Information Technology Timetable 2007 (Wesley University) 

Session -1 

IMPROVE YOUR INTERVIEW SKILLS 

An interview is a frightening nightmare for many people. Irrespective of the position for which you are going to be interviewed, you need to focus on a few points that will help you improve your performance and get to the desired position. Here are a few tips on how to improve your interview skills: First of all, the way you present yourself is very important. Therefore, dress up properly after understanding the type of job or position you are being considered for. You should look better than average candidates because the first impression you are going to give would influence the final decision a lot. Another Important factor is your Knowledge about the organisation and the position you are being interviewed for. The more knowledge you have, the more confident you would look and sound. Hence doing your homework will definitely pay off. 

Facing the interview with confidence is essential. Keep proper eye contact with the interviewers. Give a firm handshake and speak honestly from your heart. If you can have practice by attending a few mock interviews with your family and friends. It would sharpen your skills.In any Interview, the way you start and finish are equally important. Always try to conclude the interview with an overview of the questions you received and the points you made in your response. Before you leave the room, you can always let them know that you would be waiting for their final decision. Finally, you can top it all by sending them a thanksgiving mail. Do mention certain specific points which were part of the discussions to let them know what you feel about the entire process. 

It Is not possible to predict every possible question that you may get in an Interview. However, there are many ways to Improve your Interview skills and help you put up a good show. What you have to keep in mind Is that you are there to sell yourself and hence your efforts should be to deliver a presentation on yourself. How can you go about doing this? To sell yourself, you have to list out your skills at first. This will help you to talk intelligently about the quality of the product you are selling i.e. yourself. The first item 

In the list can be your specific knowledge about the job you are being considered for. Details such as tasks you can perform, gadgets you can operate, special training and skills you have etc. should be emphasized. In the 2nd phase, you have to list out your transferable skills like organisational skills, leadership skills or time management skills. In the next stage, you have to do a bit of research about the organisation to know what it is. What it does and what it wants. In other words, you should know your customer. Use sources like the company's website and people who are already working for It.

Another way to excel in an interview is to have a general idea about the types of questions that you are likely to get. Certain questions are common in any interview and they are generally asked at interviews. There are a number of sources like books, magazines, and internet sites where you can find a variety of interview questions. Of all such questions, two are considered the most difficult ones by almost every candidate. Let us take up these two questions individually: 

1. 'Why should we hire you?" Candidates have a general tendency to talk about qualities like hard working nature, punctuality, commitment etc. in response to a question like this. The fact is that these are expected of any one. The question is actually demanding something more - something that sets you apart from the crowd. Get ready to talk about specific and tangible results which you would be able to achieve for the organisation. For instance, talk about how you are planning to improve the sales by another 25% or reduce the expenditure by 10% or something of that sort. 

2. Another stumbling block is the question 'What are your weaknesses?" Here the most important thing is to avoid stereotype responses like "I am a perfectionist and cannot tolerate mistakes" etc. A better way to handle this question is to talk about a weakness you really have and how you are trying to overcome that weakness. This shows that you are aware of your weakness and want to overcome that. After all, don't you think that knowing your weakness is again your strength? 

Finally, what are the chances that you get the nod of the interviewer? This depends on the equation you have been able to make with the interviewer. Before him, all candidates are relatively equal and the final choice will fall on him who has endeared himself to the interviewer. It is this connection that matters and for this you need to turn the entire interview process into a conversation. If you can do this, you will make a friend in the interviewer and will always have the last laugh.

HOW TO HANDLE TRICKY QUESTIONS IN JOB INTERVIEW

Before you seek your entry into the interview room, ensure that you are ready for this very important event. You should pay extra attention to your dress and overall appearance because these things influence the first impression you are going to create and that is very crucial. Some interviewers instantly develop a like or dislike for you depending on how attractive, expressive and cordial you are. So get ready to create a very good first impression. If you are able to collect valuable information about the organisation, it would give you an edge over others. One important thing you can do to create a good first impression is to reach the venue in time and that too well prepared. 

What do employers generally search for? 

Recruiters generally look for a candidates' initiative, attitude, past record, intelligence and problem solving ability. If you are able to prove that you understand the demands of the position and your experience is in line with the broad objectives of the position, you will stand a good chance to get selected. Candidates should show a lot of enthusiasm and positive attitude during the interview. Always try to draw parallels between your past positions and the position for which you are being considered drawing examples form the past. You can always expect some really tough questions in the first round, because recruiters generally try to eliminate the unsuitable candidates at this level. Therefore, do a lot of practices before you actually sit for an interview? Let us discuss a few questions that you are likely to face in the interview.

 Tell me about yourself.

 Interviewers generally ask this question to start the interview. Generally the purpose is to know who you are, what your skills are and how confident and expressive you are. While replying to this question, you have to ensure that you do not stretch it too long. It would be ideal to wind up within two minutes. The best strategy, therefore, is to focus on one or two of your major achievements to make the response brief and effective. 

What did you do to get ready for this interview? 

Employers generally expect the candidates to take the interview seriously and attend the same after some preparation. They always prefer such candidates who have done a bit of research about the company. The minimum expectation is that a candidate should at least visit the company's website to have a general idea about it. If a candidate knows what the company does and how the company is progressing, it would reflect the candidate's keen interest in the job and how excited he is about the interview. Visiting the company's website with special focus on those areas which are directly related to the position for which you are being interviewed is a very good strategy. 

"Describe your current situation and tell me about a significant achievement you are very proud of".

 Here the interviewer is trying to extract information about your hard work, work ethics, team spirit and overall attitude. Another purpose is to compare your achievements with the objectives of the position being offered and to assess how relevant your past achievements are in the new context. Therefore, your answers should be specific and tangible. If you are able to provide a good answer to this kind of a question and prove that you possess the necessary drive to accomplish the tasks involved in the new assignment, your chances of getting short-listed are very high.

 Tell me about the longest day you worked at the office

. Interview questions are selected to serve a definite purpose. Let us consider the question "Tell me about the longest day you worked at the office over the last 60 days. When did this happen, what did you accomplish?" The basic purpose of this question is to measure your energy levels and get to know how you cope up with work pressure when it comes all of a sudden. Obviously, your answer to this question should reflect your sense of commitment and your potential to put in longs hours without murmuring. Quote examples to give more authenticity to your answer. 

Why do you think you are the best person for this job? 

Here the interviewer is interested to know about the key skills you possess that make you a better choice for the given position. To give a proper response, you should first understand the position and the responsibilities involved in it. To this knowledge, you need to add your past accomplishments which are relevant in the context of the new job. The interviewer might be looking for certain skills which he considers essential for functioning in the new position. These may include technical skills, management skills, planning skills etc. A response fulfilling these requirements would be an ideal one in this case.

 How do you balance your personal life with the work pressure on a daily basis? 

The interviewer wants to know how good you are at balancing personal life and professional life. Indirectly he is trying to know about your potential to work hard and your attitude towards your job. You can take a bit of time to think and formulate a suitable reply in such cases. 

Describe some real life situations 

where you had to do a difficult balancing and explain how you did it in an appreciable manner. Tell me an instance when you lost a big deal. What did you learn form this experience? What would you have done differently if you went through the same process now? Here, you have to be truthful and honest. Admit your failures and talk about them. The interviewer wants to know whether you are open and sincere when it comes to admitting your drawbacks. Failures are not uncommon, but as long as we are ready to learn from our failures and do not indulge in a blame game, this shows the positive aspect of your personality i.e. your willingness to accept your failures gracefully and march forward.

Do you know how your friends would describe you? 

The purpose of the question is to know your qualities as a professional and as a team member. What you need to do is to select a few adjectives that can aptly describe your personality. You must ensure that each describing word you select should be supported by a relevant example drawn from your life.

While there is a long list of should haves, there is also a list of should not haves. The following are certain traits which candidates should avoid at all cost&

 - Over-confidence                                                                              - Over enthusiasm and arrogance - Cynicism against previous employers - Indifference and lack of interest - Shabby looks/dress - Lack of eye-contact - Talkativeness - Lack of interest and preparedness - Getting late for the interview

                                              STRESS BREAKS HEARTS 

Heart disease is the world's biggest killer. Cancer, the second largest killer accounts for only half as many deaths as heart diseases. According to the World Health Organization cardiovascular disease causes 12 million deaths in the world every year. Out of which about 2600 people die every day from cardiovascular disease in the United States and around 238,000 people die of heart disease annually in the United Kingdom. From which approximately 1/5 deaths are attributed to men and 1/6 to women.

 The cardiovascular disease can take many forms such as high blood pressures, Coronary artery disease. Alular heart disease, stroke, or rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease. Out of all. Coronary artery disease is the most common form of cardiovascular disease worldwide. In Coronary artery disease calcium starts depositing in the arteries of the heart and when large chunks of calcium get accumulated in the arteries. The arteries get blocked. The muscles of the heart stop receiving adequate amounts of oxygen and the result Is heart attack. But if the heart disease is recognized at an early stage, before the symptoms develop, they can be successfully treated.

Other than Coronary artery disease. the researchers have found certain other factors that play an important role In a person's chances of developing heart disease. Those factors are  known as risk factors These risk factors are divided into two categories. major and contributing. The major risk factors include: high blood pressure (Hypertension), high blood cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and overweight, smoking, physical inactivity, gender. heredity and age. These major risk factors are those that have been proven to increase your risk of heart to an increased risk of heart disease, but their exact role has not been defined.They include: stress, sex hormones. birth control pills and alcohol.

Stress is considered to be a contributing factor of heart disease because the effects of emotional stress. Behaviour habits and socio economic status on the risk of heart disease and heart attack have not yet been proven. Researchers have identified several reasons why stress may affect the heart. According to Deniel J. Brotman, MD, Director of the hospitalist program at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Baltimore. "Intense grief. Acute anger and sudden fear can have direct — sometimes fatal-effects on the human heart. And long-term emotional stress shortens lives by increasing the risk of heart disease." He also says. "What is Intuitive to people is not necessarily intuitive to physicians. 

Emotional stress. Conceptually, is the same thing for cardiovascular risk or physical stress? But a lot of doctors blow that off, because they think emotional stress is psychological problem, not a physical problem?

These psychological disorders and stress can make people suffer from depression and show a pessimistic outlook towards life which may develop conditions that increase heart risks like diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Chronic anxiety, emotional trauma, hostile temperaments, inability to share emotions, fear, and grief all these things contribute to increase the Chances of heart breaks and heart deaths in people. Somehow if they escape from death, these mental disorders or stress may have long-lasting heart damage. Stress may also contribute to other risk factors. A person may overeat or smoke continually from nervous tensions, which can contribute to heart attack risk. The exact effects of stress on the heart are not fully known and more research is still needed.

 Brotman says that stress can be reduced in patients if the doctors pay more attention to what their patients are telling them when they talk about stress. The doctor can play an important part in the process.

                                        Visiting the Boromet Museum 

Opening Hours 

Tuesday to Thursday 2 30 pm-4 30pm 

Saturday 10 30 am-12 30 pm and 2 00 pm -4 00pm 

Closed - Sunday. Monday and Friday 

The Museum can be opened for outsiders’ Regular opening hours for group visits, parties of adults or children 

Admissions 

There is no charge for admissions, although donations are always welcome

 Facilities 

The Boromet Museum is a center for family and local history researchers and the archive is available to view Items of interest can be photocopied or scanned for a small charge Shop Our shop sells books, maps and photographs 

Parking

 There is a multi-store car parking behind the shopping center and a small public car park behind the western  in the Steve House Gardens (down Minor close. last entrance on your left after the museum, coming from the eastern end of James Street)

 How to reach by bus 

167, 184, 268 and 340 stop outsider opposite the museum 36, 82, 234, 356, 384, 379, 389 and 517 stop nearby 

By tube

Take the Northern line to high Boromet Station Turn left out of the station, walk up Boromet hill, and take the night side at Boromet church-the museum is on the left, by bus stop