The first potent tool that’s available at the hands of the employer to gauge a candidate’s capability is the resume. In a matter of seconds, the employer can tell if it’s really worth interviewing you. In fact, in the tough job market, what can set you apart from other job seekers is a well crafted resume. Remember there are hundreds of candidates applying for the same position; given the scenario an impeccable and compelling document detailing out your accomplishments is indispensable. So how or where do you begin?

• At the outset, make an evaluation of your skills you’ve acquired over the years and all those abilities that have helped you make significant contribution to your organizations wherein you’ve worked previously. With these in place, you can expect to have a complete resume.

• There is no point in preparing lengthy resumes as it’s not your autobiography. The employer who is pressed for time just needs to take a squint of the short summary of your professional achievements. The key rule here is not to exceed more than 2 pages.

• Make sure your resume does not speak at length about projects you have undertaken some 10-15 years ago. This is particularly relevant to those in the IT field where specifying out-of-date skills will do you more harm than good.

• Contents of the Resume: At the top of the resume, be certain to include Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site address. You need to mention the web site address only if it reflects your career aspirations. While including your telephone, add the area code and the email id you give should be professional. Nicknames should never figure any where in the copy of your resume.

• Freshers may begin with their educational qualifications. Experienced persons can have the details of education listed towards the end and the elucidation of their work experience can be made in reverse chronological order beginning with the latest.

• Work Experience: This area of your resume must cover details such as Designation, Name of organization, Location of work (town, state), Dates of employment. A brief description of job responsibilities with special emphasis on skills that has helped you achieve them should be added.

• Do not supply any information relating to references. Simply add a note at the bottom of your resume: ‘References furnished by request’.

• Finally before posting your resume, do a spell check, ask your friends to look for grammatical errors and get a career counseller to review it. Greater the number of people reviewing your resume, lesser the chance for error.

Before you go on to draft a good one, check these links to glance at the sample copies of resumes:

http://www.career-resumes.com/Sections-article15-p1.phtml

http://www.career-resumes.com/Sections-article27-p1.phtml

http://www.career-resumes.com/Sections-article18-p1.phtml

http://www.career-resumes.com/Sections-article33-p1.phtml

http://www.career-resumes.com/Sections-article38-p1.phtml

The day of the big event has finally arrived; you are about to face an interview the thought of which sends shivers down your spine. For most of us, attending an interview seems like a herculean task that causes drops of sweat to dribble from our faces while the rest are rendered speechless. But is it really worth the trepidation people experience before an interview? Certainly not. You are just called for a personal discussion where the interviewer would like to assess your suitability for the post in question. On your part, you should just make adequate preparation to win the confidence of the interviewer and make him/her believe that you would fill the bill.

Here are a few tips which would help you face an interview fearlessly and increase your chances of success:

• Do ample research to find out details of the products and services dealt with by the company. You can explore the website of the company to gain insight into its business. Additionally, you can seek the help of contacts who might help you get a better idea of the working of the company.

• Spend some time thinking about the likely questions that might come up and prepare yourself on how you are going to answer them. In this regard, you would have to go over your application and give a careful thought to your career aspirations. As you plan your answers, decide on the questions you should ask the interviewer.

• Caffeine is known to increase stress levels, so it is advisable to avoid coffee in the morning of the interview. Although people believe a cup of coffee helps you relax, it only actuates your feelings of anxiety. Drinking water on the other hand can help provide energy for your body and clear your throat. Meditation and relaxation techniques may come in handy this time

• Exhibiting optimism is essential in an interview as it signifies confidence. Besides convincing your interviewer that you are technically sound and possess the requisite skill-set, you need to demonstrate that you are adequately motivated to get the job done well, would fit into the organizational structure and would be a good team player.

• Dress smartly as that helps leaving a lasting impression and carry minimum items like a folder containing only your resume, certificates and testimonials as baggages might make you look too clumsy. Make sure you reach the venue well ahead of time so that you have sufficient space to collect your thoughts and relax.

Bearing in mind the tips listed above, you can set out to sell your strengths. But remember, if you still don’t succeed, it doesn’t mean it’s the end of everything. Give in your best efforts not worrying too much about the result. And if you don’t emerge as the fortunate one, believe this one is not for you. May be your skills are meant to be invested in some other fortunate company.

My friend once told me; “ My colleague is a better engineer than I but last quarter when the management was deliberating on who among the two of us should be conferred the ‘National Service Manager’ designation, I had the whole office rooting for me.” The statement clearly proves that although technical skills are needed to help acquire the job you aspire, soft skills are a requisite to move higher in your professional life. The current economic crisis has only compounded the concerns of job seekers who are already frustrated over the job market. With the possibility of success being remote in an environment driven by intense competition, it is high time the candidate evaluates himself to determine how he can stand apart from the other contenders.

Communication skills: No matter how impressive your resume is, employers would definitely view a good communicator more favorably. Communication is not merely language skills, it goes beyond to involve the process of listening and responding skillfully. In a work environment where you find a mixture of angry, fearful and frustrated lot, communication might prove difficult. Learn how to talk convincingly. Your voice and tone also makes a difference. So take time to mould your voice and practice your telephone skills as often companies begin with a telephonic interview. A crash course in communication could help enhance your verbal skills and make winning corporate presentations.

Grooming oneself: Dress according to the work environment. An informal outfit is a strict no-no except on days when casuals are permitted. If you are grooming yourself for an interview, remember this trite phrase – The first impression is the best impression. You need to get it right at the first shot Make sure you’re simple and neat and not too dressy which may distract the attention of the interviewer. Again the choice of colors are important too. Very bright colours may put off the interviewer.

Social graces: The cardinal rule here is maintaining eye contact. When introduced to a person, be quick to smile politely and give a firm hand shake. Business etiquettes are not as simple as people think them to be. You need to strike a balance between being confident and being simple while exhibiting a positive attitude.

Such skills complement the hard skills notwithstanding the industry or the job type; they can not be taught but can be developed over a period of time through training. Finally, it depends on one’s ability to view things with a right perspective that could help you go a long way in creating win-win situations.

The employment scenario in India is facing a huge setback ensuing the global slowdown. Only few years ago, the economy was booming providing the young blood with ample opportunities and candidates hired by recruiters who were out in droves were offered luring packages. The current slowdown has however painted a bleak picture of the job market and aspirants are finding it rather difficult to land their dream jobs. Of course, campus interviews are being conducted, but the number of companies coming forward to hire have been drastically reduced. Students are fretting as their hopes for multiple offers go down.

Under these circumstances, it is wise on the part of students to take up the first job that comes their way. Even if it does not match their skill-sets and offer them the desired compensation, they can still go ahead with the offer as it would give them a work experience and improve their interpersonal and communication skills. Additionally, as openings are a handful, freshers are advised to equip themselves with more technical skills, functional knowledge and soft skills which could help distinguish themselves from their counter parts. This is especially important because companies have begun to be more frugal and are hiring with an eye for great talent. Freshers may invest to take up courses that could make their resumes more effective. Sharpening one’s networking skills would also be of great help as contacts with friends and relatives could make one know of potential openings in companies.

As the times seem challenging and there’s diminished employment prospects, the job seeker can pull off only if he is able to be more flexible while accepting an offer without being too fussy about details like position, salary and preferred locations. Seeking out small and medium companies is also a good alternative.

With the present day driven by fierce competition, launching a successful career or ascending the corporate ladder in a relatively short span would require you to hone your skills and keep yourself abreast of the latest in the job market. If you’ve just completed your graduation or landed your first job or need to further advance in your career, here are some career related advice and guidance to help your smooth sailing in this rough business world.