As we are approaching the application deadline for the Graduate Program 2012, I thought I would share with you some experiences from last year’s recruitment process. I approached two fellow Business Process graduates – Malin and Hanteng – and asked them to share their thoughts on what they went through last year; Malin shares her story from the actual application whilst Hanteng targets the telephone interview.
However, before I allow my colleagues to share their experience; I’d like to express my thoughts and some advice. As the Graduate Program seeks to develop future global leaders, you should describe why you should be selected into the program and build on personal experiences that support this goal. Furthermore, thoroughly show us why you are interested in the pharmaceutical industry and in particular Novo Nordisk. I know its very cliché to say this, but it is very important regardless of what step in the application process you are in; always be yourself and focus on portraying yourself as the person you really are. This will create the win-win situation everyone is looking for in the long run.
Malin Nicolaisen
1st Rotation: Global Stakeholder Engagement – Innovation Office
First of all, I think it is worth knowing that it will be humans that screen each and every single application and not a computer system. In a relatively short time, they need to get an impression of who you are and what makes you especially suitable for the position.
In that regard, a well-structured, concise and easy to read CV is a good beginning. I had been updating mine, and had gotten some good input from my university’s Career Services earlier, so this was rather straightforward and quickly done. The decision which things to emphasise and how to put them together for my cover letter took considerably longer and I was procrastinating it for quite a while. Obviously, I wanted to go beyond a mere standard text and not just replace the company name with ‘Novo Nordisk’. Eventually, I decided to illustrate some of the key points on a second page. When I showed it to a former boss of mine and he advised me not to send it, I really had a hard time. I value his opinion a lot – and I still do ;) On the other hand, I felt that this was my best shot. If this were not in line with what Novo was looking for, then it would not be the right fit for either side. It is definitely a fine line, but you owe yourself to define where it lies for you and go for it if you are convinced!
Hanteng Gong
1st Rotation: Regulatory Affairs – Strategic Management Support
How to prepare for the interview:
1. Get familiar with the motivation letter and CV you submitted
2. Be prepared to tell us your personality and experience, with relevant examples
During the interview:
1. Make sure that you are in a quiet place to answer the phone (if you are going to take the interview on your mobile phone, make sure the reception is good)
2. Pay attention to your voice volume & speed as it might be difficult for the interviewer to hear clearly
3. Try to structure your answer clearly so that your interviewer can grasp your answer easily with face2face interaction
4. It is definitely OK to ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you cannot hear it clearly or not sure about it
If you have any more questions feel free to post them here in the blog!
2 Comments to Sharing experiences & insights from last years recruitment process
Hey guys.
It was wondering how the daily work is organized?
Do you work together in teams where you get projects or are you alone on some projects, or does is work completely different?
Do you have deadlines and personal goals to achieve?
Kind regards,
Sille
Hi Sille,
Graduates are spread out across the organization, usually not working within the same departments. The setup within the departments can differ a lot depending on where you are, although there is usually a great focus on working together in project teams where each individual has personal deadlines and deliveries.
As for personal goals, every person in Novo Nordisk has a 3P – People Performance Process – which is an overview of the annual goals you strive to achieve. These are set up in collaboration with your manager and reviewed half way through the year before you receive your final review and grade. The 3P also forms the basis for your bonus! :)
Fredrik