What Not to Wear to Your Next Interview

Interviews are all about first impressions and what you wear can go a long way in telling people who you before you’ve even started speaking. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on your outfit, but putting in a little extra effort to choose the right attire can help you in the long run. It takes interviewers less than 2.2 seconds to judge you by what you wear. 55% of your initial impression comes from the way you dress. Your decision about what to wear can tell a story about who you are at work.

JOB VS CAREER

These two terms are often used interchangeably and seen as sort of synonyms. But if you’re careful with your words, you’ll soon realize they have totally different meanings. Let’s review the Oxford definitions of the 2 words:

Job: A paid position of regular employment.
Career: An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress

Let’s take an example of my friend Andy who is changing jobs. He’s a software engineer with Yahoo and soon he’ll be taking up a new position at Intel. I use the word ‘job’ here as he is changing his employer but not his field of expertise. He will still be working as a software engineer. On the other hand, my colleague Mini has decided to change careers. She used to work with me as a Marketing Manager and now she’s planning to take up an MA and become a teacher. That’s a totally different occupation – a different career choice!

A job is a regular activity through which an individual earns money. It is a short term commitment. Whereas a career is a long term commitment in which one pursues a lifelong ambition. Education or special training might not be required for a job but are absolutely paramount for a career.

A career is a series of connected employment opportunities which build a ladder to more lucrative employment opportunities. Someone looking for a job would just be looking for a good paycheck but someone who’s looking to build a career would have specific goals in mind to fulfill a list of skills they wish to acquire. A career would give you the opportunity to meet with people who you would like to add to your network for business opportunities.

Jobs provide stability, something to fall back on. Careers may involve more risk and also more frequent change. Most people tend to be less emotionally invested in their jobs as all they want to do is stay out of trouble from the boss and bring home the bacon. In careers, the goal is not just to get the task done but to learn the best possible way to be efficient and gain experiences and build connections that would help you advance.

Many people identify themselves with their careers. They like saying “I am marketing professional” or “I am a baker” but you’ll find most job-oriented people saying “I work at XYZ” There’s a sense of belongingness that comes with a career that cannot be compared to that of a job.


The bottom line is to know going in whether your current employment opportunity is a job or a career opportunity. Ask yourself whether you’re in it for the paycheck or if you hope to have a business just like this someday. And there’s nothing wrong with doing it for the money. In this case do not get too involved. Invest your emotional and mental energy in other things that matter to you, like your family or your book club. If you’re hoping to build a career, put your all into it and turn up the passion. 

5 Ways to Smarten Up your FB profile for Prospective Employers

Applying for a job can be a long, daunting task involving resume writing, portfolio building, contacting companies and interviewing with prospective employers. In the midst of all this you also have your online social presence to worry about. What if your interviewer were to casually look you up? Will you look smart enough on Facebook?

Up to 94% of employers are using social media to recruit new talent and there are numerous job search tools and apps on Facebook that use information on your profile to find the best matches in the job market. It’s hard enough to land a job without having to agonize over how your Facebook profile is harming your reputation. But the real question is can you really use Facebook to attract potential
employers? Here’s how you can easily smarten up your FB profile while you’re on a job hunt:

1. Beef Up your Profile 
Fill in all the details related to your school and college. Include relevant extra-curricular activities, clubs you might have joined and internships that were part of your course. Be specific about your past work experience; make sure you include what role you played in the organization, no matter how big or small. Taking yourself seriously can be the first indicator that you are job-ready.

2. Fan your Feathers 
Boast about your professional accomplishments. Use milestones to show off when you complete an important project or complete a longer stint at a job. Each feather in your cap can be another reason for an employer to notice you. Make sure you don’t sound too arrogant though, it’s not all about you. Give credit where credit is due.

3. Be a Groupie 
Post often in job related groups. Join the communities which talk about industry specific topics. Show off your hobbies by liking the right pages. For example if you love photography, be sure to participate in the photography contests online. Seek out influencers and follow them, share their updates, even try to engage with a few who are well-connected in your field.

4. Privacy Policy
Facebook has privacy control every single step of the way. Even while posting a status you can choose who is allowed to view it. So, choose wisely and better safe than sorry in cases where you’re skipping school and posting about your fun day at the movies. Make specific lists of friends and share accordingly. Pictures and videos from your spring break should be hidden from all scrutiny.

5. Best Foot Forward 
Make sure your portfolio features strongly on your profile. If you have a blog or a website, share links to your latest posts often, encouraging friends to like what you do. This shows that you’re passionate about your work and you aren’t afraid of public attention. If you’re involved in any charitable activity or if you’ve ever volunteered at an NGO or a summer school, make sure you post about it.

Employers are interested in knowing who you are socially and how you would fit into the work culture at the new company. Any and all details that show you in a good light help in getting you on top of the recruiters list. All the best!

ARE YOU IN THE WRONG JOB? 8 DEFINITIVE SIGNS THAT YOU ARE!

You head to work with absolute dedication everyday. You work with all honesty. You put in extra-hours and the weekends. You are always cued into your office mail inbox. But you are majorly unhappy about work. Basically you are in denial. So here are straight 8 signs that all’s not well in work-heaven. And if you say yes to even 3 of these you need to hit press play on your job hunt.

1. Everything except your blood type is negative.

You wake up dreading work. You cry yourself to sleep after-work. At work you have the droopiest face. Your friends have been asking you why you look so unhappy. No amount of inspirational quotes on Pinterest make you feel better about your life. There’s just no light at the end of the tunnel.

2. You are at the top. But it’s lonely there.

You have completed an important project and are the new shining star of the office. But when everyone backslaps you, you wonder what the fuss is all about. Your idea gets selected at the meeting but you only wish it hadn’t been. You are the hero of your office, but you feel out of place, alone and lonely.

3. You are an engineer. Applying to be a bartender!

If you find yourself reading openings for a secretary, a bartender, an air hostess, a social worker, with interest, reading the role description seriously and even feeling confident that you will be able to handle the role efficiently, then we suggest you really do apply.

4. Friends have turned foes.

Friends at work disperse the minute they see you approaching. Friends avoid taking your calls. Most people have hidden you from their timeline. Because they are tired of the only one thing you seem to excel at these days - crying about your work-life woes.

5. No amount of therapy seems to work

Chocolates, your favorite comedy flick, new clothes, new shoes, mugs of cappuccino, getting your hair coloured, a free weekend, if nothing lifts you up, you need to lift yourself out of that job.

6. Your salary has been credited. So what!

When you get a message saying your salary has been credited, you feel like you’ve been chained.It’s not that you’re not being paid enough, it’s just no matter what you’re paid, you’d still be unsatisfied.

7. Smoke breaks last longer than lunch break

Picking up smokes? Or putting on weight? You’re definitely in the wrong job!

8. You imagine slaying your colleagues while watching KILL BILL.

Never mind throwing darts at pics of your boss, you have secretly plotted the detailed massacre of every co-worker. In that case, you might need a therapist as well as a new job!

Your job hunt starts NOW!