How to prepare for the labour market
During your study you already get in contact with the labour market via excursions, project group work, Academic Consultancy Training (ACT), guest lectures of company representatives and internship or thesis. Gaining self-knowledge and focusing on your talents and passions is important to get the position that gives you energy and in which you thrive best in. Herewith the steps to plan your route towards the labour market.
Step 1: Self-reflection
Self-reflection (also known as “personal reflection”) is taking the time to think about, meditate on, evaluate, and give serious thought to your behaviors, thoughts, attitudes, motivations, and desires. It’s the process of diving deep into your thoughts and emotions and motivations and determining the great, “Why?” behind them. It allows you to analyze your life from both a macro and micro level. At a macro level, you can evaluate the overall trajectory of your life. You can see where you’re headed, determine whether you’re happy with the direction, and make adjustments as necessary. At a micro level, you can evaluate your responses to particular circumstances and events.
Student Career Services can help you by offering you career coaching.
Workshops Student Career Services: Core qualities; Empower yourself; Career Compass; Design yourself. See the event calendar for date, time and place:
Curricular activities: Personal Motivation Assesment (ELS51901).
Step 2: Orientation
You have already graduated or are about to, but still don’t know what kind of job you want, or which career to pursue. As a starter in the labour market you have a lot of choices to make. What kind of position? A big company, or small start-up? Start with a traineeship, or go directly for a job in a starting position? The sum of all these questions is: What suits me best?
Student Career Services can help you. Schedule an appointment with one of our Career officers or our Career Coach. Visit our Career Platform for the latest internship or job vacancies.
Workshops Student Career Services: How to find vacancies; Career Compass; Networking; PhD; Working for the EU; How to get into an international organisation. See the event calendar for date, time and place.
Career Events Student Career Services: Career Day; Talk & Toast; Inhouse days. See the event calendar for date, time and place:
Curricular activities: Internship; thesis; Career Exploration (ELS65900); Networking (ELS66900); Entrepreneurial Skills (ELS66100); Management Skills (ELS66300); Pursuing and Realising Entrepreneurial Projects (ELS67700).
Step 3: Preparation
In an increasingly competitive labour market you need to be well prepared for the recruitment and selection processes adopted by graduate employers. Build a strong CV and engage in activities that will enhance your ability to compete effectively in the graduate labour market.
Student Career Services can help you. In the guidelines under Prepare for your application you can find information on subjects, such as CV, motivation letter, LinkedIn, Elevator Pitch and job interview.
Workshops Student Career Services: LinkedIn Basic; LinkedIn Advanced; How to find vacancies; How to write a CV/Motivation letter; Networking; How to get into an international organization; Networking for introverts; Pitch yourself. See the event calendar for date, time and place:
Curricular activities: Career Exploration (ELS65900) – Networking (ELS66900)
Building your CV
Curricular activities:
- Bachelor: Trigger your talent
- Special Tracks: Teacher Training for BSc and MSc students and Entrepreneurship for MSc students.
Professional skills and extracurricular activities
Step 4: Application
After completing the previous steps, you may already feel fully prepared to apply for positions on the labour market. However, before you start sending out your applications, there are some things that can help set you up for success.
Student Career Services can help you. Upon request we can check your CV, motivation letter and/or LinkedIn. Email your documents (Word or pdf) to Studentcareerservices@wur.nl.
Workshops Student Career Services: Pitch yourself; Job Interview Preparation; LinkedIn Basic; How to write a CV/Motivation letter; Networking; Preparation assessment. See the event calendar for date, time and place: