Telephonic interview tips

Very recently I took up a telephonic interview, at the end of the interview, the interviewer asked me if I had any questions for them. Since it was a long time that I attended an interview, wanted to know their feedback on the interview conducted. The interviewer didn’t take time to answer, and instantly came the reply ‘your answers seemed mugged up and well prepared’. I had to control my laughter, as honestly there was no effort put in to answer these questions. I was baffled and told my interviewer that no such preparation has gone in, to attend the interview. He told with a smile ‘I am sorry but it seemed so’.

So I decided to do some search on this, come up with list of most frequently asked questions and the answers to them. The FAQ’s will be available in my next blog.

To start with here are some tips to attend a telephonic interview. Remember for an applicant, the goal of a telephonic interview is to secure an in-person meeting. For recruiters, it's to narrow their list of prospects.
You can increase the chances of passing this initial screening if you follow the tips below.

Before taking up a Telephonic interview

• Keep your resume in front of you.
• Keep all of your employer research materials within easy reach of the phone.
• Have a notepad handy to take notes.
• Turn off your stereo, TV, and any other potential distraction.
• Warm up your voice while waiting for the call. Sing an uplifting song to yourself.
• Have a glass of water handy, since you will not have a chance to take a break during the call.
• Speaking of breaks, if your phone interview is at a set time, make sure you answer nature's call first.

Do’s

• Do take telephonic interview as seriously as a personal interview.
• If the call is unexpected, ask for a reschedule. It is always OK.
• You need to have enthusiasm and sound confident while answering the questions.
• Always put across the details on your experience, skills and your strong points.
• Answers need to be precise to the questions asked, at the same time do not miss out to list out your strengths.

Don’ts

• Avoid / Minimize distractions. Always take a telephonic interview in a quiet place.
• Avoid using mobile as there can be some signal problem and it may be problematic.
• If using a mobile do not switch on the voice message.

After Telephonic interview

• fter a phone interview, send a thank-you note by email that recaps your best selling points.
• You can also follow up to know the result of the interview.

10 tips to be a good team-player

A team player is someone who will unite others for a cause by sharing information and ideas and empower them and repose trust in them. So it is essentially shared responsibility, with each team player owning up for what they do.

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”Henry Ford

A team player unites others for a cause by sharing information/ideas; empowers them and reposes trust in them. So it is essentially shared responsibility, with each team player owning up for what they do. As in Margaret Carty’s words: “The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side.”

To be a good team player you should possess all these traits or some. You should be:

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  Adaptable: You have to adapt and mould yourself to fit into the team. Be willing to help others and learn and have the power to think outside the box. You must re-evaluate your role in the team from time to time.
  
  
  
  

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  Collaborative: Collaboration is the key to success. You have to meet the challenges head-on as a team. There should be perfect co-ordination among the members and each one of you has to deliver, working together ungrudgingly. For perfect collaboration, you should be focused and result oriented. Your perceptions must be clear, transparent and tangible to the entire team.
  
  
  
  

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  Committed: You should be ready to give more than your 100%. Nothing can be achieved half-heartedly. Do not shy away from risks.
  
  
  
  

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  Competent: Being competent does not mean possessing the required skills, but that you can execute the job well.
  
  
  
  

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  Dependable and Reliable: You should be responsible and possess good judgmental skills. Also, leave scope for someone to hold you accountable. Be consistent while delivering.
  
  
  
  

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  Disciplined: Discipline is doing what you really don't want to do, so that you can do what you really want to do. Be disciplined in your thinking, emotions and actions.
  
  
  
  

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  Communicative: Your communication with the team members has to be clear. Put it down in writing, so that everyone is aware of what you are doing lest there is confusion. Be confident and never be jittery about saying what you feel. Also, believe in others before they believe in you.
  
  
  
  

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  Enthusiastic: You have to infuse enthusiasm among the team members even during the drabbest exercise. Remember, enthusiasm is contagious.
  
  
  
  

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  Goal-centric: You ought to know the goal of the team; the bigger picture has to be loud and clear. Always be prepared to pitch in whenever there is an exigency.
  
  
  
  

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  Problem Solver: When your team has to deal with changing conditions, don't fret or get stressed out because something new is being tried out. Consider different view points and compromise when need be. Don't be rigid, give your suggestions as well as be open to others' and see that the outcome is flawless. Strong team players are firm in their thoughts yet open to what others have to offer. Remember, don't get into the allegation mode when things go wrong, be quick on identifying the mistake and rectify it.
  
  
  
  

“Teamwork is the ability to work together towards a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments towards organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” Avoid internal politics and be loyal to the team. Value interdependence as it is the most certain way of being a good team player and remember not to  give up under dire circumstances but just to refocus on your thinking. Get along with others and support them; recognize and accept their strengths and weaknesses and you can then wear the mantle of a good team player.

                                                                                                         Vinod Prajapat

Karnataka rain, flood toll rises to 156

 Rain and floods in Karnataka, mainly in northern parts, since Wednesday have killed 156 people so far, an official statement said Saturday.

Bijapur district remained the worst affected with 30 deaths. Bagalkot reported 20 deaths and Raichur 19, it said.

The number of deaths in other districts: Gulbarga 18, Koppal 17, Bellary 12, Davangere nine, Chitradurga eight, Gadag seven, Belgaum six, Uttara Kannada five, Bidar four and Dharwad one.

Values @ Work

 Have you ever wondered why all the technology and scientific development are being used to create human suffering rather than enhance human happiness? Bertrand Russell says this happens because there is a race between human skill and human folly. So far the human race has survived because human skills had not developed enough to pose a threat. Today skills have developed but human folly remains.

  Technology and competence have given us power but to use them constructively we need knowledge, values, to fall back on. This is where Vedanta Vision steps in. The ancient values laid down by the thinkers and researchers in the past. Cutting edge technology pertaining to the human personality.

  In these troubled times with economic gloom, war and disaster looming large Vedanta, the science of human perfection, helps you to move upward in a downturn! It puts you in a positive frame of mind. Makes you optimistic. Because it deals with a resource that is not only available in abundance but is entirely under your control - the human being. Yourself.

Diwali: Light the Lamp of Wisdom

 Diwali or Deepavali is amongst the most celebrated Indian festivals. The word Deepavali originates from two Sanskrit words ‘ Deepa ' which means ‘light' and ‘ Avali ' which means ‘a row'. This is why Deepavali is called ‘the festival of lights'.

  It is celebrated on the 15 th day of the Hindu month of Kartik which is a new moon day (Amavasya ). Deepavali is celebrated by lighting diyas (earthen lamps), drawing rangolis(multicolored designs drawn on the ground with colored rice flour), cleaning and decoration of homes, wearing new clothes, preparation of sweets in homes, lighting of fireworks, veneration of cows as incarnations of Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) and Lakshmi Puja.

 There are two main mythological stories that signify the importance of Deepavali. The first story is that Deepavali denotes the return of Lord Rama's return from exile after his victorious conquest of the evil king Ravana. This story has greater significance in Northern India. In Southern India, Deepavali marks the victory of Lord Krishna over the mighty asura (demon) Narakasura. Narakasura had become a menace to the gods in heaven and had snatched the magnificent earrings of Aditi (the Mother Goddess) and imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of the gods in his harem. In desperation, the gods led by Indra requested Lord Krishna to destroy the demon as he was wreaking havoc. Krishna readily agreed, fought a fierce battle and emerged victorious. It was after this that He accepted the sixteen thousand damsels as his wives at their request.

  The meaning behind these mythological stories is that the villain of the piece represents the desire-ridden ego. In our lives, it is our egos and desires that create problems for us. In the story of Lord Krishna above, the sixteen thousand damsels represent our numerous desires. When they are controlled by our egos, they cause destruction and rob us of our joy. However, when we work selflessly, dedicating our actions to a higher goal, the desires remain in check, and most importantly, get sublimated. Each one of us has positive and negative tendencies. When we identify with the good in us, work towards something beyond our selfish interests the lower, negative tendencies fade away. Our desires get sublimated and through constant sadhana (spiritual practice) we overcome our ego and desires. The darkness of ego and desire are banished, replaced by the light of wisdom. Knowledge that we are not incomplete and limited as we think ourselves to be. But that we are that Divine Self that is free and independent of the entire world has to offer.

  The scented bath before the break of dawn and the cleaning of homes during Deepavali signify the cleansing of the personality of desires and ego. The new clothes represent our newly acquired state of Realization or at a more basic level our new spiritual orientation and commitment to self-development. This change brings sweetness in our lives which are why sweets are made and distributed in the community. It represents the fact that once we turn spiritual and begin looking within, we experience a quiet sense of peace that we cannot experience while chasing objects of the world.

 Thus Deepavali or Diwali has a tremendous spiritual significance in our lives. And like all our festivals, they are reminders for us to retain and cultivate that spiritual element in our lives. Because life is more than just a journey, it is a search for meaning.

Special for someone

-MALE--
Dil kehta hai chal unse mil
Uthte hain kadam, ruk jaate hain
Dil humko kabhi samjhaata hai
Hum dil ko kabhi samjhaate hai
--FEMALE--
Dil kehta hai chal unse mil
Uthte hain kadam, ruk jaate hain
Dil humko kabhi samjhaata hai
Hum dil ko kabhi samjhaate hai
Hum jab se hain judaa, ae mere hum nasheen
Yun dekho to mere daaman mein kya nahin
Daulat ka chaand hai shohrat ki chaandni
Magar tumhe khoke lage hai mujhe aisa
Ke tum nahin to kuch bhi nahin
Tum kya jaano ab hum kitna
Dil hi dil mein pachtaate hai
Dil humko kabhi samjhaata hai
Hum dil ko kabhi samjhaate hai
--MALE--
Voh din the kya haseen, dono the saath mein
Aur baahein aap ki thi mere haath mein
Tum hi tum hai sanam mere din raat mein
Par itni bulandi pe tum ho meri jaan
Aaye na daaman ab haath mein
Paana tumko mumkin hi nahin
Soche bhi to hum ghabraate hai
Dil humko kabhi samjhaata hai
Hum dil ko kabhi samjhaate hai
--FEMALE--
Dil kehta hai chal unse mil
Uthte hain kadam, ruk jaate hain - 2
--MALE--
Uthte hain kadam, ruk jaate hain