Week 1
Decoding the Modern Corporate Landscape
- Understanding HR expectations in the modern workplace.
- The gap between rural academic qualifications and employability skills.
- Shifting the student mindset from "exam passing" to "value creation."
Trainer Deliverable:
Present a 10-minute comparison between local informal work cultures and formal corporate structures.
Week 2
Resume Building & Digital Identity
- Transforming generic biodatas into achievement-based resumes.
- Utilizing AI tools to optimize resumes for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems).
- Building a professional LinkedIn profile from scratch.
Trainer Deliverable:
Audit a poorly formatted 3-page CV and compress it into a high-impact, 1-page ATS-friendly resume.
Week 3
Professional Communication Standards
- Mastering the anatomy of a professional cold email.
- Using the "Tanglish Bridge" to build English confidence safely.
- Virtual meeting etiquette and digital communication norms.
Trainer Deliverable:
Draft three distinct emails: A job application cover letter, a follow-up after an interview, and a polite decline of an offer.
Week 4
The Interview Frameworks
- Mastering the STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Handling behavioral and situational HR questions.
- Deconstructing the "Tell me about yourself" trap.
Trainer Deliverable:
Map out answers to 5 common behavioral interview questions using the STAR framework based on a student's limited experience.
Week 5
Mock Interview Practicum
- Setting up high-pressure, realistic mock interview environments.
- Evaluating body language, eye contact, and tone.
- Providing immediate, constructive feedback without crushing confidence.
Trainer Deliverable:
Conduct a live 15-minute mock interview acting as a strict hiring manager, followed by a 5-minute feedback loop.
Week 6
Emotional Intelligence & Team Dynamics
- Understanding the 4 pillars of Emotional Intelligence.
- Navigating conflict resolution and receiving constructive criticism.
- Adapting to diverse, multi-cultural corporate teams.
Trainer Deliverable:
Facilitate a roleplay scenario resolving a conflict between a junior employee and an overbearing team lead.
Week 7
Navigating Office Politics & Boundaries
- Understanding unwritten corporate rules and hierarchies.
- Setting professional boundaries to prevent early burnout.
- Building internal networks without seeming transactional.
Trainer Deliverable:
Develop a guidance sheet for a student entering their first corporate job on how to handle inappropriate workplace requests.
Week 8
Advanced Placement Outreach Strategies
- Bypassing standard job portals using direct network leverage.
- Identifying and pitching to local SMBs for unlisted opportunities.
- Utilizing the PACT Maiyam network for regional placements.
Trainer Deliverable:
Create a targeted "Hit List" of 20 local/regional companies and draft a direct-outreach script for a specific student profile.
Week 9
Contracts, Compliance & Salary Negotiation
- Reading and understanding offer letters, NDAs, and non-competes.
- The psychology of the first salary negotiation.
- Calculating take-home pay (CTC vs. Net Salary, PF, Taxes).
Trainer Deliverable:
Roleplay a salary negotiation, guiding a student to ask for a 15% increase based on verified market data and their skills.
Week 10
Surviving The First 90 Days
- Creating a 30-60-90 day success plan for the new hire.
- Proving value during the critical probation period.
- Managing imposter syndrome once they secure the job.
Trainer Deliverable:
Draft a 90-day onboarding checklist for a student transitioning into a corporate data-entry or junior analyst role.
Week 11
Tracking Placement Retention
- Setting up check-in touchpoints at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.
- Intervening when an alumni is on the verge of quitting abruptly.
- Gathering alumni feedback to update the Career Cafe curriculum.
Trainer Deliverable:
Execute a mock "Retention Rescue Call" for an alumni who wants to quit their new job after just three weeks.
Week 12
Final Practicum: The Placement Cycle
- Comprehensive evaluation of resume auditing and mock interviewing.
- Presenting a complete placement strategy for a difficult student profile.
- Career Cafe Mentorship Certification.
Trainer Deliverable:
Take a raw student profile from zero to "interview ready," executing the resume build, mock interview, and outreach plan flawlessly.