Graduate program through the eyes of a Graduate
Every Monday at 1.30 p.m. all Fujitsu Finland 2021 Graduates gather up for a virtual coffee break. The joint break serves as a safe space to share our accomplishments and concerns and to get peer-to-peer support and advice from one another.
Along with me, nine other Graduates joined Fujitsu in the fall of 2021. We all started during the COVID-19 pandemic which consequently means we’ve been working remotely most of our time here. However, with almost two years of practice, remote working and virtual meetings have become the “new normal” thus, enabling our onboarding phase to run smoothly.
I’ve been at Fujitsu as a Sales Coordinator Graduate for over 6 months. Even up until today I haven't seen all of my teammates face-to-face. Nevertheless, that has not prevented me from feeling welcomed, connected, and - most importantly - a valuable part of the team.
Quite the contrary, ever since day one people at Fujitsu have been eager to meet with me and welcome me to the house. In such a short time I’ve learned a lot about myself, and the IT sector and grown personally and professionally. I will put you in my shoes to give you an idea of what it is like to be a Graduate at Fujitsu through my five key takeaways and findings.
- Others are here to support you
Especially the Graduate community I am part of is a great asset. I've been given the chance to get acquainted with Graduates from all over Europe who are taking the first steps into their careers, like I am. In addition to the Graduate community, I am an equal part of my team, and I collaborate with other teams almost daily. This combination offers me a unique way to build a strong network. To get the most out of my network I've realized how important it is not to hesitate to ask and offer help. Or get inspired and inspire others. Rely and be relied on. After all, we are all in the same team and not each other's competitors.
. - Your opinions matter
I’ve noticed how my colleagues genuinely appreciate my new perspectives and opinions. I know this by the number of meetings I've been invited to just to share my thoughts on a matter. So, not being afraid to speak up and sharing your thoughts is highly encouraged. Frankly, that is why the Graduates are here in the first place - to offer fresh perspectives.
. - Confidence is the key
Confidence is not about being arrogant and ignorant to other’s ideas. I’ve learned it’s about trusting your vision and skills. Others around me have shown trust towards me so, why shouldn't I trust myself? As a Graduate, you will get responsibilities. You will be offered challenges. It’s important to trust your skills and act with confidence.
. - Give it a shot
When I started I promised myself to be open to new things. Even if it was something that would make me get out of my comfort zone, I would give it a shot. This is how I’ve managed to figure out my strengths and weaknesses as well as what interests me the most. The great thing about the Graduate Program is that it is meant to be a space for you to try, fail and learn from it.
. - IT is a sector you want to be part of
I'm not going to sugarcoat it - IT is a tough sector. It keeps changing all the time as we are in a constant state of innovation and face new challenges that we need to solve almost daily. Just when you think you’ve learned something it becomes old news. However, ever-changing equals to interesting. Why? Because change means it’s not the same old, same old year after year. Change keeps the IT sector interesting. And let’s face it - IT is not going out of style anytime soon.
If you look at the findings closely you can find a hidden message about for whom the Graduate Program is suitable. Are you willing to network with people from across Europe? Are you ready to bring your new ideas to the table and execute them with confidence? Do you want a place to try versatile tasks in the IT sector? If you said yes to all of these questions, Fujitsu Graduate Program might be the right fit for you.