You got a call from a company? Asked for an interview? You feel like loosing? Come.. I will show you the path..

You got a call from a company? Asked for an interview? You feel like loosing?
Come.. I will show you the path..

Facing an interview is not just something which we can do like delivering a speech. We cannot just go and come out answering the questions they ask. There are many things that we should consider before attending to an interview.

1. Do a little research about the company.
We should knpw about their mission and what they do. On going projects, which countries they deals with, company history etc. It makes the interviewers to think that you have given attention for their company. Make them impressed with such details.

2. It is a benefit if we can know some etails bout the interviewers. It is a kind of difficult task to find who are the interviewers but if we can find their names we can use linked and other proffessional accouts to find about their details like their job poition, common things we have, specialized fields, their favours etc. Do not want to much focuss about the personal things but some details.

3. All the interviewers ask three or four common uestions other than technical questions like our streangth weaknesses etc. We are the once that know ourselves veey well. So be confident about your streangth and tell them little about it. It is good and worth if we can choose streangths that are more related to this job position.

4. It make a good expression about you if you can ask two questions. It shows your interest on the job.  You can ask about the job details, about work etc. But never ask about the salary.

5. We all are humans. It is somewhat difficult for us to do something for the first time. So to face an interview with the confidence you can practice it with a friend. Shaking hand shows confidence and personality of you. Don’t just touch the hand but hold it tight and shake. You can tell your friend to ask some questions also. Imagine that you are in the interview room and behave like that. Practice each and every step until it feel as a usual thing.

6. Before going to an interview take time to think about yourself and about the job you are applying. Think why you are applying. Reasons for you to think that why you fix for this job position. Try to match your skills with the job position and company work. For an example in some job positions you should have the skills to work with a team, high patience, communication ability.

7. Prepare everything before you go. Make your folder in order.  It should be neat. Keep important things like your CV in the front. Order certificates according to the years. Don’t take much time to find documents when the interviewers asked. It shows your unpreparedness.

8. Be punctual. Don’t be too early or too late. Be there before 10 minutes. If it happened to go there much early, then don’t stay in the vicinity. Just stay somewhere else away from the interview room and come at the correct time. If you sweat a much keep tissues with you.

9. Always keep a smile in your face. Dress properly and professionally. It plays a major role in first expression about you.  Walk with confidence. Keep eye contact. Don’t show or tell much personal things or bad mouth during an interview. .Finally don’t just stand and leave, thank the interviewers with a smile and keep the chair back.

Story writing- Back to the board

Story writing- Back to the board

We were divided into 3 groups and asked to sit facing back to the white board. In each group one of the team members was given a white board marker. Our task was to write a story with a good ending. Each student can write one word at a time. There were four rounds and we were not allowed to talk with the team members. And had to make it quick. So each one had to run to the white board and write a word. We ran to the white board, just read the story and suddenly wrote what we got to our mind.

It was so difficult to predict what the other wanted to say. Even miss Sarasi changed the order of the team members in the last round. At last we got very complicated unbalanced stories which they were funny to read. But no any organization.

 What I realized was it is easy when we develop small sentences. So that we can make a meaningful story. It is really hard to do a group activity without discussing to each other. Different people think in different ways. So it is not easy to work on another one’s plan without discussing or without knowing about the plan. Communication is something very important when we live in the society and work with lots of people.Sometimes we may get half done projects to finish or else we may have to leave with a half done project to another's hand. So what shall we do to make it convenient for others? We should communicate. As software engineers we can leave comments in our codes so that anyone can carryout the work. There should be a method or a common way we declare variables in a project. We have to listen to other’s ideas and choose the best one. Team work is efficient and joyful when we have mutual understanding. 

Back to childhood with paper planes

Back to childhood with paper planes

Hi guys, after a long time. Missed my articles? Ha ha ha. Any way I am back with some wonderful experiences to share with you.

What we did in our childhood when we got a piece of paper? Specially in school? If it is a rainy day probably you would make a paper boat sail it in water like a captain. But if it is not, I am sure you made a plane, became the best pilot and make it fly around the class room. Sometimes you may have written messages on it to your friends. Isn’t it amazing guys? Our childhood with those lovely memories. I missed those days. But in last PPD lesson we went back to our childhood.

Miss Sarasi divided us in to two groups and gave 6 Colored A4 sheets for each group. Our team go the color blue while the other group got yellow. Our target was to make maximum number of planes within the given time and fly them over a boundary line. It may seem as a very easy task. Even we had 8 members in the team. Yes, we also thought this as an easy task.  But was not easy as we all thought. She gave us 10 minutes to think about any strategy or something which will help us to fly all the airplanes. Then our group made 36 planes while the other group made 29. Then miss Sarasi marked two boundaries which was about 4 feet. Two members from each group came and had to make maximum number of planes to fly over the boundary line. At last 19 air crafts from yellow groups and 24 planes from our group (blue team) landed safely over the boundary

First I thought we will be able to make all the planes fly over the boundary. It is very important to think about a strategy before doing something. As a team we have to take each one’s idea and select the best option. I think our team wisely used the time that was given to talk and come up with a good idea. We took some other papers and made planes with different sizes. So that we were able to select a good size which matches with the weight. Air plane should have a considerable weight as well as wings also should not be too small. So by taking these in to our consideration we agreed to make 6 planes from each paper. We finished making planes within the time while yellow group had many papers left. They had planes from different sizes and most of them were too small. They tried the trial with the same papers that miss Sarasi gave to make planes. And also miss Sarasi said they were busy with their own works and did not share the work and did.

It is not the winning that we seek from these activities, we learn different things that helps us to improve our soft qualities. Hope you also learn those things and add them to your life.

                                 COME...LETS RUN THROUGH THE MEMORIES

This is the end of the year 2017.  Our very first year in the university. When I look back the first thing which gets in to my mind is the day that I came here. All the things were new. After starting the academic semester I met the software engineering friends. We talked with some friends but not with all. I was very shy to talk.

We started PPD sessions also in the first semester. At the first day we had to come in front of the class and introduce ourselves for about 4 minutes. On that day we got to know about every body. From that day onward we did various activities. You can get to know about most of those activities when you go through my blog FLY OVER THE HORIZON.

As software engineers we do coding sitting with a laptop. We have lots of subjects to handle in the university. Apart to that we have to find extra things like new technologies , new computer languages etc. We do not have time to have a fun or to relax our minds.

PPD session gave us lots of things that we cannot learn from books. Most of the students were shy to speak in front of people. Some had weak English. From the first day Miss Sarasi asked us to speak in English. So that we all were able to improve our language as well as talking ability. We had to explain some activities in the class.

We did lots of team activities. There we had to achieve goals in a limited time time. Through those we learnt lots of things. We had to work with different kind of people with different ideas. We had to respect their ideas while selecting the best. Sometimes we had to be a team leader and lead the team to a success.As a team leader we had listen to everyone ideas This helped us even to develop our personality as well our thinking ability. We had to think in a creative way to o some activities. Different groups think differently. So we able to get to know new ideas also.

And also we get lots of fun.We laugh together.We walk together. We share things.So unlike other academic sessions at the end of each session we are mentally relaxed.

At the end of the semester we went for a out bound training at Trincomalee naval base. It was really funny and able to find gems within us. We spent unforgettable 2 days there.

PPD session was something very important which helped us to improve our selves. When I looked back I am very happy to being a part of it. But do not think this as the end. You will have more. Hikz. Happy new year. FLY OVER THE HORIZON.

                                   Two days without laptops

Have you ever being to a navy camp? I know when I asked that question you will get a mind picture like soldiers with  rough faces, guns ,unfamiliarity, hostile feeling, smell of gun powder and sound of boats . That is the image outer world has. But it is totally wrong. We went to the naval base at Trincomalee  for a out bound training.

We software engineers always sit in front of a computer and do coding. It is very rare that we do an outdoor activity.  We went to the naval base at about 10 O'clock. We got 1 h time to change.Then we went for lunch. All the works in there are done at sharp time.

After the lunch we ran about 1 km distance to the beach. We were grouped in to 4 groups and did various games.

  1. Go through high tension sqaure
  2.Passing a ball through pipes
  3.Filing a tube with holes with water
  4. Playing volley ball using a coat
  5.tug of war

All these games were team activities. So we were able to improve many qualities. When we do a  team activity we should have a team leader to guide us. We should listen to the team leader and follow his or her orders. But we all can discuss and express ideas. But final decision should be made by team leader. First we did not get that point. So even though navy officers appointed a leader for each group , we did not care and all participated in decision making. Some times we can survive but it is not effective.In the first game 7 out of 8 members went through the high tension wire including me.

Games like 2 and 3 really need a leader to coordinate the work. The leader had to say where to stop where to move where to slow down. The teams which had a good connection with the leader completed the task.

We enjoyed a lot through those works. Then we went to our hostels and changed. At night we had a camp fire and a variety show. We were able to show our talents. It was really fun to do those things  Then we had the dinner and called off the day.

Next day morning we went through a jungle from naval base to elephant pint. We were given th compass and go to the ending point finding the correct path. During that we faced lots of challenges. As a team we had to care about each and every body. We met a  injured soldier. As a team we had to decide what we should do. We have to protect the team ass well as the save that person. Some team members got injured. So we had to discuss and listen to the final decision of the team leader.At last we went to the targeted place. That place was so beautiful.

We rest a bit and walked to see the  naval museum. We saw how the technology used to make their weapons, boats, ships etc. We saw LTTE weapons and equipment. We got a huge knowledge. Then we had lunch.

Officers , Soldiers in the naval base helped  us a lot. They all treated us in a good manner. We enjoyed a lot.They dedicated their time and effort for us even in a  busy schedule. We were very happy to join with them to celebrate their 67th anniversary.

We gain lots of things, we were able to learn good things. We improved lots of qualities. We were very thankful for them and the miss Sarasi for organizing such a marvelous event.

You know what even though soldiers always deals with guns and rules they are humans like us. They are good hearted people who make this world a peaceful place that we can live freely. We must pay our gratitude for them.

  BARTER PUZZLE

We went back to our childhood.Can you remember the time that we used to make puzzles?

Last PPD session was an amazing and funny session. First we were divided in to 3 groups and was given a picture.We have to keep that picture in our mind.Then the team leader had tear it in to 100 pieces. After that Miss Sarasi took 10 pieces from each group and mixed them all and divided them among groups. What we had to do was to make the picture with a given time by using any strategy. We were given the opportunity to get the pieces through negotiations or through trading team members. We wanted to decide it as a group.

First we tried to separate pieces according to the picture and see what we can make.So we divided in to small groups and did it. But we were unable to achieve our target within the given time. None of the groups were able to do it .

To do this kind of a work we need to use our brain very carefully. While making our pictures we have to keep some pieces of other groups also to prevent them from winning. This is what happens in the industry. We have to protect our team while exchanging pieces. We have to be more careful when we work in a competitive environment. We have to think about different sides.

                                 Goals for life….achieve it and fly over the horizon.

We have lots of dreams , but  with the time some dreams become goals. Dreams do not become true just because we dream them , we have to make them as goals and have to work hard for it.

Have you ever think of your life goals and dreams?

In last PPD session we had to do a presentation about our goals. Miss. Sarasi asked to think about our goals and display on a Bristol board. We all displayed our board in-front of the class and talked about it.

We divided our goals in to 3 main parts as professional, academic and personal. We all had almost same academic goals. But different professional and personal goals. Some wanted to start up a company while some wanted to work in a reputed company like virtusa. One girl wanted to start a preschool. This shows us how different people are. We think different, we do different things. This became more varied with the personal goals. People satisfy with different goals.

What I strongly believe is we should lead a happy personal life to be satisfied with other professional and academic goals. We do everything for our happiness.

By doing this we were able to improve our presentation skills. Most students fear to talk in front of an audience. So this was a good opportunity to overcome it and improve our English language. We started to think about our lives in a more meaningful way.

We all should have a target for our lives. If we dream it and work for it we can achieve it. Keep goals and achieve them one by one. Others may be different but focus on your own goals. Because it is you, who will be happy by achieving them.

                                          Egg man

What happens when you drop an egg on the floor?

                             

In our last PPD session miss Sarasi  took three eggs and A4 sheets with her. We all wondered why? Does she plan to have an omelette? No, she divided us in to 3 groups and gave each an egg ,a sellotape and 5 sheet of papers. What we had to do was make any kind of a thing using those which will protect the egg shell when it drop from a very high place about 10 feets.

At first I thought "oh no we can't achieve this.How can we protect an egg shell from these things?".

So then I turned to my friends. Discussing and listening to others ideas are essential when we come across team works. We gathered and talked to make a plan.Our main point was to make something which can absorb the pressure that makes when it touches the floor.So we made a cylinder and put the egg inside and placed it in the middle.Then we put some papers on the top and bottom of the cylinder and covered it with sellotape.

After that we thought of a way to protect the sides of the egg.Then we realized we can only protect the egg shell if we avoid the contact of the egg shell and ground with a high pressure. So we made rods using papers and placed them around the egg so that can avoid the contact of egg shell with ground.Finally we made our humpty dumpty by decorating the egg.

                                             

We went outside and found a place to drop eggs.Teddy is the tallest student in our class and miss Sarasi asked him to drop each egg. It was really a heart breaking incident to see when eggs hit the ground.Then we unwrapped the eggs.The egg of our group didn't had any crack while eggs of the other two groups cracked.

What we learnt from this were we should think and plan before doing something. Good communication between team members also an important thing. Understanding the issues and the targets correctly also play important roles. Here, first we should find the reason why an egg get cracked when it touches the ground. Then we have to find the solution. We should think differently and beyond the box.

We passed a lava river. So hot and melting. Can you imagine such kind of a thing? But guys Some friends felt on to the lava. It was so sad to see.

Are you crying guys? No no it was just a game, just a challenge. Hikz. We did not cross a real lava river.It was an imaginary one.  Have you heard about the games lava river? Stand on the paper?

We were grouped in to 3 groups and given a sheet of paper which was little bit larger than a bristle board. What we had to do was to step on the paper with the miss Sarasi's command and stand on it until she says out. We cannot step out of the paper, if any one stepped out all the group was removed. So while keeping our own feet on the paper we had to help others and make space to keep their feet and to keep their balance. There were few rounds and in each round paper was teared in to smaller size than before. When the paper get smaller it was really hard to step on it by our own without taking the help of the other team members. 

Then we had another task. That was to cross an imaginary lava river using 4 sheets of card boards or tiles. We cannot touch lava or cannot loose any human touch with  tiles. If  any tile loosed human touch that tile was taken away. The group which passes all the team members with the minimum time was considered as the winners.

You may think that what an easy task. But guys believe me it is not that easy if we do not have team spirit , good planning, trust on others. Every team used their own plans and strategies. They were different from team to team.

At first we were asked to overseas one by one. But all the teams lost their cards. Then we were asked to cross the river with all the team members. And there were 50 and 20 marks signed places on the floor. If we crossed through that places that marks were added to the group.

We learnt many more things with this activity. Victory is not something that comes just with a small a try and a wish. We have to work hard on it. We should have a way or a strategy to go for it. Sometimes we cannot achieve our task by our own. We need help of the others. We have to keep trust on others. And time management also an important thing. Is it worth if we cannot achieve something on time? Think in a different way. Learn from failures.Failures are the ladders to the success. Do not fear for challenges. Face those bravely. Keep your target in your mind. Do not hesitate to take help from others when we want it. Think about others. Give them your hand. Communicate with right people at right time. When we walk to the victory we get extra benefits if we change the path that we were walking. For an example the 50 and 20 marks. At such kind of situations we must think bravely and choose the correct path.

So think about these things and add those to your life. Life is long journey to go. We cannot predict what kind of challenges will appear in front of our face. So as the young generation we have to do our best to improve our selves.