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TEAM BUILDING AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT.
Why are team building activities important? We share 3 reasons why we believe that carrying out a team building activity will benefit your team’s performance in the work space.
IMPROVE PERSONAL RELATIONS.
This kind of activities contribute a lot to personal relations between members of the team. It is not the same to interact in the work space as to have a chat in non-working hours. We say team buildings improve relations because individuals will be able to get to know each other better and develop trust within each other. All of which would lead to a more enjoyable work environment.
INCREASES UNITY & ENGAGEMENT.
A compromised team is a goal-oriented team! A team comes together from a group of people driven to achieve a common goal. Unity is a very important element when it comes to teams, being united reinforces team working. Each member should be aware of the importance that his or her actions have to the team. When someone feels like it is a meaningful part of something, they tend to feel more engaged to contribute with their work. That is one of the team building activities benefits, they are a way to remember the individuals that they are part of something bigger.
STRENGTHENS TEAM COMMUNICATION AND CONTRIBUTES TO BETTER WORK RESULTS.
Communication is the key to a successful team, without it results are not as good. With team building activities personal relations are improved and so is the communication. When people feel more involved around the team, they feel more comfortable to communicate their thoughts or concerns. All of this leads us to obtaining better work results, why? Well because with a good communication, the mistake rates decrease. If there are mistakes it is more likely to solve them efficiently if the team is aware of them.
Are you applying for an internship? If the answer is yes, we have decided to put together a few tips & tricks on how to write your CV and maximize your chances of passing our selection process. As you probably know, the CV is the first contact an organization has with its candidates. Having a good CV is key to obtaining the internship that you really want. That being said, check out the tips we have prepared for you.
BUILD YOUR CV IN ENGLISH
Although our company functions in Portugal and it might seem like a nice touch to create your CV in Portuguese, all the communication with the interns and the companies is done in English. Moreover, recruiters working at PiP have different nationalities and some of them do not speak Portuguese.
KNOW THE INFORMATION YOU ARE USING
This might seem like a no-brainer, but use REAL information. It is always better to have a truthful, but more modest CV, rather than a complex one containing inaccurate information. By using false information, you might end up in a position that does not suit your profile, and neither you or the company will benefit from this situation.
USE A SIMPLE TEMPLATE
Some people like to visually enhance their CV, so they decide using designs that catch your eye. We suggest using a standardised template that keeps it concise. A popular example of such a template is Europass (Europass Template)
NO MORE THAN ONE IMAGE
Please do not attach more than one image on your CV, as this is not necessary. If you add an image it must have decent quality and must depict yourself normally such as the pictures you take for your driving license, passport, ID etc. Using an image from one of the parties you attended might make you look cool, but I guarantee it will lower the chances of you obtaining the internship, besides making you look unprofessional.
KEEP IT SUCCINCT
Some people enjoy getting into really tiny details about their previous work experience and education. Recruiters receive a lot of profiles to revise, so probably they might not want to spend more than a few minutes reading all the details. Also, endlessly scrolling through the pages of a candidate’s CV can be quite unpleasant. One page should be enough to deliver all the information. If needed, we will ask you to go into more details at the interview.
RELEVANCE, CLARITY AND COMPREHENSIBILITY
The information you use to describe yourself and your past experiences should be relevant, clear and comprehensible. In most cases, it must either be related to the domain you are applying for or it must tell something about yourself, characterize you as an individual. Furthermore, when detailing past events or your background, list them by using a reverse chronological order (start with more recent experiences).
CV FORMAT
This is not as essential as the other steps, but it is still worth mentioning. Most people write their CV in Microsoft Word. After you finish editing up the last details, we recommend converting it to PDF. This will facilitate the reading because sometimes when you attach a Word file, the pictures or information can be modified depending of the computer.
DOUBLE-CHECKING
It is crucial to double check your CV after you have built it. Double-check for any grammatical errors or typos, just as you would with any text you write. Having a flawless CV can go a long way!
In conclusion, the CV is the tool you use to present yourself. Take into account all the tips above to build the best version of your CV. Remember you can have the most attractive, perfectly aligned and expertly written CV out there, but at the end of the day, the contents will always be prioritised.
BE CREATIVE! DON’T BE AFRAID OF COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS.
Sometimes companies are still too attached to working in their traditional way, but do not be afraid of expressing ideas that might change or improve their way of operating. Be creative even if this requires challenging the traditional work style, you will be creating a positive impact as an intern.
BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK.
You may not always be completely right, but that is totally okay! What’s important is that you are willing to correct your mistakes and improve your work. Receiving feedback is always good as we can see our work from a different perspective.
KEEP A PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR.
Be on time and dress properly, although this is an internship it doesn’t mean you don’t have to play by the rules. Meet the deadlines assigned and follow the company policies always.
DON’T PRETEND TO KNOW IT ALL.
There isn’t a single person that knows everything, an internship is a big chance for students to learn as much as they can. Don’t be afraid of asking questions when you don’t know something. This will not make you look like you are not capable but the opposite it will show that you are willing to learn new things.
KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND BE RESPECTFUL.
This point is specially important if you work in an international environment. Whether it is because of culture or religion you should know that every person is different and every mind is a completely different world. Not all of us have the same opinions and what you like others may not.
BE PROACTIVE! DON’T BE DEPENDENT.
Take initiatives but keep in mind not overstepping. Do not always wait for your supervisor to assign you a task. Having an action-oriented attitude will show your interest to play a part in the office; Try to contribute as much value as you can to the company.
GET INVOLVED IN THE OFFICE TEAM.
Even if you are an intern and your position does not require help from other people, try to get along with your coworkers. Get to know your colleagues and their way of working. This will help to have a better work environment and even improve the efficiency.
We hope this information will be a key of succes during your placement as an intern. If you do not have an internship yet, and you would like to gain some valuable work experience, check out our available positions!
If you have already made your decision about doing an internship, your next step is probably applying for some opportunities that you will find online. If the company would be interested, the responsibles will want to schedule an interview in order to get to know you and to know if you have the profile they are looking for.
In order to help you prepare for these, check our little guide about how you can be the best during your interview!
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
1) Take a look on the website
You can spare a lot of questions and time if you do some research on the company’s webpage. Your interviewer will also notice if you are already informed about the company and for sure, it is a big plus!
2) Practise answering typical interview questions before
If you are afraid that your brain will be blocked during the interview, do not worry, just prevent the problem! Of course you can not know exactly what kind of questions you will get, but there are some typical questions which are always asked and you can practise the answers before in case you feel a little bit insecure!
For example:
Can you list your strengths?
What weaknesses do you have?
Why should I consider hiring you?
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
3) Avoid technical difficulties
Make sure that your internet connection works properly before the interview and also check your camera and the volume system.
4) Be on time
Make sure that before the interview you have enough time for preparing and be available a few minutes before the interview starts!
DURING THE INTERVIEW
1) It is all about confidence
Obviously, if you do not appear confident to your interviewer, the interviewer will not have much confidence in you. It is perfectly normal if you are a little bit nervous during your interview, but try to put aside your shyness and nerves, just be motivated and it is already a half of success!
2) Smile a lot
Be friendly, polite and remember that it is not forbidden to smile! If you smile a lot during your interview, it means that you are a positive and happy person and you can gain sympathy really easily! Make sure your body language expresses that you are motivated!
3) Ask questions
An interview is a two-way street. If you have some questions, the interviewer can be sure that you are interested in the position and you did some research before the interview!
4) Articulate your words!
Since you have a wall between you and your interviewer, make sure that you speak not too fast and not too quiet. Take time to articulate your words!
1 - Take advantage of the Erasmus+ scholarship/grant
It is great to be a student in Europe – there are so many options! So you should not miss the unique opportunity that the European program Erasmus+ offers: funding your placement up to 12 months during your bachelor/master/PhD. So do not worry if you find a good but unpaid internship. The grant amount depends on your country and the country where you will do your Erasmus+ Placement. Every student enrolled in a higher institution can apply for it!
For more information do not hesitate to get in touch with your Erasmus+ coordinator at your University, as the process of applying may vary in each country.
*For more information about the Erasmus + project: Erasmus + Scholarship or directly connect the responsible person in the International relations office (External Relations) in your university.
2- Working in a multicultural environment
Many HR managers report that candidates with multicultural work experience have strong advantages in finding a job. That is because you learn how to have more respect and understanding for cultural differences, be more open-minded to other’s points of view. Since the Erasmus+ program is popular amongst European from different countries, you never know what nationality your teammate would be so that represents a perfect opportunity to strengthen a second or even a third foreign language!
Being part of international team is very helpful because people learn how to be more confident to share their ideas, doubts and concerns – all that leads to increasing creativity which would result in better organizational performance.
Honestly, who would not like to add on employee with such experience who can contribute to their team?
3- Professional development and experience
Once they step out of the university “comfort zone” to the labour market looking for job, each recent graduate encounters these two scary words: „Experience Needed“. Deciding to do a placement is perfect bridge between university and labour market. You should not waste time being unemployed. Instead simply take advantage of Erasmus+ grant for your placement – work and gain professional experience. That time is very important to realize if this job/field is suitable for you if that is the case – use that time to learn from your tutor and colleagues. It is a good way to develop the needed set of skills and qualities so you can be more competitive once you start pursuing your career.
4- Skills development and competences
20‘s are the perfect age to develop your professional and interpersonal skills. Internship abroad is a perfect opportunity for you to test yourself and learn in a multicultural environment. You can also develop the so called soft skills (people skills such as motivation, empathy and social skills, listening and understanding) that are so much needed and valued both in personal life and every work place. You will definitely learn how to adapt easily and be more flexible.
5- Travel and explore the country and surroundings
While doing your internship you will have the chance to meet people from Europe and beyond. It is perfect meeting point of fresh young nice people who are ready to explore the world – so why not do it together!? Many low-cost airlines (Such as Ryanair and Wizzair etc) and bus/train agencies offer student discounts so it is affordable to visit other cities and countries.
