The world’s 10 best-selling Cars ever

1. Toyota Corolla

Since 1966, when Toyota first launched the Corolla, the car has been an unprecedented success. After nine ‘generations’ (or revisions), the car remains the most popular car in the world. Reports indicate that more than 35 million (3.5 crore) Toyota Corollas have been sold to date, and has been voted as the bestselling car of all time. According to Wikipedia, a Corolla is sold every 40 seconds.

2. Ford F Series

The Ford F Series has, by a wide margin, been the American auto giant’s biggest success ever. Ford F Series, a pick-up truck, has been the largest selling vehicle in the United States for 23 years. In 11 generations of changes and improvements, the vehicle has sold more than 29 million (2.9 crore) units in the 50 years of being around.

3. Volkswagen Golf

A bestseller from the time it hit the markets in 1974, the Volkswagen Golf is the world’s third bestselling car ever. It has gone through some five revisions and has managed to outsell its more famous cousin, the Volkswagen Beetle. Volkswagen Golf is said to have sold more than 25 million (2.5 crore) units till date.

4. Volkswagen Beetle

Volkswagen Beetle, which took the world by a storm since 1945, has sold more than 21.5 million (2.15 crore) units till 2003. Commonly known as the Bug, the Beetle traces its history to 1945 and is one of the most successful models that Volkswagen has produced. Though critics had predicted a complete failure for Beetle because of its peculiar styling, underpowered motor, rough ride, and high noise levels initially compared to modern vehicles, the car went on to make history. Wikipedia says that the Bug is also the bestselling single design car in history.

5. Ford Escort

The Ford Escort made its debut in 1967 as a family car. By the end of 1968, the car was already one of the best selling cars in the United States and the United Kingdom. From 1967 to 2003, the car sold over 20 million (2 crore) vehicles globally. Ford continued to broaden the Escort range with the introduction of four-door saloons, estates, vans. . . Escort was then given a host of revisions to improve appearance, performance and comfort. When the spruced up Ford Escort debuted in 1981, the US automaker called it the World Car. The car went through a series of improvements till it started to drop off people’s radar. In 2003, finally its manufacture was halted.

6. Honda Civic

The first generation Honda Civic arrived in July 1972 as a short backed 2-door, followed by a 3-door hatchback in November 1972. The Civic has since then gone through seven more revisions and has turned out to be a huge hit amongst car lovers. The car has till date sold over 16.5 million (1.65 crore) units. Honda Civic is available in India too and is perhaps the best looking car on India roads currently. Its 1800cc engine that makes 130 bhp at a rather high 6300 rpm, and torque at 17.9 kgm at 4300 rpm is higher than that of the Toyota Corolla.

7. Ford Model T

Ford Model T is a 100 years old. It is this iconic vehicle that put the world on wheels. October 1, 1908 was when the first Ford Model T was made for sale. It was the first low-priced, mass-produced automobile with standard, interchangeable parts. It had a 20-horsepower, four-cylinder engine with a top speed of about 45 miles per hour. The moving assembly line for the Model T revolutionized manufacturing in 1913. Henry Ford called the Model T ‘the universal car.’ On December 18, 1999, the Ford Model T was named ‘Car of the Century.’ Since 1908 to 1927, the car sold 16.5 million (1.65 crore) units. Painted black because it was the color that dried the fastest on the assembly lines, Henry Ford told his customers this - Any customer can have a car painted in any color that he wants so long as it is black.

8. Nissan Sunny/Sentra/Pulsar

The Nissan Sunny/Sentra/Pulsar/Tsuru was a bestseller from the Nissan stable and still continues to be available as the Sentra. It began life in 1966 as the Datsun 1000 and soon became a major rage around the globe. The car has sold more than 16 million (1.6 crore) units having gone through 10 improvements since its debut.

9. Volkswagen Passat

The Volkswagen Passat has sold over 15 million (1.5 crore) units since 1973 to make it the 9th bestselling car ever. Volkswagen, Europe’s largest car manufacturer, has also debuted in India with the Passat which is loaded with an incredible array of features that are not available in cars that are substantially more expensive. Each little aspect of the car is thought out and the car is built to standards that are seen only in luxury models. Besides this, the 140 bhp 2.0-litre diesel motor mated to the state-of-the-art DSG gearbox means this is a fantastic car to drive as well.

10. Lada Riva

Lada Riva was a very unlikely bestseller. It has attained almost cult status and is a very a popular car in Russia and Egypt. In 1966, an agreement between Fiat and the Soviet government was signed to set up a car factory near Moscow. The car to be manufactured here was named the Lada. The Lada 1200 saloon was first seen in Britain at the 1973 Motor Show and stunned Europe with its low price. Then came various versions and versions of a car that rage amongst buyers. For the record, the car has sold over 13.5 million (1.35 crore) units till date, although its exports to Europe were stopped in 1997.

Things to avoid at your job interview

If you have received an interview call, it means your CV has done what it was supposed to. The next step for you is to convert the job interview into a job. Your CV can’t do much here. It is you who has to convince the interviewer that you are the best choice. However good your CV is, if you can’t present yourself properly during the interview, it can’t get you the job. There are many small mistakes that candidates commit, costing them the opportunity and the job. This article is an attempt to put forward the small mistakes that can prove to be the death of the interview.

If you really want the job for which you are being interviewed, make sure you do not commit these mistakes and instead leave a good impression on the interviewer.

Arriving late and ignoring explicit instructions

This is the first mistake that can give a negative impression. As you go for an interview, the interviewer spares some time to meet you. Your arriving late will probably disturb their work schedule. Try to reach on time and if you are getting late for any reason, make sure that you inform the interviewer. Also, make sure that you follow all the instructions provided to you to appear for the interview. Ignoring the explicit instructions shows your “I don’t care” attitude.

Don’t be a job beggar

Approach the interview as a problem solver and not as a job beggar. It is not the beggars who are hired; it is the people who have a capability to solve the employer’s problems, who are hired. The employer has a problem to which you have a solution, so it is a give and take relationship. Employers respect people who respect themselves.

Going without preparation

Prepare yourself for the obvious questions. Not being able to reply to the general questions properly gives a bad impression. Make it a point to research the company and its business before you go for an interview. Not having the basic knowledge about the company shows that you are not interested in the job. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can commit as an interviewee.  

Not analyzing the job profile and requirements

This is another big mistake that many candidates commit. If you do not take the time to understand the job profile and requirements properly, you cannot expect the questions the interviewer might have. Moreover, you will not be able to dispel the interviewer of the doubts s/he may have regarding your candidature on that profile.

Badmouthing your previous company

During an interview, do not criticize your last employer. The prospective employer will try to relate himself to your last employer and your badmouthing can give them the impression that you are a misfit. Most employers try to judge your attitude through this question. Speaking negatively about your place of work might give them the feeling that you are not an easy person to get along with.

Telling lies about your candidature

Remember that you have a right to remain silent over the things that you don’t want to disclose. It is not necessary that you provide them the details of every inch of your career but make sure that you do not tell lies about your candidature. These lies may get you hired but they can be a big reason for you being fired as well.

Sounding money-minded

Employers do not like people who switch jobs for couple of thousand rupees. Although money is a major attraction, do not talk about the salary and benefits before you are offered the job. Let the interviewer begin the discussion on the salary.

Not asking questions to the interviewer

Almost all interviewers give the candidate a chance to ask questions. This is something you can always expect. Prepare yourself to ask some intelligent questions about the company, business, your chances to grow in the organization etc. By not asking questions you might give the impression of being uninterested or indifferent.

Failing to send a thank you note

Do not fail to send a thank you note to the interviewers within 24 hours of your interview. This will keep you fresh in their minds and give them another chance to let you know if they have any concerns regarding your candidature.

Over-aggression

You have all the right to speak for yourself during the interview and sell your skills but do not go overboard by interrupting the interview or arguing with him/her. This might give the interviewer the impression of over-confidence instead of confidence.

In addition to these pointers, there are other general things you should avoid such as not grooming yourself properly, chewing gum or smoking just before or during the interview, answering your cell phone during the interview etc.

Soft Skills for IT professionals

A career in the field of information technology (IT) is one of the most sought these days. Most engineering college graduates land up in the IT industry. While, a job as a software engineer looks very lucrative at first glance, once you get into the industry, you realize that it is not just your technical skills that will keep you in the race. You need something more to ensure that you are able to do a good job. In other words, you need some extra skills to ensure that you are able to keep the job after you land it. These extra skills are called ’soft skills’.

Here are some soft skills which will help you grow not just as a professional but also as a person: 

 A never-say-die attitude

Any task that comes to you or your team, undertake with a can-do attitude. Slowly you will observe that you and your team have become the favorite of the management. Every accomplished task boosts your self confidence and pushes you one step closer to success.

 Communication

This includes verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Be sure that you are able to put across your point clearly and confidently. As an IT professional you will need to work with colleagues and clients of various nationalities and backgrounds. Ensure that you are able communicate clearly with them. This applies to teleconferencing as well.

 Learn to listen

Listening is an essential part of communication. Ensure that you listen attentively. This will help make the other party feel comfortable while interacting with you and improve your communications.

 Be a team player

Help your team members help themselves. Be friendly and approachable. If your team is stuck somewhere look out for ideas to overcome the obstacle together.

 Learn to delegate

Chances are you will have junior members on the team. Recognize their strengths and delegate them the right work.  

 Give credit to those who deserve it

Do not all the credit for a job well done. Pass on praise or recognition from superiors to team members who deserve it. Doing it publicly or in front of your boss will further instill a feeling of confidence among your team.

Motivate yourself and others

As you look ahead to grow in your career you will need to deal with various people under you. You cannot expect quality results from a team whose motivational level is too low. So, stay motivated and keep others motivated.

Develop leadership qualities

A leader is a person whom people are ready to follow. Develop qualities that will make people follow you not because they are required to but because they want to. Even while operating in a team, take a role to lead and facilitate the work for other members.

Control your sense of humor

When you are working with people from various cultures you need to be extra careful with your sense of humor and gestures. Behavior that is acceptable among Indian colleagues might be considered obscene or disrespectful by people from other cultures. Stay away from controversial topics or ideas in the office.

Mentoring

This is a quality one needs to develop in order to grow. If you want to grow in the hierarchy, you need to help sub-ordinates grow. Be a good mentor. Help them understand things better. This not only improves the work environment but also improves your work relationships.

Handling criticism

When you are working with people, at times you will be criticized while at others you will be required to criticize your colleagues or sub-ordinates. Ensure that you take the criticism constructively and look at it as an opportunity to grow. Similarly, while criticizing others choose your words carefully and keep it professional. Destructive criticism will lead to loss of respect and trust. Let your criticism help the other person grow.

IT-preneur

Like an entrepreneur, have a risk-taking attitude. Learn to take responsibility for failures and pride in a job well done.

 Managing spoil sports

While working in a team there will always be one or two people with a negative attitude. This attitude can be contagious. Employ tactics to deal with such people and improve motivation.

E-tiquette

Keep an eye on your e-mails for proper language. Open up the e-mail with a suitable address and end with a thanking note. Your words should convey the correct meaning and invoke the desired action.

Multitasking

As you climb the ladder of success, you will need to handle work from various fields. For example, you will have to interact with your technical team on project success, with the HR department for team appraisal and recruitment, with clients on project requirements or problems etc. Organize and plan to fit in all the required activities into your schedule.

Once you have developed these soft skills along with your technical skills you will find that you are a lot more confident about your capabilities.