I have left my previous job without having another job in hand 2 months ago, and it seems that's my biggest mistake. I left due to many reasons. I was demotivated, plus I was getting very tired due to long commute and rotational shift timings. One more reason was also that the company was selling a product which was against my veganism ethics. The only good thing about that company was that it was providing high salary and good benefits, but working there was extremely frustrating. I thought I should just leave so that I can take a break for a month or two, take rest, and meanwhile find a new job. But I have appeared for an interview in some companies and haven't received a call back from anywhere. I believe that is because of my bad personality and age. I am a 37-year-old female. Plus, I haven't grown at the managerial level. I have done mid-level jobs so far. I am wishing not to work in a call center or KPO again, but now I am open to even working there again provided I get a job. Whether I work in a rotational shift again or in a day shift, I am not ready to compromise on salary, and I need a minimum of 25k per month in hand for the day shift and a minimum of 30k for rotational if I don't get a job in the day shift. And here's where I face a problem too. Some companies are not willing to pay more than 10-15k even in 2017 for the day shift if you do not have experience in that particular industry. I don't understand why our job market expects you to work in the same industry just because you chose to work in that industry at the start of your career. I am so scared. If within a month I won't get a job, then I will be in financial trouble. Actually, I was under the impression that I'll immediately withdraw PF, and I won't face a problem, but I learned that it will take a minimum of 90 days to withdraw PF. Also, I learned that it will be taxable, so I am confused whether to withdraw or not.
I feel I am not doing well in interviews. At some places, the interviewer hardly asked 3-4 questions and asked me if I have a question for them and then said they will get back to me. I am looking to switch the industry. I worked in mid-level positions earlier in an educational company and then an outsourcing company. I no longer wish to work in a rotational shift and want to shift industries. I am willing to work either in the HR field or business development or any relevant role in any reputed company. I have done MBA-HR in correspondence.
Here are a few questions which I am not able to answer properly:
- What is the reason for leaving your last job? - here I am answering I left due to some personal reason and family obligations but it seems the way the interviewer looks at me he might be doubting if I was terminated which is not the case. How can I smartly answer this by using good wordings?
- Why do you have a gap in education? (I did graduation and then did post-graduation after 5 years and recently did an MBA).
- Why did you do an MBA in HR? (honestly I just did it for a degree and to add value to my education and resume but that's not what I can answer)
- Why HR as a specialization? (Even I don't remember now what driven me to choose this specialization but if I remember a little, I thought I learned a few things about finance in M.Com, I don't want to do marketing because I was under the impression that marketing jobs are with too much pressure and I believed that since I had previous experience in counseling and office work, HR would be good plus I thought that if I choose finance, then it will be too much calculation and study and I might not be able to give that much time in studying as I was already working in a rotational shift).
- Why did you choose to do an MBA in your 30s after many years of your graduation?
- You have done an MBA in distance learning. How do you think that will help in this job?
- Why did you do an MBA in distance learning and not full time? I find it a stupid question as they should know how can a working professional get
- What did you learn from your previous jobs? I seriously don't understand how to answer this. What can one learn from a BPO or mid-level or back office or admin jobs? All I learned is using some soft skills in email and interacting with international customers to provide them customer service or converting in sales. But it seems that's not what interviewers are looking for. I don't get good wordings to answer this.
- Why do you have a gap between each job? (I was married and separated and in India it's sometimes difficult for a girl to work while handling family responsibilities) I can tell this truth but I don't understand how to present it in good wordings in front of the interviewer.
- One interviewer asked that I see that your academic score is very low. What was the reason for that? How do you think your education will be helpful in your job? (I scored just 50% in graduation, just 40% in PG and B grade in MBA).
- You have worked in the BPO industry but ours is XYZ industry and you do not have relevant experience so how do you think you're fit for this job?
- We prefer a candidate who has relevant experience in this industry or field but you do not have that in this particular industry so how do you think you're good for this role?
- How good will you be in cold calling?
- How would you convert the customers? (this question is asked when I apply for a business development position).
Please help me with the above interview questions so that I can be well-prepared and answer nicely.
From India, Ahmedabad
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I feel I am not doing well in interviews. At some places, the interviewer hardly asked 3-4 questions and asked me if I have a question for them and then said they will get back to me. I am looking to switch the industry. I worked in mid-level positions earlier in an educational company and then an outsourcing company. I no longer wish to work in a rotational shift and want to shift industries. I am willing to work either in the HR field or business development or any relevant role in any reputed company. I have done MBA-HR in correspondence.
Here are a few questions which I am not able to answer properly:
- What is the reason for leaving your last job? - here I am answering I left due to some personal reason and family obligations but it seems the way the interviewer looks at me he might be doubting if I was terminated which is not the case. How can I smartly answer this by using good wordings?
- Why do you have a gap in education? (I did graduation and then did post-graduation after 5 years and recently did an MBA).
- Why did you do an MBA in HR? (honestly I just did it for a degree and to add value to my education and resume but that's not what I can answer)
- Why HR as a specialization? (Even I don't remember now what driven me to choose this specialization but if I remember a little, I thought I learned a few things about finance in M.Com, I don't want to do marketing because I was under the impression that marketing jobs are with too much pressure and I believed that since I had previous experience in counseling and office work, HR would be good plus I thought that if I choose finance, then it will be too much calculation and study and I might not be able to give that much time in studying as I was already working in a rotational shift).
- Why did you choose to do an MBA in your 30s after many years of your graduation?
- You have done an MBA in distance learning. How do you think that will help in this job?
- Why did you do an MBA in distance learning and not full time? I find it a stupid question as they should know how can a working professional get
- What did you learn from your previous jobs? I seriously don't understand how to answer this. What can one learn from a BPO or mid-level or back office or admin jobs? All I learned is using some soft skills in email and interacting with international customers to provide them customer service or converting in sales. But it seems that's not what interviewers are looking for. I don't get good wordings to answer this.
- Why do you have a gap between each job? (I was married and separated and in India it's sometimes difficult for a girl to work while handling family responsibilities) I can tell this truth but I don't understand how to present it in good wordings in front of the interviewer.
- One interviewer asked that I see that your academic score is very low. What was the reason for that? How do you think your education will be helpful in your job? (I scored just 50% in graduation, just 40% in PG and B grade in MBA).
- You have worked in the BPO industry but ours is XYZ industry and you do not have relevant experience so how do you think you're fit for this job?
- We prefer a candidate who has relevant experience in this industry or field but you do not have that in this particular industry so how do you think you're good for this role?
- How good will you be in cold calling?
- How would you convert the customers? (this question is asked when I apply for a business development position).
Please help me with the above interview questions so that I can be well-prepared and answer nicely.
From India, Ahmedabad
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I understand your concerns about facing challenging interview questions and the pressure of finding a new job. Here are some tips to help you navigate these questions effectively:
- Reason for Leaving Previous Job:
- Emphasize the positive aspects of your decision to leave, such as seeking personal growth or exploring new opportunities. Focus on your desire for a more fulfilling role aligned with your values and career aspirations.
- Education Gap:
- Highlight any valuable experiences or skills gained during the gap period that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Explain how the gap contributed to your personal and professional development.
- MBA in HR:
- Connect your decision to pursue an MBA in HR with your passion for people management, problem-solving, and organizational development. Mention how this specialization aligns with your career goals and interests.
- Learning from Previous Jobs:
- Showcase transferable skills acquired in your previous roles, such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and adaptability. Provide specific examples of how these skills can be applied in the new role you are seeking.
- Handling Job Gaps:
- Be honest about the reasons for any career breaks and focus on how you utilized that time to enhance your skills, pursue further education, or manage personal responsibilities effectively.
- Low Academic Scores:
- Acknowledge your academic performance and highlight your practical skills, work experience, and achievements that demonstrate your capabilities beyond academic grades. Explain how you have continuously improved and grown professionally.
- Relevant Experience:
- Showcase your ability to transfer skills and knowledge from your previous roles to excel in a new industry. Highlight your adaptability, willingness to learn, and passion for taking on new challenges.
- Cold Calling and Customer Conversion:
- Demonstrate your understanding of sales processes, customer engagement strategies, and your ability to build relationships effectively. Provide examples of successful customer interactions or sales conversions from your past experiences.
By preparing thoughtful and tailored responses to these questions, you can present yourself as a strong candidate with valuable skills and a clear vision for your future career path. Good luck in your job search!
From India, Gurugram
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35- Reason for Leaving Previous Job:
- Emphasize the positive aspects of your decision to leave, such as seeking personal growth or exploring new opportunities. Focus on your desire for a more fulfilling role aligned with your values and career aspirations.
- Education Gap:
- Highlight any valuable experiences or skills gained during the gap period that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Explain how the gap contributed to your personal and professional development.
- MBA in HR:
- Connect your decision to pursue an MBA in HR with your passion for people management, problem-solving, and organizational development. Mention how this specialization aligns with your career goals and interests.
- Learning from Previous Jobs:
- Showcase transferable skills acquired in your previous roles, such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and adaptability. Provide specific examples of how these skills can be applied in the new role you are seeking.
- Handling Job Gaps:
- Be honest about the reasons for any career breaks and focus on how you utilized that time to enhance your skills, pursue further education, or manage personal responsibilities effectively.
- Low Academic Scores:
- Acknowledge your academic performance and highlight your practical skills, work experience, and achievements that demonstrate your capabilities beyond academic grades. Explain how you have continuously improved and grown professionally.
- Relevant Experience:
- Showcase your ability to transfer skills and knowledge from your previous roles to excel in a new industry. Highlight your adaptability, willingness to learn, and passion for taking on new challenges.
- Cold Calling and Customer Conversion:
- Demonstrate your understanding of sales processes, customer engagement strategies, and your ability to build relationships effectively. Provide examples of successful customer interactions or sales conversions from your past experiences.
By preparing thoughtful and tailored responses to these questions, you can present yourself as a strong candidate with valuable skills and a clear vision for your future career path. Good luck in your job search!
From India, Gurugram
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