Why do you want to join our company? This is again an overused question but employers often throw it on candidates to ensure that the odd ones are no longer in the fray. You may be tempted to give an honest answer — ‘Your company is a good paymaster and I also want some more salary’. The answer is certainly legitimate, but it won’t help you at all in winning your case since it does not answer what you can bring on the table.

Such questions often seem intriguing, but are basic in nature. They may put candidates off guard if they are not prepared and could ruin your otherwise stellar interview.

What’s the basic purpose?

The question is simple but it has two complex posers rolled into one:

• 1. Why do you want to work for this company?
• 2. Why do you want this job?

Most candidates fail to understand these hidden layers in this question and rather answer in a bland way. What you need to do is research about the company before you reach the interview stage as you will have another opportunity to showcase your skills once more. Hiring managers wish to know whether you are a thoughtful, intelligent, and mature person.

Mistakes to avoid in such questions

• Avoid being too honest: As we have already explained above such, answers won’t help your cause at all. You should understand the fine distinction between being honest and being upfront.
• Don’t try to be generic: Answering in a generic manner should be avoided. Suppose your answer goes like this: “Well, it seems a great and cool company to work with and I would love to be a part of your great organization.” There is nothing wrong with this answer, but it’s certainly too generic.
• Avoid being funny: This is not a question that encourages you to show your wit and humor. Your chances will be gone if you choose to answer like this: “I mean you need me and I am certainly the best and then there are the rest.”
  Along with this, you also need to align your skills and qualities with the values and needs of the company.

Let’s come to the point

So, so far, we have discussed the various aspects of this question; we should now talk straight. You need to ask yourself a simple question— is it just the paycheck that entices you to work in the company? Money is certainly a big motivation, but there must be some other reasons as well. Think of your career goal and consider how this company can help you achieve your objectives.

Your could focus your answer on talking about your company’s core values and its reputation. This things can be related to both job and non-job positions such as company’s community involvement, outreach programs, training facilities, and other incentives. An insider secret is that all hiring managers love to work with people who in turn want to work with them.

Sample answers

Here are sample answers to two most frequently asked questions:

• Why do you want to join your company?
  “I went to your website and found references about emphasis on the training program and community outreach. I was excited to know that there is a company that invests in enhancing the skills of employees and also wants to give back to the society. I was glad to find out an opening in my skill set. I feel that it would be really great to work at a place where my both technical skills and personal philosophies are perfectly aligned.”
• Why do you want this job?
  “I have firm belief in working towards a common goal and my skills as an engineer will add value in the team, which will provide me job satisfaction. “

Putting it together

Such answers will certainly bowl an HR manager out since you perfectly aligned your personal philosophy with the goal of the company. Our motto here is not to give you a sample answer that you can memorize; you can make your own answer that suits your profession and the requirements of the company you applying for a job for.

So, where do you see yourself after 5 years?

Well, this will be difficult to answer since you don’t have a time machine. You may also be tempted to share your wishful thinking such as, “I want to be the CEO of this company”.

After this, you may start to gaze into the eyes of the interviewer to judge their reaction. You may be jumping with joy inside believing you have hit the bull’s eye.

“Sorry friend, we don’t believe you are that mettlesome.” (The interviewer too could be certainly thinking so.)

Sounds disappointing, but it’s true.

In fact, hardly any employer thinks that you possess such extraordinary qualities (otherwise you would not have been looking for such a job in the first place).

The simple reason behind asking this question is to check whether your abilities and temperament are perfectly aligned with your goal.

Be careful, you can be trapped

Unlike many other questions we have explained so far in this series, this question is one that can actually trap you. And it is asked with this motive only.

Mike Simpson, a career counselor, writes: “Yes, the ultimate goal of any good hiring manager is to find an employee to fill their vacancies, but they’re not looking for just anyone.”

Tips for avoiding the ‘trap’

• • While answering this question, you will have to keep in mind that your interviewers are interviewing you for a current and not for a future job. They would like to know about your ambition and drive for the job you have applied for; so, you will have to demonstrate that type of commitment.
  • A better approach would be to ask yourself about your career goals. And then research the company and find out a potential growth path for you. This should be the backbone of your answer. Make sure that your answers are broad enough and keep them tailored as per the position that you are being interviewed for.
  • Never try to push yourself into a ridiculous position of power that won’t happen. Keep your aspirations realistic. It is better to look at the restraints in job growth and judge how you might grow and develop within it.
  • If you just throw an imaginary title without caring whether such an advancement is possible or not, it won’t be helpful.

Answer in two parts

This question has two layers and you should answer accordingly. The first part of your answer should focus on the immediate position and in the next part, you should discuss your future plans and expectations.

Sample answer

“I would be glad to answer this. One reason I applied in your company is because of your reputation for helping your employees in their career growth by providing them suitable opportunities. Five years down the road, I see myself growing into a supervisor or manager.”

Summary

By now you must have understood the complexity of this question. However, this is not a very difficult question to answer if you understand the basic psychology behind it.

Are cover letters important? What’s the use of a cover letter when I have already created a killer resume? Such questions show that you are completely unaware of the recruitment ecosystem. The point to understand here is your resume will be seen only after an HR manager goes through your cover letter and if they are impressed with it, they will take an action.

In case your cover letter fails to impress, you may fail the first test and your resume could find its way to the dustbin. A bad cover letter gives a shoddy impression about the candidate. Sadly, most candidates don’t take this thing seriously.

Here are a few tips for you for writing amazing cover letters:

#1 Don’t repeat your resume

Most job applicants don’t understand that resumes and cover letters serve different purposes. So they should not repeat the information in their cover letter that they have already mentioned in their resume. You should use your cover letter to showcase your personality and interest in the field you are applying to work in. Also, you could highlight your expertise to show interest in the job.

#2 KISS—Keep it short and simple

The best approach is to keep your cover letter short and simple. It should be between 3-5 paragraphs and definitely not a 400-word-long article. Each paragraph should serve a specific purpose. The best cover letters are those that are informative without being overly long.

The point to remember is that hiring managers receive hundreds of cover letters every day. By writing a long-winded cover letter, you will not make their life easier. So, make sure your letter is brief and retains the important information that it should.

# 3 Know the general format of a cover letter

Like resumes, cover letters too have a general format and it would be a good idea to stick to a prescribed format. The basic components are — your name, address, contact, date, and the title of the hiring manager.

#4 Every paragraph should be meaningful

Make sure that your opening paragraph is strong enough and draws the attention of the hiring manager. It should explain why you’re writing the mail. Describe the job you are applying for along with the position and job title.

In the next paragraph, you can mention why you qualify for the position on offer. Mention your qualification, experience, and skills in brief. You can also share your success stories.

In the last paragraph, wrap up your letter. Thank your prospective employers for considering you for the job and also let them know that they can reach out to you with any questions and concerns that are not addressed in your resume.

Summing up

Writing a cover letter is not that difficult once you start understanding the psychology of HR managers. Your approach should be to put yourself in the position of the recruiting manager and judge what you would have done.

Here is hoping that you like the above tips; they are basic in nature, but will certainly help you write an effective cover letter.

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Social media is not just about sharing jokes and funny cat memes; it’s much more than that. If used effectively, it can make the process of job hunting easier. Consequently, your ‘timepass’ activity will become more productive and rewarding.

Why is it so?

The job climate is changing fast and so is the process of job hunting. Sticking to job portals only won’t help you get your most coveted job these days. Your online portfolio holds a lot of importance in the eyes of hiring managers. So, what you post or comment online can affect your chances of getting hired. In a survey conducted by Jobvite, it was discovered that 94 percent of recruiters search social profiles while looking for candidates.

How to go about it

Here we are not going to dole out the most common advice: “Present Yourself as a Brand” or “Become a thought leader”. This can certainly work for a select few, but it does not suit everybody. Here are a few things you should consider:

Focus on who you are
Putting an impressive tagline is okay, but what matters for a recruiter are the qualities and skills you bring on the table. Your skills should be clear from your LinkedIn or Twitter profile. Also make sure that a recruiter finds it easily. Apart from this, adding portfolios and side projects would be a good way to demonstrate your skills.

Build meaningful relationships
You should not network just for the sake of getting a job. You can also praise someone and invite them for a cup of coffee because they wrote a fantastic LinkedIn blog. Such initiatives will help break ice and help you engage in a long-lasting relationship with people.

Optimize your profile
Do you take your LinkedIn profile seriously? Is it optimized properly? If not, do it now. Here is how you can do it:

• Make sure you have a professional picture
• List all your accomplishments and skills properly.
• Try to get endorsement for your skills as it helps gain credibility in the eyes of hiring managers.

Demonstrate your expertise
Show your skills by participating in discussions in relevant groups, and provide feedback on topics related to your skillset. Don’t shy away from expressing your opinion. People recognize you if you are active on Quora, LinkedIIn or Twitter. It’s a better indicator of what you can do.

And the last piece of advice is — you should avoid political rants and spelling and grammatical mistakes. That may work against you.

Summing up

The above strategies won’t give you overnight result; there is a good chance that you may get discouraged after some time. Not every person will respond to your request and that is what life is. However, doing this consistently will certainly help you get your dream job sooner or later. And your life and career will change after that.

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Ever wondered why you did not get your dream job despite having all the skill sets and experience? Well, more often than not, the reasons are so obvious that we tend to ignore them. These three interview tips will give you a deep insight into the whole process of hiring and also help you in landing your dream job:

#1 Ask questions

In almost all the job interviews you appear in, the interviewer would ask you if you have any questions. Most of the candidates hardly ask any meaningful question and simple choose to be nice and unsuspecting. However, this approach goes a long way in ensuring that you are not hired. It is important that you ask questions, first because it shows your seriousness about the job and second, because it suggests that you have done proper research on the credentials of the company that you intend to work for. Asking meaningful questions also allows you to decide which company you should work for. This is because an interview is not just about the job description and the company profile; it is also about your colleagues, your reporting manager and the overall work culture. Your would-be reporting manager is the best person to inform you about all these aspects of your job. So, even if the interviewer does not give you the opportunity to ask any questions, you must take this initiative at the end of the interview. Imagine taking out a list of questions at the end of an interview; it will speak volumes about your professionalism and diligence.

#2 Answer the question that you have been asked

A lot of times, when an interviewer asks a question, candidates tend to talk about the subject of the question rather than answering it directly. Well, this is a trait that best suits politicians; however, if you are a candidate, beating around the bush is the worst thing you can do. This is because first, it frustrates the interviewer and second, it reflects very badly on your ability to methodically answer a question. Remember, there is a lot of difference between talking about a topic and answering a question. So, you should be laser-focused on this aspect of the interview. The best ploy is to break down the question into different parts and answer every part specifically.

#3 Tell your story

Telling your story comes in handy in influencing or persuading an interviewer to hire you. This is because no matter how logical we are, when it comes to decision making, we go by our emotions. Tell the interviewer how hard you worked to get to the position where you are presently, how passionate you are or give examples of the challenges you overcame in your career. Sticking to logic, experience and skill sets is fine but ultimately, it is your story that influences an interviewer as it tells them about the kind of character you have or the problem-solving capabilities you possess. If an interviewer is weighing up two candidates with similar skill sets and experience, the one with a moving story will stand a better chance of getting the job.

Hope these tips help you get your dream job.

Cover letters, along with resumes, make for an integral part of an interview process. A good cover letter shows your professionalism and also tells how you fit in the overall goal of any company. Therefore, a well-formatted cover letter always leaves a good impression on your potential employers. It should be readable, and devoid of any mistakes.

The 4 tips below shall help you create an amazing cover letter:

Step 1: Why You’re Writing

In this case, you have three different scenarios and you need to act differently in each case:

• In case you’re writing in response to a job post, don’t forget to learn about the title of the position on offer. Try to express your willingness to take up the job and match your skills with the job requirements.
• If you’re writing for a prospective job opening, express your job objective clearly. Since this type of letter is unsolicited, it becomes all the more important to capture the reader’s attention.
• In caseyou’re writing for individual information,this should reflect in your request.

Step 2: What You Can Offer

No company will take your skills and experience seriously if they aren’t useful enough for them. So, relate your qualifications and particular abilities to the position you’re applying for. It would be futile to think what an employer can offer you. To show what you can offer, you can backyour claims with evidence and highlight your achievements and problem-solving skills.

Step 3:How to Follow Up

You should close your cover letter by stating your interest in the publicized job and letting your employer know how they can reach you. Mention your phone number and email id. You can also talk about the possible scheduling of a telephonic interview or a face-to-face round. In case, you’re applying from outside of the employer’s geographic area, don’t forget to mention that you’ll be available for a certain time-frame in the city and that you’re also ready to relocate.

Step 4: Formatting the cover letter

• Go for a maximum of three tofour paragraphs;your cover letter shouldn’t be longer than one page.Adjust the margin if required to fit your cover letter on the second page.
• You should use a basic 11-12 point font to ensure your letter is easy to read for a hiring manager. Using basic fonts such as Arial, Verdana, Calibri, and Times New Roman works well. Your cover letter font must match the font you use in your resume.
• Go forstandard 1″. However, if you have trouble in fitting your letter on a single page, shorten it up from the top, side and bottom margins to 3/4″ or 1/2″.

Summing up

Content no doubt matters in cover letters, but so doespresentation. Whether you’re applying online or via email, the layoutand design of your cover letter should look professional and readableand be devoid of any mistakes. Following the above tips will help you prepare an impressive cover letter.

India the land of over a billion cricket fans, where cricket is not simply a game where children dream of playing at the highest level. One such cricketing fan, Vijay Singh is ecstatic about his chosen career at Virtual Employee Pvt. Ltd. His job as Marketing and Communications Head for Bowling Masters where he works alongside bowling legend Brett Lee, requires him to rub shoulders with some of the greatest cricketers from around the world. The list of cricketers he interacts with on a daily basis is long and impressive. However, for as long as he can remember, one of his dreams was to meet Sachin Tendulkar. Well, as they say, “Dreams do come true”, and for Vijay, this dream finally came true during the launch event of Bowling Masters, where Sachin was invited as a special guest. “This was one of the best days of my life; I finally got to meet my childhood hero,” he quips enthusiastically.

Early Years

Vijay’s story is one of hope and triumph, one that many in India may be familiar with. From a young age, Vijay has had a deep fascination with sports, in particular cricket and played at various levels. Thanks to his batting prowess, for a time, he even considered making it a full-fledged career. After all, you had the likes of Sachin and Saurav, great cricketers who put everything on the line to pursue their dreams. However, reality soon hit hard and family pressure and misplaced career goals, slowly egged him to give up the bat. He was down but not completely out.

Keeping up the faith

After completing his school education, Vijay decided to pursue Masters in Sports Management. This was in line with his passion to keep sports as a central part of his career. Like before, there was a great deal of skepticism about his chosen career path. However, Vijay was determined to not allow anything to derail his plans this time. Ever since getting his first break working with Milkha Singh, Vijay hasn’t looked back and gone from strength to strength.

Career with Virtual Employee

Fast-forward a decade; Vijay currently works as a Virtual Employee, handling Marketing and Communications for their client Bowling Masters. “I thoroughly enjoy my job, I get to interact with sportspersons and get tips from them on how to help budding cricketers improve their game.” The current line-up of Bowling Master products focus on helping crickets improve their bowling accuracy. “Cricket is a batsmen’s game”, “all the technology that surrounds cricket focuses on the batsmen and the bowler is generally left out,” says Vijay. Bowling Master uses easily accessible technology and simple bowling markers to help tilt the balance in favor of bowlers. After seeing a lot of success in foreign countries, Bowling Masters is all set to launch in India where it sees huge market potential.

Working with Brett Lee

Working alongside Brett Lee has without a doubt been one of the best chapters of Vijay’s career. Vijay considers himself to be a person with a lot of energy, but he says he pales in comparison to Brett Lee’s energy and ability to take people along with him. In-fact, while being interviewed, he distinctly remembers that the opportunity to work with Brett Lee was probably the biggest factor in his decision to join Virtual Employee. “When I was told that I would be required to work with Brett Lee, I knew that this job was for me.”

Conclusion

Bowling Masters is going from strength to strength, with the recent India launch. Vijay envisions this pioneering technology to make a huge impact in the sports industry. “Current technology is very expensive to be used by individuals,” “thanks to the attention we have received, I see this product in all the consumer segments in the near future.” Virtual Employee wishes Vijay Singh and his team at Bowling Master, all the very best for a bright and prosperous future ahead.