6 Steps To Ace The Indian Job Race

According to a recent survey results, more than 80% of Indianengineering graduates are unemployable. Industry experts believe graduates lack the requisite talent to make the cut. And by requisite talent, they mean: communication skills, confidence, problem-solving capabilities, and other generic abilities sought by the employers in Indian job markets. While the percentage represents a grim situation for engineering graduates, it alarms us of the need for empowering the Indian youth with skill-set that they deserve to acquire as a part of their graduating curriculum, and hereby I present the 6 Steps To Ace The Indian Job Race:

1. Create Your Job Resume Sooner

Resume created within the first month in your college will do you good in 5 ways:

• Kick-start your "need to communicate".
• Provide you the document to update your marks and extra-curricular achievements, as and when they happen. It feels great to write "I led a team!!" Try it.
• Give you the enthusiasm to set a new momentum for your professional life ahead.
• Help you analyze yourself over your graduation tenure and ultimately equips you with the tool to create a Resume that reflects the most authentic image of yourself
• Prepare you appropriately to face the world out there

Remember: Success happens when preparation and 

opportunity

 meet.

2. Create Your LinkedIn Profile

A social profile on LinkedIn will help you in 4 different ways:

• Get connected to your school-friends, friends from anygeographic location, professional circles of your elders and parents, etc.
• Read about industry experts and learn from their experiences
• Join online groups and share your thoughts, for discussions and learning
• Be inspired from activities of other LinkedIn members

Remember: College years are your best time of learning, learning, and learning

3. Talk To Yourself

Stand in front of the mirror and answer to the question: Tell me about yourself. Can you stand straight, confident, and face yourself for more than a minute? You are great if you can! Next, tell yourself about yourself. Practise doing this on a regular basis. This exercise will not only help you build an extra-ordinary self confidence, but also will drive you to get involved inproductive pursuits to talk about yourself. That in turn, will keep increasing yourprofessional skill-sets that you'lldiscover as you go along.

Remember: Every interview usually begins with you talking about yourself.

4. Get Hands-On Experience in Projects & Internships

Paid, or unpaid, Projects and Internships give you an edge in the Indian job market. Write thousands of emails to Professors/Research Associates/ Laboratories etc. for project assistance opportunities in your areas of studies. Somebody, somewhere, is always in need of sincere students. Reach out to your elders, uncles, sisters, cousins working in esteemed organizations, seeking to serve, and to learn "on job" skills. Form groups of friends, and develop a product, try to market it, sell it, and make a fortune out of it. Do anything that you love to do. A steady involvement in Projects and Internship opportunities hone your problem-solving abilities.

Remember: As professionals, you are going to solve problems. So, get the ground running as soon and as much as you can!

5. Update Your Resume

As soon as your semester marks are out, update it in your Resume. It will help you introspect, and improve your performance. As soon as the Annual Fest is over, update your Resume with your 'experience as the Lead Guitarist' for yourCollege music-team. etc. Creating a Resume in the first month into your college makes sense, only when you keep updating it more regularly.

Remember: A well-maintained Resume is always better than a last-minute word document.

6. Practise Gratitude On Daily Basis

Nomatter how many medals you win, how many A+ grades you score, and how many more bullet points you get to add in the 'achievements' section in your Resume, to secure a job, you must be humble enough to deserve that position. Be thankful to your parents, siblings, friends, project-mates, hostel friends, neighbours, pets, and to the universe for giving you with the resources (internet, books, et. al.) and all the opportunities that help you ace the job race.

Remember: Gratitude breeds happiness. Say a genuine 'Thank You', every day.

Best Wishes,

Mishti.