In a dramatic match on 13th May, 2009 between the Deccan Chargers and the Delhi Daredevils, the Chargers gifted the game away to the Daredevils. It may be called as a poor performance but I surely believe it was yet another day which was not in favor of the Chargers.
Luck turned its face away from the Chargers when they were bowling. With 3 dropped catches from the best fielders (Andrew Symmonds, Rohit Sharma and Venugopal Rao). If that was not enough the 6th and the 20th overs turned out to be the most expensive for the Chargers, 23 & 24 runs being scored off the 6th and the 20th over respectively was a matter of worry for the Chargers. Moreover the best in class bowlers being the one's to be hit was the most horrifying for any Chargers supporter (Chaminda Vaas & Shoaib Maqsusi) and the Daredevils went on to score a pinching 173/7 from their 20 overs.
The Chargers started of with a bang with Adam Gilchrist not allowing the Daredevils bowlers to settle down and the Chargers were 30/0 at the end of 2 overs. Though the Chargers skipper played sensibly he lost 2 partners on the other end (Suman & Rohit Sharma) who could not even reach their double digit figures. Rohit Sharma disappointing once again with his poor performance with the bat. The skipper then joined by Ravi Teja was given a handful support until when Adam Gilchrist was really unlucky to get an inside edge on to the stumps and was bowled by Sangwan. It seemed to slow down for the Chargers but Andrew Symmonds kept his form intact and continued to thrash the Daredevils bowlers all around the stadium. At a moment when it seemed the Chargers would be home with a stunning victory the luck again started turning away its face and Teja was caught for a mistimed pull shot to fine leg and the Chargers were 149/4 in 17 overs. With Andrew Symmonds & Dwayne Smith at the crease a target of 25 runs of just 18 balls would never had seemed impossible but as mentioned the Gods of luck turned away their face from the Chargers and Andrew Symmonds was clean bowled by a low full toss that brushed his pads and castled his stumps. It was from here that the Chargers completely lost their way and gifted a winning match to the Daredevils with Dwayne Smith, Venugopal Rao (known as one of the biggest hitters of the ball) scoring just 1 run each. Chaminda Vaas tried to pull some runs and remained unbeaten on 10 off 6 balls with 1 boundary but lost partners as the tail (RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha and Shoaib Maqsusi) were back into the pavillion without scoring a single run and the Chargers ended with a score of 161/10.
Although it was a very disappointing and unlucky loss for the Chargers Adam Gilchrist went on to clinch the award for the most sixes but at the end of the day what matters the most is a win. Well I am really sure that the upcoming matches for the Deccan Chargers against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab are gonna be tough ones seeing the past performances of each of these teams but I am sure Deccan Chargers will strike back and will make its place into the Semi-Finals quite easily.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
4 Ways to be Successful
Follow your heart and do what you want to -- the money will follow. If you chase money, it will evade you. “Even if you are a sweeper, that's okay, as long as you're the king of sweepers."
Concentrate on your strengths, not weaknesses. Don't try to do things you can't. If something has genuinely been identified as your weakness, it will never be your strength, so don't waste time on it. People will work around it. Just forget your weaknesses and concentrate on strengthening your strengths. Especially by the age of 25-30, don't focus on correcting things; focus on bettering what you already have.
Be ethical, if not for moral reasons, as a strategy. People are generally ethical because they are God-fearing and think someone might catch them. Don't do that, because since it's so far away, you won't end up being ethical. Do it as a strategy. If you're ethical, the word will spread, and you'll get more and more work, business, love, respect, etc. And therefore you won't have to be unethical. You might get hurt the first few times, but then people will start giving you credit. So use it as a strategy. It's so simple and really works.
One mistake we Indians make is paying too much attention to facts and none to insights. We need to knock the facts to get more out of them -- human insights are what provide solutions to most problems. Stop depending on Google so much for everything! Some things can't be learnt from websites -- you need to use your own intelligence.
Concentrate on your strengths, not weaknesses. Don't try to do things you can't. If something has genuinely been identified as your weakness, it will never be your strength, so don't waste time on it. People will work around it. Just forget your weaknesses and concentrate on strengthening your strengths. Especially by the age of 25-30, don't focus on correcting things; focus on bettering what you already have.
Be ethical, if not for moral reasons, as a strategy. People are generally ethical because they are God-fearing and think someone might catch them. Don't do that, because since it's so far away, you won't end up being ethical. Do it as a strategy. If you're ethical, the word will spread, and you'll get more and more work, business, love, respect, etc. And therefore you won't have to be unethical. You might get hurt the first few times, but then people will start giving you credit. So use it as a strategy. It's so simple and really works.
One mistake we Indians make is paying too much attention to facts and none to insights. We need to knock the facts to get more out of them -- human insights are what provide solutions to most problems. Stop depending on Google so much for everything! Some things can't be learnt from websites -- you need to use your own intelligence.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A few cool ways to beat the summer heat
It's 114 degrees Fahrenheit out there, and your skin seems to be sucking the heat in deeper into your body rather than helping you cool down. An occasional afternoon downpour brings more grief than relief, because it layers on humidity that is thick enough to slice through with a knife. Throw in a little pollution and each second becomes sheer hell when you are outdoors.
The recent heat wave that killed 24 people in India is probably indicative of an even hotter approaching summer, for brutal May, sizzling June and searing July and August are yet to make their presence felt.
Can certain foods help towards reversing some of this exchange of body heat? Yes, they most certainly can!
And why or how does this heat exchange happen? On sultry, humid days, muscles compete with the skin for blood circulation. When it's hot outside, more blood flows near the skin to help dissipate body heat and cool the body down, thereby keeping your temperature from rising to dangerous levels. But that can mean less blood reaches your muscles, hence the lethargy.
At the same time, as when your body becomes hotter, muscle enzymes speed up and burn glycogen more rapidly, depleting stores of the sugar that your muscles use for fuel. Hence it's imperative to drink plenty of fluids that help hydrate your muscles and skin adequately in order to maintain internal cooling down.
Is it a good idea to apply cool compresses to your forehead, thereby reducing the heat entering your brain?
Not necessarily. Neither is it a good idea to wet your head down entirely, especially for kids who have just finished playing a sport. You have to make the heat move outwards. Too much water on the skin's surface inhibits sweat evaporation that helps cool the body down.
To handle this heat onslaught and ensure your body is as cool as it can possibly be, we suggest a few measures that are easy to follow:
Eat light, small, frequent meals: Start the morning with a sweet, juicy fruit at breakfast. Ripe summer fruit -- peaches, plums, melons and pears -- are exactly what your skin craves for in the hot season. Citrus fruit are also very cooling. Eat them whole or extract their juice, store in the refrigerator and sip often throughout the day.
Include salads in your diet: Consuming leafy lettuce and summer greens, corn on the cob and cucumbers in salad are delicious ways to stay cool. These foods contain a significant amount of water and can actually thin the blood, which has a cooling effect. Onions too are great in the summer, because of their ability to beat the heat and provide relief from summer ailments. So scatter a few washed onion slices onto a sandwich or in your salad.
If you get burnt (sun stroke or heat stroke): Seek relief by sipping on green tea or take a spoon of onion juice. They are potent antioxidants that can neutralise cellular damage caused by the sun's rays.
To cool the body through sweating: Add small amounts of hot spices to food while cooking. Hot peppers, fresh ginger and black pepper are all great spices to make it really hot for you and then to cool you down.
Hydrate your body: Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. Water is the best drink as it doesn't contain any sugars that can add up to unnecessary calories. For a change, a lemon and honey drink can also instantly replenish your body's lost fluids and work as an energiser. Drink fluids even if you are not thirsty -- once you are thirsty, it means you are already dehydrated.
Wear loose, full-sleeved cotton clothes: To protect the body from the sun and to aid evaporation of sweat. Use a hat to protect your head from the sun if you step out.
Stay indoors: Restrict outdoor activities to the cooler parts of the day -- early mornings before 10:30 am or late evenings after 5:30 pm.
If you're a non-vegetarian: You should limit red meat consumption in summer and opt for fish and oysters instead.
Avoid extremely chilled foods and drinks: Most of us normally pick these and they are actually known to interfere with digestion and sweating, thereby interfering with the body's natural cooling mechanisms. So, however tempting it may be to sit on your porch licking an ice cream cone or sipping a cool glass of tea, try a wedge of watermelon instead.
As the mercury rises, the last thing on one's mind is food, but if you eat smart, small light meals and accompany them with plenty of fluids you will be one cool cucumber. So go ahead and take these obvious precautions! Remember, the best place to start the cooling process is at your body's core.
Courtesy: www.rediff.com
The recent heat wave that killed 24 people in India is probably indicative of an even hotter approaching summer, for brutal May, sizzling June and searing July and August are yet to make their presence felt.
Can certain foods help towards reversing some of this exchange of body heat? Yes, they most certainly can!
And why or how does this heat exchange happen? On sultry, humid days, muscles compete with the skin for blood circulation. When it's hot outside, more blood flows near the skin to help dissipate body heat and cool the body down, thereby keeping your temperature from rising to dangerous levels. But that can mean less blood reaches your muscles, hence the lethargy.
At the same time, as when your body becomes hotter, muscle enzymes speed up and burn glycogen more rapidly, depleting stores of the sugar that your muscles use for fuel. Hence it's imperative to drink plenty of fluids that help hydrate your muscles and skin adequately in order to maintain internal cooling down.
Is it a good idea to apply cool compresses to your forehead, thereby reducing the heat entering your brain?
Not necessarily. Neither is it a good idea to wet your head down entirely, especially for kids who have just finished playing a sport. You have to make the heat move outwards. Too much water on the skin's surface inhibits sweat evaporation that helps cool the body down.
To handle this heat onslaught and ensure your body is as cool as it can possibly be, we suggest a few measures that are easy to follow:
Eat light, small, frequent meals: Start the morning with a sweet, juicy fruit at breakfast. Ripe summer fruit -- peaches, plums, melons and pears -- are exactly what your skin craves for in the hot season. Citrus fruit are also very cooling. Eat them whole or extract their juice, store in the refrigerator and sip often throughout the day.
Include salads in your diet: Consuming leafy lettuce and summer greens, corn on the cob and cucumbers in salad are delicious ways to stay cool. These foods contain a significant amount of water and can actually thin the blood, which has a cooling effect. Onions too are great in the summer, because of their ability to beat the heat and provide relief from summer ailments. So scatter a few washed onion slices onto a sandwich or in your salad.
If you get burnt (sun stroke or heat stroke): Seek relief by sipping on green tea or take a spoon of onion juice. They are potent antioxidants that can neutralise cellular damage caused by the sun's rays.
To cool the body through sweating: Add small amounts of hot spices to food while cooking. Hot peppers, fresh ginger and black pepper are all great spices to make it really hot for you and then to cool you down.
Hydrate your body: Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. Water is the best drink as it doesn't contain any sugars that can add up to unnecessary calories. For a change, a lemon and honey drink can also instantly replenish your body's lost fluids and work as an energiser. Drink fluids even if you are not thirsty -- once you are thirsty, it means you are already dehydrated.
Wear loose, full-sleeved cotton clothes: To protect the body from the sun and to aid evaporation of sweat. Use a hat to protect your head from the sun if you step out.
Stay indoors: Restrict outdoor activities to the cooler parts of the day -- early mornings before 10:30 am or late evenings after 5:30 pm.
If you're a non-vegetarian: You should limit red meat consumption in summer and opt for fish and oysters instead.
Avoid extremely chilled foods and drinks: Most of us normally pick these and they are actually known to interfere with digestion and sweating, thereby interfering with the body's natural cooling mechanisms. So, however tempting it may be to sit on your porch licking an ice cream cone or sipping a cool glass of tea, try a wedge of watermelon instead.
As the mercury rises, the last thing on one's mind is food, but if you eat smart, small light meals and accompany them with plenty of fluids you will be one cool cucumber. So go ahead and take these obvious precautions! Remember, the best place to start the cooling process is at your body's core.
Courtesy: www.rediff.com
How to start saving: 4 smart steps
Do you have money put away for a rainy day? How will you manage if there's a family emergency? What about a down payment for a home, or a fund for higher education, or retirement? Do you have loans to repay?
In this era of recession, deflation, and job-cuts, it is especially important for you to consider where your hard-earned money is going; financial security is the key in today's unpredictable world.
And the first step towards gaining that security is to have a Saving Plan.
Still not convinced? Then ask yourself why you need to save. The answer's really very simple: so that your money can start earning money, and work towards reducing the effort you put in everyday.
Start saving now. Here's how!
You might wonder how to begin saving if your income is already over-committed. Efficiency and discipline are the answers.
1. You need to first find out where your income is going. Maintain a diary for the month, noting down everything you spend on, to the last paisa.
You will be surprised at the amount of random purchases you make -- from coffee breaks to grocery bills. These are the best places to start trimming.
2. Then, make a budget. This isn't as difficult as you think. All a budget does is create a plan for spending, by stating expenses and goals.
Make sure to cover fixed and regular expenses such as mortgage or rent, utility payments, and car or loan/credit card payments. Then set limits on necessities like groceries and clothing, as well as nice-to-haves like entertainment and travel. It's also important at this stage to factor in a savings amount.
3. Now, your first priority is an emergency fund, if you don't already have one in place. And the easiest way to do this is to have the amount deducted from your salary every month and put into a fixed or recurring deposit.
Give yourself a pat on the back if you find yourself adding that little extra to your fund because you managed to save a little more this month. You might find it easier to stay within budget if you use cash or debit cards for the necessities and frills.
4. As your emergency fund accumulates, your next task is to find more money for savings and even investment. Begin by paying off your credit cards.
If you spend a little time examining your monthly statements, you will be amazed to see how much money you're losing just by way of interest!
Saving versus Investing
At this point, we need to address the differences between saving and investing.
Savings provide for emergencies and fund specific purchases in the near future (within two years). The primary goal is to store funds and keep them safe.
However, you invest to increase net worth and work toward long-term goals. Also realise that investing involves risk, where you could lose some of your original investment.
Only consider an investment plan when you have in place an emergency fund, insurance, control over credit use, and a retirement plan.
In the long run
Now, consider making a long-range savings and investment plan. When beginning to plan for investments, consider your goals, the amount of time you will be able to spend on nurturing these investments, how much you know about the funds, how much money you have to invest, whether you can tolerate risk, and handle loss.
Remember that your ultimate goal is a financially secure future for you and your family.
If you look back over all that we've discussed so far, you will realise that we've told you how to begin saving money, in small, manageable chunks. The final objective might be to set aside enough for you to retire so that you don't have to work another day, but your immediate goal is to start the process and become habituated, so that saving becomes a way of life, and a chance to improve how you live.
Courtesy: www.rediff.com
In this era of recession, deflation, and job-cuts, it is especially important for you to consider where your hard-earned money is going; financial security is the key in today's unpredictable world.
And the first step towards gaining that security is to have a Saving Plan.
Still not convinced? Then ask yourself why you need to save. The answer's really very simple: so that your money can start earning money, and work towards reducing the effort you put in everyday.
Start saving now. Here's how!
You might wonder how to begin saving if your income is already over-committed. Efficiency and discipline are the answers.
1. You need to first find out where your income is going. Maintain a diary for the month, noting down everything you spend on, to the last paisa.
You will be surprised at the amount of random purchases you make -- from coffee breaks to grocery bills. These are the best places to start trimming.
2. Then, make a budget. This isn't as difficult as you think. All a budget does is create a plan for spending, by stating expenses and goals.
Make sure to cover fixed and regular expenses such as mortgage or rent, utility payments, and car or loan/credit card payments. Then set limits on necessities like groceries and clothing, as well as nice-to-haves like entertainment and travel. It's also important at this stage to factor in a savings amount.
3. Now, your first priority is an emergency fund, if you don't already have one in place. And the easiest way to do this is to have the amount deducted from your salary every month and put into a fixed or recurring deposit.
Give yourself a pat on the back if you find yourself adding that little extra to your fund because you managed to save a little more this month. You might find it easier to stay within budget if you use cash or debit cards for the necessities and frills.
4. As your emergency fund accumulates, your next task is to find more money for savings and even investment. Begin by paying off your credit cards.
If you spend a little time examining your monthly statements, you will be amazed to see how much money you're losing just by way of interest!
Saving versus Investing
At this point, we need to address the differences between saving and investing.
Savings provide for emergencies and fund specific purchases in the near future (within two years). The primary goal is to store funds and keep them safe.
However, you invest to increase net worth and work toward long-term goals. Also realise that investing involves risk, where you could lose some of your original investment.
Only consider an investment plan when you have in place an emergency fund, insurance, control over credit use, and a retirement plan.
In the long run
Now, consider making a long-range savings and investment plan. When beginning to plan for investments, consider your goals, the amount of time you will be able to spend on nurturing these investments, how much you know about the funds, how much money you have to invest, whether you can tolerate risk, and handle loss.
Remember that your ultimate goal is a financially secure future for you and your family.
If you look back over all that we've discussed so far, you will realise that we've told you how to begin saving money, in small, manageable chunks. The final objective might be to set aside enough for you to retire so that you don't have to work another day, but your immediate goal is to start the process and become habituated, so that saving becomes a way of life, and a chance to improve how you live.
Courtesy: www.rediff.com
Fixed deposits: Are they for you?
With the stock markets in a downward spiral, it comes as no surprise that few want to invest in equity markets. This crash in the share prices, however, has proved to be a boon for banks, whose fixed deposits were ignored by the investors in favour of equities for higher returns.
These banks came out with various FDs, offering attractive rates. This has tempted many investors to opt for FDs. However, every investor in a fixed deposit must remember that FDs are also an investment option and as with any investment option, they too have their own pros and cons.
So be prepared to get the complete overview of this investment option before opting for it.
What is an FD?
An FD, or fixed deposit, is also a term deposit. It is similar to a savings account, except that your money is locked in for a certain period, also called 'term'. Hence the name term deposits.
However, while you cannot access your money, the bank rewards you by giving you a higher interest rate than it gives you on your savings account.
Is it the best investment option?
Remember, diversification is the name of the game when it comes to investment. Just putting your money in FD will not help you get the best overall returns.
You also need exposure to equities to get the growth in capital and beating inflation in the long run. Hence, it is advisable to invest into both equities and debt.
It will help you get higher returns from equities, while enjoying the capital safety offered by FD.
What are the advantages of an FD?
An FD has various benefits that make it an ideal investment option for those looking for capital safety.
Low risk: An FD is comparatively lot safer than equities, as your deposit up to Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000) is insured by Deposit Insurance Credit Guarantee Corporation. So, in case the bank fails, your money is still secured. This makes FD an ideal investment option for senior citizens.
Regular income: Unlike dividends given by the companies, the interest earned on an FD is fixed, as the rate of interest for the particular term is constant. Even if the rates increase or decrease subsequent to your opening an FD, your rate of interest will not be affected.
So you are guaranteed a regular income, making it an ideal investment option for those looking for regular income.
Availability of loan: Are you looking for a secured loan? Then you can avail of a loan by offering your FD as collateral. While your FD continues to earn interest, the rate of interest for the loan will be a few notches higher than that of the FD.
Hence this type of loan works out cheaper than any other type of loan, since the bank has the assurance of claiming your deposit if you fail to repay the loan.
Saves taxes: For those looking for an efficient tax saving investment option, FD is a good option. While ELSS (Equity-Linked Savings Scheme) has the shortest lock-in period of three years, your capital is not secured.
On the other hand, PPF (Public Provident Fund) offers capital security, it has a lock-in period of 15 years.
The tax-saving FD offers the best of both the world, as your money is locked for just five years, while your capital is safe.
Are there any drawbacks?
While an FD does have a lot of pros, it does have its share of cons. Here are some of them:
Erosion of worth of capital due to inflation: Inflation means a loss in the purchasing power of the money. When inflation goes up, the purchasing power of money goes down. As the interest rates on FDs are lower than the rate of inflation, the purchasing power of your deposited money does go down. As a result, you end up eroding the worth of your capital.
Tax liability: Except for the tax-saving FDs, the interest earned is taxed. So you end up incurring tax liability. You are particularly affected if you are a high income earner.
What should I do?
The best option for you is to invest as per your goals. If you have any short-term goals -- i.e. goals that have to be met within three years, like buying a car, or going on a holiday -- then the FD is your best bet.
On the other hand, for long-term goals like retirement planning or your child's education, go for equities.
Courtesy: www.rediff.com
These banks came out with various FDs, offering attractive rates. This has tempted many investors to opt for FDs. However, every investor in a fixed deposit must remember that FDs are also an investment option and as with any investment option, they too have their own pros and cons.
So be prepared to get the complete overview of this investment option before opting for it.
What is an FD?
An FD, or fixed deposit, is also a term deposit. It is similar to a savings account, except that your money is locked in for a certain period, also called 'term'. Hence the name term deposits.
However, while you cannot access your money, the bank rewards you by giving you a higher interest rate than it gives you on your savings account.
Is it the best investment option?
Remember, diversification is the name of the game when it comes to investment. Just putting your money in FD will not help you get the best overall returns.
You also need exposure to equities to get the growth in capital and beating inflation in the long run. Hence, it is advisable to invest into both equities and debt.
It will help you get higher returns from equities, while enjoying the capital safety offered by FD.
What are the advantages of an FD?
An FD has various benefits that make it an ideal investment option for those looking for capital safety.
Low risk: An FD is comparatively lot safer than equities, as your deposit up to Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000) is insured by Deposit Insurance Credit Guarantee Corporation. So, in case the bank fails, your money is still secured. This makes FD an ideal investment option for senior citizens.
Regular income: Unlike dividends given by the companies, the interest earned on an FD is fixed, as the rate of interest for the particular term is constant. Even if the rates increase or decrease subsequent to your opening an FD, your rate of interest will not be affected.
So you are guaranteed a regular income, making it an ideal investment option for those looking for regular income.
Availability of loan: Are you looking for a secured loan? Then you can avail of a loan by offering your FD as collateral. While your FD continues to earn interest, the rate of interest for the loan will be a few notches higher than that of the FD.
Hence this type of loan works out cheaper than any other type of loan, since the bank has the assurance of claiming your deposit if you fail to repay the loan.
Saves taxes: For those looking for an efficient tax saving investment option, FD is a good option. While ELSS (Equity-Linked Savings Scheme) has the shortest lock-in period of three years, your capital is not secured.
On the other hand, PPF (Public Provident Fund) offers capital security, it has a lock-in period of 15 years.
The tax-saving FD offers the best of both the world, as your money is locked for just five years, while your capital is safe.
Are there any drawbacks?
While an FD does have a lot of pros, it does have its share of cons. Here are some of them:
Erosion of worth of capital due to inflation: Inflation means a loss in the purchasing power of the money. When inflation goes up, the purchasing power of money goes down. As the interest rates on FDs are lower than the rate of inflation, the purchasing power of your deposited money does go down. As a result, you end up eroding the worth of your capital.
Tax liability: Except for the tax-saving FDs, the interest earned is taxed. So you end up incurring tax liability. You are particularly affected if you are a high income earner.
What should I do?
The best option for you is to invest as per your goals. If you have any short-term goals -- i.e. goals that have to be met within three years, like buying a car, or going on a holiday -- then the FD is your best bet.
On the other hand, for long-term goals like retirement planning or your child's education, go for equities.
Courtesy: www.rediff.com
Seven reasons why people fail in interviews
Success does not always come at the first attempt. This applies to interviews also. It takes some time for people to understand and perform well during the interview. But, often one can see candidates complaining that they got rejected despite having done well.
There are many reasons, why a person fails in an interview, but let us see some of the common ones.
1. Lack of preparation
Of all the reasons, this is the foremost one. It includes carrying improper CV, inappropriate dress code, completely unaware of interview questions and positive answers etc. By improper CV I mean, a CV which is not aligned well, or handwritten.
Walking into interview room in casual wear is also one of the key reasons for people to get rejected.
2. Casualness
Let us cross the bridge when it comes' does not apply to interviews. One needs to be geared up 100 per cent before the interview.
I have seen few candidates saying 'I will learn everything by experience. I am confident that by 'Law of average, if I attend 10 interviews, I will crack at least one'.
This attitude could prove lucky for few initially, but not for everyone at all times. The interview preparation should be given due respect it deserves.
3. Failing to understand the job role
This is a typical problem with a few of the candidates. They are completely unaware of what the job requires one to do.
If a person does not understand his/ her role properly, he cannot justify his suitability for the job.
If you are going through a consultant or got an interview call from the company directly, get the job description completely. In the event of responding to walk-in ads in newspaper, if you are not sure about the job description, spend some time on the Internet to know about your role.
4. Lack of skills
I am sure most of you would have read reports published by NASSCOM, HR experts & corporate professionals that more than 70 per cent of the candidates lack in employability skills.
A good qualification alone is not sufficient, but host of other skills such as good communications, interpersonal skills, analytical abilities, personality etc. are also vital.
Unfortunately most of the candidates realise this very late
5. No proper focus
During the interview, some candidates lose out, because they are not able to convince the employer about their interest in the position applied for. If you are applying for a job in marketing, stay focused on it.
Some candidates even put fields of interest as marketing, administration and accounts. Therefore, in the event of you being open to any career, prepare different types of CVs for different fields.
6. Lack of subject knowledge
Irrespective of you being a fresher or an experienced professional, revisit your subject before going for the interview.
There are many chances that you will be asked questions from your subject, more particularly, if you are applying for a career related to the course you studied.
7. Lack of confidence
When the candidate uses too many negative words such as, 'I am not sure', 'May be I can', etc., it does portray lack of confidence to the employer.
The negative gestures or negative body language plays spoilsport in your selection. Instead use words such as 'Surely', 'I can do it', 'It's challenging but I can do it' etc.
Courtesy: www.rediff.com
There are many reasons, why a person fails in an interview, but let us see some of the common ones.
1. Lack of preparation
Of all the reasons, this is the foremost one. It includes carrying improper CV, inappropriate dress code, completely unaware of interview questions and positive answers etc. By improper CV I mean, a CV which is not aligned well, or handwritten.
Walking into interview room in casual wear is also one of the key reasons for people to get rejected.
2. Casualness
Let us cross the bridge when it comes' does not apply to interviews. One needs to be geared up 100 per cent before the interview.
I have seen few candidates saying 'I will learn everything by experience. I am confident that by 'Law of average, if I attend 10 interviews, I will crack at least one'.
This attitude could prove lucky for few initially, but not for everyone at all times. The interview preparation should be given due respect it deserves.
3. Failing to understand the job role
This is a typical problem with a few of the candidates. They are completely unaware of what the job requires one to do.
If a person does not understand his/ her role properly, he cannot justify his suitability for the job.
If you are going through a consultant or got an interview call from the company directly, get the job description completely. In the event of responding to walk-in ads in newspaper, if you are not sure about the job description, spend some time on the Internet to know about your role.
4. Lack of skills
I am sure most of you would have read reports published by NASSCOM, HR experts & corporate professionals that more than 70 per cent of the candidates lack in employability skills.
A good qualification alone is not sufficient, but host of other skills such as good communications, interpersonal skills, analytical abilities, personality etc. are also vital.
Unfortunately most of the candidates realise this very late
5. No proper focus
During the interview, some candidates lose out, because they are not able to convince the employer about their interest in the position applied for. If you are applying for a job in marketing, stay focused on it.
Some candidates even put fields of interest as marketing, administration and accounts. Therefore, in the event of you being open to any career, prepare different types of CVs for different fields.
6. Lack of subject knowledge
Irrespective of you being a fresher or an experienced professional, revisit your subject before going for the interview.
There are many chances that you will be asked questions from your subject, more particularly, if you are applying for a career related to the course you studied.
7. Lack of confidence
When the candidate uses too many negative words such as, 'I am not sure', 'May be I can', etc., it does portray lack of confidence to the employer.
The negative gestures or negative body language plays spoilsport in your selection. Instead use words such as 'Surely', 'I can do it', 'It's challenging but I can do it' etc.
Courtesy: www.rediff.com
Monday, May 11, 2009
What employers expect from MBA grads
How often do you hear MBA graduates from premier business schools complaining about their employers? The most common comments are usually: not getting enough exposure, visibility, and opportunities to contribute towards the growth of organisation.
Employers offer hefty salaries to fresh MBA graduates and most new hires would take anywhere between 12-18 months of classroom or on-the-job training to be productive and contribute towards organisational objectives. Given the resources the companies invest in this process, they would naturally want each one of their employees to be successful in their roles.
So how can you ensure that your degree is put to good use and your pay package justified? Here are some of the things most employers expect from MBA graduates they hire:
Learn quickly
Most grads do not have enough understanding of the business or the industry they enter into. However, two years at business school offers enough exposure to be able to understand new business faster than most of their colleagues who did not get that opportunity. It is expected that new hires will pick up the right skills and knowledge required to be successful in their roles quickly.
Ability to scale and take greater responsibility
This is most important. Salaries generally do not depend upon current levels of productivity. Organisations offer higher salaries in the hope that most of these management students will grow and take up greater responsibility in the organisation. Every employer wants employees to scale faster, take responsibility and contribute towards the growth of organisation.
Ability to deal with uncertainty
Unlike in the classroom, we do not have enough information to be able to take the most optimal decision. Most decisions in business are taken with incomplete and questionable information. There is always uncertainty because of factors beyond the control of the employee and the organisation. Great employees can handle uncertainty and take decisions based on the limited information available.
People skills
Most business functions depend on others to be successful. For example, a salesperson might depend on the marketing, legal or engineering teams to be able to close a sale. Their effectiveness in business roles depends a lot on how they get work done from people who don't report to them. It is important that MBA graduates are able to work with others in the organisation to achieve common organisational goals.
Courtesy: Tarun Matta
http://www.iimjobs.com
Employers offer hefty salaries to fresh MBA graduates and most new hires would take anywhere between 12-18 months of classroom or on-the-job training to be productive and contribute towards organisational objectives. Given the resources the companies invest in this process, they would naturally want each one of their employees to be successful in their roles.
So how can you ensure that your degree is put to good use and your pay package justified? Here are some of the things most employers expect from MBA graduates they hire:
Learn quickly
Most grads do not have enough understanding of the business or the industry they enter into. However, two years at business school offers enough exposure to be able to understand new business faster than most of their colleagues who did not get that opportunity. It is expected that new hires will pick up the right skills and knowledge required to be successful in their roles quickly.
Ability to scale and take greater responsibility
This is most important. Salaries generally do not depend upon current levels of productivity. Organisations offer higher salaries in the hope that most of these management students will grow and take up greater responsibility in the organisation. Every employer wants employees to scale faster, take responsibility and contribute towards the growth of organisation.
Ability to deal with uncertainty
Unlike in the classroom, we do not have enough information to be able to take the most optimal decision. Most decisions in business are taken with incomplete and questionable information. There is always uncertainty because of factors beyond the control of the employee and the organisation. Great employees can handle uncertainty and take decisions based on the limited information available.
People skills
Most business functions depend on others to be successful. For example, a salesperson might depend on the marketing, legal or engineering teams to be able to close a sale. Their effectiveness in business roles depends a lot on how they get work done from people who don't report to them. It is important that MBA graduates are able to work with others in the organisation to achieve common organisational goals.
Courtesy: Tarun Matta
http://www.iimjobs.com
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