Talent Days: What was it that attracted you to Philip Morris at Talent Days? Tell me honestly!
Tomek: It may sound trivial, but gambling data china
their stand at the fair was right by the entrance and was very extensive. A definite plus was that the people from the company themselves approached me. I told the recruiter what exactly I was studying, what my interests were and in which department I would feel best. At the end, I was given contact details so I could contact the company in case of additional questions.
Talent Days: Did you apply for a different position than your current one during the fair? Or maybe you applied to companies you had applied to before the job fair?
Tomek: When I came to Talent Days, I had not yet reached any stage of recruitment for Philip Morris. Now I have finished my internship in this company, and until recently I did not know it very well. It was their openness and friendly approach that had the greatest influence on me applying there.
Talent Days: After talking to the representatives of Philip Morris at the fair, did it ever cross your mind that they would offer you this position and soon become your colleagues?
Tomek: Honestly, from the beginning of the conversation I had the impression that they were interested in my candidacy. The recruiter I spoke to told me that they were looking for people like me. Even if I didn't get the job, I could see their interest. I didn't have to ask for anything, they called me later.
Talent Days: What did your further recruitment process look like after the phone call with the offer?
Tomek: After that phone call, I was invited to do some tests. They were rather simple tasks that required some mathematical knowledge and strategic thinking. For example, you had to plan your calendar. Later it turned out that I passed the tests. The next stage was a conversation with managers who asked me general questions, but required creative thinking and a strategic and financial approach to certain issues. I really liked the fact that they called me back two days later and said they were interested in my candidacy. So from the moment of the conversation at the fair to the moment of the phone call with the final offer, not even a week passed, which can definitely be counted as a plus!
Talent Days: Did you feel at ease during each stage of the recruitment process?
Tomek: Absolutely. The managers were very helpful and nice, and the conversation was relaxed. Their attire also convinced me of the relaxed atmosphere – they weren't "in ties".
Talent Days: Remind us what position you held at PMI, what were your responsibilities? Have you had the opportunity to learn something, gain new skills?
Tomek: Yes. I must emphasize that my internship was quite specific, because it lasted 10 months. I worked as an intern in finance and I am glad that I could change departments every 4 months. While working in the accounting department, I was able to learn how to use the SAP program. In addition, I improved my skills in using Excel, which I am also happy about.
Attractions during Talent Days
Talent Days: Coming back to the topic of the fair – did you take part in any additional activities during Talent Days, e.g. workshops, CV consultations or competitions?
Tomek: I did not take part in the workshops, but I was interested in the competitions of selected companies, where in order to win a prize you had to demonstrate specific knowledge or solve a thematic crossword puzzle.
Talent Days: Philip Morris probably had a Rubik's Cube to solve at his booth?
Tomek: Yes, but to be honest, I tried to visit as many employer stands as possible, so I didn't get into this particular competition. Thanks to the fact that I spent time at other stands from the very morning, I had a chance to familiarize myself with their offer. If I had done it differently and just come to the fair later, I probably would have had to stand in huge lines to the employer stands.
Talent Days: In your opinion, are job fairs something worth recommending to people looking for a job, internship or simply their career path?
Tomek: I think it's definitely worth it! I'm a good example of the fact that you can get your dream job thanks to Talent Days, and not from an advertisement on the Internet. A definite plus is the fact that you can talk to your future employer face to face. Find out what they like about you, what strengths they see in you, what department in their company they can recommend to you and what exactly you will have to do in a given position, what tasks you will have to deal with. It often happens that the duties listed in the advertisement have nothing to do with what our role will actually be. At job fairs, we have the chance to talk to people who already work in a given company and compare the job description with reality.
Talent Days: What would be your advice for people who decide to look for a job at Talent Days? Apart from arriving as early as possible and making the most of the day, of course.
Tomek: As I mentioned, in addition to showing up first thing in the morning, you also have to have an open mind and not be afraid to ask questions. I think there are many people who are satisfied with general information. However, since this could be our future job and we want it to be interesting and developing, it is important to learn as much as possible about it first.
Talent Days: Thanks for the interview and sharing your experiences. Good luck with your future career!
BONUS: Get the employer's perspective!
Talent Days: Hi Monika! Why did you, Philip Morris, decide to participate in Talent Days?
Monika, PMI: We took part in the fair because of our goal, which is to create the future for our organization by finding Talents at job fairs. We were present at Talent Days for the third time.
Talent Days: What are your impressions of participating in Talent Days?
Monika: We really appreciate the opportunity to take part in Talent Days. Apart from the fact that we have open recruitment and are looking for employees for various positions, we are becoming more and more recognizable thanks to these fairs. Candidates know what exactly we do, what development paths we offer. We can reach a larger number of our potential employees. It is a great experience for us in terms of developing our team and brand.
Talent Days: A question on behalf of prospective candidates – are there any specific qualities or skills you look for in people? Do you have a vision of the ideal candidate?
Monika: For us, the ideal candidate will be someone who wants to develop, is open to new knowledge and competences. We do not have requirements for specific hard skills. When looking for people for junior positions or internships, we want people who learn quickly and are not afraid to share their own ideas. Communication and a focus on solving problems are also important. These are probably all the most important competences that we look for in candidates.
Talent Days: We already know something about it! We've talked to Tomek, who found a job at Philip Morris during Talent Days.
Monika: You could say that Tomek was in the perfect place at the perfect time. At that time, we were looking for people who wanted to start an internship in our finance department. Tomek showed up at our stand at the fair. We started talking right away, then there was another conversation after the fair and... a proposal to quickly start cooperation!
Talent Days: Tomek mentioned that the recruitment process was conducted very efficiently.
Monika: It cannot be denied, everything happened so quickly!
Talent Days: What advice would you like to pass on to young talents, our readers, regarding their careers and participation in recruitment processes? Can you share any secrets with us? You were probably in a similar situation at the beginning of your career, and now you are the one who is conducting interviews with candidates.
Monika: I started my career with an internship, but in a completely different company. I didn't know yet what direction my career would take exactly. I applied for various positions to be able to test myself and find the perfect path for myself. Therefore, I recommend such actions to young people. You shouldn't worry that you don't know what to choose right after graduation - it's completely normal! A person who takes part in various recruitment processes has a chance to gain self-confidence and learn to talk about their experiences. It is also worth getting involved in various additional projects. If we manage to join a given team in a given company, we should also look for development options, even in terms of tasks that are seemingly unrelated to our current occupation. We can also get involved in volunteering, often organized by employers as part of additional activities. The changes that have occurred in the context of employment in connection with the pandemic are also important. Many companies currently allow remote work - you have to be open to such changes. In my opinion, this is also important from the perspective of people who are looking for a job.
Talent Days: Thank you for the interview and specific career advice!
YOU + Talent Days = SUCCESS!
As Tomek's story shows, job search at Talent Days is effective and exceptionally easy, especially for young people who are at the beginning of their career path. The opportunity to start a direct "face to face" conversation allows you to get to know a potential employer better and present yourself. Job fairs are also a chance for employers themselves, who are looking for energetic and communicative people at Talent Days. Who knows, maybe the job of your dreams is closer than you think !