Here are the top 5 reasons explaining how Knowing your personality type would change your life

• You learn that people aren’t wrong, they are different
• You can better manage your day to day routines
• You can recognize why you feel out of sorts, and know how to deal with it
• You can be reassured that you are not crazy
• You can learn to manage your energy

Well, we are hosting a personality assessment test at the Zigsaw Servers. The personality development test would start at 20:00 hours on 31st Oct(today). This simple,yet certified 10 minute test would help you better understand your strengths and acknowledge your weakness. An easy SWOT analysis, would help you unleash your full potential & help you peak in your career.
Also, find a sample report of the test at http://www.zigsaw.in/PDT.pdf. Feel free to share it with your friends who could benefit from this test. In-case of any clarification, feel free to call me at 9099072249
Some Common FAQ’s
Qs: I want this report for me. How can I get one?
A: You will have to appear for a 10-minute personality test. Questions would be multiple-choice questions
Qs: How do I appear for this test?
A: Go to http://www.zigsaw.in/public?test=MBTI and type in a KEY at 20:00 hours on 31st October 2014. Kindly note that the test window will remain open from 20:00 hours to 20:15 hours only. Interested candidates can either drop in a mail to zigsawconsultancy@gmail.com showing their interest to give the personality assessment test or message the same to 9099072249
KEY will be shared at 20:00 hours on 31^st October with all the interested candidates via email and on the WhatsApp group. To be added to the group, kindly message Add to WhatsApp group to 9099072249
Qs: How confidential is my report?
A: Zigsaw reports are kept extremely confidential. They, under no circumstances, would be shared with anybody other than you.
Qs: How can I ensure an accurate report of the test?
A: The above test is certified. The more honest you are to yourselves, an accurate analysis will give you a clear picture of yourself which would help you identify your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses. The best suggestion I can give is Don’t overthink, just select the first option that comes to your mind.
Qs: What is the cost to appear for this test?
A: As an introductory offer, this is offered absolutely free.

In our college days, we may have come across many students who are regarded as an all-rounder. Now days in corporate world employers and organisations instead of looking for all-rounder are focussing on building well-rounded classes or organizations of specialists. One way to stand out your job applications and also to develop your skills and interest in a particular field is through internships.

Internships are beneficial for college students as they provide hands-on experience that will be valuable in finding jobs after graduation. In foreign countries students after their high school tend to go into internships to find out their interests and based on their interests opt for a course in college. If you are planning to find an internship now is the time to begin.

Here are a few methods on how to find the internship that suits you:

Follow what interests you

The objective of the internships should be to find out the areas of your interests and also see if you can really pursue a career in the future. This helps you develop and hone your skills in a particular field. If you’re interested in graphic design, see if local firms are looking for a design or administrative interns. If you like biology and medicine, find a local lab that has an opportunity for a research internship. Even if the position isn’t exactly what you imagined, you can still learn about the industry, how the profession works, gain insight into the skills and tools necessary to succeed and begin building your network with professionals in this field.

Build contacts and reach out people

Try to find out local companies and organizations at which you would like to intern, find people, and build contacts. Try to find out opportunities that they may have and also to find out more about a particular position. Just like in the college search process, it’s helpful to do your research and talk to as many people as possible in order to learn more about a specific field, company, or internship opportunity.

Be sure to link to your relevant online profiles.

When it comes time to apply for an internship, be sure to provide links to other resources like your personal website, blog, online portfolio. You can include these in your resume or in the signature of an email. This way, employers can learn more about you, see some of your work, and gain insight into other accomplishments and interests that you may not have been able to include in your standard resume.

Bring your A-game to the interview

Finally got selected for an internship and now being called for an interview? Remember to bring all the documents that they requested whether it is an extra copy of our resume or the list of references. Dress appropriately and bring in your own questions to ask during an interview. This is an opportunity to know the organizations as much as you can and also it is a chance for them to get to know you.

Don’t take rejection personally

Waiting for the company’s decision can be daunting and it stings if you get No as an answer. Do not take rejection personally and instead try to find out why they decided to go into a different direction and hence try to use this as feedback in your next search.

Standing out from the pool of applicants is the key to getting selected for an internship. The applicant pool is highly competitive, so it is important to take grab opportunities such as internships that help develop your interest. By following the steps mentioned above you will definitely be able to find the internship that suits your taste and need.

Human Resource consulting or HR consulting is the branch of management consultancy that focuses on the effective utilization of Human Resources to obtain the goals of the organization. It can also be defined as a process that addresses the specific need of the business in a manner that serves the interest of both the company and the employee workforce. A Human Resource consultant tends to make and provide and advise companies over the wide range of issues that can help the business to become more productive.

A wide range of skills and techniques are used as part of the process of HR consulting. The HR consultant may have a background in such disciplines as accounting and finance, legal matters as they relate personal issues, health benefit packages, and management education. A human resource consultant may also hold credentials in a specific area of human resources.

HR consulting has turned into an industry worth $18.4 billion as per the data collected until 2006. And most of the HR consultancies are based upon the following core fields:

• Human capital, including remuneration (also called total rewards), employee rewards and incentive programs, and talent acquisition and management
• Health and benefits, orchestrating optimal employee health plans with the carriers themselves
• Mergers and acquisitions, examining fit across culture, job-type, transaction costs, etc.
• Communication, including surveying employee attitudes, satisfaction, engagement, and other employee behaviors
• Retirement
• Recruitment process outsourcing

Benefits of Human Resource Consulting

HR consulting is of benefit to businesses of every size and description. Start-up companies require guidance in establishing and deciding policies and procedures that agree with the law as they relate to hiring and firing personnel. Small companies and organizations may require the HR consulting in developing specific programs and taking the companies to a new level. Larger companies may require consulting regarding the development of mediation processes or evaluating the current size of human resources and providing suggestions on how to reorganize the department to provide the best possible output. People or organizations may choose to hire an HR consultant for a specific task such as developing strategies and techniques to enhance overall human resources function.

To summarize HR consulting can serve the following purposes:

• Help in structural reduction of the Human Resource Managing (HRM) cost base, by identifying the non-value adding activities and eliminate the hidden HR operations costs.
• Help in identifying the inefficient Human Resources (HR) Administration processes and HR practices.
• Help organizations to focus on human resource performance.
• Help organizations to serve their employees better, as the people come first.
• Help organizations to improve efficiency, productivity, and communication and employee morale.

In all cases, the ultimate goal of HR consulting is to leave the client with a solid and fully efficient human resources department. The department will have specific guidelines and procedures that can adapt to any type of personnel issue and all employees assigned to the department will have a clear understanding of their duties and responsibilities. When HR consulting is fully successful at attaining these goals, the consultant becomes redundant and is no longer needed in order for the company to competently deal with human resource issues.

Take a situation in which 300 stones were dropped on the ground and 50 people were allowed to look at them. Out of the 300, 50 were precious stones and rest were valuable- but not as valuable as the previous ones. But they all looked identical. You were asked to choose one of the stones from the given stones. Which one would you choose?
In the above situation it doesn’t matter who picks the stone first, what matters is who has an eye for identifying the precious one and then picking it up.
Today the hiring process is the same as the situation mentioned above. For each post, we have 300 -400 candidates who are qualified and fit into the position but out of the given 50 candidates are exceptionally good. What we need is a method of identifying those 50. And at the same time, we also require that the process should go on quickly as this would give you an upper hand over your competitors. But also do remember that hiring a wrong person versus the right person can cost you a lot of money. While the right candidate will be 15 times their salary the wrong one would cost you 30 % of theirs.
Real work is to identify top talents faster than your competitor. How does one do that?

• Invite as many applicants as possible: Never hesitate in spending a few more bucks in the proper advertising and inviting as many people as possible. These few more bucks would be a sort of investment that in the future will help you earn more than you invested. More applicants you have greater are the chances that you will have the best.
• Conduct a quick Screening: The most time consuming and tedious task is to conduct the screening. It takes a lot of time to sort the candidates. For this purpose, you can have some of your employees to conduct a quick screening. Companies can also get and help from consulting companies such as Zigsaw that will help you meet the candidates who are suitable.
• Conduct Personal Interviews: As soon as you have got a list of the most suitable candidates go on and conduct a quick interview.  Great talent goes out quickly so quicker you meet with them the better.
• Be prepared to make an offer: Say you do have three candidates you want to talk to in-person, it is probably best to interview all three before making an offer. But not always. If you interview someone and your entire hiring team is confident it will be a great fit, not a good fit, but a great fit makes an offer right there. Again, top talent goes fast, and the faster you can get an offer into a person’s hand, the faster your company is zooming along again with a new, great employee helping lead the way.

The hiring process on an average takes about 47 days to conclude, but following the above steps and making sure everything works perfectly it would take about 30 days to conclude. If you have found the diamond in the pile of stones don’t hesitate to make an offer.
And in the same way, if you haven’t found a suitable candidate do not hesitate in conducting the recruitment process again. It is agreed that you want to hire a candidate quickly but at the same time you also want to hire the right person. No matter how crucial is the position hiring out of desperation is a recipe for disaster.

Why should we hire you?

This question is asked by almost all of the companies in the corporate world before hiring an individual for any post. Depending upon the person there can be numerous answers to this question. This question is more about selling yourself to the company. Consider yourself as the product and employer as the customer. The questions why should we hire you are pretty much similar to the question asked by the customer Why should we buy a particular product?

There are two ways of answering the question:

The Wrong Way:

Many of the people answer Because I want the job. The answer is nice but it is not what the employer is interested in. The bottom line of the question is What can you provide to the company?

Some people might answer the question in the following manner Because I am hard worker and really want to work for this company. Now, this is something that the company might be listening to from each and every individual as everyone thinks that they are hard-working.

The Right Way

You can proceed to answer the question in a warm manner such as Because I am fit for this position and then can proceed telling how you fit into the position.

The most appropriate answer to the question can be Because I have what it takes to solve problems and do the job  A little more expansion on your skill can surely get you a job.

Develop a Strategy

Try to develop a strategy and focus on giving details. The more details you give better your answer will be. An interview is never a time to discuss what you want rather it is a time to summarize your accomplishment and show that what makes you unique.

Understand

As discussed bottom line of the question is what can you do for the company?

You can try and look out in the job profile that what the employers seek or what will it take to meet the job requirements.

Next, do an inventory to determine what you have to offer as a fit for those requirements. Think of two or three key qualities you have to offer that match those the employer is seeking. Don’t underestimate personal traits that make you unique; your energy, personality type, working style, and people skills are all very relevant to any job.

Sales Pitch: You are the solution

Think of yourself as a product and the employer as the consumer. Make a list of the company requirement and what you have to offer. Merge these two to form the conclusion of the discussion. It should be no more than two minutes long and should stress the traits that make you unique and a good match for the job.

What makes you Unique?

Completing an exercise around this question will allow you to concentrate on your unique qualities. Like snowflakes, no two people are alike. Take some time to think about what sets you apart from others.

Let the interviewer figure out that you know what they require and you have what it takes to get the job done that you are the solution to their problem.

An interview is the most important element in the job search process. When an employer calls you for an interview it means that he/she is interested in having you on board. Interviews can be regarded as a very professional conversation in which you are provided a limited time in which you have to understand the needs of the employer and discuss the way in which you can fulfill those.

The interview is more than just showcasing your merits and skills it requires you to show you potential your confidence, your background, and the ability to do the task assigned to you and most importantly show the employer that you can fit into his company culture.

After your cover letter and resume, the interview is your best opportunity to wow the employer-regardless of your background and experience. The best way is to prepare a selective presentation of your background, thoughtful answers to potential interview questions, well-researched questions about the organization, and an effective strategy to market yourself. Also consider your career goals and what the available job offers so that you can discuss both of these topics with employers. Interviewing is a skill that improves and becomes easier with practice.

Any interview period can be separated into three parts with each of the parts requiring special planning. These parts are:-

• Before The Interview

The day before the interview you need to work on different aspects and conduct some personal research to present yourself in a more enthusiastic way. You should:

• Research about the Organization: Before going on for the interview always try to find out as much information and data about the company as you can. Go to the company and try to learn more about the company from its employees. You cannot change the employment history or your qualifications but you can work harder than the other applicants by being knowledgeable about the company.
• Think of some questions that you could ask the interviewer which will give the impression that you are interested in the job. The questions that reflect your interest in future prospects such as What are the chances of professional growth in the company etc.
• Practice with some of your friends who are going for the interview as this will help you build confidence and help you structure your interview. Practice giving concise, complete answers and maintaining eye contact with the interviewer(s) while you give them. Make sure you aren’t speaking too slow or too fast and that your answers are stated with confidence.
• Try to figure out and anticipate some of the questions that probably interviewers ask every interviewee. It’s best to prepare for a wide variety of questions by thinking about your own career goals, long-term plans, past successes, and work strengths, but you should also brace yourself for the deceptively simple questions that most employers like to throw at their interviewees.
• On The Day of Interview
• Dress suitably in formals in the same way as you would dress up for the job itself. Your clothes should be in subdued colors such as blue-black etc. Avoid using aftershave lotions and perfumes.
• Shape yourself in the best way possible so that you appear fresh and healthy. Try arriving 15 20 minutes before the scheduled time. Have a complete rest the night before the interview so that you may not look exhausted. Bring an extra copy of your resume with you in case you may need it.
• Make contact with everyone present during the interview because you never know who has conducted the interview. Look everyone in the eye and smile. Speak clearly and use please and thank you. Talk audibly and also at the same time be polite.
• Always try and be honest. Many people think that an interview is a perfect time to embellish. While you want to structure your answers so that your best, most qualified aspects take center stage, you don’t want to deceive or an outright lie. Companies do perform background checks, and lying about your experience is simply not worth it.
• Try to be precise and short in your answers. Stick to what you know well and keep things short and sweet. Also never use slangs or off-color humor as you never know when someone might take offense, its best not to risk it.
• Try to come up as a genuinely likable person as you can. Try to tone down your weaknesses and try to be personable. Being personable is about getting the interviewer’s emotional side to like you and believe in you. Employers don’t always hire the candidates most qualified for the job, but rather the candidates they like the best.

3. 3. After The Interview
   4. Shake hands with the interviewer and exchange pleasantries even if you think you have bombed the interview.
   5. Send a thank you letter to your interviewer or liaison.
   6. Follow up with the interviewer at the appropriate time.

Most employers do not hire people based on merit alone. Personality, confidence, enthusiasm, a positive outlook, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills count heavily in the selection process.

Once I had a chance of watching a minor league football match. I saw opposing team conducting its pre-game warm-up drills watched them lay on the grass and stretch, kick the ball in a specific motion, and run sprints of approximately 25 yards. They were getting warmed up and ready for another game. I admired their professionalism at this level and realized that each one of them was working hard on his skills and was eager to reach the next level-the big leagues.

Amongst them, a player caught my eye who was working harder than the others. He didn’t stop at the end of the sprints. He always did one more of the warm-up drills than the rest of the players he was with. I was impressed with his effort and his apparent desire to be the best and achieve his dream of making it to the big leagues. I wondered then: what made him different? What did he have inside him that maybe, just maybe, the others did not?

After several minutes of thinking, I finally got my answer- It was professionalism. He had a different attitude and approach to his aim. So what does it take to be a professional?

Attitude

It is your way of approaching a problem or a client. It is reflected in everything that you do. If we think our clients or colleagues as a necessary evil or people bothering us, their responses to us will be entirely different than if we see them as investors or an integrated part of our company and people who will ultimately create the success of our organization. We can never be a true professional until and unless we develop a respect for our client’s colleagues and guests. Our attitudes have an impact on our actions. Our attitudes have an impact on those we work with. Our attitudes have an impact on our guests and the people we serve.

Concentration and Knowledge

Concentration means knowing what to do at the right time. To achieve a high level of concentration one needs to have knowledge of the field in which he/she is working. Be it, teaching, running a restaurant, opening a hotel, playing football everything requires knowledge about the job then only the task can be accomplished successfully. Concentration is knowing the little things that make a difference, being in the right place at the right time, and knowing what to do and when to do it. Professionals make concentration a strong part of their game.

Effort and Passion

Effort means Doing little things, and being and the right place and the right time. It means doing getting their before someone else does, Beating the competition, rolling up the sleeves, and taking the right decision at the right time.

Effort and passion always go hand to hand with each other. Passion can be defined as personal intensity. It is something in which you lose track of time and get absorbed into it. It inspires you and helps you rise. It helps you achieve the heights which you never expected yourself to reach.

How to develop a professional?

Developing a professional requires continuous and rigorous efforts, to develop a professional you can undertake the following activities:

• Learn as much as you can about your job and the industry. To be a professional requires knowledge of your job and knowing when to use that information. Take a college course, attend seminars and workshops when available and appropriate, or simply read books on the industry.
• Join an association that encourages professional development in your area of the industry. There are many associations find the one that fits you and helps you grow both personally and professionally. Research these organizations on-line and see which one fits your needs and career ambitions best. Be a part of a community that is helping you grow and develop as a professional. The association can be local, national, or international. The important thing is to join an organization that provides you value and assists you in achieving your professional goals.
• Find a mentor in this industry and learn from them. Mentoring is an informal relationship with another industry professional that aids in career growth and development. Learning occurs informally through discussion and experiences. The relationship provides tremendous insight personally and professionally and provides learning which rarely occurs in a formal setting.
• Make a commitment to be a professional and to grow in this industry. We all are professionals in what we do and can enhance this industry by working on the things we can control: our attitude, our concentration, and our effort.

Many of the employees or graduates are in a dilemma to find out the company which matches their work profile. Even after getting a job, they are not happy or satisfied with their choice of company. It is not only the employee who is not satisfied it is sometimes the employer also who seems to find an employee unfit for his company. Some of the students who graduate have 2-3 options available during their placement, so how can they get to know which company suits their requirements the best? The answer to this question is- Job Benchmarking.

Many companies hire employees based on job descriptions alone? They might run into trouble as soon as new hires walk through the door. They outline what employees need to do. So what? They need to describe what employees need to be what skills they need to own, behaviors they need to demonstrate, motivators they need to exhibit. These problems and requirements can easily be solved by benchmarking the job. Job Benchmarking helps to bridge the gap between the employer and employee.

Companies such as Zigsaw Consultancy help the employers and the employees to find out about the best option for them. If we go by the definition then Job Benchmarking can be told as a method of getting the general details regarding the job or the company such as-the role of the employee, the level of responsibility, the qualifications for the job the qualities required, etc. Job benchmarking can be an efficient way to find this out.

Does Benchmarking Really Help?

Instead of relying on the technique of hit and miss one can go through an internal hiring process that helps weed out unsuitable candidates, better screen the skill profiles of suitable ones, and layout a roadmap for growth and development of new hires.

If you still have a doubt then ask yourself:

• Has previous recruitment been successful in your company? Do the people you hired prove successful in their role?
• Have the people continued working in your company or have they joined a new one? Benchmarking does not only mean you rely on skill; it is more about the culture and ensuring that you would find a suitable candidate.
• Are we going to hire multiple people for this role?
• Have we created any specialty position that we’ve never had before?
• Does this company suit my culture and work profile?
• Does the company provide a good chance for my growth?

There are so many questions that arise. But these all can be answered by a simple process known as work profile benchmarking.

How does this process work?

Organizations such as Zigsaw have a tie-up with various organization and their employees who provide feedback regarding their work atmosphere in the company. It is said that a company can be understood better through the eyes of its employee. So a data is collected based on factors such as:

• Salary
• Work pressure
• Work culture
• Growth
• Opportunities gained
• Team Work etc.

There are several such factors that are considered and evaluated for benchmarking.

On the same scale, the employee or a student’s potential is measured, and again based on the result the best-suited job is offered to the candidate. This method is beneficial as this helps the company to know its employee better and on the same scale helps the employee get to know a company’s culture.

When new hires come on board, you can use the job benchmark as a development tool. Where do they match? In which areas do they need improvement? What are their strengths? And can you build on them? No one comes to a job as the complete package, but benchmarking can help you plot a course to help them learn and grow within the organization.

A business or a startup in its initial stage faces many problems with its marketing such as product, price, place, and promotion. It may also encounter some of the problems related to its product design, packaging, branding, advertising, etc. How can a seller or a manufacturer overcome these problems? How can he design a product that fits the consumer’s needs? How can he know about the taste of his customer? The answer to all of the questions is a simple term- Marketing Research.

What exactly is marketing Research? According to the analysts and various economists- Market Research is an organized method of finding the target market for a particular product. It also deals with gathering information about the taste, preferences, and finding out the potential customers. It can also be said that it is a way of getting an overview of consumers’ wants, needs, and beliefs. It can also involve discovering how they act. The research can be used to determine how a product could be marketed.

What Marketing Research helps us determine?

• It provides valuable data: It helps the company to determine valuable inputs such as data related to the demand, supply, competition, etc. which further helps the authorities in decision making.
• It tells us about consumer behavior: It helps the company to determine the taste of the consumer as well as age, income, likes, dislikes of his potential customer. It also helps them to get an opinion about their product.
• Helps to select suitable sales promotional techniques: It helps them to find out the best promotional techniques for their product and also select suitable media for the same. It also, on the other hand, helps the companies to allocate the budget for this promotion related activities.
• Gives market-related information: This method helps in finding out the present and future demand of a product. It helps them to get knowledge about the level of competition and also helps them realize the cause of the fall in sales level.
• Helps Company to evaluate its performance

Methods of Marketing Research

Traditionally there are two methods of Market Research:

• Based on the questionnaire:
• Qualitative Marketing Research: These researches are generally used for exploratory purposes and are carried out on a small number of people rather than a large population. Some of the examples of such research are- focus groups, in-depth interviews, etc.
• Quantitative Marketing Research: These researches are done for drawing out conclusions and proving hypotheses. It is also tested upon a large number of people. Examples include surveys and questionnaires.

2. 2. Based on observations: These techniques are not widely used but are used in some industries. It can be classified further into:
   3. Ethnographic studies
   4. Experimental techniques

Types of Marketing Research:

Marketing Research involves various techniques and methods. Some of them are:-

2. 2. Ad Tracking: A type of market research to monitor a brand’s performance using measures such as brand awareness,
   3. Advertising Research: A Method to predict the efficacy of advertisements for any medium, measured by the ad’s ability to get attention, communicate the message, build the brand’s image, and motivates the consumer to purchase the product or service.
   4. Brand equity: A research to test how favorably do consumers view the brand?
   5. Concept testing: A research to test the acceptance of a concept by target consumers.
   6. Demand Estimation: A research to determine the approximate level of demand for the product
   7. Price Elasticity: A test to determine how sensitive customers are to price changes.
   8. Sales Forecasting: A research to determine the expected level of sales given the level of demand, with respect to other factors like Advertising expenditure, sales promotion, etc.
   9. Segmentation Research: Research to determine the demographic, psychographic, and behavioral characteristics of potential customers.

Thus, be it a large scale organization of a small scale firm all of them needs to conduct market research on a regular basis to stand in this competitive market.

You can have a look at our services, here: www.zigsaw.in/Data