You’ve passed the first hurdle and secured the internship that you want! You are pumped and eager to impress your boss. Many students secure jobs from being converted after an internship and it is vital to make a good impression for future references. Here are 5 ways to impress your boss and secure a conversion offer!
1. First Impressions First impressions are vital. Arriving on time and dressing the part is important and there are no excuses. This extends to not being the first to leave the office, not taking an excessively long lunch hour and keeping up with your professional look even if other colleagues dress very casually. At the same time, strike and balance and don’t overdo it. Everyone is aware of how much work interns are actually assigned, staying excessively late in the office just makes you look foolish. Likewise, there is no need to turn up in a full suit every day. Be sure to be polite and introduce yourself to your colleagues even if they don’t make the first move. Talk to people you bump into at the pantry, say Hi to the receptionist and offer to help if someone looks like they need it. All of these small actions will help build an informal network and as people are more aware of your presence, you will have more opportunities to shine.
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The job interview is the last hurdle to securing an internship or job. These are 3 common mistakes that should be avoided!
1. Not Being Prepared There is a direct correlation between the amount of preparation and how well a candidate performs during an interview. A list of issues that every candidate should keep in mind is as follows: · Information on the company Go through the company website, paying attention to their mission statement and recent highlights that the company has chosen to spotlight. · Information on the interviewers Read management profiles. · Industry knowledge / Current Affairs related to your field It is expected that you possess the requisite knowledge about your industry and you should also keep abreast of any major news that affects your industry. · The job scope of your role This is critical and should be the number one thing in the back of your mind as you craft your cover letter, CV and answers during the interview. Everything should point towards the same end result of you being an excellent fit for the role. More tips on how to craft a winning resume and cover letter here. · Expected remuneration Wait for your employer to make the first offer. If asked, you can simply state that you expect a market-competitive rate or if you are applying for a role you really want, you can state that pay is negotiable. 1. Who you are
Some applicants make the mistake of assuming that they do not need to include “basic” things (e.g. education) that are already in their CV. This is unwise and makes it difficult for the employer to assess you accurately. A winning cover letter should contain everything you want your employer to know, the main “meat” of your application with all your best and most relevant accomplishments and experience. Your CV is the backbone of your application, containing a chronological history of your experience and providing details. Thus, a winning cover letter begins by introducing who you are, your academic background and what job you are applying for. Taking your first job is an important milestone in your career. More often than not, landing a great job can set the tone and pace of your future trajectory. That being said, a “great” job is different for every individual, and here are four factors to consider in your job-hunt:
1. Your Job Scope Brand name VS. Job Scope. This is an eternal dilemma that many graduates deal with. A big company with a brand name can open many doors but taking a position in a boutique firm or smaller company can allow you to take on an enhanced role. Take a step-back and think about where you want to see yourself in 5, 10 years. While life is unpredictable, getting a sense of your big-picture goals can help you decide what kind of company you want to begin your career with. 1. Prioritize
Make sure you are organized about the deadlines. Plan ahead on how you should tackle your workload, and ensure that your strategy maximizes efficiency. You know yourself best and how you work. Be realistic about the amount of time required for each task. When your boss gives you an additional task but you honestly cannot manage, politely let him/her know about your current workload and ask him/her which task you should prioritize. This is an excellent way to subtly remind your bosses of your existing workload and he/she will usually re-divert the task once he/she is aware that you already have so much on your plate. If you have exhausted traditional ways of looking of a job or you have had no replies from companies, here are 3 additional ways to boost your job search:
1. Re-examine your Cover Letter and CV If you have had no call-backs from companies, it is time to re-examine your cover letter and CV. Are you giving off the wrong impression? Are you highlighting all your key strengths and accomplishments? (Additional tips on how to improve your resume here). It leaves a negative impression if you keep re-sending your application. So try and get it right the first time! If you don’t get a call-back, you can follow-up once (at most twice) to enquire about your application status. If you continually don’t get a response, just take the hint and leave it. Otherwise, you may end up on a HR blacklist. To stand-out from the crowd and get hired, there are a number of qualities that a winning candidate should possess. Follow the ‘AAA’ Rule and you will be set to succeed:
1. Aptitude The first thing that employers look out for is aptitude. This means the ability the do the job and do it well. Common indicators include GPA, academic awards or achievements, winning competitions, publishing papers, being a research assistant etc. Other factors that indicate that you can do a job well include showcasing skill-sets like time management, communication and interpersonal skills. This can be shown by showing that were able to juggle a busy schedule and balance co-curricular activities, or where you coordinated an event or mentored others. Whether you are looking to pursue a graduate degree straight after university or a couple of years after being in the workforce, pursuing a masters or MBA can be a daunting decision.
It is first important to determine your Why? Why are you doing this, for whom and to what end. Being clear about your short-term and long-term goals will help you to determine if a graduate degree will further those goals and this is what you truly want for yourself. Conversely, it is not a good idea to pursue a masters just if you are unsure or uncertain about your goals, or you are using this as a stop-gap measure. It is sometimes advisable for graduates to work for a couple of years before embarking on a graduate degree. This allows you to obtain a more accurate sense of what you are passionate and interested about, any skill-sets that you lack and to be able to envision your long-term career goals more accurately. Questions that you can think about include: · Where do I see myself in 10 years? · How can a graduate degree help me achieve my goals? · What are my weaknesses or gaps in my skill set? · How can I get to my boss’ position one day? · Are there alternatives to boost my qualifications without pursuing a graduate degree? Singapore is one of the most popular places to work and live in Asia for foreigners. Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin relocated to Singapore in 2009. Singapore is one of the safest and cleanest countries in the world, with an advanced economy and thriving job market.
At the same time, it can be difficult for foreigners to know where to start if they want to find a job or internship in Singapore. Click here to read our guide to finding a job or internship in Singapore. Contact us at info@successgogo.com if you have any further questions. Let's be honest. The past couple of years have not been fantastic for the finance industry as a whole. To get a job in investment banking these days, you truly have to be able to stand out from the crowd. IBD interviewers are notoriously demanding, so make sure that you rehearse responses to commonly asked investment banking questions, and then some.
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