Campus Placement Preparation Guide: Tips from HR Experts

The last year of college is full of anxiety and expectations for many students. Especially when it comes to campus placement. This is the time when big companies come to your college and open the door to your dream job. But success is not just achieved by luck, it is important to prepare in the right direction.

In this article, we will tell you, based on the advice of HR experts, how you can prepare yourself better for campus placement. We will explain in detail every important aspect that can make your path to success easier.

1. It is very important to understand the placement process

First of all, it is important to know what stages have to be gone through in the placement process:

• Aptitude Test: It includes questions like mathematics, logical reasoning and English.
• Group Discussion (GD): The ability to communicate and think in a team is tested.
• Technical Interview: If you are a B.Tech, BCA or MCA student then technical knowledge is tested.
• HR Interview: Here your personality, confidence, behavior and career goals are seen.

Understanding all these steps and preparing in advance can be the key to your success.

2. Making a strong and clear resume

• Resume is your first impression. Make it such that HR understands your profile in just one glance.
• Write your skills, projects, internships, and achievements in a neat manner.
• Do not add too many colors or designs. Keep it simple and professional.
• There should be no typos and grammar mistakes, get it checked by a senior.
• If you are a fresher then focus on academic projects and co-curricular activities.

3. Strengthen technical knowledge

• If you are from engineering, BCA, B.Sc or any such technical field then this should be your biggest strength.
• Focus on the basic topics of your branch like data structure, networking, DBMS, OOPs, etc.
• If you are interested in programming, then practice languages like C, C++, Python or Java.
• Make small projects and mention them in GitHub or Resume.

4. Practice Aptitude and Logical Reasoning regularly

• Most companies do the first screening through Aptitude test, so it becomes important.
• Work on Quant, Reasoning and Verbal Aptitude for at least 1 hour daily.
• Practice from books like R.S. Aggarwal, Arun Sharma and websites like IndiaBix.
• Learn to solve questions according to the time so that there is no shortage of time in the exam.

5. Improve communication skills

• Good communication skills are not limited to speaking English only, but it shows how you can clearly put your thoughts in front of others.
• Read a short article aloud every day and try to understand it.
• Do GD or Mock Interviews with your friends.
• Make it a habit to put your thoughts clearly and confidently.

6. Gather information about the companies in advance

• It is very important to do research about the companies for which you are going to give interview.
• Visit the company’s website and understand their mission, vision, products and culture.
• Check out company reviews and interview questions on Glassdoor or AmbitionBox.
• If the company works on a specific technology or skill, then increase your knowledge related to that a little more.

7. Prepare yourself mentally for the HR Interview

The answers to the questions in the HR interview are not found in books, but it depends on your thinking, behavior and confidence.

Some common questions:

• “Tell us about yourself”
• “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
• “Where do you see yourself after 5 years?”
• “Why do you like our company?”

Answer these questions by thinking to yourself, practice in front of the mirror or with friends.

8. Do not ignore networking

• Many times the right information and opportunities come to you from people only.
• Talk to your seniors and alumni, take tips from them.
• Create a profile on LinkedIn and stay active.
• Participate in workshops, seminars, or webinars in your field.

9. Maintain confidence and have the right attitude

• Your confidence reflects from your language, gait and eyes.
• Wear comfortable and professional clothes during the interview.
• Talk with the interviewer by making eye contact.
• Keep in mind that you have come to learn, victory or defeat is a secondary matter.

10. Keep learning continuously

• Learning new things can become your biggest strength.
• Improve your skills with free or paid online courses like Coursera, Udemy or Google.
• Do courses like Python, Excel, Digital Marketing, or Communication according to your interest.
• If you like any field, like HR, Finance, Marketing – then increase your knowledge related to that.

11. Give Mock Interviews

• Just like net practice is necessary in cricket, mock interviews are very important in interview preparation.
• Participate in mock interviews from the college placement cell.
• Get interviewed by a friend or mentor and take feedback.
• Record your answers and observe and improve yourself.

Conclusion

Preparing for campus placement is not a day’s job; it requires time, effort, and self-discipline. With hard work in the right direction, self-belief, and learning from all the feedback after some time, one can definitely find a place in his/her desired company.

Placement is not a simple process of getting a job. Instead, it marks the start of your professional journey. To take it seriously, to study, and most importantly, to have the attitude of learning continuously.

If you start now, your chances of success will increase manifold.