KE@Work: information for students

After the results of the first and second exam period, you know what we have in store for you. Are you looking for an extra challenge? You are eligible for KE@Work if you have an average grade of at least 7.5. If you wish to apply for the programme, you can do so by sending an email to kework@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

We want to get to know you and you surely have questions for us. Therefore, we invite you to a 10-minute interview with with the KE@Work team. Based on your grades and the results of the interview, we will let you know whether you can join the next part of the KE@Work track.

To prepare you for KE@Work, we offer a sequence of four mandatory workshops of two hours each:

1. Introduction
   The first workshop is all about getting to know each other! We will also go through all the ins and outs about KE@Work with you once again.

2.  

   CV Workshop
   What does a good resume look like? What should you mention and what should you leave out? What to do with a gap? In this workshop, we will discuss these questions and many more. Equipped with this knowledge you then fill in your KE@Work CV. We will use these CVs to inform KE@Work partner organizations.
    

3. Professional Business Communication workshop
   Whether you have previous job experience or KE@Work will be your first, there is always something new to be learned about business communication. In this workshop, we discuss the various business cultures you may encounter as a KE@Work student. We will also teach you about the correct use of your professional email and calendar.
    
4. Job interview workshop
   Interviews are your moment to shine. Do you really have to? What are the two kinds of interviewers you might encounter? What sort of questions are asked? How do you prepare for an interview? And what should you absolutely not do? In this workshop, we will get you up to speed for the KE@Work speed dates.

You will receive a calendar invitation to each workshop via your UM-mail.

The Pitch Event is the first moment you get to meet the KE@Work partner companies.

Prior to the event, you will have received the projects available at our partner companies. Study them well. Which projects appeal to you? What kind of organization offers it, and who is the project leader? With whom do you want to talk during the event? You should have an idea, but the participating organizations should too: they have received your CV and know beforehand in whom they are most interested.

First, the organizations give a 5-10 minute pitch. Second, there is an opportunity to talk to the representatives of the organizations over informal drinks. After the Pitch Event, you have a few days to think about which projects are the most interesting to you. Once you have shared with us your ranked preferences for the available projects, we will plan the Speed Dates.
 

The concept of the Speed Dates is simple: in the week after the Pitch Event, you get to talk to the organizations that interest you in a one-on-one. You will get your own 10-minute interview. No worries though, we have prepared you for this.

Most probably, you are not the only student who is interested. At the end of the day, the organization gives us a ranked list of the students they prefer. We then approach the first student on the list. If that student says ‘Yes’, we have a match. If that student says ‘No’, we approach the second student on the list. If the student says ‘Maybe, but tomorrow I have another one interview I want to wait for’, everybody waits. This way, we match each student to their optimal available project. We can then sign the contracts and draft the work plans.

Now the real work begins. One week before classes start, we will ask you to already visit your KE@Work company for a day. This gives you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with your new environment without any distractions. Once the regular curriculum starts, you will work full days on Wednesday and Thursday during your second year. In year three, the working days are on Tuesday and Wednesday.