job – Diplomátszerzek

No matter how much you like to plan, real life always gets in the way

It is very helpful to think ahead and work out what you want to do. It’s worth considering what you’re good at, what interests you, how much you’d like to earn and how much you’d sacrifice to achieve it. However, it is one thing to plan, and it is quite another to experience situations.

So what could go wrong at university?

Maybe this is not exactly how you imagined your major. Maybe it’s during the exam period that you find out it’s not as easy as you thought. You’ve found a brand new field that interests you a thousand times more than your own major. At such times, you shouldn’t rush into a decision. It may well be a temporary situation.

Don’t give up on the university under any circumstances, but do look into what credits of classes you could apply to another major.

Once you have your degree in hand, do you think you and your plan are on track?

Even if you like learning about something, the world of work is a different matter. You may have chosen a field where it’s a little harder to find a job. You shouldn’t give up, you often have to go through all the steps to get to the position that got you started. Many people do not start their dream job straight out of university. It’s also possible that you want the job itself, but you’re just not in the right company. In that case, it’s worth trying your luck elsewhere.

Many people work in a different field from what they originally studied at university. But don’t think for a minute that you’ve wasted your time learning something. Sometimes you can get a much better insight into a particular problem at work.

Can you change your mind – as you plan – years later?

Even if you plan to do this job until you’re old, a lot of things can get in the way. Nowadays, it wouldn’t be surprising if you have to change because of advances in technology. It’s more likely that you feel your current career isn’t giving you as much satisfaction and reward as you’d like. Perhaps you would move in a financially more attractive direction. Or besides starting a family, your previous job isn’t so manageable. It takes courage to start something new at this time, but it may be worth rethinking your life in the long run. And if it doesn’t work out, you can always return to your original field.

Would you mind if a robot waited for you for a job interview?

The pandemic has accelerated digitalisation by years. This has of course also affected HR, where the use of digital assistants is no longer just the solution of the future.

WHC Group, one of the largest Hungarian-owned HR services companies, has also taken another step on the digitalisation path: the company’s artificial intelligence-based chatbot facilitates the coordination of and everyday communication with workers from abroad.

McKinsey global firm predicts, that Human resources is playing a critical role in helping organizations respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chief human resources officers expect that influence to persist.

A robot in a HR world

A global pandemic. Essential workers at risk. Whole companies suddenly working from home as offices fall silent. Millions reevaluating their lives and careers. The “Great Resignation.” Wage increases amid a tight labor market. Who’s responsible for navigating this upheaval? Human resources, which in many organizations now sits awkwardly between its history as a support function and its future as a strategic partner.

While the nature and purpose of the HR function have been evolving for years, the demands of the pandemic dramatically accelerated this transition. In interviews with more than 80 chief human resources officers (CHROs) at some of the largest organizations in the United States and Europe, we found more than 90 percent predict significant changes to the HR operating model during the next two to three years.

So the Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation by around four years.
Also, many of the digital technologies adopted by companies have stayed with us for the long term.

Whether it’s team meetings or interviews, web video calls, for example, are now part of our everyday lives, as is the fact that communication with employees is often done by not a colleague but an algorithm-based digital tool such as a chatbot.

Mobile apps for HR robot are coming, too

Mobile HR apps could be one of the defining new technologies of 2023. As more and more companies shift to post-pandemic mixed working methods and adopt hybrid working practices, so the demand for quick and handy HR apps will grow.

The need for usability outside the office environment is appearing for many HR functions, be it payroll, workforce coordination or communication.

According to Verified Market Research’s HR sector prognosis published in 2022, the value of the global HR software market is expected to reach $33.57 billion by 2028, and the uptake of HR applications will play a significant role in this.

High-tech digital solutions – in a form of a HR robot

WHC Group, one of the largest Hungarian-owned HR service providers, is continuously looking for digitalisation and automation solutions that further optimize HR processes. WHC has been involved in temporary employment of foreign workers since 2014, and since September 2021, the possibility to employ non-EU (third country) nationals from far abroad in Hungary has also been opened in a simplified form.

Here is the HR chatbot

Workers arriving from remote countries need constant contact and communication to get through their daily lives – whether it’s work-related issues, leisure time or even daily shopping. In reality, this requires a 24/7 availability.

Foto: Unsplash.com

Increase in the number of white-collar jobs at an outstanding rate

According to a few weeks’ analysis by newgeography.com, a well-known overseas economic research portal, the most important thing for our future is which countries and regions will stand out in terms of economic and social development in the coming decades.

According to the portal, the key to this is the creation and strengthening of knowledge-based jobs and the knowledge-based economy – Newography’s analysis is quoted in detail in the December issue of Makronóm.

It’s also good to know that knowledge economy features prominently in the government’s economic development and innovation strategy. It is worth comparing recent data and findings of Newography.com with Pillars 3, 5, 8 and 9 of economic policy in this writing.

Europe seen from the U. S. considering intellectual capacity

They believe it is essential that Europe presents a more unified picture than it has done so far. In the digitised and knowledge-intensive world of the last decades, not only the EU but also the UK, Switzerland, Iceland and other geographically close economies have become essentially one. So America should now look at Europe as a fully integrated market, especially in the knowledge economy, in intellectual and white-collar work and regarding such companies and businesses.

The Harmonious Growth Index of Makronóm Institute, the HNI, takes a similar approach to the knowledge society, with similar results.  

What is white-collar work?

A brief but important detour: white-collar work refers to intellectual jobs. The name comes from the fact that in America, the shirt collars of employees who typically worked in office jobs were originally white. This includes those who work in the real pull sectors of modern economies, in any digital or technological field, in innovative projects, research and development, or in any job that requires intellectual capital. 

szellemi diákmunka munka

The definition of white-collar work comes from the fact that in America, the shirt collars of employees who typically worked in office jobs were originally white. (Photo: Unsplash)

In a broader sense, of course, it includes intellectual jobs in education, administration, finance, infocommunications, and even industry, logistics and commerce, as well as any service where the nature of the work corresponds to the above. 

The future is now in our region!

Knowledge-based jobs are not growing like mushrooms in Western and Northern Europe (as before), but mostly in Southern and East-Central Europe, says the US study. In two regions that previously lagged far behind the North and West, they add. Places such as Stockholm and London remain leading knowledge hubs, but are now 

[kiemelt]three Central and Eastern European capital regions, Bratislava, Budapest and Prague, are now the regions with the highest concentration of knowledge workers.[/kiemelt]

As the researchers have pointed out above, they reaffirm that English as a common working language and close digital connectivity are increasingly transforming Europe into an integrated economy.

What did the authors of the study look at?

Over the past six years, they have tracked the share of working-age people employed in knowledge-intensive businesses across Europe in 31 European countries and 280 regions. While the number of knowledge-intensive jobs temporarily declined in 2020 due to the global pandemic and the economic downturn, it started to increase again in 2021.

The analysis looks in detail at how the concentration of jobs in the ‘brain business’ has changed over time, with nine European countries seeing an increase of over 33% since 2014. 

Estonia has seen the largest increase, at 72 percent, followed by Hungary at 62.2 percent!

In addition, of the top 7 countries, six are Central and Eastern European, with only Cyprus slightly behind.

Looking at the Top 3 countries, the results are clear. Hungary also beats strong regional competitors like Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia!

Change in the concentration of white-collar jobs (per working-age population) between 2014 and 2021

  • Estonia 72.0% 
  • Hungary 62.2%
  • Slovenia 60.8% 
  • Cyprus 55%
  • Latvia 48% 
  • Lithuania 42% 
  • Poland 39% 
  • Portugal 39%
  • Slovakia 34% 
  • Bulgaria 31% 
  • Malta 30% 
  • Romania 30% 
  • Spain 28% 
  • Croatia 27%
  • Belgium 25%
  • Finland 25%
  • Czech Republic 22%
  • Netherlands 15%
  • Italy 14%
  • United Kingdom 12%
  • Luxembourg 8%
  • Sweden 4%
  • Norway 3%
  • France 3%
  • Austria 2%
  • Switzerland 0%
  • Denmark -1%
  • Iceland -4%
  • Greece -11%

Source: Newgeography.com

The study therefore shows that a very significant shift is taking place. Jobs in ‘brain drain’ firms are growing in parts of Europe where the combination of an abundant supply of talent and the relatively lower cost of employing talent is having an impact.  

How many people work in such knowledge-intensive fields?

The concentration of knowledge-intensive jobs is highest in Switzerland, where 10.1 percent of the population work in brain business jobs. Ireland has a similarly high share of employment in knowledge-intensive firms, followed by Sweden, where 9.3 percent of the population work in brain business jobs. Ireland is ranked second in the ‘brain-sucking’ business jobs index, ahead of Sweden, because it has attracted a number of US technology companies and has policies that encourage domestic entrepreneurship.

Our big cities further east have really pulled away here!

In our region, Bratislava and its surroundings stand out: it has the highest concentration of jobs for brain drain companies. More than 22% of the working-age population of this region work in knowledge-intensive firms. 

However, it should be highlighted that Budapest and Prague are in second and third place, neck and neck. Then Stockholm, Upper Bavaria (Munich, Ingolstadt, Rosenheim, Freising), Paris, Copenhagen, the Oxford region, Warsaw and London.  

European regions with the highest concentration of jobs in brain business enterprises 

  1. Bratislava 22.4%
  2. Budapest 19.9%
  3. Prague 19.9%
  4. Stockholm 17.8%
  5. Upper Bavaria (Munich and surroundings) 17.6%
  6. Paris 16.7%
  7. Copenhagen 15.9%
  8. Oxford region (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire) 15.9%
  9. Warsaw 15.8%
  10. London 15.4%

Source: Newgeography.com

Where do most „brain workers” work?

The French lead the way in terms of the number of people employed. Paris has more than 1.2 million brain business jobs and remains the only region in Europe with more than one million employees working in knowledge-intensive businesses. Interestingly, this is more than half of the brain business workers in the seven regions including Paris in Southern Europe! In fact, the capital regions of Southern Europe (including Paris, Madrid, Rome, Lisbon, Athens, Cyprus and Malta) together have more than 2.3 million brain business jobs. 

This is now more than the 1.7 million knowledge-intensive jobs in Western European capitals (London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Vienna, Brussels, Luxembourg). 

At the same time, the capitals of the Central and Eastern European and Baltic countries (Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest, Prague, Sofia, Bratislava, Zagreb, Latvia, Ljubljana, Vilnius and Estonia) have a total of nearly 1.5 million „brain business” jobs. 

The Nordic nations are of course still excelling in creating knowledge-intensive jobs, but their population is substantially smaller. In the capital regions of Northern Europe (Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo and Iceland), there are a total of around 700 000 brain business jobs.

Southern and East-Central Europe (including the small Baltic states) are often seen as lagging behind Western and Northern Europe in economic development, but are now catching up, says the recent study.

Don’t be afraid to look for a new job as a young professional, just do it wisely!

The big day has come, you’ve been hired for your first real job, after unpaid internships and other temporary jobs. You’re ready, because you’ve read a lot about how to behave on your first day at work. But less is said about what a job should offer you, so let’s see when it’s worth looking for another job, even if you’re just starting out.

The career starter who works four hours a day but is still in for eight

One of the most common employment tricks you can fall victim to is being signed on for fewer hours than you actually work. At first glance, it may seem like a good idea to have less tax coming out of your paycheck and receive part of your salary in cash. In reality, it only benefits your employer, as your net pay stays the same.

pályakezdő

Photo: Unsplash.com

You, on the other hand, are getting a pretty big cut, as it reduces the amount of pension you will receive in the distant future. This may seem far-fetched now, but your pension is a very long-term investment, and why not start by paying in the monthly amount you are entitled to?

In addition, if you have any serious health problems, the sick pay you are entitled to will show that you are not registered for your real salary. In the event that you are unable to work for any length of time, every penny counts. However, there is little chance that your employer will give you the part of your sick pay that he or she has lost because of their shenanigans.

Not to mention that there’s no obligation for your boss to pay the unpaid portion of your wages on time.

What’s a career starter to do?

Well, if they have no choice, they have to put up with it. Unfortunately, the labour market is challenging, unless there is an exceptionally high demand in a particular profession. A strong CV requires at least a couple of years of experience, which makes it easy to force fresh graduates into underpaid jobs.

However, before you get totally discouraged, here’s some good news! Not all companies want to take advantage of you. The probationary period is not just about making it easier for your employer to fire you if you don’t do well, it’s also about making it easier for you to quit. Feel free to keep your eyes open if you don’t feel comfortable somewhere, and look for a place where they see your real value.

Of course, you shouldn’t have unrealistic expectations either, so get as informed as you can. Talk to professionals in your area to see what kind of working conditions and salaries you can expect. And within the workplace, don’t be shy about asking colleagues about the ‘dirtiest’ things if something looks suspicious.

Always, everything in writing!

Whatever you decide, always have the specifics of how you work in writing. Of course, a contract is best, but an email can be enough. After all, words may come and go; only the written words remain. This way you won’t find yourself in the unpleasant situation of not getting the agreed salary with a delay of weeks, or finding yourself in a completely different job and not being able to prove your point.

You are a newcomer to the profession, not to life

Looking for a job is often a pain. You may often feel that for every challenge you overcome, life throws another obstacle in your way, but sooner or later things will straighten out and you will find your place. Always consider what’s best for you, just make sure you don’t get stuck in the wrong place for too long.

Don’t base your future on semi-announced jobs, there’s enough uncertainty in our lives as it is. However, feel free to use them as a stepping stone to a better job!

The components of the perfect cover letter

Why is a cover letter so important?

Although it may sound a bit outdated, when you apply for a job, you should include a cover letter along with your CV. It may feel like a burden, but you can use it to your advantage. There are many skills and experiences that would be difficult to include in a CV, but highlighting them in a cover letter can add something extra to your CV that will make you stand out from the crowd. That way, if there are points in your CV that don’t seem very interesting or need explaining, you don’t have to worry that they’ll just look at it and make the wrong decision. Think of your cover letter as an explanation to your CV.

The form

Simple, clean editing and formatting is important. It’s fine if it’s not more than a few pages, and best if it’s under a page, according to Harvard experts. Indeed, someone who might have to read a hundred cover letters doesn’t have time for a novel that says the same thing as your CV. You certainly won’t go wrong by choosing a familiar font and size. It’s essential that you send it in PDF format.

Photo: Pexels.com

Make it relevant

Rather than including what’s in your CV in sentences, you’re better off responding to what’s in the job advert. Since you want to convince them why you are the best person for the position, write about the experiences and skills that the ad describes as expected or an advantage. It can also be an extra to start with the most important thing, i.e. why you are the perfect person for the job.

Pay attention to your style

It’s best if you know exactly who to address the letter to, but it’s also important to make sure your style is neither too casual nor too formal. Try to be more literate instead of formal.

Don’t overdo it

While it’s important to appear enthusiastic, don’t get carried away. You can write a line or two about why you want the job, so that you feel you know what the position is about and you’re looking forward to it.

Dangers attached to signing up for reality shows

In the early days, the aim was just to get in, they thought they would become a star, they didn’t have to do anything special afterwards. Today’s applicants tend to think of participating in a reality show as a stepping stone, after which they can more easily find a job in the media world, mostly as a presenter or singer.

[kiemelt]But getting in is more risky than you might think, especially if you are cast very young, even before you are 20.[/kiemelt]

Photo: TV2

Most of the time, these young people regret signing up later. Few players can manage to remain interesting enough to be covered by the tabloids, so they only become famous only temporarily – it is hardly likely for them to become real stars. 

However, if you get on a reality TV show, the way you behave in certain situations will be preserved online forever. It can particularly be unpleasant if other footage – harmful if you’re consciously building a career – is also burned into social media forever. 

[kiemelt]Unwanted footage of you can be taken, and it can follow you for the rest of your life.[/kiemelt]

If you don’t get a job in the media world after the show (most people don’t), these videos will make it much harder for you to find a job.

[kiemelt]So think twice before you go to a casting session and sign anything![/kiemelt]

How embarrassing is it to work in McDonald’s?

It is likely that many people still have the theory about McDonald’s that only people who didn’t want to go to university or couldn’t find another job, work there. It is far from being this simple: a job at McDonald’s offers many advantages, whether you are studying or have completed your studies. Obviously, the undeservedly downgraded image of fast-food jobs has one or two disadvantages, such as monotony or the need to wear a uniform, but these are negligible compared to the benefits.

[kiemelt]We have compiled the most important facts, based on our own experience.[/kiemelt]

  • 1. Buzz gives you momentum

In most restaurants, there is a constant flow of customers, so there is no time to get bored or complain about the monotony of the activity. It’s a good idea to choose the busiest restaurant you can find, so there’s always someone around. 

  • 2. In a good team, fun is a given

Most of the time, young people work at McDonald’s, so you can make friends with people you might not otherwise have met. 

Photo: 123rf

  • 3. Flexibility as the greatest asset

Working hours are flexible, making it easy to fit in with other engagements. It can be a student job or a 4-6-8 hour job.

  • 4. Minimum responsibility

There are only a few jobs where you have so little responsibility when carrying out tasks. As a restaurant employee, you can be relaxed about it, you just have to do it. 

  • 5. Employee benefits

Although not many people like the uniform, it is technically useful not to have your own clothes wear out. And also, there is free lunch for the staff. 

  • +1. This is the job you never have to take home.

It really is. 

 

The benefits of group work

Lots of people dislike working in a group – especially if the groups are not formed by the students themselves –, because they feel that the performance of the group is hindered by some members who are not pulling their weight.

Don’t forget that once you are in a workplace environment, you’ll also have to adjust to your colleagues, and you will certainly not be able to pick them at your will. Even if you start your first job working 100% remotely in a home office setup, there will be a certain group dynamic, and you will have to pick up the rhythm fairly quickly.

That is what group work at uni prepares you for: it teaches you to adapt to different types of people. And there will be some, unfortunately, who will not want to lift their little finger for the common good. Don’t let them use you, getting you to do all the tasks involved in the assignment, just as you will not want anyone to do the same later on at work.

Another benefit of group work is that it teaches you to think as a team. It makes more sense to get to grips with the problem all together, rather than two or three people starting to work on it separately. A lot of time can be saved this way.

Working in a group, you can discover what tasks you find easy, and that is definitely useful, as it will help you to realize what type of jobs or positions you might want to apply for later on.

Job hunt with a purpose

  • Decide what kind of job you would want exactly. Obviously, you might be interested in more than one career, but try to identify first the one that seems the most appealing to you.
  • Choose the company or place where you could see yourself working, or where you would like to work.
  • Study and examine the company where you would like to be employed in the future.
  • Establish exactly what qualifications and skills you will need for the coveted position.
  • Map your own skills, listing your strengths that would help you get the position, and identifying what you need to work on or acquire before you apply.
  • Plan how you are going to fill any skills gaps, and implement your plan as much as possible.
  • Prepare an ace application dossier, fine-tune your CV and everything else that is required for applying for the position.
  • Now is the time to apply. Be confident and well-prepared, safe in the knowledge that you have done everything for a successful application.

Tips for finding your place in your first job

Do:

  1. Be friendly

Even if office chat is not your thing (you are not the only one!), it does make sense in the long run to have a friendly relationship with the others you keep bumping into in the kitchen or by the coffee machine. This might include sharing snacks occasionally, wishing them a happy birthday, or helping them with a task, just because you are a nice person.

  1. Arrive early

Believe us, you will not be seen as an eager beaver if you arrive ten minutes early. On the contrary, it helps to start your day in calm, giving you the time to think over the tasks ahead. Not only will you look more focused to your colleagues, you probably will be.

  1. Be open and flexible

Whether you need to do something that is normally not your task, or start work earlier, it does help if you keep a flexible approach. It certainly will be to your credit if colleagues see that you are hard working.  

Don’t:

  1. Open up from day one

Having friends at work and enjoying the company is fine, but don’t attract undue attention by dishing out your private life in the office.

  1. Be a nuisance

When you are at your desk, don’t use the phone for private matters. It distracts others from their work, and nobody is interested to know when you are going for that check-up.

  1. Spam

If you hit ‘Reply all’ on an email addressed to hundreds of people, instead of just ‘Replying’ to the sender, that in itself is no big deal. When thirty people make the same mistake, it becomes a real nuisance. Try to be among those who can tell the difference between the two buttons.

Tips for a successful job interview

Be up to date!

Just reading the job ad will not be enough to make you stand out from the other applicants. Before the interview, do a thorough research of the place, the position of which you are applying for! Look online to find out exactly what that particular company does and how they do it! Check their social media pages, if they have any, so that you’re not caught by surprise during the interview.

Practice the situation!

This is especially important if you tend to get nervous. Practice your answers to typical (or not so typical) interview questions! Figure out exactly what you’re going to say when asked about your experiences, hobbies or goals, be focused and speak selectively!

Be engaging!

In job interviews, as in other situations, your appearance and body language make the first impression, so it’s very important to pay due attention to this as well. In general, you should dress elegantly for interviews, but of course your outfit will depend on the quality of the job. Try to show positivity and don’t talk negatively about your previous employer, as this can easily backfire!

Ask questions!

There is almost always an opportunity to ask questions at job interviews, but many people wouldn’t take advantage of this, even though it’s worth it! Asking questions is not a sign of ignorance, it shows that you are serious about getting the job.

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