‘Job fairs can be an eye-opener’
Siddarth Bharwani, VP, Jetking Infotrain limited, gives out tips to students to get off-campus employment opportunities
Campus placements can be challenging. Your college may get top organisations for campus placements. However, at the end of the day, top organisations may end up picking just the toppers! And what’s worseIJ You’re not one of them! This leaves you worried that organisations outside may also misjudge you that if you haven’t been placed by organisations on campus then why would they hire youIJ You may then choose to just take up a support job rather than being unemployed. But a job is not always a matter of chance. You can actively decide where you want to be and make it happen. Here’s how:
nlook for an internship: You can look for an internship paid or unpaid in the area of your liking. This not only gets you a professional experience but you progress and perform you stand a chance of becoming a permanent employee there!
nEarn additional certifications: So if you want your CV to be noticed and picked up amongst the thousands available online, you need to acquire relevant certifications in your field. For example, you could take up a certification in ethical hacking in order to get a job as a security analyst or a course in network analyst.
nJob fairs and walk-ins: Job fairs can be an eye-opener because it helps you explore the various jobs and employers who can apply too. Walk-ins also help you to connect with different people. What if the job wasn’t right for youIJ Just going for the walk-in may redirect you to the right person or even the right job. So it counts to be patient. However, doing the right thing while you’re patient is also what matters. Peer pressure may want you to take a job just for the sake of being ‘employed’. Because ‘work’ brings pressure while ‘passion’ brings pleasure.
nBuilding an online presence: While the market demands for the latest products, even recruiters demand for the latest CVs. In other words, keep it updated. Consistently updating your CV, makes it come in the top CVs which are recently updated leaving you a better chance of receiving a call. Also, choosing credible websites and highlighting your skill set is a must. Because job titles change, skills required don’t. If you don’t have the flair for writing, you can get someone to build a resume for you.
nBuddy referrals and networking: You can ask your friends who are already employed to refer your profile for a job at their organisation. If you get selected, you keep the job and they get a referral bonus too. Also, alumni meetings, conferences, workshops or exhibitions can be good places to exchange your coordinates with people who can help you get your foot in the door.