Abhishek Patil’s Post

It's been a while since I last shared from my personal experiences. It's about interviews and how we all go through some anxiety pangs and nervousness before and after the meetings. Some 15 years ago, my career was on the rocks when a poster boy of the home grown mother retail business collapsed from its own weight of 'missed and misplaced management' and the startup that I joined neatly folded up like some furniture that we were planning to sell from the new venture we were planning to launch. 😊 Some 8000 people were affected in the mother business and a few hundreds in the new business. Eventually, all managed to find their pieces of straws and bamboos to raft it out on the turbulent river. Tale of my raft.. At that time, I interviewed for a company based in Pune for leading the Finance role. I went through a few rounds and finally met with the MD of the company and all seemed to go well. All rounds were full of good conversations and it appeared that I had ticked all the boxes well. The conversations seemed to indicate that the decision was made in my favour by discussing compensation and with questions like " when can you join etc". Good answers were provided and smiles were exchanged. After some days, I got the message that " we are not moving forward with your candidature, it was indeed a pleasure meeting with you" etc. I was dumb struck. My mind started going through all the interview sessions, feelings and emotions experienced and the flow of the conversations that made me feel like the chosen one. I could not simply fathom what could have gone wrong. I thought I would send a polite response like " Oh, it's alright". Somehow, I could not bring myself to do that. I decided that I had a right to know what had gone wrong - just to quench my own curiosity. Since I was not a cat, I was not afraid that I might die by being curious. I wrote back - all nice and polite and then asked for their feedback " may I know what went wrong? Your feedback will help me fare better in other interactions with other Organisations as I was anyways looking for appropriate roles" - something along these lines. I was almost sure there would not be any response. Who cares after communicating a decision not to hire a candidate ? Then magic happened. I got a call and got invited to Pune again for a meeting. I was appreciated for seeking feedback and THEN they explained what apprehensions in their mind made them take the decision not to hire me inspite of liking me. My clarifications helped them reverse their stand and make me the offer to join them. The story completely changed with just asking for feedback. It provided me the respite that I was looking for. When you keep your mind open to recieve feedback, minds open up all across. Well, this is true in most cases at least. My life lesson or my nugget of wisdom for myself was " seek to understand before you seek to be understood". Try seeking feedback. Enjoy what follows.

Wake-up call: Your dream job may not be waiting for you, but you can create your own dream job! The Harsh Reality of the Job Market As I scrolled through my social media feed, a post caught my attention. Hundreds of job seekers lined up in Pune for a chance to interview for a job that pays a mere 15k salary. My heart sank. The job market is tougher than ever, and it's a wake-up call for all of us. It's a reminder that the competition is fierce, and the stakes are high. But it's also a reminder that we can't rely on luck or wait for opportunities to come to us - we need to create our own. So, what can we do? ✨We can upskill ✨We can reskill ✨We can network ✨We can hustle And most importantly, we can support each other. Because the job market may be tough, but we're tougher. We're resilient, we're determined, and we're passionate. And with the right mindset and strategy, we can turn our career dreams into reality. So, let's keep pushing forward. Let's keep applying, let's keep interviewing, and let's keep believing in ourselves. Because the only way to guarantee failure is to give up. And I know we're not going to do that. Let's rise above the noise, stand out from the crowd, and show the world what we're capable of. Let's make our mark and create our own opportunities. Now, I want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on the current job market? How are you navigating the challenges and staying ahead of the game? Share your experiences, tips, and advice in the comments below! Let's continue the conversation and support each other in our career journeys! #jobmarket #careergoals #motivation #resilience #determination #passion #supporteachother #nevergiveup #createyourownopportunities

So, Tell Me Something About Yourself. Most of us see this as the quintessential first question that is asked when we are interviewing for jobs. Actually, even in social settings, I'm often asked, “So, what do you do, Kartik?” What recruiters, hiring managers, or acquaintances are doing here is really asking you to show why having a longer conversation with you would be interesting and worth their time. Lots of pressure, right? But here's the thing—you know it's coming, so what you can do, especially if you are in sales, is practice your answer. When I ask the “tell me something about yourself” question, I really love answers that are short and impactful. You need to be able to tell an interesting story about yourself and give enough space for the interviewer to dive deeper, should there be some common interests or curiosity. You want to be relevant but also stand out. Here is what I say to introduce myself: "My name is Kartik Mandrekar. I'm 42 years old. I've been a lawyer and worked in procurement, but a large part of my work—14 years—has been in sales. Ten of those were at Gartner, a global research and advisory firm, two and a half in startups like Shoptimize and Graas, and most recently as an independent consultant working with small and mid-sized tech companies. I live in Pune. My wife, Priyanka, is a co-founder at a policy think tank, and we have a 9-year-old son, Agastya. Both Agastya and I are obsessed with playing and watching football." How do you introduce yourself? #Sales #CareerAdvice #InterviewTips #ProfessionalDevelopment #PersonalBranding #Networking #CareerGrowth #JobSearch #SalesTips

Attention new freshers stepping into the corporate world! Listen up, folks—I've been where you are. When I landed my first job in Mumbai, a city bursting with opportunities, I felt just like you. My first day? A whirlwind of chasing down folks from different departments to complete my onboarding. Then, after training, I hit the phones... and struck out for five straight weeks. Zero sales. I was ready to quit. But then my manager asked me a game-changing question: "What motivates you to wake up and come to work every day?" It hit me—I had no clear goals. I was thinking if sales didn't work out, I'd just move on to something else. That conversation shifted my perspective. I committed fully and, while I wasn’t the top salesperson, I made good money, hit my short-term goals, and advanced my career. From associate to team manager to business manager, I navigated different phases and challenges. Here's what I learned: hard work pays off only if you work hard enough and in the right direction. So before your next interview, ask yourself, "Why do I want to do this?" If you can answer that, no interviewer can turn you down. Set a goal, work hard, achieve it, and then dream even bigger! #goals #dreambig #freshers #firstjob

🌐 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗧 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗕𝗗𝗘’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 🌍 As a Business Development Executive at Ninez Tech, an IT recruitment firm with a global footprint, I’ve had the unique opportunity to work alongside some of the most dynamic and talented professionals in the industry. From connecting with clients to helping them find the best tech talent across geographies, here are some of the key things that make this journey exciting: 𝟭️. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀: From startups in Pune to global enterprises, connecting clients with top tech talent across borders is key. 𝟮️. 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀: It’s not just about selling—it’s about building relationships and solving hiring challenges to drive business growth. 𝟯. 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: With evolving tech and client demands, being flexible and staying updated on trends is crucial. 𝟰. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 & 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁: At Nineztech, clear communication with clients is essential for success. 𝟱. 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀: Every successful placement reminds me why I love recruitment. 🚀 Are you looking to build your IT team with top-notch talent? Let’s connect! Feel free to reach out and explore how we can collaborate to meet your recruitment needs. #ITRecruitment #BusinessDevelopment #GlobalTalent #HiringSolutions #BDE #RecruitmentLife

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝟗 - 𝟓 𝐉𝐨𝐛? 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝: 👉 Education : B.Tech Production Engg 👉 1st Job at Gabriel, Gurgaon. 👉 2nd Job at John Deere, Pune 👉 Years in Manufacturing Industry : 8 years 👉 My Dad: Govt Job 👉 My Mom: Central Govt Job You can only check the quality of the food of the restaurant by getting into the restaurant, finding the ambience, tasting its food and then make a decision whether to come again or not. Similar way, after spending 8 years of my life in manufacturing career I realised that I was not made for a Job rather I ended up following a scripted life. ❌ I can’t live on Limited salary every month despite putting more working hours. ❌ I can’t seek permission all the time for Diwali vacations ❌ Seek permission for everything ❌ Office Politics ❌ Can’t spend my entire life pleasing Boss’s ego 🙏 I needed something else. 🙌I was desperately looking for some business opportunity. 😇 When I come across this Business Opportunity, I knew I found the right one. Even though I don’t have much expertise and knowledge about Business but I was willing to go extra mile and learn and adapt myself to it. 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟕 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞: 𝟏. 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 • The ability to work on your own terms—no fixed hours or rigid schedules. • More time to spend with family, pursue hobbies, and travel. 𝟐. 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 • Unlike a 9-to-5 job with a fixed salary, network marketing allows you to earn based on your effort and results. • Opportunities for passive income and financial growth over time. 𝟑. 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 • Access to training, mentorship, and learning opportunities. • Developing skills in communication, leadership, and entrepreneurship. 𝟒. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 • Helping others achieve their goals—whether it’s financial independence, better health, or a better lifestyle. • Building meaningful relationships and being part of a supportive community. 𝟓. 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐬 • Taking control of your career path without being answerable to anyone else. • The empowerment that comes from building your own business. 𝟔. 𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞 • No more long commutes, rigid hierarchies, or office politics. • The chance to build something that’s truly yours and aligns with your values. 𝟕. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 • The ability to leave behind a legacy for your family. • A career path that grows with you and adapts to your goals. “I didn’t choose an easy path, but I chose a meaningful one. And if you’ve been thinking about making a change, remember—you’re just one decision away from transforming your life!” DM “𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦” to Learn more how you can achieve the same.

Thrilled to share a valuable resource for those looking to transform career gaps into compelling assets. Resume2ProjectWork offers expert career guidance that supports individuals in making a robust comeback in their professional journeys. Our personalized approach highlights your unique strengths to help you step confidently back into the job market. 😊 #linkedinreach #linkedin #reach #careerguidance

Meet the man who transformed from having 20 arrears to building a 2000 crore business... From 20 arrears in MBA to 2000 crores in business, here is an inspiring story of an entrepreneur who built a global brand!! Born in Trichy, he was an average student in school. As he lost focus, he had 20 arrears in his engineering. Soon, he joined as a marketing executive for a salary of Rs. 1200. In the evenings, he would prepare for arrears. At once, he cleared them. Soon, he applied for many interviews. He faced multiple rejections.  He found a job in a small company in Chennai. He put all his focus and commitment towards it. He learned even the finest details. In 1997, he joined a US-based firm and this became a turning point in his life. Foreign companies were hiring students from Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. He realized that the students from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities had good skills. However, as their accessibility was poor, they were not being hired. Soon, he resigned his well-paying job, sold his car, and started an IT staffing agency. He followed the utmost transparency and helped his clients hire quality candidates. He was appreciated by his clients. Today, the agency is valued at 2000 crores. The agency is VDart and the inspiring entrepreneur is Sidd Ahmed!! His life and business is an inspiration for anyone hailing from Tier-2 and 3 cities.  ✔️Where you come from never matters. Never let the place define who you are as a person. ✔️You are defined by your vision, hard work, and commitment. #Entrepreneur #Inspiration

“Stability Over Change: Why Every CV Deserves a Second Look” As someone who has had to move cities frequently as a child, I know firsthand how unsettling change can be. It wasn’t until I found my home in Pune that I finally felt a sense of stability. Similarly, in my career, I never intended to switch jobs often. In fact, like anyone, I crave consistency and growth in a stable environment. But sometimes, life has other plans. Circumstances beyond your control push you to make decisions you never anticipated—whether it’s personal responsibilities, health issues, or organizational changes. And yes, sometimes, a lack of patience or urgency can lead to decisions that aren’t perfect. As I reflect on my journey, I see how each experience has shaped me into someone more resilient, adaptable, and focused on long-term growth. I understand why recruiters and hiring managers might hesitate when they see frequent job switches on a CV. But I urge you: don’t dismiss a candidate just because of the past. Give them the chance to interview, to explain their story. You may find that they’re just as eager for stability and growth as you are looking for commitment in a role. Sometimes, all we need is that one opportunity to prove we’re ready for the long haul.

Most of the compnies, if not all, complaint a lot about finding the right talent and getting irrelevant applications on their job postings. The first step towards finding that "perfect" talent starts from advertising the open role. Below image is the classic example of "How not to write and advertise a job desceiption". Here is why: ●It is restrictive: In the era of hybrid and WFH, providing strict location demand restricts the talent. That too putting it on top of everything in the Job Description in bold letters should be a no go. In my view any candidate who is planning to relocate or can relocate will feel less confident applying here. ●Unmeasurable Skills: Charishma, Flawless, Communication, Hands On- Hardly provide any context to the real skills. Moreover, these are prone to interpretation as per one's will. Imagine getting the feedback that candidate was not flawless and charismatic. If you want to use these fancy words in the job description, embed them carefully with more quantifiable skills else avoid altogether. ●Ambiguity in the role: At one place it is a Talent Growth Analyst and at another it is a Sourcing Specialist. Please do not leave the candidates scratching their heads about the role itself. ●Lack of context: 10X Scale up without providing the context of the team size and time duration. This is absurd. No idea if the current team has 1, 2 or 5 people. If you have 20 people already then making it 10X i.e. 200 people will take a good time. Do you have any plan about that? If yes, let that plan be here so candidates can feel confident. "The best solvers in the world to solve differently": What to solve and how will one find the talent all over the world sitting in Pune or Mumbai. I need an explaination, least to say :P Here is how we should do it: ▪︎ Be specific about the role. ▪︎ Mainatain uniformity. ▪︎ Put Context. ▪︎ Provide measurable skills so hiring managers and candidates both can feel at ease. ▪︎ Take care of the tone and language. ▪︎ Make the job descriptions inclusive and open rather than restrictive. ▪︎Bullet points or one liners make it easy to read and comprehend; avoid paragraphs. I would love to talk and hear the thoughts of fellow recruiters and hiring managers. #Recruiting #JobDescription #Writing