Archive for January, 2012

Job Offer | which one is the right option?

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Avoid choosing an opportunity or going for a job that does not suit your skill set. Your need is important but when you will have to leave, sooner or later, the time you have spent to search and doing this job will be wasted. Never forget that time is money!

Most importantly, people who already are working and switching their jobs should make decisions wisely. You need to have good reasons to leave your current job. Leaving a job for personal issues with the higher management or for some more money is not a logical reason. Talk and consult with your friends and colleagues who can suggest you better.

Following are the two important factors to consider before accepting a job offer.

Match your knowledge and skills

Choosing a job with little money and with no career advancement is a big loss. Make a move only when you have a better position, and if the company is reputed in the job industry. You might have spent many years for earning experience in your field, but starting as a fresh will be idiocy.

Even if you don’t like the environment of your workplace you can handle the situation and people working there. What will you do if the new company and new colleagues will be even worse than these? You never know because no company or employer would be perfect. So, be sure and positively think about your options!

Balance your work and life style

The next thing is to look for a better life style. Working extra, over time or spending long time than you spend at your existing workplace, is another important factor that needs to be considered. If you think that working more than normal business hours is good, then you are mistaken. You are spoiling your life style this way. You should be able to balance your professional and personal life.

Posted in Career Development, Career in Pakistan | No Comments »

Online Job | Tips for making it successful

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Due to unemployment and downsizing in companies, some people are left with the only choice of working from home. They need a good internet connection and of course a UPS with some good battery time in a country like Pakistan where electricity is a forever like issue. Part timers and people working from home have online jobs where they can remotely communicate with their employers. When you are working for foreigners and you get paid in dollars or pounds, it seems to be a very attractive deal. It’s a virtual workplace and it is an easier way of doing a job.

There are many reasons why people choose to work from home but they all get almost the same benefits. They can stay at their home with their children close which saves them day care expenses. They do not become a part of office politics and do not have fear of losing job because of any professional jealousy or personal grudges. Most of all they are self-employed and they set their own schedules and deadlines.

Online jobs indeed set you free and you get more time for your own life. However, people are facing issues working from home and they are unable to manage it properly. The question is why is it so? Well the answer is very much predictable but there are some ground realities that we are avoiding most of the time.

  • Meeting the deadline

If we have time to complete our work and the deadline is at a distance, we become lazy. Most of the time we have other things to do and we don’t follow the schedules. It’s better if you make a schedule considering both, professional and personal aspects

  • Making To-do list a day before

Make sure you make your to-do list a day before. First, list down your fixed events like meetings, lunch and conference calls etc. then tackle and manage other things in an efficient manner.

  • Take breaks and stop working on time

If you are addicted to your computer and working more than regular, then what’s the fun of doing an online job?

Take breaks and avoid sitting on computer for a long time. Once, you are done with your daily assignments, end your work and shut down your computer.

Posted in Pakistan Job Market | No Comments »

Communication skills | A successful interview

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Prepare for the interview

It does not matter if you can speak English and you are a very good speaker. What matters is that how you present yourself in front of an interviewer and how good you are in making a right impression. Even if you do not get a job, your intention should be to give your best!

Before you apply for a job, a little research is better. Always check the name of company and operations on its website. Match their job description with your skills and see how you can contribute to their organization. List down their requirements and then start making points according to your career skills. This will help you in making good answers when you will be interviewed. You don’t know what questions will be asked but try to prepare a few common interview questions.

Secret of good communication

If you can read minds and you can judge opinion of other people then you know the secret. You should have an ability to develop yourself what others want from you. Do not change yourself but present yourself as they want you to be. The best bet is to make an eye contact with the person you are talking to. Not only your dressing sense but your facial expressions and gestures are also being tested while taking an interview. Be confident that you can do it but also show that you still want to learn. You have skills and experience but you are still interested in a better opportunity.

Be a good listener

Listening is the major part of communication skills and if you listen effectively then you can understand better. Never forget that listening can help you understand what a hiring manager is looking for. If you pick up on details, you can use the same details to highlight your area of expertise according to their requirements. Make sure, you are not thinking about the next question of an interviewer. Let the interviewer complete his question, and then you should speak.

Two-way communication is the only way

Do not interrupt the conversation. However, you should be asking probing questions at a decent space in this conversation. It’s better if you do not wait for the interviewer to ask, “Do you have any questions?” but try to maintain a balance. It should look like a two way communication. Do not give long and irrelevant details in your answers. If the question is asked about your I.T skills then reply only with the relevant knowledge and experience. Remember! As more you speak, more is the chance of making mistakes so try to be concise.

How you are the best pick

Discuss what changes you can bring in an organization. How you are the best pick for their organization? Mention what you know about their company and then try to give a reference that you can further develop or improve their ideas. If you are an expert in your field then try to give a suggestion or a creative idea. However, it is recommended to share ideas if you are not sure about them.

Offering Thanksis influential

According to different surveys, employers like to hear thanks in the end of an interview. This will help your application for further evaluation. Take it like another opportunity to make a difference. You can also write a thank-you note which shows your concern and good writing skill.

Best of Luck!

Posted in Interview Preparation | No Comments »