26 November 2014
Alumni and employers alike consistently say that dissertations are one of the most talked about things in a job interview. How do you make sure your dissertation really maximizes your potential for success in your job search?
It may seem quite early to be thinking about your dissertation. However, March (and proposal submission time) will be here before you know it and like any big project, the better the planning, the more successful the execution is likely to be.
Choosing a Topic
What really interests you, what’s your passion? For those who don’t continue in academia, It won’t happen very often in your life that you’ll get the opportunity to spend a decent period of time pursuing in-depth research into a topic of your choosing. Think about what really interests you and what skills/knowledge are going to be most helpful in the career you aim to pursue. Looking at this from another viewpoint, do you really want to spend 3-4 months intensely working on a topic that you’re not interested in…try speaking to a PhD student if you’re not sure!
There will be some topics suggested through your programme, and in some cases, the opportunity to work with a company. However, don’t just rely on this, options will be limited and you’ll be restricted by the expectations of others.
The more you can set your own agenda, the more you are in control over how you benefit from the experience.
Maximise Opportunities to Develop Skills
Although writing 10,000+ words may seem like a fairly academic exercise, there are plenty of opportunities to develop skills in this process. What attributes do you need to demonstrate to get the job you want? Analysing data? Conducting interviews? Presenting complex findings? Communicating with multiple stakeholders? Negotiating?
Think about how your dissertation will help you evidence in interview the skills you need for that dream role.
Engage with People Who Will Be Helpful in the Future
If the topic is interesting to you, there is a good chance it will be interesting to the types of companies where you are hoping to get a job. Planned carefully, the dissertation is a great networking opportunity. Are there companies who would be happy for you to use them as a basis for your research? Are there individuals who would be interested in an executive summary of your findings? Or that you could interview? Are there industry bodies that can help you reach lots of people for data gathering purposes?
Who do you want to build networks with and how can the dissertation help you do this?
Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Support
The dissertation is your piece of work, you ‘own it’, it is up to you to decide what you want to get from it. If you do want to engage with people outside the Business School walls, there is a wealth of support available to help facilitate this.
- The Alumni team can put you in touch with people who might be interested in being part of your research.
- The Student Development team can help you talk through ideas so you can clearly articulate what you want to gain from the dissertation. They can also tell you what kinds of company may propose topics, (if your programme has this option).
- Your supervisor has seen 100s if not 1000s of dissertations before; make use of their experience.
- Guest speakers, people you’ve met at events, LinkedIn connections (your own and your connections): every conversation you have between now and next summer is an opportunity.
Plan, Plan, Plan
Yes there are essays due, yes you have assignments, yes it seems easier to wait and think about this stuff over the Christmas break. But I’d suggest you take at least a bit of time to consider some of the questions posed above. What happens after that, is up to you.