We’re travelling to the Netherlands. A small, charming country that has the highest population density in the European Union. On average a whopping 488 people live on one km2 in the Netherlands. Of those 488 people, an average of 53 are master graduates. This means that you are certainly not the only one applying for graduate level jobs. This is not meant to scare you, so stick around even if it does as it will get better.
You might have a very clear sense of where you want to go once you have bagged your coveted degree(s), no clue whatsoever or have a general direction in mind. Regardless of the situation that applies to you, learning more about what is “out there” on the job market is valuable. Some of you will be thinking “leave me alone, I’m not graduating for at least another 2+ years, there is plenty of time left”. There certainly is! Yet, first-mover advantages are not reserved for the big innovators. Reaching out to recruiters on in-house days, recruitment dinners, conferences (all these are either hosted or promoted by Synergy) will help you find out your likes and dislikes. A well-defined image of where you want to go can set you apart from other candidates early on. It allows you to take and adjust some decisions towards your goals. So, whether the remainder of your studies is about as long as Usain Bolt’s professional footballing career or more like a Tolkien epic, reach out to a recruiter or someone in an interesting field of work this week.
The Radboud University realizes the importance of orientation too and is working hard to connect her aspiring alumni to the business world. One example is the integration of the Da Vinci series in the thesis trajectories of master specializations like International Business and Strategic Management. During the series, companies will present themselves at several occasions and organize a workshop or challenge you with a business case. These sessions allow you to practice some of the skills you have learned during your bachelor and master education in a low stake environment. So, do not worry, at Radboud you are not alone in your journey towards the labour market.
CBS, 2018. https://longreads.cbs.nl/trends18/maatschappij/cijfers/onderwijs/
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