order to position themselves as ready to Taking it a step further, Michel warns, “Don’t ask yourself the following questions:
step into this world, students should invest join additional activities just to pad your
time into learning a foreign language, resume – that will be obvious. If you aren’t 1. Are you passionate about this
understanding other cultures and/or going to invest time in it, it is meaningless. field of work?
participating in a global exchange program.” Do fewer things, but get very involved,
especially in positions of leadership.” 2. Can you see yourself learning from the
Get involved people you’re talking about?
There are so many activities that a student Be prepared
can get involved with – but where to begin? Once you have dedicated your time and 3. What will success look like for you – how
It’s important to send a message to energy to accomplish these things and do you envision your career and is this a
potential employers that you take your bolster your resume, you have to be able to step in that direction?
career seriously. To do this, get involved in communicate them effectively in an interview,
relevant organisations long before you begin or else your efforts have been in vain. “Interview companies to see if they are a fit
your job search. For example, if you’re an for you. It is not just the company
engineer, join a professional society such as “Be prepared to talk about the unique conducting an interview. Determine if a
IEEE. This shows that you’re already taking experiences that you’ve had,” said Leah company’s lifestyle and culture is a fit with
action, and going above and beyond. Jamieson, 2007 IEEE President. “It’s up to yours and if you can truly be authentic at
Additionally, active participation in you to create the opportunity during the work,” said Sophie Vandebroek, Ph.D.,
extracurricular activities and organisational interview to make sure that the interviewer IEEE Fellow, Xerox Chief Technology Officer
membership will clearly differentiate you sees the whole person, and not just the and President of the Xerox Innovation
from the competition. transcript. Have your elevator speech ready Group. “Above all else, make sure you are
– a one minute synopsis of your skills, happy with the job you are doing and the
“Get involved in student activities at experience and achievements. You should team you are part of. With happiness
university, as well as professional be able to talk about how you’ve developed comes passion and the willingness to take
groups,” said Howard Michel, Ph.D., IEEE a rich set of professional skills that they risks. This is key to being a great innovator
Region 1 Director. “It shows you have can’t risk passing up!” and a great leader.”
the initiative to do things and get
additional experience, which can translate Find something that makes you happy If you follow these simple steps, you’ll
into real world experience on your In this market, people often make the not only be head and shoulders above
resume. Involvement in professional mistake of joining a team that isn’t right the competition, but most importantly,
groups shows that you’re taking your for them, as opposed to selecting both you’ll be passionate about the career
prospective career seriously, and provides an interesting job as well as a great you choose, which will position you for
a great opportunity to network.” company. Before accepting a position, great success!
GRAD MAG 47
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