Snag Your First Real Job!

The most difficult goal to achieve for any green  candidate is to get their first job in the online media and marketing industry!

The competition is the fiercest for all entry level jobs as all the students just out of school/college are chasing same limited jobs available. Reminded of a popular dialogue from a movie ‘Three Idiots.’ It goes something like this: “We feel bad when our friend fails, feel even more bad when he comes on top of the class!”

However, if brand new candidates follow following suggestions during interviews/ job hunts, they will vastly improve their chances of getting selected for a good job; especially a Digital  Marketing one!

 

1. Know the importance of first Impression

Remember: First impression is the last impression! Also, Last Impression is the Lasting Impression. Don’t believe that the decision to hire a candidate is made at end of the interview. The decision to hire someone is culmination of many factors starting with the first impression a candidate is able to create.

Everyone believes that minds are made up within first 5 minutes of an interview. So, always try to create good first impression by following these important first impression indicators. Walk in confidently. Arrive a little early. Politely tell the receptionist who you are meeting. Take slow, deep breaths to help you remain calm and focused.

When introduced to the interviewer/s, have a firm but not painful, handshake. Smile. Have good posture when sitting or standing. Introduce yourself in a relaxed, confident manner. Wear well washed and ironed clothes. Tale extra care of your personal hygiene. Have a well-groomed, professional appearance. Project a feeling of confidence. Bring extra copies of your resume, something to write on and something to write with.

2. Tell me about yourself

This is the first question in any interview after introductions and greetings are over.

Prepare a short statement of about one to two minutes about yourself and reherse it many times over. However, be careful that it does not sound rehearsed.
Limit it to work/Study-related items.
Talk about things you have done well at your school/college.
You can also talk about how you want to perform in the first job and your professional goals.

3 . What do you know about our company?

Never go to any interview without doing some research about the company. Not knowing anything about the company is sign of lack of interst in the company. However, do not give your opinions about the company. State the facts you have gathered from web sites and newspapers etc. Talk about the product portfolio, size, income, and market perceptions of the company and never about what you think about the company.

4. Why should we employ you?

Don’t give usual answers like I am a hard worker, I will do my best etc. Always analyze the skills the job in question needs and how you match these skills. List out your strengths you feel are relevant to the job, like:

I have good co-ordination skills

I possess excellent online skills and knowledge

I have 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 people

Even during emergencies, I do not lose my cool

I have good entrepreneurial skills

I have consistently met my deadlines and targets

Can say no to people when required to do so!

I am very co-operative with my sub-ordinates. I like to see them grow

I am a good team player

I am very flexible, and I can work hard under difficult work conditions

I have the experience and knowledge relevant to this job

However, be careful that you might be asked to prove the particular skill you have mentioned. You should have examples from your real life experiences ready to back the skill/s you have mentioned.

 

5. Do you have offers from other companies?

Unlike candidates having some experience under their belt, fresh candidates apply to may companies, sometimes even randomly.

The interviewer could be checking your honesty. He/she may also be trying to find out how focused you are on your job search – are you applying randomly, or is there a well-planned strategy? Don’t lie. If you may have offers from other companies, disclose. However, you are under no obligation to disclose their names or details of the offers you have.

But, always take care that your reply matches your career goals.

6. What salary are your salary expectations?

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 latter. When you are asked this question latter in interviews, give a direct answer. State the salary you expect. Don’t give answers like you will accept anything as per policy of the company or how much the company can pay, etc. Keep following in mind while quoting the figure you have in mind.

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.
How much do you think you are worth?
Work out how much you should be paid, given the market value of the job and your skills. If you can bring some extra skills to the table, do not hesitate to ask for more than the market value.
Which is more important to you-salary, perks or growth opportunities?
This will reveal the real you. Be sure about what you say and be true to yourself. However, please keep the last point in mind before accepting or rejecting any salary offer.
7. Do you have any question for us?

Interviewers usually give you an opportunity to ask questions. Never say that you have no question to ask. This is sign of lack of professional interst. The questions you could ask could be:

Please tell me some more about your company.
Now that I have described my career goals, do you think I can achieve them in your company?
What kind of training, learning and growth can I expect in your company?
Could you tell me the work culture and the management style of your company?
What is the long-term vision of your company?
And lastly;

the most important thing is to be realistic:

Keep in mind that the most difficult goal for all fresh candidates is to get their first job.

Subsequent job changes are relatively much easier. Hence, keep following things in mind while eavuating any jobs offer:

Understand the power of just a single sentence on your resume: Working in ……….. vs Looking for a job
If you have to accept salary lower than what you expect, take it. Just make sure the company is good. That way whatever you do here will add to your value.
Many profesionals are disappointed in their jobs because their expectations were too high to begin with. You can get ahead in time, even if you have to start lower.
You’ll get to the job you want. But you can’t skip the necessary steps that will take you there. If you do a good job; after a point, it’ll all make up for your temporary compromise.
Given above are a few useful hints for any fresh candidate to keep in mind during his/her job hunt. Following these pieces of advice will certainly make the process of job hunt easier and will be of significant help to land that coveted first job quickly.

We conduct workshop on ‘Interview Skills and Resume Making’ and many other soft skills improvement programs both for industries, educational institutes and individuals. We also offer a few programs like ‘Shine under Stress (Strategies to Succeed in Exams)’, ‘Seven Laws of Teaching’, ‘Student’s Behaviour Management’ etc. pro bono to educational institutes