To give a background to those not familiar with StrengthsFinder, it is a test of about 150 questions where each question has two options at the extreme ends of a line with “Strongly Agree” on each end and “Neutral” at the midpoint of the line. There is a time limit of 20 seconds within which each question needs to be answered and once all the questions are answered, the answers are mapped to give you your top five strengths from a set of about 36 different strengths like Arranger, commander, relator, learner, analytical etc. This test has been in use since a long time and is known for the accuracy of its results.

The idea behind this whole exercise is that each person is naturally good at something and instead of focusing on what one is weak at and trying to improve on that, the proponents of this feel that one should capitalize and harness on one’s natural talents and when it comes to the weaknesses, one should just see that their weakness does not come become a hurdle to them.

Organizations encourage employees to take these tests to indentify and leverage these strengths of each individual to increase overall performance.

My top 5 Strengths happen to be:

1. Individualization
2. Arranger
3. Achiever
4. Relator
5. Learner

The report gives details of each of the Strengths, how it is unique in me, and ideas/actions that I could take to harness my strengths. I am sharing below part of the report which just makes me stand out for some of the Strengths.

Individualization

What makes you stand out?

 It’s very likely that you occasionally uncover how and why certain things happen as they do. You might share these discoveries with colleagues, teammates, or friends. Perhaps you streamline your explanations, covering only the essential facts. Some listeners may appreciate receiving less detail so the main points are apparent. Because of your strengths, you easily identify with what others are thinking and feeling. You intuitively understand their hopes, fears, joys, and sorrows. This helps you consider things from each individual’s perspective.

By nature, you sometimes become the spokesperson for individuals who struggle to express their thoughts or feelings. When their silence is deafening and the injustice done to them is real, perhaps you serve as their advocate. However, in situations where people speak up for themselves or others, you may choose to simply listen and observe. Driven by your talents, you might aid certain individuals by making recommendations, suggesting changes, or providing advice. To some degree, you feel this is your forte — that is, strength.

Arranger

What makes you stand out?

Chances are good that you tend to be quite selective about the company you keep. You prefer to spend time with individuals who are trustworthy. You consciously avoid people whose words and deeds indicate they value honesty less than you do. It’s very likely that you are comfortable being open and honest about who you are. Often you intentionally avoid people who are less than truthful. You prefer to spend time with individuals who speak as candidly as you do about their strengths, shortcomings, hopes, disappointments, failures, or successes.

By nature, you are a doer. You derive much satisfaction from reaching goals, finishing assignments, and accomplishing whatever is expected. Instinctively, you periodically think about what you need to upgrade or do better. What you discover may help you determine the number of things you can handle simultaneously. Perhaps you produce some of your finest results when you have more than one thing to do.

Relator

 What makes you stand out?

By nature, you are quite comfortable being honest about yourself with others. You harbor very few illusions about who you really are. Furthermore, you can openly acknowledge your mistakes and shortcomings. This is apt to distinguish you from most people. It’s very likely that you have the ability to instruct, train, or offer suggestions to people who look to you for assistance. Chances are good that you might identify the most basic and important parts of elaborate ideas, processes, or technologies. Maybe you avoid confusing people because you do not want to overwhelm them with too many details. Instinctively, you might make certain types of difficult-to-understand ideas a little bit easier for people to comprehend. Because of your strengths, you are determined to share your knowledge and skills with people you coach, mentor, or train.

Deutsche Bank
Novellus
Schlumberger
A.T. Kearney
Google
Bloomberg
Amazon
Microsoft
SPX
Menlo Worldwide
Skyworks Solutions
Siemens Healthcare
Atlas Oil
Capgemini Consulting
Schott AG
Epic
Deloitte Consulting
Caterpillar

This is list of companies (maybe not exhaustive) that I can remember to have been selected to interview with, after joining Michigan, not necessarily in that order. Some of these were for internships while most were for full time. I made it to the final round for some. While I can now heave a sigh of relief, Touchwood; Recollecting the experiences during that entire timeline, when I was job hunting more fervently than I had ever prepared for an exam gives me the jitters to this day and the professional growth that I have undergone during the two and a half years is the motif to this entry.

Though the original intention behind this blog was to make it public (read brag) about how I was deemed to be a potentially good fit for some of the world’s prestigious Management Consulting companies, Investment banks and High Tech corporations, the whole idea actually got me thinking.
I started to wonder if this is really something worth bragging about. Did I have to face so many interviews to finally ‘make it’? I delved further into the whole job scene in the United States and for immigrants in particular. Most Indians coming to the United States land a job by: Joining a consultancy where one’s experience is boosted manifold (fake credentials) and they eventually land a job in the field of IT.

I am going to talk here about a lesser known jog hunting story if one wants to land a job in one’s field of interest without relying on any consultancy.

In the US, getting an admit into a top ranked University does not guarantee a job, as I have seen people who have graduated from the best Universities in the country with an excellent academic record struggling to land a job; especially during a recessive economy. Most companies which usually sponsor visas are trying to cut down costs by giving preference to Residents or Citizens. So to land a job in:
1.    The field that you are interested in
2.    In a Fortune 100 company
3.    After graduating from a world class university competing with people from all over the world who are as smart as you in the field and some of whom even have work experience in the field
4.    competing with citizens and residents who are as smart as you are and who do not require sponsorship and who usually do not have the issue of ‘accent in speech’

, the chances for an immigrant are quite slim.

My answers during the initial interviews were so lame, that when I look back and share some of them with friends, we end up in fits of laughter.

Thankfully I secured an internship in Menlo worldwide later in the summer of 2009. This was the ticket to my first work experience ever and also my first experience in the American Corporate world.
Here, I have learned a lot. Not only have I honed in on my hard skills (One learns so much more and faster, while working in a company than in school simply because one has to know.) but also my interpersonal skills (which is a learning process that is never ending.)

Whenever a career fair approached, I became a little apprehensive. The Career Fair system in USA is analogous to their Capitalist economy. People, who get interview calls, keep getting multiple calls while those that don’t, struggle to get one. A good University only brings good companies to campus and one gets to have the University’s name on the Resume. The rest depends on the Confidence, energy and the enthusiasm of the individual.

To stand out, one needs to beef up the Resume, but in an honest way. I owe these skills to the University career development center, numerous representatives of reputed corporations and my friends for numerous Resume critique sessions.

Once this is done, the next step is to prepare for the first round which is the behavioral interview. These interviews are deceptively dangerous. They seem like a normal conversation but this is the major filter that one needs to seep through.

The best way, I have learned to prepare for these interviews is to create an extensive list of behavioral questions and WRITE down answers for them.  Also writing down descriptions of all the projects/experiences on your Resume in a detailed paragraph and below that in concise bullet points in CAR/STAR* format helps in creating crisp verbal answers.

Once the first round is cleared, the second round is usually a day long interview lasting about 8-9 hours, on site, usually where one ends up working if selected. One should be prepared for some serious grilling on technical questions, case studies and behavioral questions by multiple people ranging from Directors to Managers of several departments for the whole day. Some interviews will be stress interviews while others can be more like a conversation.

Then, there is the period where all you can do is keep your fingers crossed and wait. Whether one gets selected or not, there is always a learning experience and some people are really nice to give feedback.

Taking business cards/email addresses and thanking them for their time as soon as possible shows one’s Professionalism and seriousness for the role. (This is ideally done every time after a Professional contact is made.)

P.S: It always helps to be active on LinkedIn-Network-Get recommended-Make more connections. (Crucial especially in the USA)

* Context-Action-Result (CAR)/ Situation-Task-Action-Result (STAR)

USA, UK, China, Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, Israel. No two countries are common size wise. Each of them has had their own history of foreign invasion, plundering and wars that nearly threatened to wipe out their very existence. Yet they survived. They not only survived, they are currently in the list of “Developed countries”. How were they able to achieve it?

India: The biggest democracy, the second biggest in terms of population, seventh biggest area wise-diverse in many ways-Soil, Flora, Fauna, People-North to south and west to east. Countries bigger than and smaller than us have made progress at a faster rate. Why haven’t we been as fast when we have had abundant resources?

My personal opinion is that having so many languages is becoming an impediment to national progress. Notice something about Indians. Ninety percent of the time, people form their own set of friend circles-friend circles based on language. People from Andhra hang out with co andhrites, people from tamil nadu with fellow tamilians, Karnataka-Kannadigas, West Bengal-Begalis, Punjab-punjabis. The simple reason being comfort with the mother tongue. Some people take this to an extreme level where friendships are based on caste-a further division. There may be people who can speak more than one language but even these, tend to behave the same way.

There is a need for a common national language. There are 22 different national languages in India. So what can the common language be? My personal opinion is English. Simply because it’s a language, which people in India can pick up and understand easily. I am in no way saying that we should forget our mother tongue. There is a need for one language which everybody in the country can understand and speak fluently.

Further splitting of states by politicians citing development issues based on language/caste (when all of us know that the actual reason is a craving for power) will only slow down the development of India.

Like a pot of water pelted with a stone

So much to see,

Till my heart fills with glee

So many people to meet,

So much to interact

So much to read,

So much to comprehend

So much to think,

So much to learn,

In so little time

So much to choose from,

Few choices to make, wish there was a norm

I see people around and I am puzzled

Causing my priorities get all muddled

Life is too short, the world is too fast

No time to take a break and avoid all thought

So much restlessness, hopelessness and helplessness

Giving a feeling of lacking completeness

Looking for inner peace and satisfaction

Only questions arise, curbing all action

Not a big fan of poetry,

Just a lame attempt to convey a story

Of the vicious circle of thoughts, my head going awry