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How to get your first job in India

Deloitte has recently come out with a report in the US stating that employers prefer graduates who have experience in skills-based volunteering. Is this the same for India?

 While it is tough to assess this trend due to inadequate data, we do believe that employers will like graduates who have experience in skills-based volunteering (SBV).

 SBV not only gives graduates exposure to real life working conditions but also shows add a lot of value to one’s resume as it shows that the person is interested in working and shows involvement with a live and productive project.

 I am sure this would be an advantage for any candidate in a job interview. There are however very few candidates in India who bring to the table such exposure.

 What factors should a graduate keep in mind while looking for their first job?

 There are many factors that one should consider while looking for a first job. Some important ones are:

 - Always select a career in which you are interested. As far as possible try and avoid taking the short term view of ‘Any job will do’.

- Evaluate your skills before applying for a job. See if you have the skills to fit into that role.

 - Gather more information about the work environment at the company where you are applying. See if you would fit into that culture.

 - Since it is your first job, make sure that the organization has a good track record for training and education. Good training will help you learn faster and perform better.

 Once you get in, make sure that you give it your everything. And unless there are really strong reasons, target a longish stay in your first job.

How is online recruitment different?

 Aside of the efficiencies that the internet helps bring in, online recruitment is different at multiple levels.

 First, it is much more convenient and transparent than offline recruitment as all available jobs are listed online and all candidates with desired skills can apply, unlike before when having information about a relevant opening in itself used to be a competitive advantage for a few.

 Second, online recruitment mainly focuses on all those who have shown interest in a job change, unlike passive recruitment where recruiters even try to lure those who are not looking for a change, as long as they fit the criteria