‘Consult professors, get your resume reviewed’: HR professional shares job interview tips for freshers

Ravleen Kaur, who completed her MBA from Apeejay School of Management (ASM) in 2021, is working as a Talent Partner, ION Group, at present. The alumna credits her “incredible journey” to the guidance and support she has received from her alma mater. Read to know more about her journey:

How did ASM prepare you for the industry?

As someone who did not know anything about the corporate world initially, I thought of pursuing a master’s degree so that I could get some clarity about my career goals. And I think Apeejay was the right platform for it. ASM provided me the much-needed exposure through hands-on activities, which boosted my confidence and speaking skills. Through guest lectures by corporate experts, I got to know more about the industry and how it operates. The faculty at ASM was also very good and supportive. Looking back, I think studying at Apeejay was the best decision I took.

Also Read: How do you cope with nervousness in a job interview? Here are some tips

Tell us about your current work profile.

I secured a job at ION via campus placement, which came with the highest package in our batch. I am involved in talent acquisition for end-to-end recruitment from sourcing to recruiting, providing offers, and hiring.

How did ASM prepare you for campus placements?

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to go into HR, but I wasn’t sure how. That is where my mentors at ASM played a very big role. It is very important to have an open conversation with your teachers and mentors, who will readily provide the best insights into the preparation for an interview. During our time, we were also asked to submit our resumes to our mentors who would then help us edit them to get the best version—they explained how we needed to highlight our skills, among other things. Through mock interviews, they further taught us how to be presentable during an interview, apart from advising us about the concepts we needed to be well-versed in.

I would urge freshers to communicate with their professors as well as seniors. Never shy away from it. Get your resume reviewed and take mock interviews. You also need to prepare a list of questions you can typically expect in the interview, depending on your domain.

What prerequisites do you look for in a candidate while recruiting?

It definitely depends on the job role and the seniority. Having said that, the basic requirements in a candidate are confidence and basic awareness about the industry and the company. Extra-curricular activities, flexibility, and willingness to give your 100 per cent to the organisation are some of the other factors that are considered while hiring a candidate. The ability to be a good team player is also something that is assessed.

As someone doing virtual hiring, can you take us through some of the challenges?

In an in-person interview, the interviewer is able to relate to the candidate more. In the virtual mode, there have been instances where the candidate gets some help either by googling answers or by having someone sit next to them. But this will definitely not help in the long run.

Candidates have also been trading offers, which is a very big concern. So, we have to keep the candidate engaged.   

Would you say your journey has been fulfilling so far?

It has been a roller-coaster ride but full of learnings. I look after both tech and non-tech recruiting which involves the initial screening of the candidate to budgeting, connecting with the stakeholders, understanding the requirements, negotiations, to name a few. I have learnt to keep an employee engaged and prevent attrition. At ASM, I was also part of the campus placement cell where I learnt a great deal as well. Overall, I have had an incredible journey so far.