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

MBTI psychological test-One of the most recommended and accepted personality test worldwide. MBTI stands for Myers-Briggs Type indicator. It is a type of psychological assessment that was designed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myer after studying the work of Carl Jung a renowned Psychologist and Psychiatrist. This Psychological test was developed during World War-II with a belief that personality assessment would help women-who in that time were entering the industrial workforce for the first time to identify the jobs that will be-most comfortable and effective for them.

This test generally comprises of a questionnaire that is designed to measure psychological preferences of a human i.e. how the person perceives the world and makes decisions.

When are these tests used?

These tests are very commonly used nowadays and are used in:-

• Self-Understanding and Development
• Career Development and Exploration
• Organization Development
• Team Building
• Management and leadership training
• Problem solving
• Relationship counseling
• Education and curriculum development
• Academic counseling
• Diversity and multicultural training

MBTI Instrument results identify valuable differences between normal, healthy people, differences that can be the source of much misunderstanding and miscommunication.

How does this test work?

Carl Jung’s Psychological Model describes and states that individuals are born with or develop certain ways of perceiving and deciding. The MBTI sorts these ways into four opposite pairs or dichotomies, with resulting 16 psychological types. These four pairs are:

• ESTJ: extroversion (E), sensing (S), thinking (T), judgment (J)
• INFP: introversion (I), intuition (N), feeling (F), perception (P)

Each of these terms has a special technical meaning in terms of psychology. But these terms do not define any individual they just depict that a man prefers a particular trait over others. For e.g. People who prefer judgment over perception are not necessarily more judgemental or less perceptive. Nor does the MBTI instrument measure aptitude it simply indicates for one preference over another. Forced Choice Means that the individual has to choose one out of the two options given. Choices are not literal opposites but chosen to reflect opposite preferences on the same dichotomy.

Using psychometric techniques, such as item response theory, the MBTI will then be scored and will attempt to identify the preference, and clarity of preference, in each dichotomy. The MBTI requires five points one way or another to indicate a clear preference.

Scoring

The test is scored by evaluating each answer in terms of what it reveals about taker. Each question is related to one of the following personality traits such as:

E/I

The first trait reflects what generically energizes a person. Extroverted types learn best by talking and interacting with others. By interacting with the physical world, extroverts can process and make sense of new information. Introverted types prefer quiet reflection and privacy. Information processing occurs for introverts as they explore ideas and concepts internally.

S/N

The second trait reflects what a person focuses their attention on. Sensing types enjoy a learning environment in which the material is presented in a detailed and sequential manner. Sensing types often attend to what is occurring in the present and can move to the abstract after they have established a concrete experience. Intuitive types prefer a learning atmosphere in which an emphasis is placed on meaning and associations. Insight is valued higher than careful observation, and pattern recognition occurs naturally for Intuitive types.

T/F

The third trait reflects the person’s decision preferences. Thinking types desire objective truth and logical principles and are natural at deductive reasoning. Feeling types place an emphasis on issues and causes that can be personalized while they consider other people’s motives.

J/P

The fourth trait reflects how the person regards complexity. Judging types will thrive when information is organized and structured, and they will be motivated to complete assignments to gain closure. Perceiving types will flourish in a flexible learning environment in which they are stimulated by new and exciting ideas.

These are the areas in which the personality of an individual is judged and according to his answers, a final score is presented. This test helps you to realize what areas are your strength and which areas are your weakness or in which area you need to work upon. This test also had its share of skepticism associated with it, still this test is the most widely accepted by industries and organizations for psychometric analysis while hiring their employees.

Guess what, you can take your free test here: www.zigsaw.in/MBTI

If I ask you what is the relation between an Electric Bulb, a transistor and a telephone? You would probably think that there is no relation between them. But these are all the perfect examples of how innovation can help economic progress and attain great heights. Invention and innovation have always been responsible for economic growth.

What exactly is innovation? Various organizations and people come up with different ideas of innovation but common to every definition is the idea of realizing commercial value by creating something that did not previously exist. Although innovation is responsible for economic growth but measuring it is quite a challenge.

It has been noted and found that in the last 18 months 25 global companies have set up their R&D centres in India. The analysis also shows that if R&D was treated as an investment rather than a current expense there could have been a 2.7% rise in the G.D.P. of the country.

Many in the public think of R&D as something that only big businesses undertake, ploughing billions into huge labs, vast testing fields, wind tunnels, and crash dummies flailing around as auto are crashed into walls. R&D is associated with the pharmaceutical industry, miracle cures, Laser Eye Surgery, and super-fast jet travel. To be sure, a vast amount of the money expended on formal research is expended by large corporations- often on relatively trivial improvements of products already doing quite a good job – and by the government on weapons systems and space exploration. The glory and the power thus displayed before our eyes on television fail to remind us that the crucial research and development on which much else is based has been – and continues to be – the work of small businesses and entrepreneurs.

R&D is a process that is intended to create new and improved technologies that prove a competitive advantage at the business and industrial level. The functions of R&D must be carefully organized and controlled. It is very tempting to believe that if the organization is running smoothly with good profits and all its employees are functioning well, it will continue to work in the same way. But sadly, it is not the case. The constant development of business and the team are essential to surpass others in the market and have a competitive edge. This is largely possible through research.

Research is not only limited to science and medical field it is an integrated part of any organization- big or small. A company consists of a team of people that steer the course of business growth. It is through the decision of these people that the company is able to succeed or fail in the market. These people keep a record of the data and analyze the company’s performance and output, and based on this research, the company makes changes in its product and policies. Many organizations have a full-fledged research department to ensure the quality of their product and also at the same time invent new products.

According to the National Science Foundation the research can be classified into 3 types:

1. 1. Basic Research: This research has its objective of getting deeper knowledge about the subject under study. This research does not deal with practical application. In industrial terms, basic research advances scientific knowledge but does not have commercial objective.
   2. Applied research: This research is conducted to carry out and gain knowledge about methods that will help in meeting a certain requirement. This research is basically focused on the discovery of new knowledge having specific commercial objective with respect to the company’s product or services.
   3. Development. Development is the systematic utilization of the knowledge or understanding gained from research toward the production of useful materials, devices, systems, or methods, including design and development of prototypes and processes.

It is, however, necessary not to confuse Research and Development with engineering as engineering is the application of state of art knowledge to design and produce marketable goods. Research creates knowledge, and development designs and builds prototypes and proves their feasibility. Engineering converts these prototypes into products that can be offered to the marketplace or into processes that can be used to produce commercial products and services.

Every Research and Development department should consider the following points before initializing any project:

1. 1. • Maximize the long term return on investment
      • Make proper and optimum use of the human and physical resource.
      • Maintain a balanced R&D portfolio and control risk
      • Develop or foster a favourable condition for research and innovation.

Research and Development have a vast advantage to offer to any organization or institution. Apart from helping the business grow these can also provide companies with tax benefits. The government allows the companies to deduct their R&D expenses from their income. Thus this saves a considerable amount of money and also, on the other hand, helps the company prosper and the country grows.

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In the professional field, your resume is the most relevant and the most important document. It is your identity in a professional field. A resume is something that we keep on building or updating throughout our life. Most of the students or even qualified professionals face problems building up a great resume. Even if some people build a resume the resume is not up to the mark or great enough for the companies to consider it.
One must know that a company has hundreds or thousands of resumes in front of it to select its employee. It is you who need to format your resume in the correct format and present it in a manner that it must stand out from the rest of the resumes.
So how to build a great resume? How to make your resume be noticed by the employer? Below you would find some tips and suggestions that you may follow to make your resume stand out from rest of them.

• Choose the basic font: Before writing the resumes choose the correct format. One should avoid going for stylish fonts and characters. The resume looks best when it is in the basic format and style.
• Include all your contact details: While making a resume you should try and mention all your contact details especially phone numbers, so that the company can get into touch with you as smoothly and quickly as possible. Your complete address should be mentioned including your zip code.
• Mention your Objective: Always try and mention your objective as what is your motive in life. If your objective matches the job profile then your chances of being hired increase. But try not to boast yourself or your objectives as this gives a negative impression.
• Use keywords: Try to use keywords that appeared in the job description. By doing this the chances of you getting selected increase. But again do not boast.
• Prioritize your content: Try to focus and give emphasis on your special achievements so as these things are considered first. Keep your achievements mentioned at the top.
• Choose the correct type of resume: Based on your need and job profile try and choose the best resume format to apply. Depending on your circumstances you can choose a chronological, functional, combination, or a targeted resume. Take the time to write your resume.
• Try and go for templates: Try to use a resume template to prepare your resume incorrect format. You can afterward customize the resume to your required format.
• Never Copy: Never try to copy a resume of someone else and make changes to it. Rather go for typing your resume yourself as this helps you make the required changes and you will never leave any unedited part behind. This also helps you recall what all is there in your resume as this is the part from where the interviewers ask the most questions from.

Resume writing is also an art that helps you get what you deserve. It is the first impression of you on the employer. Always write or build up your resume with ease and using sufficient time. Never work in haste. A good resume helps you to get a good job.

Intern KRA

• Developing engaging engineering videos of first-year engineering content
• Video Editing
• Constantly improving the quality of video-lectures as per feedback shared by the mentoring team

Procedure of Video-making

• A subject will be assigned to you as per mutual understanding between you and µ-lessons
• The topic is researched and rough notes are prepared
• The lecture is delivered and video made(approx 20 minutes per lecture)
• Video-editing if required and submission.

Preferred Candidate Profile:

• Second-year Engineering student from premier engineering colleges
• Students willing to put in a minimum of 2 hours of effort on a daily basis
• Third engineering students are welcome given that they can spare necessary time and sincerity
• Students from other colleges with a good academic record and teaching skills will be welcomed with open hearts

Student Takeaways

• Learn by teaching
• Improving tutor-skills based on the feedback shared
• Suggested for candidates who are considering tutoring as a career option.
• A monthly stipend of around 2500-4000 based on performance

About µ-lessons
µ-lessons is an upcoming educational platform to help students have a better understanding of the topics typically covered in India class-rooms. µ-lessons aims to drive traditional classroom teaching to a fun, convenient, value driven and engaging benchmark of tutoring. (Website: www.mulessons.in )

 

• • • • Would you like to be a part of something awesome?
      • Would you like to be a driving force of the smarter ecosystem we are building?
      • Would you like Vinay, Prashant, Rohan, Sumit, Suhail, Aman, Shweta, Mohit, and Pooja in your college to make better career choices?
      • Would you like to build an ecosystem where opportunities are not missed and relevant opportunities are communicated to all suitable candidates?

    Guess what, here is your perfect chance. We are looking for College Ambassadors who could help us communicate opportunities in a fast and efficient way to their College Junta?
    What is a Campus Ambassador? A campus ambassador is our face & voice to your college.
    What would the campus ambassador need to do? Propagate the internship/Job opportunities with us to their college junta in a fast and efficient way via mails, notice board etc.
    I am from ABC college in PQR stream pursuing an XYZ degree. Can I be a campus ambassador for Zigsaw?
    It does not matter if you are based out of Mumbai or Mohali, Ranchi or Radhanpur
    It does not really matter if you are from from LPU or from IIPM; from IITs or from IIMs; from Christ College in Bangalore or from MICA in Ahmedabad; from Vidhyapeeth in Udaipur or from Xaviers in Jamshedpur; we are here to connect relevant opportunities to the most suitable candidates and if you really really want to be a part of the smarter system, we will be happy to have you on-board.
    Are you creative enough to connect with your campus?
    Are you passionate enough?
    We would like to hear from you
    What does the campus ambassador gain out of it?

    • • We will provide an experience certificate at the end of your tenure.
      • A platform to boost the internship & Job scenario in their college
      • Marketing and PR skills
      • Recognition at our Wall-of-fame stewards
      • A performance-based stipend

    Why do we need a campus ambassador?
    God knew that we would discover an efficient way of conversing over the internet in 2004. HE also knew that in 2014, the Zigsaw family would be developing a streamlined and efficient channel for flow of opportunities. HE knew telepathy would not be around for another 25 years. HE knew that we would need to be at every place at every time for building an outstanding system. HE prophesied “Let there be Campus Ambassadors and the rest would be history”
    Yes, I am interested. How can I show my willingness to join? Share your views on you being a campus ambassador with us at zigsawconsultancy@gmail.com