5 Things to do in online job search

On 6th Jan 2009, when I went to my office our team was asked to attend a "communications meeting". Soon after the meeting started we were shocked to hear "due to economic slowdown in the US company has temporarily decided to close down our project" and we were asked to resign immediately. Though this is very common in companies from western world, it was a unbearable shock for me and my team. Despite some shock I was confident that I would get a job easily, since I was productive at my work most times. I kept my wife informed about this and she had confidence on my skills and hard work to get employed soon. When I decided to look for openings in a job portal I did realize that the number of openings have drastically come down, may be its because of the slow down. I sensed a mild heat!!! But still I said to myself, "yeah, though supply is more and demand is less we can get it if we keep searching deeper". Also I kept on clicking "Apply for this position" button in almost every alternate ad. I was almost convinced that someone will call me. To my surprise even my friends didn't call me. Couple of days later, I was watching a flash news on the TV which said "Satyam - Indian Enron" and Ramalinga Raju resigned due to their scam. My lovable job site jammed due to the several thousands of Satyam employees flooding the site. Again... too much supply and too little demand. I am gone !!!

For several weeks I wasn't getting any calls, and found that something is wrong with my resume. I spoke to some of friends who were employed as HR professionals on how they search and screen candidates. One of my friend helped me in explaining all. Then I found some ideas... slowly I started implementing my great discoveries and saw some success. I continued that and at last despite the slowdown, too much supply-too little demand, entire satyam jamming the job portals, I manage to get some calls and employed by one company (though the salary was way less than what I was getting). Over a period of time I was picked up for a profile which was dream job for me.

What are those strategies I implemented for a successful job hunt? I have made a short one page resource document with those 5 Things I did for a successful job search. If you are interested please download "5 Things to do in online job search"

Please do not forget to comment on it.

A typical medical rep's dilemma - Company or Colleague?? --- react or regret??

I met a friend of mine who works for a pharmaceutical company as a field executive.He is working in the company for several years and has always contributed significantly. He was flexible enough to take new challenges; in fact he was transferred to places to establish some of the products. He has a very typical problem now.

After putting several years of experience in an executive position, he is now awaiting for a managerial position. There are few front runners for that position within his company. Few months back he discovered that one of his colleagues (competing for the same position) is reporting false. And this is happening for some time.

My friend is aware that “reporting false” is an intolerable pharmaceutical industry so he talked about this issue to his manager then, but to his surprise none listen and he was told “you need maturity to handle such type of issue”. Increasingly my friend notices his manager’s bias towards this colleague.

He is in a dilemma now, taking this issue to senior management provides some window of opportunity to get the problem fixed, on the other hand taking this issue can permanently damage his relationship with his colleague and manager. In addition, though taking this issue provides a chance of my friend being considered for promotion, yet he doubts the senior management may also not listen to him and brand him permanently as “immature guy”.

This is a typical situation in pharma industry where almost all reps at some point would undergo such situation, Even I did!!!

I provided some solutions to my friend, but he looks unconvinced. Can you provide a solution?

Apollo Hospitals... touching lives - But not Medical Reps Lives....

நித்திய கண்டம் பூரண ஆயுசு !!!

On a Summer Saturday, at 7 am in the morning I woke up to the noise of my mobile alarm. I noticed "Get sticker from Apollo" reminder before I tried snoozing, my heart sucked whole of my blood and pumped it in one go! what a heavy blow it was.... I have to quickly say bye to my dreams, picked up my toothbrush and was pushing out my human waste with a feeling that "Ah! today is the last working for the week, tomorrow is Sunday" at last the day has arrived. But still the morning shock lingering in my mind and have to quickly wash myself. 


Once again my mobile sounded - this time "My boss"; Thank god! I have a quick brain which helps me to prepare a list of lies which I need to give it as an answer to my boss's questions. 


Boss: Where are you working today? (as if he doesn't know... as usual )
Myself : Apollo !
Boss : Did you collect your "pass"?
Myself : Sir, I am getting ready and Will reach there in another half hour.
Boss : Dont you get up early and collect it? I dont think you are going to get into Apollo today.
Myself : Last week I went the same time and got it, remember you came with me for work.
Boss: You were lucky last week, But today I dont think so.
Myself: Sorry sir, Hence forth I'l get up early and collect it (usual answer)
Boss: This is an irresponsible answer, when I am asking you today!!! you are telling me you will do it next time. If you aren't interested in this job you can look for something...... (then started a long long long lecture) "When I was a medical rep......!!!!@@@##$$$%$%%%%%^^&&**......."
At last "OK, I am working with you today at Apollo".... Collect the pass for you and 1 for me and I will call you once you come there.
Myself : Yes Sir!
(Total call duration: 22min)
I could've as well slept for another half an hour peacefully and started for work, if the mobile phone was not invented.


Within 30 min I reached the hospital and it was 9 in the morning, I started looking far from distance for a slot to park my bike like looking for water in a dessert. Oh god! I have passed at least 100 bikes, but not even a single spot for me. I told to my mind, "I think my boss is right, I should keep my alarm 30min before the usual time... may be then I will get a parking slot" By now I have come to the place where I parked my bike last time, but surprised with a whistle sound and turned back to hear the security telling "Parking Full"... Then I moved.. moved and moved to 3 different streets and finally got a slot between two cars.


I ran up to the security office to notice a very long queue with at least 70 people before me and joined it. Within a moment I felt happy when i saw another rep joining the queue behind me, "If I dont get the pass, I am not alone", I noticed another smiling guy coming with sticker pasted on his shirt, and I was training my eyes to read the number in the pass, and noticed 52. "Shit !! How come these guys have so much energy to come in the morning and collect the pass, they must be really crazy"


Finally at 10, I got a pass for me and for my boss ! I called him to convey the happy news, as if I am blessed with a baby girl!!! But there picked a lady and said "Hello..."! for a moment I was checking whether I dialed correct? and realized it is his wife, who said "Sir is taking bath and I will ask him to call you". I was terribly pissed off!! This  bugger was telling me a long story "When I was a medical rep....!!@@##..." in the morning but now just taking bath. Then I was preparing my own story to tell to someone like me when an unfortunate day comes to as a manager"


I wanted to keep my bag at one of the doctor who will meet early in the day but the security at the entrance blocked my way and said "Medical rep allowed only after 11" ..... in my mind "Why the hell, you issue pass so early then" but I cannot ask him, otherwise he will not allow me even after 11 :( 


I then went to an usual tea shop to see all my competitors and competitor's competitors have a tea !! and started usual stories.... Finally it was 11 and everyone rushed. I reached the doctor and notice I am the devil number 13 in the list. Lucky I dont have to stand in the queue, this time its my bag....! kept the bag and sat on the chair to receive a call from my boss. "I will be coming in another half an hour and call you, you can come out to give me a pass"


It took 1hr to get the next chance to see the doctor, still waiting for my boss, finally my customer call count started for the day when I entered into the doctor's chamber and said "Very Good Morning Doctor..." and there vibrated my mobile..... I know its my boss... I am inside the customer's place and I cant answer him. This doctor asked "What happen to the CSI sponsorship?" any news...? Sir, I have proposed only your name to be sponsored from my territory" ... I answered.


"OK, if you are not taking care of it.. your competitor has already approached me" doctor responded.
"No sir, Give me one week I will confirm it. Sir, you are very important customer for us and we will take care".... before even taking up the marketing collateral, he said " I know about all your products... dont worry" and said "next"... at least I know its time I should get get out.


Then I came out with a confused face and noticed my boss's 2 missed calls. When I reached him back, he said "did you meet the Dr.---?, I said the truth "YES" ... a quick reponse from him.....Oh god! we need to get a his signature and that is why I am coming there. Again started blaming me... "you are not communicating properly.... your communication is poor.....!!.. and lecture again, this time he was driving with his hands free. He reached Apollo before finishing the gyann....and said "come down".... I went  down and waited for him for 15 min (may be he is also finding difficult with parking). I was terribly angry he had spoke to me two times before this since morning but failed to communicate and he finds fault in my communication... what to do... boss is never wrong!!!


So far its really good.... yes.. this is an usual day for a medical rep working in chennai at Apollo Hospitals. But the hell starts from here !!!