0
comments
Resume Preparation Guidelines
Before even the interviewer meets you he will first meet your resume. Interviewer looking at your resume is almost a 25% interview happening with out you knowing it.
• Use plain text when you are sending resumes through email. For instance you sent your resume using Microsoft word and what if the interviewer is using Linux he will never be able to read your resume. You can not be sure both wise, you sent your resume in Word 2000 and the guy has Word 97…uuhhh.
• Attach a covering letter it really impresses and makes you look traditionally formal. Yes, even if you are sending your CV through email send a covering letter.
Check list of content you should have in your resume :-
• Start with an objective or summary, for instance, “Working as a Senior Database administrator for more than 4 years. Implemented quality web based application. Follow the industry’s best practices and adhered and implemented processes, which enhanced the quality of technical delivery. Pledge to deliver the best technical solutions to the industry.”
• Specify your Core strengths at the start of the resume by which the interviewer can make a quick decision are you eligible for the position. For example :-
o Looked after data mining and data warehousing department independently. Played a major role in query optimization.
o Worked extensively in database design and ER diagram implementation. o Well versed with CMMI process and followed it extensively in projects. o Looking forward to work on project manager or senior manager position.
This is also a good position to specify your objective or position which makes it clear to the interviewer that should he call you for an interview. For instance, if you are looking for senior positions specify it explicitly ‘looking for this job profile’. Any kind of certification like MCP, MCSD etc you can make it visible in this section.
Once you have specified briefly your goals and what you have done its time to specify what type of technology you have worked with. For instance RDBMS, TOOLS, Languages, Web servers, process (Six sigma, CMMI).
• After that you can make a run through of your experience company wise that is what company you have worked with, year / month joining and year / month left. This will give an overview to the interviewer what type of companies you have associated your self.
Now its time to mention all your projects you have worked till now. Best is to start in descending order that is from your current project and go backwards. For every project try to put these things:-
• Project Name / Client name (It’s sometimes unethical to mention clients name; I leave it to the readers).
• Number of team members.
• Time span of the project.
• Tools, language, RDBMS and technology used to complete the project.
• Brief summary of the project.
Senior people who have huge experience will tend to increase there CV with putting in summary for all project. Best for them is to just put description of the first three projects in descending manner and rest they can say verbally during interview. I have seen CV above 15 pages… I doubt who can read it.
• Finally comes your education and personal details.
• Trying for onsite, do not forget to mention your passport number.
• Some guys tend to make there CV large and huge. I think an optimal size should be not more than 4 to 5 pages.
• Do not mention your salary in CV. You can talk about it during interview with HR or the interviewer.
• When you are writing your summary for project make it effective by using verbs like managed a team of 5 members, architected the project from start to finish etc. It brings huge weight,
• This is essential very essential take 4 to 5 Xerox copies of your resume you will need it now and then.
• Just in case take at least 2 passport photos with you. You can escape it but many times you will need it.
• Carry all your current office documents specially your salary slips and joining letter.
Salary Negotiation
Ok that’s what we all do it for MONEY… not everyone but still money means a lot. This is probably the weakest area for techno savvy guys. They are not good negotiators. I have seen so many guys at the first instance they will smile and say “NEGOTIABLE SIR”.
So here are some points:-
• Do a study of what is the salary trend? For instance have some kind of baseline. For example what is the salary trend on number of year of experience? Discuss this with your friends out.
• Do not mention your expected salary on the resume?
• Let the employer first make the salary offer. Try to delay the salary discussion till the end.
• If they say what you expect? Come with a figure with a little higher end and say negotiable. Remember never say negotiable on something which you have aimed, HR guys will always bring it down. So negotiate on AIMED SALARY + some thing extra.
• The normal trend is that they look at your current salary and add a little it so that they can pull you in. Do your home work my salary is this much and I expect this much so whatever it is now I will not come below this.
• Do not be harsh during salary negotiations.
• It’s good to aim high. For instance I want 1 billion dollars / month but at the same time be realistic.
• Some companies have those hidden cost attached in salary clarify it rather to be surprised at the first salary package.
• Many of the companies add extra performance compensation in your basic which can be surprising at times. So have a detail break down. Best is to discuss on hand salary rather than NET or CTC.
• Talk with the employer in what frequency does the hike happen.
• Take everything in writing, go back to your house and have a look once with a cool head is the offer worth it of what your current employer is giving.
• Do not forget once you have job in hand you can come back to your current employer for negotiation.
• Remember the worst part is cribbing after joining the company that your colleague is getting more. So be careful while interview or be sportive to be a good negotiator in the next interview.
• One very important thing is that the best negotiation ground is not the new company where you are going but the old company which you are leaving. So once you have offer on hand get back to your old employee and show them the offer and then make your next move. It’s my experience that negotiating with the old employer is easy than the new one….Frankly if approached properly rarely any one will say no as you have spent quiet a amount of time with them. Just do not be aggressive or egoistic that you have an offer on hand.
• Top of all some time some things are worth above money: - JOB SATISFACTION. So whatever you negotiate if you think you can get JOB SATISFACTION aspect on higher grounds go for it. I think its worth more than money.
Before even the interviewer meets you he will first meet your resume. Interviewer looking at your resume is almost a 25% interview happening with out you knowing it.
• Use plain text when you are sending resumes through email. For instance you sent your resume using Microsoft word and what if the interviewer is using Linux he will never be able to read your resume. You can not be sure both wise, you sent your resume in Word 2000 and the guy has Word 97…uuhhh.
• Attach a covering letter it really impresses and makes you look traditionally formal. Yes, even if you are sending your CV through email send a covering letter.
Check list of content you should have in your resume :-
• Start with an objective or summary, for instance, “Working as a Senior Database administrator for more than 4 years. Implemented quality web based application. Follow the industry’s best practices and adhered and implemented processes, which enhanced the quality of technical delivery. Pledge to deliver the best technical solutions to the industry.”
• Specify your Core strengths at the start of the resume by which the interviewer can make a quick decision are you eligible for the position. For example :-
o Looked after data mining and data warehousing department independently. Played a major role in query optimization.
o Worked extensively in database design and ER diagram implementation. o Well versed with CMMI process and followed it extensively in projects. o Looking forward to work on project manager or senior manager position.
This is also a good position to specify your objective or position which makes it clear to the interviewer that should he call you for an interview. For instance, if you are looking for senior positions specify it explicitly ‘looking for this job profile’. Any kind of certification like MCP, MCSD etc you can make it visible in this section.
Once you have specified briefly your goals and what you have done its time to specify what type of technology you have worked with. For instance RDBMS, TOOLS, Languages, Web servers, process (Six sigma, CMMI).
• After that you can make a run through of your experience company wise that is what company you have worked with, year / month joining and year / month left. This will give an overview to the interviewer what type of companies you have associated your self.
Now its time to mention all your projects you have worked till now. Best is to start in descending order that is from your current project and go backwards. For every project try to put these things:-
• Project Name / Client name (It’s sometimes unethical to mention clients name; I leave it to the readers).
• Number of team members.
• Time span of the project.
• Tools, language, RDBMS and technology used to complete the project.
• Brief summary of the project.
Senior people who have huge experience will tend to increase there CV with putting in summary for all project. Best for them is to just put description of the first three projects in descending manner and rest they can say verbally during interview. I have seen CV above 15 pages… I doubt who can read it.
• Finally comes your education and personal details.
• Trying for onsite, do not forget to mention your passport number.
• Some guys tend to make there CV large and huge. I think an optimal size should be not more than 4 to 5 pages.
• Do not mention your salary in CV. You can talk about it during interview with HR or the interviewer.
• When you are writing your summary for project make it effective by using verbs like managed a team of 5 members, architected the project from start to finish etc. It brings huge weight,
• This is essential very essential take 4 to 5 Xerox copies of your resume you will need it now and then.
• Just in case take at least 2 passport photos with you. You can escape it but many times you will need it.
• Carry all your current office documents specially your salary slips and joining letter.
Salary Negotiation
Ok that’s what we all do it for MONEY… not everyone but still money means a lot. This is probably the weakest area for techno savvy guys. They are not good negotiators. I have seen so many guys at the first instance they will smile and say “NEGOTIABLE SIR”.
So here are some points:-
• Do a study of what is the salary trend? For instance have some kind of baseline. For example what is the salary trend on number of year of experience? Discuss this with your friends out.
• Do not mention your expected salary on the resume?
• Let the employer first make the salary offer. Try to delay the salary discussion till the end.
• If they say what you expect? Come with a figure with a little higher end and say negotiable. Remember never say negotiable on something which you have aimed, HR guys will always bring it down. So negotiate on AIMED SALARY + some thing extra.
• The normal trend is that they look at your current salary and add a little it so that they can pull you in. Do your home work my salary is this much and I expect this much so whatever it is now I will not come below this.
• Do not be harsh during salary negotiations.
• It’s good to aim high. For instance I want 1 billion dollars / month but at the same time be realistic.
• Some companies have those hidden cost attached in salary clarify it rather to be surprised at the first salary package.
• Many of the companies add extra performance compensation in your basic which can be surprising at times. So have a detail break down. Best is to discuss on hand salary rather than NET or CTC.
• Talk with the employer in what frequency does the hike happen.
• Take everything in writing, go back to your house and have a look once with a cool head is the offer worth it of what your current employer is giving.
• Do not forget once you have job in hand you can come back to your current employer for negotiation.
• Remember the worst part is cribbing after joining the company that your colleague is getting more. So be careful while interview or be sportive to be a good negotiator in the next interview.
• One very important thing is that the best negotiation ground is not the new company where you are going but the old company which you are leaving. So once you have offer on hand get back to your old employee and show them the offer and then make your next move. It’s my experience that negotiating with the old employer is easy than the new one….Frankly if approached properly rarely any one will say no as you have spent quiet a amount of time with them. Just do not be aggressive or egoistic that you have an offer on hand.
• Top of all some time some things are worth above money: - JOB SATISFACTION. So whatever you negotiate if you think you can get JOB SATISFACTION aspect on higher grounds go for it. I think its worth more than money.
