Webinar: In grad school? What to do now to get job-ready

Whether you are graduating in the spring or sometime next year, it’s important to think of ways to build skills and gain hands-on experience that demonstrate what you can contribute to a project or organization. Getting job-ready means investing time in researching target employers and sectors within global development, testing the market to see what opportunities are out there, and making sure your assets, such as your CV and your online profiles, are recruiter-ready. Devex Executive Vice President Kate Warren talks through the top things to do now, while you are still in school, to ensure you are in the best position to launch your job search upon graduation. Here are three key takeaways from the event. Gain volunteer or internship experience Volunteer and internship experience are critical if you are looking to enter the global development sector, Warren explained. “If you look at the Devex job board and the jobs that are advertised, it’s rare to see a job that doesn’t require any experience,” Warren said. Volunteering or interning can also help you to figure out what kind of work you enjoy and want to pursue, what employers interest you most, and provide opportunities to build your network. Try to find volunteering projects or internships that will give you substantive, hands-on experience, Warren advised. “If you can find one which will give you the opportunity to work in the field or on technical projects and really expand your knowledge base,” she said, “that will be much more impressive to employers upon graduation when you write about your impact within your CV.” When it comes to seeking out volunteering work, don’t just look for experiences that are “feel good,” but opportunities that are skills-based and align with the jobs that are out there, Warren added. Consider areas of growth within the sector When deciding which projects to pursue as part of your classwork, look to areas of growth across global development and where there may not already be many professionals with extensive experience. This can include sectors such as tech, mobile, and digital technologies, and even climate change, which is still a relatively new focus within development, Warren explained. “These are all areas where organizations are trying to catch up, and are having to learn as the industry is growing and changing and adapting,” she continued. “Being able to show that you have some experience and that you were able to learn some of these growth areas will really resonate with employers who are looking to build up their expertise in some of these,” Warren said. Set up informational interviews Informational interviews are a great thing to do while you are still enrolled in your studies, Warren explained, as organizations tend to be more open to talking to students. They may, however, be more hesitant if you are already in the market for a job and they don’t have any to offer at that moment. It’s important to remember that these interactions should not be about pushing for a specific job, Warren said. The purpose should be to gather information, learn more about the sector and its organizations, and the types of positions out there, she added. To make the most out of these conversations, prepare a few well-thought-out questions in advance. You should also have prepared your own goals and value proposition so you can guide the person and make it easier for them to provide advice or referrals that are really going to help you. When it comes to reaching out for informational interviews, don’t just focus on those in senior leadership positions and try to think broadly about the type of people you meet with, Warren said. Professionals who have graduated and joined the development workforce in the past few years may actually be able to share advice that is more relevant and timely, she added.