuck in a rut? Maybe this is a good time to branch out on my own? Should I start my own business? Should I relocate to get better opportunities?

This soul searching is extremely important.

Once you clear your thoughts and take a decision on what course your career should take, you reach the next stage of getting a game plan together.

You decide to look for a job …. Then follow a positive course of action …

Make a good resume – with a focus on your achievements. There are plenty of free resume templates on the internet which can be used to make a good resume.

Have a positive speech ready. The reasons for getting sacked or laid off are not as important as focusing on your achievements and contributions in your last job. Be confident, not defensive. Have a positive reason prepared as to the reason why you lost your last job. If you decide to resort to White lies, be sure that you call pull them off successfully and it bears the scrutiny of a reference check.

This is the time to network. Talk to your friends, even ex colleges and bosses if need be, spread the word around that you are looking for a job.

Talk to the placement consultants, market yourself actively. Make a list of those who are specializing in your line of work and interact with them. Remember that most companies use the services of placement firms today. Keep an open attitude; go for all interviews that they call you for. It is a great way to get interview practice and who knows what may turn out where. This is not a time to fuss, go with it.

This is also not the time for passive half measures like resume blasting on the net, or fussing about not getting the perfect opportunity. The crucial step is to go for interviews find a job as soon as possible. If you have to compromise then take a job as a breather to get you into the next one.

It is important to actively network. Make a list of contacts you have in your line of work. List even people who have been your competitors. Your social contacts of family and friends are important too. Make a plan of action for interacting with them.

Make a list of companies that you would like to work for. Check them out through their websites if they have a system of direct recruitment that you can use.

Constantly fight your negative feelings which may be lurking inside. Only when you fight with a positive attitude that can you win.

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal, Articles from Jobnet Magazine

We are all aware of the fact that there are excellent, tailor-made and deserving candidates who are unable to find the employers who are hunting for them.

Let’s not blame it on karma. It is because the majority of us, after being herded through our schooling systems, apply the principle of using the right methodology. Experimentation is alien to most.

The right methodology stuff can perhaps apply to performing in a job, but not to navigating for jobs in the turbulence of the job market.
There is no right way; there are choices along with the flukes, chances and shots.

Our approach to job hunting, unfortunately, is an orientation towards finding vacancies. What about the gigantic part of the job market that is not visible – vacancies that are with placement firms? Now most would go around with lists of placement firms, but how many jobseekers have figured out how to market themselves to placement firms? It’s not  about submitting your resume at the right place at the right time. It’s entirely a different ball game – Not very dissimilar from what you do with an employer in an interview, but totally dissimilar from what you need to do to compete with the billion others that the placement firm exercises a choice on.

Figuring out is about an ability to experiment and fail. If you did your schooling in India, then failing two or three times, meant that you were politely told to leave an educational institution because you were more stupid than others. Today, I am told that the perfect formula for success is getting 99% of the answers right.

We need to grow up fast. Scholastic approaches to job hunting will not work, because, in India, even if you score 100 %, the other guy may still catch the job. You still have to figure out another way to win it.

ISSUE 173 – Jobnet Magazine
Copyright © 2009, Jobnet magazine
Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the publishers of Jobnet magazine.

vacancies, job hunting, job market, placement firms

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal, Job Hunting Tips