If you are in the final semester of your graduation, campus recruitment is certainly at the top of your mind. It is always a dream-come-true for any student to get picked up by a good company.

However, cracking interviews is not easy as it requires a great deal of preparation. Recruiters test you on various parameters like knowledge of core subjects, reasoning aptitude, adaptability and soft skills.

It is the job of placement institutes to make students aware of the various avenues and build on their employability skills.

Here are some important aspects that training institutes should focus on to ensure that their students get the best deal in campus placements.

• Classroom and practical training: A good mix of classroom teaching and practical training is what placement institutes need to provide. While a diverse set of job-oriented courses provide academic knowledge in a particular domain, practical training helps in the long run to be a successful professional.
• Vocational training and skill development: One of the biggest problems hiring managers face is to find candidates with the right skill sets. The answer lies in vocational training and skill development. This need to be a strong component of the curriculum of all placement institutes to ensure that their students get a good deal.
• Industry tie-ups and certifications: Disconnect between the current education system and the industry requirement is today a matter of great concern. Job training institutes can play a big role in picking up deserving candidates with tie-ups. Smooth coordination helps in tapping the right potential and creating industry-ready talent. Accreditations and certifications also add value to new entrants in the job market.
•  Internship opportunities: Internships provide students handson work opportunity and help them learn to apply their text book knowledge to real life situation. They are the stepping stones in the placement process. Some companies extend job offers to interns while others give certificate. Placement institutes that have tie-ups with multinationals and industry bodies need to facilitate internships that will groom their students.
• Soft skills enhancement: For good campus placement, communication and soft skills are also important. Placement training institutes need to help in mastering soft skills to increase their market value. From expanding their business vocabulary and increasing their speaking skills, to writing customised e-mails for clients, and preparing interesting PowerPoint presentation, all these ought to be part of the placement training.
• Job interview preparation: Companies no longer just look for academic excellence —they lay great stress on a candidate's suitability for the job and mock interviews. They provide appropriate grooming and build up confidence for interview. All good placement institutes conduct mock interviews, written assessments, and group discussions to prepare for recruitment. They also organise seminars, workshops and motivational lectures by industry stalwarts to help students understand the latest trends and projections so that they can perform well at the interview.
•  Job recruitment fairs: A number of placement institutes also organise job fairs to aid the recruitment and networking process. The attempt is to connect prospective employees with multiple employers. Such recruitment fairs give students industry exposure and the interactions held provide students real-time experience about the hiring process and methodologies. The writer is chairman, ica edu skills