How to Handle Telephone Interviews?
(Part ii)

Once you have set up all the arrangements and ready for a call, you should keep in mind that it is crucial. Never take it so lightly. When the expected call comes, never start with a ‘hello’ Give your name enabling the caller to confirm your identity, the other side of the phone will tell you who he is. Wish them appropriately with a good morning, Good afternoon, or good evening.

As it is a part of recruitment process, try to establish a good rapport with the interviewer at the earliest. Be calm and enthusiastic; do not bring down the dialogue to a personal level. Ensure that the clarity of the voice is not lost. Do not talk too loudly. Most of us believe that we are better of being unseen but that is not true. It means that you have to be more particular in your responses. Since the caller cannot see you, your seriousness of purpose has to be conveyed by the tone of your voice.

Other vital aspects.


A good telephone conversation is indeed an art. It calls for considerable skill. The best way to learn this ‘art’ by means of participating enough mock sessions over the phone, talking to a friend. At the end of session, ask him to tell you whether you sound arrogant or confident or diffident .You can make improvement by getting the feed back.

Do not interrupt the interviewer; do not hurry up to give an answer before he completes the question. Never give raise to an occasion where there is simultaneous speech from both ends. If at all such a situation occurs allow the interviewer to continue. If the interviewer doesn’t understand a word, use a synonym if possible, if it does not work, spell the word.

Do not say ‘hello’ during conversation, need not prefix or suffix your sentence
with ‘Sir’. Take care to speak distinctly, slowly, clearly and confidently.

Try to keep the answer short and to the question asked. Suppose you go on answering, you may miss something important that the interviewer is looking for. If possible indicate specific facts including the right names and numbers. This shows your appreciation of precision and accuracy.

Whenever some words of encouragement are heard, do not hesitate to thank the interviewer. Suppose you are asked about your expected salary, do not tell a figure. Instead of that you may suggest- normally you would be agreeable to fall in line with the company norms that are in tune with the prevailing market rates, your qualification, experience, and skills.

You may collect a call back number (number of the interviewer). It will be helpful on certain occasions and be able to resume the conversation.

When you feel that the conversation is going to close and you could not figure out some of the vital information about your achievement. You could briefly introduce it by telling, “Perhaps you would be interested to know that….”

A perfect finish......

Now it is time to finish. Ending the call to be done carefully Let the interviewer hang up the phone; you hang up there after.

Do not forget to thank the interviewer for having spared time for you. You may enquire about the next step in the process such as face-to-face interview .If there is, enquire about the possible date time and venue

Interview should preferably end in a positive note, indicating your association with the company.

After the interview ,do send a “thank you” letter to the interviewer.

Company Secretary -An upcoming career option.

A company secretary is a professional whose role in a corporate set up is that of an advisor for legal matters. A company secretary acts as a vital link between company and board of directores, shareholders, government and regulatory agencies. After the globalization of services, the field is opening in various countries for practicing Company Secretaries as well. Many Company Secretaries are already working in various countries like the US, Canada, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Middle-east, Africa, etc.

Duties and responsibilities.

It will depend on the size of the company he/she is working with. The nature of work a company engaged in, will also affect the type of services a company secretary required to provide. In addition to his/her secretarial duties, a company secretary is responsible for carrying out finance, accounts, and legal administrative and personal functions.

Their other responsibilities include incorporation, managing public issues, act as an internal legal advisor, maintain companies records, take care of companies tax planning, tax management, tax returns, explore expanse opportunities, arrange collaboration. The job also involves arranging company meeting. More over they are required to understand the relevant aspects of law and update themselves with the changes. It is the moral responsibility of a company secretary to be loyal to his organization on knowing their plans and secrets.

Job Prospects

A qualified company secretary has openings in Employment and as a Practicing Independent Professional. Companies with a paid up share capital of Rs.2 crores or more are compulsorily required to appoint a whole-time Company Secretary.

What a 'CS'can offer to IT and ITES

Curriculum in CS makes himself suitable to work with IT and IT enabled services. Knowledge in foreign collaboration and joint venture agreements as well as intellectual property rights enable him to add value to IT or BPO industry .As they are well versed in ‘LAW ‘, they have a better scope in KPO industry (Knowledge process Outsourcing-An Industry of the future). Like technical experts company secretaries need continuous up gradation of their knowledge and skills depending on the requirement.

Remuneration.

As compared to other managerial staff company secretary command very high salary.Remuneration depends on the qualification and experience.

Resume Tips.

Resume is a self-promotional document, which presents one in a best possible way for the purpose of getting invited to a job interview. Making a good Resume is an art. You can create a resume that makes you stand out as a superior candidate for a job. It is likely that a well –written resume of yours is more often invited for an interview than many people qualified than you. So in order to gain, you must present it in an impressive manner. We can say that, a Resume is an advertisement of oneself. You are selling yourself to an employer. So you must highlight, what are the benefits they get if they select you? So sell yourself carefully.

Never think of your resume as a history of your past, (though we mention our past job history) some sort of self-expression, or as a personal statement. Most of the people write a resume so reluctantly, just for the sake of having one. Unless you have the intention to impress the employer, you won’t succeed in this process

Certain points to be noted…

You must be careful in adding hobbies in to your resume. It should have some relevance to the job. Suppose you have been called for the interview, they may enquire further on this topic. So do not make any dishonest claims.

Suppose you are on the process of learning or gaining one more degree .You must mention it like graduate studies in xxxxxxxxxxxx in progress. Or xxxxxxxx degree anticipated month/year...

You should go back in your work history preferably for about 10 to 15 years unless your golden days are further back.

If you are over 40,50 years of age, .you don’t have to mention your entire work history. To avoid age discrimination, you mention that part of your resume as ‘RECENT WORK HISTORY’ or ‘RELEVENT WORK HISTORY’ then describe only your last 10-15 years of your experience. Still more relevant thing beyond 15 yrs need to be mentioned as ‘PRIOR RELEVENT EXPERIENCE’.

If you have some GAPS in your work experience. Don’t leave it like that. Write it out (even if it is unpaid).
For e.g.
2000-2003Full-time parent,
2003-2004Full-time student,
Maternity leave and family management.
Parenting and social service etc.

You may have to modify your CV as per the nature of the job in various organization you have applied for. Update your resume regularly.


Point out your qualification and experience in the reverse order. (Ie highest qualification comes first)

Confirm that your draft has no error in spelling.

DOS AND DON’TS

Use good quality white paper.

Do not fill up the page with so many irrelevant things, Elimination of unimportant details is as important as including details.

Never submit a hand written CV, unless the employer asks you to do so.

Make the layout neat and easy to read. Use tables so that the employer can quickly note the details.