FROM COLLEGE CAMPUS TO COOPERATE WORLD!

College life is full of fun, bunking classes, late night studies, exams, parties etc. But in the end reality hits us, then farewell day comes! Fear of a good job placement starts knocking at ourdoor. The time comes where we have to prove ourselves and to show the world that we are capable of doing something. Suddenly, cracking the interview becomes the most important thing in our lives.Preparing for the right attire, the right answers to expected questions, the perfect resume and portfolio etc. all the time at college you were told good marks would get you a good job and then you realize that oh, your degree is not enough!!You now need to learn how to create good first impressions, you have to learn winning body language, you have to communicate right, and you have to practice good manners and etiquette.

How to create perfect first impression in front of interviewers so that they select you. Why does this happen; during our school, college we just focus our time and money only on hard skills (only on text books) we never think about the importance of soft skills and we ignore the fact that soft skills are harder to learn. When we realize its importance, we understand the loss we had because of lacking these skills. Soft skills are important for every individual no matter who you are, whether a college going student, or working professional. It is very important that you create your own personal brand: good communication skills, high emotional intelligence, good interpersonal skills, forming a perfect first impression, leadership skills, proper dressing and grooming are the key ingredient in making perfect personal brand.

Let me a share a story with you. Riya is a final year computer science student, she is a very career oriented girl, very good in academics, busy in studies all the time. She completes all her assignment before the dead line and always tops her class. So as a consequence of being a topper she has limited friend circle, she is poor in social interaction and finds it difficult to communicate her idea to others.To avoid people she spends most of her time in library like an ideal student. Then in college campus placements start, every student, even the class bunkers start preparing for the placements, because they all know that for a fresher It is tough to find a job. Riya also starts preparing, she is really good with aptitude test, so she clears all the aptitude tests of company but she fails to perform well in group discussion and personal interview. She was rejected by every single company. She felt lost, heartbroken and angry too with herself.She could not figure out how to move forward.

 What went wrong in Riya’s case? There are certain questions that you should ask yourself after reading this story.

·       Did you or some of your friends face the same problem that Riya faced?

·       Did you miss out the campus placement because of lack of confidence and poor communication skills?

·       Have you ever experienced anxiety during interview and presentations?

·       Did you feel bad even being a topper of the class that could find an average job?

·       Why in the class of 50 students only 2-3 get very good placements and others don’t?

·       Did you ever think that soft skills are really important to excel in career?

·       Do you feel that one should invest more in developing a good image & personal brand rather than just focusing on getting degrees only?

·       What to do to learn soft skills?

As a millennial generation we are flexible, good learners, very creative, and full of energy but at the same time we always have expectations to get trophy for our mere participation. At work it is vital to stand out so that our career shines. Personal development programs play a key role in polishing our skills.

 Here are some key areas in which you should work for having a good personal development.

Appearance: Dressing well not only increases your self-confidence but it also gives a good visual message to other people. We should dress for success .The way you look and carry yourself helps in creating good first impressions.

Behavior: Even with the best intentions, we can be unaware of what we are projecting to others.So good interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence always helps an individual to understand self and others well. If you make others feel special and put them in a good mood, you will be more socially desirable than others who don’t provide them with such positive feelings.

Communication skills:Communication is the back bone of every relationship from birth to death. Through communication our thoughts are introduced in this world.Having good communication skills help you to make your ideasmore clear. Even if you are having good idea if you are unable to communicate them they are useless. Learn to present your idea in public.

Interview skills: Creating a perfect good impression in an interview is very important because a positive first impression will increase the chances of your selection and you will never get a second chance to make your first impression. Practice mock interviews to increase the chances of your selection, be it a group discussion or a personal interview, with the help of a certified Image Consultant & Coach.

Introduce yourself well on social media: Social media plays a really important role. Whenever we hear about something or someone new, we Google…., organizations do the same while selecting their employees.They look at your profile on LinkedIn,They will create an impression about you even before meeting you, so manage your image on all your online platforms.

Personal coaching:Ask for help when you need it. Personal coaching, Life coaching and personality development programs are life changing and with one time investment you will benefit throughout your life.

Have a positive attitude: Become a lifelong expert on finding your own bliss and Have faith in yourself; faith in the infinite. Faith is the only antidote for failure.

Just like food is tasteless without salt, likewise hard skills are useless without soft skills.Start investing in developing your own personal brand.This will empower you in right direction.