CS@Work: information for students

Signing up for CS@Work

Are you looking for an extra challenge, and do you have an average score higher than 7.5 and no resits? Then you may be eligible for CS@Work! You can apply for CS@Work by sending an email to: dacs-cswork@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

CS@Work introductory interview

We would like to get to know you, and you undoubtedly have questions for us too. That is why we invite you for a 10-minute interview so we can discuss your grades and motivation. Based on this conversation, we will determine whether you can proceed to the next phase. There are three possible outcomes:

• Admitted
• Conditionally admitted – due to average grade and/or motivation
• Not admitted – due to not meeting the average grade and/or motivation requirements

CS@Work Workshops

To get ready for CS@Work, you will participate in four mandatory workshops, each lasting two hours.

• Workshop #1: Introduction
  The first workshop is all about getting to know each other better. We will also go over all the details of CS@Work with you once again.
   
• Workshop #2: Writing a CV
  How does a strong CV look? What information is essential, and what should you leave out? How do you handle any gaps? During this workshop, we will explore these questions and much more. At the end of the workshop, you will complete the CS@Work CV template. We will use the result to introduce you to the participating organisations.
   
• Workshop #3: Communication
  Whether CS@Work is your first job or not, there is always something to learn about workplace communication. Additionally, in this workshop, we will discuss the various company cultures you may encounter as a CS@Work student and provide tips on how to best use your professional email and calendar.
   
• Workshop #4: Elevator Pitch Training
  This pitch will help you stand out during the CS@Work Fair.
  
  Your elevator pitch is a short, impactful presentation in which you introduce yourself, highlight your skills and academic background, and explain why you would be a valuable addition to the organisation. The goal is to capture the employer’s interest in 30 to 60 seconds and secure an internship.
  
  What types of pitches might you encounter, what questions can you expect afterward, and how do you prepare for a pitch? In addition, what should you definitely avoid? After this workshop, you will be ready for the CS@Work Fair!
  
  You will receive a calendar invitation for each workshop via your UM email.
  
   

CS@Work Fair

The CS@Work Fair is the key moment when you will first get to know all the participating organisations.

Before the event, all participating organisations will receive a copy of the CV you have created during the workshops. Naturally, there is an exchange: you will receive a bundle containing all of this year’s available projects, suitable for you. Whether a project is suitable may depend on the electives you choose in year 2. For instance, an organisation might indicate if the project requires additional knowledge in areas like high-performance computing or cybersecurity.

Time for some preparation! Which projects appeal to you? Which organisations are of interest? Whom do you definitely want to pitch to? Whom do you want to convince you are the best student for them?

Depending on the number of students and participating organisations, the fair will take up a whole day or an afternoon. During the fair, all students will visit all organisations with a suitable project. You will have 8-minute speed-dating sessions to introduce yourself and ask questions about the organisation or the planned project.

After the fair, you will list all the projects you would like to work on. The organisations will do the same for the students they wish to have on their projects. A matching algorithm will then ensure we start with the optimal student-project pairings.

Once the matching is done, we will proceed with signing the contracts.

Start CS@Work

Now the real work begins! A kick-off meeting is planned for June, ahead of your third year. During this one-hour kick-off meeting, one or two members of the KE@Work coordinating team, together with the academic supervisor, will visit you and your internship organisation, so everyone can get to know each other.

From September, once teaching resumes, you will work two consecutive weekdays for your organisation.