Campus Placements serve as corridors to the corporate world for students, especially if they are freshers. They are the platforms that allow students to realize their dream of landing a decent job. Campus placement drives open up a lot of opportunities for students and pave the road for rewarding careers. However, for every job-aspiring student, one pressing question that lingers is “How to crack campus placement?” The answer is simple: “by approaching in a systematic way.” But let’s elaborate on this to have a better grasp.
Here are some of the top placement tips to land a dream job:
1. List Down the Companies and Research About them
Companies like to hire individuals who have made the effort to learn about them. It demonstrates that the candidates are dedicated and hardworking. To succeed in a placement drive, first, evaluate which companies are coming to your college campus and make a list of your top choices. Then research each company by exploring their mission, vision, history, culture, and principles. Understand their selection process and seek insights from your friends, professors, and seniors, or refer to company sites to learn more about your chosen companies.
2. Ace up your Résumé
Once you have each company’s information in your hands, it’s time to ace your resume. Experts emphasize that a one-size-fits-all approach won’t be fruitful. One must tailor their resume to align with each company’s specific job requirements. Remember, the first impression you will create upon your future employers will be through your résumé. Hence, do your research well before building up the content. Also, before you caption your bio, understand the difference between a ‘Curriculum Vitae’ and ‘Résumé’. Make your resume look professional by highlighting your strengths, extracurricular activities, projects, internships, etc., and using an uncluttered layout. That being said, avoid overly fancy fonts, designs, and colors.
3. Include a Cover Letter
Attaching a cover letter with your resume will give it an extra edge. It also demonstrates your seriousness about attending the interview. Some of the key points that companies look for in a cover letter are as follows:
- Candidate’s strengths and skills.
- Why would a candidate want to apply for the position?
- What makes them a good fit for the job?
- What information do they have about the company and the job?
- Key accomplishments of the candidate.
Your cover letter should supplement your resume by providing an account that persuades the company of your eligibility for the position. Also, it should be tailored to the job criteria and company profile.
4. Attend Mock Interview Sessions
One needs to be fully aware of the skills required for campus placement. But what is the best way to get introduced to them? Well, by appearing for mock interviews.
Mock interviews provide a controlled environment in which you can practice, learn, and enhance your interview skills multiple times. These interviews, in particular, can aid in developing skills such as communication, active listening, body language, and so on. You can practice mock interviews with friends, seniors, family members, or a career counselor. To prepare for the interview, look for interview tactics and approaches in reference books, videos, or online articles/blogs.
5. Strengthen your Knowledge Foundation
While you are preparing for your interview, don’t forget to review the subjects you studied for your master’s and undergraduate degrees. Most candidates tend to ignore this. However, the strength of your educational foundation is critical. Neglecting it may jeopardize all of your attempts to make a lasting mark on the hiring managers.
6. Stay Updated
One of the top placement tips industry experts often give is to stay updated with current events, industry trends, and the latest advances in the field you have studied. It is also important to stay updated about your chosen companies. Keeping up with current events conveys the idea that you live in the present and are aware of your surroundings.
7. Play up your USP
Amidst high competition, what can make one stand apart from the rest is ‘skill development.’ In a scenario where hundreds of candidates vie for the same position, honing special skills holds the key to success. For instance, students with an IT background can develop an app or any software, while non-IT students can present research papers or build other innovative models. By enriching your skillset, you not only distinguish yourself but also enhance your resume’s appeal.
8. Prompt your Aptitude Skill
The Aptitude Test is the first round of elimination, which most students fear. However, with some practice, you can become more confident in cracking the aptitude questions. The thumb rule to approach aptitude tests is to attempt the easier questions and then return to the tougher ones. This method not only manages time, but your self-confidence also does not take a beating.
9. Enhance your Communication Skills
All your efforts will go in vain if you fail to communicate with the interviewer. In this context, one must focus on both verbal and non-verbal communication during the interview.
You can get brownie points for good verbal communication. Recruiters are always looking for candidates who can express themselves properly in group discussions and personal interviews. In addition to this, having effective nonverbal communication abilities is also crucial. It is critical to maintain good body language during the group discussion and interview, such as eye contact, posture, and hand movements.
10. Know Your Weaknesses
Showcasing your skills is crucial to get a job. But, being conscious of your flaws and molding them into something positive is a smart and sensitive thing to accomplish. The trick is to convey your weaknesses in a way that demonstrates that you are self-aware and capable of transforming them into something advantageous. To tackle this area, you can follow the below tips:
- List your weaknesses
- Be honest
- Highlight how your weaknesses can yield something positive for the company
- Note how you are working on your weaknesses to self-improve
- Highlight your progress to change your weaknesses into strengths
- Give practical responses
- Maintain confidence
11. Do not underestimate the HR Round
Most people think that if they have qualified in the aptitude and technical rounds, then clearing the HR interview will be a cakewalk. By this point, candidates are filled with the overconfidence of securing the job, as they have cleared the ‘tougher’ rounds. And this is where they make mistakes and get rejected. Remember the HR round tests a candidate’s overall fit for the company. The HR round takes the following into account:
- Candidate’s overall impression
- Candidate’s cultural fit within the organization
- Candidate’s salary expectations
- Legal and regulatory issues
- Follow-up inquiries, etc.
With more than 100 organizations visiting the campus to hire pupils, Globsyn Business School (GBS) has built successful relations over the years with 360+ companies. GBS trains its young managers to thrive in the real world of jobs. The institute makes students job-ready by guiding them through various interview stages and helping them demonstrate the skills desired by recruiters. The endeavor of GBS is to create not only job-seekers but also churn out young managers who are fully placement-ready.
So, now that you have the answer to, “How to prepare for campus placement,” gear up for the campus placement sessions and remember that to realize your dreams, you need courage and a bit of strategic preparation.