How to find your (dream) project

19 October 2015

Wencke Kieft - Career Service Sciencecareerservice@science.ru.nl

Dream project?

Isn’t it good enough to find a host organisation?

Step 1: Don’t start using Google to find your project

Step 1: It all starts with you

• Who am I?• What am I good at, what do I have to offer?• What do I want to learn?• Why SMI/ what makes it different/ emphasize the advantages

Share this so others can help you!

Step 2: Get inspired and make your wish list

Make a list of (minimum) 10 organisations. Use:

- LinkedIn and other social media

- Theses of former SMI students

- Online boards like stageplaza.nl, aisec, stagemotor, nationalevacaturebank.nl, afstudeerstage.nl etc

- ‘Duurzame stage hub’

Step 3: Contact

Look at the ‘hiring process’ through the managers’ eyes 1.       Problem, question, more work, project2.       Solve within organisation3.       Consider new employee, consultant, temp, intern4.       Search in own network5.       HR department, check open applicants and vacancy on website6.       CV screening and selection7.       Interview

At what point would you like to enter this process?

(re)define your profile/ pitch/ question and start calling/ e-mailing

What to do if:

• I contacted the manager and he advises me to upload my cv and motivation on their website or send an open application to hr@companyname.com?

• Make sure HR knows that you’re in contact with manager x (start your motivation with reference to the conversation you had with manager X)

• What if they say: just sent me a proposal?• Write a brief proposal according to the thesis (or a few theses) that was most appealing to you.

State that this is an example, and make clear that any other project or idea can be discussed. Add your cv with personal profile.

• They don’t reply to your (open) application?• You may expect a reply within 10 days. Try again but stay polite.

• They rejected your application?• Call back and ask, ask, ask. Find out if this is a place you would like to work after graduation.

How can you stay in touch.