Preparation

A good CV gets a great response
A CV is the first contact point between you and the company. The more you spend time in getting it right, the more are your chances of getting a positive response.

Give what’s expected. Plus a little more
Customise your CV as per the requirements of the job. State some extra qualifications and skills to give you that edge over others. The chances are the employer might show his appreciation for your effort by giving you a call for the interview.

Looks Matter
If your CV looks cluttered, it will head straight for the nearest bin. Keep it neat and tiny. Select a neat type with wide margins, use proper headings for section breakers, use bullet points to call attention to important points and make sure the information flows logically. Presentation is as important as the information on the resume.

Be proud of your achievements
It’s important to mention important previous job positions and accomplishments.

Count your achievements
Quantify your accomplishments. The more, the better. And highlight those that are more relevant to the job-description.

Body language speaks volumes
Your body language speaks a lot about you. It could influence the person sitting next to you positively or negatively depending on your conduct. The right answers along with the right body language could be the deal breaker.

Positivism works wonders
Your chips may be down. You may have run into heavy traffic on the way or you are upset about the auto-guy overcharging you on the way to interview. But don’t let it show on your face when you enter the interview room. Otherwise, you’ll see that same frown on the face of the interviewers when leave the interview room.

Get, set, breathe
Feeling anxious for the interview? Breathe deeply. It will calm your nerves. And don’t forget to flash a smile as soon as you enter to stimulate a good feeling.

Your sitting posture
Sit straight to present a confident you. While talking, use your hands to express yourself better. And don’t forget to maintain a friendly eye contact to everyone present. It’ll make everyone in the room feel a part of the conversation.

Things to watch out for
To be heard, you don’t have to raise your voice.You have to keep it down. Keep an even tone to sound confident. It gets the points across more clearly. And keep a calm face to go with it, without showing any signs of stress on your face.

First impression creates a lasting impression
Dress, grooming and personal cleanliness standards contribute to the morale of all employees and influence the business image of the company. Some of the basic parameters that need to be taken care of for attire are –

Professional Attire –

Your dress shirt should be solid in a neutral color, preferably white, but certainly a light color.

Wear the same color socks as the suit, and long enough to allow no skin shown between leg and shoe.

Wear a tie of neutral color with less than 3 colors.

Your tie should co-ordinate with your attire and the knot should be a perfect triangle.

The appropriate colors for formal trousers and belt are Black & Brown.

Avoid wearing wrinkled, untidy and unwashed clothes.

Wear only formal belts with a sleek buckle and as thumb rule, match your belt to your shoes.

Footwear –

Black or brown leather shoes for men and sandals for women.

Wear clean socks to avoid bad odor.

Shoes should be polished regularly and match with the pair of trousers.

Hair –

To have a neat look, tie long hair.

Hair should be well combed and clean.

Avoid exotic hair colors and hair styles.

Men should shave or trim the beard.

Hygiene –

Brush your teeth and use mouthwash to avoid bad breath which can be caused due to smoking which is an offence at workplace.

Finger nails to be neatly trimmed.

Well-maintained and subtle nail polish colors.

Brand badge –

Badge is the silent promoter of the brand which reflects the identity of the company and its employees. Therefore it should be dignified.

It’s your first day at work, and you’re a bag of nerves. A little unsure and a little excited at the same time. That’s natural. Blending in will take its own sweet time. But these tips should make the journey smooth.

Step in with a positive attitude
Step in the new workplace with a positive and friendly attitude. If you’re positive, the place also appears so.

Dress to impress
If there a company dress code, follow it with heart. Or simply use a bit of common sense in your dressing sense. And dress in a presentable manner. Not too loud, not too obtuse. Dress to look smart.

The moment you step in
When introduced to your co-workers, shake hands firmly and try to memorize their names quickly. Or if you run into someone in the coffee machine area or the lift area, flash a smile. It also helps to prepare a little introduction about. And you’ll be surprised at how quickly you make new friends at work.

Start taking initiatives
It’s a lot about taking interest in your work from the start. Speak freely, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and ask for help. Being new, you’re not expected to know it all. Remember, the more you ask, the more answers you get.

Avoid this and that
Don’t indulge in small talks, back-biting and office politics. It might sound fun, but you could end up on the receiving end soon. Not healthy at all. But maintaining a good attendance record is healthy.

Be on time
Respect office timings and the time of others and set good examples for others to follow.

A great start
You could be new and starting out. And things might take time to fall in place. But if you stick to some basic rules, you’ll soon find that the new place will feel a lot less strange than it used to. And work, a lot more enjoyable.