Unit 2

Communication Skills for Career Building

CV and Résumé Writing

Resume defines who you are in the eyes of your potential employer and is the most important
document in your job application, followed by the cover letter. A resume is a formal document
that a job applicant creates to itemize their qualifications for a position. It usually includes work
experience, education, skills and any other relevant information you want to share with your
future employer. The goal of resume is to quickly and effectively show your potential employer
why you are uniquely qualified for their job opening, based on your relevant experience and
skills.
A resume is a short, straight-to-the-point, document created for the purpose of applying to a
specific job. One should try to keep a resume as short as possible. In a resume, person only
mentions the aspects of his work experience and skills that are relevant to the job he is applying
for. A good resume highlights specific contributions he has made in his previous work and
showcases how his different skills can be useful for the position he is applying to. The resume is
usually accompanied by the submission of a cover letter which states his intent for applying to
the job. The cover letter builds upon the skills and experience he have touched upon in resume,
explaining how they’re going to help him excel at the job he is applying for.

Preparation before writing a resume

The easiest way to perfect your resume writing is to get started with some preparation.
 Accomplishments from previous jobs
 Your skill set - soft, hard and technical skills
 Details about your previous jobs
 Details about your education
 Certifications, awards and honors
 Anything else that you might want to include in your resume at one point

What to include in Resume?

 Full name
 Your job title, or the name of the position you’re applying for
 Contact information
 Resume summary or objective
 Work experience
 Education
 Relevant skills
 Languages and proficiency
 Relevant certifications and interests (if any)

CV or Curriculum Vitae
The term CV is an abbreviation of the Latin word Curriculum Vitae, which is literally translated
to “the course of your life”. A CV is a very in-depth document that describes one’s career
journey step-by-step, including all sorts of personal information. One can look at the CV as a
comprehensive description of everything he has ever done, all the achievements you are proud
of, and all the publications that bear your name. One needs to update his CV every time you
accomplish something new academically or professionally. Meaning, whenever you get a new
job, publish something new, obtain a new certificate, and so on. There is no rule of thumb on
how long a CV should be - depending on the amount of experience, it can range from 2 to 8
pages.

What to include in Curriculum Vitae?

 Full name
 Contact information
 Professional title
 Research interests
 Education
 Publications (both academic papers and books)
 Teaching or lecturing experience
 Work experience
 Conferences and courses
 Skills
 Certificates
 Languages
 Grants of fellowships
 References

Features of CV/Resume
 It should reflect the candidate’s personality, employment goals and carrier aspiration.
 It should be original.
 Resume should be focused on the required qualification as per job.
 The details of contacts should be mentioned.
 Achievement in career should be highlighted.
 Awards and honors should be mention properly.
 Proper covering letter should be attached with resume.

Steps for writing a Simple CV/Resume

1. Include your contact information. This includes your full name, phone number and email
address. Including your physical address is optional.
2. Detail your academic history in reverse-chronological order. This can include your post-
doctoral programs, graduate school, undergraduate school and high school. Only include
your most recent two educational experiences. Dates attended are optional.
3. Record your professional experience. List the company or organization, job title and dates
employed starting with your most recent job. List your job duties, experience gained and
achievements. Use numbers to measure your impact when possible.
4. Include relevant skills and qualifications. This can be in a separate skills section. Reread
the job description to highlight the most important skills employers are looking for. These
can include both hard and soft skills that make you the best candidate for the job.
5. List honors and awards. Use this section to outline your achievements in the field related
to your application. Start with the award name followed by year awarded, the organization
 that gave you the award and details about the award such as how often the award is given,
how many people receive it, etc.
6. Include relevant publications and presentations. Include relevant citations of
presentations, papers, studies, books or other publications important to your professional
history. For publications, include authors, date published, summary, volume, page and DOI
number. For presentations, include the title, date and location of presentation.
7. List your professional associations and affiliations. This should include the name of the
organization, geographic location or chapter and dates of active membership.

Comparison Chart
BASIS FOR
CURRICULUM VITAE (CV) RESUME
COMPARISON

A document containing information related to A Resume is a document having details

individual's past qualification, experience, of an individual's education, work
Meaning skills, competencies and achievements is known experience, competencies and previous
as a CV or Curriculum Vitae. job achievements.
Type of Document Comprehensive Concise
Curriculum Vitae is a Latin expression which A French expression which means
Etymology means course of life. summary.
Length 2 to 20 or more pages 1 to 2 pages
References Included Not Included
Oriented towards Academic qualification Non-academic qualification
Applying for an academic position, advanced Applying for the job, and internship or
When to use research, fellowship, etc. taking part in the job fair, etc.
No, it is same for all jobs Yes, it can be modified according to
Modification job.
Expertise, i.e. what skills makes you an expert Contribution, i.e. how your work made
Stresses on in a particular field. a difference, where you have worked.
Education At the top of the CV Mentioned after experience.

Do’s and Don’ts of Resume Writing

DO’s
1. Customize your resume every time. Tailor the document for each position you apply for
by highlighting your qualifications and expertise that match the specific job requirements.
Employers often use screening software that scans documents for particular keywords, so
follow the job listing's lead on phrasing.
2. Show off your tech skills. Accurately summarize the software and technologies that you’re
familiar with, noting proficiency level and how long you have used each one. Again, refer to
the job listing to decide which programs are vital to include.
3. Highlight your achievements. When listing your past positions, give tangible examples of
how the projects you worked on affected the company's bottom line. Did they increase sales,
broaden the customer base or reach target markets? Did you receive more responsibility in
your company after proving yourself in your current job?
4. Note your accomplishments. Include a brief list of any special recognition and awards
you've received. It's also helpful to note participation in relevant professional organizations
and any conferences or workshops you've spoken at.
5. Proofread and proofread again. Typos and mistakes tell the hiring manager you are not
detail-oriented. Ask a few friends or trusted colleagues to have a look at your resume. Fresh
eyes are always more likely to catch errors.
6. Give a heads up to your references. If you're going full-steam-ahead on your job search,
give your key contacts a heads up that they may be getting calls or emails about you. Send
them your most recent resume so they're up-to-date on your current accomplishments and
have all the facts in front of them.
7. Keep it updated. Even if you're not job-hunting, update your resume every time you accept
a new job or complete a significant project. Keeping your job application materials updated
regularly will make it seem like less of a burden.

DON'T
1. Misrepresent your education or job experience. Even one fabrication can be grounds for
termination. Stay honest in all of your job application materials.
2. Give reasons for leaving each job. Some employers might ask about your reasons for
leaving your current position at the interview — and you should be ready to talk about why
you left — but you don't need to include that information in your resume.
3. Get too personal. Don't put personal information, such as your photo, height, Social Security
number, marital status or religious affiliation, in your resume. You don't want to expose
yourself to conscious and unconscious bias on the part of the hiring manager.
4. State "References available upon request." The interviewer will assume that you can
provide these contacts when asked. Some companies will ask for names up front — follow
the instructions in the job posting.
5. Worry about using exact dates. Trying to remember the exact day you started a job 15
years ago is difficult, to say the least. Using the month and year you started and left each
position are totally sufficient.
6. Experiment with a crazy format. Stick to a clean, easy-to-read format. Catch a recruiter's
eye with your experience, not with wacky fonts, colors or designs.
7. Use your company phone number or email address. It's always better to use your personal
email address and phone number rather than your professional contact details, even if your
current boss is aware of your intent to leave.
8. Include your high school education if you're a college graduate. But if you're still in
college, or a high school diploma is the highest academic qualification you hold, you can
include your high school under your education.
9. Include your college GPA. The only exception to this is if you're still in college or have just
graduated, or if the job posting asks you to include that information.
10. List past salary information. If the ad requests that applicants reply with a salary range,
state it in the cover letter. Otherwise, wait until later interviews to discuss money

Interview
An interview is a procedure designed to obtain information from a person through oral responses
to oral inquiries. An interview is the way of face to face conversation between the interviewer
and the interviewee, where the interviewer seeks replies from the interviewee for choosing a
potential human resource.
Definition of Interview
According to Gary Dessler, “Interview is a selection procedure designed to predict future job
performance on the basis of applicants’ oral responses to oral inquiries.”The interview is the
most critical component of the entire selection process.
It serves as the primary means to collect additional information on an applicant. It serves as the
basis for assessing an applicant’s job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is designed to
decide if an individual should be interviewed further, hired, or eliminated from consideration.
Objectives of Interview
1. It helps to verify the information provided by the candidate. It helps to ascertain the accuracy
of the provided facts and information about the candidate.
2. It not only gives the interviewer information about the candidate’s technical knowledge but
also gives an insight into his much needed creative and analytical skills.
3. Helps in establishing the mutual relation between the employee and the company.
4. It is useful for the candidate so that he comes to know about his profession, the type of work
that is expected from him and he gets to know about the company.
5. An interview is beneficial for the interviewer and the interviewee as individuals, because
both of them gain experience, both professionally and personally.
6. It helps the candidate assess his skills and know where he lacks and the places where he
needs improvement.
7. The interview also helps the company build its credentials and image among the employment
seeking candidates.

Types of Interviews
1. Initial Screening Interview: A short session during which the employer tries to narrow
down the field of applicants who meet the job qualifications. Screening interviews may be
conducted either over the telephone or in-person or with one person or several.
2. Follow-Up Interview: Follow-up interviews are almost always conducted in person and can
last from an hour to one or two days. They can involve either a single interview or a series of
sequential interviews with individuals and groups. Occasionally, a presentation, meals, and/
or social events are included, depending on the nature of the job. There are multiple
objectives to these follow-up interviews: to further evaluate candidates’ match with the
position, to choose among the top candidates, and to “sell” the workplace and position to the
candidates.
3. Telephone Interview: An advantage to being interviewed over the phone is that you can
easily refer to notes that remind you of key points to include. A disadvantage is that you will
not be able to receive or convey non-verbal cues. It is important to speak clearly and more
slowly than you might in person. Don’t be shy about asking the interviewer to repeat
something you are not sure you heard or understood. Show your level of interest by what you
say, e.g. “I’m excited to be considered for this position”, and by the inflection in your voice.
4. One-On-One Interview: One person interviews the candidate and makes the hiring
decision. These interviews can range from being very informal and conversational to being
more formal and structured. Follow the lead of the interviewer, but keep in mind that no
matter how informal, this is a conversation with an agenda. Project enthusiasm, maintain
good eye contact and be professional.
5. Panel Interview: If you are being interviewed by a group of people, remember to make eye
contact with all of your interviewers. Connect first with the person who asked you the
question, and then glance at the others in the room to gauge their responses and interest.
Finally, reconnect with the person who initially asked you the question. Try to link your
answers to others that were asked, and get the interviewers to talk among themselves. Make
sure you get the names and roles of all of those who participated in the interview.

Interview Tips
1. Preparation and confidence
 Prepare yourself practically for the interview.
 Gather information which is useful during the interview.
2. Checklist
 Confirm time, date and location of the interview and name of interviewee where
appropriate.
 Get there no earlier than half an hour before the interview time.
 Dress professional.
 Ensure the receptionist knows you are there.
3. Be on time! Be Prepared!
 First impressions are usually lasting impressions. It’s better to be early than late and to
strike up a conversation or two with staff members while waiting. This will help you
learn about the organization and you can use this information in your interview.
 Look at the company’s website and learn something about the company before you attend
your interview.
 Write down and practice answers to possible questions.
4. You never get a second chance to make a first impression
 A good smile always pleases people.
 Dressing professionally is very important. Keep in mind the cultural preferences of the
country you are working in.
 Shake hand firmly.
 Maintain eye contact.
5. Do not talk too much
 Do not interrupt the interviewer when he/she is talking. Give him/her the opportunity to
finish what s/he is saying.
 It is important to listen to the question asked and then answer that specific question.
 Keep your answers to two to three minutes at the most. When you limit your time, you
tend to stay more focused.
6. Be enthusiastic and positive
 Do not mention negative incidents with previous employers.
 Focus on positive achievements and views.
7. Look in the Eyes
 Eye contact shows confidence and is one of the most important aspects of non verbal
communication, it can make a significant difference to how the first impression the
prospective employer has of you.
8. Talk about specific achievements
  This will help the interviewer understand your strengths in terms of measurable
outcomes.
9. Explain Why You Left
 Follow these guidelines when an interviewer asks, “Why did you leave your company?”
Carefully describe the reason for your departure, and do not go into details unless asked.
10. Questions to ask the Employer
 Good questions to ask early in a job interview: “What are you looking for in a new
employee?” and “What would be my first priorities in the job?” The earlier you can ask
these questions, the sooner you can start tailoring your answers to the employer’s
priorities.
 At the end of the interview, ask, “Based on what we’ve talked about today, I feel positive
about the position. Do you have any concerns about my ability to do the job?” Often, that
gives you a chance to counter any reservations.
11. Know What You Offer
 Prepare answers for possible open-ended questions, such as, “Tell me about yourself” by
making a list of your skills and abilities that match the employer’s requirements.
 The closer your skills and traits are to the job description, the better chance you have of
landing the job.
 You should leave the interviewer with a clear picture of what you have to offer.
12. Prove What You Could Do - Sell Yourself
 Always put a positive spin on your answers to difficult questions.
 If you lack a particular skill or do not know a certain computer program, be sure to
emphasize how quickly you learn.
 Give an example of a time when you were able to get up to speed in a similar situation.
 Companies are interested in people who can hit the ground running.
13. Talking Salary
 Let the interviewer bring up the subject of money.
 If you are asked what your salary expectations are too early in the process, just say you
would rather postpone that discussion until you have more information about the
position.
14. Ask your way into a better job
 You cannot really tell how good a job is from an ad. There’s often a gap between the
exciting opportunity portrayed in the ad and the actual job.
 After you are offered a job, but before accepting it, ask a few more questions, or even ask
permission to talk with your future coworkers.
15. Follow the interviewer’s lead
 During the interview, your interviewer will give you information that can guide you on
how to behave during the meeting.
 Observe your interviewer’s style. Listen very carefully, and let him/her know that you
have been listening by asking relevant questions and making appropriate comments.

Do:
1. Dress the part for someone in your chosen field
2. Greet your interviewer(s) in a professional manner
3. Show enthusiasm and focus through your body language
4. Ask questions
5. Thank your interviewers at the end
Don’t:
1. Be critical
2. Stretch the truth
3. Check your phone during an interview
4. Be too casual
5. Ask about salary unless it is specifically raised

Group Discussion
Group discussion (GD) is a comprehensive technique to judge the suitability of an individual and
his appropriateness for admission, scholarship, job, etc. GD assesses the overall personality –
thoughts, feelings and behaviour - of an individual in a group. A topic is presented to the group
members for discussion. While the discussion is going on, a group of panelists observe them.
Through this observation they judge intellectual, social, leadership, communicative skills of
candidates taking part in the GD.

The skills that are judged in a GD

1. How good you are at communicating with other
2. How easily you behave and interact with the other group members
3. How open minded you are
4. How flexible or rigid you are in accepting the view- points of others in the group
5. Your leadership skills
6. Your analytical abilities
7. Problem solving & critical thinking skills
8. Time management skills
9. Your skills at putting forth your ideas in an unbiased manner
10. Social attitude and confidence

Do’s of participating in a GD
1. Think before you speak.
2. Pick up clues from the discussion and intelligently add points that come to your mind with
regards to the topic, in case you don’t know much about the topic.
3. Back up your points with facts and figures if needed.
4. Be gentle and sure in your presentation of views.
5. Speak to-the-point and make sure that you do not repeat the points.
6. Be calm and composed while speaking.
7. Listening to others is also an important aspect of participation in the group discussion, so
listen to others. • Have respectful attitude towards the viewpoints of others.
8. Your body language should convey your ease of behaviour.
9. Sometimes the discussion may take a hostile turn. In such a case it is a good idea to intervene
to make the situation relaxed. This act of yours will show your leadership and problem
solving skills.

Don’ts of participating in a GD
1. Do not initiate the discussion if you do not know the topic well.
2. Do not go overboard in exhibiting your knowledge even if you know the topic well.
3. Do not interrupt other members when they are speaking.
4. Do not change your opinion about the topic just because most of the other participants are
having an opinion different from yours.
5. Do not feel unconfident if a speaker prior to you has presented the points more effectively
than you.
6. Do not ask irrelevant questions.
7. Do not let your personal biases about the topic enter the discussion

Effective Profiling
Profiling simply means the recording and analysis of a person's psychological and behavioral
characteristics, so as to assess or predict their capabilities in a certain sphere or to assist in
identifying categories of people.
Effective profiling in career building involves creating a comprehensive and dynamic
representation of your skills, experiences, and goals. This not only helps you understand your
own strengths and areas for improvement but also enables you to present yourself in the best
possible light to potential employers or clients.

Principles for effective profiling:

1. Clear Objectives
2. Data Collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Pattern Recognition
5. Risk Assessment
6. Ethical Considerations
7. Continuous Improvement
8. Cross Referencing
9. Interdisciplinary Approach
10. Validation
11. Feedback Loop
12. Transparency

Steps and tips for effective profiling in career building:

1. Self-Assessment: Start by conducting a thorough self-assessment. Identify your strengths,
weaknesses, skills, interests, values, and long-term goals. Consider using self-assessment
tools, personality tests, and career assessments to gain deeper insights.
2. Skill Inventory: List downs all the skills you possess, both hard (technical) and soft
(communication, leadership, teamwork). Prioritize them based on relevance to your desired
career path.
3. Set Clear Goals: Define your short-term and long-term career goals. This will give you
direction and purpose in your career path.
4. Build a Strong Online Presence:: Create and optimize your LinkedIn profile. This is a
crucial platform for professional networking and job hunting. Maintain an up-to-date and
professional presence on other relevant platforms (e.g., personal website).
5. Craft a Compelling Resume/CV: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and
experiences for the specific role you're applying for. Use action verbs and quantify your
achievements wherever possible.
6. Create a Portfolio: Depending on your field, consider creating a portfolio showcasing your
work, projects, or creative endeavors. This is particularly important for roles in design,
writing, development, and other creative fields.
7. Networking: Attend industry events, seminars, workshops, and webinars to expand your
network. Engage with professionals in your field through online forums, LinkedIn, and other
social platforms.
8. Continuous Learning and Skill Development: Stay updated with industry trends and
technologies. Invest in ongoing education, workshops, certifications, or courses.
9. Seek Feedback and Learn from Experience: Actively seek feedback from supervisors,
peers, and mentors. Use feedback to identify areas for improvement and take steps to
enhance your skills and performance.
10. Showcase Achievements and Impact: When discussing your experiences, focus on the
impact you made and the results you achieved. Use specific examples to demonstrate your
contributions.
11. Maintain Professionalism: Communication, appearance, and behavior play a crucial role in
how you're perceived professionally. Be punctual, respectful, and reliable.
12. Adaptability and Flexibility: The job market and industries evolve. Be open to learning
new skills and adapting to changing circumstances.
13. Build and Leverage Relationships: Cultivate meaningful professional relationships with
colleagues, mentors, and industry leaders. Don't be afraid to ask for advice or seek guidance.
14. Stay Persistent and Resilient: Building a successful career is a journey that may involve
setbacks. Stay persistent and learn from challenges.

Communication and Networking: Building relationships

Networking is a strategic and intentional effort to form relationships that extend beyond initial
encounters. It involves genuine and mutually beneficial connections and relationships with
individuals, both personally and professionally, that is nurtured over time and offer support to
grow in a specific area. Effective networking goes beyond surface-level interactions. Instead, it’s
done to create meaningful and enduring rapport. It can be an asset in personal and career
development, as strong, lasting connections can open doors, provide valuable insights, and foster
a sense of belonging within various like-minded associates and communities.

Requirements of developing deeper connection:

 Be intentional
 Respect the other person’s time
 Invest in nurturing the relationship. Give it time to grow
 Engage to achieve meaningful outcomes
 Be honest and transparent
 Maintain the law of value: give, give, give, and then ask
 Stay true to yourself
Building effective professional relationships is all about developing and sustaining symbiotic
relationships with top professionals and your peers.
  Get career advice. When you build quality relationships with more experienced
professionals, you get easy access to practical career advice to advance your career.
 Easy career transition. If you’re hoping to make a career change, building connections
with professionals in your desired industry can help you get a sense of what you need and
even land you referrals.
 Help others secure jobs. The benefits of networking aren’t for only you. People in your
circle can equally benefit from it. With your access to more business contacts, you can
help your friends and acquaintances secure job opportunities.
Places to network
Here are the top places to start building new relationships:
 Social media - from LinkedIn to Twitter
 Career fairs
 Alumni events
 Public speaking events
 Networking events
 Professional conferences and seminars
 Volunteer and charity organizations
 Trade or industry-specific organizations

Tips for building strong relationships

1. Have a goal in mind
2. Prioritize quality over quantity
3. Make the most of your first impression
4. Follow up but don’t stalk
5. Listen
6. Don’t multi-task.
7. Maintain open-mindedness
8. Remind, reinforce, and check-in
9. Maintain a great reputation
10. Diversify your networking
11. Show gratitude
12. Monitor your networking progress
13. Occasionally act as a conduit
14. Hone (Smooth and Sharpen your conversational skills
To hone your conversational skills, particularly when meeting strangers:
 Take your time when talking to come off as calm and collected
 Maintain eye contact more than ⅔ of the time
 Notice the little details about the other person and bring them to your conversation
 Offer interesting and sometimes unexpected insights
 Use precise words to convey your thoughts and feelings
 Listen more than you talk
 Ask for the other person’s thoughts and opinions
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
A Statement of Purpose (SOP), also known as a research statement or a letter of intent, is written
to the admission panel and talks about your career path, interests, professional contributions,
goals and the driving force behind pursuing a particular program.

Things to be included in the Statement of Purpose

There are several elements that are vital for your Statement of Purpose. These include:
1. Personal background
2. Financial background
3. Academic details
4. Professional experience (full/part-time, voluntary)
5. Immediate and long-term goals
6. Reasons why you wish to study at this particular institution
7. Reasons for being interested in the chosen field
8. About extra-curricular activities
9. Published works, if any
10. Papers submitted, if any
11. Interests, hobbies

Do’s for your SOP application

Undergraduate Postgraduate
Your purpose for taking the program and the Your short-term and long-term career and
opportunities you wish to explore personal goals

Your academic journey and accomplishments Evidence of professional achievements

Anecdotes of teamwork, leadership and

Extracurricular activities
other corporate qualities

Motivation and career aspirations Career expectations from the institutions

Assignments undertaken during studies Noteworthy projects undertaken at work

Internships, if any Volunteer work, if any

How to Write an SOP?

A simple SOP format will help you string together various pieces of information in a steady
flow. It is divided into different paragraphs for better understanding.
A simple yet expressive SOP looks like this:
1. 1st paragraph: Introduction: This section is often confused with self-introduction.
However, you should only introduce your chosen academic field. You need to express your
future expectations from this course. Once you have selected a course, you are expected to
gain some knowledge about that particular field. You need to express your interest in the
selected program. Alternatively, you can discuss your long-term goals, connect your goals
with the course of your choice and describe your understanding of the course. You also need
to mention your interest in your post-study work or study opportunities. For instance, some
 candidates prefer to start working after the completion of the course while some prefer to
pursue higher education and research.
2. 2nd Paragraph: Academic background: You need to provide information about your
school or college. In case, you do not have work experience, try to emphasize your published
reports or achievements in any project or assignment.
3. 3rd Paragraph: Professional experience: Students interested in study abroad generally
have some kind of work experience. It may be a part-time job, training projects, internships,
freelancing work, or a full-time job. Share your work experience along with your skills.
4. 4th paragraph: Reasons to pursue the particular course: Specify the reasons why
you want to pursue the particular course. Mention the syllabus of the course and explain the
skills you want to improve. Explain how it will help you achieve your goals and benefit your
plans.
5. 5th paragraph: Career goals: This is the most important section where you should
explain the job profile you will be working on. Try to explain your long-term career goals
and plans. Do not mention anything which might make the supervisors feel that you want to
study abroad so that you can settle in a foreign country. You may speak about your desire to
work in a top company or if you want to start your own business. You can also discuss your
business ideas, aims, ethics, and what impact they will have on the industry.
6. 6th paragraph: Why did you choose the particular university?: This is the paragraph
where you need to tell the academic committee why you are an ideal candidate for the
university. You should also mention faculty names, course curriculum, research work, as
well as university-specific activities that will help you to enhance your profile.
7. Concluding paragraph: In the final paragraph, you need to seem focused and
prepared for the challenges that can come in your way of studying abroad. You should
also show the panel that you are confident enough to succeed in the field of your
interest and will bring a tangible difference in the industry from a global point of
view.

Do's and Don'ts of a Statement of Purpose

Do’s
 Make your SOP engaging
 Elaborate on your motivation to pursue the course
 Highlight your core strengths
 Draw attention to your basic understanding of the course
 Mention experience related to the choice of degree
 Articulate goals and interests well
 Proofread your SOP
Don’ts
 No plagiarized content
 Do not mention your stay-back plans
 Avoid grammatical issues
 SOP should not be too long or boring

Tips to Write a Successful Statement of Purpose

Here are few tips for writing a successful statement of purpose:
1. SOP writing must begin with a roadmap and an SOP structure. Otherwise, it might lead to an
unstructured SOP that might confuse the admissions committee.
2. Mention your achievements, professional and academic, in the form of a story rather than
statements.
3. An SOP is a reflection of your personality; make sure it is clear and understandable.
4. Mention strong reasons as to why you want to pursue a particular course.
5. Be very clear about the timeline of your achievements.
6. You can also mention your mistakes. But, also give instances of how you tried to rectify
them.
7. Proofread and edit the SOP time and again so that it can appear crisp and concise.
8. Write an attention-grabbing introduction and conclusion.
9. Do not use short forms, slang, and informal writing.
10. Never exceed the word limit.
11. Do not try to flatter the admissions committee by praising the university too much. They are
already aware of the achievements of their university.
12. Whatever you write, make sure that there is a structure. You need to avoid random events
that might break the structure of your SOP.
13. Let there be a smooth transition from one idea or event to the other. Avoid abrupt ideas or
events that may break the flow of your SOP.
14. Be honest and do not write something that cannot be justified in the interview.
15. Be original and do not copy someone else’s SOP.

SOP for MBA Format (Example)

Students must know the SOP format for an MBA application. The SOP format for MBA will
differ depending on the institution and programme requirements; however here are some
common guidelines:
1. Introduction: Begin with a concise and brief introduction that describes your goal and
objectives. This section should pique the reader's interest and set the tone for the remainder
of the piece.
2. Body Paragraphs: This area should be divided into paragraphs and contain information on
your academic background, strengths, successes, and future goals. Make sure that all these
points are connected with the help of logic. There must be a seamless flow in your writing
and the admissions committee must not be confused while reading your SOP for MBA.
3. Conclusion: Summarize your main points and emphasise why you are the greatest fit for the
MBA programme in the final paragraph.
4. Language and Tone: Throughout the document, use professional language and a confident
and optimistic tone.
5. Remember to customize your SOP towards the exact programme and institution to which you
are applying. Make sure to research the university thoroughly. If there is something about the
university that caught your attention (e.g. research project, publications, etc.), you can
mention that in your SOP.

Thesis or project writing

A thesis is along research report. A report concerns a problem or series of problems in a
particular area. It describes what was known about it previously the progress made by the current
work in solving it an interpretation of the results, where or how further progress in the field can
be made.

Tips for drafting thesis

1. Pick a topic that is interesting
2. Should have the answer why new work is better than the existing work
3. Build your thesis statement on a central theme
4. Logically sequence your thoughts
5. Pass three tests: How? Why? So what?
6. Contribution towards the research community
7. Be sure and have explanation for each and every question related to the results.
8. List the possible directions for the future.
9. Proofread your paper.. and proofread again

Steps of project or thesis writing

1. Title page
2. Declaration or certificate
3. Acknowledgement
4. Table of content
5. Abstract
6. Introduction
7. Literature Review
8. Middle chapters
9. Conclusion and suggestions for further work
10. References
11. Appendices

Benefits of Reports
1. Measuring strategic metrics to assess and monitor the performance
2. Helping you understand your position
3. Setting clear cut performance benchmark.
4. Learning and reproducing (or not)
5. Enhancing communication: (among partners, investors, customers, and colleagues.)
6. Improving collaboration
7. Boosting engagement & motivation
8. Fostering (to encourage) continual business growth

Objectives of Reports
1. Present a record of accomplished work
2. It records an experiment, research, findings of technical specifications.
3. Document schedules, time tables and milestones of an organisation
4. Document current status of an organisation
5. Record clearly the complex information for future reference.
6. Present information to large number of people.
7. Present organized information on a particular topic.
8. List recommendations that can be considered in solving certain problems.
Conference paper writing
Conference paper refers to articles that are written with the goal of being accepted to a
conference typically by an annual venue with a specific scope where one can present results to
the community. It is an effective way to try out new ideas, introduce work to colleagues, and
own research questions. Presenting at a conference is a great opportunity for gaining valuable
feedback from a community of scholars and for increasing professional stature in field usually as
a result in the form of oral presentation, a poster presentation or a tabled presentation. One may
be asked to submit a copy of paper to a commentator before present at the conference. Thus,
paper should follow the conventions (Traditional way) for academic papers and oral
presentations.

How do you write a conference paper?

1. Specify your topic.
2. Identify your paper fills a gap in the current literature.
3. Outline what you actually do in the paper.
4. Point out your original contribution.
5. Include a concluding sentence.

Organizing the paper

1. Don’t overwhelm or confuse your audience
2. Check for clarity in the text
3. Include verbal cues in the text

Expert Technical Lecture

Expert technical lecture is a method of teaching where instructor acts as the primary information
giver, Listener or students are expected to listen and make notes during lectures. There is limited
interaction and exchange of ideas between teacher and students in the expert lectures.

Types of technical lecture:

1. Traditional lecture: Lecture where the speaker is the only figure dominating the entire scene
while others are simple passive listeners.
2. Participatory lecture: Where the speaker begins the session with some brainstorming ideas on
the lecture topic.

Essential of Expert Technical Lecture

1. Clarity of theme
2. Presentation in clear and logical sequence
3. Material should be meaningful and comprehensible.
4. Cover the material adequately.
5. Analysis of the data.
6. Proper use of technical terms.
7. Findings related to the topic should be presented.

Advantages of Expert Technical Lecture

1. Works as the stimulus and inspires the audience.
2. Passes information based on facts quickly.
3. Useful for large and small gatherings.
4. It is economical and less time consuming.
5. Quick and straight forward way of communication.
6. Easily synthesis and integrates a large body of knowledge.
7. Imparts knowledge in easy and simple comprehensible way.