Tricks to remembering names

Being able to remember names is a valuable asset in both the business and social arenas. It helps you build instant rapport with new contacts, and, as many companies place a premium on interpersonal and relationship-building skills, it makes a decidedly good impression on employers, too.

Read at http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/Careers/07/22/names/

LinkedIn Profile Extreme Makeover

A good guide to do a makeover to your LinkedIn profile

http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/linkedin_profil.html

Ten ways to use LinkedIn

By Guy Kawasaki

1. Increase your visibility
2. Improve connectability
3. Improve Google Page Rank
4. Enhance search engine results
5. Perform blind, “reverse,” and company reference checks.
6. Increase the relevancy of your job search
7. Make your interview go smoother
8. Gauge the health of a company.
9. Gauge the health of an industry
10. Track startups

Detailed info at http://blog.linkedin.com/blog/2007/07/ten-ways-to-use.html

When changing careers, highlight transferable skills

(Article by Kim Isaacs @ Monster Canada)

A huge challenge career changers face is preparing a winning resume. After all, it's arduous enough when you have ample related experience. Writing this crucial document becomes even more painstaking when you're looking to take a completely new career direction.
Your saving grace: Transferable skills.

More at http://resume.monster.ca/9727_en-CA_p1.asp

Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (for international students studying for min 8 months in Canada)

If you want to work in Canada after you graduate from your studies, you must apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. (Source:a)

About the program in one snapshot (as extracted from various documents and links mentioned later)

1. Job Offer letter required for applying
2. Job has to be in the field of study
3. Employer doesn't need labour market opinion from Service Canada/Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)
4. Apply within 90 days of final mark issue
5. Get a letter of study completion from college or a notification of graduation
6. Have valid student permit at time of application
7. Person can leave Canada with new documents (point need to be checked further)

Post-Graduation Work Permit Program: The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience in their field of studies. This program allows all participants to work up to one year in the Montréal, Toronto or Vancouver areas, and to work up to two years everywhere else in Canada. (Source: a)

A work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program cannot be valid for a longer period than the length of your studies. For example, if you graduate from a four-year degree program, you could be eligible for a one- or two-year work permit if you meet the criteria. If you graduate from an eight-month certificate program, you would be eligible for a work permit that is valid for no more than eight months.(Source: a)

Who may apply for a work permit of up to one year under this program? (Source: b)

You may apply for a work permit of up to one year if you:

• graduated from a program of full-time study (of at least eight months) at:
  • a public post-secondary institution; or
  • a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec fit that description); or
  • a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial law to confer degrees.
• have a job offer from an employer for a job that is related to your field of studies;
• have a valid study permit when you apply for the work permit; and
• have not previously been issued a work permit for post-graduation employment following any other course of study.

 

Working after graduation—How to apply (Source:c)

If you want to work after completing your studies in Canada, you must apply for a post-graduation work permit, if you meet all of the eligibility requirements.

There are five steps to apply for the post-graduation work permit:

1. Obtain an application kit
2. Read the guide.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
5. Mail the application form and documents.

 

What is required in the job offer letter? (Source: d)

This letter must be an original letter on company letterhead and must contain the following:

1. Job title & job description (the job must be related to the student’s field of studies)
2. The education, skills and experiences required for the job
3. Start date of employment
4. Salary and other job benefits
5. Average number of hours of work per week
6. Address of the location of employment where student will be working

 

Sources:

(a) http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad.asp

(b) Applying for a Work Permit - Student Guide:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/pdf/kits/guides/5580E.PDF

(c) http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad-how.asp

(d) http://www.sds.uwo.ca/int/documents/postgrad_employer.pdf

 

Other Useful links:

• http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/information/applications/work-students.asp
• http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/intstugrad.shtml
• http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/extend-worker.asp
• http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/medical/medexams-temp.asp
• http://www.canadaworkpermit.com/faq/general.html

Disclaimer: The post just has information collected from different links. Certain information and procedures mentioned here might change with time and the blog-author takes no responsibility for any consequence emerging out of the information presented and if it is out-dated.

Travel Tips

• Do your research into political, cultural and economic conditions of the countries to which you will be travelling. Ask friends who have been there, travel agents, foreign missions, and consult guidebooks before you leave.
  
• Draw up a flexible itinerary and budget. Leave a copy with someone at home.
  
• Find out about weather conditions. Pack appropriate footwear and the minimum of clothing.
  
• Purchase a supplementary health insurance plan that is appropriate for the type of trip that you are making.
  
• Carry proof of insurance coverage.
  
• Know how to contact your insurer, and make sure that your travelling companion(s), travel agent and someone at home know how to do so as well.
  
• Photocopy the identification page in your passport. Keep a copy separate from the passport, and leave another copy with someone at home.
  
• Ensure that you have all the required vaccinations.
  
• Keep any medication that you require in its original container, and carry a doctor's prescription for any controlled drug.
  
• Carry a medical certificate for syringes if you require them for medical purposes.
  
• Ensure that you have the required visas. Make photocopies of your visas, and keep them separate from the originals.
  
• Investigate whether or not you or any of your family members are also considered nationals of any of the countries you plan to visit.
  
• Learn a few phrases in the language of the country you plan to visit.

Courtesy: Air Canada @ http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/before/traveltips.html

Getting ECNR Clearance @ Bangalore

The Passport office is on the Brunton Road, off MG Road (Just next to ING Vyasa Bank)
(Passport Office, 1A, Brunton Road, Bangalore -560025; Tel: 080 - 25584901, 25584543, 25584536)

Documents Required:

1. Passport (Original and xerox)
2. Proof of ECNR Eligibility (B. Tech mark-sheet –Original and Xerox) (Do not know about 10^th or 12^th certificates being accepted)
3. Completed Form#2 with 1 passport size photograph (https://passport.gov.in/cpv/miscell.pdf)
4. In case the Passport is not issued in Bangalore, then proof of stay for the last 1 year is required in the form of any 1 of telephone bill, mobile bill, gas connection, Letter from employer. The address on these should be your home address and office addresses are not accepted. (Original and Xerox).
5. Rs. 300 fees

The Xerox will be submitted along with the application whereas the original will just be seen and returned back at the same moment. I don’t know if the attested copies can be used to verify the Xerox in place of originals.

Procedure: There are two ways of going about it-long and short way. Fill the form#2 in all respects and be ready with the documents (original and Xerox)

Long way: There is one common queue for all work related to passport. You have to stand in the queue and then submit your application. The office opens at 9.30 AM but by 9.00 AM there were around 150 persons in the queue, so I didn’t try this way. Even the method of spending 300-400 bucks to an agent will look a waste of money if you try the short way.

Short way(Suggested!!)

1. Go to http://nitpu2.kar.nic.in/passport/process.htm, Fill in the details and take the appointment.
2. Take a printout of the appointment page and attach it with the application packet. The person at the counter checks specifically asks for this to be attached.
3. Go at the stipulated time. Don’t be late than 5.30 PM as the office closes by that time.
4. On the first floor, reach counter #7. The person there will verify your Xerox. Once done, he will move your application to counter #6. The person at counter #6 verifies your Xerox with the originals. He then moves the application to the counter #5. There he will ask for the fees of Rs. 300. He will give you a receipt and ask you to come next day after 3.30 PM
5. Go the next day and then see if your name has been called for. When called, go with the receipt of Rs. 300. The person at the counter will take your sign against ‘ Passport Received’ and then verify this signatures with the ones in Passport. Once done, you are given your passport with ECNR Clearance. Its better to check the passport for the same.

• Total Time taken for submission after you reached the counter (queue is usually small as very few people know about this procedure): 5 minutes
• Total Time taken for receipt of passport on Day2: 5-20 minutes

The good points here being

1. You don’t have to spend a lot of time if you documents are all present as required.
2. The fees is taken only when your form is fully checked for accuracy and verified against originals.

Details on ECNR available at the following links:

1. http://nitpu2.kar.nic.in/passport/index.htm
2. http://nitpu2.kar.nic.in/passport/ecnr_ecr.htm
3. http://kar.nic.in/passport/contact.htm

Note: Persons above 50 years of age are automatically eligible for ECNR

Points to note for getting a demand draft in foreign currency from Indian Banks

Some points to note for making a demand draft in foreign currency.

1. Usually banks take 2-3 hours time from the point of submission of demand-draft application to the point of handing over the demand draft to you. I didn't knew this and had to travel across Bangalore to get the draft. (in case you have an ICICI saving's acount and you are getting the draft from non-home branch, be careful as you are eligible for only one non-home branch per month without any charges. Don't know about other banks!)
   
2. You need to have a documentary proof as to why do you need a demand draft in foreign currency. I carried a xerox of the Queen's Admit letter which had come in the courier.
3. Instruct in the demand draft application the currency required clearly and also check the same when you receive the demand draft. There is sometimes a confusion between US$ and Canadian$.
4. Mention clearly the Payee's name and verify the same when you receive the demand draft. Bank officials can be careless at times. For my case it was important as "Queen's" is very different from "Queens".

Also, take a xerox of the demand draft for records before you send.

Tips for Education Loans

Two points mentioned in a mail by one of my friends.

1. Availing more than one education loan for the same course is not allowed. This means it is not possible to take two loans of 7.5 lakhs from two different banks.
2. A financial adviser strongly recommends that I should take the loan at the fixed rate instead of floating (though there is a difference of 1.5% currently in favor of floating rate), since our repayment period will definitely exceed 3 years, so in the long run fixed interest rate works out better as the floating rate is increasing continuously.
   

Thanks N for this

Travel Cards

For payment in foreign currency while abroad, there are many options like credit cards, debit cards, travel cards, travelers' cheques and of course cash.
I explored the option of travel cards from few of the different merchants.

SBI Vishwa-yatra card:
A pre-paid forex card which can be re-charged with foreign currency from SBI. It can be used as a debit card for purchases (no transaction fees) and withdraw cash from ATM (USD$ 1.75 per transaction). Copy of Passport required for issuing. Some kind of insurance also offered. Convert unused foreign currency back into INR on return.
Issue charges: Rs 110
Re-charge charges: Rs 50

Related Links:

• SBI Vishwa-yatra card FAQs: http://sbi.co.in/viewsection.jsp?lang=0&id=0,453,103,289
  
• Pre-paid forex cards @ MoneyControl: Link

ICICI Travel Card:
Almost similar to SBI card
Details at http://icicibank.com/Pfsuser/cards/travel_card/index.htm

Thomas Cook Global Money Card:
Details at http://www.thomascook.com/currency/travelchequecard.asp

Useful Links about Travel Cards:
Safety Tips: http://icicibank.com/Pfsuser/cards/travel_card/safety_tips.htm
Do's and Don'ts: http://icicibank.com/Pfsuser/cards/travel_card/dos.htm

More Interview Tips

Check out the B-school Admit Blog link for Interview Tips (both face2face & telephonic)

http://bschool-admit.blogspot.com/search/label/Interviews

Telephone Interview Tips 2

The purpose of the interview is to access you on the basis of whatever impression you manage to make through a brief conversation, so make sure that you give your all to pass with flying colours to the next stage. Bear in mind the following things while you take on the telephonic interview:

• Be eloquent and expressive. Avoid long pauses. However, don't be too hasty to the point of uttering something wrong or irrelevant. Maintain your exposure and be calm.
• Sound cheerful and effervescent. Vivaciousness always casts a good impression.
• Don't let anyone else guide you while answering. This will result in confusion and you might end up stammering. Better be alone while being interviewed. Switch off the TV etc. to avoid distraction.
• Don't gab and be confined to exactly what you are asked. Don't delve too much on any topic and be succinct. This applies to all sorts of interviews.
• Don't show any scorn or contempt for the earlier or the present employer or organisation. Be very subtle while recounting the reasons for quitting the job. Or else the interviewer might infer that you can ditch his organization as well for some trifling reasons.
• Show fervent enthusiasm at the prospect of joining the organization. Inquire about your role and the nature of projects you'd be undertaking. But don't ask such questions in the coarse of the interview; save them for later when the interviewer himself would ask you for any questions or doubts towards the conclusion of the interview.
• Speak clearly, and slowly if required. Avoid using words you don't quite know how to pronounce. And never assume that simple language will mar your chances; the only thing that matters the most is what you say and how lucidly you say. However, you can use lexical language only if you are good enough to manage, otherwise better stick to simple but coherent words.
• Be assertive and confident in whatever you say. However, don't sound cocksure.
• If the interview was shorter than you had expected, don't show dismay or surprise. May be that you were simply good enough to sway the interviewer within a few minutes! Always conclude the interview with a positive note lest all your good work should be ruined. Always wind up positively with appropriate compliments.

So if you adhere to the above-prescribed gimmicks, you'll just fare well enough to end up with an invitation for a face-to-face interview. And the confidence of having cleared the first obstacle will show up there as well!

@ http://www.placementindia.com/support/tele-interview.htm

Telephone Interview Tips

Telephone Interview Tips (from eklavya.mba.blogger)

I had googled this tips before a telephone interview of mine....The key is to stay relaxed...If you are tensed (like I was for ISB ..duh ! ),the adcom can sense it in ur voice. Remember, your nervousness will be reflected through your speech tone.One must appear confident. If you end up speaking fast...it'll be a situation like "let me get over with this".

Call up some call center folks and notice how they speak...They give pauses ....They speak slowly so that the person at the other end can assimilate what you are speaking....The best part about a telephone interview is that you can be in ur PJs and give the interview. The worst part.-You might be speaking passionately about a subject assuming that the person at the other end is following what you are saying..instead the guy is busy playing tic tac toe:)

Use a good quality phone card if you are expected to call.I would suggest calling up some Hyderabad number (even it is some lost friend !) with the same phone card that you'll be using for the interview to make sure that the quality is good. It is just an attempt to play safe.

When I had a mock interview with Bharani,he recorded the whole conversation and sent it over to me...Listenting to it gave me a feeling that I sounded stupid.
I counted the number of 'Aahs' and 'Hmms' and filler words like ' well' , 'to be honest', 'I guess' . There were many !

I have this strange behaviour that when I talk to an American I speak at a slow rate....When I talk to an Indian, the speaking rate is the normal (which is fast)..When I speak to folks from SE Asia, the rate is painfully slower.
Based on my experiences, Iam of the opinion that the speaking rate does matter.
Others can definitely add their inputs.

And DONT record your final interview with the adcom....The more you hear it, the more stupid you'll feel. :)

All the best...and just do it !

Anyway, here are the tips......

-Treat the phone interview as you would a face-to-face interview.

-Select a quiet, private room with a telephone in good working condition.

-Conduct a mock telephone interview with a friend to gain feedback on your voice quality and speech.

-Before the interview, prepare talking points for the call including value you bring to the school and questions that you will ask.

-Arrange the following items: your resume, cover letter, copy of application, highlights of school information and brief talking points.

-Breathe deeply and relax. Speak slowly, clearly and with purpose.

-Smile, it changes your speech and the person on the other end can sense it.

-Write down the full names and titles of each call participant.(if possible)

-Take notes when appropriate.

-Be courteous and try not to speak over the interviewer.

-Support your statements with detailed examples of accomplishments when possible. It is easy for someone to get distracted on a phone call, so paint a vivid picture to keep the interviewer interested.

-If required take any pauses in your speech to ponder a question or take notes.

-If you think of a question or comment while the interviewer is speaking, jot a note on your talking points list, so you remember it later.

-During the interview, if the interviewer inadvertently answers a question from your prepared list, cross it off. If you forget and ask it, it will seem as if you were not listening.

-Offer to provide additional information or answer other questions.

-Use your talking points list of specific skills and accomplishments; cross them off as you work them into the conversation. At the end, if you have some uncrossed items, you might say something like, "I thought you might be interested to know I led a major conversion project, quite similar to what you are planning. I managed a $2.5 million budget and completed it 45 days early, saving over $48,000."

-Before ending the call, be sure you know the next step in the process, and offer to provide any additional information needed.

-Do not hang up until the interviewer has hung up

Courtesy: http://eklavya-mba.blogspot.com/2005/02/telephone-interview-tips-i-had-googled.html