Tips for Freshers: How to Prepare for a Campus Drive in 2020?

Whether you are in the first year of college or about to graduate, anxiety is a by-product that you unwillingly have to experience whenever the thought of campus placements comes to your mind. Do not leave everything to the last year and start preparing for campus interviews early. So, with the onset of the new year, this is the apt time to understand how you should prepare for a successful campus drive and score your dream job.

Start with deciding the kind of job you want. It will help you prepare everything; be it academics (most companies have a certain CGPA as an eligibility criterion), extracurricular activities, internships, or even assignments that you undertake.

Outlined below are some tips to help you succeed in the campus drive:

Tip #1: Know Your Eligibility

Companies visiting campuses for placements majorly assess eligibility of the candidates for their job roles by asking different questions. Convince your interviewers about your eligibility, you yourself have to be convinced first.

First identify what all you can offer to an employer. Sit down with a piece of paper and note down your:
– Qualification
– Top Skills
– Characteristics
– Key Accomplishments

This exercise will help you to know your strengths & weaknesses, areas of interest, goals and aspirations.

Also Read: Top Skills You Need to Crack Campus Placement Interviews

Tip #2: Study the Past Trends

There are numerous companies that visit campuses every year to recruit freshers for various openings. The number of students who get hired in a campus drive may vary from company to company. While some companies visit campuses to hire only for the selected roles, there are many who hire in bulk.

Do a little study of the past hiring patterns of these companies and understand the campus recruitment process they follow. Get in touch with your college placement department or browse the Internet to find out this information. Doing so will reveal the kind of competition you will be facing and help in determining how to go about preparing for the same.

Tip #3: Research about the Company

You may ask your campus placement cell to provide a list of all the companies that are visiting your campus for the placement drive. This will give you ample time to research each company in depth.

An important criteria companies have for selecting candidates is how interested are they in joining them. Collect as much information as you can about the company’s product and services, mission, values, history, major milestones, and future plans.

Your knowledge about the company will reflect in your answers and will definitely impress the interviewer. If you have any questions regarding anything related to a particular company, write them down. So that when the interviewer asks if you have any questions you know what to ask.

Tip #4: Keep Your Documents Ready

Gather all your educational and non-educational certificates and file them neatly in a folder before the fresher’s placement season starts. Doing so will save you from any last minute drama, leaving you with enough time to arrange for duplicate mark sheets/documents in case you misplace or lose any.

Take up some online certification courses related to your field in your free time. It will add to your skill set and make you look like a potential candidate to the recruiters.

Ensure that your resume is awesome. Your resume is very crucial as it is through this document that you first interact with the employers. Browse the Internet for the latest formats and tips or reach out to your working friends and ask them to help you write a flawless resume that doesn’t fail to impress the recruiters.

Also Read: Make Your Job Search Productive with this Checklist

Tip #5: Dress Up Wisely

Your campus interview starts the moment you enter the interview room and even before you open your mouth. The way you dress speaks volume and helps recruiters judge how professional you are. Therefore, it is important to dress impeccably well for the campus drive. Follow a formal dress code or as prescribed by your college.

Men should ensure to shave and look groomed. Women, on the other hand, should avoid heavy make-up and jewelry. Accessorize to a bare minimum and avoid wearing high heels.

Tip #6: Do Not Be Afraid of Rejection

Finally yet importantly, do not take rejections to your heart, in case you are not selected. It is human to feel low about not getting shortlisted for a company but remember that there are lots of other companies who will visit your campus or you can reach out to them on your own with the help of dedicated job portals for freshers such as Firstnaukri.com.

Do not compare yourself with others. Remember that you have unique talent and skills. There are various reasons because of which companies don’t hire certain individuals, so don’t just assume anything negative about yourself.

Take feedback sportingly and make efforts to improve further. If you find it difficult to brush yourself off a rejection, talk it out with someone you trust. Sometimes all you need to feel better is to just vent out whatever is going in your head.

On a Concluding Note:

While all the tips shared above are important, there is one thing that you need to keep in mind: believe yourself no matter what. It will automatically reflect in how you talk and conduct yourself during the campus drive. Do not let anxiety get the better of you.

All the best!

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