Every year, thousands of people around the world make decisions about what subjects they should study, where they will find the best courses to suit them, and which vacancies they should apply for in business and industry. These decisions are fundamental, and getting them right is not always easy. The purpose of this article is to give you some tips and food for thought when you are confronted with these types of decisions.
What
and Where Should I Study?
Given
the increasing choice available in terms of degree subjects and place
of study, getting this first step right is crucial. Getting a good qualification
is the 'passport' to your career. Researching what is out there in the
market place is the first step you will need to take.
- As the information
age comes into fuller maturity, the Internet becomes an increasingly
popular source of information, as well as an interactive tool for finding
out what is on the market, and in some cases, actually applying for
courses.
- Talking to people who have studied at the same university and are now a few years into their professional careers is useful in giving clues as to the type of career path you might have access to after graduating.
- Identify people who seem to have successful careers, and find out what qualifications they have and where they were obtained.
- Attend university
fairs, which give you advice on what courses are available.
- Visit recruitment fairs, where a wide range of firms are represented.
After you have completed your research and think you know what you want to study, you will need to make a decision. Different types of courses, they duration and learning methodology will vary from one country to another. Here are some questions you might like to ask.
- Does the course include work experience in companies, such as summer placements or an industrial year?
- Will I be able to improve or learn new languages as part of the programme?
- Does the institution have relationships with other universities locally or abroad? If so, what are they and how do they work/
- Does the institution maintain good links with industry and business? If so, how?
- Does the course allow me to specialise in a particular area?
Finally, graduates are increasingly obtaining a second or even third degree. You need to ask yourself whether this extra qualification will give you a competitive advantage over other applicants in the labour market. Essentially, further specialisation in a technical subject can be attractive to employers, such as pharmaceuticals or telecommunications companies. The same can be said for graduates completing a business degree or MBA after an initial technical qualification. Whatever your personal motivation, you will need to weigh up the pros and cons of the extra time studying against the returns in the work place as part of your career.
During
your Studies
You
now have a great opportunity to build up your skills. Although your main
focus is likely to be your course, do not let this get in the way of other
learning opportunities. Make the most of your long holiday breaks by working
in businesses where you will have a chance to make business contacts and
build up a professional network. Maintain the relationships you build,
so that when you need advice or are looking for a job, people will be
prepared to give you references and support your applications. Try working
for organisations you would like to apply for later. A small local firm
is a world apart from a big multi-national - get experience of both environments
to help you define what suits you best.
Graduates
- What do Companies Look for?
The
graduate recruitment market is very competitive, so companies need to
make the right decision in relation to the graduate vacancies they have.
International companies make huge investments in the way graduates are
recruited and then developed as part of their career. The way companies
recruit their graduates will depend on the vacancies (type and volume),
the country in question, and the typical practices or culture of the company.
The following will give you some tips on how to market yourself, and what recruiters look for at different stages of the recruitment process.
The Resume
- Get the details on the resumes and covering letter right. Address the correspondence to the right person - if you do not know, find out.
- Be sensitive to the fact that some companies may prefer a particular resume format, or even use an application form.
- Be aware that applying for positions in different countries carries with it certain do's and don'ts. An American resume looks very different to a German application.
- Adapt your resume or covering letter, depending on whether you are applying for a specific position in response to an advert, for a training scheme, or a general application.
- Say what you want
to say in your covering letter in the first two paragraphs.
- Keep your resume concise and factual.
The
Interview
Graduate
recruitment normally includes a first-round interview, to assess certain
key behaviours. The interviewer will be looking for examples of the skills
required to perform the job. In large organisations, employees are expected
to demonstrate competence in behaviour, or 'softer' skills, depending
on their level of professional experience and the position they are looking
for. These organisations will have processes in place to assess and evaluate
these skills through all the states of a person's career development.
Consequently graduates at entry level into an organisation will also be
expected to demonstrate some of these skills as the very beginning of
the career management cycle. So what happens in the interview, and what
do you need to remember?
- Do some research on the company before the interview - check their website if they have one.
- Prepare questions and ask them about topics such as career development opportunities and training programmes for graduates.
- Make notes of questions you would like to ask at the end of an interview. This shows that you are listening.
- When the interviewer asks you open questions, such as 'How do you…?' 'Why do you…?' 'Give me an example of…?' 'What were the circumstances…?' Give detailed responses with examples.
- Ask the interviewer for clarification if you are unclear what they are asking.
- Ask what the recruitment process is, and what you can expect in terms of timing or feedback.
- Be honest and open. The interviewer is not there to catch you out, but to make a decision as to whether to forward you to the next stage in the process.
Final
Stages
If
you are successful at the first interview, you will be asked to attend
a second interview with either a future colleague or manager. This interview
is likely to assess your technical skills 'in-depth', in relation to the
graduate vacancy. A final interview is only one way of making the recruitment
decision.
More companies are using an 'assessment centre' to decide which graduates will be recruited into their business. This type of event gives graduates the opportunity to meet different people from the same company, and the company is able to assess candidates collectively and objectively. The events vary in duration from half days to a weekend, and are made up of a number of individual exercises, group problem-solving exercises, and several final interviews. Often, the candidates are required to complete psychometric tests or occupational personality questionnaires, which provide more information about them as part of a final evaluation report. The same behaviour is measured several times during the event by different observers, allowing objectivity in the assessment. At the end of the event, the candidates are discussed individually, and the final report is shared amongst all observers. A decision is made for each candidate depending on his or her performance; some companies even have a policy of informing candidates of the final decision within 24 hours of the event.
If you are not successful at an assessment centre, you can ask for feedback on your performance, and use this information to improve the next time round with other organisations. If you are successful, your evaluation report is often used as a starting point for your career development in your new position.
Getting the decision right is important for you, as well as the company you will join. Working in a position that suits your skills will provide benefits for all parties involved, and give you the greatest chance of having a successful and fulfilling career. Remember that you are likely to apply to a number of different companies, and unlikely to be successful first time around. You will need to persevere and remember some of these tips!
Author
Chris
Pether
Clifford Chance
