Empathy map for school-to-work transition

Interviewed by Skype: Ankit Khandelwal: Graduate seeking employment

in Kota India:

Matt Dooley

5 August 2013

Problem Statement

• Spends 8 hours online daily – gathering general knowledge• Attends online courses, seminars, to grow professional

network and learn soft skills like public speaking• Joined AISEC to connect and network with professionals• Use online networking tools – LinkedIn discussion

groups, LinkedIn’s “Open link” to reach out, Facebook discussion groups

• Reads 8 foreign newspapers daily to get global perspective

• Write column for business newspapers• Works in online teams , around the globe• Hobbies- Reading, writing, mountain

trekking, cooking, travel (even uses Google maps to visit different places and view local surroundings)

• “Onus is up to you to find a job”• “Dream to be “CEO” in the long term”• “In India, the aim for graduates is to get a job

and not to create things”• “I would like to work for a company that is

engage on futuristic thinking taking technology to everyone”

• “I prefer to reach out directly to decision makers in companies” … I don’t ask for a job but simply connect and explore opportunities.

• My degree wasn't’t simply technical. I did learn other softer skills”

• “I don’t blindly send out resumes to HR people. I have spent time focused on specific companies but still get a poor response.

• I‘m ambitious and like to think outside-the-box”

• Applying via unit job boards/ portal is not effective.

• Better to approach companies direct• In Denmark, you think with an open mind and

can challenge teachers. in India you need to be reserved even with mentors. Mentors offer general advice rather than proposing specific guidance and tips

• Having a degree from a top university is a distinct advantage get “higher chance” at certain companies

• Passionate and ambitious• Companies want more than just skills.

Candidates need ambition, and ability work well in teams.

• Frustration- companies fail to provide any feedback when rejecting applications –”What’s missing from my CV?”

• Culture differences b/n Europe and India – Euro students collaborate but Indian students just compete.

• Forever learning – not just a single degree – many transitions between education and new jobs

• Companies want more than just qualifications and hard skills. Need to assess soft skills and attitude.

• Companies fail to provide feedback when rejecting applications ”What’s missing from my CV?”

• Euro students collaborate but Indian students only compete.

• Use global communities and access to various engaging knowledge experiences online.

• Access to decision makers and real experience mentors

• Online environment tends to be a little less stuffy than the real-world classroom

• Students “unable to get interviews for engaging jobs

Empathy Map for school-to-work transition – Ankit Khandelwal: 27yo, Graduate (Chemical Engineering), seeking employment since May 2013, Studied overseas in Denmark, lives in Kota India

A motivated, ambitious degree-holding graduate, who wishes to collaborate and learn more about themselves, as well as various cultures and work environments.

explore, connect and engage different work environments, mentors and potential employers

Employers need to understand more than just qualifications. Decision makers can engage and learn more about candidates. Online experiences can engage/ interact to demonstrate collaboration and review soft skills.

Extra notes

Interview: questions to ask

Say (Literal Quotes)

• What does he SAY ?

• What’s his attitude ?

Think - core values, major preoccupations

• How much does their problem bug them?

• What are their beliefs?

• How do they think about your product/service?

Do - appearance, behaviour towards others

• What does he do? What is a typical day?

• What does he enjoy?

• What are his hobbies?

• Does he work?

• How do he spend his time?

Feel – worries & aspirations

• What do they feel about what they say, think, and do?

• How is this problem affecting their day to day life?

• How would they feel with a solution?

• What is your dream job?

• What are they yearning for?

• What are you scared of ? Makes you shiver?

• What are they avoiding?

Then probe with “why questions” to get underlying deeper insights

• Reads 8 foreign newspapers daily to get global perspective• Spends 8 hours online daily – gathering general knowledge• Attends online courses, seminars, to grow professional network

and learn soft skills like public speaking• Joined AISEC to connect and network with professionals• Use online networking tools – LinkedIn discussion

groups, LinkedIn’s “Open link” to reach out, Facebook discussion groups

• Write column for business newspapers• Reading, writing, mountain trekking, cooking, travel (even uses

Google maps to visit different places and view local surroundings)

• “possesses a can-do attitude”• “Onus is up to you to find a job”• “My dream title would be “CEO” in the long term”• “I would like to manage people”• “In India, the aim for graduates is to get a job and not

to create things”• “I would like to work for a company that is engage on

futuristic thinking taking technology to everyone”• “I prefer to reach out directly to decision makers in

companies” … I don’t ask for a job but simply connect and explore opportunities.

• My degree wasn't’t simply technical. I did learn other softer skills”

• “I don’t blindly send out resumes to HR people. I have spent time focused on specific companies but still get a poor response.

• I‘m ambitious and like to think outside-the-box”

• Applying through university job boards/ portal is not effective. Better to approach companies direct

• In Denmark, you think with an open mind and can challenge teachers. in India you need to be reserved even with mentors. Mentors offer general advice rather than proposing specific guidance and tips

• Having a degree from a top university is a distinct advantage get “higher chance” at certain companies

• Passionate and ambitious• Frustration- companies fail to provide any

feedback when rejecting applications –”What’s missing from my CV?”

• Culture differences b/n Europe and India – Euro students collaborate but Indian students compete.

MORE DETAILED Empathy Map – Ankit Khandelwal: 27yo, Graduate (Chemical Engineering), seeking employment since May

2013, Studied overseas in Denmark Kota India

• Software and filters first screen CVs before HR. Frustrated being blocked even after effort of applying