Planning for Placement
Placement Process
Once an organization shows interest in recruitment from the College, the students are asked to register their interest for the job. An email informing about the job opening and its details will be shared with the students and coordinators of departments. It will be the responsibility of a student to keep his/her resumes updated with placement cell. Eligible students are informed to attend campus drive conducted at our Central Placement Cell, KKWIEER Nashik.
How to prepare for campus placements: Preparation Tips
The preparation will start with some survey -
1. Which companies visit your college? (Viz. Infosys, TCS, Cognizant, ABB, L&T and so on)
2. What are the recruitment procedures for each of the companies?
3. What is the general intake? For example, there are colleges where the big IT companies recruit in hundreds! This will help you decide the level of competition you're likely to face.
4. What is the eligibility criteria? This is very important because it will help you eliminate the companies you should be preparing for.
With all of the above information at your disposal, you may start your entire preparation work in following manner –
1. Build your CV (Biodata)
The first step is building your CV.
2. Interview preparation
Spend a couple of months preparing for the selection process which may include group discussions, aptitude tests, technical interviews, subject matter interviews, coding tests and HR interviews. If it is a general interview, be on top of your core studies whether it is accounting or computer science. If there are aptitude or coding tests, research online for past question papers and expected test formats and practice taking tests relentlessly instead of study ..
3. Mock practice
The biggest challenge you face is your lack of exposure to a verbal selection process. For a group discussion, get a bunch of friends together and practice multiple mock group discussions. For all other interviews, build a question bank from online resources and practice saying answers aloud in front of a mirror. Do mock interviews with as many people as possible including family members, friends, campus seniors etc. You will notice a huge improvement in you.
4. Back To The Roots: A lot of candidates tend to ignore this, but the most important thing in your selection process is going to be your knowledge of special subjects - that you've studied over the last 3-5 years. All of your efforts will go waste if you lack the basic knowledge of the subjects. Forget mugging up and reproducing - something that you're used to do for the exams. Instead, revise all the subjects for yourself.
5. Pick Your Favorite Subject / Topic: Interviewers make their job easier by asking you for your favorite subject or topic. Now, you should really be very well prepared to handle this question. Once you tell the interviewers your favorite topic; expect a few questions related to it. It's natural that you should be prepared to answer questions on your favorite subject or topic. If you haven't already decided, it'd be worth going back to all the topics and find out the one which you found the most interesting.
6. Aptitude Tests : This is where the first eliminations will begin - the aptitude tests. Lot of students fear the aptitude tests. But the fact is that there's nothing to worry about because it's VERY EASY to crack aptitude tests. It’s a part of your practice. Just keep on practicing and in a month or two – Try to solve maximum aptitude questions . Don't expect to master the aptitude skills in just a week or two. At least 1.5-2 months is the minimum required time.
7. Written & Spoken English: Like it or not; but the Indian job markets demand people who can speak and write correct English. Unfortunately - very few people pay attention to their communication skills. If you think you need to sharpen your English speaking / writing skills; then NOW is the time to do it. It's going to help you in your entire career. A lot of people unnecessarily get rejected because they can't communicate or express themselves.
8. Interview (Technical) : If you're good at your subject or topics , then cracking the technical interview won't be a problem.
9. Interview (HR): If you think that clearing aptitude and technical rounds ensures that you're selected, wait a minute - many times, overconfident candidates get rejected in HR interviews - something that shouldn't happen to you. So take the HR interviews seriously!
But that doesn't mean you should have a serious expression on your face. All you're expected in an HR interview is to be yourself, have a smiling face, don't be over confident and be excited about the things. Don't overdo anything!
QUICK INTERVIEW TIPS
30 minutes before
Never make the cardinal mistake of reaching late for an interview. Nothing irritates interviewers more. Reach 30 minutes early to get used to the venue. For a group discussion, reach more than 30 minutes early and socialize with the group to ease tensions and develop confidence. Carry a couple of copies of your resume in a neat folder.
Right dress
For processional campuses, go ultra-formal with a dark blue/ black suit paired with a light or white shirt and a formal tie for men and suit/ saree/ Indian formals for women. For non-professional courses interviews you can avoid the jacket. Immaculate shoes/socks, minimum jewellery and makeup, formal belt or purse and a clean handkerchief completes your dress.
Practiced confidence
Start with personal hygiene. Wake up early to have a bath, comb, shave/trim your facial hair and cut your fingernails. Maintain an erect posture when you walk in or sit. Keep your legs uncrossed and feet on the floor and your hands on your lap. Maintain eye contact and look at everyone in the interview panel when you speak.
Answer technique
The best way to answer is to listen well. Wait for the interviewer to finish the question and seek clarification if required. Be straight and say if you do not know the answer to the question. Interviewers prefer honesty to rambling answers. Avoid lying about your knowledge or background because experienced interviewers always figure it out.
Start and finish
Enter the interview with a smile and wish the interviewers. Do not sit until asked to. If you are offered tea or snacks, you can choose to refuse politely if you are not confident. If given a chance, ask prepared questions about interview feedback or related to the prospective job. Remember to smile at the end of the interview even if it was awful.
