A common question from students is: "How do I prepare for placements when just one month is left?" Here are some tips based on extensive experience:
1. Research the Company Thoroughly
Read a lot about the company you are appearing for. You must know what they do, where all they are present, their financials, employee count, their values, vision and mission etc. Then, in your answers give examples specific to their scheme of things. The interviewer must know you have done your research.
2. Craft an Honest and Crisp CV
Don’t make a CV to impress anyone. Make a CV to capture what you have done in life and communicating it across. It must be crisp, clear and yet shouldn’t miss anything important. One page CVs work best in campus interviews. Avoid spelling and formatting mistakes. Don’t fake anything in your CV. Take pride in yourself, even if there are no major achievements or accolades. You must know about every project, every activity, every subject, every hobby that you are mentioning in your CV.
3. Honesty and Precision in Answers
Remember, it is OK not to know everything that is asked. Saying ‘I dont know’ is better than giving an incorrect answer. Answer only what is asked, and don’t answer what you know. Don’t beat around the bush. It can get very annoying for an interviewer. You may think you are playing it smart, but actually you may be killing your chances.
4. Presentation and Etiquette Matter
Dress smartly. It creates a huge impact. Shabbily dressed candidates give a perception that they are not too keen for this particular job even if they are equipped for it. It also reflects on your attitude. Be on time, every time. Carry a pen, a diary, your CV and your certificates. Even if not explicitly asked to carry these things. Greet the interviewers, have a smile on your face, maintain eye contact, sit upright. But all of it must not looked forced. It must come naturally. These things also need practice. Never ever interrupt the interviewer. Let him complete his point before you start speaking.
5. Learn from Past Experiences
Reflect on why you failed in the past. What went wrong? Accept your mistakes and shortcomings and don’t be shy of accepting it in future interviews. However, you must have an answer on how you have improved. What all things you have done to improve yourself. You cant just know your mistakes and do nothing to improve them.
6. Articulate Your Fit for the Role
Have a clearly defined answer to why you consider yourself fit for the role on offer.
7. Prepare for Technical/Domain Skills
Lastly, technical/educational skills required for the job is definitely going to be looked at. You need to prepare yourself for that. There is no escape route there.
All the best. Success is never dependent on how many failures you have had in the past. Success has no past, it just looks at you on that particular day.
There is absolutely nothing that you achieve by giving up. Moreover, there is absolutely nothing to lose even if you keep failing.