HS8581 – Professional Communication Department of English Year: 2022 – 2023

Unit – I
Soft Skills – An Introduction
What are Soft Skills?
Soft skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person's
relationships with other people. In the workplace, soft skills are considered to be a
complement to hard skills, which refer to a person's knowledge and occupational skills.
Sociologists may use the term soft skills to describe a person's emotional intelligence
quotient (EQ) as opposed to intelligence quotient (IQ).
Soft skills have more to do with who people are, rather than what they know. As such, they
encompass the character traits that decide how well one interacts with others and usually
are a definite part of an individual's personality. Hard skills can be learned and perfected
over time, but soft skills are more difficult to acquire and change. The soft skills required for
a doctor, for example, would be empathy, understanding, active listening, and a good
bedside manner. Alternatively, the hard skills necessary for a doctor would include a vast
comprehension of illnesses, the ability to interpret test results and symptoms, and a
thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology.

Understanding Soft Skills

Employers look for a balance of hard skills and soft skills when making hiring decisions. For
example, employers value skilled workers with a track record of getting jobs done on time.
Employers also value workers with strong communication skills and a strong understanding
of company products and services. When communicating with prospective clients, workers
with employee skills can put together compelling presentations even if their specific job is
not in sales or marketing. Another valued soft skill is the ability to coach fellow coworkers
on new tasks.
Company leaders often are most effective when they have strong soft skills. For example,
leaders are expected to have good speaking abilities, but good leaders also are good at
listening to workers and to other leaders in their fields. Negotiation is a big part of the job
for many company leaders. When negotiating with employees, clients, or associates, leaders
need to be skilled in staying considerate of what others want while remaining focused on
pushing for what they want. Good leaders also need to know how to make their own work
most efficient by strategically delegating tasks to workers.
Soft skills benefit businesses when they are practiced on a company-wide basis. For
example, a collaborative spirit among workers is important. Efficiency and output improve
when workers collaborate by sharing knowledge and tools to get jobs done. The ability to
learn new methods and technologies also is a desired soft skill for all workers. Companies
that value learning as a soft skill recognize various learning styles and encourage workers to
pursue the methods that work best for them. Good troubleshooting is a soft skill that also is
valuable to companies. For example, companies can operate more efficiently when all
workers know how to troubleshoot software problems instead of relying on the information
technology (IT) department for every fix.
Companies often like to hire employees who possess soft skills that mesh well with the rest
of the staff, considering them to be a good cultural fit for the company.
Whereas hard skills are the tangible and technical skills easily demonstrated by a
candidate’s qualifications and specific professional experiences, soft skills is a term used by
employers to refer to the more intangible and non-technical abilities that are sought from
candidates.

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Soft skills are sometimes referred to as transferable skills or professional skills. As this
term implies, these are skills that are less specialised, less rooted in specific vocations, and
more aligned with the general disposition and personality of a candidate.
Examples of important soft skills are communication, teamwork and problem solving.
Soft skills relate to your attitudes and your intuitions. As soft skills are less referable to your
qualifications and more personality-driven, it is important to consider what your soft skills
are and how you might show evidence of them before you apply for a job.
This is particularly true of the recruitment process for graduate programmes, where
transferable skills and potential often take precedence over professional experience.
Being able to demonstrate your soft skills equates to demonstrating great potential to
succeed and progress in the career of your choice.
What are the Key Soft Skills?
This section is an extensive, but not exhaustive, guide to what should be considered as
some of the key soft skills.
Communication
As a soft skill, communication is not about multiple syllables or rousing speeches. Able
communicators can adjust their tone and style according to their audience, comprehend and
act efficiently on instructions, and explain complex issues to colleagues and clients alike.
Communication is also an important aspect of leadership, since leaders must be able to
delegate clearly and comprehensibly.
Self-Motivation
Having the positive attitude and the initiative to work well without round-the-clock
supervision is a vital soft skill for any employee.
Not only does it demonstrate reliability and commitment, but it shows that you can fit
efficiently into an organisational structure without the need for constant oversight.
Leadership
Leadership is a soft skill you can show even if you’re not directly managing others.
Leadership can be thought of as a collection of various other soft skills, such as a general
positive attitude and outlook, the ability to communicate effectively, and an aptitude for
both self-motivating and motivating others.
Responsibility
Self-awareness is a seldom talked about but highly valued soft skill; knowing when to
accept responsibility for any mistakes you have made demonstrates a healthy level of
humility, and a willingness to learn and progress.
Teamwork
Like leadership, good teamwork involves a combination of other soft skills.
Working in a team towards a common goal requires the intuition and interpersonal acumen
to know when to be a leader, and when to be a listener.
Good team players are perceptive, as well as receptive to the needs and responsibilities of
others.
Problem Solving
Problem solving does not just require analytical, creative and critical skills, but a
particular mindset: those who can approach a problem with a cool and level head will often
reach a solution more efficiently than those who cannot.

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This is a soft skill which can often rely on strong teamwork too. Problems need not always
be solved alone.
The ability to know who can help you reach a solution, and how they can do it, can be a
great advantage.
Decisiveness
Knowing the distinction between decisiveness and recklessness implies a soft skill in itself.
Decisiveness combines a number of different abilities: the ability to put things into
perspective, to weigh up the options, to assess all relevant information and, crucially, to
anticipate the consequences, good and bad.
Ability to Work under Pressure and Time Management
Many jobs come with demanding deadlines and occasionally high stakes. Recruiters prize
candidates who show a decisive attitude, an unfaltering ability to think clearly, and a
capacity to compartmentalise and set stress aside.
Time management is closely related to the ability to work under pressure, as well as
within tight deadlines. Employees who manage their time well are able to efficiently
prioritise tasks and organise their diaries, while adopting an attitude which allows them to
take on new tasks and deadlines.
Flexibility
Naturally, people can be wary of leaving the comfort zone formed by their repertoire of hard
skills. Flexibility is an important soft skill, inasmuch as it demonstrates an ability and
willingness to acquire new hard skills, and an open-mindedness to new tasks and new
challenges.
Employers often seek candidates who can show a willing and upbeat attitude, since many
jobs come with the possibility of secondments.
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
This is another of those soft skills which employers look for in potential leaders.
To be an adept negotiator is to know how to be persuasive and exert influence, while
sensitively seeking a solution which will benefit all parties.
Similarly, conflict resolution depends on strong interpersonal skills and the ability to
establish a rapport with colleagues and clients alike.
How to Push Your Soft Skills in Your CV and at Interview
As with hard skills, you should spend some time considering what your soft skills are (it may
help to ask people who know you well) and highlight them wherever possible in both your
CV and in job interviews. Hard skills can be shown via qualifications, but soft skills are
slightly more slippery.
Since soft skills are necessarily abstract, you should reinforce any claims with examples of
when you were able to use them to achieve positive outcomes.
These examples can be drawn from professional, personal or academic experiences.
Remember to show, don’t tell: simply stating that you are a great communicator, for
example, can have the ironic effect of undermining the very soft skill you are claiming to
have.
If you have been an undergraduate student, you will probably have experience of juggling
various deadlines and extra-curricular responsibilities. If you have previously worked in any
job with a customer service element, you may have had to use your communication and
conflict resolution skills to manage any complaints.

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Otherwise, with your CV, the easiest and most essential way to show your soft skills of
communication and attention to detail is to proofread ruthlessly, and eliminate any typos.
When you attend an interview, remember that this is your first chance to show your
interpersonal skills to your prospective employers. Be professional, make eye contact, shake
hands, listen closely to the questions and answer them fully.
Hard Skills & Soft Skills
Hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. Typically, you'll
learn hard skills in the classroom, through books or other training materials, or on the job.
Examples of hard skills include: Proficiency in a foreign language. A degree or certificate.
Hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify. Typically, you'll learn
hard skills in the classroom, through books or other training materials, or on the job.
Examples of hard skills include:
● Proficiency in a foreign language

● A degree or certificate

● Typing speed

● Machine operation

● Computer programming
These hard skills are often listed in your cover letter and on your resume, and are easy for
an employer or recruiter to recognize.
Soft skills, on the other hand, are subjective skills that are much harder to quantify. Also
known as "people skills" or "interpersonal skills," soft skills relate to the way you relate to
and interact with other people.
Examples of soft skills include:
● Communication

● Flexibility

● Leadership

● Motivation

● Patience

● Persuasion

● Problem Solving Abilities

● Teamwork

● Time Management

● Work Ethic
Unlike hard skills, it's hard to point to specific evidence that you possess a soft skill. If an
employer is looking for someone who knows a programming language, you can share your
grade in a class or point to a program you created using the language. But how can you
show that you have a work ethic or any other soft skill? Just saying you have the skill isn't

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very meaningful. Instead, with this — and any other soft skills — your best bet is to
demonstrate that you possess this quality by sharing examples of times when you used it.
The Relative Importance of Hard and Soft Skills
Job-related expertise is essential in any profession and in many other careers. However,
over the last twenty to thirty years, understanding has grown that perhaps the soft skills
may ultimately be more important in determining levels of success.
● Hard skills are therefore a basic minimum necessary to operate in that
particular workplace.
● Whether or not you are successful in your career may depend on how you relate to
other people and to work: the so-called soft skills.
Time Management
The ability to manage your time effectively is important. Good time management leads to
better efficiency and productivity, less stress, less wasted time, and a more successful
life. Here are some benefits of managing time effectively:
1. Stress relief
Making and following a task schedule makes a person feel less stressed and reduces
anxiety.
2. More time
Good time management gives you extra time to spend in your daily life. People who can
time manage effectively enjoy more time to spend on hobbies or other personal pursuits.
3. More opportunities
Managing time well leads to more opportunities and less time wasted on trivial activities.
Time management is a key quality that employers look for. The ability to prioritize and
schedule work is extremely desirable to any organization.
4. Ability to realize goals
Individuals who practice good time management are able to better achieve their goals and
objectives, and do so in a shorter length of time.
List of Tips for Effective Time Management
After considering the benefits of time management, let us look at some ways to manage
time effectively:
1. Set goals correctly
Set goals that are achievable and measurable to improve time management. Use the
SMART method when setting goals. In essence, make sure the goals you set are specific,
measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely.
2. Prioritize wisely
Separate your tasks on how important and urgent they are in order to achieve good time
management. For example, look at your daily tasks and determine which are:
● Important and urgent: Do these tasks right away.

● Important but not urgent: Decide when to do these tasks.

● Urgent but not important: Delegate these tasks if possible.

● Not urgent and not important: Do these tasks later.

3. Set a time limit to complete a task

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Setting a time constraint will cause you to be more focused and efficient. For example,
instead of working on a project and thinking of doing it until it’s done, set a limit of, say,
three hours.
4. Take a break between tasks
When doing a lot of tasks without a break, it is harder to stay focused and motivated. Allow
some downtime between tasks by performing some mind-clearing exercises like taking a
quick nap, going for a short walk, or meditating.
5. Organize yourself
Utilize your calendar by writing down the deadline for projects or tasks on them. Determine
which days should be dedicated to which tasks.
6. Remove non-essential tasks/activities
It is important to remove excess activities or tasks that add no value to your life. Determine
what is significant and what deserves your time. Removing non-essential tasks/activities
frees up more time.
7. Plan ahead
Make sure you start every day with a clear idea of what you need to do. For example, the
night before, you can write down a list of to-dos for the next day.

Implications of Poor Time Management

Now that the benefits of time management with some tips for effectively managing your
time are discussed, let’s consider the effects of poor time management skills.

1. Poor workflow
The inability to plan ahead and stick to goals means poor efficiency. For example, if there
are several important tasks to complete, an effective plan would be to complete similar
tasks first. If you do not plan ahead, instead jumping from one task to another, it can lead
to low productivity and workflow.

2. Wasted time
Poor time management results in wasted time. For example, by talking to friends on social
media while doing an assignment, you are distracting yourself and wasting time.

3. Loss of control
By not knowing what the next task is, or not formulating a plan on how to achieve your
goals, you suffer from loss of control of your life. That can contribute to higher stress levels
and anxiety.

4. Poor quality of work

Poor time management will make the quality of your work suffer. Trying to complete tasks
at the last minute compromises quality.

5. Poor reputation
If clients or your employer cannot rely on you to manage your time to complete tasks, their
expectation and perception of you is adversely affected. If a client cannot rely on you to get
something done on time, they will take their business elsewhere.
Importance of Time Management

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Time management allows you to reduce stress and anxiety, free up more time in your daily
life, pursue more opportunities, achieve your goals, and so much more. Managing time well
is not only important for your personal life – but also for career success.

Current affairs
Current affairs play an important role in the student life. It will help the students at the
crucial time when they want to study for the examinations. Now many competitive exams
contain questions related to the latest current affairs updates. Apart from the academic
knowledge students should know the importance and must be aware of daily current affairs.
There are many difficult examinations like UPSC, SSC, IBPS and various others, in which the
students must clear a section based on current affairs which took place in the world. After
clearing the exam, even in the interview also they give a situation based ongoing latest
current affairs and take your views based on it.

What do current affairs contain?

Current affairs generally contain news, information, awareness and various other things that
are happening in the world. Current affairs are related to every day in the life. Current
affairs cover topics like national, international, sports, business, education, appointments,
agreements, obituary, science and technology, defence, politics and various other important
news which are related for competitive exams.

Tips to keep in touch with current affairs

Here below are some important tips below which will help you to keep a constant touch on
daily current affairs.

Ø Read newspaper regularly. Make a habit of reading newspaper daily. Read the newspaper
daily by giving a specific time slot to it in your daily busy time. Read in brief from the first
page to the last page in the newspaper. Then read the important news and make a note of
it. If you are reading about appointments, agreements, politics and other important social
information make a note of it.

Ø Read the dailycurrent affairs published in some websites. There are some important
websites which give current updates on a daily basis with important points useful for
examinations. Visit those websites regularly and make note of important news published on
those websites.

Ø Join some groups on the internet such as Facebook/ Twitter and express your views.
Joining those groups and interacting with them will help you to grow and improve your
knowledge.

Therefore, reading current affairs daily and making it a habit will be much more useful for
all the job interview and also for competitive exams. Make use of practicing quiz on current
affairs which will be published on various websites on the internet.

Unit – II
PRESENTATION SKILLS

Self-Introduction
Job seekers are constantly introducing themselves. It’s an essential part of the business
networking and interview process.

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Regardless if you’re meeting someone new or answering the interview question “tell me
about yourself,” here’s what to cover in your 30 second introduction:

● Who you are – your title or professional identifier

● Where you’ve been ‒ a very concise education history

● What you’re best at ‒ key competencies you can demonstrate via accomplishments.

● Why you’re currently in the market ‒ your reason for looking for a job

● What you’re looking for and why ‒ your search goals and reasons for that path

Example:
Hi/Hello, I would like to thank you to introduce myself.

I am Eric Lyons, I am from Reston, Virginia

I'm a student of Virginia University, where I am pursuing/completed my Bachelor of

Business in marketing, I was active in the college student council association. I did my
Intermediate from Springfield High School.

My Hobbies is playing shuttle, A Passion for music and reading.

My Strength is takes Initiative to work independently, Good leadership skill, Adaptable to

any kind of situation in estranged group & Helping tendency.

My Weakness is I am not comfortable, until I finish my work in the given time & over
friendly in nature.

My Short term goal is to get the job in reputed company.

My Long term goal is to become more responsible and knowledgeable personality and on
respectable position on my company.

PRESENTATIONS
The most important aspect of making a presentation is to consider the needs of the
audience. If you simply read or repeat information ‘off by heart’ your presentation will
probably sound very flat and dull to the audience. There is also a greater risk that you will
lose your place in your talk.

If you are a natural entertainer, then use these skills in your presentation. However, bear in
mind the purpose of the presentation and how it will be assessed. Make sure you cover the
essential information and that this comes across very clearly to the audience.

Prepare for the presentation

1. Write out your main argument or conclusion, just as you would for a writing activity.
2. Write out the main points as headings and bullet points on a series of index cards or
on a sheet of paper. These will prompt your memory if you lose your place.
3. Visit the room and try out the technology. This will increase your confidence on the
day.
4. Time yourself making the presentation. Cut it back if it is too long.
5. Have a clear and opening and closing line that refers directly to the main issue.

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Use visual aids

1. Use acetates on an overhead projector. Use only a few lines of text in large print or a
simple diagram for each acetate.
2. If you are very confident the technology will work, you may prefer to use
PowerPoint. However, ensure you have acetate back-ups.
3. If you use PowerPoint or similar software, avoid gimmicks such as jingles, animation,
or sound effects that either distract attention or slow down the presentation. If you
‘fly in’ text, make sure you use the same method throughout the presentation.
4. Keep it simple. Use technology as a tool where it helps, rather than for the sake of it.

On the day
1. Arrive first.
2. Arrive early enough to check the equipment and seating are as you want them.
3. Have water to hand.
4. Act confident no matter how you are feeling.
5. Do not make apologies for things you haven’t done. Act as if it all as if everything is
as it should be.
6. Make eye contact with the audience.
7. Smile.

Speed pacing
Many presentations, even those by professionals, may go wrong because people try to cover
too much information in the time available. They then try and gabble their way through a
set of bullet points at top speed even though people cannot take in what is being said.

Cut out unnecessary information - and even information you think is valuable if it does not
fit into the time allowed. You must be able to deliver the whole presentation at a speed
slower than your normal talking speech. This is necessary so that people can take in what
you are saying and jot down some notes.

Talk more slowly than you feel is necessary. Take a moment or two to breathe between
each point.

Leave time for questions

Even if the time available to you is brief, leave a few minutes for people to ask questions.
This will indicate that you are confident about your material.

Prepare an ‘additional point’ to use up the time in case there are no questions.

TIPS FOR PRESENTATIONS

1. Start with your central thought.
Write the premise in the middle of a blank sheet of paper.
Then list the first idea that comes into your mind.
Next, note down any related points.
As you exhaust ideas on a topic, move to the next idea. Note down related points.
Repeat this process until you have exhausted all the ideas and related points you
want to cover.
2. Be free-flowing.
One of the models I use for the mind looks like a pinball machine.
It can bounce around very quickly to numerous ideas before it comes up with a
logical conclusion. We have all had this experience at some point or the other:
someone says something to you. You pause for a minute and then reply. Your listener
asks where in the world your response came from. You reply, "You said this, which

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reminded me of that, and that made me think of that, and that's why I said that
to you."
For you, the thought progression was very logical, but anyone else looking at it
may not see how you got your reply from the original statement.
The Mind Mapping technique accommodates this type of bouncing around better
than either note-taking or outlining.
3. Use only key words.
Often when taking notes and creating an outline, we use too many words.
Most people think faster than they write.
(The human mind can think 1,200 to 1,600 words a minute. On an average, most
people only write freehand 25 to 35 words a minute. The best of us can type a
little more than 100 words a minute.)
The key concept is to think in bullets and jot down one or two words that capture
the concept. This way, you won’t slow down your thinking.

4. Allow yourself to bounce around.

You might be on your third or fourth key idea and, suddenly, you think of
something that fits back with idea number one.
Stop. Bounce back up, add the idea, and continue. That’s okay.
5. Feel free to connect things that relate.
When two topics relate to one another, simply draw an arrow to connect them.
Draw the arrow with the same colour as the rest of the mind map or with
another colour to clearly highlight the intended connection.
6. Try short bursts.
Time yourself for five minutes. Then take a break. Sit back. Look at your mind map. Do
something else. Then, spend another five minutes adding, modifying and adjusting.
Remember, Mind Mapping is your tool. Let it work for you.
Many people, when exposed to Mind Mapping, say, "I could never show this to my
boss."
A mind map is not necessarily for others. It is primarily for you.
Use the mind map, not as a report, but to dictate or type the report.
Use it to make sure that all the elements you want in the report are there before
you start.

Listen to the following Videos and Prepare yourself for presentation with the
following Topics
Video No P01: Helps you to prepare a good presentation.

Video No P02: Tells How to introduce yourself before your presentation

Videos P03, P04 & P05 Shows the Do’s and Don’ts in presentation

Exercises
Presentation 01 :( Technical Topic) _____________________________ Date:

Presentation 02: (Non-technical Topic) ____________________________ Date:

Unit – III

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GROUP DISCUSSION
"Group Discussion", popularly labeled as GD, is a methodology used by an organization
(company, institute, business school, etc.) to gauge whether the candidate has certain
personality traits. GDs form an important part of the short-listing process for recruitment or
admission in a company or institution. In this methodology, the group of candidates is given
a topic or a situation, typically given some time to think about the same, and then asked to
discuss it among themselves for a specific duration (which may vary from one organization
to another). As in a football game, where you play like a team, passing the ball to each
team member and aim for a common goal, GD is also based on teamwork, incorporating
views of different team members to reach a common goal.
So, a group discussion refers to a communicative situation that allows its participants to
share their views and opinions with other participants. It is a systematic exchange of
information, views and opinions about a topic, problem, issue or situation among the
members of a group who share some common objectives.

A group discussion can be categorically divided into three different phases:

i. Initiation/ Introduction
ii. Body of the group discussion
iii. Summarization/ Conclusion

Let’s stress on the initiation and summarization:

Initiation Techniques
Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy.
When you initiate a GD, you not only grab the opportunity to speak, you also
grab the attention of the examiner and your fellow candidates.
If you can make a favourable first impression with your content and communication
skills after you initiate a GD, it will help you sail through the discussion.
But if you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts and figures, the
damage might be irreparable. If you initiate a GD impeccably but don't speak much
after that, it gives the impression that you started the GD for the sake of starting
it or getting those initial kitty of points earmarked for an initiator!
When you start a GD, you are responsible for putting it into the right perspective
or framework. So initiate one only if you have in depth knowledge about the topic
at hand. There are different techniques to initiate a GD and make a good first
impression:
Quotes
Quotes are an effective way of initiating a GD.
If the topic of a GD is: Should the Censor Board be abolished?, you could start
with a quote like, 'Hidden apples are always sweet'. For a GD topic like, Customer
is King, you could quote Sam (Wal-mart) Walton's famous saying, 'There is only
one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company -- from the
chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.'
Definition
Start a GD by defining the topic or an important term in the topic. For example, if
the topic of the GD is Advertising is a Diplomatic Way of Telling a Lie, why not
start the GD by defining advertising as, 'Any paid form of non-personal presentation
and promotion of ideas, goods or services through mass media like newspapers,
magazines, television or radio by an identified sponsor'?

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For a topic like The Malthusian Economic Prophecy is no longer relevant, you could
start by explaining the definition of the Malthusian Economic Prophecy.
Question
Asking a question is an impactful way of starting a GD. It does not signify asking
a question to any of the candidates in a GD so as to hamper the flow. It implies
asking a question, and answering it yourself.
Any question that might hamper the flow of a GD or insult a participant or play
devil's advocate must be discouraged.
Questions that promote a flow of ideas are always appreciated.
For a topic like, Should India go to war with Pakistan, you could start by asking,
'What does war bring to the people of a nation? We have had four clashes with
Pakistan. The pertinent question is: what have we achieved?'

Shock statement
Initiating a GD with a shocking statement is the best way to grab immediate
attention and put forth your point.
If a GD topic is, The Impact of Population on the Indian Economy, you could start
with, 'At the centre of the Indian capital stands a population clock that ticks away
relentlessly. It tracks 33 births a minute, 2,000 an hour, 48,000 a day. This
calculates to about 12 million every year. That is roughly the size of Australia. As a
current political slogan puts it, 'Nothing's impossible when 1 billion Indians work
together'.'
Facts, figures and statistics
If you decide to initiate your GD with facts, figure and statistics, make sure to
quote them accurately. Approximation is allowed in macro level figures, but micro
level figures need to be correct and accurate.
For example, you can say, approximately 70 per cent of the Indian population
stays in rural areas (macro figures, approximation allowed).
But you cannot say 30 states of India instead of 28 (micro figures, no
approximations).
Stating wrong facts works to your disadvantage.
For a GD topic like, China, a Rising Tiger, you could start with, 'In 1983, when
China was still in its initial stages of reform and opening up, China's real use of
Foreign Direct Investment only stood at $636 million. China actually utilised $60
billion of FDI in 2004, which is almost 100 times that of its 1983 statistics."
Short story
Use a short story in a GD topic like, Attitude is Everything.
This can be initiated with, 'A child once asked a balloon vendor, who was selling
helium gas-filled balloons, whether a blue-coloured balloon will go as high in the
sky as a green-coloured balloon. The balloon vendor told the child, it is not the
colour of the balloon but what is inside it that makes it go high.'
General statement
Use a general statement to put the GD in proper perspective.
For example, if the topic is, Should Sonia Gandhi be the prime minister of India?,
you could start by saying, 'Before jumping to conclusions like, 'Yes, Sonia Gandhi

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should be', or 'No, Sonia Gandhi should not be', let's first find out the qualities
one needs to be a a good prime minister of India. Then we can compare these
qualities with those that Mrs Gandhi possesses. This will help us reach the
conclusion in a more objective and effective manner.'
Summarisation Techniques
Most GDs do not really have conclusions. A conclusion is where the whole group
decides in favour or against the topic.
But every GD is summarized. You can summarise what the group has discussed in
the GD in a nutshell.

Keep the following points in mind while summarising a discussion:

● Avoid raising new points.

● Avoid stating only your viewpoint.

● Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.

● Keep it brief and concise.

● It must incorporate all the important points that came out during the GD.

● If the examiner asks you to summarise a GD, it means the GD has come
to an end. Do not add anything once the GD has been summarised.

Watch the following Videos to learn how to perform in Group Discussions

Video No: G01 How to lead a Group Discussion
Video No: G02 How to discuss a topic in Group Discussion
Video No: G03 & G04 Do’s and Don’ts in Group Discussion
Video No: G05 Tips to Handle group Discussion Effectively
Video No: G06 Sample Video 01
Video No: G07 Sample Video 02
Video No: G08 Sample Video 03
Exercises:
Group Discussion 01: Title: ______________________________________ Date:

Group Discussion 02: Title: ______________________________________ Date:

Group Discussion 03: Title: ______________________________________ Date:

Unit – IV
INTERVIEW SKILLS
A job interview is a conversation which occurs between a potential employer and a job
applicant. During the job interview, the employer has the opportunity to appraise applicant’s

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qualifications, appearance and general fitness for the job opening. In parallel the applicant
tries to learn more about the position, to appraise the employer and to find out if your
needs and interests will be met.

Find out the nature of the Campus interview.

Companies who do on-campus interviews fall into two categories: Those who
have specific positions open and are looking to fill them, or those who are merely
collecting more resumes. Unfortunately, it is often impossible to find out before the
interview which category the company you are interviewing with falls into.
Therefore, you need to find out which category the company you are talking to
falls in. This can be accomplished easily by asking the interviewer whether there
are specific positions the company is trying to fill. After all, if all the company
wants out of the recruiting trip is some nice resumes, there is no need for the
interviewee to sweat too much during the interview. The general rule of thumb is
that generally the bigger the company is, the more likely the company is simply
looking for resumes to put into its database.

Know the Company before you attend the Interview.

Spend time to learn about the company spend minimum 30 minutes on their
web site. If the company is a publicly-traded company, find out its recent news.
During the interview, the interviewer would not expect the interviewee to know
everything about the company, but the interviewer would expect the interviewee to
know the basics of the company, such as the industry the company is in. In fact,
there is nothing that turns off the interviewer more than having someone walking
into an interview with no idea of what the company does. For example, if you are
interviewing with Tata Motors, you should know that the company is in the car
manufacturing business.

Be Energetic during Campus Interview

Interviewers, whether they are from HR or from the department you'll be working,
want to recruit people who are energetic. Imagine for yourself: Would you rather
have someone who is always on the go or someone who looks sleepy all the
time? In addition, if a person does not show much energy during the interview,
the interviewer will think, " if this person cannot get excited about an interview,
how is he or she ever going to be excited about the job?" .There is one area
where being energetic really pays off: Many interviewers start with the question,
"Tell me about yourself." If you cannot enthusiastically talk about yourself for at
least five minutes or so, the interviewer will wonder if you'll be interested in your
future Job for much longer.

Dress well when attending Campus Interview

We find many candidates been hurt by not properly dressed for the
interview. Dress well to show professional courtesy. The interviewer is dedicating his or
her time for this interview, and he/she would expect the candidate to give the
interview at least an equal weight. A well-dressed candidate leaves an excellent
impression and projects the image that he or she really cares about this interview.

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This rule applies even if you are interviewing for a company known for its casual
dress policies.

Utilize career fairs at other schools.

Every college's career center will want to say that it is attracting the best
companies to campus. This is simply not possible, as companies have limited
recruiting resources, and they will pick and choose only the colleges they feel
would produce the most number of qualified candidates. What should you do if the
companies you are interested in are not coming to a career fair in your college?
In this case, in addition to attending your college career fairs, consider going to
another college’s career fair if you feel your college career fair does not attract
enough good companies. Typically career fairs are open to everyone, so do not
worry about that you do not attend that particular college. Chances are good that
nobody will check ID at the door, and the recruiters will always be happy to talk
to you.

Be able to describe your Project thesis work in 5 minutes.

This applies to the Masters and Ph.D. Candidates who have completed a thesis. The
tendency for the interviewee here is to get into too much technical detail and
hence spend too much time. The interviewer, however, will not be able to
remember, or even understand, most of the technical details, so it's wise to leave
the nitty-gritty details out. Instead, be prepared to mention what is so great about
your thesis work and what you learned from it. Remember, the interviewer will
remember whether you have the ability to make him understand your thesis in a
short period of time, and the level of importance of your work.

Admit Your Mistakes/ When You Don’t Know Something

It is usually a mistake to pretend to know something that you do not, because
chances are that the interviewer will follow up with questions regarding that exact
topic. If the candidate cannot answer these follow-up questions, it tells the
interviewer either a) the candidate does not know his/her stuff, or b) the candidate
lied about knowing the topic. Either way it is a big turn off.

Be prepared for behavioral questions.

Behavioral questions are the ones that are open-ended, the ones designed to find
out about your experience. This type of questions, common during mid-level
interviews, these types of questions have been on the rise for on-campus interviews
as well. An example of the behavioral questions is, "Tell me a time when you
were under extreme pressure during your college life, and how you handled
it?" .Preparation makes a big difference in how you'd perform in answering this
type of questions. Also, before you walk into the interview, think about the
different situations that you have gone through earlier. Think about how you
completed your college project, your part-time job, or any other situation you can
think of. This way, when the interview questions come up, you won't need to
come up with the example right then and there.

Interview DOs

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● Dress appropriately for the industry; err on the side of being conservative to show
you take the interview seriously. Your personal grooming and cleanliness should be
impeccable.
● Know the exact time and location of your interview; know how long it takes to get
there, park, find a rest room to freshen up, etc.
● Arrive early; 10 minutes prior to the interview start time.

● 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) and last name, unless and until invited to do otherwise.
● Maintain good eye contact during the interview.

● Sit still in your seat; avoid fidgeting and slouching.

● 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. 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.
● Do take criticism gracefully.

● Do equip yourself with a strong knowledge of the company.

● Do display a sense of humor.

● Do bring a pen and small notebook with you to the interview.

● Have intelligent questions prepared to ask the interviewer. Having done your
research about the employer in advance, ask questions which you did not find
answered in your research.
● Evaluate the interviewer and the organization s/he represents. An interview is a two-
way street. Conduct yourself cordially and respectfully, while thinking critically about
the way you are treated and the values and priorities of the organization.
● Do expect to be treated appropriately. If you believe you were treated
inappropriately or asked questions that were inappropriate or made you feel
uncomfortable, discuss this with a Career Advisor.

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● 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.

● Write a thank-you letter to your interviewer promptly.

Interview 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 contradict yourself in responses.

● Don’t display intolerance or prejudice.

● 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 looks foolish.
● A job search can be hard work and involve frustrations; don't exhibit frustrations or a
negative attitude in an interview.
● Don't go to extremes with your posture; don't slouch, and don't sit rigidly on the
edge of your chair.
● Don't assume that a female interviewer is "Mrs." or "Miss." Address her as "Ms."
unless told otherwise. (If she has a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree or medical
degree, use "Dr. [lastname]" just as you would with a male interviewer. Marital
status of anyone, male or female, is irrelevant to the purpose of the interview.
● Don't chew gum or smell like smoke.

● Don't allow your cell phone to sound during the interview. (If it does, apologize
quickly and ignore it.) Don't take a cell phone call. Don't look at a text message.
● Don't take your parents, your pet (an assistance animal is not a pet in this
circumstance), spouse, fiance, friends or enemies 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.)

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The Telephone Interview

Often companies request an initial telephone interview before inviting you in for a face to
face meeting in order to get a better understanding of the type of candidate you are. The one
benefit of this is that you can have your notes out in front of you. You should do just as much
preparation as you would for a face to face interview, and remember that your first
impression is vital. Some people are better meeting in person than on the phone, so make
sure that you speak confidently, with good pace and try to answer all the questions that are
asked.

The Face-to-Face Interview

This can be a meeting between you and one member of staff or even two members.

The Panel Interview

These interviews involve a number of people sitting as a panel with one as chairperson. This
type of interview is popular within the public sector.

The Group Interview

Several candidates are present at this type of interview. You will be asked to interact with
each other by usually a group discussion. You might even be given a task to do as a team, so
make sure you speak up and give your opinion.

The Sequential Interview

These are several interviews in turn with a different interviewer each time. Usually, each
interviewer asks questions to test different sets of competencies. However, if you are asked
the same questions, just make sure you answer each one as fully as the previous time.

The Lunch / Dinner Interview

This type of interview gives the employer a chance to assess your communication and
interpersonal skills as well as your table manners! So make sure you order wisely (no
spaghetti Bolognese) and make sure you don’t spill your drink (non-alcoholic of course!).

All these types of interviews can take on different question formats, so once you’ve checked
with your potential employer which type of interview you’ll be attending, get preparing!

Here’s a list of interview formats that you should prepare your answers for;

Competency Based Interviews

These are structured to reflect the competencies the employer is seeking for the particular
job. These will usually be detailed in the job spec so make sure you read it through, and have
your answers ready for questions such as “Give me an example of a time you worked as a
team to achieve a common goal.” For more examples of competency based questions click
here.

Formal / Informal Interviews

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Some interviews may be very formal, others may be very informal and seem like just a chat
about your interests. However, it is important to remember that you are still being assessed,
and topics should be friendly and clean!

Portfolio Based Interviews

In the design / digital or communications industry it is likely that you will be asked to take
your portfolio along or show it online. Make sure all your work is up to date without too little
or too much. Make sure that your images if in print are big enough for the interviewer to see
properly, and always test your online portfolio on all Internet browsers before turning up.

MOCK INTERVIEW SAMPLE QUESTIONS AND GUIDELINES TO ANSWER Date:

Sample Interview Questions with Suggested Ways of Answering
Q. Tell me about yourself.
A. This is the dreaded, classic, open-ended interview question and likely to be among the
first. It's your chance to introduce your qualifications, good work habits, etc. Keep it mostly
work and career related.

Q. Why do you want to leave your current job? (Why did you leave your last job?)
A. Be careful with this. Avoid trashing other employers and making statements like, "I need
more money." Instead, make generic statements such as, "It's a career move."

Q. What are your strengths?

A. Point out your positive attributes related to the job.

Q. What are your weaknesses?

A. Everybody has weaknesses, but don't spend too much time on this one and keep it work
related. Along with a minor weakness or two, try to point out a couple of weaknesses that
the interviewer might see as strengths, such as sometimes being a little too meticulous
about the quality of your work. (Avoid saying "I work too hard." It's a predictable, common
answer.) For every weakness, offer a strength that compensates for it.

Q. Which adjectives would you use to describe yourself?

A. Answer with positive, work-oriented adjectives, such as conscientious, hard-working,
honest and courteous, plus a brief description or example of why each fits you well.

Q. What do you know about our company?

A. To answer this one, research the company before you interview.

Q. Why do you want to work for us?

A. Same as above. Research the company before you interview. Avoid the predictable, such
as, "Because it's a great company." Say why you think it's a great company.

Q. Why should I hire you?

A. Point out your positive attributes related to the job, and the good job you've done in the
past. Include any compliments you've received from management.

Q. What past accomplishments gave you satisfaction?

A. Briefly describe one to three work projects that made you proud or earned you pats on
the back, promotions, raises, etc. Focus more on achievement than reward.

Q. What makes you want to work hard?

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A. Naturally, material rewards such as perks, salary and benefits come into play. But again,
focus more on achievement and the satisfaction you derive from it.

Q. What type of work environment do you like best?

A. Tailor your answer to the job. For example, if in doing your job you're required to lock
the lab doors and work alone, then indicate that you enjoy being a team player when
needed, but also enjoy working independently. If you're required to attend regular project
planning and status meetings, then indicate that you're a strong team player and like being
part of a team. Q. Why do you want this job?
A. To help you answer this and related questions, study the job ad in advance. But a job ad
alone may not be enough, so it's okay to ask questions about the job while you're
answering. Say what attracts you to the job. Avoid the obvious and meaningless, such as, "I
need a job." Q. How do you handle pressure and stress?
A. This is sort of a double whammy, because you're likely already stressed from the
interview and the interviewer can see if you're handling it well or not. Everybody feels
stress, but the degree varies. Saying that you whine to your shrink, kick your dog or slam
down a fifth of Jack Daniels are not good answers. Exercising, relaxing with a good book,
socializing with friends or turning stress into productive energy are more along the lines of
the "correct" answers.

Q. Explain how you overcame a major obstacle.

A. The interviewer is likely looking for a particular example of your problem-solving skills
and the pride you show for solving it.

Q. Where do you see yourself five (ten or fifteen) years from now?
A. Explain your career-advancement goals that are in line with the job for which you are
interviewing. Your interviewer is likely more interested in how he, she or the company will
benefit from you achieving your goals than what you'll get from it, but it goes hand in hand
to a large degree. It's not a good idea to tell your potential new boss that you'll be going
after his or her job, but it's okay to mention that you'd like to earn a senior or management
position.

Q. What qualifies you for this job?

A. Tout your skills, experience, education and other qualifications, especially those that
match the job description well. Avoid just regurgitating your resume. Explain why.
Q. Why did you choose your college major?
A. The interviewer is likely fishing to see if you are interested in your field of work or just
doing a job to get paid. Explain why you like it. Besides your personal interests, include
some rock-solid business reasons that show you have vision and business sense.

Watch the following Videos to learn how to perform in Interviews

Video No 01 & 02: Sample Video – Skype/ Conferencing/ Telephonic Interview
Video No 03, 04 & 05: Interview Tips and Sample Interviews – One to One Interview
Video No 06, 07 & 08: How to Perform in Panel Interviews
Video No 09 & 10: Self Introduction
Video No 11, 12 & 13: About the company and job

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Video No 14, 15 & 16: Work place and Stress Management

Exercises:
Personal Interview 01 Staff Name_______________ Date:

Panel Interview 01 Staff Name_______________ Date:

Unit – V
Time Management & Stress Management
Group and Team
A group is a collection of individuals who coordinate their individual efforts. On the other
hand, at team is a group of people who share a common team purpose and a number of
challenging goals. Members of the team are mutually committed to the goals and to each
other.
A “team” is not just people who work at the same time in the same place. A real team is a
group of very different individuals who share a commitment to working together to achieve
common goals. Most likely they are not all equal in experience, talent or education, but they
are equal in one vitally important way, their commitment to the good of the organization.
Any group of people — your family, your workplace or your community — gets the best
results by working as a team.

What makes a team? Individuals who are not equal in talent, experience or education, but
equal in commitment. It is not realistic to think we can live or work with others without
some conflict, but by communicating about the differences, focusing on the common goals
and not throwing verbal rocks, we will make great strides.

Nowadays, group or team concept is adopted by the organization, to accomplish various

client projects. When two or more individuals are classed together either by the organization
or out of social needs, it is known as a group. On the other hand, a team is the collection
of people, who are linked together to achieve a common objective.

Definition of Group
A group is an assemblage of persons who work, interact and cooperate with one another in
achieving a common goal in a specified time. The identity of the group members is taken
individually. The members share information and resources with other group members.

In an organisation, the groups are made on the basis of common interests, beliefs,
experience in common fields and principles, so that they can easily coordinate with each
other. There are two kinds of groups:

● Formal Group: These groups are created by the management of the organisation
for performing a specific task.
● Informal Group: The formation of these groups is done naturally in an organisation,
to satisfy the social or psychological human needs.

For example: Ethnic groups, trade unions, friendship circles, airline flight crew, etc.

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Definition of Team
A group of people who are joined for achieving a common goal within a stipulated period,
having collective accountability is known as the team. The agenda of the team is “one for all
and all for one”. Apart from sharing information, the team members also share the
responsibility of the team task. The team is always responsible for the outcome (i.e. Result
of the collective efforts of the team members).

The team members have a mutual understanding with other members. They work jointly to
maximise the strengths and minimise the weakness by complementing each other. The
most important feature of a team is “synergy” i.e. the team can achieve much more as the
members can achieve individually. The three key features of team functioning are:

● Cohesion

● Confrontation

● Collaboration

For example: Cricket team, team for accomplishing a project, team of doctors,
management team etc.

Key Differences Between Group and Team

The difference between group and team in the workplace can be drawn clearly on the
following grounds:

1. There is only one head in a group. A team can have more than one head.
2. The group members do not share responsibility, but team members share the
responsibility.
3. The group focuses on achieving the individual goals. Conversely, the team members
focus on achieving the team goals.
4. The group produces individual work products. As opposed to, the team who produces
collective work products.
5. The process of a group is to discuss the problem, then decide and finally delegate the
tasks to individual members. On the other hand, a team discusses the problem, then
decide the way of solving it and finally do it collectively.
6. The group members are independent. Unlike a group, the team members are
interdependent.

1) TIME MANAGEMENT
It seems that there is never enough time in the day. But, since we all get the same 24
hours, why is it that some people achieve so much more with their time than
others? The answer lies in good time management.

Good time management requires an important shift in focus from activities to results: being
busy isn’t the same as being effective. (Ironically, the opposite is often closer to the
truth.)

Spending your day in a frenzy of activity often achieves less, because you’re dividing your
attention between so many different tasks. Good time management lets you work smarter –
not harder – so you get more done in less time. Time management is the process of
organizing and planning how much time you spend on specific activities. Invest some time

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in our comprehensive collection of time management articles to learn about managing your
own time more efficiently, and save yourself time in the future.

What is “Time Management?”

“Time management” refers to the way that you organize and plan how long you spend on
specific activities.

It may seem counter-intuitive to dedicate precious time to learning about time

management, instead of using it to get on with your work, but the benefits are enormous:

● Greater productivity and efficiency.

● A better professional reputation.

● Less stress.

● Increased opportunities for advancement.

● Greater opportunities to achieve important life and career goals.

Failing to manage your time effectively can have some very undesirable consequences:

● Missed deadlines.

● Inefficient work flow.

● Poor work quality.

● A poor professional reputation and a stalled career.

● Higher stress levels.

Spending a little time learning about time-management techniques will have huge benefits
now – and throughout your career.

10 ways that you can use to improve your time management skills and increase
productivity.

1. Delegate Tasks: It is common for all of us to take more tasks than our desired
potential. This can often result in stress and burnout. Delegation is not running away from
your responsibilities but is an important function of management. Learn the art of
delegating work to your subordinates as per their skills and abilities.

2. Prioritize Work: Before the start of the day, make a list of tasks that need your
immediate attention as unimportant tasks can consume much of your precious time. Some
tasks need to be completed on that day only while other unimportant tasks could be carried
forward to next day. In short, prioritize your tasks to focus on those that are more
important.

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3. Avoid Procrastination: Procrastination is one of the things that badly affect the
productivity. It can result is wasting essential time and energy. It should be avoided at all
costs. It could be a major problem in both your career and your personal life.

4. Schedule Tasks: Carry a planner or notebook with you and list all the tasks that come
to your mind. Make a simple ‘To Do’ list before the start of the day, prioritize the tasks, and
make sure that they are attainable. To better manage your time management skills, you
may think of making 3 lists: work, home, and personal.

5. Avoid Stress: Stress often occurs when we accept more work than our ability. The result
is that our body starts feeling tired which can affect our productivity. Instead, delegate
tasks to your juniors and make sure to leave some time for relaxation.

6. Set up Deadlines: When you have a task at hand, set a realistic deadline and stick to it.
Try to set a deadline few days before the task so that you can complete all those tasks that
may get in the way. Challenge yourself and meet the deadline. Reward yourself for meeting
a difficult challenge.

7. Avoid Multitasking: Most of us feel that multitasking is an efficient way of getting

things done but the truth is that we do better when we focus and concentrate on one thing.
Multitasking hampers productivity and should be avoided to improve time management
skills.

8. Start Early: Most of the successful men and women have one thing in common. They
start their day early as it gives them time to sit, think, and plan their day. When you get up
early, you are more calm, creative, and clear-headed. As the day progresses, your energy
levels starts going down which affects your productivity and you don’t perform as well.

9. Take Some Breaks: Whenever you find yourself for 10-15 minutes, take a break. Too
much stress can take toll on your body and affect your productivity. Take a walk, listen to
some music or do some quick stretches. The best idea is to take off from work and spend
time with your friends and family.

10. Learn to say No: Politely refuse to accept additional tasks if you think that you’re
already overloaded with work. Take a look at your ‘To Do’ list before agreeing to take on
extra work.

STRESS MANAGEMENT
Stress management refers to the wide spectrum of techniques and psychotherapies aimed
at controlling a person's levels of stress, especially chronic stress, usually for the purpose of
improving everyday functioning. It may seem that there’s nothing you can do about stress.
The bills won’t stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day, and your career and
family responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have more control than you might
think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of
stress management. Managing stress is all about taking charge: of your thoughts, emotions,
schedule, and the way you deal with problems. Identify the sources of stress in your life.
Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as
easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren’t always obvious, and it’s all too easy to

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overlook your own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sure, you may know
that you’re constantly worried about work deadlines. But maybe it’s your procrastination,
rather than the actual job demands, that leads to deadline stress.

Stress management strategy #1: Get moving

Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Here are a
few easy ways:
● Put on some music and dance around

● Take your dog for a walk

● Walk or cycle to the grocery store

● Use the stairs at home or work rather than an elevator

● Park your car in the farthest spot in the lot and walk the rest of the way

Stress management strategy #2: Avoid unnecessary stress

Not all stress can be avoided, and it’s not healthy to avoid a situation that needs to be
addressed.

● Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your
personal or professional life, taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe
for stress.
● Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your
life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend
with that person or end the relationship entirely.
● Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious, turn
the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to
the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online.
● Avoid hot-button topics – If you get upset over religion or politics, cross them off
your conversation list. If you repeatedly argue about the same subject with the same
people, stop bringing it up or excuse yourself when it’s the topic of discussion.
● Pare down your to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily
tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “should” and
the “musts.” Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or
eliminate them entirely.

Stress management strategy #3: Alter the situation

If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it.
● Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is
bothering you, communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you

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don’t voice your feelings, resentment will build and the situation will likely remain the
same.
● Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be
willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you’ll have a
good chance of finding a happy middle ground.
● Be more assertive. Don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems head
on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them. If you’ve got an exam to study
for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have five
minutes to talk.
● Manage your time better. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. When
you’re stretched too thin and running behind, it’s hard to stay calm and focused. But
if you plan ahead and make sure you don’t overextend yourself, you can alter the
amount of stress you’re under.

Stress management strategy #4: Adapt to the stressor

If you can’t change the stressor, change yourself.
● Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive
perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to
pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time.
● Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself
how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really
worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere.
● Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop
setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for
yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.”
● Focus on the positive. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect
on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and
gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective.
Stress management strategy #5: Accept the things you can’t change
Some sources of stress are unavoidable.
● Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control
— particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them,
focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems.
● Look for the upside. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”
When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal
growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, reflect on them
and learn from your mistakes.
● Share your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend face to face or make an appointment
with a therapist. The simple act of expressing what you’re going through can be very
cathartic, even if there’s nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation. Opening
up is not a sign of weakness and it won’t make you a burden to others. In fact, most

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friends will be flattered that you trust them enough to confide in them, and it will
only strengthen your bond.
● Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people
make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative
energy by forgiving and moving on.

Stress management strategy #6: Make time for fun and relaxation
Beyond a take-charge approach and a positive attitude, you can reduce stress in your
life by nurturing yourself.

● Set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t
allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all
responsibilities and recharge your batteries.
● Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A
strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.
● Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you
joy, whether it be stargazing, playing the piano, or working on your bike.
● Keep your sense of humor. This includes the ability to laugh at yourself. The act of
laughing helps your body fight stress in a number of ways.

Stress management strategy #7: Adopt a healthy lifestyle

In addition to regular exercise, there are other healthy lifestyle choices that can increase
your resistance to stress.
● Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress,
so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your
energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.
● Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary "highs" caffeine and sugar provide
often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft
drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll
sleep better.
● Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may
provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Don’t avoid or
mask the issue at hand; deal with problems head on and with a clear mind.
● Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling
tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

We all experience stress in our lives. Because the vast majority of health problems are
caused or influenced by stress, it's important to understand how stress affects your body
and learn effective stress management techniques to make stress work for you rather than
against you.

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What Is Stress?
Stress is your body’s response to changes in your life. Because life involves constant change
(ranging from changing locations from home to work each morning to adapting to major life
changes like marriage, divorce, or death of a loved one), there is no avoiding stress. This is
why your goal shouldn't be to eliminate all stress but to eliminate unnecessary stress and
effectively manage the rest. There are some common causes of stress that many people
experience, but each person is different.

Causes of Stress
Stress can come from many sources, which are known as "stressors." Because our
experience of what is considered "stressful" is created by our unique perceptions of what we
encounter in life (based on our own mix of personality traits, available resources, habitual
thought patterns and more), a situation may be perceived as "stressful" by one person and
merely "challenging" by someone else.

Simply put, one person's stress trigger may not register as stressful to someone else. That
said, certain situations tend to cause more stress in most people and can increase the risk
of burnout. For example, when we find ourselves in situations where there are high
demands on us; where we have little control and few choices; where we don't feel
equipped; where we may be harshly judged by others; and where consequences for failure
are steep or unpredictable, we tend to get stressed.

Because of this, many people are stressed by their jobs, their relationships, their financial
issues, health problems, and more mundane things like clutter or busy schedules. Learning
skills to cope with these stressors can help reduce your experience of stress.

Effects of Stress
Just as stress is perceived differently by each of us, stress affects us all in ways that are
unique to us.

One person may experience headaches, while another may find stomach upset is a common
reaction, and a third may experience any of a number of other symptoms. While we all react
to stress in our own ways, there is a long list of commonly experienced effects of stress that
range from mild to life-threatening. Stress can affect immunity, which can impact virtually
all areas of health. Stress can affect mood in many ways as well.

If you find yourself experiencing physical symptoms you think may be related to stress, it is
important to work on managing that stress and talk to your doctor to be sure you are doing
what you can to safeguard your health. Symptoms that may be exacerbated by stress are
not "all in your head" and need to be taken seriously. Creating a stress management plan is
often one part of a plan for overall wellness.

Effective Stress Management

Stress can be effectively managed in many different ways. The best stress management
plans usually include a mix of stress relievers that address stress physically and
psychologically and help to develop resilience and coping skills.

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Use quick stress relievers. Some stress relief techniques can work in just a few minutes
to calm the body's stress response. These techniques offer a "quick fix" that helps you feel
calmer at the moment, and this can help in several ways. When your stress response is not
triggered, you may approach problems more thoughtfully and proactively. You may be less
likely to lash out at others out of frustration, which can keep your relationships healthier.
Nipping your stress response in the bud can also keep you from experiencing chronic stress.
Quick stress relievers like breathing exercises, for example, may not build your resilience to
future stress or minimize the stressors that you face, but they can help calm the body's
physiology once the stress response is triggered.

Develop stress-relieving habits. Some techniques are less convenient to use when you
are in the middle of a stressful situation. But if you practice them regularly, they can help
you manage stress in general by being less reactive to it and more able to reverse your
stress response quickly and easily.
Long-term healthy habits, like exercise or regular meditation, can help to promote resilience
toward stressors if you make them a regular part of your life. Communication skills and
other lifestyle skills can be helpful in managing stressors and changing how we feel from
"overwhelmed" to "challenged" or even "stimulated."

Eliminate stressors when you can. You may not be able to completely eliminate stress
from your life or even the biggest stressors, but there are areas where you can minimize it
and get it to a manageable level. Any stress that you can cut out can minimize your overall
stress load. For example, ending even one toxic relationship can help you more effectively
deal with other stress you experience because you may feel less overwhelmed.

Professional Network

A professional network is a group of people who have connected with one another
for career or business-related reasons. Members, who are called contacts or connections,
can share information which may include, but is not limited to, job leads. They may also
help one another solve work-related problems, recommend vendors and suppliers, and
provide information about prospective employers, employees, and clients. Professional
networking has become a topic of great interest as business interests and networks become
ever more international which require access to information on a level that random and
close acquaintances cannot provide. A very important part of professional networking is that
it is about building relationships and trust, not just swapping business cards. For successful
networking to take place a real relationship needs to be built.

Types of network:

● Current and Former Coworkers: Connect with people with whom you currently
work as well as those you've worked with in the past.
● Fellow Members of Professional Associations: Go to conferences and introduce
yourself to other attendees. Make up business cards with your non-work contact
information and bring them with you. Become an active member, for example by
serving on a committee. It will also give your colleagues a chance to see you in
action.

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● Friends and Family: Keep your family and friends apprised of your career goals.
You never know who will be able to help you. Your brother-in-law's uncle's cousin
may be a recruiter in your field.

● Former Professors and Instructors: The faculty of your college or university,

especially those who taught in your major, should be part of your professional
network.
● Former Classmates: Check the alumni directory of your college or university for
possible connections. If you were in a fraternity or sorority, look there as well.

The outcome from professional networking can be:

● Job offers

● Additional sales

● Access to talent for recruitment

● Offers as speaker, trainer etc for a fee or for free as further promotion

● Insights into how things ‘really work’ inside other organizations or fields of business.

● Higher social status and access to social events inside and outside the business
sphere.

A very important part of professional networking is that it is about building relationships and
trust, not just swapping business cards. For successful networking to take place a real
relationship needs to be built.

Some examples of reasons people engage in Professional Networking include:

● To gain access to information and tacit knowledge

● To be perceived as the ‘top-of-mind’ expert in a field of business

● To establish new professional relationships and to strengthen existing relationships.

● To increase others trust in you and your trust in others.

● To have a good time. Let’s be honest, this is an important reason too

● To make sure other people know who you are, what you do, how you do it and what
you want to achieve by doing it
● Self-promotion, the establishment of oneself as an authority

Networking is about real relationships and real trust, something that is very hard to
establish in an online only connection.
Source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/networking.asp

Having a network is not good enough; you need to continue to do networking to ensure
your network doesn’t decline.

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The outcome from professional networking can be:

o Job offers
o Additional sales
o Access to talent for recruitment
o Offers as speaker, trainer etc for a fee or for free as further promotion
o Insights into how things ‘really work’ inside other organizations or fields of business
o Higher social status and access to social events inside and outside the business
sphere

The most important skills for successful professional and business networking are to:

● Master small talk

● Have enough courage to take action

● Maintain a high activity level

● Have endurance to maintain relationships created

Networking Pitfalls

There are many pitfalls when networking. Below is a list of some of the most common
mistakes people make:

o Being too intrusive about other people’s lives

o Choosing the wrong topics, like religion and politics
o Being negative
o Being too personal about oneself
o Not creating enough interest. Showing lack of imagination
o Being rude in message, language or tone
o Showing signs of an obvious agenda
o Selling. People smell a sales pitch miles away. Wait for the other person to ask you
instead
o Being overly flattering. It can be perceived as not being genuine but it’s really hard
to find the right level between showing interest, being polite and flattering
somebody. Cultural differences and personality play a major role here
o Never follow another person around without being shown signs of being invited to do
so like the other person saying: Let’s go out, lets sit over there etc
o Fiddling with the telephone in other people’s presence

Arrive on time
Always arrive on time or at least five minutes early to work or for face to face or virtual
meetings. This is the most important rule that everyone should adhere to as it confirms you
are invested in your work. If you know you're going to be delayed for whatever reason, a
quick email can keep the boss and all the other parties involved from feeling disrespected.

Social gathering etiquette

whether it is a team dinner or company-wide function, always ask the host/coordinator
before inviting guests or your significant other. This is really an all or nothing situation. If

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the invitation has not been offered to everyone, it is inconsiderate to assume that the host
wants to pay for your spouse. However, as a general policy, if significant others have been
openly invited, you can absolutely go for it.

Express gratitude
Saying thank you or offering handwritten thank you notes always goes a long way. Taking
the time to follow up with your fellow coworkers will get noticed. Remember, it will also get
noticed if it is poorly executed so make sure your message is thoughtful, concise and free of
any misspelled words.

Business meals
Business meals can be a less formal way to voice the skills and abilities you have to offer
that you feel have not been recognized. It can also be a great way to discover any projects
you can have an input in. Brining uninvited coworkers or guests will appear to be
disrespectful. Always bring your manners, do not order your food before all parties are
seated.

Continuous training
The best way that companies and employees can express their requirements and come to a
communal understanding is through regular staff meetings. In some cases complaints and
minor issues can be resolved with a staff meeting and the rules of office etiquette can be
reaffirmed.

All the staff members, from managers down to the newest hourly employee should know
what the workplace rules are and that serious issues such as sexual harassment will not be
tolerated. This will led to having a place of work that is respectful and cohesive.

Regular training sessions through meetings, emails as well as providing carefully drafted
policies that every employee must read and comprehend completely are the best way to
integrate workplace etiquette rules to form a more unified work environment.

Career Management
Career management is conscious planning of one’s activities and engagements in the jobs
one undertakes in the course of his life for better fulfilment, growth and financial stability. It
is a sequential process that starts from an understanding of oneself and encompasses
occupational awareness.

An individual’s career is the sole source of one’s natural expression of self. One school of
thought describes work as the purpose of life and the source of one’s expression and the
purpose of being or existence. Yet others believe that there is a wide difference between an
individual’s career and his life. In any case, career is an integral component of one’s life and
therefore the need for its management.

Career management is more or less like the organisational management; after all an
organisation is nothing but an assortment of individuals! The process of career management
begins with the formulation of goals and objectives those that are short term or meant to be
achieved in the short run.

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This is a tedious task compared to a long term career goal which is more or visionary in
nature. Since the objective is short term or immediate, it is more of action oriented. Second
it demands achievement every day, every moment. Again this step can be very difficult for
those who are not aware of the opportunities available or are not completely conscious of
their talents. However more specific, measurable and achievable the goals greater are the
chances of the management plan bearing fruit.

Achievement of goal requires a well chalked strategy, which implies a plan of action to
achieve the goal. This has to be followed by drafting or establishment of procedures /
policies / norms or rules that govern action or practice.

● The final step in the career management process is evaluation of the career
management plan for ensuring that progress is being made or if there is a need to
introduce some changes in the latter.
● One may also utilize the services of various career assessment tests at various
stages to choose career paths that are in tandem with ones likes and dislikes,
strengths and weaknesses. These tests range from ones that are small and brief to
the ones that are exhaustive offering minute details. Some of the tests that one may
like to undergo are MBTI (Myers and Briggs Type Indicator), SDI (Strength
Deployment Inventory) and Multiple Intelligence among others.
● The onus of career management is more on the individual self than the
employer. Ensuring personal development in terms of skills, competencies, change
in attitude with time are things one may need to take care of on one’s own. Short
term goals need to met and evaluated. The long term career goals need to be
revised with the change in employment scenario and self; organisations may or may
not be concerned in a big way or aligned to your priorities in career and life. Often
counselling is of major help in evaluating a job and the future prospects and for
establishing clarity of values for they undergo a change with the passage of time!

Career Plan
A career plan lists short- and long-term career goals and the actions you can take to
achieve them. Career plans can help you make decisions about what classes to take, and
identify the extracurricular activities, research, and internships that will make you a strong
job candidate.

Below are some helpful steps to guide you in creating a career plan customized to your
interests and ambitions. Still have questions? We are here to help -- set up an
appointment with a Career Advisor to get started or review your plan.

8 Steps to an Effective Career Plan

1. Identify Your Career Options. Develop a refined list of career options by examining your
interests, skills, and values through self-assessment. Narrow your career options by
reviewing career information, researching companies, and talking to professionals in the
field. You can further narrow your list when you take part in experiences such as
shadowing, volunteering, and internships. MIT students can log in to access MyPlan, an
online self-assessment tool offered through our office, can be a useful starting point.

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2. Prioritize. It's not enough to list options. You have to prioritize. What are your top skills?
What interests you the most? What's most important to you? Whether it's intellectually
challenging work, family-friendly benefits, the right location or a big paycheck, it helps to
know what matters to you -- and what's a deal-breaker. We provide skills and values
assessments -- set up an appointment with a Career Advisor to take advantage of this
service.

3. Make Comparisons. Compare your most promising career options against your list of
prioritized skills, interests and values.

4. Consider Other Factors. You should consider factors beyond personal preferences. What
is the current demand for this field? If the demand is low or entry is difficult, are you
comfortable with risk? What qualifications are required to enter the field? Will it require
additional education or training? How will selecting this option affect you and others in your
life? Gather advice from friends, colleagues, and family members. Consider potential
outcomes and barriers for each of your final options.

5. Make a Choice. Choose the career paths that are best for you. How many paths you
choose depends upon your situation and comfort level. If you’re early in your planning, then
identifying multiple options may be best. You may want several paths to increase the
number of potential opportunities. Conversely, narrowing to one or two options may better
focus your job search or graduate school applications.

6. Set "SMART" Goals. Now that you’ve identified your career options, develop an action plan
to implement this decision. Identify specific, time-bound goals and steps to accomplish your
plan. Set short-term goals (to be achieved in one year or less) and long-term goals (to be
achieved in one to five years).

● Specific -- Identify your goal clearly and specifically.

● Measureable -- Include clear criteria to determine progress and accomplishment.

● Attainable -- The goal should have a 50 percent or greater chance of success.

● Relevant -- The goal is important and relevant to you.

● Time bound -- Commit to a specific timeframe.

7. Create Your Career Action Plan. It’s important to be realistic about expectations and
timelines. Write down specific action steps to take to achieve your goals and help yourself
stay organized. Check them off as you complete them, but feel free to amend your career
action plan as needed. Your goals and priorities may change, and that's perfectly okay.

8. Meet with a Career Advisor. Our advisors are here to help you make effective career
decisions. Make an appointment on CareerBridge to talk about your career options and
concerns.

Career Change
Career change definition is 'the movement of a person from one job group to
another.'

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Notice that it's not just from one job to another. Using this definition indicates that
somebody actually changes the type of work they do altogether.

If somebody moves from being a salesman in one office to being a salesman in another
office, or even got a promotion in the same office, they have simply changed job. If they
change from being a salesman to being a teacher, or an internet infopreneur, or a massage
therapist, then they have changed career.

This career change definition also suggests that a career change is a bigger shift than just a
job change.

To change direction completely often means that people need to skills and abilities.

10 Steps to a Successful Career Change

1. Evaluate your current job satisfaction. Keep a journal of your daily reactions to
your job situation and look for recurring themes. Which aspects of your current job
do you like and dislike? Are your dissatisfactions related to the content of your work,
your company culture or the people with whom you work? While you're doing this,
there are some things you can do at your current job to help you prepare to move on
when it's time for a change.
2. Assess your interests, values, and skills. Review past successful roles, volunteer
work, projects and jobs to identify preferred activities and skills. Determine whether
your core values and skills are addressed through your current career. There are free
online tools you can use to help assess career alternatives.
3. Consider alternative careers. Brainstorm ideas for career alternatives by
researching career options, and discussing your core values and skills with friends,
family, and networking contacts. If you’re having difficulty coming up with ideas,
consider meeting with a career counselor for professional advice.
4. Check out job options. Conduct a preliminary comparative evaluation of several
fields to identify a few targets for in-depth research. You can find a wealth of
information online simply by Googling the jobs that interest you.
5. Get personal. Find out as much as much as you can about those fields and reach
out to personal contacts in those sectors for informational interviews. A good source
of contacts for informational interviewers is your college alumni career network.
LinkedIn is another great resource for finding contacts in specific career fields of
interest.
6. Set up a job shadow (or two). Shadow professionals in fields of primary interest
to observe work first hand. Spend anywhere from a few hours to a few days job
shadowing people who have jobs that interest you. Your college career office is a
good place to find alumni volunteers who are willing to host job shadowers.
Here’s more information on job shadowing and how it works.
7. Try it out. Identify volunteer and freelance activities related to your target field to
test your interest e.g. if you are thinking of publishing as a career, try editing the
PTA newsletter. If you're interested in working with animals, volunteer at your local
shelter.
8. Take a class. Investigate educational opportunities that would bridge your
background to your new field. Consider taking an evening course at a local college or
an online course. Spend some time at one day or weekend seminars. Contact
professional groups in your target field for suggestions.
9. Upgrade your skills. Look for ways to develop new skills in your current job which
would pave the way for a change e.g. offer to write a grant proposal if grant writing
is valued in your new field. If your company offers in-house training, sign up for as
many classes as you can. There are ways you can position yourself for a career
change without having to go back to school.

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10. Consider a new job in the same industry. Consider alternative roles within your
current industry which would utilize the industry knowledge you already have e.g. If
you are a store manager for a large retail chain and have grown tired of the evening
and weekend hours, consider a move to corporate recruiting within the retail
industry. Or if you are a programmer who doesn't want to program, consider
technical sales or project management.

*********

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