1.

SELF INTRODUTION

It’s all about me……

Hello everyone…

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to introduce,

My self Praveen Kumar…, I belong to Salem,

I have completed my 10th and 12th from St Pauls Higher Secondary school

I have completed my UG From Salem Government Arts College

Now I’m pursuing MBA at AVS College of arts and science.

Experience: Most recently , I was working during “Hyundai car manufacturing company” . My
background experience gained from working at for about 2 years. “Invoice" was the last position,
The departments that I worked at (Invoice): customer service and back office. Skills: that gained
from both places, I gained system & communications skills , team work , and .considerable strong
computer skills during work and years of company.

I can grow my working skills and more knowledge.

Which helps me in future

My long-term goal is by gaining work experience of 05-07 years in the field of… I wish to work
in a senior position, contributing to the betterment of my workplace and society. I am a self-
motivated, and disciplined soul. I am always keen to up-skill myself by learning new things
whenever I get a chance.

Well, I have some technical skills in Photoshop, and MS power point I have the interest to learn
new technologies.

In my free time, I enjoy exploring and consuming quality content on the internet, particularly in
areas related to technology.

My short-term goal is to find a platform to expand my career and grow with the organization. And
my long-term goal is to be the cause of the organization's success. Therefore, I always challenge
myself to improve my progress and steady growth.

My long term goal is learn a new skills.

My goal is to achieve a good position at a good level.

My hobbies are Photography.

My strength is that I am always ready to take up new challenges and strive for excellence. This is
because I believe success and failures are the best way to sculpt ourselves to reach our goals. And
I believe in myself and my hard work and want fulfilment in everything. Future Plan My future

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plan is focusing on continuing my study with Master. In addition to that I am planning to create
my own business,

My biggest weakness is I am getting nervous when interacting with new people.

My interests are participating in curricular and extracurricular activities which include both
technical and non-technical events like hackathons, quizzes, creative writing, and even I'm very
much enthusiastic towards organizing and conducting events.

I believe my strength is my attitude, and I like to take up challenges and think to accept both
success and failure in a balanced way to move forward. I want to say that I don't leave any
questions altogether as I believe in myself and my work.

Thank you for providing me with such an excellent opportunity to introduce myself.

Thank you

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 1. RESUME
Name : C R Praveen Kumar

Father name : Rathina Samy

Address : No.3 Subrayan Layout

Hastempatti
Salem 636 007

Mobile Number : 9597234178

E-mail Id : cr1998v@gmail.com

CARRIER OBJECTIVE

To work in an institution that aims me to establish myself in the field of education and
utilize my knowledge for the amelioration of tutee

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

INSTITUTION/ YEAR OF
COURSE PERCENTAGE
UNIVERSITY PASSING

St Paul’s Higher
1Oth 50% 2013
Secondary School

St Paul’s Higher
12th 62% 2015
Secondary School

Government Arts
(UG) College 51% 2018
(Autonomous)
Avs Arts & Science 70% 2022
(PG)
College

AREA OF INTEREST
 Marketing
 Sales
 Finance
 Services
 Accounting

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SKILLS

 Critical thinking
 Analytical thinking
 Problem solving
 Motivating

HOBBIES

 Reading books
 Bike Riding

POSITIVE TRAITS

 Self confidence
 Self motivating
 Smart working
 Fast learner

ACHIEVEMENTS

 Giving a great presentation at work.

 Developed or implemented new procedures or systems.

DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the above cited information is true to the best of my knowledge and
belief, if given a chance, I can prove myself.

Thank you

Yours sincerely

C R Praveen Kumar

Date:
Place:

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 3. GROUP DISCUSSION

I. Definition

"Group" is a collection of individuals who have regular contact and frequent interaction and
who work together to achieve a common set of goals. "Discussion" is the process whereby two
or more people exchange information or ideas in a face-to-face situation to achieve a goal. The
goal, or end product, maybe increased knowledge, agreement leading to action, disagreement
leading to competition or resolution or perhaps only a clearing of the air or a continuation of the
status-quo.

Group discussion (GD) is a comprehensive technique to judge the suitability of an individual and
his appropriateness for admission, scholarship, job, etc. GD assesses the overall personality
thoughts, feelings and behaviour - of an individual in a group. A topic is presented to the group
members for discussion. While the discussion is going on, a group of panellists observe them.
Through this observation they judge intellectual, social, leadership, communicative skills of
candidates taking part in the GD.
II. How is a GD Conducted?
In this methodology, there are usually 7-12 participants in a group. The group of candidates is
given a topic or a situation which could be either factual, abstract or case based, and typically
given some time to think and make notes about the same. After this, the group of candidates is,
and then asked to discuss it the topic among themselves for a specific duration ranging between
10-40 minutes (which may vary from one organization to another). While the group discusses the
pertaining issue at hand, the Moderators/ Panellists silently observe each candidate on various
pre-determined parameters. The Panellists assign scores to As in a football game, where you play
like a team, passing the ball to each team member and aim for a common goal, GD is

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also based on teamwork, incorporating views of different team members to reach a common goal.
So, a group discussion refers to a communicative situation that allows its participants to share
their views and opinions with other participants. It is a systematic exchange of information, views
and opinions about a topic, problem, issue or situation among the members of a group who share
some common objectives.

III. Why GD is important?

• It helps evaluate whether a candidate is the right fit for the organisation.
• It helps assess how a participant performs under different situations in a group.
• It helps to judge how one conceptualizes and manoeuvres his ideas through the
discussion.
• It helps in analysing the candidate’s attitude towards fellow members through one’s
communication and interpersonal skills, listening ability, humility and tolerance to
others ideas.
• It helps in shedding light on candidate’s leadership and managerial skills, problem-
solving aptitude, creative thinking and knowledge on diverse topics.

IV. Tips for Group Discussion

1. The Group Discussion, commonly referred to as GD, is a crucial elimination round in
an interview process that candidates need to be a part of after clearing their aptitude test or
the written exam.
2. A vital component in any screening process,
3. GD involves the participation of a group of people who are asked to debate and discuss
different aspects of a topic given by the interviewers. Regardless of whether you are looking
at getting into a top-notch college or applying for a job, the group discussion round is
something that you will have to face in order to get one step closer to realizing your dream.
4. Although many candidates freeze at the thought of how they will present themselves in a
group discussion, in reality, the group discussion round is not as dreaded as it seems if you
master the tried and tested tricks that help crack GDs. In this article, we share with you some
practical tips and strategies that will set you up for success in group discussions.
5. But before we get into that, let's help you understand why the GD round is so essential. The
group discussion round is critical because it allows interviewers to analyse candidates on a
variety of parameters, including their level of confidence, teamwork qualities,
communication, leadership, analytical, and logical skills.
6. So, now that you know what GD is and why it is important from an interviewer's perspective
check out the top eight group discussion tips below that you should definitely apply in your
next interview.

1. Awareness of Topics Relating to Your Background Is Crucial

2. Take the Lead
3. There Is No Place for Aggression in Group Discussions
4. Communicate Effectively
5. Listen Carefully, Do Not Just Hear
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 4. DEBATE

I. Definition
A debate is an organized argument or contest of ideas in which the participants discuss a topic
from two opposing sides. Those who agree with this statement or idea are the "Pro" side. Those
who will not agree with this statement or idea are the "Con" side. Each side will show in an
organized and clever way why they believe to have the right answers. They will use examples
and evidence to support their ideas while working towards a conclusion.

The aim of a debate is to convince the opposition that you are right. When the two sides agree on
the subject or when one side's arguments are more convincing than the other side that is when the
debate comes to a close. In a formal debate, a mediator (a person that has not agreed with the Pro
or the Con) will decide who the winner should be. In an informal debate the argument can continue
until the time when one side gives up.

II. Why Debate is important?

Debates are the very foundation of the society we live in today. Debates are generally
understood as a formal discourse among people with contrasting arguments by presenting facts,
logic, evidence, and emotions often conducted in the presence of audiences and a debating
framework. Debates in general, are a part of our everyday life whenever we are faced with
conflicting ideas and debating is an indispensable character of a person. Formal or general debate,
debating is important for the progress of the individual as well the society.

1. Debates help you think critically

2. Debates improve your speaking skills
3. Debates make you more knowledgeable
4. Debates are a tool to resolve conflicts

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 5. Debates are means of idea extension
6. Debates improve your research skills.
7. Debates make you time conscious
8. Debates help you construct meaning
9. Debates will broaden your view
10. Debates accelerate your personal growth

III. Reason For Debate Conduct.

• The first speaker on the opposing team presents arguments opposing the resolution. (5 – 10
minutes) • The second speaker on the affirmative team presents further arguments in support of
the resolution, identifies areas of conflict, and answers questions that may have been raised by
the opposition speaker. (5 – 10 minutes)

• The second speaker on the opposing team presents further arguments against the resolution,
identifies further areas of conflict, and answers questions that may have been raised by the
previous affirmative speaker. (5 – 10 minutes)

• The rules may include a short recess for teams to prepare their rebuttals. (5 minutes)

• The opposing team begins with the rebuttal, attempting to defend the opposing arguments and
to defeat the supporting arguments without adding any new information. (3 – 5 minutes)

• First rebuttal of the affirmative team (3 – 5 minutes)

• Each team gets a second rebuttal for closing statements with the affirmative team having the last
opportunity to speak. (3 – 5 minutes each)

• There cannot be any interruptions. Speakers must wait their turns. The teacher may need to
enforce the rules. Post-debate Discussion and Assessment When the formal debate is finished,
allow time for debriefing and discussion. Members of the audience should be given an
opportunity to ask questions and to contribute their own thoughts and opinions on the arguments
presented.

• Members of the debate teams may also wish to reflect on their performance and seek feedback
from the audience, including the teacher.

If some form of assessment was part of the debate plan, it would be conducted at this time.
Assessment could be conducted by the teacher, the judging team, or the entire class. (See BLM
G-15: Debate Assessment Rubric.) Additional Support Materials The following curriculum
support materials may be of use in preparing a class debate.

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 7. BRAIN STROMING

I. Origin of Brainstorming
In a world that was emerging from the scene of World War I in 1919, an ambitious New
Yorker, with a keen interest in creative thinking co-founded an advertising agency called Batten,
Barton, Destine, and Osborn. Inc., BBDO. The ambitious thirty-one-year-old man was Alex F.
Osborn, who had volunteered in World War 1 as a war bond promoter along with two of the
cofounders of BBDO, Bruce Barton, and Roy Destine. The company went on to become a
flourishing advertising agency until 1939 when it started showing a decline in its profits and lost
one of its key players, Roy Destine, who ventured out to start an independent advertising agency.
It was in such desperate times that Alex Osborn pressed into his passion for creative thinking to
figure out ways in which he could encourage his employees to “think up,” a term he used for
creative idea generation. In 1942, Osborn introduced this concept of “thinking up” in his work
How to Think Up which was a precursor to the brainstorming process that he later created. The
process worked marvellously for the company. By 1951, BBDO became the second advertising
agency in the United States of America to pass $100 million in billings. In 1953, Alex Osborn
introduced the process of brainstorming along with illustrations of the success stories of BBDO
in Applied Imagination.

Alex Osborn was greatly influenced by the creative thinking theories of Graham Wallace,
which included the fundamental elements of a creative thinking process, incubation, intimation,
illumination, and verification, aspects of which can be seen Osborn’s design of the brainstorming
process. Osborn was very specific about what his proposed process of brainstorming entailed. He
came up with four basic rules for the process. The first rule established the end goal of the process,
which was to generate as many ideas as possible. The emphasis was on the quantity of ideas
generated rather than the quality of the ideas.

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The second rule was that no one was to criticize an idea. Osborn wanted to keep all judgments out
of the idea generation process, so judgments were to be deferred until the brainstorming process
was over. The third rule was that wild ideas were welcome, in fact, they were encouraged. The
fourth rule was that participants were permitted to combine ideas or improve on each other’s
ideas. Brainstorming, according to Osborn, was meant to be conducted in a group setting of
approximately 5-12 people.

The process of brainstorming, at its very heart, was meant to be a counterattack on “negative
conference thinking,” revealed Charles Clark, an associate of Alex Osborn in his 1958 book called
Brainstorming. Osborn suggested that the participants in the group should have varying amounts
of experience in the task that was at hand, however, he discouraged mixing participants from
various levels in the company’s hierarchy within a brainstorming group. Other specifics that
Osborn suggested were that participants had to be adequately informed in advance about the
problem that would be tackled during the brainstorming session so that the creative focus would
be on the specific problem. Also, participants were to be trained on brainstorming rules and
techniques prior to the session by the facilitator. Osborn made it clear that the facilitator of the
brainstorming session played a pivotal role in the process.

A typical brainstorming session in BBDO would be conducted in a bright yellow room to keep
the atmosphere warm and unintimidating.
Even the setting of the room’s furniture was strategic to set a relaxed mood so that creativity could
be enhanced.
The tables were generously supplied with pencils and pads, tools that could be utilized to capture
and generate creative ideas.
A stenographer would record all the ideas that were expressed. After the brainstorming session,
the stenographic record of the ideas would be sorted through and judged by someone in judicial
authority within the agency.
In the words of Tim Brown, author of Change by design: How design thinking transforms
organizations and inspires innovation, brainstorming was therefore “a structured way of breaking
out of structure”. BBDO, in 1956, through 47 continuing brainstorming panels with 401
brainstorming sessions, produced a total of 34,000 new ideas of which 2000 ideas were deemed
of superior quality and worth investing in.
These 2000 ideas could have potentially been nonexistent had the ideation process of
brainstorming in BBDO not happened.
II. Brainstorming applications
Mindmeister

• Real-time collaboration
• Mind map-based UI
• Three free mind maps

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Coggle

• Mind map tool

• Unlimited public diagrams
• Real-time collaboration

Lucid Chart

• Free templates
• Build charts with data
• Easy to use
• Build complex diagrams
• Straightforward user interface
• Export to files
• Collaborate via invites

Popplet

• Easy to use
• Instant meeting notes
• Built-in business processes (templates)

Wise mapping

• Forever free
• Open-source
• Private and public workspaces

Concept board

• Whiteboard-based interface
• Intuitive UI
• Real-time collaboration
• Unlimited users, unlimited boards

Miro

• Embedded video, commenting & chat

• Mouse over collaboration
• Mind mapping feature
• Affinity map module

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Mila note

• Dozens of built-in templates

• Real-time sync between devices
• Simple commenting tools for discussion
• Track tasks with a to-do list

III. Variations on Brainstorming

Last week we examined the basics of brainstorming. Now we'll explore some variations and how
they might be useful
Before you select a variation, think about the nature of your group:

• Do you need to create more space for some quiet participants?

• Are there one or two loud voices taking all the airtime?
• Is there fear around speaking up because the subject is sensitive or the boss is in the room?
• Do you need creativity in a group that is stuck?
Each situation calls for a different form of brainstorming.

Popcorn Brainstorming is a simple tool for groups in which everyone is comfortable speaking
out. You just open the floor for ideas and take them as they come. Summarize ideas as necessary
and record them on a flip chart. Remember to review the basic rules outlined in the last week's
article
Subgroup Brainstorming is good if you are worried about uneven participation or if you have a
large group. People will feel safer starting in small groups, and everyone will get more time to
speak. Multiple conversations often raise the level of energy in the room. Divide the group into
subgroups of 2-4 participants each. Ask each group to generate a list of ideas in a specific time
period. Then bring the groups together and take one idea at a time from each group until all the
ideas are recorded.
Sticky Note Brainstorming allows participants some anonymity as they write their ideas on
sticky notes. Give each participant a stack of notes and a marker. Ask them to write only one idea
per note and to write legibly. Collect the notes and put them on the wall. Sticky notes are easy to
move and reorganize at this time or as you prepare to move to the evaluation phase.

One-At-a-Time Brainstorming ensures that everyone has a chance to speak. Ask each
participant to take a minute to make his own list of ideas. Then go around the group taking one
idea at a time from the participants and recording it. Continue going around the group until all the
ideas are recorded.

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IV. Techniques of brain Stroaming

Productive group brainstorming can really feel like a win: The team leaves feeling energized,
accomplished, and excited for the next steps. Effective brainstorming techniques can help achieve
this. On the other hand, when a brainstorm session misses whether it feels unproductive,
repetitive, or negative the team may collectively feel uninspired.

There are a lot of factors that can derail a brainstorm, but here are some of the common reasons a
brainstorming session goes wrong.

• Unbalanced conversation. Extroverted personalities and quick thinkers dominate the

conversation, leaving no time for other teammates to contribute.
• The anchoring effect. Participants converge on the first few ideas that are brought up in
a brainstorm, which stifles new ideas and prevents the team from moving on.
• Awkward silence. Participants are unprepared, leaving you with an hour full of painful
silence or—worse yet—a meeting that is cut short to put everyone out of their misery.
• Disconnected teams. Remote working during the pandemic requires brainstorming
through videoconferencing. The inherent awkwardness combined with the tendency of
people to talk over one another makes it hard to capture the creative energy that comes
from having everyone in one room.

10 EFFECTIVE TEAM BRAINSTORMING TECHNIQUES

Brainstorms typically have three steps: idea capture, discussion and critique, and selection.
The following strategies will help you and your team, whether you’re in person or remote, through
all three stages.

1. Brain writing
In this nonverbal brainstorming method, everyone writes down three ideas that relate to the topic
of the brainstorm. Allow about four to six minutes for this process. Then everyone passes their
ideas to the person on their right (or left, whichever you prefer), who will then build off of the
ideas, adding bullet points or creative strategies. If your team is remote, they can use a
communications platform like Slack to share ideas. After another few minutes, everyone will pass
the piece of paper again until it makes it all the way around the table. Once the ideas have made
it around the circle, the group discusses them and decides which ideas are best to pursue.

This technique can alleviate two of the biggest brainstorm pitfalls unbalanced conversation and
the anchoring effect by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute and eliminating
the bias toward the first idea.

2. Rapid ideation
In rapid ideation, everyone writes down as many ideas as possible in a set amount of time before
any ideas are discussed, critiqued, or fleshed out. For this brainstorming technique, you will need
to set (and stick to) a time constraint, otherwise you’ll risk losing the sense of urgency.

This brainstorming exercise can be helpful to avoid the all-too-common scenario when an idea is
shot down before it has time to grow, transform, and develop. By allowing everyone to capture

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their ideas before the critique begins, rapid ideation avoids the inevitable, premature shooting
down of ideas. The time constraint can also prevent people from talking themselves out of an idea
before they share it with a group—a common brainstorming mishap.

3. Figure storming
In figure storming, the group picks a well-known figure who is not in the room—it could be a
boss, a fictional character, or a well-known public figure—and discusses how that person would
approach the problem or think about this idea. For example, you might ask: How would Oprah
Winfrey approach this problem? It seems like a silly question, but putting yourself in someone
else’s shoes can help you and your team approach the problem a different way.

Teammates can sometimes be hesitant to put forth their creative ideas, but if someone else’s name
is attached to the ideas Oprah’s, for example they are more likely to share it. Also, this
brainstorming method removes some barriers that usually restrict creative thinking, like budget
and time.

4. Eidetic image method

This visualization-based method recommended by author and psychologist Jacqueline Suss man
employs vivid images stored in our minds from all of our life experiences. Begin with intention-
setting: Have the group close their eyes and clearly set an intention for what they will create for
example, an innovative smartphone. Each person in the group sets the intention in their mind that
they will come up with a new phone design unlike previous ones.

This method works best when the goal isn’t to reinvent the wheel but rather to enhance it. While
the group should not focus on costs, their ideas should remain in the realm of possibility.

5. Online brainstorming, aka brain netting

For this group brainstorming technique, all you need is a central location for team members to
write down their ideas. If all of your employees are in the same time zone, you can host real-time
brainstorms over Slack to develop ideas together. If your team is distributed, you can put together
a running Google doc that allows team members to write down their ideas whenever inspiration
hits, allowing for busy schedules and time differences. For teams in the same city, one option is
to use We Work On Demand or We Work All Access to book a conference room or common
space for in-person brainstorming together.

After everyone writes down their ideas, it’s important to follow up to decide which ideas to pursue,
so this technique is best used for idea capture, with separate meetings for critique, planning, and
execution.

This technique encourages remote employees to participate and puts everyone on the same playing
field. You can also keep everyone’s identity anonymous if that helps the team contribute more
freely.

6. Round-robin brainstorming
In a round-robin brainstorm, every member of the meeting participates, contributing one idea to
the brainstorm. The first rule is that the group has to make it around the whole room at least once

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before anyone can contribute a second idea or criticize, elaborate on, or discuss any of the ideas.
The second rule is that no one can say, “My idea was already said.” You can come back to that
person at the end when they’ve had more time to think. It’s also a good idea to give the team some
time to prepare ideas before the brainstorm meeting.

Like rapid ideation, this technique encourages (read: requires) everyone to participate and allows
the team members to get all of their ideas out before moving on to the critique phase of the
brainstorm.

7. Step-ladder technique
The step-ladder technique, while a bit complex, is a great way to make sure the group isn’t heavily
influenced by the first few ideas or by the loudest people in the room.

To use the step-ladder technique, a facilitator first introduces the brainstorming topic and then
everyone leaves the room except for two people. If you’re working with remote team members,
you can use breakout rooms in a videoconferencing app to facilitate this. Those two brainstorm
together for a few minutes before a third person comes back into the room.

The third person shares some of their ideas, before discussing the ideas that the first two discussed.
Individuals return to the room one by one, sharing their ideas before learning about the other ideas
that have been discussed. Outside the room, the other teammates can either continue to brainstorm
and write down ideas or go back to individual work, but they should not discuss their ideas with
anyone until they are inside the room.

If your group is too big, you’re better off going with a simpler technique, as the step-ladder
technique takes some time.

8. Mind mapping
Sometimes, the first idea shared with the group isn’t the right idea, but it sparks three better
ideas—that’s where mind mapping comes in. In this technique, the group starts with one idea and
then draws lines connecting sub-ideas to the first one. Mind mapping is a visual way to approach
brainstorms and can be helpful for those who think visually.

9. Star bursting
Star bursting is a later-stage brainstorming technique that can be implemented when a group has
already selected an idea to elaborate upon and potentially execute.

In a starburst brainstorming session, your team will start with an idea or challenge at the center
and then create a six-point star around it. Each point represents a question: who, what, when,
where, why, and how. For example, who is this product targeting? When would be a good time
to launch it? What is our motivation for creating this product?

Because it focuses on questions rather than answers, star bursting encourages the group to
examine an idea from every angle. Presenting an idea in this way frees the person who generated
the idea from having to defend it or figure out how to execute it on their own.
10. Change of scenery
If your team is all in the same space, moving your brainstorm outside to a casual lunch place or
even a different floor in your building can help get new ideas flowing. Physical space plays a big
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part in how employees work, think, and feel. When a team is constantly brainstorming together
in the same room, with the same group of people, the brainstorms may feel repetitive and
uninspiring. The change of scenery provided by a brand-new space, even for a short period of
time, can help people think differently and devise new ideas.

V. Advantages of Brainstorming
The solution could be to brainstorm. A brainstorming session is where senior management might
gather to generate ideas on a particular subject or problem. It's important to start thinking
creatively while remaining respectful of others' perspectives.

1. External Contribution
In a brainstorming session, everyone can freely suggest ideas. Having the most direct access to
the problem makes it incredibly tough to generate novel ideas. People less knowledgeable about
the topic can talk candidly about concepts they are considering when you include others in the
dialogue to discover fresh approaches. The following point is crucial since only some concepts
will be excellent.

2. Idea Development
There is no need for any suggestion stand alone. Even if a concept isn't the best answer, it's still
vital to express it since it could help someone else understand it. The premise behind idea building
is that through exchanging ideas, new ones are inspired, which leads to a chain reaction of fresh
ideas. For idea building to flourish during a brainstorming session, all ideas must be allowed to
develop. As a result, sharing will decrease, reducing the session's effectiveness.

3. Breaks the Pattern

Getting out of a routine is a further advantage of brainstorming sessions. There may be no obvious
problems with the way things are going. A brainstorming session might still be helpful since it
may highlight changes you needed to be aware you needed for the project.

4. Generation of Lists
The list of concepts you can take away and expand upon in the future is one of the nicest things
about finishing a brainstorming session. Even if not all suggestions are immediately useful, having
a list may inspire your imagination for weeks or even months after the session. Each session
should include at least one person taking notes to ensure every concept is remembered.

5. Teamwork
Co-workers can participate in brainstorming sessions, strengthening their sense of teamwork and
allowing them to solicit assistance from others. Brainstorming sessions involving the team foster
a sense of unity. Without individuals, brainstorms would not take place.

6. Offers Several Viewpoints

Despite our best efforts, we can only sometimes do it with help. This is not a sign of incapacity.
It's more of an admission that a single person can solve not all problems, and only some groups
are being hosted. Pick individuals from different departments with various backgrounds, ages,
and life experiences. This will contribute novel, interesting, and random thoughts.

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7. It Aids in Avoiding Prejudices Against any One Point of View
Only issue-solving may be more effective. However, coming up with ideas on your leaves you
without a check against the pre-existing assumptions, prejudices, and attitudes that shape your
thinking. You boost your chances of finding a solution by including people who view the world
(and the business difficulties facing your firm) from a different perspective. Partiality is also
restrained when the correct set of individuals is involved. The availability of opposing opinions
encourages people to consider fresh ideas.

8. It Frequently Produces More Ideas in a Shorter Amount of Time

You'll find more good (and perhaps fantastic) ideas if you can develop them better, even if that
volume can be reached sooner. A group may swiftly generate hundreds of ideas during an
effective brainstorming session, and each one can inspire dozens more. Each participant might be
committed to completing a specific number of ideas within the specified time limit using the group
dynamic. In any event, a group's production is much more than anything a single person could
expect to do.

9. It Provides Chances for People to Consider Each Other's Viewpoints

Consider this: the core of brainstorming is the chance for participants to learn from one another's
ideas. As one might anticipate, bouncing between (and considering) several answers
simultaneously might result in a burst of new thought connections. It's also referred to as a
popcorn share.

One individual provides an idea or solution as part of this specific group problem-solving method.
After then, everyone has a turn expanding on what has been given. Ultimately, everyone believes
they have evenly filled in a gap in the answer.

10. It Increases Comradery and Encourages Buy-In

One of the strongest reasons to promote group brainstorming in your company is that better
relationships are formed when teams collaborate to solve challenges. Group ideation sessions
provide those who would not otherwise have the chance to collaborate on a project the chance to
do so. Such encounters break down divisions and encourage everyone to consider themselves
stakeholders by fostering camaraderie. Participants have a stake in the brainstorming result since
they are stakeholders. Major plus.

Try holding a brainstorming session if you need new ideas or are stuck on a concept. At the
absolute least, it will encourage you to consider the subject you are discussing in more original
ways. Establish a plan for brainstorming sessions and alternate who leads them. This allows
everyone to collaborate with others in coming up with unique ideas. Working together as a team
and thinking creatively, the advantages help the participant who is the focus of the session and
everyone else is taking part.

VI. Types of Brainstorming.

The 4 Types of Brainstorming

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Reverse Brainstorming

A creative problem-solving technique in which the problem is turned around and considered from
a different point of view to spur new and different solutions.
Stop-and-Go Brainstorming

A problem-solving technique in which a group alternately engages in brainstorming solutions

without evaluation for ten minutes then engages in a short period of evaluation. The group
continues alternating between brainstorming and evaluation.

Phillips 66 Brainstorming

A problem-solving technique in which a group of six people brainstorms for six minutes and then
a spokesman for each group presents either the best ideas or all ideas to the larger group.

Brain writing

A problem-solving technique in which participants individually brainstorm ideas and document

them, then share them with a group to further push their thinking.

VII. Challenges of Brainstorming

While brainstorming has many advantages, it also has some challenges. Following are some
challenges with suggestions for mitigating them.

• Becoming just a chat session. The instructor should direct the session to keep students on
task.
• Students in a group setting compete with one another rather than collaborate when
generating ideas. The instructor can walk around the room and listen for inappropriate
group behaviour.
• Staying surface-level. The instructor can prompt for deeper, higher order thinking.
Getting “buy-in” or acceptance from those who have participated in brainstorming who
have never seen their ideas brought forth and acted upon. The instructor can work with

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 any student who may be in this category and remark on their contribution to them
personally, their group, and to the whole class.
• Getting quiet or independent students to actively participate. The instructor can explain
that as part of this course all students are expected to bend a little which may have them
participating in activities that might make them uncomfortable. It is best to avoid forcing.
Helping groups to move forward if they are “stuck” and not able to generate ideas. The
instructor can reconvene the group to review the problem or issue or provide an example
of a possible solution.
• Reaching consensus. Getting students to reach consensus becomes less of a problem if all
students are given equal time to provide input, feel like they are a valued member of the
group, and are respected for their points-of-view.
• Brainstorming sessions can be a useful strategy to encourage genuine collaboration and
interaction in the classroom. Putting together a well-stated problem and careful

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 6.CASE STUDY

I. Case Study Analysis

It is common for B-schools to incorporate a case-based discussion in the group exercise

round or give a case study in a personal interview. So, here we have presented two popular MBA
case study examples, with analysis and solution.

Case studies form a crucial component of the MBA/PGDM curriculum. Harvard Business
School invented this method, and today, many B-schools utilise it to train potential management
professionals. To discover how managers approach various scenarios, from mergers and
acquisitions to the introduction and success of a new product line to branding strategy, you might
consult hundreds of case studies.

MBA case studies aim at strengthening the critical thinking and problem-solving skills of the
students. In the corporate world, managers and leaders have to constantly come up with solutions
to different challenges. Each circumstance calls for a different way of interpretation, and hence,
a distinct way of thinking. So, it is not a surprise that MBA aspirants are often given case studies
during the admission process. With these, their analytical, logical, leadership, and decision-
making skills are put to the test. Go through the following case study for MBA with solutions.

II. Definition

Customers

• High quality product, but low end customers care more about price than quality

Problem definition:

• Mismanaged product diversification in a price sensitive market

Alternatives:

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 • Alternative 1: Establish an Off-Brand for the fork-lift business
• Alternative 2: Educate the customer market about product quality Alternative 3: Exit
the fork-lift battery business

III. Case Study Examples

There have been a number of notable case studies in the history of psychology. Much of Freud's
work and theories were developed through the use of individual case studies. Some great
examples of case studies in psychology include:

• Anna O: Anna O. was a pseudonym of a woman named Bertha Pappenheim, a patient of

a physician named Josef Breuer. While she was never a patient of Freud's, Freud and
Breuer discussed her case extensively. The woman was experiencing symptoms of a
condition that was then known as hysteria and found that talking about her problems
helped relieve her symptoms. Her case played an important part in the development of
talk therapy as an approach to mental health treatment.
• Phineas Gage: Phineas Gage was a railroad employee who experienced a terrible accident
in which an explosion sent a metal rod through his skull, damaging important portions of
his brain. Gage recovered from his accident but was left with serious changes in both
personality and behaviour.
• Genie: Genie was a young girl subjected to horrific abuse and isolation. The case study
of Genie allowed researchers to study whether language could be taught even after critical
periods for language development had been missed. Her case also served as an example
of how scientific research may interfere with treatment and lead to further abuse of
vulnerable individuals.

Such cases demonstrate how case research can be used to study things that researchers could not
replicate in experimental settings. In Genie's case, her horrific abuse had denied her the
opportunity to learn language at critical points in her development.

This is clearly not something that researchers could ethically replicate, but conducting a case study
on Genie allowed researchers the chance to study phenomena that are otherwise impossible to
reproduce.

IV. Functions
Case studies are real-life business situations or hypothetical business scenarios used in MBA
course to facilitate some elements of experiential learning. A business case study will present you
with a business issue, a conflict to be resolved, or an impending decision that needs to be made.

V. Solutions

To solve an business case study, you should follow the following general guidelines:
1. Think of yourself as a manager or, as the Harvard Business School likes to say, as a protagonist.
Define the issue or the problem you are dealing with as a protagonist.
2. Take a closer look at what’s causing the problems and issues you’re having. You may uncover
evidence that proves their case. Form your hypothesis.

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3. Create options within the scope of the organisation’s goals and objectives.
4. Return to your original hypotheses and assumptions to determine the best course of action. You
should back your solution or strategy with data from the exhibits.
5. Put it to the people. Discuss. Brainstorm. Trade-offs for each alternative need to be identified
6. Offer a final alternative and explain why it is a better choice.
Make a note of any interesting/new/innovative solutions that others encounter during the case
study discussion.

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 7.JOB HUNTING

I. Definition
Job hunting, job seeking, or job searching is the act of looking for employment, due to
unemployment, underemployment, discontent with a current position, or a desire for a better
position. The immediate goal of job seeking is usually to obtain a job interview with an employer
which may lead to getting hired. The job hunter or seeker typically first looks for job vacancies
or employment opportunities.

a piece of work, especially a specific task done as part of the routine of one's occupation or
for an agreed price: She gave him the job of mowing the lawn. a post of employment; full-time
or part-time position: She was seeking a job as an editor.

II. Job hunting functions

Whether you are starting a new job or completing a self-evaluation, it's important to understand
the expectations of your role within a company. A job function is a tool that businesses use to
clarify a position. Knowing the job function for your job title can help you better perform your
work as an employee. In this article, we explain the purpose of a job function, show how it's
different from a job title and give examples of job functions that could be used within the
workplace.

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 8 ENTREPRENEUR

I. What is Entrepreneur

Approaching entrepreneurship broadly, it would seem like any small business owner can be
considered an entrepreneur and realistically, they can be. Typically, two major characteristics of
entrepreneurship are risk-taking and forward-thinking.

Risk-taking is the awareness that even though your business may not turn out the way you expect
it to, you’re willing to try anyway. Often, this willingness comes from weighing the risks against
the potential rewards.

Truthfully, risk-taking is inherent in any new business venture because businesses are predicated
on some level of uncertainty. For example, market research may predict certain consumer
behaviours, indicating a need for your service but upon launching your business, you may realize
the need wasn’t as great as expected.

Forward-thinking is tied to innovation. Many times, entrepreneurship is fuelled by the idea of

creating a better future. This can come from a new product that changes the way people interact
with the world; it can come from a new process that changes the way businesses interact with
consumers; it can come from an improvement to the way a business operates within an established
industry; or any other mechanism that can make business better.

Many business owners adopt a level of foresight about the long-term success potential of their
business that qualifies them as forward-thinkers. In fact, one significant difference between a
small business owner and an entrepreneur might be the degree to which they consider the larger
implications of their innovation style.
An entrepreneur is someone who has an idea and who works to create a product or service that
people will buy, as well as an organization to support that effort.

An entrepreneur takes on most of the risk and initiative for their new business, and is often seen
as a visionary or innovator.

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Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes, including small business owners, content creators,
start-up founders, and anyone who has the ambition to build a business and work for themselves.

II. How entrepreneur works

When hearing the word entrepreneur, you may think of someone that has launched their own start-
up. While this is true, an entrepreneur is someone who sees a need and works to create a business
that solves that need. It’s someone willing to take a risk and turn their business idea into reality.

Common characteristics of entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs tend to be hardworking, innovative, and resourceful because, in the beginning,
they’re often solely responsible for the success of their ventures. Building a business can be a
24/7 job. No matter how brilliant a start-up idea may be, entrepreneurs need the skills to build
and run a successful business, including:
• Adaptability: If an idea isn’t working, you may need to adapt quickly and find solutions.
• Ability to network: Networking can be one of the most valuable skills you learn as an
entrepreneur. Growing a successful business requires a lot of time and effort. Creating a
network of like-minded individuals can help you market your new business and stay
motivated and enthusiastic when challenges arise. Collaboration and networking can also
create opportunities to learn from other entrepreneurs.
• Comfortable with fundraising: Unless you have the resources to start your new business
venture, you will likely have to spend a fair amount of time selling and seeking investment
in your idea.
• Leadership: As your company’s founder, you’ll need to make important decisions and
build and manage a team.

While there can be flexibility regarding expectations around any formal training, certification, or
education requirements when starting your own business, entrepreneurs are driven and lifelong
learners. It’s about your ideas, experience, and your dedication to making your vision a reality.
Some famous examples of entrepreneurs include Walt Disney, Oprah Winfrey, and Steve Jobs.
These self-made business owners had a vision and saw it through, pushing past hardships and
staying on course.
These individuals also show that entrepreneur can look different and that you don’t have to be an
inventor or engineer to start a business. Looking at famous examples of entrepreneurs illustrates
the diversity and possibility of entrepreneurship.

III. How to become a successful entrepreneur

It’s important to state from the outset that there is no magic bullet that can transform you into a
rich and successful entrepreneur overnight. However, for those prepared to work hard to succeed,
there is an almost formulaic blend of entrepreneurial skills that can help set successful
businessmen and women apart from the rest.

1. Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer

2. Learn from the best

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3. Stay hungry and ambitious
4. Never stand still; evolve with the times
5. Nurture long-term business relationships
6. Inspire those around you
7. Trust your gut instinct, not just your spreadsheet

7 key characteristics of an entrepreneur

Becoming a successful entrepreneur doesn’t just happen overnight; but you’ll find the following
characteristics are typical in the majority of businessmen and women that have navigated their
way to the top:

No matter how many knock-backs and refusals successful entrepreneurs receive, they are always
prepared to dust themselves down and find an alternative route to the summit. It’s this kind of
tenacity which is required to take a business idea from the realms of the mind and transform it
into a profitable business.

Fear of failure of is one reason that many entrepreneurs fall by the wayside. Successful
entrepreneurs view failure as a positive experience – something to learn from and overcome in
the future. All entrepreneurs inevitably make mistakes along the path to success. But what matters
most is that you own your failures and take full responsibility for the knock-backs and move
forward quickly.

Even the very best entrepreneurs of our time worked with other experts in their industry before
going it alone. Finding a suitable mentor is a great way to learn more about your sector as a whole
and, more importantly, the various facets of running your very own business. Your mentor may
even have made mistakes in business themselves, but equally that makes them the perfect person
to learn from, giving you the chance to understand where they went wrong.

Running a successful business is not an ego trip for successful entrepreneurs. It’s their desire to
grow and provide a better product or service for their customers that keeps them hungry and
ambitious. The moment that an entrepreneur stops wanting to learn new things is the moment that
complacency sets in, allowing others to overtake you and leave you behind. Which leads us nicely
into.

Any successful entrepreneur requires business agility, with the ability to learn and adapt to new
methods, processes or technology that can make their business stronger and more efficient.
Market needs have always been dynamic: both the business and consumer worlds are ever-
changing and what worked years, even months ago might not work tomorrow.

Successful entrepreneurs are never too proud to accept when there are new opportunities to
enhance their offering and better satisfy the needs of their customers and the market as a whole.
A product developed strictly for your own needs would be classed more like a hobby; however,
a product developed for the market must be designed to satisfy evolving market needs.

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There are no two ways about it, business relationships matter. Almost always businesses will
prefer to work with companies they like and trust. Your ability to nurture long-term working
relationships with like-minded entrepreneurs within your industry will be one of the key factors
in the long-term success of the business. Most entrepreneurs would agree it’s far easier to secure
work from repeat customers than it is investing time and money into securing new customers.

Business relationships also include access to finance too. Every entrepreneur wants the very best
opportunity to see their business proposition become an established company. This means
entrepreneurs have to become highly investable. By nurturing relationships with angel and seed
investors, venture capitalists, private investors and even banks, you can set the wheels in motion
to secure that all-important entrepreneur funding.
Inspire those around you

Even the richest, most experienced entrepreneurs cannot be good at everything! All
entrepreneurs require a team of people around them that complement their skills. The real skill
is not only hiring the best possible team to support you, it’s about hiring people who share your
vision and passion. By inspiring and investing in your team, not only will they succeed but the
business itself will too. Trust your gut instinct, not just your spreadsheet!

Sometimes entrepreneurs can be found guilty of being wedded to their spreadsheets and the data.
However, in the real world of business it’s never quite as black and white as that! In some cases,
your gut instinct and heart are still your very best guide for decision-making. Ultimately, no-one
knows as much about your business as you do!

IV. Challenges faced by entrepreneurs

1. Cash flow management

2. Hiring employees
3. Time management
4. Delegating tasks
5. Choosing what to sell
6. Marketing strategy
7. Raising capital
8. Strapped budget
9. Business growth
10. Self doubt

Entrepreneurs face many challenges in today’s ultra-competitive business world. Fortunately,

entrepreneurs also have more resources than ever before to tackle those problems. The following
10 challenges are faced by many entrepreneurs today. Perhaps you've run up against some of them
already. Read on to learn why each challenge exists, and to get solutions and workarounds so you
can operate your business efficiently and successfully.

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1. Cash Flow Management

Cash flow is essential to small business survival, yet many entrepreneurs struggle to pay the bills
(let alone themselves) while they’re waiting for checks to arrive. Part of the problem stems from
delayed invoicing, which is common in the entrepreneurial world. You perform a job, send an
invoice, then get paid (hopefully) 30 days later. In the meantime, you have to pay everything
from your employees or contractors to your mortgage to your grocery bill. Waiting to get paid
can make it difficult to get by and when a customer doesn’t pay, you can risk everything. The
solution: Budget and plan

Proper budgeting and planning are critical to maintaining cash flow, but even these won’t always
save you from stressing over bills. One way to improve cash flow is to require a down payment
for your products and services.

• Your down payment should cover all expenses associated with a given project or sale as
well as some profit for you.
• By requiring a down payment, you can at least rest assured you won’t be left paying
others’ bills; by padding the down payment with some profit, you can pay your own.

Another strategy for improving cash flow is to require faster invoice payments.

• Invoice clients within 15 days, which is half the typical invoice period. This means if a
customer is late with a payment, you have two weeks to address it and get paid before
the next month’s bills are due.
• In addition, more and more companies are requiring immediate payment upon project
completion — and in our digital age when customers can pay invoices right from their
mobile phones, it’s not a stretch to request immediate payment.
You can also address cash flow management from the other side of the equation by asking your
own vendors to invoice you at 45, 60 or even 90 days to allow ample time for your payments to
arrive and checks to clear. If you can establish a good relationship with vendors and are a good
customer, they may be willing to work with you once you explain your strategy.
And if you’re looking for an easier way to pay bills and save money, consider sending checks via
email.
2. Hiring Employees

Do you know who dreads job interviews the most? It’s not prospective candidates it’s
entrepreneurs. The hiring process can take several days of your time: reviewing resumes, sitting
through interviews, sifting through unqualified candidates. Then, you only hope you can offer an
attractive package to get the best people on board and retain them.

Far too many help wanted ads are incredibly vague in terms of what qualifications candidates
must have, what the job duties are, what days and hours will be worked, and what wages and
benefits will be paid. You can save yourself a ton of time by pre-qualifying candidates through
exclusive help wanted ads that are ultra-specific in what it takes to be hired at your firm, as well

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as what the day-to-day work entails. Approach your employee hunt the same way you would
approach a customer-centric marketing campaign: through excellent targeting.

• Once you have a pool of prospects, arrange for a “walking interview” in which you take
candidates on a tour of their working environments.
• Ask questions relevant to the job and to candidates’ experiences, expectations, dedication,
and long-term goals.
• Don’t act like an overlord determining which minion gets to live another day; rather,
behave as though you’re seeking a partner to help you operate and grow your business.

Take the time to seek real references: not the neighbor lady your candidates grew up with, but
people who can honestly attest to their work ethic and potential. Once you’ve picked a candidate
and before you’ve made a job offer, ask them specifically what it will take to keep them employed
with you for the long haul.

• Tell them to be honest with their expectations.

• Provided they do a good job for you, you’ll know what kind of rewards they’re seeking,
and you can make adjustments accordingly: Do they want more vacation? The opportunity
for advancement? More pay? Freedom from micromanagement?
This isn’t to say you have to bend backward for your employees; however, it stands to reason that
if you make expectations clear for both parties you can lay the foundation for a longterm,
mutually-rewarding client-boss relationship.

3. Time Management
Time management might be the biggest problem faced by entrepreneurs, who wear many (and
sometimes all) hats. If you only had more time, you could accomplish so much more!

The solution: Make time

Like money, time doesn’t grow on trees, so you have to be smart about how you spend it. Here
are some tips:

• Create goal lists: You should have a list of lifetime goals, broken down into annual goals,
broken down into monthly goals, then broken down into weekly goals. Your weekly goals,
then will be broken down into specific tasks by day. In this manner, what is on your task
list in any given day is all you need to do to stay on track with your lifetime goals.
• If any tasks do not mesh with your goals, eliminate them.
• If any tasks do not absolutely have to be completed by you, delegate them.
• Consistently ask yourself: “Is what I’m doing right now the absolute best use of my time?”

4. Delegating Tasks
You know you need to delegate or outsource tasks, but it seems every time you do, something
gets messed up, and you have to redo it anyway.

The solution: Get reliable help and be clear with your requests

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Find good employees (see above) and good outsourced contract help, for a start. You might have
to pay a little more for it, but the savings in time (and the resulting earning potential) more than
make up for it.
Next, be specific as to what you want to be done. It will take a little more time at first, but write
down detailed steps listing exactly what you want your help to do. Don’t make assumptions, and
don’t assume your help will be able to think for themselves right off the bat.
So, don’t say, “List stats in a spreadsheet,” when it's more effective to instruct them to
“Alphabetically list XYZ in the first spreadsheet column, then list statistic A in the next column,”
and so on. It might seem like overkill, but take the time to be specific once, and your help will get
it right every time thereafter.

5. Choosing What to Sell

You know you could make a mint if you just knew what products and services to sell. You’re just
unsure how to pick a niche.

The solution: Conduct research

Admit that you’re weak in identifying prosperous niches, and delegate the task to someone who
is strong in this area.

You don’t have to hire a huge, expensive marketing firm; rather, recruit a freelance researcher
who has experience in whatever type of field you’re considering entering (retail ecommerce,
service industry, publishing, etc.). Have them conduct market research and create a report with
suggested niches, backed by potential profit margins and a complete SWOT analysis: Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
This isn’t to say you should have someone else decide for you; however, if you’re not good at
identifying niches, it makes sense to receive suggestions from someone who is. You can then
analyse the suggestions for yourself to determine if you agree. Taking this step now can save you
a lot of time, money and hassles later not to mention your entire business and livelihood.

6. Marketing Strategy
You don’t know the best way to market your products and services: print, online, mobile,
advertising, etc. You want to maximize your return on investment with efficient, targeted
marketing that gets results.

The solution: Find marketing expertise

Again, if you’re not adept at creating marketing plans and placing ads, it’s a good idea to outsource
your marketing strategy to someone who is. At this point, all you need is a core marketing plan:
Who is your audience, and what marketing activities will you undertake to motivate purchases?
Give your planner a budget and tell them to craft a plan that efficiently uses that budget to produce
profits.
This is not the time for experimentation. You can do that later, after you’ve established a baseline
that works.

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7. Raising Capital
You want to start or grow your business, but you have little capital to do it with.

The solution: Start small

There are many ways to earn funding, from traditional bank loans to Kickstarter campaigns and
self-fuelled growth models.

Instead of trying to launch a multimillion-dollar corporation overnight, focus on your initial core
customers.

• Continually work to find new customers, of course, but consistently strive to be

remarkable to those customers you already serve. Word-of-mouth will spread, and more
customers will come looking for you.
• As they do, develop systems and business processes that allow you to delegate tasks
without sacrificing quality. Your business will grow slowly and steadily, and you’ll be
able to solve problems while they’re small.
Think about where you want to be five years from now. Can you get there without help, even if
you have to delay growth a bit while you’re doing it? If you do feel you need funding, however,
be sure to consult an attorney to make sure you’re not giving up too much of your business to get
it.

8. Strapped Budget
Even though cash flow is fine, it seems you never have enough in your budget to market your
company to its full potential.

The solution: Prioritize for efficiency

Nearly every entrepreneur struggles with their budget at one point or another. The key is to
prioritize your marketing efforts with efficiency in mind — spend your money where it works
and reserve the rest for operating expenses and experimenting with other marketing methods.

Keep a close eye on your money, too: There may be areas you can skim to free up more funds.
Unless an expense is absolutely critical to your business and/or represents an investment with an
expected return, cut it. In fact, do this exercise: See how lean you can run your business.

• You don’t have to actually do it, but cut everything you can and see if you still feel you
can run your business (save for what you have to delegate and market with).
• Somewhere in between your leanest figure and your current budget is a sweet spot that
will allow you to be just as effective and leave funds leftover to fuel growth.

9. Business Growth
You’ve come to the point at which you can’t take on any more work in your current structure.

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The solution: Reconsider your processes and roles
Create new processes that focus on task delegation. Many entrepreneurs, used to wearing all the
hats, find themselves in this position once they’ve achieved a modicum of success.
Because you’re doing everything, your growth halts to a stop when it hits a self-imposed ceiling.
The only way to break through is to delegate tasks to others to take yourself out of the production
end, and segue into management and, finally, pure ownership.

10. Self Doubt

An entrepreneur’s life is not enviable, at least in the beginning. It’s extremely easy to get
discouraged when something goes wrong or when you’re not growing as fast as you’d like. Self-
doubt creeps in, and you may feel like giving up.

The solution: A good support system and focusing on tasks

Being able to overcome self-doubt is a necessary trait for entrepreneurs. Having a good support
system will help: family and friends who know your goals and support your plight, as well as an
advisory board of other entrepreneurs who can objectively opine as to the direction of your
business.

One of the best ways to deal with self-doubt is to work on your goals and tasks lists. When you’re
down and lack motivation, look at your lists and know that the tasks you do today are contributing
to your lifetime goals. By doing them, you’re one step closer, and you can rest assured that you
are, indeed, on the path to business success.

Entrepreneurs face many challenges, and volumes have been written about how to overcome
them. Perseverance and intelligence are your allies; use them to your advantage to keep working
toward your goals. Understand that you’re not the first to struggle. Because of that, there are many
resources available to help you get through your darkest days as an entrepreneur, so you can reap
the immeasurable rewards that come with building your own successful business.

V. What are the skills required for a Entrepreneur

5 Skills Every Entrepreneur Needs to Succeed
Whether you are managing your family’s business, starting your own company, or operating
multiple organizations here are 5 skills you need to know to be a successful entrepreneur.

1. Finance Skills
Budgeting and knowing how to keep track of finances is essential for entrepreneurs. Small
business owners need to be able to understand financial statements which are records that hold
the details of a business’s activities and its overall financial performance. Entrepreneurs will need
to know how to calculate return on investment (ROI=Net Return on Investment/ Cost of
Investment x 100%) This is important in order to evaluate your organizations use of investments
so you can ensure your using your resources effectively.

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2. Communication skills
Being a strong communicator is very important for entrepreneurs. Negotiation, confidence, and
networking are three communication skills that are extremely useful for business owners.

Negotiation: When creating business deals with investors, clients, suppliers and whoever else you
need to work with negotiation is extremely important. While there are many different philosophies
on negotiation, one of the most sought after is the win-win scenario where both you and the other
party benefit from the deal.

Confidence: You must be your business’s biggest advocate. You should know your small business
inside and out so show confidence when talking to suppliers, clients, and the competition. Being
able to confidently persuade others about your business cannot be underestimated. Whether it is
persuading a customer to purchase the product you know is best for them or connecting with
retailers to offer your product or service you need to stand strong against any and every obstacle
that is placed in your path.

Networking: Networking can be done with co-workers, alumni, professors, supervisors,

clients, and other business professionals in or outside of your industry. Keep the following
networking tips in mind:

 Anyone who can guide you on your journey as a small business owner/ entrepreneur
is an asset for your business.
 LinkedIn is a great way to connect with others across the country who share similar
interests, and have similar business models as yourself.
 It is important to learn how to identify those who can not only assist you but who you
can assist as well. No one wants a one sided relationship where one party is giving and
the other is just taking. Make sure you are providing value to others in your network
as well.

3. Leadership Skills
Strong leadership skills are essential for running a business. Your employees and co-workers will
look to you for guidance. Leading your team by example, over coming difficult challenges while
staying calm and collective is no easy task yet extremely important. Developing a leadership style
geared towards your employees and business will allow your organization to be the most effective.

4. Time Management
There are only 24 hours a day which is never enough time in the life of an entrepreneur.
While running a business you need to prioritize your work day to maximize your efficiency.
Keeping organized with calendars, creating a to do list for you and your team as well as hiring
individuals with specific skill sets will allow you to be more efficient.

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5. Sales
Sales is the bread and butter of your business. If you are not able to reach out and sell your product
or service you are already out of business. Sales are important because it allows you to make
money and acquire a client.

Branding is a big part of sales. You need to ensure that every product or service your business
provides is tailored just right for your customer and customized for your business. This is
especially important for more expensive high-end small businesses. You need to remember that
every product/service you provide a client reflects on your business creating your brand. A
positive experience with your brand will bring your business repeat customers creating a
consistent stream of income.

Additional Skills
Honourable mentions include data analysis which is becoming very important for business
owners. Strategic planning is another that allows business owners to not only recognize
opportunities but owners can set up their organizations to create and take advantage of different
opportunities.

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 9 FINANCIAL ADVISOR

I. Definitions

A financial advisor provides financial advice or guidance to customers for compensation.

Financial advisors (sometimes spelled as advisers) can provide many different services, such as
investment management, tax planning, and estate planning. Increasingly, financial advisors are
acting as a "one-stop-shop" by providing everything from portfolio management to insurance
products.

Registered advisors must carry the Series 65 license to conduct business with the public. A wide
variety of other licenses and certifications may be required depending on the services provided
by a given financial advisor.

II. Role of financial advisor

Top 6 Roles and Responsibilities of a Financial Advisor

Keep your finances in order

Work life and home life often leaves you with little time to be objective and disciplined with
finances. Financial Advisors help you chart out your goals and priorities. They then put strategies
in place based on your net worth. This puts you on the path of achieving your dreams.

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Help with career and business strategies

Financial Advisors can offer objective solutions through the different phases of your career. Their
expertise can be counted on to tackle everything from a job shift, career change, compensation
package, stock options, retirement etc.

If you’re running a business, a good advisor can help with putting together benefit and retirement
plans for both you and your staff.

Organize life after retirement

Looking further than your present situation, financial advisors can help you develop a retirement
focus. They make investment decisions now to give you the life you want when you retire.

Develop effective insurance strategies

Based on your individual and family needs, your financial advisor analyses insurance options and
puts together a plan that you can afford. – In this way you are provided with security in the long-
term.

Plan for future generations

A smart financial plan even takes care of the generations to come after your time. While attorneys
can help with your will, your financial advisor can ensure effective estate planning.
He can help strategize your will, living will and power of attorney.

Objectivity in times of crisis and change

Marriage and children bring many financial changes. Your advisor brings harmony in case of
conflicting financial personalities in the family, manages money and addresses issues with
insurance.

Sometimes unfortunate events can destabilise financial plans. A good advisor will see you sail
smoothly through upheavals - be it loss of job, market volatility or personal problems.
With a good financial advisor, you get more than just good returns. You have a trusted mentor
and guide by your side.

III. SKILLS AND COMPITANCYREQUIRED FOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Financial advisers are professionals who help clients manage their monetary resources. The
position requires various soft and hard skills and knowledge of the finance industry.
Understanding the abilities you need to be a financial adviser can help you prepare for the role
and uncover your professional strengths.
In this article, we discuss examples of financial adviser skills in the workplace and how to
showcase them when applying for positions in the field.

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To be a financial adviser, you need a combination of technical and soft skills. Technical skills
embody your industry knowledge, enabling you to improve the economic situation of your clients.
They are unique to financial advisors, and you may have gained them in education or training.
Soft skills enhance your technical skills, and you may have practiced them as you gained
professional experience. They enable you to interact effectively with clients and co-workers and
stay organized to produce quality work.
Employers may classify required skills in two other categories:
Client relationship skills
Financial advisers need client relationship skills to attract new clients and retain the clients they
already have. Professionalism and positive relationship-building can encourage people to refer
financial advisers to others in their network, which can help expand the advisor's business and
ultimately increase product sales.
Advisers must know how to keep their clients informed and foster trust. The relationships may
also require emotional intelligence to remain mindful of a client's financial situation.
Business development skill
Proficiency in business development allows financial advisers to create performance objectives
and track sales figures. Advisers may work closely with other organization members, such as
product suppliers and estate agents. They use business development skills to conduct
presentations for management and negotiate prices for products.
Research
When a client seeks financial assistance, the adviser conducts extensive research about the client's
economic history. They examine how the client's previous money management contributed to
their current situation. Advisers also investigate ways to achieve the client's financial goals,
including making strategic investments in stocks or properties or investing in products like life
insurance policies or retirement accounts. Research also helps advisers remain informed on new
products that emerge on the market.
Wealth management
Financial advisers understand how to achieve and maintain wealth, a skill they use to advise
clients on earning and managing their money. Wealth management is an aspect of industry
knowledge, where advisers know what investments can generate higher income and their
availability on the market. They also know how to identify wise investments based on clients'
funds and the wealth they want to accumulate.
Analytical thinking
Analytical thinking gives financial advisers the tools to adjust to changing circumstances and
devise solutions to problems. For example, a client expresses their financial goal, but they have
limited monetary resources to achieve it. Advisers analyse the state of the client's finances and
make suggestions that can produce a positive outcome without wasting funds. As new products

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emerge on the market, advisers practice analytical thinking to decide the products most benefit
the client.

IV. QUALIFICATION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR

The financial industry is strictly regulated in most countries. While everyone is free to share their
opinion on the stock market, most countries have strict rules limited who can give financial advice
in a professional capacity. These rules are intended to protect the public from self-serving,
unethical, or uninformed financial guidance.

In the United States, financial advisors are regulated according to the type of service they provide,
whether that means accounting services, investment information, or financial planning. In
addition, they may also be required to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
another regulator at the state or federal level, depending on the type and value of the assets under
their management.

Below, we cover four important qualifications to look for in a professional financial advisor:

Education
While there is no legal requirement to go to college, it would be difficult to start a career in finance
without at least a four-year degree.

Most brokerage firms require that all new financial advisor applicants have at least a bachelor’s
degree from an accredited educational institution. The major can vary, but most are in finance,
marketing, or business. A Master's in Business Administration (MBA) is not required but certainly
adds to the financial advisor’s resume.

Professional Licenses
In order to sell securities, financial advisors are required to pass and possess the General Securities
Representative license, also known as the Series 7.1 This test covers all the basic investment
knowledge and regulations that financial advisors must know. There is also the Series 63 license,
known as the Uniform Securities Agent State license. This allows advisors to conduct business
across multiple states.2

Advisors who wish to charge advisory fees must also take the Series 65 exam or the Uniform
Investment Advisor Law exam.3 These three licenses are held by most financial advisors in the
industry.

There are many other licenses that allow advisors to sell additional products. Many insurance
agents get their state’s life, health, and variable insurance license, which permits them to sell life
insurance, health insurance, long-term care, and variable annuities.

Certifications and Designations

Financial advisors can further establish their credibility by getting a certification. Certifications
are not required but are encouraged by financial advisory firms.

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The most popular certification is the Certified Financial Planner (CFP). This exam is issued by
the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. and tests advisors on their ability and
aptitude to have a comprehensive holistic approach to financial planning. In addition to the exam,
the certification also requires coursework and several years of working experience.

The CFP Board also has a strict code of ethics and a professional responsibility standard that lets
clients know that anyone who maintains the CFP mark is of high integrity.

There are many other designations available to financial advisors. The Chartered
Financial Consultant (ChFC) is put out by the American College of Financial Services and offers
a similar program as the CFP.

In addition to passing the certification exam, many of these certifications also require extensive
coursework or work experience.

Background and Skills

Financial advisors also need to have real-world experience. Interpersonal sales skills can help
attract new clients and understand those clients' needs. If a new financial advisor has a hard time
communicating and selling to prospects, there is no chance of success.

While it is possible to get hired straight out of college, most financial firms prefer to choose
candidates with some professional experience. An internship in finance can help a new graduate
get hired, and many advisors come into finance after a previous career in another industry.

Maintaining clients is similar to running a business, and many managers prefer candidates with
sales experience. In addition, many of the certifications listed above include a work requirement.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Financial Advisor?

The exact qualifications for a financial professional depend on what types of services they
provide. Those who wish to recommend or sell certain products to their clients must pass the
appropriate licensing exam from FINRA, and may have to register with a state or federal securities
regulator. Professional certifications such as a CFA, CFP, or ChFC can add an additional level of
expertise. Those working in finance as accountants or lawyers also have to meet the licensing
requirements for their own industry.

How Do I Know If My Financial Advisor Is Trustworthy?

Financial regulators and certification bodies will keep disciplinary records for any financial
advisor under their authority. For securities advisors, you also have the right to ask your firm
about the background and work history of the person handling your account, as well as about the
firm itself.

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 10 INTERVIEWS

What is interview
When looking for a career change, employers may ask you to participate in the interview
process to understand your character traits, skills and attitude to work. Interviews allow an
employer or interviewer to decide whether you are a suitable candidate for a vacant position.
Learning more about interviews and how to present yourself during an interview can increase
your chances of getting hired for a desirable job. In this article, we answer
“What is an interview?”, explore its type and format and understand what companies look for in
candidates during interviews.
An interview is a discussion or conversation between a potential employer and a candidate. It is a
selection process designed that helps an employer understand the skills, scrutinise their
personality and character traits and check the domain knowledge. In this formal meeting, the
employer asks questions to get information from a candidate. Usually, interviews happen during
the last phase of the recruitment process and help companies select a suitable candidate for a job
role. During an interview, the interviewer may ask you about their salary expectation, whereas
you can ask about the job responsibilities.
TYPES OF INTERVIEWS
Here are a few types of interviews you are likely to face during a recruitment process:
structured interview
A structured interview process is where an employer asks a fixed set of questions to all candidates
appearing for an interview. Rather than focusing on experience-based questions, an employer
prefers asking a fixed set of questions and recording the responses of every candidate. They grade
these responses against a suitable scoring system and hire candidates based on this result. A
structured interview is beneficial for both interviewers and candidates because it eliminates
biasness from the recruitment process.

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Unstructured interviews
In unstructured interviews, a conversation occurs conversationally and spontaneously. The
interviewer can ask questions related to a candidate's skills, experience or qualification. Such
interviews do not follow any set format and the interview can go in any direction. It is a traditional
interviewing method that organisation's uses to hire suitable candidates. Using an unstructured
interview, interviewers gauge a candidate's interview skills by comparing their performance to
other candidates.
Situational interview
In a situational interview, employers present a candidate with a problem. Employers use this
interview process to evaluate their approach to solving problems. Through such interviews, an
employer understands what action a candidate would take in various job-related situations. When
answering such questions, employers expect a candidate to give answers related to similar
situations a candidate handled in the past.
Behavioural interviews
Behavioural interviews are a technique which employers use to gauge and evaluate a candidate's
past behaviour in different situations. It helps in understanding how a candidate would perform
in similar situations at work. It is easier for an employer to predict the success of a candidate on
their past performance. Usually, the employer asks open-ended questions about specific situations
to hire a suitable candidate. The employer then tallies a candidate's response against an anchored
rating scale.
Stress interviews
Employers gauge a candidate's ability to respond to stress in different workplace situations using
this interview style. For some job roles like consulting, employers conduct stress interviews to
spot sensitive applicants and separate high-stress tolerance candidates from the rest. It is a great
interview style to find sensitive applicants who may lose their calm attitude in stressful situations.
In such interviews, employers create anxiety to see the reaction of a candidate.
Technical interview
A technical interview is an interview type that helps an employer understand technical and job-
related aptitude. When applying for healthcare, information technology, engineering and science,
a candidate is more likely to face technical interviews. Through such interviews, an employer
gauges your technical expertise and it helps in understanding whether you have the skills required
to complete your job-specific duties.
One to one interviews
It is a common type of interview where only one interviewer interviews a candidate. It is a
conversational type of interview where the employer drives the agenda initially and a candidate
asks questions toward the end. Usually, an employer may ask general, technical, situational and
behavioural questions in a one-to-one interview. It is a great interview technique to understand a
candidate's experience and domain knowledge.

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Video or phone interviews
Such interviews occur on the phone or via video. An employer conducts such interviews when a
candidate cannot attend a face-to-face interview. Rather than calling every candidate for an
interview, employers usually conduct phone interviews to screen potential candidates. When
candidates receive an unexpected call from employers, they give spontaneous answers that help
an employer understand the candidate's intelligence and interpersonal skills.

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