Getting Ready to Enter the Corporate World? Then Read This..

I recall an incident. In one of the institutes where I was having interactions with the professors on how to develop learners, I happened to get introduced to a lady representing a training company. After exchanging pleasantries, she introduced herself and told me that they were there with a team of trainers imparting training to students. When I inquired a little deeper she said they were teaching required techniques to students on how to crack 'interviews' and "aptitude tests". They were developing employable students. Indeed , a noble cause that!!

Having been on the other side of the table for 20 years as part of interview panels, I got a bit shocked to see the confidence being exuded by the lady talking to me. I wondered if out of thousands of candidates, there were at least few hundreds who had succeeded in using those techniques on us instead of their knowledge and persona and upbringing. Was she trying to tell me that the students were being taught to crack those 'nuts' like us sitting on the other side of table? She even shared that they had a list of few hundred questions and taught students how to answer them. Oh, I was floored. Completely floored. She was among those many who underestimated the competence of those who interviewed candidates to pick up the best for the organisations. Well, I took my permission and moved on,

Looking back at my own experience, I can tell with confidence that there are no short cuts to succeed in interviews or careers. Let me share what kind of fresh candidates we would pick up. I think it would apply to any discerning employer and those who interview hundreds of candidates each year to pick up the one's capable of making a difference in the long run.

1. First Impression : 

A fit looking physical appearance, a confident look and a beaming face and infectious enthusiasm with humility as you enter the room helps you create a good impression on interviewers. Can you create this 'first' impression without working on yourself for years and years through a disciplined life. I don't think so. No, there is not one tablet or injection or a training of a couple of days that can help you achieve that Physical fitness which helps you walk straight with your face and chin up. Oh, it takes thousands of hours of work-out.

2. Self Awareness: 

We would always be happy to meet the candidates who knew about their own strengths and weaknesses right from their days of school and were able to say it direct. And not only with words, but would also show evidence by sharing occasions which would reveal them and their key traits or flaws to us. I was someone very keen on asking for evidence. So those coming with short-term 'injections' to impress would often fail.

3. Subject Knowledge:

If we were there in an institute to pick-up enigneers , then we were keen to pick up those who would have there fundamentals absolutely clear; who would be curious engineers and who would have plenty of examples to give from their own careers to prove that they always wanted to be Engineers. You can't be a poor student in maths and have dreams of becoming an excellent engineer. It would be essential for you to be able to show very good knowledge in the subjects you would need to succeed in while doing your degree. As one of the senior professionals shared with me: " I for one as a member of interview panels never wanted the candidates to be perfect. All I wanted them was to be Curious to Learn and Know " He said it so well. 

4. Flair for Use of Technology:

Oh yes, times have changed. In this world of accelerated digital flows , we would certainly be keen on candidates who would be comfortable with the latest in technology and may even have the confidence to engage in reverse mentoring if required. This is going to be the fundamental need. Instead of Artificially Intelligent minds around who do their best to impress, we would be keen on having minds who know how to take benefit of artificial intelligence to get results.

5. General Awareness / Hobbies 

Asking questions on reading habits, on browsing the net or reading relevant commercial or technical magazines brought out some astonishing answers and sometimes shocking answers too. One area which we always looked at. Because this hunger to know would make someone learn about how to think on feet and which corporate doesn't throw you in such situations where you have to think of feet. An alertness, a quickness, a sharpness comes only when you are spending the most critical resource "Time" on relevant activities which would add value. 

 6. Faith, Dedication,Commitment, Integrity, Honesty, Loyalty etc.

Ah, how to check these!! Well, we never did that. Our line of inquiry and random questions would be asked through out the interview in such a way that a candidate's inner environment would get revealed. What values and ethics motivated the candidate will become visible without asking direct questions on those.

7. That Sparkle and Vibrating Positive Energy..

Amazing!! Yet this would often make us even pick up someone who would be having average performance or expression. Yet, who would be able to change the level of the energy in the room by merely entering it and trust me , it happens.. What do you think makes people so vibrant - A day's training or a lifetime of hard work with focus on one's goals. Well, you know the answer.

I am not saying that the capsules of training aimed at giving you techniques to crack the "nuts" like us is not useful; all I am saying is that if you are not tuned to work hard on yourself to develop and grow on every day basis, then it may not help. Let such inputs add to what you have already become; but they can't be an alternative to the work that you must do on yourselves. 

Not only one interview, you should become such that you would be able to crack EVERY TEST OF "LIFE". 

So, all the best friends.. Go, bring the world on your side .. 

And if any professional visiting this post here has anything to add for youngsters, please, do contribute in comments. It can change someone's life..

Ramesh Sood

www.rameshsood.com #rameshsood #simplysood

https://amzn.to/2SkJz1t A life enhancing / changing book