Finance Rules the Roost in IIM-C Placement

Kolkata, Nov 11 (PTI) 

Finance emerged as the most sought subject for summer placement at the country's coveted business school Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C) 2009-11, with as many as 43 per cent choosing to pursue it this season.

"Some 43 per cent of 407 students of the batch has opted for summer jobs in banks. This includes 80 offers from investment banks and private equity funds as against 58 offers in the previous year," an IIM-C final summer placement release said here today.Though there was increase in absolute number of placements in investment banks and private equity funds this year, however, in percentage terms it stood at 19 per cent.The number of students in the 2009-11 batch was higher by 104 students over last year.

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IIM Kolkata Placement

The summer placements for the 2009-11 batch of IIM Calcutta which concluded recently, saw 80 offers being made by investment banks. The corresponding figure last year was 58.
The placement situation, though, was tough given the fact that this was the largest batch so far — 407 students, the highest ever by any IIM in the country. The number of seats had increased by 33 per cent.
For the placements, which took place from November 3-9, the number of participating companies too, increased.
According to the chairperson of the placement office, Prafull Agnihotri, 140 companies participated. Last year’s figure was 110.
The institute officials claimed all students.

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Preparing for the Interview

Preparing for the Interview

Job-seekers can best prepare for job interviews by anticipating interview questions, researching the employer, developing interview response outlines, and practicing your responses (but avoiding memorizing those responses). In all your preparation, always remember that a job interview is a sales call; you have to actively sell yourself to the employer from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.

You can anticipate questions in a number of manners. If you have an insider with the prospective employer (a friend, colleague, or champion), you can seek his/her opinion about the types of questions you should expect. If you have any sort of weaknesses (perceived or otherwise) in your background, you should prepare responses that downplay them and/or spin them.

 Researching the employer is vital. In the job interview, and within the context of most of your answers to interview questions, you'll want to showcase your knowledge of the employer and relate yourself to the employer. You must expect the "what can you tell me about our company" question -- and you must be able to provide a detailed response. One of my favorite clients develops a detailed "client briefing book" for each job interview; the book is a three-ring binder of key information about the company gathered from company sources, such a brochures, annual reports, and the corporate Web site. When employers ask the question, he not only responds intelligently, but pulls the book from his briefcase -- and it has never failed to impress the interviewers.

Developing responses to interview questions is important because you want to have intelligent responses rather than rambling answers. In developing responses, remember to focus on positive, quantifiable, and specific issues. Never say anything negative about previous employers or bosses and always spin any negatives or weaknesses into positives. For many types of interview questions -- and as a great memory aid -- you should consider developing short stories that describe a situation that illustrates your answer…that shows more than it tells.

Practicing your answers helps reinforce to memory (but without memorizing) your answers, while also allowing you to work on fine-tuning responses. Ask a friend to serve in the role of the interviewer and ask the questions. If that's not possible, at least spend some time going over them with yourself. Try to critique your responses from the point of view of an employer. hem in a positive light.

Tips For Interview

Tips For Interview 

1. First impressions counts - Greet your interviewer with a smile and firm handshake. anything else and the first 30 seconds are when the interviewer subconsciously makes decisions about whether they like you or not and whether you will fit into the team."

2. Be prepared -Re-read your CV and the job advert just before the interview. Do your research thoroughly: Look at the company Web site or obtain literature. You may be asked about the salary you are after so make sure you research that as well.

3. Don’t waffle - Answer questions properly - even if you need a few moments’ silence to collect your thoughts. Anderson advises, "It’s better to say you need a minute to think about your answer rather than speak instantly and regret it afterwards."

4. Why should they hire you? - Most job adverts will list qualities they’re looking for - a team worker, a good communicator – so it’s up to you to think of examples of how you can demonstrate these skills. Be ready to talk about your knowledge, experience, abilities and skills. Have at least three strong points about yourself that you can relate to the company and job on offer.

5. Be positive - Your interviewer will be thinking about what it would be like to work with you, so the last thing they’ll want to hear is you talking about your boss or current colleagues behind their back. Interviewers like to see someone who enjoys a challenge and is enthusiastic.

6. Remember your body language - It is not what you say, but how you say it. During the interview, do not fold your arms and lean back or look to the floor! Sit upright and try to maintain good eye contact. Use your hands and lean forward when making a point. Many people cannot think and control their body language at the same time, which is why you need to prepare.

7. Expect the unexpected - Your interviewer may try to catch you off guard: A survey by OfficeAngels has revealed that 90 per cent of employers ask 'killer' questions in interviews. It is impossible to plan for every difficult question, such as “How would your colleagues describe you?” but try to appear relaxed and in control. Ask the interviewer to repeat the question if necessary but do not evade it. Hopefully you will not befall the fate of those job candidates at B&Q who were asked to dance to “Blame it on the Boogie”!

8. Develop rapport - Show energy, a sense of humour and smile. Jean Smith, a social anthropologist says: "It's infectious, being positive and enthusiastic." Ask your interviewer questions about themselves and any issues the business is facing.

9. Clarify anything you are unsure of - If you are not certain what are meant by a particular question, ask for clarification. At the end, ask the interviewer if there is anything else he or she needs to know about. Do not be afraid to ask when you are likely to hear if you have been successful or not.

10. Remember your manners - It is better to choose than to be chosen. Tell the interviewer why you are interested in the company and job opportunity. Ask them for a business card and follow it up by sending a "thank-you" e-mail or letter, saying how much you enjoyed meeting them and how interested you are. Take the opportunity to detail the key advantages you bring.

Rules for Facing G.D.

Rules for Facing G.D.

1.Communication Skills
The first aspect is one’s power of expression. In a group discussion, a candidate has to talk effectively so that he is able to convince others. For convincing, one has to speak forcefully and at the same time create an impact by his knowledge of the subject. A candidate who is successful in holding the attention of the audience creates a positive impact.
It is necessary that you should be precise and clear. As a rule evaluators do not look for the wordage produced. Your knowledge on a given subject, your precision and clarity of thought are the things that are evaluated. Irrelevant talks lead you nowhere. You should speak as much as necessary, neither more nor less. Group discussions are not debating stages.
Ability to listen is also what evaluators judge. They look for your ability to react on what other participants say. Hence, it is necessary that you listen carefully to others and then react or proceed to add some more points. Your behavior in the group is also put to test to judge whether you are a loner or can work in a group.

2.Knowledge and Ideas Regarding a Given Subject
Knowledge of the subject under discussion and clarity of ideas are important. Knowledge comes from consistent reading on various topics ranging from science and technology to politics. In-depth knowledge makes one confident and enthusiastic and this in turn, makes one sound convincing and confident.

3.Leadership and Coordinating Capabilities
The basic aim of a group discussion is to judge a candidate’s leadership qualities. The examiner withdraws and becomes a silent spectator once the discussion starts. A candidate should display tactfulness, skill, understanding and knowledge on varied topics, enterprise, forcefulness and other leadership qualities to motivate and influence other candidates who may be almost equally competent.

4.Exchange of Thoughts
A group discussion is an exchange of thoughts and ideas among members of a group. These discussions are held for selecting personnel in organisations where there is a high level of competition. The number of participants in a group can vary between 8 and 15. Mostly a topic or a situation is given to group members who have to discuss it within 10 to 20 minutes.

Tips On G.D for Placement in Companies

Tips On G.D. for  Placement in Companies 

1. Always be the initiator and concluder of the GD then being a participant.

2. But if you are participant always try to be the most viral/key participant.

3. Put points firmly and always try to get others support too.

4. If you find that the discussion os going off-track then never loose an opportunity to bring it back to stream this is the best point to score max.

5. Try to keep latest information on the topic.

6. Be very polite , people may try to provoke you to to get more points but try to keep cool.

7. Most important don't wait for your turn to speak when discussion is on. interrupt politely if you want to put forward your points.

8. Last but not the least keep a tab on the time given for discussion. score points by wrapping up the discussion if you feel that the discussion is heating but the time is going to be over.

9. During conclusion, do end with the conclusion note. that shows your leadership quality.

Do's and Don'ts of Group Discussion :

Be as natural as possible.
Do not try and be someone you are not.
Be yourself.
A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal.

Help With Interview Nervousness - You will be nervous

Interview Nervousness is Natural

There is nothing wrong with being a bit nervous. If you use the nervousness to do the right things. Preparation will give you an area where to channel that nervous energy. 

* Remember they are unlikely to give the job to someone calm, relaxed and laid back either. 

* Too laid back and you will seem as if you don't care. 

* What makes everyone nervous about interview is the fact that they are going to judge you. Absolutely they are going to judge you! This is supposed to happen. Remember, it's a test, so get some interview help or interview training and do some practise. 

* You wouldn't dream of going to your driving test without studying the Highway Code, so treat an interview in the same way. But remember also, you are interviewing them as well. The test is two way. If you can keep that in the forefront of your mind, it can also help settle interview nerves.

Interview Tip - Self Disclosure

An Example of Self Disclosure

What we mean by 'self-disclosure' is the giving or telling of something about yourself that is not actually necessary in order to answer the question. There is nothing more important you can do in an interview than help give people a feel of what you are like and self-disclosure is the most powerful way to do it. This is an extension of relating stories. With a little training this is not hard to do. 

If they ask "Why do you want to be a nanny?" You could answer:
"I've always wanted to work with children" Or you could say:
"Well two years ago my best friend Amanda had a little baby girl Sarah and when she had her christened she asked me to be her Godmother. Well of course I said yes, but as the christening came round and as I prepared for the ceremony I really started to think about Sarah and how important she was and how much we are all responsible for the well being of our children and it got me to thinking about what I really wanted to do with my life.

You get the picture? What you say hardly matters. What matters is that you speak about something that you feel really strongly about. If you feel strongly about it you will sound enthusiastic, authentic, engaged and alive.

Short Interview Rules

Short rules about job interviews:

*People decide about you in the first 10 seconds
*You have to make a good first impression
*Always ask insightful questions
*Learn as much as you can about the company
*They'll probably ask questions designed to trip you up
*Have some quick answers to interview questions at the ready
Not bad, as far as rules go: some of them make perfect sense. But getting the job you want isn't about following rules or giving the right interview answer.
*It's about presenting yourself in the most authentic way that takes care of you and the interviewers at the same time.
So many people chuck their interview chances away: they don't take enough care and interview preparation time so that the whole process is enjoyable, stimulating and informative for both parties.

Dressing For Success

Dressing For Success At Your Job Interview

Have you got a job interview coming up and you're not quite sure what to wear?

Here are some tips to help you achieve a professional, polished look.

Stay Away From Scents:

Many offices now have a scent-free policy prohibiting workers and even visitors from wearing perfumes, colognes, and very odorous deodorants. Even if they don't, you should refrain from wearing scents when interviewing. This goes for men and women. Many people are irritated by odours and others might have mental associations with certain odours. A perfume can quickly remind them of someone they dislike. You want to be a blank slate, where only what you have to say, your experience, and your skills do the talking for you.

Dress Comfortably:

You don't want to look uncomfortable and ill at ease in what you're wearing. That being said, you should have a polished professional look. You've heard the expression "Dress for the job you want to do." You should go one step further. You should dress for the job that you want, but a touch more dressy. A good standard for a management job interview is a nice traditional dark suit, with a clean, pressed dress shirt and co-ordinating tie. Remember to wear comfortable dress shoes with dark dress socks. If you don't wear suits often, try on your outfit a few days in advance to make sure everything still fits from the last time you wore it.

For women, the same standard applies. Remember that you want to project a professional image. A good standard to go by is a nice fitted suit jacket in a neutral color like navy with either matching pants or skirt with an unfussy neutral blouse. Your shoes should be classic and just blend into your outfit. Don't forget plain pantyhose.

It's important to be comfortable as this helps you look confident and successful.

Don't Stick Out:

Interviews aren't usually the time to make a loud, personal fashion statement. Of course, you can certainly inject your own flair and style into your outfit. And for some job interviews in the creative fields, flair is a great thing. But make sure it isn't inappropriate. Get a friend's advice if you aren't sure. Sometimes we get used to wearing a certain style and we don't realize that perhaps, the trend has passed. It's important to stick with the basics and to be professional. The whole point of the interview is to get across how qualified you are, how your skills will be a great fit for the company you are applying for. Don't give them anything to remember you by but your content.

When interviewing, wear clothes that are or appear new. Women shouldn't wear clothes that show cleavage, skirts that are cut too short, see-through tops, or very high-heeled shoes.

Of course, we want to look our best at an interview. Women should refrain from wearing loud makeup. Everything should blend in nicely and your makeup should not be so dramatic that it distracts your interviewer.

Hygiene:
Remember to look and smell nice to be around. 

Before Your Interview

Try on everything a few days before to make sure everything fits as it should. Snip off any stray threads from your clothes and mend any loose buttons or snaps. You don't want something coming apart unexpectedly.

The night before, press anything that needs pressing. Don't wait until the day of, in case your iron doesn't work properly, or you burn something accidentally.

Take an extra few minutes to quickly polish your shoes.

De-lint your outfit, especially if you have pets in your home.

Get a haircut a couple of days before. This gives you extra time to correct any problems in case it doesn't turn out the way you were expecting.

Before you leave the house, take off one accessory. We tend to overdo garnishes when we are nervous and dressing up. Keep jewellery to a minimum - a wedding band (if applicable) or a ring, and a subtle watch, and plain earrings for women.

Women, bring an extra pair of pantyhose with you.

If you have any doubts about wearing a certain outfit, piece of clothing, or item of jewellery at an interview, leave it at home. Following these simple steps, should help you feel confident, prepared, and polished for your interview. Good luck!