SELF IMPROVEMENT - 2

JOB HUNTING

I. Jobs for Fresh Graduates

For fresh graduates, finding a job at the right place is the ultimate dream. Freshers look out for opportunities through campus placements, job sites, newspapers and recruitment agencies. Entry level jobs are offered by all industries. IT, ITeS, Retail, HR, pharma, marketing and other industries have jobs for fresh graduates. However, in times of recession, it becomes an uphill task to find a job if you are a graduate and are looking for an entry level job. At such times, graduates have to put in a lot of extra effort to convince the recruiter to hire them.

Though BPOs and the outsourcing companies have always readily absorbed fresh graduates, in difficult economic times, the hiring budgets shrink and it becomes difficult to get a job. However, IT companies are opting to hire fresh graduates and train them in-house rather than hiring experienced people on higher salaries. So, there are opportunities in the market still but one has to look for the right vacancies in the right companies.

Earlier, it was considered easier for IT graduates to find job but now new career fields have opened up for fresh non-technical graduates. It is no longer just call centres that offer jobs to entry level recruits but also fields such as retail. With big players springing up on the retail scene in India, job opportunities for graduates are set to multiply. Also, there are a wide range of opportunities in the hospitality sector, with fast food chains in the sales and customer care functions, in insurance and advertising sector and with MNCs.

However, in recession time, graduates should keep their salary expectations at modest levels and should focus on finding a stable job first. The priority should be given to gaining relevant experience in the field they want to grow as whenever the market opens up, they can cash in on the valuable experience that they gain now.


The ITeS industry does not just mean call centres. It has a lot more than that to offer. Outsourcing is done for many processes such as finance, HR (human resource), administration, healthcare, customer interaction services, technical support, telecommunication, manufacturing, medical transcription, back office operations etc. So, there are ample opportunities for graduates of different industries in these services.

In the insurance sector also, there are huge opportunities coming up. It is an untapped market and once the conditions stabilize, this sector will see a huge surge. In advertising also, there are a lot of entry-level job profiles. Fresh graduates are required in departments such as client servicing, creative department, media department, production, television and film, photography, market research, exhibition and event management, promotion and direct marketing.

So, the bottom line is that there are a lot of avenues open for fresh graduates but they must hone their skills and market themselves as better candidates in front of the employer. Jobseekers must identify the skills for the kind of jobs that they are looking for and spruce up those skills. This could include soft skills, computer proficiency, etc. Experts suggest that graduates should not take a vacation after college if they want to land a good job. Generally, it should not take more than three to six months to land a satisfactory job. Networking, keeping in touch with seniors is also a good way to land jobs. Some students get jobs through campus placements but not all are so lucky. Others have to try out all ways to find a job. One should not lose hope if good jobs don’t come by initially. Patience and effort in the right direction are important. Getting advice from seniors and keeping a tab on the news and information from the job market also helps.

Graduates should work on skills such as communication skills, work ethic, teamwork skills, initiative and interpersonal skills. One could attend small courses that prepare the fresh graduates on interview and presentation skills. Another detail that should be taken care of is the resume. Since there is no prior job experience, one has to highlight his/her capabilities on the resume. Always attach the resume with a cover note talking about why you are fit for the job. Remember that there are many applications for the same job so you have to present a reason to the recruiter to hire you.

While attending the interview look and sound your confident best. If it is a walk-in interview, don’t get intimidated by the number of candidates. If you have it in you, nothing will stop you. Let the interviewer know of your accomplishments at the school and college level. Talk of all the events that you participated in or helped organizing. If you have won laurels in extra-curricular activities, don’t forget to mention those. Following these tips, one can land a good job at the entry level.

II.Design an Ideal Job by Identifying Your Must-Have Benefits

I first came across the list below and used it as part of a tip about salary negotiation ("33 things to think about when negotiating your executive compensation"). It can also be looked at in another way. These things are essentially a laundry list of the kinds of job benefits you could see as part of your employment package:

* 401K eligibility requirements

* Bonus structure

* Business travel

* Car/Allowance

* Cell phone, PDA, laptop, etc

* Child care

* Club memberships

* Competitive work clauses

* Dental

* Disability

* Educational reimbursement

* Equity

* Flexibility and influence in hiring decisions

* Funding for research, start-ups or other discretionary projects

* Hours or work schedule

* Insurance coverage

* Job functions

* Life Insurance

* Location of work

* Medical

* Office or contents of office

* Optical

* Parking

* Pensions (if applicable)

* Profit sharing

* Relocation assistance

* Retirement provisions

* Salary

* Support structure (e.g. administrative support)

* Termination clauses and terms

* Title

* Training programs or mentoring

* Vacation time

This list can be a bit overwhelming, so as we get to the three things to take with you, let's start by knocking out the overwhelm, and:

1. Rank them. Not 1-33, heaven forfend. Break them up into three categories: "Must have," "Nice to have," and "Don't really care." Don't be rigid about putting 11 in each category. It's better to be honest with yourself and really think about what matters to you, so you can make well-informed job search decisions.

2. Consider the bigger picture. Job benefits contribute significantly to both your "total compensation" as well as your work/life balance and job satisfaction. For example, would you take a modest reduction in salary in order to telecommute two days a week, saving gas and giving you extra time with your family? For some professionals, that's a slam-dunk yes. How about you?

3. Don't limit yourself. Every year, in Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For issue, they review the benefits offered by the listed companies. And the one of the best sections every year is their "Unusual Perks" list. Though the list above covers the most common benefits you could encounter, it's not the be-all, end-all. And some of those unusual options might be enough to propel a company up to the top of your targeted job search list.

So start here. Start designing the perfect job for yourself. Start looking at positions through this filter, and see how much closer you can get to the right job than you ever have before.

III. 4 Basics Steps That Cement the Foundation of Your Resume's Success

In times of greater competition for jobs - no matter what level of the workforce we're talking about - you need to raise your resume game. And that's true whether you're submitting resumes by hand (some people still do!), by email, or through a resume distribution service.

Some people elect to do this by using a paid resume writing service, and that's certainly a viable option, too. But for those folks who either can't afford or can't see the value in such a service, there are some basic steps they can take to improve their resumes and make them stand up to a close read by a hiring manager, headhunter, recruiter, or other employment professional.

What follows are the four basics. Get these right, and your resume foundation will be rock-solid.

1. Active verbs. Resumes which use active verbs throughout are much more interesting and compelling to read than a resume with passive be/do/have verbs.

2. Customization. One resume does not fit every company. Invest a little time to tweak it for the specific company, and all other things being equal, your results are bound to improve.

3. Hard results. Numbers, dollars, percentages. There's no arguing the kind of effect you could have on a new company if you can bring the incontrovertible proof of your value to light on your resume. Being able to quantify your past performance makes it easier for a hiring manager to imagine what you could do for them.

4. What do you want? If I had a nickel for every time this question got asked of a job seeker, and the job seeker had no clear answer besides "More money," I'd be cruising with my whole family on the Voyage of the Vikings every year until I die. Think about your whole career path, where your next position fits in on that timeline, the kind of life you want outside of work, and how your new position can best support that vision. Then, and only then, will you be able to start applying for the right jobs for you, and you'll improve your odds of landing that perfect job.

Of course, these are just four basic elements of the "meta" of the resume - how the writing of the resume is actually done. There's a lot more to consider, from formatting to the level of detail you deliver about previous positions, how far back you go, and having the content support the job you want instead of the jobs you've had.

But even if you get all of that right, it'll be ignored if you've blown the basics.

IV. High Paying Jobs across the Gulf

Since decades, skilled Indian professionals have been migrating to the Gulf in search of high-paying jobs. In fact, Gulf countries house nearly five million Indian workers. They are spread across the spectrum of career options. Oil & gas, construction, hospitality and nursing and medical care are the most popular job options for those migrating to the Gulf. Thus, thousand of Indian professionals migrate to the Gulf in search of high-paying jobs in these industries. While most of them settle in blue-collar jobs, even top of the line jobs are also absorbing a lot of Indians these days. Thus, Gulf countries are the preferred destination as they provide a good standard of living with a high-paying job.

In fact, in a recent survey by HSBC Expat Explorer revealed the fact that the UAE is the second best place in the world to migrate to. It comes only after Singapore. At the moment Gulf states are offering good jobs coupled with amazing lifestyle, high salaries and least tax. Thus, it becomes the top choice of Indian migrants looking to find a high-paying job in the field of their expertise. The opportunities here are vast and it absorbs skilled and talented professionals with open arms. Be it UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman Qatar or Saudi Arabia, the job opportunities are immense and each state holds its own lure to attract talent. They all have their own special attraction for different reasons but they all offer ample high-paying jobs to those looking to migrate.

The United Arab Emirates – UAE that comprises of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain- has a huge expatriate population. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the expatriate population here outnumbers the local one. In fact, 90% professionals in this area are from foreign countries. Thus, the avenues here are immense. Of all the emirates, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the hottest job destinations for obvious reasons. Abu Dhabi, which is the capital of the UAE is a fast developing area tahta lso accounts for around 60% of the UAE’s GDP. It offers great job opportunities in the real estate sector as well as oil and gas industry, construction, education, IT and healthcare. There are various high-paying jobs up for grabs in these industries in Abu Dhabi.

Dubai, on the other hand, is a vastly popular destination not just for tourism but also as a career destination. It offers a unique lifestyle and is one of the fastest growing populations in the world owing to the large number of professional expatriates who are settling down in Dubai to for lucrative jobs. There is a plethora of job opportunities in the banking and finance, engineering, construction, management, tourism, media, education and telecommunications and IT sectors in Dubai. The way of living in Dubai is very high-end and it is also comparatively on open-mind state.

While Dubai enjoys a recent popularity, Saudi Arabia has been enjoying preference by professionals for years. It was the most favourite career destination of expats looking to find high-paying jobs in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia offers a lot of high-paying jobs in sectors such as education, the oil industry and the private sector. The only thing that acts as a dampener for Saudi Arabia is its restrictive and conservative lifestyle as opposed to Dubai. It is an alcohol free state where expatriates live in compounds. If one is ready to live in these restrictions, Saudi Arabia offers huge scope for high-paying jobs across sectors.

Kuwait is the hottest destination for skilled workers as it is witnessing a spurt in infrastructure. Since, the region is oil-rich, the major job opportunities are in the energy sector. However, of late it is looking to diversify and soon promises to offer a lot of high-paying jobs across sectors. Qatar also offers a very high quality of living. Also, it is among the least taxed nations. Thus, it is a very attractive destination for those who are looking to earn very high in some time. It offers lucrative jobs in hospitality, accountancy, education, engineering, finance, management, healthcare, sales and also the airline business. Thus, it is an alluring destination for making very good money.

Coming to Bahrain, it is the fastest growing financial centre. Just like Dubai, it also offers a free lifestyle. Professionals living here enjoy a modern lifestyle and plenty of meaty jobs. A variety of sectors offer attractive jobs in this region. The most attractive sectors to work for in Bahrain are banking and finance, IT and management.

Lastly, Oman has many advancing career opportunities. While IT and Communications are fast developing in this region, the industrial employment sector is a hot one. Thus, across the Gulf there is no dearth of high paying jobs. One has to select the region as per the personal preference and the job that offers the most in terms of money and lifestyle.