TOP 5 INDIAN CITIES FOR JOB SEEKERS

India as a growing economy has come a long way in the recent years. This is a result of fast-track development evident in IT, Banking, Telecommunications, Tourism sectors. The unprecedented growth in these sectors has given rise to many job opportunities leading to lucrative career prospects for everyone alike. The growth of these sectors has also been accelerated by quality of life and various facilities being offered by modern cities in India.

A compilation of reviews from various sources indicates the Top 5 preferred Indian cities for jobseekers.

The following Indian cities have grown at a much faster pace and have also continued to be the most desired destination for professionals from all the fields. The IT sector, along with the presence of other sectors like Hospitality, Retail, Telecom and Healthcare empower these cites.

Delhi

Delhi, the national capital is one of the metropolitan cities that attract many to come and work here. The kind of infrastructure and economic growth, the city has attained has significantly contributed in making it a hub for industries and multinational brands. Talk about hotels or media houses, IT companies or telecommunications, it has got everything. Besides, the adjoining NCR region has made the national capital even more worthy.

Bangalore

Known as The Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore employs about 35% of the Indian IT professionals. The city is also accredited for highest IT related exports in the country. Bangalore as a hub of IT sector pulls professionals from all over the nation. Besides, the IT boom, the city is also a hub of automotive and aviation industries. Manufacturing and Biotechnology are the other industries that generate jobs in the city.

Hyderabad

Hyderabad, also known as “Genome Valley of India” provides great job opportunities for professionals in the IT and the Biotechnology sectors. The city marks the existence of more than 1,300 IT companies. The city is also known as Cyberabad owing to its strengthened position as a global center of IT sector. The city every year brings along many job opportunities for business process outsourcing, entertainment industries and financial services.

Mumbai

Civil servants and public-sector employees make up a big share of Mumbai’s active population, and so do unskilled or semi-skilled self-employed workers. Maritime trade, logistics, healthcare, IT, textiles, diamond polishing and the media are big employers in Mumbai. Many advertising agencies and numerous television production companies are also located in the city, providing jobs to thousands of employees working in Mumbai’s creative media.

Chennai

In Chennai, software development and business process outsourcing and electronics manufacturing have been the major factors for the city’s economic growth. These sectors have also been the factors for a huge number of people migrating to Hyderabad to explore career prospects. The city is also accredited for 60% for the country’s automotive exports. Besides, it is also called the Banking Capital of the nation, which opens up the prospects for banking professionals in the city.

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Group Discussions are commonly used tool by business houses to check a candidate’s communication skills, inter-personal behavior and analytical skills and team behavior. It usually comprises of a group of seven to eight persons , who discuss on a topic that has been given by the assessor.

There are many attributes that a group discussion brings to the fore through a fifteen minute interaction. It gives the examiner a good overall view of the candidate, his interpersonal skills and body language. A candidate’s communication skills are put to test in a GD. It emphasizes on both the aspects of speaking and listening. People also communicate through their postures, facial expressions and hand movements. For e.g. a candidate who looks somewhere else while someone is speaking to him/her gives the impression of not being part of the group.

The most important points to realize in a group discussion are the words ‘GROUP’ and ‘DISCUSSION’. The most important part of a group discussion that a panel looks for is team behavior. How does a candidate behave in team? How eagerly does he take in others ideas? How well is he able to listen and at the same add value to the discussion by putting forward his views? Does he analyze the topic or simply talks? What we need to understand is a group discussion is very similar to an interaction between friends albeit in a formal way on a serious issue.

Take another example; among friends, just as we are never passive, always intent, a similar approach has to be followed in a group discussion. The only thing we need to realize is we need not be over-expressive. It is not a debate. It is listening to everyone and allowing everyone to speak . It is important to realize that as the number of people participating in discussion increases, the number of ideas coming up increases which enhances the quality of the discussion. A similar much used tool in CORPORATE BOARDROOMS is brainstorming wherein everyone speaks, the pros and cons of every solution analyzed and finally we see one idea coming up that leads to a win-win situation.

Time – management is of key importance in a Group Discussion. The evaluator assigns a pre-decided time. All of us can decide, how much time can everyone have, for eg. In a 15 minute GD with 10 persons, each one of the candidates shall have 90 seconds. In case one has spoken for two minutes across different intervals that means he has done his job, now he has to allow others to speak and listen to what others have to say.

A GD is also a test of our analytical skills. Data presented carefully and analytically scores more for us than plain talking. It also helps the evaluators understand how the candidate informed is of the world around him. Remember, most often the GD topics are looking for general awareness on common topics.

Different Types Of Group Discussion

Topic­ based group discussions :

In topic based group discussions, the group members are given a topic to discuss. A topic is typically in the form of a statement. Eg. The threat of global warming is real. Sometimes, the statement may not be complete. For example, the topic can be "The world leaders need to arrive at a consensus on…….). By the end of the discussion, the group should aim to arrive at a common point.

Case­based group discussion :

In case studies, a short description of a situation (called a "case") is given to all the participants. The case will typically be a problem situation that requires a solution. The participants have to study the case, analyze the problem and then discuss various situations to the problem.

Article based group discussions :

Article based GD covers wide range of areas, like current affairs, politics, economics, and technology. The participants are given 10 minutes to read the article and are then asked to hold a regular group discussion of around 10­15 minutes on the article. They may also be asked to pen down their thoughts and ideas in a sheet before proceeding with the discussion.

The topic that are given in group discussion are of two types:

Knowledge based topics :

Knowledge based topics require some topical knowledge. An example is "Should the collegium system of selection of Judges be done away with" Here unless you know something about the selection process , what is the take of the Supreme Court and what is the stand of the Government. Why was it done away with and why the Government wants it back, you will not be able to speak effectively. Knowledge- based topics mostly cover current economic issues as well as current non­economic issues.

Group discussion based on Social Issues :

When you are discussing social topics, you should be clear about both the 'generic' nature of the topics and the specific 'manifestations of the social issue. Be clear in not hurting anyone’s sentiments.

• "The Reservation system should be done away with".
  
  
• "Article of the Indian constitution is archaic".

Political topics :

Topics with politics as the basic content frequently feature in group discussions.

• Smaller states are easier to manage. Division of states should be allowed.
  
  
• Democracy is not good for India.

Sports / Films related topics :

Topics concerning films or sports are also common in number of GDs. Recently included tournaments like the world cup or the Olympics games can be the subject matter for a number of GD topics.

• Should India host the Olymics ?
  
  
• 100 years of Indian Cinema.

Argumentative Topics :

Argumentative topics are those about which there can be clear-cut views among the participants of a group discussion.

• Love marriages are better than arranged marriages.
  
  
• Should women take their husband’s surname after marriage ?

Abstract Topics :

Abstract topics are those about which the interpretation itself can vary from person to person. Here you don't need any formal knowledge to discuss such topics and your worldly knowledge is sufficient.

• All that glitters is not Gold.
  
  
• The Grass is greener on the other side.

Do’s and Don’ts in a Group Discussion

As you have to participate in a Group Discussion, several questions spring across your mind. You want to know what actions and gestures can get you positive points and what can cost you the selection. Here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts of participating in the GD.

Do’s of participating in a GD :

• Listen to the subject carefully.
  
  
• Put down your thoughts on a paper.
  
  
• Initiate the discussion if you know the subject well.
  
  
• Listen to others if you don’t know the subject.
  
  
• Support you point with some facts and figures.
  
  
• Make short contribution of 25-30 seconds 3-4 times.
  
  
• Give others a chance to speak.
  
  
• Speak politely and pleasantly. Respect contribution from other members.
  
  
• Disagree politely and agree with what is right.
  
  
• Summarize the discussion if the group has not reached a conclusion.

Don’ts of participating in a Group Discussion

• Initiate the discussion if you do not have sufficient knowledge about the given topic.
  
  
• Over speak, intervene and snatch other’s chance to speak.
  
  
• Argue and shout during the GD.
  
  
• Look at the evaluators or a particular group member.
  
  
• Talk irrelevant things and distract the discussion.
  
  
• Pose negative body gestures like touching the nose, leaning back on the chair, knocking the table with a pen etc.
  
  
• Mention erratic statistics.
  
  
• Display low self confidence with shaky voice and trembling hands.
  
  
• Try to dominate the discussion.
  
  
• Put others in an embarrassing situation by asking them to speak if they don’t want.
  
  
• Self examples in form of 'I' or my family.
  
  
• Talking negatively of well known people, without the facts being sufficiently established.
  
  
• The relaxed four-figure sitting position indicates a position of superiority.

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Personal Interview is one of the most effective forms of checking a candidate’s suitability for a given position. It not only tests knowledge and awareness but also tests the communication and articulation skills of the candidates. People have used the interview tool to check both the IQ and EQ of candidates.

A Personal Interview may range from a five- minute session to a grueling one-hour discussion. It helps the interviewer’s analyze the domain knowledge of the candidate and understand his take on various facets of life.

Simply put, an interview is an interaction between two people. It tries to bring forth the core strengths of the interviewee. The interviewer must feel happy after he speaks to the candidate. Honesty brings the best out of individuals. It is very simply like buying a television from an electronics store. The salesperson smiles, he gives the best features out and the television is sold. In an interview you try to sell yourself. What we need to understand is that an interview is a small interaction. The question that lies before us is that within this small interaction should we make known our negatives or should we highlight the positives of our lives. When I say this, does this mean speaking lies about ourselves? Absolutely no, what we need to understand is that personal questions are not something an interviewer is not prepared with; they are more often spontaneous and are based on our responses. We decide the course of our interview. The next question depends very much on our previous answer.

The most important thing to realize is that there are moments in our life where we have patted ourselves on the back for having done something good. We need to look at those moments , ensure that the interviewer knows at least some of those moments. Every person has something unique about him. It is essential that the uniqueness is brought out in the positive sense.

Always remember an interview is your personal reflection. The best answers come from within you. Websites or books or this article is at best suggestive rather than substitutes. Frame your answers first and then look suggestions to improve them, rather than looking for answers. Remember they are someone else’s not yours.

Do’s and Don’ts in a Group Discussion

As you have to participate in a Group Discussion, several questions spring across your mind. You want to know what actions and gestures can get you positive points and what can cost you the selection. Here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts of participating in the GD.

Do’s

• Dress appropriately for the industry. Your personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable.
  
  
• Treat other people you encounter with courtesy and respect. Their opinions of you might be solicited during hiring decisions.
  
  
• Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and have a friendly expression when you are greeted by your interviewer.
  
  
• Listen to be sure you understand your interviewer's name and the correct pronunciation.
  
  
• Even when your interviewer gives you a first and last name, address your interviewer by title (Ms., Mr., Dr., Sir, Madam) and last name, until invited to do otherwise.
  
  
• Maintain good eye contact during the interview.
  
  
• Sit still and straight in your seat; ensure that your back is not at an angle to the back-rest of the chair. Avoid fidgeting.
  
  
• Respond to questions and back up your statements about yourself with specific examples whenever possible.
  
  
• Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question.
  
  
• Be thorough in your responses, while being concise in your wording.
  
  
• Be honest and be yourself — your best professional self. Dishonesty gets discovered and is grounds for withdrawing job offers and for firing. You want a good match between yourself and your employer. If you get hired by acting like someone other than yourself, you and your employer will both be unhappy.
  
  
• Treat the interview seriously and as though you are truly interested in the employer and the opportunity presented.
  
  
• Exhibit a positive attitude. The interviewer is evaluating you as a potential co-worker. Behave like someone you would want to work with.
  
  
• Make sure you understand the employer's next step in the hiring process; know when and from whom you should expect to hear next. Know what action you are expected to take next, if any.
  
  
• When the interviewer concludes the interview, offer a firm handshake and make eye contact. Depart gracefully.
  
  
• After the interview, make notes right away so you don't forget critical details. They are a good learning experience.
  
  
• Keep your language simple. It is your ideas that matter, not the language.

Don’ts

• Don't make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and your actions.
  
  
• Don't make negative comments about previous employers or professors (or others).
  
  
• Don't falsify application materials or answers to interview questions.
  
  
• Don't treat the interview casually, as if you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice. This is an insult to the interviewer and to the organization.
  
  
• Don't give the impression that you are only interested in an organization because of its geographic location.
  
  
• Don't give the impression you are only interested in salary; don't ask about salary and benefits issues until the subject is brought up by your interviewer.
  
  
• Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.
  
  
• Don't make the interviewer guess what type of work you are interested in; it is not the interviewer's job to act as a career advisor to you.
  
  
• Don't be unprepared for typical interview questions. You may not be asked all of them in every interview, but being unprepared will not help you.
  
  
• A job search can be hard work and involve frustrations; don't exhibit frustrations or a negative attitude in an interview.
  
  
• Don't chew gum or smell like smoke. Don’t look casual or disheveled.
  
  
• Don't allow your cell phone to sound during the interview. Don't take a cell phone call. Don't look at a text message.
  
  
• Don't take your parents, spouse, and friends to an interview. If you are not grown up and independent enough to attend an interview alone, you're insufficiently grown up and independent for a job. (They can certainly visit your new city, at their own expense, but cannot attend your interview).
  
  
• Don’t use too many jargons in your interview.