Interviews
Recruiter not responding after your interview? Here is what to do
How long to wait, when and how to follow up, and two follow-up email templates for when a recruiter goes quiet after an interview.
Career advice for job seekers in India
Expected CTC, notice periods, offer letters, counter offers and switching jobs while employed.
Interviews
How long does HR take to reply after an interview?
Typical reasons for delays at each interview stage, what is normal, and how to read the signals while you wait.
Job search
How to check if a job offer is genuine
Warning signs of fake job offers and recruitment scams in India, how to verify a company, and where to report fraud.
Salary and offers
How to answer "What is your expected CTC?"
How to research a fair number, give a range with confidence, and handle follow-up questions about current CTC.
Salary and offers
How to ask about salary in an interview
When to raise salary, the exact words to use, and how to ask about variable pay, increments, and benefits.
Salary and offers
How to negotiate your notice period
Practical ways to shorten a long notice period, from leave adjustments to a buyout, and how to talk to your new employer about it.
Resume
How to match your resume to a job description
Find the skills a job really requires, show evidence for them on your resume, and decide when a skill gap is worth applying anyway.
Salary and offers
When the offer is lower than the advertised salary
Why offers sometimes fall below the posted range, how to respond, and how to negotiate without losing the offer.
Interviews
Interview rounds explained
What each common interview round tests, how to prepare for it, and what to ask at the end.
Job search
How to resign from your job professionally
When and how to tell your manager, a short resignation letter template, how to handle your notice period, and how to leave on good terms.
Interviews
How to answer 'Why are you leaving your current job?'
Honest, positive answers to the reason-for-leaving question for common situations, plus what to avoid saying in an interview.
Interviews
How to explain a career gap on your resume and in interviews
How to present a career break honestly on your resume, sample answers for common reasons, and how to show you are ready to return.
Job search
How to make your professional profile easy for recruiters to find
Headline, about section, skills, and experience tips that help recruiters in India find and shortlist you on professional networking sites.
Job search
How to ask for a job referral without being awkward
Who to ask, what to send, and message templates for requesting an employee referral from a friend, an alumnus, or someone you barely know.
Salary and offers
Got a counter offer? How to decide whether to stay
Why employers make counter offers, questions to ask yourself before accepting one, and how to decline politely without burning bridges.
Job search
How to look for a new job while you are still employed
A practical plan to search, interview, and resign while you still have a job: confidentiality, scheduling interviews, and timing your notice.
Job search
Background verification: what employers check and how to prepare
What a background verification covers in India, which documents to keep ready, how long it usually takes, and how to handle a discrepancy.
Salary and offers
How to read an offer letter: CTC vs in-hand salary
What each part of a CTC breakdown means, why in-hand pay is lower than CTC divided by twelve, and what to check before you sign.
Resume
ATS-friendly resume format: how to get past the filters
How applicant tracking systems read your resume, the safest format to use in India, and a checklist to fix layouts that get skipped.