Our student bloggers have shared their insights on searching for a job and the key skills they have gained whilst completing their Master’s at Alliance Manchester Business School.
1. Who are you and what can you offer?
Before you start typing into job search engines, take some time to consider what is it you are specifically looking for in a job role and what it is that you can offer them. Two bullet point lists will really narrow down your job search and will be a good way to start focusing on what it is that sets you apart from other potential candidates.
- List 1: What are your essential and desired characteristics in the job you are looking for?
- List 2: What are your strengths, accomplishments and personal characteristics that make you right for that job?
Remember when you are applying for a job – it should suit your needs as much as you suit theirs. In the application stage, you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you! Make sure every job you apply for is right for you: What skills do you want to use? Where do you want to work? What are your non-negotiables? These are all important questions to ask yourself before starting the application process.
Molly Bennett, MSc Organisational Psychology, Class of 2021
2. Research the company and the role
The first step towards getting into better workplaces is researching the company and the role offered. This information may also be useful during the interview process. Understanding the motives and vision of the company helps us to see how it fits in our goals. The learning opportunities in future, career growth can be observed from thorough research.
Rahul Thati, MSc Management, Class of 2021
3. Network with alumni, employers or academic departments
Connecting with alumni or the employees working at the company can help us get an idea about the selection process. LinkedIn can be a great site to search for such connections.
Rahul Thati, MSc Management, Class of 2021
My goal has always been to launch myself into pursuing a PhD in Employment Relations and HRM, which is why I chose this MSc course in the first place. However, getting started with putting together a proposal, networking with different departments and going through the application process can be daunting.
If you’ve found your dream department, project or opportunity, reach out to the Heads/Project Leaders of the particular PhD programme you’re interested in and have a chat with them. Most of the time academics love to talk about what work they do and are excited to see people take interest in joining in that work. It also allows you an opportunity to familiarise yourself with who you may be potentially working with and whether that department’s work culture suits you. (It also makes a great addition to your PhD proposals).
Mariam Hussein, MSc International Human Resource Management and Comparative Industrial Relations, Class of 2021
4. Develop your transferable skills
Since I do not have to attend classes in person, it is my responsibility to effectively manage my commitments, even those not related to my studies, and allocate enough time to ‘attend’ the pre-recorded lectures, make notes, explore the readings, and prepare for the related seminars.
I usually assign each commitment to a specific day or two of the week through my phone’s monthly calendar app, according to the levels of priority given and with the University being at the top. The more I do so, the more I learn how to effectively manage my agenda and my time, a soft skill that is fundamental for one’s career development.
Gigin Pulickathara Joseph, MSc International Human Resource Management and Comparative Industrial Relations, Class of 2021
5. Make the most of the Postgraduate Careers Service
I highly recommend taking active use of our awards-wining Postgraduate Careers Service! With their newly revamped CareersConnect service, you can look at the latest opportunities in internships, graduate roles and even seasonal work. But, the most impressive resource I’ve found is the CareerSet CV Checker, which uses AI to measure how well your CV will do against other people in the same field/job search. More and more firms have started to rely on AI to filter out CVs and initial applications, so to be able to be one step ahead of the game is amazing!
The Postgraduate Careers Services and the University's Careers Service and have so much to offer, so I highly recommend getting the best use out of it before you graduate!
Mariam Hussein, MSc International Human Resource Management and Comparative Industrial Relations, Class of 2021
Alliance Manchester Business School students are able to benefit from a dedicated Postgraduate Careers Service. They work closely with you and with the University’s Careers Service to provide a bespoke offering for AMBS students. The University's main Careers Service has been repeatedly voted the best in the country for the last ten years.
