Hello everyone, how is life? So, here we are to begin this NPTEL course on Employment Communication

- A Lab Based Course. To introduce myself, I am Doctor Seema Singh, Associate Professor

in English from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences IIT Kharagpur. And, we

have this course on employment communication and today my endeavour will be to introduce

you to the course. So, let us move forward.

Right at the beginning, I would like you to have snapshot of the course. This course has

40 lectures of half an hour each, we have 15 practice sessions since it is a lab based

course and 25 lecture sessions. These 40 units are divided into 8 modules. And, after a set

of 5 whether it is a set of 3 lectures and 2 lab sessions, or 2 lectures and 3 lab sessions,

after each 5 units there will be a test. So, what we mean is we have 8 modules and

5 tests to cover the 15 practice sessions and the 25 lectures. We also have the end

term test. So, that is in brief at a glance the course on employment communication a lab

based course.

Now, let us have a quick glance at the course modules and what concepts I will be covering

in the course. The first module will introduce you to the course and we begin with verbal

communication. Verbal communication that is verbal coming from Latin verbum v e r b u

m that is words v e r b u m that is words; I repeat. And, that is the starting of the

course. From that we move on to module 2 where we

go on to non-verbal communication, which is in common parlance called body language or

anything which is non-words. Since, we have already told you verbal that is from Latin

verbum that is words. So, non-verbal that is non-words any sort of communication which

is occurring without the use of words. Then, we move on in module 2 to the second aspect

which is cross cultural communication or in simple words communication across cultures.

Module 3 consists of body language for the development on non verbal communication and

listening skills. Listening skills is the mother of all speaking. Listening is very

imperative in all aspects, in all components, in all types of communication. And therefore,

there is a need to introduce you to this topic.When we come to module 4 then in fact, we come

to the thrust of the course as such. I will begin by introducing you to the general

aspects of CV writing or resume writing and then we will move on to how to write impressive

CVs while remembering the fact that your CV or resume is your very first interaction with

your perspective employer. And therefore, the need that you get off to a new start and

you impress right from the beginning. Going on to module 5 let us think about a stage

when you are now having may be 10, 15, 20 years of experience, but as usual you are

trying for a job shift or a job change. And therefore, now in this module number 5 we

will be covering the nitty gritties of how to write impressive CVs at a later point of

life in your career and this is called CV writing stage 2.

Module 6 we will be covering the topic of cover letter- any resume, any CV reaches the

perspective employer with a cover letter or a letter of introduction and, how to write

this cover letter will be the first the first stage of module 6. In the second part of module

6, we will move on to group discussions, we remember that in this course on employment

communication, we are taking you through the 3 stages of how you will be getting employed.

What are the 3 types of employment communication activities you will engage in before you are

absorbed or before you join the work place or the work force as an employee?

We remember that the first stage the first stage of the employment communication process

is the CV writing or your interaction, your first interaction with your perspective employer

through your resume. Group 2 or moving on to the second phase is what is called group

discussions. Group discussion is the second stage of the employment communication process

or procedure, where the organisation or the company will be calling you over to a fixed

prefixed place, time, venue will be specified to you.

And, you will be discussing on a matter in which the company or the observers of the

company, representatives of the company will be watching you from maybe another room through

CCTV or maybe through a glass door on one side or a glass window on one side which looks

like a door or window, but on the other side there are people of the company. And, they

are able to observe you of course; they are able to listen to whatever you are saying

because that is the trust of the matter. In the group discussion the company or the

organisation is trying to assess how would you be acting? How would you be behaving?

How would you be working in the actual work place? So, it is an attempt to put you in

a virtual scenario and try to predict or try to think about how this person or how this

set of people or how they will be working if they are with us employed with us?

Then, we move on to the third stage of the employment communication process. I have already

said that the first stage or stage 1 is CV, or resume writing, stage 2 is group discussion,

now stage 3 or the last stage is the personal interview. Having cross the first stage and

the second stage now you have been lucky enough and you have been called to the headquarter

or to the place, where the personal interview will take place, the personal interview is

one to many, one to one or whatever it is a very purposeful planned decision making

conversation. It is not a mere conversation; it is purposeful,

planned decision making communication. And, in this, you will be interviewed by those

who are occupying managerial and executive positions in the organisation. And, they are

in the position or they have been sent there or they are representing the company because

they will be able to decide. They will be the final deciding persons. And, they will

be able to choose and select the best employees to work in their organisation.

The second part of module 6 module 7 sorry the second part of module 7 is how to tackle

difficult questions in personal interviews, the point being that, many a times students

you know or those preparing for interviews or those in fact, who are seeking a change

of work place will be having these queries or these questions in their mind. You know

that if I am asked a difficult question, if I am asked this question, which I consider

to be difficult how will I respond, what should my answer be, and how to tackle it successfully.

So, the second part of module 7, that is introduction to personal interviews and tackling difficult

questions in personal interviews will be dealing with this specific aspect, how will you crack

the tough questions when you are in the interview situation. And, lastly we have module 8 where

in fact, since we have come to the end of the course first stage resume writing or CV

writing, second stage that is group discussions and cracking a GD, and the third is the personal

interview. Therefore, the point is that what would it

take, how would it matter? If and what should you do if you are to be successful in the

personal interviews. And, you know the point is that if you have come all the way your

CV has been shortlisted, you have been called for the group discussion and finally, you

are face to face with the employers or their representatives in the organisation. You have

been called for the personal interview, and then if you have to go back at this stage

it would not be good. In fact, nobody would like it, it would be very you know very sad

I think. And therefore, the module number 8 covers success in personal interviews and

then the course wrap up. Now, the point which would normally speaking

you know naturally speaking it would come to your mind is you know that half of the

course modules have to do with the course as such. And, we seem to be having too much

of an introduction to the course, that is verbal communication, non-verbal communication,

cross cultural communication, listening skills. So, we do 4 topics before we come to the thrust

of the course, to the main topics of the course. So, in this context I thought I will just

show you a small video and then we can move on.

So, I hope you enjoyed that short video. At the end in conclusion it was an add of Coca

Cola. Anyway, what I believe what I think I wanted to communicate to the students of

this course, by making you view this video and I am sure you enjoyed it is 2 things there

are 2 things I wanted to communicate or share with you. The first is the individual and

that is the candidate himself/ herself, the student or the worker.

The student who is trying for his or her first job and the worker, or the employee who’s

now trying for a second job or a job shift during the course of his or her career; so,

what the video perhaps a seem to tell us is that the skills of the individual matters

at the work place. And, remember and we do remember that each individual every individual

is a gift of the god, gift of the creator to this planet. So, each one of us is unique

and we have our own set of skills and aptitudes, which matter at the work place which matter

both at the personal and the professional levels.

So, having said that now let us come to the second point, that when it comes to the work

place there is a statement in English you know common statement in English which goes

no man is an island. And, I base my second point on that. In the work place it is the

team spirit, the group, the project all the employees or the people in a group or a project

who matter. And therefore, my second submission to all

of you is that even in employment communication, or even in the process of getting employed,

or even in the 3 stage employment communication process. What we must remember and I think

this is a very important must MUST bold all caps; we must remember that we are going to

work as a group. So, things like selfishness, things like having

a narrow view or narrow thinking of the others who are who have come to the venue, who have

come to seek employment, who are you know competitors with you to get may be 1 2 3 4

5 number of jobs or vacancies as they exist as advertised by the organisation. In fact,

it would matter more, if we think in this way you know positively let the best man win.

Let the best candidate be selected. And, as for yourself point number one as for your

skills, strengths, as a worker, as a student, as a person, as an individual we need to work

on that. And therefore, the first half of the course at least up till module number

3, at least up till module number 3, we are working on those core areas of our development

as successful communicators. And, when we come to the course proper that is module number

4 to 8, then we move as a group, we move as a team. We do not forget our individual strengths

we build on them, but we think in a holistic manner.

And, we think that we are all trying to get the job, but may the best man win again and

again we must remind ourselves, that what happens is the best which could have happened.

And, the best persons were selected and the best persons will be selected and therefore,

I have to try to be the best candidate for the job. There is the right job and I have

to be the best person for that. So, let us come to the first module and here

I will be in fact, we are not doing we are now doing in fact, this lecture number 1,

after that we have lecture number 2 communication and introduction to that process very important.

The third lecture will focus on the requirement or the need or the importance of communication

skills at the work place and then we have lecture 4 and 5 where I develop at length

on verbal communication words, that is the building block of language and further on.

Moving to module 2 non-verbal communication and cross cultural communication, we will

be covering non-verbal communication through lecture number 6 and 7. And, move on to cross

cultural communication in lecture 7 8 and 9 and then we have the first of the lab sessions

practice session, which will be followed by feedback covering all the topics which have

gone before.

Coming now to module 3 we move further and deal at length on body language I have you

know in fact, 4 lectures in module in this module on body language, I will be dealing

at greater length on body language because of the fact that this is the language of the

body and this cannot be hidden. You can mask your words, you can improve upon your diction,

vocabulary, you can be a good verbal communicator, but as far as your body language or non-verbal

communication exist or it is in fact, it cannot be hidden from the other.

And therefore, the need to have 2 more hours on body language, then we come to lecture

number 13 and 14 -listening skills. And, here we will have exercises also on listening skills

which will which will in fact, emphasize the importance of this most important of the 4

communication skills. When you know when we speak about communication skills the phrases

such we mean listening, speaking, reading, and writing or in short we call them L S R

W. L S R W in this 4 communication skills listening is the most important. And therefore,

in the practice session lecture or module or unit number 15 of module 3, we will be

having a practice session on listening skills and feedback on that.

Moving to module 4 module 4 is introduction to CV writing and how to write impressive

CVs. First of all we will be continuing with the

practice session on listening skills and body language number 17 and 18 have to do with

CV writing and introduction, which is continued in lecture number 18 a number 19 and 20 will

be your first of the sessions, which deal with the course at depth. Number 19 is how

to write impressive CVs as a beginner or a fresher.

As, the prerequisites for the course state that most final year students of undergraduate

courses, whether it be arts humanities, social sciences, management, engineering, medicine.

All need to all are eligible to attend this course to enrol in this course, because this

is just the beginning of the employment communication process. Number 20 is practice session one

and feedback I call it practice session 1, because there is a need to have some more

practice sessions on how to write impressive CVs.

Some of my students whether they are post graduate or under graduates, some of them

have volunteered to be part of this practice sessions it will be recorded in the language

lab and after that we will have feedback session. So, that you get a feel even if this is an

NPTEL course you get a feel as if you are in the classroom. And of course, you can raise

your questions later on in the discussion forum as well.

Let us move on to module number 5 the fifth module is titled how to write impressive CVs

at later stages in one’s career or in short CV writing phase 2 or stage 2. As, I mentioned

there will come a time in life when you will seek a change of the work place, a change

of the organisation. And, this one is on that we will teach you how to write impressive

CVs and in fact, there is a follow up with practice session 1 and feedback practice session

2.

And feedback we move on to module 6, where we have practice session 3 and feedback on

writing CV stage 2 and module 6 is how to write the cover letter and introduction to

group discussions. Cover letter is an important component this is number 27, it is an important

component of the course because the cover letter accompanies the CV.

Therefore, it is your first interaction with the employer and the way you write or communicate

your paragraphs or words or your language in the cover letter is very important, to

make a first impact on your perspective employer. 28 and 29 we will be starting with group discussions.

And, give you some strategies or some formulas for success in group discussions followed

by number 30 practice session 1.

We move on to practice session 2 and practice session 3 for group discussions supported

by feedback from me the course instructor, when we move on to module number 7. Module

7 is titled introduction to personal interviews and tackling difficult questions in personal

interviews. First, we introduce you to the personal interview in lecture number 33; we

give some tips on how to prepare for the personal interviews in lecture number 34. And in lecture

number 35, I will be giving you some ideas. Of course, these are not pre-set answers you

do not have to go by what I say in this NPTEL series, but just some hints on how to tackle

difficult questions in personal interviews?

Module 8 the last one in this series is titled success in personal interviews and course

wrap up. The first lecture in this 5 lectured lectures module is success in personal interviews.

As, I said having come all this ways stage 1 stage 2; if in stage 3 you have to face

failure. Of course, it is not good and therefore, this lecture on that we have a 3 final concluding

lab sessions or practice sessions in this lecture series. And, then we wrap up the course

with lecture number 40 course wrap up.

These are few of the references which I have used to develop this first presentation. Thank

you and good bye we will meet soon with lecture number 2 communication and introduction.

Thank you and god bless you once again.