Category: First Job Club

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What is the STAR Method?
• Sample Questions and Ideal Answers for Behavioural Interviews
• Conclusion

As the placement season draws near, you may be wondering if you’re fully prepared for all aspects of the interview process. While technical knowledge is important, it’s equally vital to be able to showcase your soft skills during behavioral interview rounds. Especially when you have completed a Digital Marketing Course.

Sometimes, instead of being asked “What do you know?”, you may encounter questions that begin with “Tell me what you will do?”. This type of questioning can make one nervous at times. If you get stuck in this situation, “STAR Method” can be the hero to help you in landing your dream job. In this blog, we will learn about the STAR method and how you can use it to ace your interview.

What is the STAR Method?

If you are a fresher and going for your first job interview then “Behavioural Interview” might be a new term for you. These interviews are structured to understand your behavioural facets based on your past experiences in the job. But if you are a fresher, you might be judged for the same based upon your past college experiences. Behavioral interviews can throw off even industry veterans, and so, as a fresher, you may naturally feel worried about facing one.

Here comes your best friend, the STAR method. The STAR method is an acronym that stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result.

These four components of STAR method can be used to structure your answers in a behavioural interview, as follows: – 

Situation: – If you are given a hypothetical situation or asked to describe any situation related from your experience, start by analysing the situation and describing it from your point of view. Make sure you are presenting it in a positive way.

Task: – Here you need to be specific about what task you need and will perform in that situation. Also, mention the expectations and how far you were able to meet the expectations.

Actions: – The adage  “Actions speak louder than words” is especially true in behavioural interviews.. Tell them what actions you took and how far it was beneficial to complete your task.

Result: – Here comes the most crucial part, the result of your hard work. In answering any question, you will need to highlight your achievements and the outcomes of your smart work. Do not forget to have a positive take on the result and to put a spotlight on how much you were able to meet the expectations by the end of your work. 

For a better understanding, let’s go through some frequent questions asked in behavioural interviews and how to answer them.

Sample Questions and Ideal Answers for Behavioural Interviews

To understand more on how the STAR method works, let us go through some practical questions and take ideas for answering those questions.

1. Can you tell me about a time when you had to learn a new skill or technology quickly?

Answer: As part of my final year project, I worked in a team of four to develop a website. We started off by pooling our collective skills to see how we could meet the requirements. We are a little short of development skills. So I chose a part time Full Stack Development Course from upGrad Campus. This experience taught me the importance of updating my skills and developing new ones to meet a diverse career choice.

2. How do you handle feedback or constructive criticism on your work?

Answer: As a fresh college pass-out, I recognize that feedback is essential for professional and personal growth. When receiving feedback, I actively listen to the person’s comments, seek clarification if necessary, and take notes on areas for improvement. I then reflect on the feedback and develop an action plan to address the concerns raised. I appreciate the opportunity to learn and grow from feedback and use it to continuously improve my skills and work performance.

3. Can you describe a time when you had to adapt to a change in a project or job responsibility?

Answer: During my part-time job as a sales associate, I was asked to assist with social media management due to staff shortage. I quickly adapted by learning the necessary software from the Digital Marketing certification course and soon I was able to carry on with my project with a professional approach. This experience taught me the importance of flexibility and adaptability in the workplace.

Conclusion

In today’s competitive job market, it is important to not only have the required hard skills but also to possess strong soft skills and behavioural traits. While you can get hard skills through a Digital Marketing course or a Data Analytics course, you can also use the STAR method to effectively communicate your past experiences and showcase your behavioural skills during an interview.

Table of Contents

1. Why is Assistance in Placement or Internship Important ?
2. upGrad Campus Placement Program for new-age Jobs
3. upGrad Campus Internship Plus Program
4. Conclusion

As a college student, you have a lot on your plate. Between attending classes, completing assignments, and preparing for exams, it can be hard to find time to focus on your career goals. That’s where upGrad Campus’s Placement Plus and Internship Plus programs come in. These programs offer interview training, industry expert guidance, internship opportunities, placement assistance, and career guidance to help you land your dream job.

Why is Assistance in Placement or Internship Important?

According to a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the average job offer rate for college graduates was only 67%. This means that more one out of three graduates were unable to secure employment upon graduation. The job market is becoming increasingly competitive, and it’s not enough to simply have a degree. Employers are looking for candidates who have the right skills, experience, and qualities to fit their organisation’s culture and goals. Although around every corner, you can find a Placement agency in India, choosing the right one is really important for you to succeed.

Some of the Advantages of Placement and Internship Assistance

• Resume Building

Crafting a resume that stands out from the crowd can be a daunting task, but experts can make things easy for you. Personalised assistance to create a professional and unique resume that highlights your skills and experiences. Additionally, providing  tips on how to customise your resume to match the job profile you’re applying for, maximising your chances of landing the job.

• Mock Interview Preparation

Nervous about your job interview? 1:1 mock interviews, helps you to prepare and get closer to your dream job. You’ll learn how to answer key questions and gain valuable guidance from the network of industry experts who are currently working in the roles you’re interested in. With personalised mentoring sessions, you’ll feel confident and equipped to succeed in your next job interview. Don’t let nerves hold you back – let’s take the next step towards your career goals.

• Access to Industry Experts

Another major benefit of such a program is the access it provides to industry experts. These experts can help you gain insights into the latest industry trends and best practices, which can help you develop a deep understanding of the industry you’re interested in and position you as a professional in your chosen field.

upGrad Campus Placement Plus Program for New-Age Jobs

Looking for help landing interviews with top companies? Our team of experts offers mentorship and job placement assistance to help you secure three guaranteed interviews. Whether you’re looking for opportunities in the tech industry or other domains, we can provide the guidance and support you need to succeed. With our help, you can gain access to some of the best job opportunities in India and get your foot in the door at your dream company. So why wait? Let us help you take the next step in your career today.

Key Highlights:

• Duration: 5 months

The Placement Plus program is designed to help fresh graduates and early professionals kick start their careers. The program provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge required to excel in their chosen fields.

• 10+ Trainers

With multiple trainers, you’ll also have access to a broader range of expertise, as each trainer brings their own unique set of skills and experience to the table. This can help you to develop a more comprehensive skill set, making you more competitive in the job market.

• 60 hours of Live sessions

The program includes 60 hours of live sessions covering a range of skills, including group discussion training, presentation skills, and aptitude test preparation. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, deliver effective presentations, and take qualified aptitude tests to help them succeed in exams and tests conducted by recruiting companies.

• Guaranteed 3 Job Interviews

These job interviews are a significant advantage of the program, as they provide students with a real-world opportunity to demonstrate what they’ve learned and secure a job offer. This can be especially valuable for fresh graduates and early professionals, who may struggle to find job opportunities on their own. 

Our alumni have gone on to work in prestigious companies such as Ola, Microsoft, Amazon, Accenture, HDFC Bank, and Myntra. This is a testament to the quality of education and training that upGrad Campus provides, and to the success of its alumni. With a focus on practical, real-world skills and a commitment to excellence, upGrad Campus is helping students to achieve their career goals and make a real impact in today’s competitive job market.

upGrad Campus Internship Plus Program

If you are ready to take on the world with your big dreams and aspirations, look no further than upGrad’s Skillternship opportunities! Our Internship Plus program offers up to 3 assured internship opportunities, along with personalised guidance and access to a wealth of resources to help you achieve your dream online internship in India or abroad.

With our program, you’ll receive one-on-one training and mentorship from industry experts, giving you the skills and experience you need to succeed in your field. You’ll also gain exclusive access to industry insights and networking opportunities, giving you a competitive edge in your job search.

Key Highlights:

• Duration: 2 months

The program runs for 2 months, providing students with ample time to gain valuable work experience in their field of study.

• Live Projects

Live projects are an essential part of the program, as they provide students with an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they’ve learned in a real-world setting. This helps to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience, preparing students for success in their careers.

• 120+ hours of Live sessions

Looking to boost your skills and enhance your career prospects? Look no further than this program! With over 120 hours of live sessions, you’ll receive top-notch training in group discussion, presentation skills, and aptitude tests. Plus, the live projects feature provides hands-on experience to help you turn your internship into a “skillternship”! 

• 3 Assured Internship Opportunities

These internship opportunities are an excellent way for students to build their professional network, gain practical experience, and enhance their resumes. You may also be led to future job opportunities, as many interns are offered full-time positions upon completion of their online internship in India.

Conclusion

In the corporate world, employers seek individuals who possess not only technical skills but also strong soft skills. Soft skills are essential for employees to work effectively with others, communicate well, and adapt to changes. What’s more –

• A recent survey conducted by LinkedIn reveals that 92% of hiring managers reported that soft skills are as crucial, if not more important than technical skills. Unfortunately, many freshers lack these critical skills, making it difficult for them to succeed in the corporate world.
• According to a study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, only 43% of employers believe that recent graduates have sufficient communication skills, while 27% believe that graduates lack the ability to work in a team.

These numbers suggest that there is a significant gap between the skills freshers possess and the skills required by employers. This highlights the need for programs like Placement Plus and Internship Plus, which offer participants an opportunity to upskill and gain valuable work experience in a competitive job market and there is no need to rely upon any placement agency in India for getting jobs or online internship in India. We at upGrad Campus are dedicated to ensure that students are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their chosen fields.

Overall, the Placement Plus and Internship Plus programs are a worthwhile investment for anyone looking to take their career to the next level. With upGrad Campus’ commitment to quality education and career development, participants can rest assured that they are in good hands.

On a scale of 1 to 10 – how hard do you think it would be to get a call back, scheduling an interview for your dream position? And how harder still, would it be for you to get a call back for the job? Interviews are tricky and can often make or break your career.
Which is why in today’s blog we’re going to talk about how you can prepare for an interview from your dream job.

How to prepare for your interview

When you’re preparing for an interview you should prepare to answer certain questions, and prepare to ask certain questions. This will help the interviewer understand you, and help you understand the company. To dig a little deeper, here are our top tips to prepare for your interview.

1. How you should decide on your dream companies

We all have certain brands, job positions or companies that we would work for in a heartbeat.  But there should be a good enough reason for that. Before you ask us ‘how to get a job at my dream company’ you need to have some dream companies In order for them to become your ‘dream company’ they should meet certain criteria like:

• The company’s culture fit should match your ideals and morals
• The company should focus on moving up in the industry
• The company should have a clear and set organisational structure 
• The company should have a good working environment for their employees

2. The Do’s and Don’ts of acing an interview

• During the interview keep your answers crisp and to the point
• Whenever you talk about your skills, back it up with numbers or examples.
• Maintain positive body language and groom yourself well.
• Don’t lie to your interviewer – Ever
• Do not leave without asking the interviewer a few questions

If you’re interested in knowing more – we have written a blog on how you can improve your interview skills, where we cover how you can give an introduction for job interview and many more topics.

The 4K’s for getting your dream job

The 4 K’s describe everything you should know before the interview. Keeping the 4K’s in mind will help you during your research and interview prep and get you interview-ready.

Know the Organization

When you’re researching a particular company, you should pay close attention to details about the company’s work culture, the company’s values and the employees. There are certain ways you can do this. Glassdoor is a great site for checking company reviews and ratings by current and past employees. It is also best if you can get in touch with people who have worked for that company.

Know your interviewer

There is a chance you might know, before-hand, the person who is going to take your interview. In that case, you should get to know about them and what they’re like. Their Linkedin profile is a great place to start. 

Know your position

You should have a thorough understanding of the role you are applying for. The most important thing you can do is read the job description that was circulated. The job description will mention the skills and requirements the company is looking for in its candidate. 

Know your strengths and weaknesses

Most interviewers will directly or indirectly ask about your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing what to say for that answer is important, the wrong answers could get you eliminated. Head over to our blog – A guide on strengths and weaknesses to crack your interviews – to get a complete breakdown of this question.

Interview preparation tips

When we talk about how to prep for a job interview, we have to delve into these tips that will get you interview readyin a jiffy.

Interview tips and tricks

• Stay away from the Tunnel Effect. When we take up too much pressure, or we add unnecessary stress to a particular meeting or interaction, we end up making mistakes, even when we’re better than that. To avoid these conscious mistakes, we must practise our skills until they come to us naturally. <br>
• Mock Interviews for the win. Practise with family and friends if you need to, but get used to the feeling of answering questions asked about your life and skills. Get comfortable talking about yourself. <br>
• Downplay it. This is in contrast to it being your dream job, but if you’re putting too much pressure on yourself, downplay the importance of the interview – to take the edge off. 
• Ask questions. To seem truly interested in working there, enquire about the company and your job, during the interview. In your preparatory phase, keep a list of questions or concerns ready, so that you don’t end up asking something silly in the heat of the moment.

Conclusion

Interviews can be really easy to ace if you have prepared well. Professional guidance is also a great way to prepare for interviews. If you want to prepare for your interviews with the help of experienced mentors, you should check out our Placement Plus and Internship Plus Programs. We cover everything from Resume writing, to mock interviews and group discussions and teach you how to get, job and interview ready!

If you liked this blog, leave us a comment below!

Communication has become one the most important soft skills to have today. It has become a basic criteria for most jobs to hire potential candidates. Which is why in today’s blog we’re going to discuss what effective communication looks like, the Benefits of effective communication and the skills we can work on to make it happen.

What is effective communication?

Effective communication involves being able to speak and write clearly as well as being able to listen and process what the other person is communicating. Whether the communication process takes place virtually or in-person, this basic definition stays the same.

What are the benefits of effective communication skills?

Effective communication solves and actually prevents a lot of misunderstandings from happening. This is true for both your personal and professional life. These are the 5 key benefits of communication:

1. It fosters better relationships – Effective communication speeds up problem solving and boosts productivity.
2. Better conflict-management – Reaching common ground during disagreements is a lot easier when all parties can make their side of the story heard.
3. Builds Empathy – One of the main facets of communication is active listening. When we actively listen to people we can empathize with them more.
4. More Self Awareness – When we start actively participating in social interactions, we start to gain a better understanding of our likes and dislikes as well.
5. Trust Builder – Healthy and open communication will allow you and the person to develop a sense of trust.

What are the principles of effective communication?

Effective communication requires some amount of effort from both the speaker as well as the listener. Now that we have looked at the benefits of effective communication, let’s take a look at what is the purpose of effective communication.

Become an engaged listener  – There is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is the act of receiving the other person’s voice – but in order to register, perceive, understand and formulate a reply of your own, you need to listen and pay attention during the conversation.

Pay attention to nonverbal signals – Effective communication is a combination of both verbal and nonverbal cues. It’s easy to keep track and listen to the verbal cues of the other person, but you also need to keep an eye out for a person’s nonverbal cues or body language. You can check out our blog – the importance of body language in communication – to know more about nonverbal communication. 

Keep stress in check  – When we get stressed, we end up getting more absorbed into our own narrative or view point and stop listening to what the other person is trying to say. This leads to more miscommunication and misunderstandings. 

Assert yourself  – Being assertive during a conversation will help you back your view point and stand your ground. While we have mentioned the importance of understanding the other person’s point of view, it is also important to learn how to be assertive when you’re right. 

The Characteristics of Effective Communication

The characteristics of communication are basically the components that make up effective communication. Keep in mind that these characteristics do not change according to the different forms of communication. So let’s take a look at what makes up effective communication:

• Clear – Any form of communication – be it written verbal or nonverbal – should convey the message clearly. 
• Concise – Time is money in any business. Your message should be crisp and to the point so the reader can understand it quickly.
• Concrete – Do not make up anything. Your message, argument, statement – should all be well-backed by data. 
• Coherent – Every conversation you have should have a logical chronological order – so that the other person can follow along easily. Going off on a tangent mid-conversation can confuse the other person. 
• Courteous –  All business dealings take place on the formal side of things. To maintain that atmosphere, be polite and avoid getting informal as it may be considered rude. 
• Listening for Attention – A conversation always takes place between two people, where they both go from being speaker to listener. As the listener you have to pay attention to what is being said to carry forward the conversation. 
• Focus – In most conversations you would have to go back and forth with the other person. In such situations, you could lose focus and say something you weren’t supposed to say. So always focus on the conversation. 

How to improve Effective Communication Skills

After reading this you might feel like there is a LOT that has to be done in order to achieve effective communication. But you don’t need to worry – we’ve got you covered! Our Placement Plus and Internship Plus Programs are built around making our students job-ready! In this Program, we’ll work on your communication skills, resume writing skills, interview skills and more. 

Conclusion

Effective communication is one of the most vital skills you can work on, both in your personal life as well as professional life. There are a lot of parameters that you need to keep in mind to become an effective communicator. These mainly include active listening, conveying your message clearly and maintaining a two way flow of conversation.

Table of Contents

• How to get a job
  • Reflect on your career aspirations
  • Research potential industries and job roles
  • Build the right skills for the job you want
  • Build your social media presence
  • Conduct informational interviews
  • Tailor your resume and cover letter
  • Prepare for your interview
  • Send a Thank You email
• Conclusion

This is the ground reality, folks. Nobody tells you how to get your first job. Not your classmates. Not your teachers. Definitely not parents. If you’re lucky and have a good Placement Cell, you can perhaps rely on their network to get placed in a good company. Otherwise, the road can get a little dark.

Luckily, we have put together this short, definitive guide on how to get a job for freshers.

How to get a job

There is no single best way to find a job. There are a series of steps you need to take to get that interview and the final congratulatory call. Now you can get just about any job without putting much thought into it. But if you want to get your dream job, then you have to go about it the right way.

So let’s look a little closer at the starting steps on how to apply for a job.

Step 1) Reflect on your career aspirations.

Trust us, we cannot emphasize enough on the importance of this step. You have to know what you want, right from the start.

So start right. List down answers to important questions:

• Why do you want to get into this line of work?
• What interests you the most about it?
• How do you wish to grow in this career path in the next 5 years?

Answering these questions will not only give you the much-needed clarity at the start of your career, but will also help you when you sit for those interviews.

Step 2) Research potential industries and job roles.

The next step is to understand which are the companies that will give you an opportunity and exposure to your career goals. Now, just because you want to get into Tech, doesn’t mean you have to join an IT company. You may benefit more from working in a product company that employs tech. So your list of organizations and industries will be varied. Even the job roles you’ll find in each industry might vary accordingly.

Step 3) Build the right skills for the job you want

This step is key to the ever-running question in your mind – “How can I get the job?” And the answer in a word is skills. You need to build the right skills for the job you want. The easiest way to do so is by signing up for an online course that gives you the skills you need. These days, it is very simple to find a course like this. But you may want to consider these aspects before signing up for one:

• Is the course in line with the industry trends?
• Does it provide enough hands-on experience?
• Will my doubts be cleared?
• Will I be able to finish the course?

If you’re looking at one of our job-ready certification programs, the answers to all the above questions is resounding YES!

Once you have acquired the skills, that is when to start applying for jobs.

Step 4) Build your Social Media presence

In today’s hyper-digital world, having an online presence is a must. It builds credibility with the employer and also gives them a peek into your work ethic, interests and values in general. So whether it is your first job search or a shift in your career, having an online presence is pretty smart. For most types of jobs, a Linkedin profile works. But depending on your specific industry, you may want to decide which platform works best for you. For example, if you’re a digital marketer, you must have a good online presence on social media channels. If you’re a developer, then you should have a Github profile.

Step 5) Conduct Informational Interviews

Informational interviews are something you conduct with the people of the company/field in which you are interested in getting a job. Remember our Step 1? With informational interviews, you can understand if your career goals are aligned with what the organization or the industry has to offer. You simply need to connect with an employee in the company/field via Linkedin and ask them a set of prepared questions.

If your informational interview is going satisfactorily, the employee can also give you tips from their experience on how to get a job in the company/field of your choosing.

Step 6) Tailor your resume and cover letter

Even if you’re a fresher, your resume for the first job plays a very important role. While there are many templates of resumes for freshers looking for their first job, we strongly recommend you to go through this Masterclass recording which shows step-by-step on what your resume and cover letter should look like.

Did we also mention that our Placement Plus program and Internship Plus program covers a course on crafting the perfect resume for your first job?

Step 7) Prepare for your interview

With your strong preparation and a stunning resume, we are sure you will get that interview call. But this is no time to slack off. You should practice for a set of standard questions that all interviews cover. You must do your research and due diligence on the employer. You have to dress well. And if the interview is a virtual one, make sure you have a steady net connection and are audible and visible at all times.

Step 8) Send a Thank You Email

If you think it’s done and dusted after the interview, you’re wrong. So what is the last step before getting a job? It is thanking the company. Irrespective of whether or not your interview went well, you must thank the employer for devoting their time to connect with you. Whether or not you get the opportunity, it makes a positive impression on your interviewer, and definitely boosts your chances of getting the job.

Conclusion

With these effective strategies, we are sure you now have a general idea of how to get a job. But like we said earlier, to get the right job you need to put concentrated efforts in many directions. For example, mock interview preparation, vocabulary building and other soft skills. These are available as a part of the upGrad Campus Placement Plus and upGrad Campus Internship Plus programs that guarantee you 3 job and internship opportunities, respectively. As per students, it is the best way to find a job.

If you need more information on the programs, let us know in the comments below.

Table of Contents

How to write a Profile Summary

i) What to include in a Profile Summary
ii) Tips to write the perfect Profile Summary

How to write a Acceptance letter

Conclusion

In our previous blog, we discussed the typical process for job interviews, but here are two important steps that almost always get overlooked by freshers. If you think your job interview only involves the face-to-face interview, think again!

Your job interview starts the minute you send in your resume. However there is a crucial step between writing your resume and sending it out. We’re talking about writing a Profile Summary! Similarly there is a step freshers don’t count, between getting an offer and starting work. Did you guess it? 

It’s a Job Acceptance Letter! So the next time you’re preparing to crack your interview, between learning the correct communication skills for your or the answers to patterned interview questions, don’t forget to add these steps too!

How to Write a Profile Summary for Freshers – Before the Interview

For those of you who are hearing this for the first time, a Profile Summary is a brief explanation of your qualifications, skills and relevant accomplishments. Think of it as a short paragraph that summarizes your entire CV, to give interviewers an idea of what you’re like. Make sure to customize your CV along with the Profile Summary based on the job description.

So what should you include in your Profile Summary?

1. Qualifications –  Add all your qualifications, including any additional certifications or courses you may have taken. Take care to read the job description, if there are specific requirements – like ‘proficiency in Java’ – take special care that you mention these (provided you meet them of course).
2. Experience – If you have any work experience, add that. For freshers however, any relevant internship experience or projects you may have completed in the past will count as your experience. Mention them in a sentence or so.
3. Your most stand-out quality – This can be a soft-skill such as ‘public speaking’ or a hard skill such  as ‘experience in C++’ – anything that you do best and can make you standout. Only add this if the quality is relevant.
4. Expertise – Again going back to the job description, if you are an expert or are good at something the company has listed as a requirement, make sure to highlight that and give it special attention. If the role requires you to communicate with a lot of external teams, make sure you mention your expertise by saying, for example, ‘I headed the marketing department in our college fest. One of the many tasks I accomplished was dealing with various external parties to get xyz work done’.
5. Accomplishments – If you have any relevant awards or achievements in your name, don’t forget to add them here! If you’re applying for a programming job, add any hackathons you won or any coding competitions you participated in.

A few tips to keep in mind

Keep your profile summary short, crisp and to the point. Do not add irrelevant details, if you have any accomplishments or skills that are not required for this job do not bother adding them. Cooking as a skill bears no relevance to a coding job. Give your hard skills preference over your soft-skills. That’s not to say soft-skills do not matter, but if you have experience in coding, mention that instead of your interpersonal skills. Remember, you have an entire Resume left to add the remaining of your soft skills. And lastly, read the job description very carefully and understand everything about this position/vacancy. 

Now that you know what to prepare before your interview, let’s take a look at what comes after the interview. 

How to write a Job Acceptance Letter – After the Interview

Let us assume that you wrote the most amazing CV, got a call back for an interview, prepared everything for your upcoming interview (from communication skills for an interview to the correct body language), gave the best interview of your life and even managed to get a call back from the company with a job offer waiting for you. Now what? You got the job offer you fought so hard for, are you going to accept it with just a single thumbs up emoji (for ref:👍) ? 

The short answer is no. Absolutely not. You need to write a formal Job Acceptance Letter to your recruiters. Whether you send it physically or via email is up to you. 

First time writing one? We’ve got you covered.

What is a Job Acceptance Letter? To put it simply, after the selection process, your recruiter will send you a formal job offer. You need to accept the same to confirm that the job is yours. An acceptance letter also acts as proof that you agree with all the terms and conditions that come with your offer (Work timings, leave policy, overtime policy etc.)

So how do you go about writing one?

1. Review your offer letter once more and check if you actually agree with everything about this position/vacancy. We know it’s tedious, but you have to read any contract thoroughly before agreeing to it.
2. Add a Subject line on top if you’re writing an email – (Job Acceptance Letter – <Your full name>)
3. Add a date on the top Right corner.
4. If you’re sending a physical letter, write the subject line here (Subject – Job Offer Acceptance – Full Name)
5. Add the correct greetings and salutations (Greetings of the day / Dear, Sir/Madam or Mr./Ms./Mrs. <name of the person>)
6. Thank them for extending this offer to you. (I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you, for offering me the position of XYZ at your company.)
7. Accept the offer. (After reviewing the offer, I would like to formally confirm my acceptance.)
8. Along with the offer, accept the terms and conditions. (I understand that my annual CTC of xyz and that my joining date would be x/y/z)
9. End the body of the letter by expressing your excitement to join their company. (I look forward to being a part of your team and this company. Should you require any further further details from my end feel free to contact me. My Contact details are +91xyz.)
10. Sign off or add your signature (Thanks again/Thanks and Regards/Warmest Regards, – Your Full Name.)

Conclusion

Learning to write your Profile Summary and Acceptance letter should definitely make it your list of important student interview skills. Writing a Profile summary correctly is important because companies get hundreds of job applications for the interview, and your resume has to get selected in a literal glance. Think of the Profile Summary as the written answer to the popular interview question ‘walk me through your resume’. On the other hand, your Acceptance letter is binding, and needs to be treated formally. 

If you’re worried about cracking your interviews, upGrad Campus offers robust placement support that you can opt for with our courses, Placement Plus and Internship plus cover everything you need to or can know about the complete interview process. Sign up for Placement/Internship Plus with one of our courses and get 3 assured interview opportunities with top indian and global companies.

If you found this article helpful, let us know in the comments below!

Almost every interview you sit for is going to eventually lead you to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. There is simply no way out of this situation, and like with any other question, you get to put your greatest strengths in the limelight and get to show how much you are willing to grow with your weaknesses.

Everybody has strengths and weaknesses we know about ourselves, but not all those are interview appropriate. The key to answering questions of this kind is balance.

Read this blog to learn how to answer this question, why you are asked about your strength and weaknesses in job interviews and what are some strengths and weaknesses examples you can give when posed with this question.

Before we jump to this question, let’s first understand how to answer and ace interview questions as a whole.

Scripting – the key to self-introduction for interviews

This may come as a surprise for some of you, and we bet y’all are wondering should we be scripting our answers?

And the answer to this question is a resounding YES!

By scripting we mean, preparing or pre-writing an interview answer. You absolutely should be scripting answers to standard questions for your interviews beforehand. And the question “what are your strengths and weaknesses” are as standard as they come. In fact, answers to any question that will provide an introduction to yourself to the interviewer should be scripted prior to the interview.

What we don’t recommend however is trying to memorise these scripted answers word-for-word. This will just lead you to sound rehearsed when instead you want to sound candid – one of the most common mistakes freshers make during their interview. Scripting your answers beforehand will help you organise your thoughts beforehand. It will give you a rough flow of points from start to finish, so that you can tie up the end of your answer neatly and not end it haphazardly.

So how do you script answers better? These are our top tips:

1. Prepare a list of the most frequently asked questions in the field you’re applying to. And script answers for those select few questions, since they have a higher chance of being asked.
2. Once you script your answer, practise them out loud to see how naturally they’re flowing for you. And go back and make any changes required to the answer.
3. As we mentioned above DO NOT memorise these answers, this will throw you off if the answers you memorised are not asked.
4. In order to check how you sound, you could also record your answers and go back and check how well your answers are flowing.
5. When it comes to the actual interview, just make up an answer as you go – based on the main points of the answer you scripted.
6. If you want to go a step further you can also schedule a mock HR interview with an interview coach. This way you’ll be much more comfortable answering questions in a foreign environment.

Now that we understand how to script better answers, let’s go back to addressing your strengths and weaknesses in an interview.

Interviewer’s favourite – What are your strengths and weaknesses?

The topic of strengths and weaknesses may seem daunting to most and it certainly is tricky to talk about them. However interviewers ask about your strengths and weaknesses often to evaluate a few things about you:

• How well do you know yourself
• Based on your answer, whether you’re fit for the team
• Whether or not you assess yourself
• What your approach is, to make up for your weaknesses
• What new skills and traits will you bring to the team

As you can see there is a lot you have to keep in mind when you answer the question – “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

How to answer – What are your strengths?

To answer this question, it is important to put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer. What strengths do you think the interviewer is looking for? You will get a general idea of this by reading the description of the job role you’re applying for. Depending on what you come up with, you can then align your strengths to match their expectations.

For example, if you’re looking to apply for the role of Product Manager, organisational ability is a skill you’d like to showcase.

When you answer this question, be confident. This is your chance to highlight positive traits. However, refrain from bragging about how good you are at xyz tasks. It’s never a good look and unless your interviewer is equally pompous, they are least likely to get impressed. Instead be straightforward and humble, talk about strengths and provide scenarios where you used them.

A sample response for this question would look like this:

“One of my greatest strengths is my organisational skill. I learned this through [story of how you developed this], and this allowed me to [example of what you achieved using this strength] at my current/previous job/experience.”

As you can see this format is a bit direct and straightforward, however it gives you the leeway to add a personal touch in the form of a story or an experience. You should always follow up your strengths with an example of a situation where you put them to use and what the resulting outcome was.

If you’re having a hard time pointing out your strengths, we’ve put together a list of possible strengths, and you can pick one or two (we’re generous like that) and elaborate on them.

A list of possible soft skills you can use as Strengths:

• Detail-oriented
• Accuracy
• Time Management
• Good at negotiation
• Flexible
• Quick to Adapt
• Quick study / Fast learner
• Empathetic
• Disciplined
• Excellent at communicating
• Innovative
• Creative
• Problem solver
• Open to criticism
• Persuasive
• Interpersonal skills / a Team player
• Strong work ethic
• Leadership

Apart from these soft skills, you should definitely add hard skills or technical skills that are relevant to your field and back it up with some credible work experience like projects, etc.

How to answer – What are your weaknesses?

We all have weaknesses and flaws – just a part of being a human being.

But our ability to recognise these weaknesses and work upon them is what differentiates us from each other. And ultimately this is what recruiters are looking for – how do you overcome your shortcomings.

Similar to your strengths, the key to talking about your weaknesses is combining self-awareness with an action and the resulting outcome.

• Talk about the weakness – what is it?
• What you did overcome this weakness – with a story.
• How did that improve your weakness (result)

Owning up to your weaknesses is a sign of growth in itself and is more attractive to your hiring managers, rather than saying you have no flaws. So when posed with this question, this should be the outline of your answer:

“During my career I would often struggle with [weakness]. I have come a long way after I did X activity to improve myself. [Follow up with a story of how you managed your weakness.]”

When you script an answer for this question, ensure that you pick a weakness that allows you to demonstrate your growth and your fervour to keep learning from your mistakes

In case you’re stuck coming up with a weakness you can elaborate on, we have a few listed for you. Pick the ones that you can elaborate on with a story of improvement:

• Self-critical
• Insecure
• Disorganised
• Prone to procrastination
• Uncomfortable speaking in front of a crowd
• Uncomfortable with task delegation
• Risk-averse
• Competitive
• Sensitive to criticism
• Extreme introversion or extroversion
• Limited experience in a particular skill or software

When you pick a weakness, make sure you pick one where you have shown improvement, so that you can demonstrate your growth to your hiring manager.

Conclusion

Your strengths and weaknesses matter to recruiters, because from these answers they can assess whether or not you are a suitable candidate and whether or not you’ll be a good fit for the team. They also like to see whether or not you’re capable of assessing yourself.

When choosing a strength or weakness, choose one that allows you to elaborate in the form of a story on how you either used that particular strength or overcame your weakness

If you want to learn more about HR interview questions like this, upGrad Campus offers Placement Plus and Internship Plus with all its courses. You can expect complete career guidance, from Resume building to mock HR interviews, making you100% ready for your first job.

Does the thought of job interview season have you biting nails and bouncing legs? Then consider this article your holy grail and keep reading to find out just how to ace job interviews with ease.

Starting with…

What are the successful strategies to crack interviews?

As a fresher, interviews can be painfully stressful. Especially when there’s no one to guide you through the insane amount of preparation you’re stuck with the day before. To make your life easier, we’ve noted down the most important strategies and interview tips for freshers before the D-day.

1. Research about the company

   Research is one of the most important interview skills you must develop. You have to research about the company you are applying to and about the position they are offering you. Things you should keep in mind when researching for a new job interview or considering a prospective offer:

   • Your goals and expectations v/s the roles and responsibilities of the position you’re applying for.
   • Salary, this is very important. Your future employer has to match or come in a reasonable range of what you’re asking for.
   • If the position has had a high turnover rate, i.e many people leaving the role, then try to find out why that is the case and more about this position. Sites like Glassdoor are great places to check the company’s rating.
   • You should browse through these sites to get an overall idea of what the company culture is like. If possible, reach out to existing or ex-employees and ask more about the company.
   • Now if you’re sure you want to apply for this job role, your next step should be to not just research but to also learn about the company and its products/services/new launches.
   • Going further to learn about the company, check for any news about the company and go through their social media pages. The more you know about the company the more it will impress your future employers. And higher the chance of you having the best interview of all time.

2. Utilise the STAR method

   When it comes to answer situational questions (like how have you handled conflicts in projects) during your job interview, the STAR method will help you structure your answers better. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. Explain the Situation, list down your Responsibilities or Tasks, then talk about the Actions you took and finally the Result of your actions.

3. Dress to impress

   Or as we like to call it dress well – test well. This obviously doesn’t mean you go out of your budget for the interview. But on the day of your interview ensure you’re well groomed and presentable by the company’s standards.

4. Appear Confident

   Dressing well is only the first step to impressing your interviewers, if you don’t appear confident, all your prep is going to fall flat. Your confidence should be reflected not just in your answers, but also in your body language.

5. Ask questions

   Once your interviewer is done questioning you, ensure you ask questions about the company or your job or your team. Asking the right questions is one of the most important interview skills you could teach yourself. The interviewer will feel that you actually care about the job and you’ll get to learn about your prospective team well in advance. It’s a win-win.

6. Follow up

   After your job interview, it is possible you won’t hear back from the company on the promised date; in that case follow up with them. Either via email or via call if you have the number. If they haven’t made a decision on the position yet, you will definitely be at the forefront of their potential candidates.

Common Interview Questions (with answers too!)

It is hard to predict the exact questions your interviewer will ask you during your interview, so if we had to, we would place our bets on these commonly occurring interview questions for students and freshers. Answer these well and you’ll learn how to crack interviews for sure!

1. Tell us about yourself.

   This is a very commonly asked interview question for students, and this is how you should answer it.

   Start by sharing a few details about where you’re from and what your background has been, where you studied etc. Then slowly transition into what your past work experience has been and what you have worked with in the past. Don’t add irrelevant details and drag the question on. It will create a bad impression on your part.

   Interview Hack: Use the Present Past-Future Rule to answer this question.

   • Start with what you’re currently doing in your career and add some examples or quantifiable details of your work.
   • Refer back to your Past and show your recruiter how it shaped your decisions.
   • Before you end the answer, throw in a bit about what your future aspirations are and how the company can help you get there.

   Another alternative interviewers take to ask this question is “Walk me through your resume” in which case you should talk less about your personal life and elaborate more on the achievements you’ve added on your resume.

2. Why do you want to work for this company?

   Remember all that research we asked you to conduct in the earlier section?

   Use that to answer this question! Talk about how the company can help you achieve your goals or how your vision/goals align with the company’s goals. You can also add what work of theirs impressed or fascinated you. If they have published research work, talk about what aspects you liked about it. If you have friends within the company, you can talk about how you heard about the company’s culture and ethics and how you would want to be a part of it.

   However, don’t go overboard with the praises and make it come across as fake (should you choose to fake it till you make it).

3. Tell me about a time you overcame a challenge.

   This is the most perfect opportunity you can find to demonstrate your skills through a story. Use the STAR method we spoke about earlier to give an added punch to your answer.

   • Situation

     Talk about a situation you faced in your previous job or in college. Did you ever work with super tight deadlines? Brownie points if it’s a team project.

   • Task

     How were you responsible for the project? What was your role in the story?

   • Action

     What measures did you (specifically) take to ensure that your project met the deadline? How did you make a difference?

   • Result

     Finish with the resulting outcome. Now ideally your story should end positively, however if it didn’t have a positive outcome talk about the lesson you learnt in the process.

   You can use this method to answer other differently worded questions like, “Can you work under pressure?” Or “talk about a setback or failure you faced.”

4. Will you be able to work overtime or relocate should we ask you to?

   This is a very tricky answer with no “correct” answer. But our advice would be to answer truthfully and not say ‘yes’ to simply please your employers. Answer ‘Yes’, ‘No’ or even ‘Maybe’ based completely on your preferences and your situation. Just be sure to back up your answers with legitimate reasons.

5. What are your Salary expectations?

   Another very important but very tricky question that you will be asked. And there is no doubt about this, at some point you will have to discuss your salary expectations with your future employers. These are the ways you go about this conversation:

   • You can ask your interviewer what their budget is and what they would be willing to offer you, to better understand the situation.
   • Take into account your living expenses, any other financial goals of yours before you agree to anything.
   • Don’t just quote a random figure, take into account your experience, how much the average person in your field makes, etc. If you have any other invaluable qualities then take that into account as well.

   This is a difficult situation to navigate, especially if you aren’t used to talking about compensation or money in general. But you have to remember that you are a hundred percent within your rights to ask for a fair salary that meets your needs.

   You should be covered with the above questions, but go the extra mile to prepare for any unconventional interview questions the interviewer could ask you. You’ll thank yourself later!

Types of Interviews

Depending on the company you apply for, there is a set pattern for the way interviews are conducted. These are possible types of rounds you could have during the entire interview process:

• Personal Interview

  Your personal interview concerns all things you! You can expect questions about your life, your past career experiences, projects you might have worked on, the skills or tools you’ve picked up and so on and so forth. In the previous section, we have covered the different types of questions you could be asked.

• Group Discussion

  In places where multiple candidates are interviewed for the same role, they hold group discussion rounds to test public speaking skills, confidence, general knowledge, and other soft skills. If the group discussion is domain-specific, they would also be looking out for your subject matter expertise.

• Technical Round

  This is also carried out one-to-one or sometimes in larger organisations, an entire panel of interviewers take interviews. In the technical interview, they will purely test your domain knowledge in a particular subject. So be sure to prepare relevant subjects before your interview. If your field of choice requires domain expertise, you will not get the job without it.

There are other interview rounds as well, but these three are the most commonly occurring ones. In either case, remember to centre your answers around the company and their needs along with small anecdotes about yourself.

Final Thoughts (and tips)

Interviews might feel really stressful for you, but with a little bit of experience you will come to realise that interviews aren’t something to break your head over. Just be confident in yourself and your skills, the rest will play itself out.

Some parting advice and interview tips to leave you people with – get a full night’s rest before your interview and don’t forget to smile at your interviewer!

If you think these can help you crack your interview and want to learn more about perfecting your interview skills through mock interviews, resume building workshops and more, check out our Placement Plus Program!

Then consider this article your holy grail and keep reading to find out just how to ace job interviews with ease.

You know what really is a universal language, not just for humans but for animals too?

Body Language. 

We’ve used body language since the dawn of time to effectively survive the wild. We might be in a concrete jungle now but the rules of effective communication remain the same. We are constantly judged based on our body language, so it’s safe to say that positive body language is a very powerful tool that will get people to understand you and make a good impression on them. Especially when it comes to cracking those interviews, the effective use of body language can make all the difference.

But first let’s explain body language, starting with the definition of body language.

What is body language in communication?

Bodies speak volumes about their owners and are oftentimes the key to discovering the other person’s intentions, emotions and state of mind. Our bodies often perceive the opposite person’s body language sub-consciously and react automatically. If someone is being increasingly aggressive towards us, we tend to assume a defensive stance without putting much conscious effort. This is because we are hardwired to feel threatened in such situations and our body feels a strong urge to protect itself. 

On the other hand, if you’re in the position of the aggressor, you will find your face flushed red – due the increase in heart rate, you will start to breathe more deeply to increase air intake, your fists will clench in anticipation of a fight and you will start to speak in a higher volume. These traits have been passed down to us through evolution. And all of these symptoms have a definite purpose in preparing our bodies for a fight. Although this much aggression is unlikely to occur in our workplaces (unless your boss is truly terrible or maybe you’re the truly terrible boss 🙃). 

These were just some of the examples of how we make use of body language in communication – you might recognise some of them as signs you’ve witnessed in yourself or in the people around you. 

The role of body language in communication

Science has proven that more than tone of voice and choice of words, people pick up on our body language. Humans are hardwired to catch unspoken cues from the body language of the person opposite us. Just because the person opposite you is talking in a loud voice, you won’t automatically take it as a threat, probably because their body language is telling you that they are being open and friendly. 

Even if you aren’t someone who is used to looking out for vital information in other people’s body language, keep in mind that other people are looking at your body language all the time. Keeping a check on your body language will greatly improve your perception in other people’s eyes – people including your future recruiters and managers (should you land the job). 

For example, we all know confidence is the key to acing any interview. And while we are confident in what we speak, we often fail to appear confident overall – which doesn’t bode too well with future recruiters who are used to keeping an eye out for leg bouncing, defensive and closed postures, guarded or nervous expressions, even clenched fists will alert them to any inconsistencies in our communication.

When our body language becomes our enemy

Effective body language is the key to successful communication, but sometimes over-communication is also a bad thing. We have to find a balance, so that we don’t reveal too much. Here are some examples of what negative body language includes:

Boredom

• Unfocused vision or staring into space
• Tapping or drumming your fingers
• Doodling or writing random things
• Hand on cheek 

Nervousness

• Leg bouncing
• Clenched fists
• Furrowed brow
• Closed or tight body language (hunched shoulders, arms crossed)

Agitation

• Clenched fists
• Raised eyebrows
• Flared nostrils
• Flushed cheeks
• Tense body language over all

Other negative body language signs

• Nail biting
• Rapid blinking
• Locked ankles

How to develop positive body language

Earlier we mentioned that a lot of our body language is subconscious and takes place without us noticing. But not all is lost. The only reason they go unnoticed is because we aren’t used to controlling them. Once we become aware of what we are doing, we can immediately put a stop to it. That’s not all. Apart from controlling our negative body gestures, we can consciously maintain a positive body language to reinforce feelings of trust, safety and interest in the other person. 

Once you start gaining more self awareness, you can actually work on our positive body language skills in the long run. Positive body language is effective in reassuring the other person and making them feel secure enough to drop their guard and have an open conversation with you. 

Here are some positive body language examples you can apply in specific situations:

Meeting someone for the first time

• Keep an open posture and avoid crossing your arms
• Give a firm handshake to greet the other person (don’t crush the other person’s hand though 😬)
• Maintain direct eye contact with the other person (with adequate breaks to not freak them out).
• Do not touch your face while answering any questions (you may come across as dishonest)
• If you’re standing close, make sure to keep some personal space (don’t be creepy).
• Most importantly, smile!

For Effective Public Speaking

• Maintain a confident posture (head held high, shoulders dropped, arms not crossed, overall open body)
• Use your hands gestures to communicate 
• Keep your back straight and don’t slouch (this will help you with voice modulation as well.)
• Look over at your audience when addressing them

Body language around the world

We live in a global community with opportunities in every part of the world. Moving out and starting over is hard enough but with the added layer of communication problems – life does not feel kind. If you’re planning to ever apply for a job outside your home country, you have to be all the more mindful of your hand gestures.

Hand gestures are universally accepted as one of the key aspects of body language. They have been used for communication since the time of evolution, and are diverse as the number of cultures that have come into being. Positive gestures that signify one thing in your culture or your part of the world can mean something entirely different in other regions. In some cultures, bowing your head is considered the appropriate way to greet someone, opposed to the typical firm handshake followed in many western cultures. 

It is important to know about the cultural impact certain hand gestures have in certain places. Using incorrect or sometimes inappropriate gestures can lead to misunderstandings or maybe lead the other person to even take offense.

Have a look at some of the craziest differences in hand gestures around the world. 

• In Russia, it is customary to count numbers starting with your palm open, counting down with the pinky first. So the number 5 is represented with a closed fist.
• Peace signs have taken over the world. However, in the UK, there is only one acceptable way to make one, with the inside of your palm facing outwards. Holding two of your fingers up and showing the back of your hand is considered a very rude gesture.
• Doing a thumbs up in Iran is considered very offensive and most definitely won’t convey the message of everything being alright. 

And these were just the tip of the iceberg. There are millions of body language gestures around the world in different cultures. It is virtually impossible to know all of them beforehand. But taking some time to learn about these things could help you fit in easily, were you to ever travel to a different country or meet someone from a different cultural background.

Conclusion

Effective communication is composed of both verbal communication as well nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication or body language takes into consideration facial expressions, posture, hand gestures, eye contact and much more, and these are just as vital (if not more) than what we have to say. With effective body language, we can avoid misunderstandings, create a positive impression and even make a lasting connection in our personal and professional lives. 

All it needs is some practice and self-awareness 🤭

Hope you found these tips on positive body language useful. If you’d like us to cover more examples of body language in communication, let us know in the comments below.