Manuelle Malot, Head of EDHEC Alumni Career Centre
Job hunting is very similar to launching a service offer on the market, in other words it's a marketing strategy whereby you offer your specific skills to a specific market, namely the job market. Read on and discover the method recommended by Manuelle Malot, Head of EDHEC Alumni Career Centre. Just like when you launch a product or a service on a market, you need to work on all the different steps in order. There's no point in rushing off to write your CV and cover letters first: you wouldn't write a company brochure before you'd studied the market and decided on the best offer, would you? So start by adopting the following five-step strategy: 1. Study the market: the sectors, functions, business organisations and locations 2. Draw up your offer after assessing your skills and motivation 3. Advertise the offer: writing your applications 4. Pitch the offer: the recruitment process 5. Close the deal: signing the job contract Step 1: study the market: understand the job market A careful study of the job market will help you to target your applications and prepare your interviews properly. Don't forget that, like all markets, the job market is self-regulating and follows the same laws of supply and demand... Get as much background information as possible about the sector you've identified. As you gradually get a clearer picture of the environment, you'll become more aware of what you can offer the market. Find out about the latest market trends: check out job websites, APEC, your institution's career centre, recruitment handbooks, specialised revues, etc. Check out the small ads: even if they often ask for experienced graduates, they'll help you to understand the main trends in your sector and to visualise where you want your career to go: in other words, to be ahead of the game. Go to trade fairs, specialised fairs, job recruitment fairs, school forums... Explore international opportunities : international recruitment forums: international voluntary positions for firms and embassies: high potential programmes (see the video) Step 2: draw up your offer ... draw up your career plan You're offering a service, so you need to define your characteristics and, in particular, the advantages you can offer. This is the first stage of the famous career plan...a stage that is too often neglected and that is simply intended to help you learn who you are and what you want to do.
- Begin with your knowledge: your academic programme, your level in languages and IT.
- Think about your know-how: your past experience, including any responsibilities in clubs and societies.
- Ascertain your interpersonal and soft skills: your interests, sports, social activities and cultural activities, and any stays abroad.
- Identify your competencies but also think about your motivation: are you interested in large or small companies, post-operational or functional jobs, abroad or at home, which part of the country...?
- Think about your management and communication style.
Step 3: advertise your offer ... write your CV, cover letter and application This stage involves writing up your CV, cover letters and the job applications. Next, send your applications to a target market, making a clear difference between speculative applications and answers to adverts. Don't forget to sound out your personal network for any interesting tips you might be able to follow up on (see the video). Step 4: pitch your offer ... going through the recruitment processes This stage involves selling your application by preparing and successfully managing recruitment interviews as well as the many new recruitment tools developed by businesses: tests assessment centres Step 5: close the deal. This involves signing your contract and is preceded by the salary negotiation which requires the same vigilance as a sales contract.
- Always ask to meet your direct line manager and a few of your colleagues before making up your mind.
- Get in touch with any of your former higher education institution peers who are currently working for the company. They'll be your experts' to help you decide before you sign on the dotted line.
- Salary negotiations must always be done before the company draws up the final contract. Do not try to renegotiate on the day you sign the contract.
- Don't be afraid or embarrassed to bring up the question of pay. Make sure you clarify any peripheral aspects of your salary and benefits package.
- Read the contract carefully and get someone else to read it too. Don't be shy about asking the company for clarifications or getting advice from a company lawyer.
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