Many a times it has been discerned that a less deserving student outshines a more deserving one. How come? Don’t recruiters do their job well? Well yes, they certainly do! It is us who fail to do justice to our talents and who fall short of the skills desired to get through a campus interview. Technical knowledge is not enough. Some extra efforts do need to be put in and these. So hold on to these tips to prepare for Campus placements bridging a gap between the campus and the corporate.

In an aspirant’s life, a campus placement is a very important juncture. Organizations often look for contenders who can wear multiple hats meaning the candidates who are the most looked for swanks a primary area of specialization, a sub-specialty and an advanced knowledge of a field that is theoretical. The very deciding factor in ones success is their level of preparation for the campus interview.

An aspirant’s first job can play a catalyst in ensuring a rewarding career as well as help in fostering a road to success. So discussed below are the mantras and tips to prepare for campus placements to assist you in coping up with the very same in the future to come.

Build a well structured Resume

Talking about the campus interviews, a well structured resume proves to be an indispensable tool. Nevertheless, just having a resume is not sufficient. Besides having a proper format and presentation, there are certain other things than needs to be included too. Mentioned below are some dos and don’ts that need to be kept in mind while preparing a resume:

• The resume should be simple though impressive and point wise
• One should have a complete knowledge of all the things mentioned in the resume
• It is advisable to use a different resume for different interviews based on the company and the position one is seeking
• One should update their resume regularly
• One should enhance their understanding of the points that constitutes a good resume by reading articles on the very same ,online
• The layout of a resume should clear of fancy fonts and colors
• Projects, training and internships must be described in such a way that they reflect your contribution
• Choose the world strategically. The text should be sharp and unnecessary words should be omitted but at the same time, it should highlight your strength
• Highlight extracurricular activities where you have outshined others
• Get the blueprint reviewed by the Training and Placement Officer (TPO), a lecturer who has worked in an industry or any expert with an exposure. Incorporate whatever feedbacks that makes sense to you

Grasp the opportunities

An aspirant should be knowledgeable about the companies visiting the campus, the roles on offer and their selection procedures. It might happen that the companies may terminate their visit in the eleventh hour and some new ones may be roped in. So the individuals need to track these developments as they are of utmost importance.

Rehearse your interview

“Practice makes a man perfect”. This is the ideology that one needs to follow while facing a campus placement. Apart from being handy and useful, rehearsing your interview would further build your confidence and make your interaction more persuasive. Always remember, that your resume would be good enough to get you the desired position but impressing your interviewer further would do wonders for you. So here are some handy tips to be adhered to:

• Read all about the interviews online 
• Collaborate a list of common interview questions
• Think about the interview questions: strengths/weaknesses, long-term/short-term career goals, what motivates you, skills, career interests and answer your list of questions. In addition to this, one should be able to tell others about oneself with conviction
• Get someone - Ask your friend, senior or TPO to interview you and give you objective feedback
• One should be able to portray that they know well enough about their selves to be able to make sound career decisions. So all the thinking that needs to be done before the interview should be done before the interview

Undertake Written Tests

The next big hurdle is the written test and if one fails to clear this section i.e. aptitude or technical tests, then he would lose a vibrant opportunity to work in those leading corporate organizations.

Curriculum Re-assessment

The first and the foremost thing that needs to be tracked down is the information about the recruiter on the campus. This would determine your study needs beforehand. If you are oblivious of the nature of questions to be asked by the interviewer, then you should be prepared with your favorite subjects. Some tips to prepare are mentioned below:

• Practice with CAT preparation material for aptitude tests and test papers
• In your spare time, solve a good puzzle book
• Solve papers completely in strict exam conditions, to get a first-hand feel of the level of difficulty and the desired speed.
• Certainly solve each problem you gather at least once, including the ones you couldn't solve while you were simulating the actual test

Get an A on group discussions

Group discussions are supposed to be very tricky as one need to draw a fine line between being too assertive and too submissive. One should practice well enough to get the balance right. An aspirant should surf the internet and to acquire some valid and good point tips on group discussions for the ground rules as there might be a group discussion at the campus by some companies. So make sure you are prepared for it and are not caught by surprise.

Explore the Companies

Identifying the companies much in advance adds credibility when you are willing to work there. It is essential to study the profile and business activity of the company from the company website or from any business portal/magazine. So surf the internet and jot down the following information about the company in question:

• The history
• Location
• Main product/services
• Any major news in the past two to three months
• Industry-major players
• Industry history
• Major challenges
• Trends
• Future direction

Make your personality click

“First impression is the last impression”. The very phrase stands true in the case of campus interviews. So you need to be very careful in selecting your attire while facing an interview as it indeed plays a supporting role. Dressing up properly and appropriately is an accolade to the person you meet, so never dress casually during a campus interview.

Keep your certificates handy

Before appearing for a campus interview, you need to put all important documents in place which would include:

• Class 10th and 12th certificates
• Technical certifications
• Every documentary proof of your achievements so far
• All the certificates received for all the extracurricular activities in school and in college
• You need to keep these handy during the interview.

Hit the bull’s eye

Campus placements is one ticket’s to a promising career and a great future, so make sure you plan well, prepare hard and be positive. Before heading for the interview, just think about your past victories and accomplishments. Get into an optimistic and a poised mood. Never think about your weaknesses in your preparation and take the interview. Just go there and have fun.

The above mantras and tips to prepare for campus placements can award you with a promising job in your future ahead!

Source: Madiha Jawed (Shiksha Team)