BIODATA/RESUME

PRESENTATION SKILLS
GROUP DISCUSSION
SOCIAL SKILLS
ETIQUETTES

BIODATA, CURRICULUM VITAE,

RESUME
RESUME
Resume is a French word meaning "summary".
A resume is ideally a summary of one's education, skills
and employment when applying for a new job.
A resume does not list out all details of a profile, but only
some specific skills customized to the target job profile.
It thus, is usually 1 or at the max 2 pages long. A resume
is usually written in the third person to give it an
objective and formal tone.
A resume would be ideally suited when experience people
apply for specific positions where certain specific skills
are more important than education.

Structure of a Resume:
A good resume would start with a Brief Profile of the
candidate, Summary of Qualifications, followed by Industry
Expertise and then Professional Experience in reverse
chronological order.
Focus is on the most recent experiences (with
responsibilities and accomplishments), and previous
experiences are only presented as a summary.
This would be followed by Education details and/or
Professional Affiliations and/or Voluntary Initiatives.

CURRICULUM VITAE
Curriculum Vitae is a Latin word meaning "course of
life".
It is more detailed than a resume, generally 2 to 3 pages,
or even longer as per the requirement.
A C.V. lists out every skill, all the jobs and positions
held, degrees, professional affiliations the applicant has
acquired, and in chronological order.
A C.V. is used to highlight the general talent of the
candidate rather than specific skills for a specific
position.
A C.V., on the other hand should be the preferred option
for fresh graduates or people looking for a career change.
It could also be used by people applying for academic
positions.

BIO-DATA
Bio Data is the short form for Biographical Data and is an
archaic terminology for Resume or C.V.
In a bio data, the focus is on personal particulars like date
of birth, gender, religion, race, nationality, residence,
marital status, and the like.
A chronological listing of education and experience comes
after that.
The term bio-data is mostly used in India when people
apply for government jobs, or for research grants where
one has to submit descriptive essays. Bio Datas are not
common in the international markets where personal
information like age, gender, religion are not required to
be submitted by candidates.

GROUP DISCUSSION
Group Discussion! Is a methodology or in a simple language
you may call it an interview process or a group activity.
It is used as one of the best tools to select the prospective
candidates in a comparative perspective.
GD may be used by an interviewer at an organization, colleges
or even at different types of management competitions.
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge
whether the candidate has certain personality traits and/or
skills that it desires in its members.
In this methodology, the group of candidates is given a topic or
a situation, given a few minutes to think about the same, and
then asked to discuss the topic among themselves for 15-20
minutes.
GD evaluation is done by the subject experts based on the
discussions. A report will be prepared on analyzing the facts at
the end of the discussion.

Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge

may include:
* Communication skills
* Interpersonal Skills
* Leadership Skills
* Motivational Skills
* Team Building Skills
* Analytical /Logical Skills
* Reasoning ability
* Different Thinking
* Initiative
* Assertiveness
* Flexibility
* Creativity
* Ability to think on ones feet

Companies conduct group discussion after the written

test to know more about your:
Interactive Skills (how good you are at communication
with other people)
Behaviour (how open-minded are you in accepting views
contrary to your own)
Participation (how good an active speaker you are &
your attention to the discussion)
Contribution (how much importance do you give to the
group objective as well as your own)

PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW

Step 1: The Self-Interview
Check your Resume
Know your strengths & weaknesses
Determine your employment interests; what do you want to do and
why
Reflect on your values; whats most important to you
Be prepared to cite several examples of experiences,
accomplishments, successes
Step 2: Research
Review employer website/literature
Develop questions concerning employer and job
Attend Informational Meetings
Be sure you know what the company stands for, its culture, and
why you want to work for them!

Step 3: Practice!!
Review common questions
Schedule mock interview
Prepare list of questions
Be alert to body language & eye contact
SMILE
Speak clearly; listen carefully
Match your skills/experiences with jobs

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TYPICAL INTERVIEW FORMAT

Introductions/Ice Breakers
Discussion of Positions/Opportunities
Candidate Assessment (Sell Yourself!)
Pose Questions Make Them Good!
Conclusion/Find Out Next Steps
Assess Your Performance
Send Thank-You Note
Follow-up!

PRE REQUISITES OF JOB

INTERVIEW
Dress appropriately for the job interview.
Arrive 10 to 15 minutes in advance to the interview venue.
Research about the company profile.
Maintain good body gestures and eye contact during the
interview.
Ask for a clarification if you do not understand the question
properly.
Greet the receptionist with respect and courtesy.
Fill the job application, neatly, completely and accurately.
Showcase a positive and enthusiastic approach during the
interview.
Prepare yourself a brief and an impressive introductive note.
Bring extra resume to the job interview

DONT OF JOB INTERVIEW

Dont Be soft-spoken during the interview.
Dont Say anything negative or bad about your previous
employer.
Dont Emphasize on money or compensation part until the last
round.
Be dishonest while answering the questions.
Dont Answer any cell calls rather the cell should be in a silent
mode.
Dont Display any kind of dislike for any work.
Dont Start a statement with I think, always be realistic and if
possible quote real stats/data.
Dont Arrive wearing MP3 headphones in your ear.
Dont act as though you would take any job or are desperate for
employment.
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Dont make excuses. Take responsibility for your

decisions and your actions.
Dont treat the interview casually, as if you are just
shopping around or doing the interview for practice.
This is insulting to the interviewer and the
organization.
Dont chew gum or smell like smoke.

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DRESSING FOR SUCCESS-MEN

Regular formal shirts, preferably in solids (no stripes or
checks)
Coordinated and sober/conservative colors
Ties in India are not a practice
Belt should be the same color as your shoes. If wearing
black or navy blue trousers, wear a black belt, black
shoes, and black or navy blue socks
A watch and/or one ring can be appropriate
Formal shoes should be polished and in good condition
Ensure that your clothes fit you well
Undergarments should not be visible
Clothing should not be transparent or form fitting

DRESSING FOR SUCCESS-WOMEN

Formal shirt or blouse with formal trousers/slacks
Indian formal wear (plain cotton salwar kameez/sarees)
If you are wearing a skirt it should be knee-length or
longer
Make up and Jewellery should be minimal and subtle
Neckline should be conservative and not low
Shoes should be a dark color (black, brown, navy), closedtoe, with a low or flat heel
Clothing should not be transparent, nor form fitting
Handbags should be well-kept, moderate in size, neat in
appearance

SOCIAL SKILLS
Social kills, often also referred to as soft skills or people
skills, are personal skills and abilities. Besides technical
knowledge, they are crucial success factors at work
Social skills are the skills we use to communicate and
interact with each other, both verbally and non-verbally,
through gestures, body language and our personal
appearance.
Our communication skills not only shape our
relationships with colleagues, supervisors and staff, but
even affect our relationships with our family and friends.
The importance of social skills extends to all situations in
life, for greater success, happiness and security at work,
within the family and in our social circle.
The demand for employees with social skills is high
among companies.

Social skills can be classified into the following categories:

General social skills: Emotional intelligence, flexibility,
commitment, ability to handle stress, willingness to
learn, readiness to perform, openness, analytical
thinking, creativity
Self-management skills: Personal responsibility, selfconfidence, discipline, ability to criticize oneself, selfmanagement
General skills in dealing with others: Respect for others,
mutual regard, tolerance, empathy, ability to give and
take criticism, communication skills, team capabilities
Special skills in dealing with others: Managerial skills,
negotiation skills, selling and marketing skills,
presentation skills, intercultural skills

DEVELOPING SOCIAL SKILLS

1) The ability to stay calm in social situations
Regardless of how many social skills you have; if youre
anxious then your brain wont work properly. Its always
harder to think and speak clearly when we become
agitated. So calming down is vital. But relaxing in social
situations helps in another way too.
2) Listening skills: The art of connection
People make a huge mistake though when they assume
that gaining good social skills is just about starting to
speak well. To listen well to others you need to develop real
interest in them.
3) Look into their eyes and smile
If you don't look at someone when you are talking or
listening to them, theyll feel: You are ignoring them, You
are untrustworthy , You don't like the look of them

4) Empathy with and interest in others' situations

A major part of social anxiety is self consciousness, which
is greatly alleviated by focusing strongly on someone else
The best social situations are the ones in which you
actually forget about yourself and become focused on what
is going on and other people. A major social skill is being
able to focus outward.
5) Knowing how to build rapport
Rapport is a state of understanding or connection that
occurs in a good social interaction.
Talking about yourself too much and too early can be a
major turn-off for the other party in conversation.
Good initial small-talk is often characterized by discussion
of subjects not personal to either party, or by an exchanging
of personal views in a balanced way.
Immediately describing your deepest desires and darkest
fears to a stranger may freak them out.