For me, the past two months have been all about searching for a job 💻 And even though I have been searching in Germany, I thought I could share some general tips with you today, based on my experiences.
1. It’s all about networking!
When I came to KTH (and before Covid-19 started), there were lunch lectures held on campus that you could join for free. At the very beginning of my studies, I joined a lunch lecture about LinkedIn. And even though back then, I just wanted to inform myself about some tricks on this platform, it turned out to be the most valuable job tool in the end! But, there are also many other possibilities to meet companies on campus (or digitally), e.g., through THS Armada (the career fair) or your chapter. In fact, one of my friends recommended me a company that was offering a mentorship programme in her chapter group, and after applying for it, I got in and could gain valuable insights that helped me deciding on the field that I would like to work in. So, keep an eye out – KTH is offering great opportunities to connect with the actual working world!
2. Look around!
This already brings me to the next tip: Start early! This does not necessarily mean you have to apply early, but you should use your (master) studies to already think about what you would like to do afterwards. Especially during university, you have the time and opportunities to talk to companies, professors or simply specialise in your courses and thus earn valuable skills for the working world. Remember that your teachers at KTH have also been working at companies and have done research work before (or even while) teaching you their learnings! Use the opportunity to get first hand insights!
3. Don’t be afraid to ask!
And use your contacts! Professionals appreciate if you take initiative and ask questions about their jobs and the companies they’re working with. Coming back to LinkedIn, I had many talks with people that I had just contacted via the platform. Being straight forward, presenting myself and asking for job opportunities was in most cases a great conversation opener and led to several actual job interviews!
Also, in case you’re wondering where I ended up: I’ll start working in the consultancy area from September on 😊 How I found this job? Actually, not through a “traditional” application, but through networking! This showed me once again how important contacts can be and how much you can learn from simply asking questions and talking to people.
Good luck if you’re also searching for a position!
// Maria
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