Future Ready Bitesize Session – Negotiating and Influencing Skills took place on the 16th January 2023. This session looked at stages of a negotiation, negotiation styles, win-win solutions and influencing and persuading tactics.
This session is one of a series of short online sessions based on various aspects of the 12 Employability Skills.
Here are the top 3 takeaways from this session:
Understand the difference between influencing and negotiating
Negotiation is the act of coming to a mutual agreement, whereas influence occurs when an individual has an effect on his or her opponent during the act of negotiation.
Employ different influencing styles/channels based on scenarios
Authority Channel – Heavily uses authoritative rules to influence work settings
Rationality Channel – Relies on data and logic to persuade others
Vision Channel – Persuading based on shared purposes
Relationship Channel – The longer the relationship (in the workplace) has lasted the greater the influence you have on them
Interest Channel – Referring to interests, needs and incentives as a mode of getting things done
Politics Channel – Understanding how the organisation works and using this as an influencing channel
The ‘wants’ method may help you to negotiate
The process of negotiating is important to ensure it as maximally effective as possible. To do this, it may be helpful to employ a method. One such method is the ‘wants’ method
The Canadian and Australian Information Session took place on the 18th January 2023.
Interested in studying abroad in Australia or Canada? đ
Queenâs History and Politics student Isobel spent six months studying at the University of Newcastle in Australia.
She says: âI loved studying in Australia; I loved being submerged in the culture; the familiarity of the English language but the weather and environment was so different to anything that I had grown up with.â
Here are the top 3 takeaways to remember from this session:
You can study at the University of Alberta, Queenâs University Kingston (both Canada) or the University of Newcastle (Australia)
You can study for one semester or the full academic year
Applications close on 3rd February (through MyFuture)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR REPRESENTATIVES OFFERING ONE-ON-ONE CHAT:
Each representative who has been set up in the employer virtual booth for 1 on 1 chat will see a red âView Chatsâ box icon appearing in their MyFuture account against the relevant fair one hour before the fair goes live. Click on this to enter your unique 1 on 1 chat area and familiarise yourself with items explained her n this and other guidance.
Remember that you will be using the MyFuture built in video chat to meet students for 1 on 1 chats only, so make sure to accept this option when you go live and do not use Teams, Zoom or other conference meeting software alongside this.
When you are ready to meet students, switch your chat Online, if you need to take a break, switch to Busy (do not switch to Offline until you are permanently leaving the event.
Once the VCF goes live at the start time (not before), students will begin to join 1 on 1 chat queues These will show in the âUpcomingâ tab in your chat view. You will see the âStart Chatâ option is red for the student at the top of the queue (click on that and follow join instructions).
While you are talking to a student, you will also see Icons to open text chat and share screen under the incoming video. You will also note a meeting time countdown. When this reaches 0 the meeting is automatically closed. However, employer reps (not students) will also see an option to extend chat by a further 2 minutes when the 2-minute point is reached.
When chat is completed, click âEnd Chat,â make any notes (students do not see these) and start chat with the next student at the top of the queue.
Note re: student behaviours at VCFs: Some will join 1 on 1 chat immediately, others elect to go to group or other 1 on 1 chats first. Should you invite a student into a 1 on 1 chat, and they do not accept within 2 minutes, you can click âEnd Chatâ and move to the next student (you will see the meeting timer starts to countdown just before they join you to let you know that they are about to come on screen.)
AFTER THE FAIR:
¡ Switch your status to âOffline.â You will still be able to view your âCompletedâ chats and notes. Employers also receive an emailed CV pack and 1 on 1 notes relating to students who elected to share their CV and/or the notes from completed 1 on 1 chats.
CLICK ON “MEET THE EMPLOYERS”, CHECK & EDIT YOUR PROFILE:
Browse the employer booths to check on who is coming, star your favourites and set up your profile (Tip: Upload your CV via your profile to share it with relevant employers).
AT THE LIVE FAIR:
CHAT WITH EMPLOYERS VIA LIVE VIDEO CHATS – YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS:
GROUP CHATS: Just click on Group Chat for the relevant employer in the list to view instructions/click on meeting links.
ONE-ON-ONE CHATS: Some employers are offering both 1 on 1 and Group chats. You can join up to three 1 on 1 chats at a time. Make sure to check your progress/wait time through 1 on 1 queue(s).
TIPS FOR MANAGING YOUR PROGRESS IN ONE-ON-ONE QUEUE(S)
JOIN QUEUES WITH DIFFERENT WAIT TIMES. MyFuture will keep your place in each of these for you. When you see your wait time is down to 5 minutes – you are next and could be called in at any moment! You can check on your progress up through 1 on 1 queues via the tab beside “Meet the Employer Exhibitors”.
STAY ALERT TO A QUEUE WHERE THE WAIT TIME IS DOWN TO 5 MINUTES OR LESS. When the employer is ready, you will see a “come in and meet me” invite from them on your screen in their queue. Just click it and follow the join instructions to take you into the 1 on 1 virtual meeting room.
WARNING: If you do not accept/click on the invite within two minutes, the employer will move on to the next student in the queue.
YOU CAN ALSO MANAGE YOUR TIME BY ATTENDING A GROUP CHAT IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR A 1 ON 1 QUEUE WITH A WAIT TIME OF MORE THAN 20 MINUTES
OTHER TIPS:
YOU CAN ALSO BROWSE THE EMPLOYERS JOB ADVERTS AND PROFILE VIA THEIR VIRTUAL BOOTH (including during the days before the fair goes live)
NEED SOME TECHNICAL HELP DURING THE 3.30PM TO 6PM ONLINE ELEMENT OF THE SPRING FAIR?
Technical help will be available to students for the duration of the online element of the Fair via the Careers Service booth Group Chat.
Any tips and tricks that previous winners have used?
The key to a profitable investing is good research. The thing to remember when working in Finance Lab is that every piece of information you receive will have an effect on the share price of the investments you hold. Donât ignore the news feed!
Common mistakes people make?
The most common mistake investors make is thinking that price is the main indicator of how well a company is performing. But of course itâs not an indicator of how well a company is doing in its own market, with its customers, with regulators or within its sector. A share price can be high at the same time as a company is performing poorly. A price fall will come; knowing when is the key.
What makes the game exciting?
Like all good games, it is the pressure of competition that makes the process exciting. In Stock Market Challenge youâll be competing against other investors who want to come out on top on the night. There are some exciting opportunities to win so the stakes are high!
How not to lose your nerve.
Commit to the game, invest in the process and act methodically and with certainty to ensure you are in control of your actions. You control the market; donât let the market control you. You will only lose your nerve when you donât know what you are doing.
What ways can you prepare (even if it’s just binge-watching Industry on BBC iplayer!)?
Binge watching Industry will do no harm. It might even give you an insight into what not to do! The main skills are understanding what kinds of factors affect share prices. The most important thing is to keep an eye on the business news.
Itâs not always obvious how actions affect share prices. When Donald Trump was banned from Twitter, investors decided to sell Twitter shares and its share value took a hit. The expectation was that the hit would be temporary, and the price would recover. But was that what happened? You may think as an investor that youâll hold on to your shares (or buy more now that the price is lower) or dispose of them. Both strategies can be correct, depending on the market context. Following the news carefully is the key to successful investing.
Ărnaith NĂ Fhearghail is ainm dom agus is mac lĂŠinn mĂŠ in Ollscoil na BanrĂona. TĂĄ mĂŠ i mbliain na cĂŠime, ag dĂŠanamh buncĂŠime i gCaidreamh IdirnĂĄisiĂşnta agus sa Ghaeilge. An seimeastar seo, bhiĚ deis agam modĂşl Ăşrnua a ghlacadh mar chuid den chĂşrsa Gaeilge, Gairmeacha le Gaeilge (CEL 3010). Cuireadh an modĂşl ar fĂĄil den chĂŠad uair riamh i mbliana, agus is iontach an deis Ă do mhic lĂŠinn a bhfuil suim acu a bheith ag obair trĂ mheĂĄn na Gaeilge sa todhchaiĚ. Â
An modĂşl
Gach Aoine, tĂŠann an rang uilig ar thaithiĚ oibre sna hĂĄiteanna ĂŠagsĂşla atĂĄ roghnaithe againn, agus gach coicĂs, bĂonn seimineĂĄr againn le comhordaitheoir an mhodĂşil, Dr. SĂobhra Aiken. Sna seimineĂĄir seo, bĂonn pleĚ ĂĄ dhĂŠanamh againn faoin taithiĚ oibre go dtiĚ seo, faoi dheiseanna fostaĂochta atĂĄ ann agus an Ghaeilge agat (mar shampla, bhiĚ ceardlann faoin aistriĂşchĂĄn againn leis an Dr. Ărla Nic RuairĂ, a oibrĂonn san Aontas Eorpach), agus faoi na scileanna ĂŠagsĂşla a bhaineann leis an domhan ghairmiĂşil.
An prĂłiseas cuardaigh
I rith an tsamhraidh, bhiĚ ar an rang uilig ĂĄr dtaithiĚ oibre fĂŠin a eagruĚ go neamhspleĂĄch le gnoĚ ĂŠigin a mbaintear ĂşsĂĄid as an Ghaeilge ann mar theanga oibre. Dâaistrigh mĂŠ mo CV Ăłn BhĂŠarla go dtiĚ an Ghaeilge agus sheol mĂŠ rĂomhphoist chuig ĂĄiteanna oibre ĂŠagsĂşla a raibh suim agam a bheith ag obair iontu, agus murar sheol siad freagra chugam, chuir mĂŠ scairt orthu. Ba thaithiĚ ar leith Ă an prĂłiseas cuardaigh fĂŠin, agus bhiĚ sĂŠ tĂĄbhachtach a bheith daingean.
Sa deireadh, shocraigh mĂŠ le RaidioĚ FĂĄilte â an stĂĄisiĂşn lĂĄn-Ghaeilge atĂĄ lonnaithe i mBĂŠal Feirste â go ndĂŠanfainn mo thaithiĚ oibre leo.
RaidioĚ FĂĄilte â cad chuige?
Roghnaigh mĂŠ RaidioĚ FĂĄilte toisc go bhfuil suim ar leith agam sna meĂĄin, agus chun fĂĄil amach an bhfuil oiriĂşnach do phost sna meĂĄin Ghaeilge. Anuas air sin, niĚ raibh mĂłrĂĄn muinĂne agam as mo chuid Gaeilge labhartha, agus bâiarracht Ă an taithiĚ oibre seo feabhas a chur uirthi.
An sĂłrt taithiĚ a fhaighim
NĂl mo thrĂŠimhse i RaidioĚ FĂĄilte crĂochnaithe go fĂłill, ach fuair mĂŠ neart deiseanna agus traenĂĄla ann cheana fĂŠin. BhiĚ mĂŠ beo ar an aer mar agallaiĚ dhaĚ uair sa chĂŠad lĂĄ a bhiĚ mĂŠ ann, baisteadh tine gan amhras! Ach taithiĚ mhaith a bhĂ ann, agus Ăłn tseachtain sin amach, bĂonn seans agam (agus ag an chailĂn eile atĂĄ i mo rang agus a dhĂŠanann a taithiĚ oibre in ĂŠineacht liom) a bheith ar an aer i rith an chlĂĄir âBeo ar Maidinâ. Ar dtĂşs, bhiĚ muidne mar agallaithe, ach le dĂŠanaiĚ bhiĚ deis againn a bheith inĂĄr n-agallĂłiriĚ â bhiĚ sĂŠ sin i bhfad nĂos deacra, ach ba thaithiĚ thĂĄbhachtach Ă, mĂĄs rud ĂŠ go mbeidh mĂŠ ag leanĂşint ar aghaidh le cĂşrsaiĚ na meĂĄn amach anseo. Is deis foghlama Ă gach aon mheancĂłg a dhĂŠanaim!
Chuir mĂŠ mo chlĂĄr ceoil fĂŠin le chĂŠile fosta â dâfhoghlaim mĂŠ caidĂŠ mar a bhaintear ĂşsĂĄid as na cnaipiĚ uilig agus as an chĂłras atĂĄ in ĂşsĂĄid ar rĂomhairiĚ an stĂĄisiĂşin. NĂ shĂlim go bhfuil mĂłrĂĄn suime agam sna gnĂŠithe teicniĂşla sin, ach tĂĄ sĂŠ riachtanach an buneolas sin a bheith agam, agus ĂşsĂĄideach, cinnte. BĂonn mĂłrĂĄn saoirse agam mo smaointe fĂŠin a fhorbairt maidir le clĂĄir; faoi lĂĄthair tĂĄ mĂŠ ag obair ar chlĂĄr a chuir mĂŠ le chĂŠile liom fĂŠin faoi roinnt ceoltĂłiriĚ Ăireannacha ĂŠagsĂşla a bhfuil Gaeilge acu (mar sin bhiĚ siad ĂĄbalta agallaimh a dhĂŠanamh liom). Ba mhaith liom clĂĄr eile a dhĂŠanamh faoi thionchairiĚ na Gaeilge chomh maith, ach seans mĂłr nach mbeidh an t-am agam roimh chrĂoch mo thrĂŠimhse i RaidioĚ FĂĄilte.
Tairbhe an mhodĂşil
TĂĄ mĂłrĂĄn buntĂĄistiĚ a bhaineann leis an mhodĂşl seo. Mar a luaigh mĂŠ thuas, bĂonn neart deiseanna foghlama ar fĂĄil san ĂĄit fĂŠin a ndĂŠanann tuĚ do thaithiĚ oibre ann, agus faigheann tuĚ lĂŠargas ar an tsliĚ bheatha a bhfuil suim agat inti. Sna ceardlanna, faigheann tuĚ lĂŠargas ar shlite beatha eile nach mbaineann leis an taithiĚ oibre atĂĄ roghnaithe agat, ach, bâfhĂŠidir, a bhfuil suim ĂŠigin agat iontu. Is fĂŠidir leat tuairim nĂos feasaiĚ a bheith agat, mar thoradh, faoi na poist a bheidh uait amach anseo.
BĂonn deiseanna aga naisc a chruthuĚ, fosta, le daoine Ăłn phobal Ghaelach a mbuaileann tuĚ leo i rith na taithiĚ oibre. NĂ hamhĂĄin go bhfuil na naisc sin ĂşsĂĄideach faoi lĂĄthair agus mise mar bhall de choiste an Chumainn Ghaelaigh, ach beidh sĂŠ tĂĄbhachtach amach anseo gan aon agĂł.
Blog
My name is Ărnaith NĂ Fhearghail and Iâm a student at Queenâs. Iâm in the final year of my undergraduate degree in International Relations and Irish. This semester, I had the opportunity to take a brand new module as part of my Irish course, Gairmeacha le Gaeilge (Professions in Irish; CEL 3010). The module was made available for the first time ever this year, and itâs an excellent chance for students who are interested in working through the medium of Irish in the future. Â
The module
Every Friday, the whole class goes on work experience in the various places that theyâve chosen, and every fortnight, we have a seminar with the coordinator of the module, Dr SĂobhra Aiken. In these seminars, we discuss our work experience until now, employment opportunities that are available when you can speak Irish (for example, we had a workshop with Dr. Ărla Nic RuairĂ, who works in the European Union, about translation), and the various skills relating to the professional world.
The searching process Â
During the summer, we (the class) had to organise our work experience independently, with businesses in which Irish is used as their working language, I translated my CV from English to Irish and sent emails to a variety of workplaces that interested me, and if they didnât send an answer, I rang them. This searching process was a particular experience in itself, and it was important to be determined.
In the end, I decided with RaidioĚ FĂĄilte â the Irish-language radio station situated in Belfast â that I would carry out my work experience with them.
RaidioĚ FĂĄilte â why?
I chose RaidioĚ FĂĄilte because I have a particular interest in the media, and I was hoping to find out whether Iâm suitable for a job in Irish-language media. On top of that, I didnât have a lot of confidence in my spoken Irish, and my work experience was an effort to improve it.
The sort of experience I get
My time at RaidioĚ FĂĄilte isnât finished yet, but Iâve already gotten a wealth of opportunities and training. I was live on air as an interviewee twice on my first day there, a baptism of fire without a doubt! However, it was a great experience, and since that week, I get the opportunity to go on air during the programme âBeo ar Maidinâ (as does the other girl in my class who does her work experience there with me). At the start, we were the interviewees, but recently weâve gotten to be interviewers â that was a lot harder, but it was an important experience, if Iâm to continue on in the media in the future. Every mistake I make is a learning opportunity!
I put my own music show together as well â I learned how to use the buttons and the sound system thatâs used on the stationâs computers. I donât think I have much interest in the technical aspects, but itâs necessary to have that foundational knowledge, and useful, of course. I have a lot of freedom to develop my own ideas relating to shows; at the moment, Iâm working on a programme I put together by myself about a few Irish musicians who speak Irish (which meant I was able to interview them). I would like to put a show together about Irish-language influencers, but chances are I wonât have time for that before the end of my time at RaidioĚ FĂĄilte.
Benefits of the module
This module has a lot of advantages. As Iâve discussed above, a range of learning opportunities are available in the place where you do your work experience, and you can get an insight into the career of your interest. In the seminars and the workshops, you get an insight into the other careers that donât relate to your work experience but, maybe, still interest you somewhat. You can have a more informed opinion, as a result, about the jobs youâd like down the line.
You get opportunities to create links, too, with people of the Irish community that you meet during your work experience. Not only are these links useful to me right now while Iâm a committee member of An Cumann Gaelach, but I have no doubt that theyâll be important to me in the professional world, too.
Beth MacDougall from EY delivered a session on Resilience. Here are the top takeaways.
Its normal to be nervous
“The one thing that terrified me literally more than anything was what am I gonna do for work. How am I gonna go into the workplace with this really strange title, this really long list of symptoms? And a degree that I don’t know how to be of use anymore and no experience. I was completely shook. I was absolutely terrified because all I wanted to do was work.”
But Beth goes on to say…
“I wish that I could go back to myself six years ago and say it’s going to be okay. It’s gonna be fine.”
Challenge = Change
“I learned that it is absolutely OK to challenge things in a process or on an application form, or in a procedure that you feel like you’re going to make you feel disadvantaged or unfair. There were plenty of times in an application form that actually will ask you to disclose a disability way before the âdo you have a disability questionâ…that was my first lesson that it’s okay to challenge things. And that itâs the only way that we’re going to change things, by challenging and by asking the questions.”
People’s opinions are not your reality
“I remember the first time that I spoke with someone about my disability in a workplace, they actually told me that I was a health and safety risk, and it was selfish of me to be wanting to work in a workplace environment, after speaking to me for all of 2/3 minutes. I just wanted to have a conversation and explain, you know, but I can do this! But then why do I have to explain something? Why am I defined by this label that I have attached to me?”
Beth then speaks about how working as a recruiter allows her to speak to a range of people from all works of life
“We can learn from so many different people by having those conversations and again as recruiters we are in that position where we can constantly speak to a diverse group of people and learn from every single one of them. Giving someone a voice, really means that person is going to be able to bring their true authentic best self to the workplace.”
Play to your strengths (and find out how to play to your strengths!)
“Strength-based recruitment was definitely my friend…We might not have as much experience as persons who don’t have disabilities because it’s been harder for us to get that 0r maybe we’ve needed to take a break at times”
“So strength-based recruitment for me was so powerful in terms of I knew I didn’t have the experience that probably everyone else applying for this job did. I actually had no recruitment experience. I had plenty of student experience, plenty of mental health, well-being, events, development – but it was all dotted around different areas. I could only get small different bits of experience in different ways. I didn’t really know how to combine that. Until, I spoke to someone who help me do that”
Be proud and honest of who you are
“My interview at EY was actually the first time I ever disclosed my disability in an interview, outright. First question, âwhat are your motivations for EYâ – well I have a disability. Straight up there. I’ve heard about this and this is why I did it because EYâs brand was all about a culture of belonging â our world your way. And I really truly believe that. I could see the images I could see the stories and I could see the things EY were doing to support people like me.”
“70% of people with a disability actually have an invisible disability which brings its own challenges. You can hide that until you get into your workplace, but if without disclosing a disability it’s very hard to get the support that you might need to be able to thrive and employ yourself the way that you want to.”
Who you are will show in what you do
Beth speaks about how people with different disabilities are often overlooked for employment and workplace stigma towards those disabilities
“People with disabilities are the largest pool of untapped talent. And that is because we do have, again those natural barriers, and sometimes that natural stigma of – traditionally disabled has meant something that someone cannot do.Whereas I would challenge that… people with disabilities are nature’s greatest problem solvers. We have to learn to live in a world that isn’t actually built always for us. We have to find different ways to do things. Which kind of brings me to my final point in terms of people with disabilities are some of the most valuable workforce that you can bring into an organisation. Those qualities of resilience communication, because you’re constantly having to communicate things, and ask for things and explain. Problem solving, creativity innovation, you name it, a person with a disability has to show that every single day in their life.”
As F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, âIt’s a funny thing about comin’ home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You’ll realize what’s changed is you.â
Departing London Heathrow, bound for Toronto Pearson.
Canada has always been on my travel list; known for its great outdoors, safe multicultural cosmopolitan cities, and friendly people. Engaging with people who had visited, Canada was always described to me as one of those places thats experience is nearly impossible to describe and after visiting once youâll want to return.
So when the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship was released, it posed as an opportunity to spend up to 12 weeks researching in a country on my bucket list. And when people ask why I applied, I say why not, because I had so much to gain from this opportunity and little to lose.
I first applied for the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship in 2020 however was unsuccessful in my application. Fortunately, due to a change in my degree programme I became re-eligble to apply and reapplied in August 2021. Receiving, notification in September that my application had been nominated for the programme I began the process of filling out the application form, detailing experience I had gained from work experience the year before and what skills I could bring to the programme. With my application submitted it, I was left to wait to see if any Canadian professors would contact me. I was fortunate to be contacted by two professors in November to further discuss their projects and my suitability.
Outside the engineering building where I spent 10 weeks
By December, I had been selected and confirmed my place on the 2022 Globalink Research Internship.
From January through to departure in May, I organised my flights, housing, visa, starting/ finishing dates for the internship, and a small amount of currency. Connecting with my supervisor during this process made it feel less intimidating as I was able to ask questions or express queries.
Before I knew it May had arrived, and I was stood at the airport waiting to depart on one of my biggest adventures yet. An 8 hour flight, and 2 hour immigration wait later, I was in Toronto.
The first week, I was provided with a tour around the faculty, opened up a bank account, and familiarised myself with the campus. I was able to meet my supervisor and research team in person as well as start on my project. Over the next 10 weeks I was able to develop a general research topic of Micro-structural analysis of advanced composite structures, into a working conference and journal paper focusing on Investigation of impact response of 2D braided hybrid composites using Micro-CT. Throughout the project I was able to develop my knowledge of braided composites, non-destructive analysis, and composite sample manufacturing.
Emily in the lab with a manufactured sample
Alongside researching, I took the time to explore the city of Toronto through events such as Toronto Pride, Canada Day at Woodbine Beach, and a Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre. These formed some of the key highlights of my internship in addition to trying different foods and visiting the key tourist attractions such as the CN Tower, Casa Loma, and the Aquarium.
Niagara FallsMusic Garden in Downtown Toronto featuring the CN TowerRogers Centre Home to the Blue Jays Baseball Team
As the end of July approached, I realised I had learnt more, made international friends, gained new experiences, and stepped out of my comfort zone to my growth zone. Itâs an experience I will always look back on fondly and would encourage people to take as many opportunities to develop themselves personally and professionally.
Top Tips
Ask for help
Take time to explore where you are, itâs easy to get stuck in work
Keep in contact with your support network back home
Take lots of photos and videos
Plan in advance especially housing, visas, flights, packing.
My name is Eoin Deeney, I’m a Data Privacy Specialist at Baker McKenzie and I studied Law at undergraduate at Queen’s and a postgraduate degree in Law and Governance as well at Queen’s.
Describe your current role.
As part of my current role, I help with the firm’s compliance efforts in the space of data privacy, so that involves working with colleagues across the globe and understanding the data privacy laws and regulations across the world and how the firm can comply with those laws and regulations. I suppose my favourite part of my role is working within the firm itself and the people that I work with across the globe, that they’re globally-minded and like-minded as well and also that it allows me to work in the office with like-minded people but also the ability to work from home and work in a hybrid fashion as well.
How did you get your current role?
After graduating from Queen’s I spent a couple of years in Industry getting experience, which then gave me the opportunity to join Baker McKenzie as a legal professional. Shortly thereafter I became a Team Lead within the Legal Professional team and then I also went to another organisation after that to gain experience in the field of Data Privacy which then prompted the opportunity to return to the firm in my current capacity as a Data Privacy Specialist.
What interview tips do you have for students/ graduates?
The advice I would give to students and graduates when it comes to interviews would be to be themselves, to be authentic and don’t feel that you have to be a certain version or acertain caricature of someone that the employer wants to see because ultimately, if successful in that role, we’re going to be working with you and that’s what we want to see in the interview process: the person that we’re going to be working with, not a caricature of the person you think you ought to be.
What soft skills are most important in your role?
The soft skill that’s most important in my role would be an openness and willingness to learn and I suppose really without that I wouldn’t be in the role that I am currently in because this field wasn’t as prevalent as it is now when I was at university so I would encourage students and graduates to be open and take advantage of opportunities that present themselves by being open-minded and willing to learn.
What training did you get when you started the role?
When I first joined Baker McKenzie I was presented with a suite of classroom trainings which were invaluable in getting to know the organisation and the types of work that we were engaging in but I suppose the most important training that I’ve had has been on the job and learning from more experienced peers and colleagues that have experience of the business and of their subject matter.
How have the people in your organisation inspired you?
What I think about the people that I work with and the organisation and what inspires me about them; I suppose it’s their agility of mind and their ability to apply themselves to a variety of different problems and come up with a variety of innovative solutions. You know, those problems will vary on a day-by-day basis but they’re always agile and thinking of innovative solutions to those problems.
Why would you recommend students and graduates apply to your firm?
I would recommend Baker McKenzie to any student or graduate for two reasons, really. One, it’s a fantastic place to start and develop your career, especially if you’re not entirely sure where you would like your career to go. There’s a number of opportunities that will be available to you. Personally, my career has ended up going in the direction that I didn’t know it would go in but I’m in a job that I love and absolutely enjoy every day. I suppose the second reason I would recommend it is really the people and the people make the organisation. There’s a real culture of friendship; there’s any number of clubs and societies that you can get involved in and explore interests that you may have or may be wanting to develop. So, I suppose the people and the opportunities available would be the reasons I’d recommend the firm to any student or graduate.
Baker McKenzie are proud sponsors of our Autumn Fair
My name is Holly Emerson and I’m a Legal Professional at Baker McKenzie.
What are the values of your organisation?
Baker McKenzie asked people at the firm how they would describe the firm and they come up with brave, brilliant and kind and I think those values really some up what the firm stands for. People are brave. They are not afraid to challenge convention. They aren’t afraid to innovate. People are brilliant. They are always striving to progress at the firm and people at the firm are kind. They aren’t just kind in the work that they do for charities, but they’re also kind in that they treat their colleagues with respect.
How inclusive an environment is your organisation?
Inclusion and diversity is integral at Baker McKenzie. We have 77 offices which means that you could be working with people from New York or Singapore and it truly shows that inclusion and diversity is a major part of daily life at Baker McKenzie.
What social events bond you as a team?
Baker Mackenzie has plenty of social events every month. There are drinks on the terrace, we have summer BBQs, Christmas parties and as well as that there are clubs and committees like LGBTQ committee and the charity committee who also hold events as well.
How easy is it to progress and carve out a career in your organisation?
In the year that I have been at Baker McKenzie, I started by taking comprehensive training which has allowed me to be seconded to the Data Privacy team at Baker McKenzie which I really enjoy and this opportunity is available across multiple functions. The opportunities are here just as long as you are willing to take them.
What personal attributes are you looking for in recruits?
The sort of person who would fit in at Baker Mackenzie is somebody who has a positive attitude, who is willing to learn, is a team player. We work with many different teams at Baker McKenzie so somebody who works well at collaborating in teams would fit in really well at Baker McKenzie.
Baker McKenzie are proud sponsors of our Autumn Fair
