答え - n. answer, reply (Japanese - English Dictionary http://linear.mv.com/cgi-bin/j-e/dict)
The time when I started the series of posts called Placement Adventures was roughly the time when my adventures actually started. In the past several weeks I have been rewriting CVs, writing Covering Letters and filling up Job Applications. it is so much work and you never know if it is going to pay off.
The time when I started the series of posts called Placement Adventures was roughly the time when I started checking my e-mail twenty time a day, sometimes every half an hour, eagerly waiting for an answer from one of the four companies I have already applied for.
The time when I started the series of Posts called Placement Adventures was the time when I started praying for an answer (and oh my God, it sounds so cheesy and film-like but in reality imagine a more whnier and desperate kinda way)
At two minutes to two o'clock today (Oh, my God even the time is epic) I got the first invitation to stage two - Online Assessment Centre. Finally one of the X companies decided I am not a total screw-up, finally someone decided to give me a chance.
Now my Placement Adventures continue and I will be needing help...
Monday, 24 November 2008
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Placement Adventures #5 (S'appliquer à )
S'appliquer à: to apply to (Collins French-English Dictionary)
Probably the most frustrating part of my placement adventures has to be the online applications I have to submit. Of course the applications vary between the different companies. There is one thing in common, they are all perfectly appalling. It would be so much easier to just send your CV with a Covering Letter to an e-mail. I can probably divide the different characteristics of the online application method in several points:
1) Registration I cannot believe how many websites I had to register in. I am currently a member of the Toyota, Peugeot, Kraft Foods and Intel websites. And bear in mind that I have just started applying, I haven't even submitted applications in all of the companies. But you always have to register. Bottom line, I wake up with 5 extra e-mail every day!
2) Online CV The most frustrating thing in the online application process is the so called 'online CV'. Most of the companies want you to, literally, write a new CV for them. In some cases it is even more detailed than your normal one. In other, it is much shorter. Only after you make your online CV you can attach and submit your normal CV. I just don't see the point in sending two CVs. Do you?
3) Questionnaire After the online CV most companies would ask you to fill in a online questionnaire. Up to ten questions which you need to answer in up to 150 words. You can imagine it takes so much time.
4) Online Covering Letter Some companies want you to write your 'motivation' in your application. Others just want you to give an answer to a specific question concerning the company.
5) Online Tests Some companies would start testing you from the very application: " In 2000 words answer the question - What is the effect of the economics crisis in the company X's industry."
The bottom line is - be prepared with time and patience!
Probably the most frustrating part of my placement adventures has to be the online applications I have to submit. Of course the applications vary between the different companies. There is one thing in common, they are all perfectly appalling. It would be so much easier to just send your CV with a Covering Letter to an e-mail. I can probably divide the different characteristics of the online application method in several points:
1) Registration I cannot believe how many websites I had to register in. I am currently a member of the Toyota, Peugeot, Kraft Foods and Intel websites. And bear in mind that I have just started applying, I haven't even submitted applications in all of the companies. But you always have to register. Bottom line, I wake up with 5 extra e-mail every day!
2) Online CV The most frustrating thing in the online application process is the so called 'online CV'. Most of the companies want you to, literally, write a new CV for them. In some cases it is even more detailed than your normal one. In other, it is much shorter. Only after you make your online CV you can attach and submit your normal CV. I just don't see the point in sending two CVs. Do you?
3) Questionnaire After the online CV most companies would ask you to fill in a online questionnaire. Up to ten questions which you need to answer in up to 150 words. You can imagine it takes so much time.
4) Online Covering Letter Some companies want you to write your 'motivation' in your application. Others just want you to give an answer to a specific question concerning the company.
5) Online Tests Some companies would start testing you from the very application: " In 2000 words answer the question - What is the effect of the economics crisis in the company X's industry."
The bottom line is - be prepared with time and patience!
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Placement Adventures # 4 (Curriculum Vitae)
Curriculum Vitae: a summary of your academic and work history (The Princeton Dictionary)
In other words, the one way you can tell your future employer who you are, in an extremely concise way of course. There are three huge disadvantages CV:
- You don't really have a choice for the format (for your placement CV that is)
- It is so extremely impersonal (I mean, you can't even state anything in first person)
- You have exactly two pages to describe the best of all your life!
And yet, that is your best shot at getting your future employer to hire you, and what's more - IT IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE! Therefore, right now everyone I know from uni is constantly asking for tips, writing, rewriting and obsessing about their CV. Of course, everyone includes me. I spent two days writing my "new" CV hoping it would be good enough. The worst thing is, I can never know if some particular employer is going to like it. So, as the placement office advisers said: "Just send it to as many companies as you can!"
To be honest, I have had plenty of support from the Placement Office when writing my CV and, yet, there is never a guarantee, is there? In the end of the day, all one can do is hope that his done a good job enough making his academic and work achievements seem impressive. All that is left after that is WAIT...
PS: I have just added a free messaging service, you can send a free text message to any mobile in the world. I just tried it and it is working just fine. You have to register real fast first to get a password sent, but it is all free. Enjoy!
In other words, the one way you can tell your future employer who you are, in an extremely concise way of course. There are three huge disadvantages CV:
- You don't really have a choice for the format (for your placement CV that is)
- It is so extremely impersonal (I mean, you can't even state anything in first person)
- You have exactly two pages to describe the best of all your life!
And yet, that is your best shot at getting your future employer to hire you, and what's more - IT IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE! Therefore, right now everyone I know from uni is constantly asking for tips, writing, rewriting and obsessing about their CV. Of course, everyone includes me. I spent two days writing my "new" CV hoping it would be good enough. The worst thing is, I can never know if some particular employer is going to like it. So, as the placement office advisers said: "Just send it to as many companies as you can!"
To be honest, I have had plenty of support from the Placement Office when writing my CV and, yet, there is never a guarantee, is there? In the end of the day, all one can do is hope that his done a good job enough making his academic and work achievements seem impressive. All that is left after that is WAIT...
PS: I have just added a free messaging service, you can send a free text message to any mobile in the world. I just tried it and it is working just fine. You have to register real fast first to get a password sent, but it is all free. Enjoy!
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Placement Adventures # 3 (Far Far Away)
On a floor far far away (actually 6th) in the Aston Main Building you can find a very extraordinary room - The Placement Office. I have talked with so many people from so many universities and the Aston Business School Placement office is the most useful place for a student on the quest for a placement. Even the other schools in Aston don't have the office. There are three main features to it:
1) Placement Office Briefing Sessions
For me these lectures have been the most useful feature of the placement office. They literally taught me how to write a proper CV and cover letter.
2) CV and Cover letter check
The CV and Cover letter check is the bets thing for a placement student. Keep in the you can have specialized companies check your CV but that will cost up to £200. In the placement office it's free! (God I love free stuff!)
3) Website
The website has, for me, being the perfect planning tool of all the stuff I have to do to get a placement, starting from choosing an employer, a position, writing a proper CV and then a proper cover letter.
4) Appointments
Hopefully my time will come to use the 15 minute appointments. A student can have a mock interview and practice what he/she is going to say on the actual job interview!
5) etc. ask for more!
Oops, my briefing session is starting!
1) Placement Office Briefing Sessions
For me these lectures have been the most useful feature of the placement office. They literally taught me how to write a proper CV and cover letter.
2) CV and Cover letter check
The CV and Cover letter check is the bets thing for a placement student. Keep in the you can have specialized companies check your CV but that will cost up to £200. In the placement office it's free! (God I love free stuff!)
3) Website
The website has, for me, being the perfect planning tool of all the stuff I have to do to get a placement, starting from choosing an employer, a position, writing a proper CV and then a proper cover letter.
4) Appointments
Hopefully my time will come to use the 15 minute appointments. A student can have a mock interview and practice what he/she is going to say on the actual job interview!
5) etc. ask for more!
Oops, my briefing session is starting!
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Placement Adventures # 2 (Meet the X)
This week I will use X for every company that has had or will have a presentation at Aston. It is unbelievable how many companies are interested in having interns from our university. I did not realise how amazing that is until I talked with a friend of mine who is from a different university and unfortunately hasn't had the same 'luck'. But is it luck? No, it is probably university connections, the good performance of previous interns or postgraduates, or maybe even our Business School rank place. So, prospective students beware of the internship opportunities you are going to have once you get here.
I have been so busy last couple of weeks that I did not even manage to go to half of the presentations. There is at least one every day of the week! Here are some of the companies that I managed to go to (only in the first week of presentations)
I will return to this list tomorrow and give a little feedback on the company presentations.
I have been so busy last couple of weeks that I did not even manage to go to half of the presentations. There is at least one every day of the week! Here are some of the companies that I managed to go to (only in the first week of presentations)
I will return to this list tomorrow and give a little feedback on the company presentations.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Placement Adventures #1
The second year brings one horrible thing - Placement Search.
It seems like every single student is searching for his/her placement. How can you tell - there are three questions anyone can ask you through the day:
- So, are you gong to company X's presentation?
- So, how is the placement search going?
- Did you find a placement yet?
Of course, it always seems that the person asking you is one step ahead and is just trying to rub it in your face. Thank got there are so much help from the Placement Office. It my LAST HOPE! Talking about the Placement Office, I have not given you any updates on any placement stuff yet, so this week is the official placement week in my blog.
It seems like every single student is searching for his/her placement. How can you tell - there are three questions anyone can ask you through the day:
- So, are you gong to company X's presentation?
- So, how is the placement search going?
- Did you find a placement yet?
Of course, it always seems that the person asking you is one step ahead and is just trying to rub it in your face. Thank got there are so much help from the Placement Office. It my LAST HOPE! Talking about the Placement Office, I have not given you any updates on any placement stuff yet, so this week is the official placement week in my blog.
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