The document provides guidance on preparing for a second career in the corporate sector. It recommends giving yourself 18-24 months to prepare by earning an MBA, certifications, and networking. Steps include tailoring your resume and CV to the role, researching the company, practicing for interviews, negotiating salary details like notice period, and maintaining professionalism when resigning or joining. The document is a useful guide for military personnel seeking to transition to corporate careers.

1. PREPARING FOR A SECOND
CAREER
LIFE IN CORPORATE

2. SCOPE
• PREPARATIONS
• CV / RESUME PREPARATION
• HANDLING INTERVIEWS
• NEGOTIATING SALARY
• PREPARING FOR EXIT
• PREPARING TO JOIN

3. SECOND CAREER PREP
• DECIDE ON FIRM DATE FOR „PR‟
• GIVE YOURSELF 18 TO 24 MONTHS
• EARN AN MBA DEGREE, PREFERABLY FROM A REPUTED
INSTITUTE (SAY EVENING CLASSES)
• DO TRY & GET TO DO THE 6 MONTHS COURSE AT IIMs / MDI
• MIXED REVIEWS BUT HELPS GETTING INTO ALUMNUS SITES &
NETWORKING
• GET SOME CERTIFICATIONS WHILST IN SERVICE

4. SECOND CAREER PREP
• START NETWORKING
• PROFESSIONAL SEMINARS
• PRESENTING PAPERS
• NETWORKING SEMINARS
• PROFESSIONAL BODIES LIKE AIMA, NHRD, ETC
• INITIATIVES LIKE THIS ONE
• GET YOUR SELF VISITING CARDS
• BARE CONTACT DETAILS (EMAIL ID & MOBILE)

5. SECOND CAREER PREP
• GET ACTIVE ON NETWORKING SITES
• LINKEDIN
• FACEBOOK
• THESE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES ARE MOST COMMONLY
TRACKED BY HRs

6. SECOND CAREER PREP
• LINKEDIN PROFILE
• IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE A PROFESSIONAL‟S PROFILE WITHOUT
DIVULGING ANY OBJECTIONABLE DETAILS ABOUT YOUR ARMED
FORCES CAREER
• SPENDING 30 MIN A DAY OR ABOUT 2 HOURS ON WEEKEND IS
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
• START BUILDING YOUR NETWORK (GET CONNECTED TO SEVERAL
CORPORATE PROFESSIONALS ASAP)
• JOIN GROUPS THAT COULD INTEREST YOU OR PERTAIN TO YOUR
CHOSEN CAREER DOMAIN
• NETWORKING BECOMES EASIER
• THE BUZZ IS THAT IT IS GOING TO BE PAID SITE VERY SOON
• MOST HRs CHECK OUT YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE BEFORE THEY
PROCESS YOUR PAPERS

7. SECOND CAREER PREP
• FACEBOOK PROFILE
• TRY AND CONNECT WITH LIKEMINDED & SIMILAR AGE
GROUP PEOPLE
• JOIN CAUSES
• THAT ARE DEAR TO YOU AND
• PROJECT YOUR PERSONALITY
• PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR COMMENTS ARE POSITIVE EVEN
WHEN YOU FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT AN ISSUE
• DON‟T EVER GET INTO A MUD-SLINGING MATCH OVER ANY
ISSUE

8. SECOND CAREER PREP
• FIRM UP YOUR MIND ON A CAREER DOMAIN
• HR, OPERATIONS, LOGISTICS, ETC
• CHECK OUT HOW OTHERS HAVE FARED IN THAT DOMAIN
• LINKEDIN IS A GOOD BET OR SPEAK TO THEM
• QUALIFICATIONS THEY HAVE ADDED ENROUTE
• IF POSSIBLE EARN THOSE QUALIFICATIONS BEFORE HAND
• STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO AT LEAST
ONE STINT IN THE CORPORATE BEFORE TURNING AN
ENTREPRENEUR (SHOULD YOU WANT TO)
• GIVES YOU FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE OF THE CORPORATE‟S
WORKING
• HELPS IN NETWORKING

9. CV OR RESUME PREP
• TRY & RESTRICT TO TWO PAGES
• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IN A COVERING LETTER
• KEEP IT SIMPLE
• MUST BE CONCISE
• EASY TO READ
• MUST SELL YOU
• MUST BE TAILORED TO WHAT THE READER IS
LOOKING FOR

10. TAILORING THE RESUME
• ASK FOR A JOB DESCRIPTION Desired Candidate Profile
• USUALLY PROVIDED BY THE HIRING
ORGANIZATION MBA (HR) from Premier Institute with 25 to
• MOSTLY IT IS BRIEF 30 years experience in various aspects of
• REVERSE ENGINEER YOUR RESUME TO Corporate HR from reputed Indian large
MATCH THE COMPETENCIES Manufacturing organizations. Preferred
REQUIRED BY THE JOB Age : 50 to 55 years.
• COMPETENCIES He should be able to deal with Heads of
• KNOWLEDGE various business of the group.
• SKILL The position reports to the Board of
• ATTITUDE / APTITUDE / ABILITIES Directors.
• TALK TO PEOPLE WITHIN THE Job Description
ORGANIZATIONS The incumbent shall be responsible for
• GIVES YOU AN INSIGHT INTO WHAT IS Group HR function of the entire group
IT THAT THE ORG IS GOING THROUGH consisting of about 10 Businesses. He will
SO THAT YOU CAN TAILOR YOUR
RESUME be actively involved in Manpower
Planning & Talent Acquisition &
• TAILOR YOUR RESUME FOR EVERY Management including Training &
JOB THAT YOU APPLY FOR Development, Career Planning &
Organization Development, Leadership
Development etc..
Keywords: Corporate HR, Talent
Acquisition & Management, T&D, OD etc.

11. SOURCE FOR COMPETENCIES
O*NET ONLINE (ONLINE.ONETCENTER.ORG/)

12. O*NET ONLINE
(ONLINE.ONETCENTER.ORG/)

13. O*NET ONLINE
(ONLINE.ONETCENTER.ORG/)

14. O*NET ONLINE
(ONLINE.ONETCENTER.ORG/)

15. O*NET ONLINE
(ONLINE.ONETCENTER.ORG/)

16. O*NET ONLINE
(ONLINE.ONETCENTER.ORG/)

17. O*NET ONLINE
(ONLINE.ONETCENTER.ORG/)

18. O*NET ONLINE
(ONLINE.ONETCENTER.ORG/)

19. HANDLING INTERVIEWS
• RESEARCH, RESEARCH & RESEARCH ABOUT THE
ORGANIZATION
• INTERNET
• TALK TO EMPLOYEES
• NETWORKING HELPS
• TALK NUMBERS
• TALK ACHIEVEMENTS
• TALK PLANS
• IF POSSIBLE VISIT THE COMPANY‟S PREMISES IN ADVANCE
• ACTIVITY AT THEIR RECEPTION WILL TELL YOU A LOT
• ENERGY LEVELS
• BUSINESS LEVELS
• CULTURE, ETC

20. HANDLING INTERVIEWS
• USUALLY YOU‟LL FACE AT LEAST TWO ROUNDS TO BEGIN
WITH
• PLEASE DON‟T BE PUT OFF BY THE JUNIOR RECRUITER AS THEY
KNOW THEIR JOB & ARE THE “GATEKEEPERS” TO THE
ORGANIZATION
• IN FACT TRY & WIN OVER THEM TO ELICIT MORE INFO ABOUT THE
ORGANIZATION
• BE POLITE BUT FIRM
• THE TECHNICAL ROUND WILL USUALLY BE CONDUCTED BY A
SENIOR MEMBER
• PLEASE BE MENTALLY PREPARED FOR AN MBTI OR SOME OTHER
APTITUDE TEST AS WELL
• TRY ARRIVING AT LEAST 15 MIN AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
• LET THE RECRUITER KNOW YOU‟RE THERE
• IN ALL PROBABILITY THERE WILL BE SOME FORMS TO FILL

21. HANDLING INTERVIEWS
• DON‟T GET PERTURBED IF YOU ARE KEPT WAITING
• I KNOW OF CASE WHERE THE HEAD OF HR WAS KEPT
WAITING FOR OVER SIX HOURS AND THEN HIRED IN 15
MINUTES!
• IT‟S GOOD IDEA TO CARRY SOME PROFESSIONAL READING
MATERIAL IN CASE YOU HAVE BIDE TIME
• IT‟S GOOD IDEA TO TAKE A DAY OFF FROM WORK TO BE AT
PEACE

22. HANDLING INTERVIEWS
• ALWAYS ENSURE THAT YOU‟RE DRESSED FORMALLY
UNLESS THE COMPANY HAS “NO TIE” POLICY
• CARRY A COPY OR TWO OF YOUR RESUME IN A
NEAT FOLDER
• STRICT NO-NOs
• WASHROOM VISITS UNLESS IT‟S A DAY LONG INTERVIEW
• SMOKING BEFORE / DURING THE INTERVIEW
• BODY ODOUR

23. HANDLING INTERVIEWS
• ASK YOUR CONSULTANT OR THE RECRUITER ABOUT
THE PEOPLE YOU SHALL BE MEETING
• RESEARCH ABOUT THESE PEOPLE ESP ON THE LINKEDIN
• TRY “GOOGLING” THEM
• IT IS LIKELY TO THROW UP A LOT OF INFO ABOUT THEM LIKE
ACHIEVEMENTS, ETC WHICH CAN BE USED DURING THE
INTERVIEW
• IT LEAVES A GOOD LASTING IMPRESSION IF THEY GET TO KNOW
THAT YOU‟VE DONE YOUR RESEARCH

24. HANDLING INTERVIEWS
• REMEMBER THAT AN INTERVIEW IS NOTHING BUT A
CONVERSATION
• ORGANIZATION IS TRYING TO ASCERTAIN A MATCH BETWEEN
YOUR COMPETENCIES AND THE JOB‟S REQUIREMENTS
• THEY TOO NEED YOU AS MUCH AS YOU NEED THAT
JOB!

25. HANDLING INTERVIEWS
• IT IS OK TO
• ASK FOR VISITING CARD FROM ONE OR MORE OF YOUR
INTERVIEWERS AFTER THE MEETING GETS OVER
• WRITING A NOTE OF THANKS ESP TO THE RECRUITER OR HEAD
OF HR

26. NEGOTIATING SALARY
• PLEASE ASK THE ORG FOR A BREAK UP OF THE CTC
• CTC MAY INCLUDE COMPONENTS
• FIXED
• VARIABLE
• INCENTIVES
• BONUSES

27. NEGOTIATING SALARY
• PLEASE ASK FOR A BREAK UP OF THE FIXED PACKAGE
• REMEMBER THAT ALMOST ALL COMPONENTS ARE TAXABLE
• THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE YOUR MONTHLY INCOME NET
OF TAXES
• VARIABLE / INCENTIVES /BONUSES
• THESE ARE LIKE PROMISSORY NOTES
• BASIS OF CALCULATION / PAY OUT
• FREQUENCY OF PAY OUT
• IT HELP TO CHECK (WITH INSIDERS) AS TO WHAT HAS BEEN THE
AVERAGE PAY OUT (75 %, 80% OR MORE)
• OTHER POLICIES LIKE MEDICLAIM, ETC

28. NEGOTIATING SALARY
• IT IS OK TO ASK FOR DETAILS AS WELL AS NEGOTIATE
• IT BUILDS MUTUAL RESPECT AS WELL AS HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HR
• THERE IS GROWING TENDENCY TO NEGOTIATE ON
THE FIXED PACKAGE AS THE VARIABLE IS A
PROMISSORY NOTE UNLESS YOU ARE IN A SALES /
PRE-SALES JOB WHERE THE VARIABLE COMPONENT
MAY BE UPTO 40 %
• USUALLY IN SUCH JOBS THE AVERAGE PAYOUT IS IN EXCESS
OF 80% IF ORGANIZATIONAL TARGETS ARE ACHIEVED

29. NEGOTIATING SALARY
• PLEASE MAKE YOUR NOTICE PERIOD VERY CLEAR
WHEN NEGOTIATING
• DON‟T PROMISE THAT YOU‟D ABLE TO GET THE NOTICE
PERIOD WAIVED OFF OR BOUGHT OUT UNLESS YOU‟VE
TALKED TO YOUR MANAGER
• THERE IS AN INCREASING TENDENCY IN THE CORPORATE TO
FORCE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE ENTIRE NOTICE PERIOD
• HELPS THEM GET THE SLOT FILLED IN THE TIME AVAILABLE
• THERE IS AN INCREASING PROBABILITY THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO
RETAIN YOU

30. PREPARING FOR EXIT
• ONCE YOU RESIGN, IT IS GOOD IDEA TO STICK TO
YOUR DECISION
• HAND OVER YOUR JOB DILIGENTLY
• PUT EVERYTHING ON MAIL
• GET YOUR DUES CLEARED IN TIME
• DON‟T EVER BURN YOUR BRIDGES

31. PREPARING TO JOIN
• ONCE YOU ACCEPT THE OFFER
• STICK TO THE COMMITTED DATE OF JOINING
• KEEP IN TOUCH WITH NEW HR
• KEEP THEM UPDATED OF DEVELOPMENTS IN YOUR CURRENT ORG
LIKE ACCEPTANCE OF RESIGNATION, ETC
• GET YOUR DOMESTIC FRONT IN ORDER AS THERE IS A
LIKELIHOOD OF EXTENDED WORKING HOURS IN THE NEW
ORG IMMEDIATELY ON JOINING
• MOST ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A MEDICAL CHECK UP
DONE ESP IF THEY OFFER MEDICLAIM TO CHECK FOR
PRE-EXISTING DISEASES

32. HAPPY JOB HUNTING
Anupam.Kaushal@indianXchange.com +919871088554