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Unit 4: Your Career Gameplan

How to not wake up in semester 6 with an empty CV.

🏁 Why this matters (more than you think)​

Here’s a hard truth:

Your WU degree? Great. But alone, it won’t make you stand out.

What actually opens doors later:

✅ Internships
✅ An exchange semester
✅ Side gigs and projects that show you can do stuff

Also, be ready for WU’s little quirk: by semester 3, everyone’s suddenly talking about their “Big 4” internship or “exchange in Singapore” like it’s casual.

Don’t let it stress you, but do have a plan.

☀️ Step 1: Use your summers smart​

Summer = your golden chance to gain experience without wrecking your semester.

🎯 A possible timeline:

  • After 2nd semester: Start small. Audit, tax, startups, NGOs – just get a feel for work life.
  • After 4th semester: Level up. Boutique consulting, big corporates, scaleups, or something completely different (wherever you’re interested).
  • After 6th semester: Go big. Strategy consulting, top-tier internships, your dream corporate?

Think of it like building a pyramid: each summer adds a layer that makes the next opportunity easier to grab.

📌 Rule of thumb: 1 internship every summer → experiences early on (and no awkward CV gaps later).

📚 Step 2: Semester jobs – yes, but carefully​

Working during the semester can be a double-edged sword.

👍 When it works:

  • Flexible hours (10–15 h/week max)
  • Relevant to your future field
  • Helps you build a network

👎 When it doesn’t:

  • Rigid schedules that eat your study time
  • First semester chaos + job = bad combo

🔥 Fastlane advice:

  • First semester? Skip it. Focus on adjusting to WU life.
  • Later? One small, relevant job can be gold (think student assistant, tutoring, freelancing).

🌍 Step 3: Do an exchange semester​

Most WU students go abroad in their 4th or 5th semester – and you should too.

Here’s why:

✅ International experience = massive personal growth (and of course CV boost)
✅ You’ll live and study in a new culture (with half the paperwork of doing a full degree abroad).
✅ Epic memories, new friends, and a fresh perspective on life.

🎯 Two main options:

  • Erasmus: Chill, party-friendly, credits transfer easily.
  • Competitive spots (US, UK, Asia): harder to get and often more expensive – but worth it if you can.

📌 If you’re studying IBWL, an exchange semester isn’t optional, it’s part of your program.

🔥 Bonus: It’s often easier to land internships after an exchange. Employers love that global exposure.

🏆 Fastlane Pro Tips​

🔑 Start a LinkedIn now: no one’s judging your blank profile, but it’s easier to build over time.
🔑 Go to WU’s career events (ZBP) early: even just to see what’s out there.
🔑 Don’t compare your chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 5. Consistency > clout.

🧪 Micro-Challenge: Map your career fastlane​

✅ Pick 3 industries you’d love to try (finance? marketing? startups?).
✅ Search LinkedIn for WU alumni in those fields → note their career paths.
✅ Set a reminder for January: most summer internship applications open early.
✅ Browse WU’s exchange destinations and shortlist your dream picks.