1 | Page 1. Functional English Introduction The advent of globalization has presented Indian youth with opportunities to function at an international level. Realizing the n eed for expert communication skills for these interactions, Mosaic has applied its technical clout in developing tool that would not only help them know English, but "think and Function" in the language. Features of functional English • Improve language skills in all 4 core components of English learning(listening, writing, reading and speaking) • Develop a higher degree of comfort in using English as a language of interaction in daily life • Develop higher confidence levels required to progress in education and career • Use linguistic and functional skills to improve productivity in enterprises Few commonly used situational phrases Heaven on Earth Feel like Heaven Home coming Very promising Pretty cordial out here In harmony with Splendid moment Momentous occasion Double delight Dramatic break through Not at all worried Will get better Limping back to normalcy Win –win situation Under high vigil Under tight security Under control Out of control Out of hand Very volatile Highly critical www.jntuworld.com www.jntuworld.com www.jwjobs.net
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The advent of globalization has presented Indian youth with opportunities to function at
an international level Realizing the need for expert communication skills for theseinteractions Mosaic has applied its technical clout in developing tool that would not only
help them know English but think and Function in the language
Features of functional English
bull Improve language skills in all 4 core components of English learning(listening
writing reading and speaking)
bull Develop a higher degree of comfort in using English as a language of interaction
in daily life
bull Develop higher confidence levels required to progress in education and career
bull Use linguistic and functional skills to improve productivity in enterprises
M But you have worn these for a week We can not give you all your money
back
L I know I only wore them for a week and they started falling apart and I want
my money back
M (Sigh) OK come with me and I will see that you get it back
Leonel De Niro of Merapi Insurance Company is calling a prospective client RobertMessi
A Agent Leonel De Niro
P Prospect Robert Messi
A Good morning may I speak to Mr Leonel De Niro please
P SpeakingA Mr Messi this is Leonel De Niro of Merapi Insurance Company Could I have a few
minutes of your time to tell you about our new comprehensive insurance plans
P Im pretty busy right now
A Thats Okay how about I meet with you tomorrow and we can discuss Merapis plansin person
P I dont really have time to sit down and talk about insuranceA Mr Messi it would only take about fifteen minutes of your time It will take evenless if I know a bit about you before I come How many people are there in your family
P There are four - me my wife and our two kids
A Also how old are you and what line of work of you in
P Im forty-three and Im a senior accountant at my firm
A It sounds like we have two specific plans that would suit your needs Mr Messi I can
present them to you tomorrow say around two P Two thirty is better for me
A Thats fine Ill see you then Im looking forward to meeting you Mr Messi
Words are unique and interesting A limited vocabulary keeps you from expressing yourreal thoughts and feelings A strong vocabulary gives you the right words to use at theright time
Vocabulary building takes patience and continued effort Your vocabulary can and should be a reflection of you Your vocabulary is you And like you your vocabulary should be
alive It should change and grow to meet your needs
The Purpose of Vocabulary
Words are great subjects to investigate When you become a student of language and
delight in discovering word relationships and become aware of how you can make wordswork for you you are more likely to stop when you encounter an unfamiliar word and
consider its meaning If you do this you will become a master of words and your
vocabulary will grow
Why Vocabulary Development Counts
bull Vocabulary is a basic part of reading comprehension If you dont know enough
words you are going to have trouble understanding what you read An occasional
word may not stop you but if there are too many words you dont know
comprehension will suffer The content of textbooks is often challenging enough
you dont want to work as well on understanding the words that express thatcontent
bull Vocabulary is a major part of almost every standardized test including reading
achievement tests college entrance exams and armed forces and vocational
placement tests Vocabulary is a key measure of both ones learning and ones
ability to learn The more words you know then the better you are likely to do onsuch important tests
bull Studies have indicated that students with strong vocabularies are more successful
in school and that a good vocabulary is an influential factor for people who enjoy
successful careers in life Words are the tools not just of better reading but of
and thinking as well The more words you have at your command the more
effective your communication can be and the more influence you can have on the people around you
bull In todays world a good vocabulary counts more than ever Many jobs provide
services or process information and the skills of reading writing listening and
speaking are essential
Improving your Vocabulary
Throughout your college years new words will be flooding into your consciousness
Many of them are the keys to ideas and information that will be new to you When
students have trouble in a course the trouble can often be traced back to their imperfect
comprehension of terms that are essential to an understanding of subject matter A first-year science or social science course may introduce you to almost as many new words as
a first course in a foreign language Then there are also words which may not literally be
new to you but which have specific meanings within the context of a specific course and
therefore must be learned as if they were new words
Affixes and roots
Adding affixes to existing words (the base or root) to form new words is common in
academic English Prefixes are added to the front of the base (like dislike) whereassuffixes are added to the end of the base (active activate) Prefixes usually do not
change the class of the base word but suffixes usually do change the class of the word
The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in academic English are re- dis-over- un- mis- out- The most common suffixes are -ise -en -ate -(i)fy By far the
most common affix in academic English is -ise
Verbs
eg prefix + verb verb
Prefix Meaning Examples
re- again or back restructure revisit reappear rebuild refinance
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits andor skills that it desires in its members In this methodologythe group of candidates is given a topic or a situation given a few minutes to think aboutthe same and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 8-15 minutes
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include -
Ability to work in a team
Communication skillsReasoning ability
Leadership skills
Initiative
AssertivenessFlexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet
Why is GD part of selection process in companies
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your
interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people The GD isto check how you behave participate and contribute in a group how much importance do
you give to the group objective as well as your own how well do you listen to viewpoints
of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own The
aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication non-verbal behavior
conformation to norms decision-making ability and cooperation You should try to be as
true as possible to these aspects
Types of GD
Topic based Gds can be classified into three types -
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
M But you have worn these for a week We can not give you all your money
back
L I know I only wore them for a week and they started falling apart and I want
my money back
M (Sigh) OK come with me and I will see that you get it back
Leonel De Niro of Merapi Insurance Company is calling a prospective client RobertMessi
A Agent Leonel De Niro
P Prospect Robert Messi
A Good morning may I speak to Mr Leonel De Niro please
P SpeakingA Mr Messi this is Leonel De Niro of Merapi Insurance Company Could I have a few
minutes of your time to tell you about our new comprehensive insurance plans
P Im pretty busy right now
A Thats Okay how about I meet with you tomorrow and we can discuss Merapis plansin person
P I dont really have time to sit down and talk about insuranceA Mr Messi it would only take about fifteen minutes of your time It will take evenless if I know a bit about you before I come How many people are there in your family
P There are four - me my wife and our two kids
A Also how old are you and what line of work of you in
P Im forty-three and Im a senior accountant at my firm
A It sounds like we have two specific plans that would suit your needs Mr Messi I can
present them to you tomorrow say around two P Two thirty is better for me
A Thats fine Ill see you then Im looking forward to meeting you Mr Messi
Words are unique and interesting A limited vocabulary keeps you from expressing yourreal thoughts and feelings A strong vocabulary gives you the right words to use at theright time
Vocabulary building takes patience and continued effort Your vocabulary can and should be a reflection of you Your vocabulary is you And like you your vocabulary should be
alive It should change and grow to meet your needs
The Purpose of Vocabulary
Words are great subjects to investigate When you become a student of language and
delight in discovering word relationships and become aware of how you can make wordswork for you you are more likely to stop when you encounter an unfamiliar word and
consider its meaning If you do this you will become a master of words and your
vocabulary will grow
Why Vocabulary Development Counts
bull Vocabulary is a basic part of reading comprehension If you dont know enough
words you are going to have trouble understanding what you read An occasional
word may not stop you but if there are too many words you dont know
comprehension will suffer The content of textbooks is often challenging enough
you dont want to work as well on understanding the words that express thatcontent
bull Vocabulary is a major part of almost every standardized test including reading
achievement tests college entrance exams and armed forces and vocational
placement tests Vocabulary is a key measure of both ones learning and ones
ability to learn The more words you know then the better you are likely to do onsuch important tests
bull Studies have indicated that students with strong vocabularies are more successful
in school and that a good vocabulary is an influential factor for people who enjoy
successful careers in life Words are the tools not just of better reading but of
and thinking as well The more words you have at your command the more
effective your communication can be and the more influence you can have on the people around you
bull In todays world a good vocabulary counts more than ever Many jobs provide
services or process information and the skills of reading writing listening and
speaking are essential
Improving your Vocabulary
Throughout your college years new words will be flooding into your consciousness
Many of them are the keys to ideas and information that will be new to you When
students have trouble in a course the trouble can often be traced back to their imperfect
comprehension of terms that are essential to an understanding of subject matter A first-year science or social science course may introduce you to almost as many new words as
a first course in a foreign language Then there are also words which may not literally be
new to you but which have specific meanings within the context of a specific course and
therefore must be learned as if they were new words
Affixes and roots
Adding affixes to existing words (the base or root) to form new words is common in
academic English Prefixes are added to the front of the base (like dislike) whereassuffixes are added to the end of the base (active activate) Prefixes usually do not
change the class of the base word but suffixes usually do change the class of the word
The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in academic English are re- dis-over- un- mis- out- The most common suffixes are -ise -en -ate -(i)fy By far the
most common affix in academic English is -ise
Verbs
eg prefix + verb verb
Prefix Meaning Examples
re- again or back restructure revisit reappear rebuild refinance
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits andor skills that it desires in its members In this methodologythe group of candidates is given a topic or a situation given a few minutes to think aboutthe same and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 8-15 minutes
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include -
Ability to work in a team
Communication skillsReasoning ability
Leadership skills
Initiative
AssertivenessFlexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet
Why is GD part of selection process in companies
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your
interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people The GD isto check how you behave participate and contribute in a group how much importance do
you give to the group objective as well as your own how well do you listen to viewpoints
of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own The
aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication non-verbal behavior
conformation to norms decision-making ability and cooperation You should try to be as
true as possible to these aspects
Types of GD
Topic based Gds can be classified into three types -
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
M But you have worn these for a week We can not give you all your money
back
L I know I only wore them for a week and they started falling apart and I want
my money back
M (Sigh) OK come with me and I will see that you get it back
Leonel De Niro of Merapi Insurance Company is calling a prospective client RobertMessi
A Agent Leonel De Niro
P Prospect Robert Messi
A Good morning may I speak to Mr Leonel De Niro please
P SpeakingA Mr Messi this is Leonel De Niro of Merapi Insurance Company Could I have a few
minutes of your time to tell you about our new comprehensive insurance plans
P Im pretty busy right now
A Thats Okay how about I meet with you tomorrow and we can discuss Merapis plansin person
P I dont really have time to sit down and talk about insuranceA Mr Messi it would only take about fifteen minutes of your time It will take evenless if I know a bit about you before I come How many people are there in your family
P There are four - me my wife and our two kids
A Also how old are you and what line of work of you in
P Im forty-three and Im a senior accountant at my firm
A It sounds like we have two specific plans that would suit your needs Mr Messi I can
present them to you tomorrow say around two P Two thirty is better for me
A Thats fine Ill see you then Im looking forward to meeting you Mr Messi
Words are unique and interesting A limited vocabulary keeps you from expressing yourreal thoughts and feelings A strong vocabulary gives you the right words to use at theright time
Vocabulary building takes patience and continued effort Your vocabulary can and should be a reflection of you Your vocabulary is you And like you your vocabulary should be
alive It should change and grow to meet your needs
The Purpose of Vocabulary
Words are great subjects to investigate When you become a student of language and
delight in discovering word relationships and become aware of how you can make wordswork for you you are more likely to stop when you encounter an unfamiliar word and
consider its meaning If you do this you will become a master of words and your
vocabulary will grow
Why Vocabulary Development Counts
bull Vocabulary is a basic part of reading comprehension If you dont know enough
words you are going to have trouble understanding what you read An occasional
word may not stop you but if there are too many words you dont know
comprehension will suffer The content of textbooks is often challenging enough
you dont want to work as well on understanding the words that express thatcontent
bull Vocabulary is a major part of almost every standardized test including reading
achievement tests college entrance exams and armed forces and vocational
placement tests Vocabulary is a key measure of both ones learning and ones
ability to learn The more words you know then the better you are likely to do onsuch important tests
bull Studies have indicated that students with strong vocabularies are more successful
in school and that a good vocabulary is an influential factor for people who enjoy
successful careers in life Words are the tools not just of better reading but of
and thinking as well The more words you have at your command the more
effective your communication can be and the more influence you can have on the people around you
bull In todays world a good vocabulary counts more than ever Many jobs provide
services or process information and the skills of reading writing listening and
speaking are essential
Improving your Vocabulary
Throughout your college years new words will be flooding into your consciousness
Many of them are the keys to ideas and information that will be new to you When
students have trouble in a course the trouble can often be traced back to their imperfect
comprehension of terms that are essential to an understanding of subject matter A first-year science or social science course may introduce you to almost as many new words as
a first course in a foreign language Then there are also words which may not literally be
new to you but which have specific meanings within the context of a specific course and
therefore must be learned as if they were new words
Affixes and roots
Adding affixes to existing words (the base or root) to form new words is common in
academic English Prefixes are added to the front of the base (like dislike) whereassuffixes are added to the end of the base (active activate) Prefixes usually do not
change the class of the base word but suffixes usually do change the class of the word
The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in academic English are re- dis-over- un- mis- out- The most common suffixes are -ise -en -ate -(i)fy By far the
most common affix in academic English is -ise
Verbs
eg prefix + verb verb
Prefix Meaning Examples
re- again or back restructure revisit reappear rebuild refinance
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits andor skills that it desires in its members In this methodologythe group of candidates is given a topic or a situation given a few minutes to think aboutthe same and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 8-15 minutes
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include -
Ability to work in a team
Communication skillsReasoning ability
Leadership skills
Initiative
AssertivenessFlexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet
Why is GD part of selection process in companies
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your
interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people The GD isto check how you behave participate and contribute in a group how much importance do
you give to the group objective as well as your own how well do you listen to viewpoints
of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own The
aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication non-verbal behavior
conformation to norms decision-making ability and cooperation You should try to be as
true as possible to these aspects
Types of GD
Topic based Gds can be classified into three types -
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Words are unique and interesting A limited vocabulary keeps you from expressing yourreal thoughts and feelings A strong vocabulary gives you the right words to use at theright time
Vocabulary building takes patience and continued effort Your vocabulary can and should be a reflection of you Your vocabulary is you And like you your vocabulary should be
alive It should change and grow to meet your needs
The Purpose of Vocabulary
Words are great subjects to investigate When you become a student of language and
delight in discovering word relationships and become aware of how you can make wordswork for you you are more likely to stop when you encounter an unfamiliar word and
consider its meaning If you do this you will become a master of words and your
vocabulary will grow
Why Vocabulary Development Counts
bull Vocabulary is a basic part of reading comprehension If you dont know enough
words you are going to have trouble understanding what you read An occasional
word may not stop you but if there are too many words you dont know
comprehension will suffer The content of textbooks is often challenging enough
you dont want to work as well on understanding the words that express thatcontent
bull Vocabulary is a major part of almost every standardized test including reading
achievement tests college entrance exams and armed forces and vocational
placement tests Vocabulary is a key measure of both ones learning and ones
ability to learn The more words you know then the better you are likely to do onsuch important tests
bull Studies have indicated that students with strong vocabularies are more successful
in school and that a good vocabulary is an influential factor for people who enjoy
successful careers in life Words are the tools not just of better reading but of
and thinking as well The more words you have at your command the more
effective your communication can be and the more influence you can have on the people around you
bull In todays world a good vocabulary counts more than ever Many jobs provide
services or process information and the skills of reading writing listening and
speaking are essential
Improving your Vocabulary
Throughout your college years new words will be flooding into your consciousness
Many of them are the keys to ideas and information that will be new to you When
students have trouble in a course the trouble can often be traced back to their imperfect
comprehension of terms that are essential to an understanding of subject matter A first-year science or social science course may introduce you to almost as many new words as
a first course in a foreign language Then there are also words which may not literally be
new to you but which have specific meanings within the context of a specific course and
therefore must be learned as if they were new words
Affixes and roots
Adding affixes to existing words (the base or root) to form new words is common in
academic English Prefixes are added to the front of the base (like dislike) whereassuffixes are added to the end of the base (active activate) Prefixes usually do not
change the class of the base word but suffixes usually do change the class of the word
The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in academic English are re- dis-over- un- mis- out- The most common suffixes are -ise -en -ate -(i)fy By far the
most common affix in academic English is -ise
Verbs
eg prefix + verb verb
Prefix Meaning Examples
re- again or back restructure revisit reappear rebuild refinance
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits andor skills that it desires in its members In this methodologythe group of candidates is given a topic or a situation given a few minutes to think aboutthe same and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 8-15 minutes
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include -
Ability to work in a team
Communication skillsReasoning ability
Leadership skills
Initiative
AssertivenessFlexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet
Why is GD part of selection process in companies
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your
interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people The GD isto check how you behave participate and contribute in a group how much importance do
you give to the group objective as well as your own how well do you listen to viewpoints
of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own The
aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication non-verbal behavior
conformation to norms decision-making ability and cooperation You should try to be as
true as possible to these aspects
Types of GD
Topic based Gds can be classified into three types -
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
and thinking as well The more words you have at your command the more
effective your communication can be and the more influence you can have on the people around you
bull In todays world a good vocabulary counts more than ever Many jobs provide
services or process information and the skills of reading writing listening and
speaking are essential
Improving your Vocabulary
Throughout your college years new words will be flooding into your consciousness
Many of them are the keys to ideas and information that will be new to you When
students have trouble in a course the trouble can often be traced back to their imperfect
comprehension of terms that are essential to an understanding of subject matter A first-year science or social science course may introduce you to almost as many new words as
a first course in a foreign language Then there are also words which may not literally be
new to you but which have specific meanings within the context of a specific course and
therefore must be learned as if they were new words
Affixes and roots
Adding affixes to existing words (the base or root) to form new words is common in
academic English Prefixes are added to the front of the base (like dislike) whereassuffixes are added to the end of the base (active activate) Prefixes usually do not
change the class of the base word but suffixes usually do change the class of the word
The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in academic English are re- dis-over- un- mis- out- The most common suffixes are -ise -en -ate -(i)fy By far the
most common affix in academic English is -ise
Verbs
eg prefix + verb verb
Prefix Meaning Examples
re- again or back restructure revisit reappear rebuild refinance
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits andor skills that it desires in its members In this methodologythe group of candidates is given a topic or a situation given a few minutes to think aboutthe same and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 8-15 minutes
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include -
Ability to work in a team
Communication skillsReasoning ability
Leadership skills
Initiative
AssertivenessFlexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet
Why is GD part of selection process in companies
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your
interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people The GD isto check how you behave participate and contribute in a group how much importance do
you give to the group objective as well as your own how well do you listen to viewpoints
of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own The
aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication non-verbal behavior
conformation to norms decision-making ability and cooperation You should try to be as
true as possible to these aspects
Types of GD
Topic based Gds can be classified into three types -
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits andor skills that it desires in its members In this methodologythe group of candidates is given a topic or a situation given a few minutes to think aboutthe same and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 8-15 minutes
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include -
Ability to work in a team
Communication skillsReasoning ability
Leadership skills
Initiative
AssertivenessFlexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet
Why is GD part of selection process in companies
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your
interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people The GD isto check how you behave participate and contribute in a group how much importance do
you give to the group objective as well as your own how well do you listen to viewpoints
of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own The
aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication non-verbal behavior
conformation to norms decision-making ability and cooperation You should try to be as
true as possible to these aspects
Types of GD
Topic based Gds can be classified into three types -
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits andor skills that it desires in its members In this methodologythe group of candidates is given a topic or a situation given a few minutes to think aboutthe same and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 8-15 minutes
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include -
Ability to work in a team
Communication skillsReasoning ability
Leadership skills
Initiative
AssertivenessFlexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet
Why is GD part of selection process in companies
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your
interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people The GD isto check how you behave participate and contribute in a group how much importance do
you give to the group objective as well as your own how well do you listen to viewpoints
of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own The
aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication non-verbal behavior
conformation to norms decision-making ability and cooperation You should try to be as
true as possible to these aspects
Types of GD
Topic based Gds can be classified into three types -
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits andor skills that it desires in its members In this methodologythe group of candidates is given a topic or a situation given a few minutes to think aboutthe same and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 8-15 minutes
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include -
Ability to work in a team
Communication skillsReasoning ability
Leadership skills
Initiative
AssertivenessFlexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet
Why is GD part of selection process in companies
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your
interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people The GD isto check how you behave participate and contribute in a group how much importance do
you give to the group objective as well as your own how well do you listen to viewpoints
of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own The
aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication non-verbal behavior
conformation to norms decision-making ability and cooperation You should try to be as
true as possible to these aspects
Types of GD
Topic based Gds can be classified into three types -
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits andor skills that it desires in its members In this methodologythe group of candidates is given a topic or a situation given a few minutes to think aboutthe same and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 8-15 minutes
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include -
Ability to work in a team
Communication skillsReasoning ability
Leadership skills
Initiative
AssertivenessFlexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet
Why is GD part of selection process in companies
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your
interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people The GD isto check how you behave participate and contribute in a group how much importance do
you give to the group objective as well as your own how well do you listen to viewpoints
of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own The
aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication non-verbal behavior
conformation to norms decision-making ability and cooperation You should try to be as
true as possible to these aspects
Types of GD
Topic based Gds can be classified into three types -
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has
certain personality traits andor skills that it desires in its members In this methodologythe group of candidates is given a topic or a situation given a few minutes to think aboutthe same and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 8-15 minutes
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include -
Ability to work in a team
Communication skillsReasoning ability
Leadership skills
Initiative
AssertivenessFlexibility
Creativity
Ability to think on ones feet
Why is GD part of selection process in companies
Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your
interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people The GD isto check how you behave participate and contribute in a group how much importance do
you give to the group objective as well as your own how well do you listen to viewpoints
of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own The
aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication non-verbal behavior
conformation to norms decision-making ability and cooperation You should try to be as
true as possible to these aspects
Types of GD
Topic based Gds can be classified into three types -
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Factual topics are about practical things which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-
to-day life Typically these are about socio-economic topics These can be current iethey may have been in the news lately or could be unbound by time
A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of andsensitive to his environment
Eg The education policy of India Tourism in India State of the aged in the nation
Controversial Topics-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature They are meant to
generate controversy In GDs where these topics are given for discussion the noise levelis usually high there may be tempers flying The idea behind giving a topic like this is to
see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check by
rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional
Eg Reservations should be removed Women make better managers
Abstract Topics-
Abstract topics are about intangible things These topics are not given often fordiscussion but their possibility cannot be ruled out These topics test your lateral thinking
and creativity
Eg A is an alphabet Twinkle twinkle little star The number 10
GD Dos
Dos
1 Be as natural as possible Do not try and be someone you are not Be yourself
2 A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal The evaluator wants to hearyou speak
3 Take time to organize your thoughts Think of what you are going to say
4 Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject5 Dont start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject
6 Work out various strategies to help you make an entry initiate the discussion or
agree with someone elses point and then move onto express your views
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
7 Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition If
you do not give valuable insights during the discussion all your efforts ofinitiating the discussion will be in vain
8 Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are
more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say
9
Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your pointsacross clearly and fluently
10 Be assertive not dominating try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussionand analysis
11 Dont lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to The key is to stay
objective Dont take the discussion personally
12 Always be polite Try to avoid using extreme phrases like `I strongly object or `I
disagree Instead try phrases like `I would like to share my views onhellip or `One
difference between your point and minehellip or I beg to differ with you13 Brush up on your leadership skills motivate the other members of the team to
speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to
say let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say or Raghu letus hear your views - Essentially be subtle) and listen to their views Be receptive
to others opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive
14 If you have a group of like-minded friends you can have a mock group discussionwhere you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback
15 Apart from the above points the panel will also judge team members for their
alertness and presence of mind problem-solving abilities ability to work as a
team without alienating certain members and creativity
GD Topics
1 Involvement of youth in politics
2 Should parents interfere in the decision making of children
3 Water resources should be nationalized
4 BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY
5 Effect of cinema on Youth
6 Education in India compared to Foreign nations
7 Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text Itrsquos
answering ldquoyesrdquo to the question ldquoDid you lsquogetrsquo what you readrdquo
Reading comprehension is what allows the reader to interact with the text in ameaningful way Itrsquos the bridge from passive reading to active reading -- from letters
and words to characters and contexts Reading comprehension is the crucial link to
effective reading -- a strong factor in our educational and professional lives Formany reading comprehension also unlocks the door to a lifetime of reading
recreation and enjoyment
Eye Span
Eye-span is referred to the amount of text someone takes in with the eyes for eachstopping or fixation of the eyes By stating eye-span someone has already been
doing some investigating about speed reading There is much mis-information aboutthe topic It is true that part of the goal of speed reading is to allow the eyes to take in
more for each stop of the eyes (fixation) A traditional linear reader typically takes in
one to three words per fixation That is inefficient when you consider the total area of
clear focus the eyes have at normal reading distance
Skimming and scanning reading techniques
Skimming and scanning are not the same as reading Skimming should be done as a pre-reading activity and scanning as a post-reading activity With so much reading
required in todayrsquos world you may wonder shy you need to engage an article threetimes in three different ways Herersquos why skimming allows you to determine if you
even need to read the article at all If you decide after skimming that you do need to
read it then do so at your normal natural speed Even so it is not likely that you will
retain all the information included in the article this is where scanning comes into
play Scanning is used to quickly locate the specific information you need later for areport discussion etc
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Why do it to find a specific fact or piece of information that you need for something
else
How to do it
1 Remember what it is you are looking for so you will not be distracted by other pieces
of information
2 Anticipate how the information looks ndash is it identified by numbers italics propernouns etc
3 Run your eyes over several lines at one time
4 When you find the information you are looking for focus your eyes and attention
there and read the entire sentence You may also need to read the sentence before and
after as well
When you understand what skimming and scanning are and how to use these techniquesyou can manage a large amount of text in a relatively short amount of time Skimmingand scanning skills allow you to use your time both efficiently and effectively
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
A resume is a document used by individuals to present their background and skill sets
Reacutesumeacutes can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment
A typical reacutesumeacute contains a summary of relevant job experience and education The
reacutesumeacute is usually one of the first items along with a cover letter and sometimes jobapplication packet that a potential employer encounters regarding the job seeker and is
typically used to screen applicants often followed by an interview when seekingemployment
Resume Structure
The resume structure is important in more than one way The ideal resume structure givesthe resume a professional outlook while displaying a career-oriented attitude of the
applicant Also it influences the flow of the resume and thereby affecting its readability
Hence constructing your resume perfectly will improve your chances of gaining that
important interview call Each applicant decides on the structure of the resume as per his
strengths capacities and the expectations of his prospective employer and hence every
resume tends to differ from the other
The most common and professionally ideal format of resume is given below A typical
resume is divided in three sections
Introduction
As the name suggests this section introduces the document to the employer It includes
only two sub sections namely header and objectives Avoid giving a title to the documentas resume
Header
This includes name and contact details of the applicants The document opens up withthese details Highlight your name in bold form in an eye catching way Do not use
numbering or bullets to write information like address email id or telephone number
Refrain from writing any more information beyond the contact details such as marital
status religious beliefs or family background Such information is not required
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
not matter to the employer Moreover it is considered immoral to ask employees for their
personal information Do some market research and try to find out the recruitersexpectations and only then include these details in your resume
References
This includes the name and contact details of people you have worked with or studiedunder the guidance of However the practice of writing references is slowly thinning
down and concluded in only one sentence available upon request The references should
always come last in the resume
Resume Format
Your Contact Information First Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Phone (CellHome)Email Address
Objective
What do you want to do If you include this section it should be a sentence or two aboutyour employment goals A customized objective that describes why you are the perfect
candidate for the job can help your resume stand out from the competition
Career Summary Highlights
A customized section of your resume that lists key achievements skills traits and
experience relevant to the position for which you are applying can serve dual purposes Ithighlights your relevant experience and lets the prospective employer know that you have
taken the time to create a resume that shows how you are qualified for the job
Experience
This section of your resume includes your work history List the companies you workedfor dates of employment the positions you held and a bulleted list of responsibilities and
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Interview is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather
information The employer wants to know if you the applicant have the skills
knowledge self-confidence and motivation necessary for the job At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume He or she alsowants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organizations current
employees and philosophy Similarly you will want to evaluate the position and the
organization and determine if they will fit into your career plans The interview is a two-
way exchange of information It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselvesThe employer is selling the organization to you and you are marketing your skills
knowledge and personality to the employer
Interview Preparation
Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview If you havent done your
homework it is going to be obvious Spend time researching and thinking about yourselfthe occupation the organization and questions you might ask at the end of the interview
Step 1 Know Yourself
The first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that
you will know what you have to offer an employer It is very important to develop a
complete inventory of skills experience and personal attributes that you can use to
market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process In developing thisinventory it is easiest to start with experience Once you have a detailed list of activities
that you have done (past jobs extra-curricular involvements volunteer work school
projects etc) it is fairly easy to identify your skills
Simply go through the list and for each item ask your self What could I have learned
by doing this What skills did I develop What issuescircumstances have I learnedto deal with Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic
Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job For a laboratory assistant
technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures slide preparation
and scientific report writing For an outreach worker technical skills might include
counseling skills case management skills or program design and evaluation skillsGeneric skills are those which are transferable to many work settings Following is a list
of the ten most marketable skills You will notice that they are all generic
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Often when people think of skills they tend to think of those they have developed in the
workplace However skills are developed in a variety of settings If you have ever
researched and written a paper for a course you probably have written communication
skills Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of ateam player and leader Dont overlook any abilities you may have When doing the
research on yourself identifying your experience and skills is important but it is not all
that you need to know Consider the answers to other questions such as
bull How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position
bull What are my strong points and weak points
bull What are my short term and long term goals
bull What can I offer this particular employer
bull What kind of environment do I like (ie How do I like to be supervised
Do I like a fast pace)
bull What do I like doing
bull Apart from my skills and experience what can I bring to this job
Step 2 Know the Occupation
The second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation This isnecessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the
experience and skills required for that occupation you must first know what those
requirements and duties are With this information uncovered you can then match the
skills you have (using the complete skillsexperience inventory you have just prepared)with the skills you know people in that occupational field need The resulting shortlist
will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interviewIt is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position
or those similar There are several ways to find out about an occupation
bull Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human
bull ResourcesPersonnel) or check with Student Employment Services If youare responding to an advertisement this may also supply some details
The Career Resource Centre has general information files on a variety of occupations
Make sure you have read through the appropriate file and are updated on the occupationIf you belong to a professional association related to the occupation use its resources
These associations often publish informative newsletters and sponsor seminars It is alsoa good way to meet people working in the field Conduct information interviews with
people working in the field Read articles about people in the occupation and articles
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
written by people in the occupation Sources include newspapers magazines and the
internet Find out what the future trends are in the area Is technology changing the job
Step 3 Know the Organization
The more you know about an organization the better prepared you will be to discuss
how you can meet its needs Some of the characteristics that you should know about an
organization are
bull Where is it located
bull How big is it
bull What are its products and who does it serve
bull How is the organization structured
bull What is its history
bull Have there been any recent changes new developments
There are a number of ways in which you can access this information Most medium- to
large-sized organizations publish information about themselves You can access this a
number of ways
bull On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and
business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library
bull The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with
information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories
bull Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by
searching by industry and company namebull Finally you can visit or phone the organization and request some
information on their products services or areas of research
If the organization is fairly small or fairly new there may not be much information published In this case it will be necessary to do an information interview Contact
someone within the organization introduce yourself explain that you are considering
moving into the field and ask if it would be possible to meet with himher to inquire
about the companyorganization and about what exactly the position would involve
Step 4 Prepare Questions
Having completed your background research you are now ready to prepare questions toask the interviewer(s) Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily
available in company literature Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate
your genuine interest in the position Be careful how many questions you ask however
as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run Pick your
questions with care - this is your chance to gather information so ask about what youreally want to know Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you
may have discovered This is one of the most effective ways to compare differentemployers so for issues of particular importance to you (for example whether they
support staff upgrading) you should ask the same questions of each employer Some
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
bull What are the most significant factors affecting your business today How have
changes in technology most affected your business today
bull How has your businessindustry been affected by the recession
bull How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years
bull What future direction do you see the company taking
bull Where is the greatest demand for your services or product
bull Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company
bull Which department feels it the most
bull How do you differ from your competitors
bull How much responsibility will I be given in this position
bull What do you like about working with this organization
bull Can you tell me more about the training program
bull Have any new product lines been introduced recently
bull How much travel is normally expected
bull What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance
bull Will I work independently or as part of a team
bull How did you advance to your position
bull What are the career paths available in this organization
bull When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position
It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals
who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to
demonstrate interest on your part Exercise judgment when asking questions to an
employer When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile one
would not ask the question What is the history of your company and how was your
company started You can find the answer to this question in the companys annualreport or articles in magazinesnewspapers However small- and medium-sized
companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may bedifficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry This question
is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer
Dressing
Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job a poor dress sense mayexclude you from further consideration warns Gerry Ditching managing partner of
Filgiftscom Besides given two equally good applicants the compan y may choose to
hire the person who is dressed more professionally Here are some tips to give you a
headstart
Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks White is still the safest and the best color for shirts
The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather Also acceptable pale shades such
as beige blue and other pastels
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an
interview or any business purpose Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Ties Optional But if you do wear one choose a conservative pattern Solids small polka
dots diagonal stripes small repeating shapes subtle plaids and paisleys are allacceptable
Belts Belts should match your shoes Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look
more professional
Socks Black socks are the best followed by blue or gray depending on your attire
Never wear white socks Check your sock length too--no skin should show when you sit
down or cross your legs Shoes Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them
because tassel loafers are very casual Other suitable colors are brown cordovan and
navy
Hair Keep neat short and preferably parted on the side And shave off all those facial
hair
Jewellery Wear no or little jewellery The watch and wedding ring are the onlyacceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire Thin gold or leather-strapped
watches look professional but not digital watches Also avoid political or religious
insignias necklaces or bracelets Definitely Accessories As much as possible use
leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume Use narrow briefcases and
avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place
Women
Three-piece business suits blouse and skirt or slacks and cardigan twin-sets Sleeveless
shirts should be rejected Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have
features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like lookSkirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or
short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee Nothing too revealing
please
Panty-hose or stockings
A must for professional grooming but nothing with overly fussy patterns Bring an extra
pair just in case the ones you are wearing run
Shoes Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1frac12-inch heels suggest a more professional
look Dark colors are best
Hair Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back Dont let it fallin front of your face and dont keep trying to fix it during the interview Avoid large hair
ornaments and trendy hairstyles
Make-up Be subtle natural is the key word Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish
are recommended
Jewellery Be conservative Studs of gold silver or pearls are best Do away with gaudy
fashion jewelers and those that clank and make noise when one moves
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
1Tell me about yourselfThe most often asked question in interviews You need to have a short statement prepared
in your mind Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed Limit it to workStudy-related
items unless instructed otherwise Talk about things you have done well at your collegeand how you wanted to perform in the first job
2 Why Should We Employ You For this question your answer should list out strengths that you feel are relevant to the
job Given below are some answers which could help you with your answers However
structure them to suit your requirements
I have good co-ordination skills
Good analytical skills
I can persuade people to see my point of view and get the work done
My greatest asset is my ability to motivate peopleEven during emergencies I do not loose my coolI have good entrepreneurial skillsI have consistently met my deadlines and targets
Can say ldquonordquo to people when required to do so
I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates and would like to see them grow
I am a good team player
I am very flexible and have the ability to work hard under difficult work conditions
I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job (Here give appropriate detailsand examples)
3 Do You Have Offers From Other Companies This is of course a difficult question to answer Obviously you must have applied toother companies if you are looking for a job or would have some offers from other
companies already Therefore do not lie that you have not However you are on thin ice
here The interviewer could be checking your honesty On the other hand heshe may
also be trying to find out how focused you are - are you applying randomly or is there awell-planned strategy
Whatever your answer it should match your career goals
4 What Salary Are You Expecting Try not to get into salary details early in the interview If pressed you could say that it all
depends on the job and would like to talk about it after a job offer Say this in aconvincing tone In case you are asked this question in your latter interviews give a
direct answer Do not sound apologetic while quoting the figure you have in mind
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
1 How much do you expect
If you have done your homework you would know how much other people in similar jobs are paid Quote the range upfront
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
Work out how much you should be paid given the market value of the job and yourskills If you can bring some extra skills to the table do not hesitate to ask for more than
the market value
3 What kind of a culture are you comfortable withIt is better to be frank about your preferences Your interviewer will get a clear idea aboutyour expectations
4 Which is more important to you-salary perks or growth opportunities
This one will reveal the real you So be sure what you are going to say Above all be true
to yourself If you think this is a negotiation move then say clearly that you will never
sell yourself short
5 What do you know about our company
Do not give your opinions about the company Stick to reported facts that you have
gathered from newspapers and so on Talk about the product portfolio size income andmarket perceptions of the company Also it is better to refer details about each company before going for the interview from Freshersworldcom or PlacementWeekcom
6 Why should we choose you over someone else
Talk clearly about problems that you have solved in your CollegeProject Team andhighlight the quality required
6 Your qualifications are excellent but you may be overqualified for the position we
have to offer
Point out that more experience can never be a drawback If you are multi-skilled then
highlight the fact that a company on the fast-track needs multi-skilled people It needs people within different departments to work together Also emphasise that the companys
future growth will be an exponential function of your experience
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
In Engineering one of the major forms of communication is the technical report This is
the conventional format for reporting the results of your research investigations and
design projects At university reports are read by lecturers and tutors in order to assess
your mastery of the subjects and your ability to apply your knowledge to a practical taskIn the workplace they will be read by managers clients and the construction engineers
responsible for building from your designs The ability to produce a clear concise and professionally presented report is therefore a skill you will need to develop in order to
succeed both at university and in your future career
While reports vary in the type of information they present (for exampleoriginal research the results of an investigative study or the solution to a design
problem) all share similar features and are based on a similar structure
Key features of reports
Reports are designed for quick and easy communication of information
Reports are designed for selective reading
Reports use sections with numbered headings and subheadings
Reports use figures and diagrams to convey data
Basic structure of a report
A report usually has these components
bull Title page
bull Summary Introduction
bull Table of Contents
bull Introduction
bull Middle sections with numbered headings
bull Conclusions
bull References
bull Appendices
Title page
The title of the report should indicate exactly what the report is about The reader shouldknow not only the general topic but also the aspect of the topic contained in the report
Summary Introduction
The summary (sometimes referred to as the executive summary) provides a brief
overview of the substance of the report usually no more than half a page It is not an
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the
introduction to the topic The summary should outline all the key features of your report
including the topic what you did and how you did it and the main outcomes of yourwork
Table of contents
The contents page sets out the sections and subsections of the report and their
corresponding page numbers It should clearly show the structural relationship between
the sections and subsections A reader looking for specific information should be able to
locate the appropriate section easily from the table of contents
Body of the report
This is main part of the report where you present your work The introduction andconclusions act as a frame for the body only therefore all the details of your work
(including a summarised version of material in the appendices) must be included here in
the appropriate section You will need to put some thought into the ordering of thesections the presentation of information should flow logically so that the reader can
follow the development of your project
Conclusions
The conclusions section provides an effective ending to your report The content shouldrelate directly to the aims of the project as stated in the introduction and sum up the