Happy Summer, yes stay cool. We spend some time with friends and family on our backyard deck and have fun. Do you know that it is something called ‘Career Walking Deck’? It is an untold expectation. A year back, even this was new to me. I just want to familiarize you and especially friends who are on the job hunt.
What is Career Walking Deck?
It is a visual representation of your answer to the well-known question ‘Tell me about yourself' in job interviews. It is an elevated, brief pitch about you. In this short speech, you present about
- Professional experiences / Projects
- Career progression / Goals & aspiration
- Roles you performed
- Personal Life/Values
- How do you fit in your current new job (being interviewed)
- What is your plan for the first 30-60-90 days?
Why is it important?
It helps to ‘Break the Ice’: Career walking deck is good for Intro meetings. Just share a screen and introduce yourself. It is a great way to start a meeting.
Prepped Well: Going to an interview with the Walking deck, shows how well you have prepared after thinking through the JD and how well you fit in and know well where you want to go.
Stand Out: Walking Deck will help you to stand out in the interview. The visual representation of it makes a good impression with the evaluators.
What is the purpose of a walking deck?
The Walking Deck is a brief presentation used to provide an overview of you.
It outlines a conversation or mini speech designed to
- persuade and gain attention and support from others
- elicit feedback
- get helpful constructive criticism.
The below slide was prepared for my Job Interview at Microsoft, a year back.
I am Sucharithaa Gunachandran, known as Suchi
One of the very few in Cognizant on their silver jubilee year.
Successful Global Business Operation Executive with over 24+ years of IT experience and in Operations for the past 15+ yrs Leading the Cognizant Digital Business - Artificial Intelligence and Analytics practice by process improvements and resourcing for the past 8+ yrs
Aligning business objectives with Employees and Management - Driving growth
As a part of the high-performance team, we all share a Common Goal - To maximize Revenue and Profitability for the company.
Handling high-stress, dynamic environment. Our team, including me, is Very Open, transparent, Future-focused, and Able to deliver Success
I am a ‘Go to Person’ for any Resource escalation or 1 stop shop. As I am a problem solver, exhaust all the options available to solve problems - which has created a ‘brand’ for me in Cognizant.
Being in a consulting company, Associates are Revenue to us, hence we call them ‘Resources’ Working with the HM and the Associate, who is waiting for an assignment, I become the bridge bonding these 2.
Also, I am the gatekeeper to let people leave the practice /company. If there is potential, I am keen on tapping and getting the Dollar in - I mean revenue recognized. At the same time in the case, it is a wrong hire or a person with a bad attitude, we need to churn them out.
I do have a magic wand to clone associates – Not Kidding, yes work on multiple Alternate supply channels – Hire & Train / Train & hire / Campus hiring / Cross/Up Skilling yield 50 to 75 Jr level associates every quarter.
You must be thinking about why/how I moved to this field of ‘Business Program and Operations. Due to Personal reasons moved from Software Development to the Operation Role. I had my second baby and was forced to work from home and got an opportunity to switch. I am thankful, that I did.
I am an asset to the BU I am working with because I am consistent in achieving the target set. I am Say, Doer - say what I do and, I do what I say always.
If you need to get the thing done, on time, on budget - you are speaking to the right person.
What differentiates me from the others - I am a person of execution, dependable, and a high achiever. My motto is always to out beat the past records.
To add to it, working remotely for the past 15+ yrs and NOT just due to COVID. I have been promoted every 2 or 3 yrs and also my Salary was matched with the market couple of times - that shows my grit.
Finally, you will be glad and get to work not only with a joyful warrior but also with a dogged worker.
I am truly excited about this opportunity – cannot wait to learn, work and grow with you, your team, and the organization.
Thank You
