Belgian participant Camille de Ruyck came to Barcelona in October of 2020 to start the International Master in Management at EADA Business School. In her first trimester, Camille obtained a job offer from the multinational Johnson & Johnson for their highly competitive graduate program in which graduates rotate across different departments to build diverse skills for a future career in the company.
Camille shares her experience in the selection process at Johnson & Johnson and tells us what student life has been like in times of COVID-19.
What made you decide to study the International Master in Management at EADA?
When I was about to finish my Master of Science in Drug Development in Belgium, I felt like I had little to no knowledge about the business world. As a pharmacist, I always wanted to end up in the exciting and dynamic world of the pharmaceutical industry instead of working in a local pharmacy. That is how I decided to follow a Master in Management, to strengthen my leadership skills and learn about the business world before going into the industry.
The decision to go abroad was straightforward for me, since I love meeting and working with people from all over the world, and I believe studying and living abroad in an international environment can teach you more than any textbook ever could. I heard a lot of great things about EADA from alumni and after looking at numerous different business schools, EADA seemed like the perfect fit for me!
EADA is doing a wonderful job offering us a combination of face to face and online courses, which has made the learning experience highly productive.
You were brave that you decided to travel and study abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. How would you describe a student’s life and your learning experience at EADA during COVID times?
The classes at EADA consist of a small group of 25 students, which makes the experience more personal and makes you participate far more than most people would in a larger group. Because of these small sizes of the classes, we are still able to follow face to face courses, which I am incredibly grateful for. EADA is doing a wonderful job offering us a combination of face to face and online courses, which has made the learning experience highly productive. Working in such small groups also allowed me to meet some amazing new people here, who have now become really good friends of mine.
What have you enjoyed the most about the program so far?
The fact that the program is highly dynamic. We have different courses providing us with the knowledge and hard skills to become managers in the business world of today, we have had a sustainability week, a marketing strategy simulation week and of course the leadership soft skills training sessions in the Collbató Residential Training Campus.
All of this makes the program very exciting and makes sure you are very involved as a student.
Which strategic specialisation will you choose? What drew you to this area?
I will choose ‘Tech Management’ as strategic specialisation, which will teach me the know-how and expertise to deal with challenges in Tech Environments from a management perspective. During the sustainability week I chose a tech-related topic as well: Digital innovation as a driver for sustainable economies and positive social impact. This course sparked my interest in the world of technology and digitalization and made me realize this topic will only become more and more important in the business world of tomorrow.
As a trainee, there will be a lot of focus on personal development and I will get coached by a Development Manager throughout the rotations.
Congratulations on your position in the Johnson & Johnson graduate program! What does the program consist of and how does this align with your professional goals?
Thank you!
The Young Graduate Development Program is a three-year rotational program that will introduce me to all aspects of the Johnson & Johnson Supply Chain in Belgium. I will gain experience in different functional areas, such as Planning, Engineering, Production, Technical Operations, Quality and Procurement. Through this program I will get to know the Johnson & Johnson Supply Chain organization and get a general overview of the business. As a trainee, there will be a lot of focus on personal development and I will get coached by a Development Manager throughout the rotations. I will also get support from an Assignment Manager for every project.
This program will prepare me for a successful further career at Johnson & Johnson, a company that has fascinated me since my first year as a pharmacy student, six years ago. Trainees are given only strategically important responsibilities, which will help me achieve my professional goals of being part of something important and having an impact on patients’ lives all over the world.
It’s a very competitive program. How was the selection process? How did you prepare for it?
First I applied by sending my curriculum vitae and answering some questions about my academic and professional experience. Then I had to take an online test about my personality traits and a test to assess my analytical skills. Following that, there was a one way interview where I had to answer three questions by recording myself. The last round was a virtual assessment day where I had to convince employees and current trainees by means of a reversed job fair and interviews. In the afternoon, the recruitment day was continued with an assessment by an external company. I completed tests and simulation exercises in order for them to assess different competences, such as personal potential to grow within the organization and personal strengths and development points.
Please explain how EADA Career Services and the Alumni network supported you throughout your application process.
I have had a lot of help from Gabriela Ortega from EADA Careers Services who supported me through the different recruitment rounds with tips, CV checks and referrals to EADA professors that could assist me on the topic of Supply Chain.
On top of that, I received great guidance from Ozana Pascual-Madorran, an EADA alumnus that is currently working at Johnson & Johnson as a Supply Chain Graduate.
Network as much as you can with people that work at the company you are applying for and with people that have a great experience in recruitment processes.
Do you have any advice for those who are thinking of applying for a graduate programme?
Do it! It is an amazing opportunity for young graduates that are entering the job market. You get the chance to learn while working and developing yourself further according to your ambitions and aspirations. A key tip: talk to people. Network as much as you can with people that work at the company you are applying for and with people that have a great deal of knowledge and experience in recruitment processes. A last piece of advice is to prepare yourself well for the interview rounds. Truly take your time for it, because it could shape your future!