Your career has already started! By Finn Kjerulff, CBS Career Center

How can you boost your CV during your study? Relevant part time student job Internship in Denmark or abroad (at least 10 weeks!) Project and thesis writing in a company Choosing the right electives at home or by exchange abroad Taking more courses in the summer time at a Danish university or abroad Volunteered work for organisations etc.

A starter: What are the companies looking for ? Superior analytical ability Well structured mindset Brilliant communicator and presentator Good performer under all conditions, also under high pressure Passion & commitment Very strong business judgment Very good team player Global mindset and attitudes High knowledge level concerning communication, IT and project management Holistic business view

Part time student jobs A good Danish tradition, gives experience, also about: 1. General business understanding 2. Business culture(s) 3. Learn you to se problems & solutions form a business point of view 4. Give you a more applied point of view 5. Boost your professional competenties 6. Give you excellent opportunities to cooperate about study projects 7. Add to your personal network 8. Maybee you just continue after graduation as a full timer

Internships: Another way to learn and earn (credit, ECTS) Best to do it in the summer time Look for established programmes, higher learning curve! One is enough! Not to long! A part time student job is perhaps better Best to to it after at least 2 years of study (cause to contribution) At least 10 weeks. Be aware of including time afterwards to write a project! Do it abroad – you can eg. substitute an exchange!

How to find an internship in DK Start your search process as soon as possible Don’t only apply at IBM, Microsoft, Danske Bank etc. Apply at all the small & medium size companies, look at their web sites for more info Look at all relevant industries, eg. Advertizing & communication, it related companies (also comsumer entertainment, mobil telephone), science parks, finance companies, public companies Be very aware of your interests and relevant competences before you apply Be aware of that you are in competetion with other student groups An internship is a learning process, be conscious about that!

Projects incl thesis Write them all for companies if possible! Do your homework make research via web Start the process defining your problem and methods Choose your industry and then the potentiel, relevant companies Take care that your problem match a relevant company business problem, take an applied point of view Take contact to a relevant manager in the company, explain your idea in less than a minute, ask for further conversation or a meeting Respect a no go, find another company

Electives & exchange Decide if you want a more narrow, high specialised profile or a broader one where you choose subject from eg. other business areas (technical, business administration, modelling etc.) Look also at other Danish university elective offers, show personal initiative Decide electives which can increase your job ability, expand your platform of competencies If you think it will add value and you have the time: Take one more! One exchange is perhaps enough. Most of you will benefit most at Master’s level. Be aware of that your subjects can be cancelled before you arrive! Have always a plan B! Use eg summer universities here or abroad.

How to contact a company If you call a company, be aware of which person you want to talk to You have only 30 seconds, prepare an elevator speech with the relevant emphasis. Be conscious about: - Why this company and department - Which kind of tasks you want to work with and why - Which competencies and skills you can contribute with - If the company is interested, you can send them in a few minutes your Cv and a cover letter with more details.

Volunteered work You have perhjaps already done some without knowing it? 1. Coach in a sport club or scout platoon 2. Helping children in the neighbourhood to do their homework 3. Been a buddy for exchange students 4. Setting up a club or organisation at the university 5. Been member of the relevant study council/board 4. Helping NGO’s raising or collecting money, new CRM systems etc.

The CV Facts, facts, facts and no bullshit! Easy to skimm and read. Not a novel! Use bullets! Dont’ forget your key qualifications Emphase: - Relevant marks and averages - Projetcs written in or for one or more companies - Relevant students jobs and functions - Electives where you add to increase relevant competencies - Volunteered work where you have got relevant experience - Interests if on competetion level

Tips for the Application It has to be a kind of guideline for reading and interpretating your CV It has to explain all your choices You shall here show that you are a good and well structured communicator It has to leave the reader a good impression about your whole potential It has to be reflecsive, a little humble but also express selfconfidence and that you trust yourself and your mission in the business.

Cover letter You have only one page A4 format!!! Not more than 30 lines! Divide it in 4-5 parts with emphasis on part 2 and 3 Part 1: What you are applying for (company, internships, department and function) Part 2: Why company xx or yy ( challenges, culture, values, career opportunities etc.) Stress always that you come for learning not for teaching!!

Cover letter/2 Part 3: How you can add and contribute to the company. Discribe. selected skills and interests, experiences etc. Don’t lie or boast Part 4: That you can add more information if needed/wanted Part 5: Hope for an interview where you can express much more. Attached or uploaded files (remember them all!)