KEDGE Alumni Wine Tasting
Interview – “I’m a recent KEDGE graduate and now I work for Adidas in Germany”
Many Kedgers wonder what the post-diploma world is like. With authentic testimony, Bilal shares his experience as a new graduate with us.
The project
“Life After Graduation” is a new Pro-Act that brings together three KEDGE students who want to provide current Kedgers with a practical guide to employability, the job market, and job interviews. They want to offer testimonials of Kedgers who have newly graduated, and who come from varied backgrounds and professional situations.
Today, we hear from Bilal ZAGAOUI, former member of Captain Jack and KEDGE graduate (9 January 2019).
The Testimonial
What programme did you do at KEDGE? Did it correspond with your current position?
"I did an "à la carte" programme, and decided I wouldn’t do a gap year. I focused more on digital marketing, which is exactly the position have. I’ve been working in Graduate Programmes at Adidas in Germany since 10 January 2019.”
- Did you do any internships or work-study programmes in this area when you were a student at KEDGE?
"I did an internship as an affiliate manager at Vertigo Media in Barcelona, then I did a second one at Generation.e in Johannesburg, as a digital content manager.”
- What difficulties have you encountered in your professional life, and how did you overcome them?
"I was lucky. In my case, everything really came together for me. But I had a lot of difficulties before I graduated.”
- How did you prepare for the different interviews?
"When I was interested in a position, I would send a 3-minute pitch in English which I had prepared in advance. I also used LinkedIn to find out about the company’s employee profiles. Glassdoor is an excellent tool to find out about salaries.”
- What advice would you give a Kedger before an interview?
"First of all, I would advise him or her to match the company's values with his or her own profile. I also think that the moment that really counts is when a potential employer asks you to introduce yourself. If you don't know yourself well, or if you hesitate in answering, then how can you appear credible during a job interview?”
- Were you able to negotiate your salary?
"No. My employer has very specific salary scales.”
- Did you participate in any of the events KEDGE organises to assist in the employability of its students? (MyWay Days, Company Forum, etc.) What benefits did you get from them?
"Yes. I participated in the MyWay Days on employability, but I would’ve liked the sessions to be even more focused on recruitment.”
Need help getting started in your new life as a recent graduate? 🎓
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What does KEDGE Alumni offer young graduates looking for a job?
- What do you think the KEDGE’s contributions in this area have been?
"First of all, the reputation of the diploma and KEDGE’s standing played a positive role in my professional career. I find that its business network is very substantial and that the Jobteaser platform, which helps you to find a job, is very well maintained.”
- What problems have you regularly encountered since you graduated?
"I discovered taxes... what a nightmare! (*laughs) I admit I wish I had been trained for that.”
- If a Kedger contacts you, would you be willing to answer his questions?
Yes, of course! (Editor's note: here's the link to Bilal's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bilal-zagaoui-61ba05aa/)
We are interested in your experiences!
If you are a recent graduate (less than two years) and would like to provide us with a testimonial, please contact us by email at the following address:
lifeaftergraduationkedgebs@gmail.com
or directly via Facebook or LinkedIn:
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