How I learned to stop worrying and love the market

In other words .... my strategy towards applying for jobs during the credit crunch.
(It worked for me many times over, but you should think this through - remember you are not me and I played to my strengths, you should do the same!)

Well here goes !

Step 1. Apply!
Well unless you apply, you are never going to get anywhere near landing an interview - forget a job. There, did I hear you say duh!

It doesn't matter how simple and straightforward this sounds and how you feel that this is the only possible thing to do. Some students (read as me) did not end up filling their applications till the last date ( Thankfully I learnt pretty quickly that deadlines are DEADLINES! )

Stop thinking and go about completing your your applications. Many a times, most of us dilly dally and spend a lot of time contemplating and discussing or end up being just plain lazy and we don't apply ! Weird ! but true.

Step 2. Apply prudently !
Don't go about applying indiscriminately. Think the whole process through. I would say apply to 10-20 companies by end of October and there is a very good chance of you landing a job before you submit your IS470 literature review. (or at least before Christmas). Each application has to be tailor made for that company / profile so put some effort into it. Don't just create a template and send it to 100 companies. Might work , but I would suggest against it.

Make sure you have a smart looking , sensible and well structured CV (refer LSE Career Office) . Each application has to be well thought out as well. Read the questions carefully. Remember not to lie (manipulation of the truth is alright I guess), because you are going to be interviewed based on your application and they will find out any discrepancies. Answers should be well structured, with sufficient examples to validate your claims - meaning don't write something like " I am a great leader, I have great analytical skills, people skills etc etc" without substantiating it with evidence. The LSE career service office would help you with your applications. VISIT THEM , its free !!!

Step 3. Be aware !
I would suggest reading the FT and watching the BBC news. Invariably a question that would pop up during your interviews would be something that tests your awareness of the market situation. Stop worrying, start reading and have a good (or at least reasonable understanding) of the market.

Step 4. Prepare !
Assuming that you have got an interview call, you should be well prepared to tackle it. I never went for an interview with an attitude that it would be a good learning experience. I went with the attitude that the job was mine! Perhaps it sound pretty confident / egoistic / naive ...whatever.... I don't care ! The attitude did the trick every single time!

Talk to others who have been through the interview. If you are the first person, don't worry, its not (yet) the end of the world. Prepare well. There are 7-8 competencies that you would be tested on. Be aware of the possible questions. They usually are around initiatives, Team work, Leadership, Conflict management, market analysis, why this role / job , Organisation, Analytical skills etc. Have a structure for your answers, introduce the example, get into details and make sure you talk to them in their language (meaning use the right keywords - e.g if its marketing use up sell , cross sell etc, else things like contingency planning, terms of reference for conflict management etc). This conveys a positive message to your interviewers in that they feel convinced that they would be comfortable working with you. As Ian puts it. Convincing is merely convincing, its not the truth ( but then that's the way the world works :D)

HELP OTHERS! ! ! I don't understand the logic where you don't help out your classmates. If you feel that helping another would mean that you would end up not getting the job - I say you are stupid. Remember its not just your friend, there are 100000 others who are applying for the same job ! Get real.
Work with your classmates / friends/ seniors and prepare the best application. Again this is the ideal situation in my mind. I don't impose this view on others. But then again .. be practical .. don't encourage free loaders! Put some effort into your application, do your homework and then go around asking for advice / help or review - rather than blatantly copying someone else's application.

Step 5. Relax !

On the day of the interview, relax , be confident, and pull your weight. Smile, dress smart greet the interviewers and give them a good strong handshake. By this time, more or less the decision would have been made. Now its up to you not to screw up ! So don't. A suggested read would be the book "How Would You Move Mount Fuji? Microsoft's Cult of the Puzzle - How the World's Smartest Company Selects the Most Creative Thinkers"