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Life at Start-ups Vs. Life at MNCs: Know What Suits You and Why

A start-up or an MNC – which one to choose and why, is a death-knell question for most freshers. For this, you need to segregate the pros and cons of start-ups and MNCs, and also analyze the situation to take the most appropriate decision.

Remuneration

This is undoubtedly one of the main and bitter differences between an MNC and a start-up. Funded or non-funded, start-ups pay relatively less. MNCs are well-known and well-established with a reliable investor base, and offer fairly good pay packages.

Skills and Experience

In an MNC, you are assigned a particular project and module, which you may or may not find interest in. Your skills and experience are restricted to a certain area of the process.

In a start-up, you have to do most of the work yourself – planning, requirement analysis, design and development, etc. Thus, your skills increase manifold, you are knowledgeable about every phase of the business, and you have thrice the practical experience of a peer who is in an MNC.

Growth

MNCs offer considerable growth – designation-wise, financially, and to learn current methodologies. With a start-up, you grow as a complete professional – you learn the value of capital, human resources, hands-on skills, and end-to-end work experience.

Thus, MNCs offer lucrative professional growth, while start-ups offer personal and professional growth.

Facilities and Environment

MNCs have brilliant infrastructure, latest software, state-of-the-art tools and techniques, and training programs. The environment is strict, formal, and professional, and there is less camaraderie between employees.

Start-ups have smaller office spaces, basic software, no personal training, and limited facilities, overall. The atmosphere too, is casual in terms of dressing, behavior, and etiquette. There is a familiarity and friendship between all the employees, including the founders.

Working Style

Most MNCs have a fixed style and time of working, unless you are at the top management level and need to brainstorm ideas. For most employees, MNCs offer a 9 to 6 comfort.

For start-ups, every employee has to work impossible hours – at 4 in the morning or 7 in the evening. You have to manage everything yourself; there is no strong shoulder to lean on which is why, you must join a start-up if you are genuinely interested in the work, want to experiment, with not many personal liabilities.

Market Value

MNCs are reputed and famous – they have a brand value and recognition in the market. Working in an MNC gives you an edge, especially during a job change or recession.

Start-ups are unknown, at least in the early stages, since marketing funds are put on the back burner until projects are sorted out. If you quit a start-up, most companies in the market would be unwilling to hire you; your skills have no recognized value, there is less trust factor, and less credibility.

The Much-needed Perks

MNCs offer numerous perks – travel, food, on-site opportunities, foreign trips, global exposure, medical insurance, support for certifications, course funding, ESOP, etc.

Start-ups hardly offer any of these perks, however, the ESOP plan benefits start-ups more in the future – if the company advances at a rapid level, you, as an initial shareholder, will receive more stock options than others who will join the company later.

Job Security

If there are any glitches in the work process or projects in an MNC, you will not be kicked out of your job (unless you are on the bench or are totally unskilled). There is enough job security, you have someone strong to lean on, and experienced professionals who will guide you.

But, if a start-up fails, you lose your job altogether. You do not have any reliable senior to turn to for advice. There may be no PF or any other plan, and there is no guarantee that you’ll find a job immediately.

Whether to prefer a start-up or an MNC is purely a matter of perspective. It would be prudent to state that a start-up is an ideal option for people who are not very finicky about excellent remuneration and myriad perks in the beginning of their career, and instead are open to learning technologies and gaining experience at the grass-root level.

On the contrary, an MNC is a good choice for those who are interested in learning particular tools under an experienced wing, those who have to shoulder a huge responsibility, or the ones, who, if given a choice, would prefer to follow than to lead.

10 Thoughts People Have on Their Daily Commute to Work

What does the daily commute to your workplace mean to you? Is it a great time for relaxing or is it the time when you feel like you are losing your soul, everyday? These are 10 struggles and thoughts of people who commute daily to work.

You know the rainy season has arrived, as you take a look at the overcast sky, and diligently carry your umbrella to work everyday. But somehow, it never really rains. Then, one fine day, you see that the rain clouds have disappeared, and you leave your umbrella at home.

However, within ten minutes of you starting your journey, it starts pouring cats and dogs. As you get drenched, you can literally imagine the rain gods laughing at you. Mwahahaha!

After struggling to get to the ticket counter, suddenly seeing that the train/bus fare has been hiked, will really piss you off. You wonder what can justify this, as the bus/train is just as dirty and smelly, and there has been no improvement at all to the journey. In your eyes, there can be no bigger crime than this.

You get on to the train, and everyone scrambles for a seat. At the time, the satisfaction of managing to capture a seat after all that pushing and shoving seems equal to summiting Mt. Everest.

Newbies experience failure a lot more, and it takes a great deal of experience before you gain the skills to raise the probability of finding a place to rest you rear end. Maybe, they should create diploma courses for this stuff.

You’ve painstakingly found a seat, and are feeling good about yourself, when you realize that the person next to you wants to make conversation. You try to subtly signal that you aren’t interested, by taking out your headphones, and giving short, snippy answers, but they just don’t get it.

You’re sure that you don’t know them, and you don’t want to either. But, by the time you reach your destination, you have enough information to write their biography.

You are unfortunate enough to be standing in a bus that is so full, that ‘sardines in a can’ seems like an understatement, or you have a seat, but someone thinks of your shoulder as a headrest.

Either way, conditions are appalling with every sneeze and fart, and your standards for personal hygiene are pushed to the limit, as every second of travel seems like an hour. Once you are at your destination, you just can’t wait to get out of that torturous contraption fast enough.

One can find people doing the weirdest things on trains and buses, right from applying make up to clipping their nails. You’d run a mile away if you could, but how are you ever going to unsee that? Pills to wipe memories is a real necessity.

In the stressful environment of a crowded bus/train, the last thing anyone needs is person who is talking on the phone at the top of their voice. This is especially a problem when the talker is a lady whose voice can break glass. You and every other passenger end up staring at each other, wondering who will have the guts to tell that idiot to keep it down.

This is always a worry when you are standing in a crowded bus or train, near the entrance. Whenever the train stops, you have people desperately pushing to get in or get out, often taking you along for the ride.

But because the train stops for very short periods, you are always panicking that you might not be able to get back on, or get off the train when your stop actually comes.

The stress on crammed transportation is always very high, but some people take your discomfort to a whole new level. You awkwardly try to look away from the heavy duty PDA going on in front of you, but the horribly loud kissy sounds are really hard to block out.

The situation gets even more awkward and a little funny, when there are tiny kids who are staring, like it’s the most fascinating thing they’ve ever seen.

After endless meetings, submissions, and targets, you have finally reached the end of the day. All you want to do is get home and have a good meal, watch your favorite show, or read a book, before settling down for the night.

But as always, you are stuck in traffic with other equally pissed-off travelers, and you know that there is enough stress and rage here to set off ten atomic bombs. Maybe, that would be for the best. At least you would be put out of this misery.

5 Challenges Faced By Interns And Advice on How to Deal With Them

With the number of students vying for internships increasing every year, it has become one of the most difficult jobs to land. It’s almost customary to go through an unpaid internship to get a paid internship, and the meager stipend is nothing to brag about. If you are lucky enough to land one of these internships, your battle begins. The lessons you learn here are going to be about how to survive in a corporate environment, more than your job.

Most interns are not paid or trained for the roles they are to fulfill. If the intern is to perform the role of a regular employee, this is illegal according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, 2010).

Less work doesn’t only mean the quantity of work you are assigned, but also the nature of work. Interns are frequently used as administrative assistants, and are given mundane jobs around the office. So, you aren’t getting paid and aren’t getting the work experience you expected either.
Solution: Finish your mundane tasks ASAP, and try to find a task that you enjoy. Finding a task may not be easy, and may require you to build rapport with someone from the department you are interested in.

At times, you may find that you don’t know a few aspects of the job. The question is whether to ask your boss for answers, or to figure it out on your own.
Solution: Try to find a solution on your own. Check the Internet, refer to any guidelines provided by the company, ask your peers, and finally approach your supervisor. Ensure you have a list of all the questions at hand, and suggest solutions. Avoid asking the same question twice. If needed, make a note of the solution.

At first, it may seem like you don’t get along with your boss, or maybe even your peers. Very often, an intern is seen as a temporary employee, and may not be given the appropriate attention.
Solution: Find out the best way to interact with your boss and peers on a personal level. An easy way to do this is to take a break or have a meal together. When talking about work, convey how you can contribute. This would portray an image of someone who wants to be a productive member of the team.

Once your task is complete, your work may not be used. The project may have been canceled, or it may simply be overlooked as inferior quality.
Solution: No work completed is ever a waste of time. Whether your company uses it or not, you can. It can be added to your resume. You can publish it online. Maintain a list of tasks completed and corporate fundamentals learned, even something as small as participation in a project. This will help when you interview for a real job.

After college, where you woke up late and attended a few classes, work, even as an intern can turn your life upside down. After being at work nine to five, you may find yourself going home, eating, showering, and sleeping.
Solution: Do not get into a routine without any excitement. Find a hobby you can pursue, or join colleagues to socialize after work (this would be a great time to build relationships).

Advantages And Disadvantages of Being an Air Hostess You MUST Know

Like any other job, the job of a flight attendant too, has its own pros and cons. The good things about being an air hostess are that you get to travel the world, meet new people, and gain exposure to different cultures. But the job of flight attendants is equally challenging as it requires working at odd hours and being patient and hospitable at all times.

Did You Know?

The world’s first male flight attendant was Heinrich Kubis and the first female flight attendant was a nurse called Ellen Church.

An air hostess is a female flight attendant who works for an airline. She is a part of the cabin crew and responsible for the safety and comfort of the passengers in flight. Her responsibilities include serving food and drinks, assisting sick passengers by seeing that emergency equipment is available, and ensuring that passengers are abiding by the airline safety rules. She also checks passengers’ tickets or boarding passes, guides them to their seats, and helps them find places to keep their luggage. She needs to comfort the passengers who are afraid of flying. In cases of emergency, she provides them with safety information and may even look after evacuation arrangements.

The job of an air hostess is considered glamorous. It is definitely an interesting job as one travels to many places and meets different people, but there is also lot of physical and mental stress involved.

The Fun Side

The job of an air hostess is prestigious and well-paid.

There is an opportunity to fly around the world and one gets to see some beautiful and exotic places where one can also spend some days at expensive hotels.

Meeting different people is a wonderful experience. One gets to meet interesting passengers.

One has the opportunity to improve one’s social skills and become an excellent team player.

One has to be patient and tolerant with the different types of people and understand the needs of people of different ages. This makes one more accommodating and understanding of people in general.

Traveling to different places and having an exposure to different cultures, helps increase one’s general knowledge and awareness.

Air hostesses working with international airlines have the chance to visit and explore foreign countries. Domestic airlines provide fewer opportunities to do so. However, starting to work with a smaller airline will train one and provide the skills necessary to increase one’s chances of working with a bigger company.

There are rewards for flight attendants when on a holiday. However, they vary between airlines. Many airlines provide air travel for free.

There are discounts or free tickets for immediate family members of the air hostesses, and the expenses for food, lodging and transportation are less.

Many airlines offer health care coverage for flight attendants who work in a full-time capacity, which includes vision insurance, dental insurance and many others. Many others provide a retirement savings plan or a profit-sharing program.

The Not So Fun Side

An air hostess experiences a lot of physical stress due to standing for a long time. She has to be on her toes throughout the journey, as the job responsibilities include assisting passengers to find their seats, informing them about safety rules, serving them food and drinks, retrieving bags or other items for passengers and so on. There is hardly any time to relax.

One has to work for long and odd hours, as long as 12 or 14 hours in a single shift. There is tremendous pressure and exhaustion due to lack of sleep and rest. One has to conform to a new schedule after every few months. Flight attendants can be called for work at any time; it may be early in the morning or very late at night.

One may require to work on weekends and even on holidays, which means one may miss birthdays, anniversaries, festivals, or other occasions to celebrate.

Due to the hectic work schedule, there is less time to spend with family and close friends.

An air hostess needs to look pleasant and cheerful at all times, no matter what amount of stress she is dealing with. She has to remain calm and patient under all circumstances.

An air hostess may come across ill-tempered and annoying passengers and have to manage them. She may have to listen to blames for delays, for the food, or other complaints from passengers but deal with them patiently.

The plenty of traveling and having no fixed routine can be very disorienting. It can take a toll on one’s health.

How to Identify and Deal with a Sycophant at Work

A sycophant is someone who flatters a higher authority in a rather insincere and fake manner and uses them to get his own work done. This Workspirited article will tell you how to identify and deal with a sycophant at work.

Quick Info
The word ‘sycophant’ apparently has its roots in Ancient Greece, the meaning of the word, back then, could be loosely construed as something like an informer. As of today, in English, a sycophant is a person who uses excess flattery for personal gains.

They are the so-called brown-nosers, who will try every possible way to get their job done without any concern or courtesy as to who is affected in the process or without bothering about the consequences of their actions. There are many kinds of employees that you may come across at the workplace, and sycophants are one of them. They will insincerely flatter a person of higher authority, nag them to no end, bully juniors, and do whatever they can, for personal gain.

This attitude can be venomous and can pollute the work environment. You need to deal with sycophants in a diplomatic way, whether they are your juniors or your co-workers. The paragraphs below enlist the characteristics of a sycophant so that you can identify one if you come across him/her at the workplace, and also provides some tips on how to deal with brown-nosers at work.

Characteristics of a Sycophant

Excessively Sweet

• This is one of the classic traits of a sycophant. He talks very sweetly, to the point of spreading diabetes (literally).
• Of course, they are least interested in knowing or caring about you. All they want is authority since they don’t have any.
• They probably presume that by displaying this attitude, you are left with a feeling of obligation.
• This extra sweet behavior gives them an edge that they are better than everyone else, and that their demands must be fulfilled first.

Unnecessarily Talkative

• We all love to talk, of course, and it is rather important to be communicate and let your voice be heard at the workplace so that you are not considered a wallflower.
• But this kind of talking comprises sensible, intellectual stuff. If you’ve come across as a person who unnecessarily blabbers just to grab attention, it is a sure indication of a sycophant.
• They may be loud enough for the entire department to hear them. The objective of all this is to make their presence felt, to indicate that they are one of the outgoing, cool personalities who deserves attention.
• Perhaps this never occurs to them that they might as well concentrate on their work to gain brownie points. All they do is talk―no, blabber. Incessantly.

Spreads Rumors

• Another classic trait of these butt-kissers is gossip. Oh .. they so love to gossip and spread rumors.
• You would immediately identify a sycophant if you find out that unnecessary rumors have been spreading at work.
• They are possessed with the dirty habit of digging out the most personal information, twisting facts, and spreading them across like wildfire.
• There is no limit to how low they will sink, these people will do anything to work their way to their benefit.

The Loyalty Factor

• Oh no, they are not loyal. Not in the least.
• But yes, they will put on a loyal face when they want their job to be done. If you are useful to them in any way, you’ll find them shielding you at every point, jumping in for you, protecting you.
• Once their job is done, it’s goodbye. Worse still, if they find out that you are not useful to them, they will dump you like a hot potato.
• If you are their boss/employer, be sure that they will continue licking your boots until you are in-charge. If not, it’s an arrivederci.

The Abusive Tone

• If you encounter someone who is irritatingly abusive, you have a goddamn maniac sycophant in your hands.
• This especially occurs in the mid-level management department of the corporate scenario, where managers actually have near-to-zero capabilities to run the organization.
• Yet, they will try to control the department, abuse juniors, and create a poisonous environment to establish their authority.
• Their pompous attitude towards subordinates and buttering up the seniors is nerve-wracking.

Wreaking Damage

• These ass-kissers are known for sabotaging their colleagues.
• That is to say, they will create circumstances wherein the office cannot function without them, and thus, they establish their position of control.
• They may not convey important messages, destroy important papers/documents, or do whatever it takes to wreak havoc on their colleagues to get themselves in a better position.

How to Deal with Sycophants?

Evoke Reactions

• Whether you are a co-worker or an employer, try to create situations that evoke reactions in them.
• Let’s say, for instance, at an office meeting, suggest some lame ideas and check for their reaction.
• A sincere/timid employee may agree to what you say, for fear of rejecting the boss/co-worker’s opinion.
• A self-assured employee will put forth his honest views.
• As for the sycophant, he will agree with whatever you say. What’s more, he will appreciate you to no end.
• When you begin to identify this, speak up. Specify that you need honest opinions, not flattery.
• Make it clear that you despise the ‘Yes Sir’ attitude.

Stay Alert

• Tread very cautiously with the employees whom you suspect to be sycophants.
• Don’t fall victim to their gossip or flattery. These douchebags will do anything to take advantage of you.
• Be very careful while talking to them. If they annoy you, do not flare up, because it is not going to solve anything.
• Keep calm, take deep breaths, and quietly go about your work.

Periodic Assessment

• Conduct periodic assessment and review tests to examine your employees.
• Your employees reactions and answers will give you a good idea as to what the sycophant among them is up to.
• Next, give him certain projects or tasks that require him to genuinely use his skills without any flattery or help from others.
• Eventually, he will begin to understand that his agenda is not going to work.

Establish Rules

• As an employer, you have an edge over your employees.
• Lay down firm ground rules regarding employee behavior, appearance, speech, communication, etc.
• Mention that flattering seniors or exhibiting any kind of selfish attitude will be dealt with sternly and might lead to loss of reputation.

Be Straightforward

• Sometimes, it is necessary to be upfront. If you find someone buttering up to you for their benefit, be forthright and direct.
• Communicate clearly that you will not tolerate this kind of behavior.

Investigate

• Suppose that you have joined as a new manager and you have no idea if the employee is obsequious, investigate.
• Sometimes, it may so happen that the employee is not a sycophant, but is merely trying to impress you to feel better about himself.
• Speak to your seniors and your peers and ascertain if the employee is a sycophant.
• If he irritates you excessively or flatters you in a honeyed voice, complain to your seniors or deal with the employee in a diplomatic manner.

While trying to avoid sycophants, it is important that you don’t get embroiled in the situation such that you do not begin to think the same way. Such an attitude is cheap and disgusting, not just for you, but also the organization. Keep calm and plan a strategy to get such people realize that their attitude is intolerable.

20 Types of Coworkers We All Have in Every Office

When you work in a corporate you are bound to be surrounded by many types of people. The people you work with have the ability to influence, inspire, and even annoy you at times. Here are the different types of coworkers we have in office.

Did You Know?

According to the research done by Globoforce, 78 percent of the people working for 30 to 50 hours a week, spend more time with their coworkers than with their families.

We all work around people everyday; in fact, we spend more time with our colleagues than with our family. Working too long in an organization means you get to learn about each and every coworker’s own little quirks. There are different species of coworkers that you may find around you.

So what kind of fellow workers are you surrounded by? You must have seen some good listeners, you might have seen someone who never stops complaining, and you may have come across a natural leader.

When working, you are bound to meet all kinds of people; some weird, some funny, some friendly, some jealous, and many more. We have come up with a list of some of the common types of coworkers most of us find at the workplace.

Types of Coworkers

The Friend

People of this type are friendly and helpful. It is nice to have them around, as they are very supportive and motivating. Most of us meet at least one colleague who becomes our friend.

Hanging out with him makes you happy, taking his help makes difficult assignments easier, and talking to him after a bad day at work is comforting. He is someone you can rely on.

The ‘I am So Funny’ Person

People of this type love to crack dumb and boring jokes, and think they are very good at it. They are obsessed with their own jokes and want people to appreciate their sense of humor. Some of their jokes could be funny but they distract you from work. Unfortunately, they don’t get caught goofing off even if the Big Guy is around.

The Complainer

They don’t care if the job is too small or too big, they just need something to whine about. Whether it’s their personal lives or professional. They are bound to pick something and constantly complain about it.

They express displeasure when they have less work and they are unhappy when they have too much of it. Nothing in their life ever works out and they love to crib about everything.

Those who Never get Promoted

They work hard, are the first ones to enter office and the last ones to leave. And their hard work pays off when their boss promotes someone else. The boss remains oblivious to their hard work and someone else gets all the credit. They are heart-broken and feel bitter.

The Bully

It’s common to encounter a bully during your high school or college. Well, you have this kind of people in office too. They act as if they are your boss, even if you both are on the same designation. They leave no stone unturned when it comes to insulting you or belittling you at every team conference. They want to rule you or maybe your entire team.

In Constant Discussion on Pets/Kids

It’s fine to hear stories of their kids or pets once in a while. But coworkers of this type never stop discussing them with you. The moment you meet them, they start bragging about their kids or telling you how they trained their pet

It gets annoying when the same kind of stories about their kids or pets become a daily routine, and when they talk about these for hours.

Those who Don’t Take Leaves

There are some people in office who never take a leave. Maybe they love their work, or maybe they have nothing else to do. They take their work a bit too seriously, and do not miss even one day. Remaining absent is a crime for them, and they like to brag about the fact that they have never missed work.

The Control Maniac

They love to control each and everything right from how a pen should be placed in the stand to how the work should be done. Don’t be surprised if you find them giving their opinions to any and everyone around them. They specialize in giving their opinions on each and everything and also make sure that everyone follows them.

Those who Seldom Turn Up

Coworkers of this species come to work only once or twice a week, and enjoy more leaves than the ones they are entitled to. They may come one day and then disappear for the rest of the week.

Sometimes their leave period stretches so long that you think they have been sacked or have resigned. And the next day, they suddenly turn up. Perhaps, they are very casual about their job and take it for granted.

The Frenemy

They are the ones who pretend to be your friend, assure you that your secret is safe with them, but they turn out to be worse than your enemies. They may be sweet to you on the face, but they are the first to backstab you.

You discuss an awesome idea with them, only to find that they have stolen it and projected it as their own. They are jealous of you and see you as a threat, which is why they try to make you look bad.

Those who Never Follow Rules

There are people who feel that the rules laid out by the organization do not apply to them. They reach late to office or leave before time. They use their phone too often or extend their breaks. They don’t follow deadlines and they seldom attend meetings.

The Thief

They don’t get their own stuff and like to borrow from others. And if you lend them something, you may never get it back. They steal office stationery and other supplies. They use the organization’s possessions as their own. You may find some who steal even toilet paper or coffee. And in extreme cases, you may find those who steal your money.

The Hero

They work really hard for the betterment of the organization. They stay back, and put in their best to fetch excellent results. They are dedicated and productive. We may admire them or envy them for this, but once in a while, we get bored of these “heroes”, especially when our superiors compare us with them.

Dead Weight

They are a bunch of unenthusiastic people who are not interested in participating in any activity. When working with them, only you are needed to do all the work. They don’t show the desire to do anything and work only for the paycheck. They won’t do anything extra for the organization.

The Perfectionist

It’s quite common to see at least one coworker who belongs to this category. They aim at achieving perfection in every given task.

They like to do things their own way and ignore the alternatives suggested by others. They are pretty controlling and dominating. They always have the urge to go through even the tiniest of details, which can be tiresome for the team members.

The Drama Queen

They are deluded by the notion that the world is out to get them. Even though the upper management delegates responsibilities equally to all the coworkers, they always feel that their superior is being partial. They respond to such or any other situations for that matter, in the most melodramatic ways.

The Flirt

Fellow workers of this type try their luck on everybody in the office, irrespective of whether they are married or not. They may seem to be doing you favors or complimenting you on every little thing of yours. But mind well, they are doing the same to many others.

The Boasting Kind

They love to tell the whole office about their accomplishments; personal or professional. If you have not started working on your project, too bad! Mr. boaster has already finished his. They boast about their ideas and about how the boss always appreciates their effort and work.

The Brown Noser

There are some people who get promoted due to their hard and diligent work. But there are some who are promoted because they suck up to their boss to gain favors.

They believe in getting ahead, not on the basis of their talent or sincerity, but by flattering their boss. Running behind their superior, or listening to whatever he says, interests them more than the actual work they have been assigned.

The ChatterBox

Whenever you pass through the hallway or the pantry, you always dread to see that one person who takes all your time with endless chatter. They engage you in conversation for a really long time and you can’t help but stand there and listen to their nonsense.

We are sure, you have seen at least some of these coworker types in office. Do let us know if you have met someone who belongs to a type other than those mentioned here.

Funny Things People Put on Their Resume

The ultimate goal of building a resume is to highlight your body of work in order to outsmart prospective candidates for the job you are seeking. However, it is regrettable, or should we say funny, when slip-ups happen in the final draft. CareerStint has compiled some of the very funny resume examples.

Bull’s Eye!

Being creative with your resume is welcome to recruiters, but be wary of crossing the line between being creative and outrageous. We understand when job seekers want their first impression to be a good one so as to stand out. In order to achieve that, you obviously don’t wish to stand out by writing a few funny lines. We still understand those careless typos and misspellings, but weird and wacky lines? Alas! You are shaping the wrong impression on exactly the wrong people!

So, it is true that people do include ridiculous things in their CV, some which are downright hysterical and draw a chuckle among recruiting managers. But why should only they have all the fun? Now, crack up every time you see this list of bloopers that people manage to include in their resume, some brilliant and the others, purely devastating!

Classic CV faux pas – ROFL guys!

Objectives

If these are the kind of objectives that people take pains to write, why write them at all! We listed out a few examples of objectives that will earn an eye roll for sure.

✦ “Objection (oops!): To utilize my skills in sales.”
✦ “I am anxious to use my exiting skills.”
✦ “To hopefully associate with a millionaire one day.”
✦ To have my skills and ethics challenged on a daily basis.

Work Experience

When you get limited space to highlight your work experience, you definitely want to cover all of it. But here some gaffes included by people who seemed oblivious and just didn’t care. Here are some out-of-the-ordinary examples.

✦ “Filing, billing, printing and coping.”
✦ “Demonstrated ability in multi-tasting.”
✦ “Dealing with customers’ conflicts that arouse.”
✦ “Child care provider, organized activities; prepared lunches and snakes.”

Achievements

Now, coming to think of it, how hard is it to focus on the achievements section in the CV? Not at all! But some people haven’t spared this section too! Here are some funny mentions.
✦ “I came first in the school long distance race.”
✦ “National record for eating 23 pancakes in 2 minutes.”
✦ “Planned building of new building at £2.5 million over budget.”
✦ “Successfully played “Chop Sticks” on a toy piano with my big toes.”

Skills

There are skills that are worth a mention on the resume, but some choose to be ‘creative’ here too. Time for another laugh riot!

✦ “Perfectionist with a keen I for details.”
✦ “Being bilingual in 3 languages.”
✦ “Very experienced with out-house computers.”
✦ Special Skills – “Speak English.”
✦ “I have technical skills that will take your breath away.”
✦ “I can type without looking at the keyboard.”

Hobbies

Hobbies make an instant connection with recruiters but here are some examples that can backfire on a resume. We wonder what might have ensued if these applicants were hired! Lol!

✦ “Enjoy cooking Chinese and Italians.”
✦ “Marital Arts” (perhaps meant martial arts?)
✦ “After work, skydiving, rock climing, bungee jumping, animation, RC airplanes”
✦ “Painting my toenails in varying colors.”
✦ ” Sleeping, etc., etc.”
✦ “I like to workout in my free time. I enjoy listening to music. I love to shopping in new places.”
✦ “Having a good time”

Strengths

Well, well, these examples simply do the talking!

✦ “Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining composer.”
✦ “Outstanding worker; flexible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
✦ “Work well as a team or one on one (wink, wink).”
✦ “I perform my job with effortless efficiency, effectiveness, efficacy, and expertise.”

RIDICULOUS RESUME QUOTATIONS – It couldn’t get any better!

✦ “Excellent memory; strong math aptitude; excellent memory; effective management skills; and very good at math.”
✦ “Served as assistant sore manager.”
✦ “Graduated in the top 66% of my class.”
✦ “I love dancing and throwing parties.”
✦ “You will want me to be Head Honcho in no time.”
✦ “I am a rabid typist.”
✦ “Worked in a consulting office where I carried out my own accountant.”
✦ “Revolved customer problems and inquiries.”
✦ “Able to say the ABCs backward in under five seconds.”
✦ “I often use a laptap.”
✦ “Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year.”
✦ “Seek challenges that test my mind and body, since the two are usually inseparable.”
✦ “Excellent composer of song lyrics.”
✦ “Love, love, love doing body shots.”
✦ “I am sicking and entry-level position.”
✦ “Here are my qualifications for you to overlook.”
✦ “Spent several years in the United States Navel Reserve.”
✦ “Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave.”
✦ References: “Bill, Tom, Eric. But I don’t know their phone numbers.”
The last and the best: “Let’s meet, so you can ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over my experience.”

There are tons of ways to make a favorable first impression, and as we have seen above, several ways to make you look bad. Get opinions from people before you ready the final draft of your resume. Don’t stand out for your weirdness; stand out for your excellence!

How to Become a Restaurant Secret Shopper

Secret shopping is one of the many tools used by companies for market research. The main aim of secret shopping is to better customer service and improve product/service quality. This CareerStint article will tell you how to become a restaurant secret shopper.

Things You Must Know

1. Payment depends on how you perform.
2. Legitimate companies do not ask for a fee.
3. You have to manage the taxes.

Secret shopping, or mystery shopping as it is popularly called, is a widely-used technique by companies to analyze their products and services from a neutral perspective. A business hires mystery shoppers from market research or secret shopping companies to pose as regular customers and use their product.

However, the service providing company may not be aware when and how they are being tested. The shoppers submit reviews back to the company that hired them. In the paragraphs below, you will learn how to become a mystery shopper for restaurants.

• Many are aware of secret shopping, many are not, while there are a significant few who have not understood the term completely.
• It is basically a tool used by companies since a very long time, to help them improve their customer service.
• This is how it works: there are two entities to be considered here – the mystery shopping company and the actual business/company.
• The latter hires the former to test their product and submit a review.
• For example, consider a restaurant. In this case, the restaurant owner will hire a secret shopping company. This company will send secret shoppers to pose as a regular customer and visit that particular restaurant.
• The customer is given instructions regarding what he needs to do, i.e., how he needs to behave, what he needs to observe, etc.
• The customer notices and observes everything. The restaurant staff will not be aware though, that this customer is indeed, a secret shopper.
• Later, the customer writes a feedback and submits the same to the secret shopping company, and they in turn submit the review to the restaurant owner.
• If the reviews are fairly good, the owner will work on maintaining them. If the review is bad, he will work on improving the service.
• The hospitality industry, restaurants, convenience stores, department stores, hotels, car dealerships, amusement parks, theaters, clothing stores, cruise lines, gas stations, etc., hire potential mystery shoppers.

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Exceptional observation powers
• Sharp memory
• Attention to detail
• Presence of mind
• Very good written and oral communication skills
• Access to a camera, mobile phone, and a laptop with internet access
• Good time management

• To avoid unnecessary complications, conduct a thorough research. There are lots of scams out there; many companies pose as mystery shopping websites and try to extract money from aspiring shoppers.
• To begin with, understand that no company will ask you any kind of payment to join them – no registration fees or training fee or anything.
• Also, understand that you are an independent contractor. You will not receive any employee benefits, except for travel expenses, when you review for big hotels. Otherwise, you are virtually working per assignment, and you have to fill out the taxes yourself.
• Also, sign up with as many companies as you can. There is no rule that you have to work only for one company. Of course, if and when your annual income exceeds the limit, you have to dutifully fill out the tax forms and submit them to the IRS, but meanwhile, you need not restrict yourself to just one company.
• Also, keep this job as a second source of income. You may not be paid much if you are a fresher. There is no stability or security in his job.
• While undertaking research, make sure the company is a member of the National Association for Retail Marketing Services (NARMS), the Independent Mystery Shoppers’ Coalition (IMSC), Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), or the International Association of Service Evaluators (IASE).

Next, understand your duties. As a restaurant secret shopper, your job duties will include:

1. Observing how long it takes for the food to be delivered.
2. The ambiance of the restaurant.
3. The quality and quantity of food served, and whether it is worth the price.
4. The cleanliness and hygiene of the restaurant.
5. The compliance to be followed – if the staff follow the dress code and greetings, etc.
6. The staff behavior – remember their names, service, body language, greetings, etc.

• Once you get the job, you have to prepare yourself accordingly. Do not dismiss this work as minor-league and take it lightly.
• Prepare an Excel sheet with the details, such as the company you work for, the restaurants you are sent to, the payment per assignment, the current status, etc.
• Prepare your equipment. You will need a laptop with reliable internet connectivity, a camera, and a mobile phone.
• You need to have a tiny camera if you are planning to record everything.
• You have to pose as a customer, so you cannot take out a notebook and pen and start writing a review. You will need to be smart enough not to let anyone know that the restaurant is being reviewed.
• At such times, use your smartphone. Jot down your observations in short points. No one will realize that you are doing some important work, they will be under the impression that you are merely using your phone.

• Do not be overconfident or try to act smart. This is exactly the kind of behavior you need to avoid, or else you may blow your cover.
• Your company will give you clear instructions regarding what you need to do, how you need to act, what you need to say, etc.
• For instance, your boss might tell you to order a particular dish on the menu. Make sure you order exactly that and not something else.
• You may also be told to behave in a particular way with the staff. Do as you are told; do not start chatting unnecessarily.
• Remember, if you do not act the way you have been ordered to, you will get no payment.

• Once you are done with your shopper stint, come back home and start writing.
• Write everything you observed, right from the food to the hygiene to the staff.
• Make sure you are not too sarcastic or too over appreciative. Be critical and honest.
• You may even be told how to phrase your review. Follow the instructions accordingly, prepare a report, and submit it as soon as possible.
• As per your company rules, your salary will be sent to you via PayPal or check.
• Also, remember that some companies require you to pay the bill first, and the amount will be added to your salary and sent to you. Be careful with the negotiations.

• Secret shoppers do not earn a fixed salary, for they are more like independent contractors and are paid per assignment.
• Generally, you are paid for your review, and your expenses are covered by the company as well. This includes the restaurant bill, tip, travel, etc.
• However, for this, you have to make sure your company is legitimate.
• Secret shoppers are not employees, and therefore are not entitled to any benefits.
• The compensation varies heavily as per the type of restaurant and the company you work for. According to certain reviews, a fresher in this profession can earn between USD 7 to USD 20 per assignment.
• With experience, you may be paid between USD 20 to USD 100 per assignment.
• Reports suggest that if you are lucky enough to find a good company and are well-experienced, you may be able to make between USD 5000 to USD 10,000 per year. For a part-time job, experts suggest that it is a fairly decent figure.

Off late, mystery shopping has been a controversial issue, with scams on the rise. It is entirely up to you to carefully analyze and choose the company. If you are not very sure about the legitimacy of the company, do not risk registering with the same. If you are smart and cautious, being a mystery shopper can fetch you a decent amount as a part-time job.

Tips to Become a Movie Critic

A movie critic reviews and rates a movie from a neutral and critical perspective. This CareerStint article has enlisted some tips to become a movie critic.

Famous Film Critics
David Edelstein, Kim Newman, Todd McCarthy, and Dana Stevens are some of the best movie critics of all times.

A single review from a renowned and well-respected movie critic has the power to make or break the movie and its stars. The question here is not whether the movie makes for an interesting watch or not, since movie critics have different ways of analyzing a film. They analyze all aspects of the movie while reviewing it, and their judgment may catapult the movie to great heights, or bring it down completely.

However, critics do not merely criticize, as many misunderstand them to; they notice subtle nuances in the movie that laymen may not. It is not easy to be a movie critic; there is severe competition, it takes a while before a critic’s review is taken seriously, and people may not even agree with your review. You need to consider many points prior to embarking on this career path. The paragraphs below will explain how to become a professional movie critic.

• A film critic needs to possess a strong attention to detail as well as strong analytical skills.
• He must also have excellent written and verbal communication skills, adaptability to language, interpersonal skills, and active listening skills.
• He needs to be tenacious and must possess an extensive knowledge of the film industry.
• He must also be interested in the technical details of film-making, i.e., he should be aware and must appreciate the hard work that goes into making a film.

• Generally, a bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, media and communications, or public relations would provide a strong background for a career as a film critic.
• A course/diploma in film-making or related studies will help understand the scope and extent of the industry (which is a behemoth, so to say).
• Having some computer skills are always an advantage if you plan to write reviews on blogs or websites.

• You may have to begin your career by writing articles for film magazines and websites.
• If you begin with smaller publications, you may be given a chance to write film reviews.
• Remember that it takes times for a reader to trust your opinion. Your reviews may or may not be very well-received initially. Learn from your mistakes, and sharpen your writing and observational skills.
• It is a good idea to learn from the seniors in the industry. Your review might be read by an important critic as well! You can try to gain expertise by training under experienced movie critics.

• It takes every ounce of hard work and will power to enter the competitive field of film reviewing and prove your worth. Therefore, before criticizing, understand how the industry works.
• As a part of the common public, we may not aware of how difficult it may be to conceive a scene, direct the same, edit it, and then project it on screen.
• It is very easy to sit on a couch and pass comments, but do you have any idea of how much hard work has been put into the scene, however distasteful it might be? Or rather, how many people have been involved in creating the same? To become a movie critic, this needs to be your top priority. Understand the industry and how it functions.

• Read a lot of reviews of different movie critics, and learn from their works.
• Start contributing to blogs, write personal reviews, and put forth your opinions on social networking sites.
• Please remember, to copy someone else’s style of criticizing can possibly be the worst mistake you can commit in this industry.
• While you should take inspiration from established critics, you need to develop a unique voice for yourself.
• Therefore, create your own style, carve your own niche.

• ‘Criticism’ is a term that is often misused, over-rated, and misunderstood. It is merely a different way of telling the truth, and that too may be perceived differently by different people.
• Try to understand what it means to criticize someone. Do not get influenced by the power of the pen, and write what you like. You have remain dignified.
• You must be able to maintain a fine line between an insult and criticism. As a movie critic, you have all the right to point out what went wrong in the film; under no circumstances though, do you have the right to insult anyone.

• It is quite possible that you may get carried away and start attacking the actor/director personally. This is something you need to be very cautious about.
• Remain strictly professional. As a critic, you may have to watch innumerable films throughout the year. You may like some, and despise the others. But, remember you are watching the film from a critical perspective, therefore, keep your personal preferences aside and avoid attacking the actor/director/ costume designer even if you didn’t like something.
• That does not indicate you have to compromise on your review. If you do not like some aspect, but you are aware that technically, there is nothing wrong with it, avoid mentioning anything at all. If it is something that genuinely needs to be improved, put forth your criticism in a sharp, sarcastic manner (do not go overboard!)
• You must also remember what publication you are working for and what kind of viewership it enjoys. Accordingly, you may have to compromise slightly on your writing style, while being faithful to your individual element.

• You might have to watch a variety of films – this will help you understand how different a feature film is from a documentary, or a commercial film, or a short film.
• Despite this, there is a lot you need to learn about the industry. This comes with practice.
• Understand the technicalities of film-making. Learn about camera angles, different shots, editing, cinematography, etc.
• Learn about the top-shots and their signature styles – the designers, directors, producers, writers, etc.
• The more knowledge you have, the better you will be your writing style. You will know how to get your point across.

• As a critic, it is your duty to focus equally on all aspects. You must understand the technique of how to write a movie review.
• Understand and analyze: the plot, the actors, the cinematography, the costumes, the dialog delivery, the makeup, etc.
• You need to submit an overall review for the movie; therefore, do not focus only on one point. Watch the movie carefully, list down the elements, analyze them, and then pen down your thoughts.

• The salary range of a film critic generally falls between USD 60,000 to USD 100,000.
• According to the website Indeed, the average salary is approximately USD 82,000.
• The salary varies widely as per the experience, expertise, and location.
• States, like New York, California, and Mississippi paid salaries of more than USD 90,000, while Hawaii, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota pay around USD 65,000 to USD 70,000.
• Experienced critics easily earn between USD 85,000 to USD 100,000, while those who begin their careers may earn around USD 60,000.

As a movie critic, it is important to be fair in your judgment. Always remember that people have different viewpoints, and your voice may represent just a fraction of the population. On second thoughts, certain movies definitely deserve a painfully honest review; make sure though that the sarcasm in your review is phrased well enough to help the movie makers correct their mistakes. Be fair, yet firm. Good luck!