Work, Job etc No spam

[CM]

Ok in 5 months time i will be on the look out for a job, well i am right now but finish my masters in 5 months. So all of you who are older than me, that is like 99% of SYM, any advice for someone who has no clue if he can even get a job? Good advice bad advice i dont care as long as it can help me out!

[Fairmaiden]

There's a book called "What Colour Is Your Parachute?" that's about choosing a career path. It's well-known and should be widely available where you are or on the net.

You must have some idea about what you wanna do?!

[Mr Sleep]

Well is this job going to be permanent or are you looking for purely part time? - btw, erm, how did you get on with the essay?

[Karembeu]

Originally posted by CM
Ok in 5 months time i will be on the look out for a job, well i am right now but finish my masters in 5 months. So all of you who are older than me, that is like 99% of SYM, any advice for someone who has no clue if he can even get a job? Good advice bad advice i dont care as long as it can help me out!

What exactly have you been studying?!?
(Need some background info just in case I could give you a useful tip or two)...

[CM]

right the essay will pm you in two secs.

What am i doing?

I have a BA in International Relations and Economics - Joint Degree something like specialization
BA in Managment
Minor in IR and migration and refugee affairs - dont you just hate teachers that push you into something you couldnt care less about?

Presently my masters is in International Law and Economics: Mainly Trade related, WTO, EC Law and US law. Covering Competition, Anti-dumping, developmental economics you name it.

You want work experience so far as well?

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by CM
You want work experience so far as well?

It would give us some indication of other possible jobs you could get into.

[CM]

Work experience: 3 internships:

1. Universal Postal Union - 3 months

2. Swiss Federal Office for refugee - 3 months

3. International Labour Organization - 3 months

[Mr Sleep]

Ah well the postal service pays pretty well, the early morning are a problem but once you get used to that you should do pretty well for yourself, although you say Union, I take it you did some kind of admin work? This is purely short term I take it?

[CM]

It is actually a UN organization that establishes letter and electronic mail facilities in third world states. I was working in regard to establishing economic indicators for monitoring postal growth and development in the third world.

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by CM
It is actually a UN organization that establishes letter and electronic mail facilities in third world states. I was working in regard to establishing economic indicators for monitoring postal growth and development in the third world.

Heh, well not quite the same thing

So perhaps you should go for a job where you can travel?

[CM]

Nope But it is unheard of really. I only know about it because i got the internship there. Otherwise i had no clue what it did. My internship experience is mainly with UN related Organizations, as they are all based in geneva.

What i want advice with is how to get a job, interviews and CV type stuff....I know what i want to be. I want to be rich and famous

[Mr Sleep]

So can you get a job at any of those organisations?

Well I'll give you some better advice tomorrow, hopefully. I have to go to bed though.

[CM]

Good night. I pmed yoi about the paper, just tell me where you want it sent

[C Elegans]

Congrats in advance, CM Now, the most important thing when looking for a job, is that you know what you want. Both what kind of job you want (in what area etc), what type of tasks you'd like to do and what you would like to achive with your job. If you already have a clear idea about this, then you are already done with the most fundamental part.

So, how do you get there? Well in my experience, the more important position one applies for, the more focus there is on personal qualities and personal relations. The importance of social skills cannot be underestimated.

Many jobs, especially those who require special qualifications, never reach the formal job market but go through contacts. So use all of your contact net, as well as look for a job the formal way.

A CV should be relatively brief, describing chronologically your education, your degrees and the jobs you have had and for how long. You should also mention whatever skills you may have that are not part of your formal education (ie languages you speak, special interestes etc) and a brief paragraph of more personal character may be included.

Interviews are a crucial part of getting a job. I think it is very important to be sincere and relaxed. Don't focus on trying to figure out what answers they would like to hear and never try to present yourself as a person you are not. And don't rehearse a lot in beforehand (unless you are extremely nervous and risk having a mental block of some kind) since this often gives a mechanical and boring impression. Just be your normal self, and don't be afraid of showing you are a bit nervous or need to think a bit about a question. It is not a disadvantage since it only confirms you are highly motivated and really want the job, and you consider the questions seriously rather than having a set of standard replies you come up with an every interview. Don't be afraid to joke, and carefully monitor how you feel towards people who are going to be your closest collaborators and bosses.

Good luck!

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by CM
Good night. I pmed yoi about the paper, just tell me where you want it sent

I am fairly sure that I sent through a PM to you

As to your job thing, I think CE has said pretty much everything I would have said