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Roelle Ann Santa Maria

June 24th, 2021

Your future, your way: insider top tips and insights to stand out to your employers on the job

0 comments | 3 shares

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Roelle Ann Santa Maria

June 24th, 2021

Your future, your way: insider top tips and insights to stand out to your employers on the job

0 comments | 3 shares

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

For some, this may be a time of uncertainty around career options and opportunities, making applications, or perhaps how you’ll fit into a new company and team that’s currently operating online.

With this in mind, as part of our summer careers offer: Your future, your way, LSE Careers spoke with several employers to get their top tips and insights, as well as their thoughts on some of the more common myths we hear.

This blog covers’ employers’ top tips and strategies on how students can make the most of their experience and stand out to their employers while they’re on the job with the following questions:

  1. Lots of graduates are starting work virtually this year. What are your top tips for making the most of the first 6 months in their new role?  
  2. Many students will be joining virtual internship programmes this summer. What would your advice be to make the most of these opportunities and how can they stand out to the employer?

Lots of graduates are starting work virtually this year. What are your top tips for making the most of the first 6 months in their new role?  

Natalie Luyt, Analyst at Economic Insight & Anthony Zhang, Consultant at Economic Insight

  • Do not be afraid to ask for help and make use of your company platform, for example Microsoft Teams or Zoom. 99% of employees will be happy that you reached out to them (either through a quick message or call) and will be very helpful and happy that you come across approachable.
  • Take part in any social online activity that the company has organised, this will help you form connections with your colleagues that extend beyond ‘the office’.
  • Turn on your video when you have calls with colleagues and/or clients as this shows confidence and will help the online work experience feel much more engaging.

Katherine McAteer, Recruitment Advisor, ROPES & GRAY 

  • It can be more difficult to build relationships with peers and make friends in new roles, so organise to meet with your teammates for informal catch-ups and zoom drinks! Making friends in the workplace is invaluable as they provide you with support and help along the way. 
  • Now we are so used to working in the virtual environment, companies provide comprehensive virtual inductions and know how to onboard you from home. My advice would be to relax and try to enjoy it, also be enthusiastic and ensure you take plenty of breaks to manage zoom fatigue! 

Rebecca McEwan, Senior Entry Level Recruitment Manager, Oliver Wyman*

  • It is different starting working virtually than in person but know that everyone in your firm will be there to support you and help you navigate the firm.  I think a few of the most important tips I would suggest are:
  • Ensure that you put in structured breaks for yourself and also a lunch, therefore forcing yourself to step away often so you can help to retain focus.
  • Be very transparent with your manager about your work life balance and make sure you flag with your manager or your talent manager when it is not good so you can try and work on it together to improve it;
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  No one expects you do know everything and with any new job there is an expected steep learning curve. It’s better to ask the questions early rather than get to the deadline and it turn out you misunderstood what you needed to do.  Whilst it can be a bit more difficult to ask questions virtually as there isn’t someone sitting beside you, don’t be afraid to pick up the phone or message your manager.
  • Sign up to as many schemes or indeed propose some of your own to help meet people in the firm (for example, coffee chats, virtual events etc.) It’s important to try and build a network.
  • Remember that you are not alone, you will be one of many new joiners to a firm that started virtually and whilst we sit by ourselves it can feel isolating, you will have a wide network of people across the firm who will be really looking forward to working with you.

Jenna Luca, Campus Recruiting associate, Huron Consulting Group

  • Network with employees, initiate coffee chats with employees.
  • Raise your hand to learn about new projects.
  • Set goals for yourself that align with your company values.

Jenna Luca, Campus Recruiting associate, Huron Consulting Group

  • Network with employees, initiate coffee chats with employees
  • Raise your hand to learn about new projects
  • Set goals for yourself that align with your company values

Tashima Dally, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Cornerstone Research

  • Set up an appropriate workspace. Ensure you have a workspace created that is fully functional.
  • Set communication standards. As you get to know your new team members, one of your first questions to them should be: What’s the best or easiest way to communicate with you?
  • Get to know your colleagues. Attend virtual social events (if offered) and set up 1:1 meetings with your colleagues

Michelle Costello, Talent Acquisition Coordinator, Charles River Associates

  • Get to know your team – Building relationships with the people you work with is so important, invest time in getting to know them. This can be difficult to do in a virtual environment but one to do this is by getting involved in social events, committees, wellness activities etc.
  • Check in with your manager via video on a regular basis to discuss performance expectations, goals etc. Ask your manager for a copy of your team’s competency matrix and use that as a guide from day one.
  • Leverage the resources you have (i.e., intranet page, onboarding buddy) but don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are not expected to know everything, and smart questions are as good as smart questions.

IBM Watson Health Consultant, IBM Government Health and Human Services

  • I’d say have as many virtual coffee breaks/catch ups with people as possible to start getting to know people. Also chat to as many people as possible and learn more from them virtually by getting them to share their screen with you and showing you what they do. Also ask them more about their role and for any help they can give you or advice. Get involved as much as possible in anything going on!

Many students will be joining virtual internship programmes this summer. What would your advice be to make the most of these opportunities and how can they stand out to the employer?

Natalie Luyt, Analyst at Economic Insight & Anthony Zhang, Consultant at Economic Insight

  • Virtual internships are an opportunity to participate and gain experience in some of the real-life projects that companies do. One piece of advice is to try to actively think about the aspects of project work that interests you, and why. Gaining a natural curiosity and motivation for the work will often propel you a long way. Part of achieving this will be to engage as much as possible with your colleagues, and not to be afraid to ask questions should you have any.

Katherine McAteer, Recruitment Advisor, ROPES & GRAY 

  • Firms are now very used to running programmes virtually so students should relax and treat it the same as an in-person experience. Employers will notice if you are relaxed as this will enable you to show your real personality, we also appreciate you forming meaningful relationships with the other students so reach out to them for help and be prepared to help others.
  • Students that have done well have used their own initiative and been brave enough to organise coffee meetings with people who they are interested in talking to. This shows real tenacity and means you will get the most out of the scheme.

Rebecca McEwan, Senior Entry Level Recruitment Manager, Oliver Wyman*

I am confident that whatever virtual internship you complete this Summer will be a meaningful and rewarding experience. Some tips are:

  • Set up a good workstation, it doesn’t need to be a private office, but just someone quiet (or indeed invest in noise cancelling headphones) and keep your notebook / pen beside your computer.
  • As with any internship, it is a great opportunity to get to know an employer and for an employer to get to know you, so I would really encourage you to make the most of your experience by trying to learn and develop as much as you can.
  • During the OW internship, all interns will attend a week-long induction and then be staffed on one or two projects across their remaining 9 weeks in the firm.  During the induction, it is important to remain engaged and take on as much of the information shared as you can, all inductions have been designed with information the firm think you need to know.
  • There will likely be events organised for you during your induction, so this will help you get to know lots of people across the firm.
  • Be sure to ask questions if you are not sure of something and keep your notebook next to you so that if someone calls you to help / provide instructions, you can write it down
  • Lastly, and most importantly, enjoy yourself.  Securing an internship is a great achievement, so be sure to enjoy it and have a productive Summer.

For more insights, tips and an opportunity to ask questions, join the Senior Recruitment Manager from Oliver Wyman for an online session Thursday 8 October 1pm – Register HERE

Tashima Dally, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Cornerstone Research

  • Set goals and learn the expectations. Meet with your supervisor and/or mentor to learn more about the expectations of your internship
  • Maintain and emphasize communication with your supervisor and colleagues. In a virtual environment you can never have too much communication! Be sure to reach out to your supervisor and colleagues frequently.
  • Ask for on-going feedback and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Be sure to set up check ins with your supervisor and ask for feedback
  • Do not be afraid to ask questions or ask for help! This is the time to learn.

Michelle Costello, Talent Acquisition Coordinator, Charles River Associates

  • Take initiative – Your manager will be impressed if you are eager to help and are willing to go the extra mile.
  • Be confident and enthusiastic – Companies often take on a large group of summer interns and if students want to stand out they can’t be afraid to speak up or follow up with their team members.
  • Ask questions – If this is one of your first working opportunities and you are remote it is not as easy to ask a quick question. Make sure you fully understand a task before you begin and check in to make sure you are on the right track.

IBM Watson Health Consultant, IBM Government Health and Human Services

  • Same as the above, chat to as many people as possible virtually and ask as many questions as you can about people’s roles. Be as proactive as you can be with work and be forthcoming with questions and ideas. Be brave and put yourself out there, volunteer for opportunities or ask if there is anything you can help people with. Be confident!

 

This is the second part of a two-part blog series from our summer careers offer: Your future, your way. The first part covers employers’ insights on how students can stand out to their employers as an applicant, read it here. You can also read this blog on how to make the most of your work experience and this blog on how to use storytelling to make your experiences one of a kind. 

Find out more about Your future, your way events and workshops on CareerHub, and don’t hesitate to book a confidential one-to-one careers appointment to discuss any of the above topics or other career-related questions you may have.

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Roelle Ann Santa Maria

Posted In: Careers Advice | Careers skill | Commercial awareness | Insider tips

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