EFR-Eclaire December 2013

VOLUME 34

DECEMBER 2013

NUMBER 02

ECLAIRE

EXCHANGE HEARTBEAT FESTIVAL - BACKSTAGE PERSPECTIVE

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ERASMUS RECRUITMENT DAYS - UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL!

world

ERASMUS RECRUITMENT DAYS subscribe now!

2014

08

29 January > 12 february

100 companies > visit us at the c-and t building > www.erd.nl > deadline 8th of January

world

Wil jij een carrière in Corporate Finance?

Duisenberg school of finance onderscheidt

DSF Programma’s

zich van andere universiteiten door de inzet

• MSc Finance, Corporate Finance and

van vooraanstaande academici uit binnen- en buitenland, kleinschaligheid en veel aandacht voor sustainable finance.

Banking track • MSc Finance, Financial Markets and Regulation track • MSc Finance, Risk Management track

Alleen de beste studenten worden toegelaten

• LLM Finance and Law

tot één van de vier Master programma’s. Door de nauwe samenwerking met de sector wordt in de programma’s een brug geslagen tussen theorie en praktijk. Kies voor het Corporate Finance and Banking - of Financial Markets and Regulation programma en wordt een gewilde kandidaat voor functies in Mergers and Acquisition, Private Equity, Structured Finance, Asset Management,

Aanmelden is gemakkelijk

Equity Research en Consulting.

en doe je via de website!

for leaders in finance

www.dsf.nl

09

04 08

Index world

Foreword world

05 09

WORD OF PRESIDENT 100 years of Impact

HEARTBEAT FESTIVAL An insiders perspective of the event of the year!

08

Exchange

Romeo and Juliet

TESTIMONIALS

Heartbeat festival

Stories from abroad

Exchange testimonials

12

06/07 08/09 10/11

International students and entrepreneurship

12/13 14/15

Active Members Weekend Erasmus Recruitment Days Exchange vs. Internship

Career

New gym! New rules!

Health

EXCHANGE VS. NEW GYM! INTERNSHIP NEW RULES! We asked the professionals

18

A review of the new gym, exercises and healthy food

ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW

Working for free?

EFR-Events so far

16/17 18/19 20 21 22

20

COLOFON

DECEMBER 04

EFR-Drink and pre-event EFR-Ski Trip

05

Sinterklaas

09

EFR-Student Debate

23 - 05

Christmas Break

JANUARI 06 - 10

EFR-Booksale

08

EFR-Welcome Back Party

10 - 19

EFR-Ski Trip

27

Entrepreneurship Day

29 - 12

Erasmus Recruitment Days

FEBRUARY 06

Editorial Address Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, HB-20 3062 PA Rotterdam tel: 010 - 408 11 46 Visual Styling Nieuw Creatief Peil

Printing Hans Drukwerk

Editor in Chief Agnieszka Wietrzyk

Commercial officer Edwin van Vliet

Marketing Officer Marjolein Volkers Writers Anastasia Mirkina Elaha Abhar Michelle de Nie Philip Luckmann Agnieszka Wietrzyk

WORD OF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Photography Ka-chun Lo EFR-Board

EFR-Drink If you no longer wish to receive the EFR-Eclaire, please send an e-mail to info@efr.nl

DEAR READERS, The academic life has been on its way for some months now at the Erasmus University. Many students have their first grades in the pocket and are enjoying the great events and parties that are being organised. There is a group of students that has been missing these first couple of months however. It is that lucky group of students that is currently enjoying the snow far up north, or lying in the sun on tropical beaches. Not because they are enjoying a holiday, but because they are spending a semester at a University abroad.

Last year I had the chance myself to study for five months at the University of Technology Sydney, and it has been one of the most special experiences of my life. Being completely on your own in a strange country, conversing in a foreign language 24/7 and following classes at another university, is a truly unbeatable experience. The memories of that time abroad are still very valuable to me.

Perhaps you have been on exchange yourself or are considering going next year. If so, I can assure you that you will not regret this decision. The topic of exchange is a much broader topic than this physical exchange, however. An exchange of thoughts, traditions or cultures can also be extremely valuable. Within the EFR we cherish an international and open minded culture. We invite you all to join in our events that facilitate the exchange of thoughts and experiences (such as our student debate and City Trip to Berlin). In this EFR-Eclaire you will read all about the exchanges of fellow students and perhaps they will inspire you to have your own exchange experience.

Kind Regards, Jolien Paalman President of the 50th EFR-Board

DEAR READERS, The theme of this month’s issue is very important for those of you who soon have to make a decision concerning their exchange and the location of their destination. We will present you some student testimonials from different exchange locations and try to see whether exchange is a valuable experience from employers’ point of view comparing to an internship. In order to distract yourself from tough life decisions, you can move to medieval tragedy time and look at the famous story of Romeo and Juliet from economic perspective. To get in shape even in winter, you obviously have to visit the new Erasmus gym, however… make your workout smart and check out our exercise tips! And did you ever think of setting up your own company? Check the interview with Ido Segev who recently set up his own business being an international student in the Netherlands. Besides, read the reports from our EFR-Events such as Parents Day and Active Members Weekend.

Enjoy!

Agnieszka Wietrzyk Editor in Chief

06 08

Economics world

Economics world

07 09

“Two households, both alike in dignity,

Romeo and Juliet An economic perspective In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows

Do with their death bury their parents’ strife”

- Prologue, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

What if Romeo and Juliet had a Robinson Crusoe character?

Drama and Economics have a lot in common. Both of them aim to study in detail the human nature. The economic model is no more than an attempt to predict the future, to see the foggy and shredded picture of tomorrow. It tells a story about millions of lives. If it is a microeconomic mainstream model, the story is simple, based entirely on assumption that the economic agents are rational and seek only maximizing their own utility. They are Homines economici, they are Robinsons from the introduction to Microeconomics. Change one variable , the expected value of an outcome, and perceive a completely different behavior. The direction of action is known, is predictable. Emotions influencing behavior do not exist.

However, in reality it is not always possible to calculate the expected outcome, as we are not robots. We live under the influence of religion, ideology, prejudices about appearance, social status and nationality, gender and education. We are guided by our immediate and long-term desires, our fears

and dreams. How is it even possible to attempt to predict economic decisions of an individual influenced by so many variables without making some unrealistic assumptions?

Fiction is great because it attempts to do so. It builds the alternative reality, a model. Authors creating the background of a protagonist, build character leaded not only by reason, but also (in many cases mostly) by emotions. One of the greatest modelers is Shakespeare. One of his greatest models is a tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. It takes place at the beginning of 13th century in Verona, in the dark Middle ages, when common sense was rare, beliefs were strong and love, apart of war and farming, was a predominant occupation of the humankind.

Still, how would the world look like if it was constructed in accordance with rational behavior principle? How would the story of Romeo and Julie look like if they both behave well, according to their families profit-seeking rules?

Let’s try to imagine it.

Verona market is an oligopoly, predominated by two old and rich merchant families: Montague and Capulet. Under the absence of the rule of law, the competition for the market share is fierce. The streets of Verona are regularly flooded with blood due to numerous hassles.

Romeo, the son of Montague, is in the active search for a bride. He is trying to achieve a reciprocity of feelings from beautiful Rosaline. However, she took a vow of celibacy (in a rational word probably in attempt to avoid the dangers of child bearing). Romeo realizes that the feelings will never ever be mutual. He is encouraged by his friend Mercutio to sneak into the ball organized by Capulet in order to select from the huge variety of Verona fair ladies who would happen to be there. Romeo would look there for the one who would overshadow Rosaline (and at the same time be available). However, before entering the ballroom, Romeo suddenly foresees the outcomes of this action: “I fear, too early: for my mind misgives Some consequence yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night’s revels and expire the term Of a despised life closed in my breast By some vile forfeit of untimely death”

Being rational, Romeo weights costs and benefits of a decision (what neither Romeo neither Juliet didn’t do in the play, as they were leaded only by lust or love). Once entering the party, the worst outcome for him would be to be busted and involved in fight with the immense advantage on Capulet side. In a positive case, if not noticed, he would find a more beautiful girl than Rosaline. However, being rational, he also understands that there is plenty of opportunities to see beauties without a necessity to enter the lion’s den. Thus, the story of Rational Romeo ends at the door of the Capulet’s mansion. Romeo forgets about Rosaline, marries one of the ladies close to the Montague family. He settles down, stop speaking in riddles and rhymes. He plumps with age and becomes an burgher, still hating Capulet clan.

On the Capulet side, the father of Juliet obliges her to marry Paris, a rich noble. In the Middle ages, the wedding was a business deal. The bride was a commodity, assessed according to her appearance, origin and endowment.

Being rational Juliet marries Paris to provide better standard of living for her and her parents. She becomes pregnant from 4 to 8 times during her lifetime. If survived all the dangers of child-bearing, plague and other illnesses, she would live an average life, probably surviving until early fifties. She would fill her days with prayer, household duties, embroidery, gossips and forcing her daughters into arranged marriages.

Thus, the story of Rational Romeo and Juliet would be lost in the sands of time, as millions of similar. The war of the clans would continue, until one of them becomes weaker.

However, the story written by Shakespeare is a story of irrational. The series of irrational choices and coincidences (including Romeo going to the ball and killing the Juliet’s cousin Tybalt later) leads to the death of Romeo and Juliet.

This consequently makes Montegue and Capulet family to the establish “a glooming peace” between Verona clans.

earlier. This two outcomes differ significantly. Both outcomes are probable. Thus, in order to make accurate predictions about a choices of an individual, it is necessary to learn how incorporate the irrational factor in the economic models.

This is a subject of relatively new and interesting field of Behavioral Economics and Finance.

So what is the conclusion? The rationality and irrationality of economic agents are really key assumptions in any model. In the rational story, two families stay longer at enmity, probably carrying away more lives. In the irrational story described by Shakespeare, the fight between families comes to a stand

By the way, Shakespeare himself was absolutely rational when he maximized his profitability by publishing a tragedy about irrational lovers.

Text: Anastasia Mirkina

08 world EFR

The HeartBeat Festival

EFR world

Backstage Perspective

Kensington gets on stage and loosens up the crowd

The EFR was co-organizer of the HeartBeat Festival which took place on the 5th of September. The six members of the EFR-EUR Lustrum Committee (Sander Geenen, Jolien Paalman, Marjolein Volkers, Marloek Hoogenwoud, Marjolein Benschop and I) took care of the line-up and the promotion towards students. I, Esmée Zwiers, will try to give you an insight of what happened backstage on the 5th of September.

The first artists arrive and chaos starts.

My left ear can barely stand the drama with people screaming through the radiotelephones. Kensington is slightly delayed and they finish their sound check just in time so that DJ Rinus can kick off the HeartBeat Festival! It is quite a big moment that the festival finally took off, but no time to relax, other things have to get settled. Three/Third XL finishes its gig and it is time for the grand opening: the part of the festival of which I have absolutely no clue what is going to happen. The grand opening turned out to be truly “grand” with music and fireworks all over the place.

Eventually it is time for one of the main acts of the night. Kensington gets on stage and loosens up the crowd. At last, me and my committee members get the chance to taste the atmosphere in the crowd when we stand just in front of the main stage when Kensington plays their greatest hit: Home Again.

The atmosphere is great and no one can wipe the smiles of our faces. But again, no time to relax, a crisis pops up every few minutes and things have to be done.

The crowd is warmed up pretty well and it is the perfect time for Hed Kandi Live to hit the stage. The atmosphere is getting better and better. I would love to watch Hed Kandi Live doing their complete set, but Friends of the Family is delayed and their gear has to get built up in a split second.

Once this problem is solved we manage to bring the whole committee together to enjoy Hed Kandi Live. The moderator calls us on stage during the last minutes of the performance of Hed Kandi Live. For me this moment was the true icing on the cake of the HeartBeat Festival. Seeing the crowd from the stage is amazing. Seeing so many people enjoy the festival we worked so hard for during the last half year is amazing.

We feel like we are on top of the world.

5th of September

After months of preparation d-day has finally arrived. While a week ago the rainplan dominated everyone’s thoughts the weather turned unexpectedly with lots of sun and temperatures not short of 28 degrees! A short briefing at the start of the day follows and we are ready to roll. I am responsible for the artists’ dressing-rooms, so my day starts with the preparation of the different rooms in the A-building. Every dressing room gets some sweets, drinks and a programme to make sure the artists can prepare themselves for their performances.

09

Fiesta Mexicana

However, back to reality when Hed Kandi Live ends their act. We have to clean up the dressing-rooms and some parts of the festival-site, since some parts have to be used the next day. But, finally, after restoring some parts of campus, we can join the others at the afterparty in the Pavilion and we stay out until the early hours: work hard, play hard!

work hard, play hard!

Text: Esmee Zwiers

10 08

Entrepreneurship world

Entrepreneurship world

11 09

Opening your own business in the Netherlands

Interview with Ido Segev the founder of Grade Boost

Ido is a third year IBEB student from Israel. At the beginning of this academic year, he has managed to launch a start-up, the Grade Boost company . Its core is a website, offering summaries, private lessons and consultancy services for international students. The company has achieved a success after the first block and continues to grow. In this inspiring interview, Ido tells about positives and obstacles in the way of opening a business in the Netherlands.

Was it difficult or easy to establish a business in the Netherlands being an international student?

Was it costly?

The action of opening a business in the Netherlands is very easy, and does not involve any costs for the business proprietor. As a first step, right after I decided to open my own company, and before I booked the flight for my summer vacation, I went to the Chamber Of Commerce and registered Grade Boost as a legal, sole proprietorship business, for free.

Since I believe there is always a risk of backing down from a ‘crazy idea’ such as opening a company I told a few family members, friends and potential workers about my idea, just to remind myself that I am really going for it.

I think that the Netherlands is a great place for internationals to start their own businesses due to a few reasons. First of all, I come from a country where creativity and the flexibility of thinking are the main sources of economic growth. With the combination of this creativity and flexibility and the very neat and organized Dutch environment I was able to set the company very quickly and reach my goals in a much better and efficient way. Second reason are the customers, Dutch and internationals, most of the time tend to be very polite and loyal to the company. This gives the company a solid ground for starting the very first activities in the right way. There is a downside of being an international student as well. This is mostly related to the language barrier. A good example are tax issues. Tax workers are only allowed to speak in Dutch.

That makes every problem a bit harder to solve. But I prefer to remind myself that challenges are always good for my experience. I think that the main idea here is the positive way of thinking and the passion for new challenges. If you decide to go for it and create your own business, do it without looking back and embrace every challenge.

Do you have plans to expand Grade Boost to other universities or develop new services (for example not only for students but for all expats) ?

The wonderful thing about opening your own business is the free hand you have in developing the business in every direction that seems right, from an organizational and economical point of view. I first thought about opening Grade Boost as a website for selling only summaries. And then, one day, when I went out for a run (which is when I get most of my ideas), I thought why not start creating contacts with Honours Class’ students and offer them a job which is well paid and helps other students at the same time. It turned out to be a good proposition, and today Grade Boost already has 14 employees. There are a few new markets of which Grade Boost is now heading towards. Apart from the planned expansion to other Dutch universities, the first market is the secondary

school private lessons. In cooperation with Dutch partners, who know this market well, we will give the same high quality service as the one that University students currently have.

The second one is a language private lessons service, in which customers will be able to book private lessons with the best teachers for Dutch and Mandarin. A third direction is the new service for international students, which is already available online, and gives internationals the option to have a law student solve their bureaucratic problems with the Dutch authorities. Lastly, there is a possibility of opening a running team in a cooperation with a well-known sports company.

Grade Boost is now working on a very cool project that will be very beneficial for its customers, so stay tuned!

There are always two very important targets for a business.

The first one is to maintain current activities in the best way.

The second one is to always move forward, look for new markets and opportunities, and keep thinking creatively.

Did you develop the website yourself?

Yes. During the summer, when I was on holiday in my homecountry, Israel, I began developing the website. Between time spent at the beach and meeting friends and family, I addressed the activities that set in motion the process that laid the foundation to what now is the Grade Boost Company. A few activities were crucial for the creation of the content of the website. First, there was a need for typing the summaries which are now sold on the website. This activity was outsourced to freelancers. Another major activity was to choose the best workers who would fit best to the company’s personality. I started by employing the first 6 tutors, mostly based on my intuition. Lastly, the creation of promotional relationships with a couple of Dutch companies allowed for a smoother entrance to the market. At the end of the summer, the company was created with an initial investment of only €300.

Do you plan to continue with the business after your studies?

What is your best tip for those who want to begin a start-up in the Netherlands?

At the moment I am pretty positive about doing my masters at the Erasmus University after finishing my International Bachelor of Economics and Business degree. This gives me another full year of running and developing the business.

The company’s main goal is to allow every student to receive the help he or she needs from the best tutors and summaries available. I always tell the company’s workers that the most important resource of the company is ‘people’ – customers and workers, and this is the spirit of the company. We just enjoy working together while offering our products and services. This is why I tend to think about the present and the near future and seize every moment.

The best tip I can give for opening a business is – commit to an idea and do everything to achieve it. Entrepreneurship is not something that you do from nine to five and then go back home and forget about. It’s an exciting, ongoing process in which new ideas are always welcome and meeting new people is always a source of inspiration for new directions and markets. In my opinion there are two important things one achieves by opening a company. First of all, it is the selffulfillment that fills you up with the feeling that you were able to create something new that helps others. Second, is the practical experience an entrepreneur achieves by owning and maintaining a business, taking care of all the aspects of the company such as marketing, finance, sales, human resources and customer service. In case you decide that your idea is good enough to be implemented, don’t think too much. Go to the chamber of commerce and register your new company.

After doing that, the way back is much harder, and you can only go forward.

Text: Text: Jasper Anastasia de Ruijsscher Mirkina

08 12

world Exchange

Exchange testimonials Hi! My exchange destination is Paris. France is an amazing country. It surprises you by its slow pace of life. It is a special also because the people value their language so much. In the first two weeks all 260 exchange students were struggling through the French intensive courses.

As soon as the exams were passed we started traveling.

Paris impresses you by its architecture and the famous Eiffel Tower, Nice has a vivid cultural live and there are some of the best surf spots along the coast. But it is so nice to come back to calm Troyes into the district named “Champagne Cork” with it’s buildings from the 16th century. It’s name it owes to the shape of the city center.

In the region of Champagne the best sparkling wine of the world is produced.

You have to try real champagne, go shopping in one of the many outlets around the city of Troyes and eat some escargots.

Jeannine Claes

Hi guys! I did not go on exchange in my third year, but I want to let you know that staying in Rotterdam can also be fun. In my first block I did a minor which was very interesting, you can also do a minor at other faculties and even other Dutch universities. This gives you a chance to broaden the horizons and get to know new people, just like an exchange experience. Having less courses this blocked, enabled me also to do some econometric courses and consider econometrics pre-master.

In my second block I chose elective courses which is also quite a lot of fun. Having many friends all over the world, gives you always a possibility to visit them ;) Last week I went for a trip to Sweden to visit my friend there which was absolutely amazing.

Besides, while being on exchange you miss out on some cool things happening in Rotterdam such as the Centennial Party and who would want to miss that?

Michiel Selbeck

Exchange world

Hrisyana Doytchinova

Bart van der Velde

13 09

Hello! An exchange in Hong Kong means the most vibrant and amazing exchange you can ever imagine, just because it offers simply more than you would ever imagine. From one of the most beautiful skylines of the world, containing millions of people and thousands of experiences yet to discover, towards the tropical laid-back “reggae” beaches and stunning nature parks towards the old traditional villages: Hong Kong simply has it all. The first thing you’ll ask is “Why should you go traveling if Hong Kong offers it all?”, until you find out that there are thousands of tickets available for less than 100 euro’s towards the bright beaches of the Philippines, the vibes of Taipei, the energy of Tokyo or some beautiful villages in Vietnam. The city of soaring towers, ancient rituals and its energetic nightlife has a vibrant cultural scene born from the electric influences of its Chinese roots and its colonial connections.

Hong Kong is so intense and so full of possibilities that I’m glad that there’s the rule of law (and a great transport system) to stop it from whirling into chaos.

Hey guys! Less than 2 months ago I set out for an exchange program to Singapore Management University. Little did I know I was in fact going on an exchange to South East Asia. Singapore is a city of awe; the big skyscrapers, fancy cars, and crazy clubs all come together here to form a thriving international hub. But from day one it was clear I would only be spending half my time here. Since being here I have gone to Tioman Island, Malaysia, a beautiful island made for snorkeling and wild beach parties. This was followed by Hong Kong and Macau; seeing the city from Victoria’s Peak, getting a glimpse of the biggest Budha in the world, and losing cash in the casinos. Then came Bali: surfing, massages, sun, volcanoes, monkeys, and smoothies. Finally a visit to Sumatra: riding scooters, visiting hot springs, and getting a glimpse of raw nature.

Singapore offers it all. The opportunities are vast and I’m exploring as much as I can! If interested you can follow me on my blog: http:// singatales.tumblr.com/

Gathered by: Agnieszka Wietrzyk

14 08

EFR world

zevenaar

EFR-Active Members Weekend

EFR world

15 09

crazy outfits

27th September

BEER CONTEST This year, from 27th till 29th of September, the EFR-Active Members Weekend 2013 took place. At Friday almost all the Active Members of the EFR took off, to have an amazing weekend in Zevenaar.

Arriving at the destination, the High Five had great wraps ready for us. During the early evening, the rest of theActive

Members came in and we had time to chat and meet all the other Active Members.

For the Friday night, there was a theme called “mission cartoonnission”.

Everybody dressed up as a cartoon, which looked very funny. After everybody dressed up, the beer tap was finally working (which it didn’t before)

so it was time for a beer contest! Every committee participated, and in the end the sport committee took over the title of the start committee as they became the winners of the beer contest. After the beer contest it was time to start the party and we partied until the early hours. There was beer, wine, there were crazy outfits and we had a lot of fun. At 7 am the last ones finally went to sleep.

The next morning there was a nice breakfast with sandwiches.

After breakfast, all the Active Members took off to the swimming pool in Arnhem, to swim away the hangover. At the swimming pool there was a very awesome waterslide.

So of course, all the Active Members figured to go off the waterslide in a row with about twenty people, in order to fall into the (way too small) pool at the end of the slide together (it was quite unbelievable that the lifegaurd had nothing to say about it, and that nobody got hurt).

Maybe not the place you would expect, but while we were at the pool, the EFR-Business Week Committee announced the theme of the EFR-Business Week 2014, which is “Sustain your excellence”!

SWIMMING POOL At 4 pm the swimming pool closed, so everybody went back to Zevenaar. After arriving at the accommodation, we could just relax or take a power nap. This evening there was Spaghetti for dinner.

Although a lot of the active members were a little bit exhausted, of course nobody said no to a beer cantus. So, we gathered at one long table and sang along with the songs. It was a lot of fun, and after the beer cantus the party could go on!

The Sunday morning there was breakfast and it was time to pack our bags. Slowly all the active members left, and it was the end of a very successful weekend!

Text: Michelle de Nie Text: Jasper de Ruijsscher

16 08

ERD world

ERD world

Erasmus 2014 Recruitment Days

17 09

THE COMMITTEE

Unlock your potential!

Why should you participate?

Do you want to understand better in what direction to go after your studies (or at least where to not go for sure)? Are you looking for the internship or the postgrad job? Then, don’t even think about missing the Erasmus Recruitment Days 2014! From 29th January 2013 to 12th February 2014, the international and Dutch companies across all industries will be glad to connect with you.

The ERD is the largest recruitment event in Europe, oriented both towards Dutch and international students. It is a platform designed for companies and students to get to know each other better. There is a possibility to select from more than 100 companies in order to learn something new about them.

The list includes giants like Google, Vodafone, Liberty Global, Shell, Royal Phillips Electronics, Deloitte and many more.

Through various activities ERD will help you get a better overview over the global and Dutch labour market, understand the requirements of different employers, speak to the field professionals, expand your network, acquire new skills, get a unique insider’s view of the companies, experience an interview and get an internship !

Text: Anastasia Mirkina

What activities can you expect?

You can get the basic understanding of the company’s structure and values by attending a fifty minutes presentation.

You can also ask questions at the Stand at daily drink in C-hall or participate in trainings oriented toward your personal branding and networking.

In order to participate in the workshops, informal recruitment, individual interviews and company dinners you would need to submit a CV and motivation letter. Don’t hesitate to do so, as it is a great opportunity to get in touch with the company’s employees, understand the company’s personality

and prove yourself as a courageous and curious person.

Moreover, during the promotion period, the ERD committee has prepared a range of exciting activities. For instance, there will be a photographer ready to take a free professional picture of you at the ERD stand. Also, you can participate in a lottery for a customized suit worth 1000 EUR and other amazing prizes. So, pay attention to the stand in the C-hall and and in the T-Building! Or follow the event on Facebook and stay updated about promotional activities.

What not to miss for sure (from our point of view)?

Success story Phoebe Huurdeman is RSM Business Administration graduate and is currently attending Finance & Investment Masters program. During the ERD 2013 she was interviewed for an internship in Royal Dutch Shell and was successful. She worked in the Contracting and Procurement department in Rijswijk from April to July 2013. Phoebe was preparing Global Supplier Spend analysis. Because she has proven herself to be an excellent worker during the internship, she got a job offer after the final assessment. From the beginning of February 2014 she will work full-time as a Finance Advisor Sales and Operations for Retail for Benelux and France, estimating the profitability for sites.

Her tip for a successful interview is to always know why you want to get the position and be enthusiastic about your future tasks.

1 The Grand Opening on 29th January. This is opportunity to listen to famous guest speakers and get a possibility to ask questions at the drink afterwards.

2 The Rotterdam Carreer Day for Dutch students. Participants will solve real managerial cases for the companies in the Rotterdam port.

3 International Day organized for international students who want to work in the Netherlands.

4 Off-campus Days for Vodafone and Google. The possibility to see the employees in their natural habitat.

How to subscribe?

Subscriptions will be open from the 2nd December on www. erasmusrecruitmentdays.com or you can go to the C- or T stand. So, let’s subscribe! Let’s dare to put ourselves in the spotlight and unlock our potential! www.erasmusrecruitmentdays.nl from the 29th of January till the 12th of February 2014

18 08

Exchange world

Exchange world

Exchange vs. Internship In their third year of studies, ESE students are offered a unique possibility to explore the cultural, educational and social aspects of another country. Helped by Erasmus’ partner universities, students are welcomed at multiple universities abroad. However, it does replace the chance to work as an intern and gain crucial experience in the field.

A typical dilemma the average student faces, which of the two would be the better decision to make? In the light of the current economy , is one choice better or is it simply up to personal preferences? To make things easier we spoke to two former Erasmus ESE students who are currently active outside The Netherlands. What drove these successful professionals in their choices and what do they advice us to do?

Nigerian perseverance Boudewijn Haarsma, Managing Director at Consolidated Breweries Plc in Nigeria (majority owned by Heineken), seems somewhat pessimistic speaking about the future of Western Europe. ‘Having worked abroad in three different continents, I was really impressed by the drive of many people in Africa and Asia.’ According to Boudewijn, who was also president of the EFR in 1990, quite a number of skilled managers are extremely eager about their job and their career, also to an extent that we in The Netherlands would typically view as a sacrifice of our personal life. This is reflected through their will to work at remote locations, to work long hours and to not avoid international commuting.

Rather than spending the money they earn, they invest it in the best education for their children, if possible abroad.

To compete with these type of economies, and to continue to provide employment for all levels of skill, Western Europe will need to adapt. And adapting is a lot

Text: Philip Luckmann

harder when you have to let go of some of your acquired benefits (or even rights) than it is when you are to start from the bottom where you can only gain. With the focus in politics and media on the position of The Netherlands opposed to the European Union, we sometimes seem to miss the bigger picture, in which the EU should compete with Asia, the Americas and Africa. For that reason, Boudewijn says: ‘any opportunity you may have, or create, as a student to spend some time abroad for your studies, an assignment or an internship, I would definitely recommend!’

Spanish merits With laudatory comments on his educational past, Michael de Sola, managing director at Maduro & Curiel’s Bank in Curacao, tells us why international orientation can be so important. During his studies Business Economics at Erasmus University, he had the opportunity in 1990 to enjoy an internship at the Finance Department of Royal Dutch Shell in Madrid, Spain. ‘This internship was of great value to me as a student and as a person,’ he explains.

Value as a student The internship thought me that in real (professional) life, much of what we learned at the university can be used in a company’s operations, but the way it is used is more practical.

Theory does not necessarily align with practice and I realized that much in the business world depends on experience; something that as an intern you have very little of.

Further, as most executives in business have limited time, an internship teaches you to write concise reports, with practical and to the point solutions. This is contrary to university practice, where (long) thorough and theoretically substantiated reports are required.

As a student, having followed an internship abroad also makes you stand out in the crowd when you are applying for a job to start your career. Recruiters are always looking for the extra edge in a student and this could give you ‘bonus points’.

In the current economic climate that is essential.

Value as a person Going abroad takes you out of your ‘comfort zone’ in the sense that you come to live and work in a new country, a new city with different customs and probably a different language.

This means that you have to adapt your way of living, or as the saying goes: “When in Rome, do as the Romans”. So when in Spain in the summer time, have dinner late at night and in the afternoon (if work permits it) take a siesta (nap).

This adaptation will test your character and your ability to work and live independently in an unknown environment.

Usually the first couple of days and weeks is difficult and lonely, but once you pass this “test” you can look back on a victory of will and it increases your self -confidence.

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Working in a different environment also gives you new ideas on how to tackle unfamiliar situations and customs. These impressions can always help you in your further studies, but even more in life after graduation when you enter the “harsh real world”.

Lastly, working and living abroad for a while gives you the opportunity to see a different country, different history, eat different food and encounter new friends.

In conclusion, if it’s time for you to go on an internship or study elsewhere, I would always advise you to try to go abroad for all the reasons mentioned above and of course also to have some fun and to enjoy it!

Conclusion Even though Michael de Sola and Boudewijn Haarsma established different views on the benefits of their international past, they both agree that global experience builds a way of thinking necessary for a successful career. This sagacity should be complemented by the ability to constantly maneuver through the barriers of your professional life. And they imply, where an internship and exchange both provide you with the essential personal gains, it is only the internship that can teach you to use all your previously acquired knowledge and to put in into practice.

When it comes to personal development it gives much reason to advocate international experience. Not only do you establish a wealthy network of people, which may turn out very useful in your future career, you will also learn to easily adjust in uncomfortable situations. This agility can aid you to get exactly what you want, when you want it.

Text: Philip Luckman

20 08

Health world

Work world

New gym!

New rules!

When hitting the gym With a new gym facility, the Erasmus university is one step further in its desired transition from an old to a new campus . Due to failing machines and a lack of area, regular visitors increasingly noticed the deterioration of the former facility. ‘Especially the limited surface was a burden for many of us’, says Ram Bambani, one of many members who experienced this practice. ‘When I wanted to bench press, at times I had to wait for three others who came first.’Now, with new machines, more area and a fresh design, members are more eager than ever to alleviate their level of health.

Yet, students know all too well that combining studying, partying and health can be a huge struggle. In the worst case, missing out on any of these three implies you get to be either dumb, isolated or fat. The section on the right discusses some foods and exercises you may want to try to prevent becoming one of those. They enhance memory, social confidence, and health.

core Jump up holding a medicine ball above your head. Throw down the ball explosively and then catch it to repeat, 3x8 sets.

back

Pull yourself up to touch the bar with your chest lying in the position as illustrated. Repeat as often as possible to rest 40 seconds and do it again.

chest Grab a dumbbell and push it up while you are lying on a bench with the other half your body. Repeat 6-12 times per side.

When hitting the kitchen

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Working for free?

1. Beg in with the end in min d.

It is important to be cle ar with the organization and yourself abo ut what kind of experience you are actually looking for. By being specific there won’t be any misunders tandings and you will get out of the deal what you nee d to ma ke it worth your while.

2. Put the ter ms of the arr angement in writing.

This will ensure there are no misunders tandings.

3. Be certain the experie nce is directly relevant to your short-term or long-t erm goals.

If you don’t have an inte res t in what a particular organization does, ser vin g as a volunteer simply because the opportunity is presented to you doe sn’t make a lot of sense.

4. Decide whether your portfo lio and resume are already robust eno ugh.

Working for free is gre at when you’re firs t get ting starte d, but you will rea ch a point when you hav e eno ugh experience that it’s time to start getting pai d for your labor.

5. Put in just the right amo unt of effort.

Don’t take on a pro bono or volunteer project and then do a sloppy job because you’re preoccupied with work you’re getting paid to do. This will end up being worse than if

you hadn’t done the project at all, because it affects your reputation.

On the other hand, don’t go overboard and strive for perfection if you have other,

more important, things on your plate. Work that you consider goo d mig ht be considered

excellent by the organization.

Kelly Dono van’s tips

Having a tough one after last night? Consider this detoxifying meal for lunch, the ingredients are proven to help you get through the rest of the day effectively.

Ingred ients: Lamb Rosemar y ) (a few small stems Onions (2) Garlic (1 clo ve) beets (2) Turnip

Pickle Capers (2 tbsp) Dijon mustard

Chard Dressing: Grapef ruit (1 tbsp) Olive oil Shallot

Source: www.menshealth.nl (Hearst Magazines) Text: Philip Luckmann

From our first day as a student we are overloaded with all these opportunities to build our resume, expand our network and help others by working for free: becoming active at the faculty association or at the students’ union, volunteer work for a non-profit, internships at great companies and so on. It is a fact that all of these opportunities can offer advantages.

Method:

1. Punch some holes in the lamb to fill them with rosemar y.

2. Cut the vegetables(no chard), put the lamb over them to cook in the oven for 1,5 hours on 170C. Mix the Dres sing ingredients in a blender.

3. As you rest the lamb outside the oven now bake the chard. Put the vege tables and meat on a plate, enrich them with the dressing and you are ready to reco ver from a goo d night out!

The most common reasons to work for free are as mentioned before: building your resume, expanding your network and helping others. As no one really trusts or actually needs a student for paying jobs in their study fields, we have to make sure to distinguish ourselves from any other graduate in another way: volunteering! We get experience and the chance to expand our network in exchange for free work.

Clearly, there are compelling reasons to work for free.

However, we should not forget that there are also pitfalls in working for free.

Above you’ll find a few selected points you should consider before you arrange an arrangement to work for free according to Career Communications Strategist Kelly Donovan, whose career advice has been featured by Fast Company, CareerBuilder and CareerBliss. She was also a contributor to “Gallery of Best Cover Letters,” 4th Edition (Jis Works, 2012).

Additionally, Kelly is a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

Most important is that once you agree to work for free, the organization will often expect the same level of service you would provide to a paying employer. This can make your life difficult when you have a job or study that need to take priority.

Text: Elaha Abhar

22 08

EFR world

www.werkenbijpwc.nl

short summary of EFR-Events so far

HeartBeat Festival 5 September. See page 8.

EFR-What’s Your Name Drink

On September 11th at Sorbonne the first years had an amazing opportunity to meet their fellow students at the traditional EFR-What’s Your Name Drink. It was a great success and added a nice touch to the beginning of the new academic year. The music was well selected, the atmosphere relaxed and the party continued until the morning. All thanks to the Party Crew, who has organized it so well this year!

September 11th

Get In The Ring: National Round On the 15th of October Dutch startups competed for two spots in the international competition of Get in the Ring: The Investment Battle. During this evening they got a chance to pitch their business ideas in front of experienced investors. They met fellow entrepreneurs, broadened their networks and received valuable feedback. The jury of experienced investors and entrepreneurs decided which two startups have the biggest chance to secure an investment October 15th from the international top investors: JackSavior and René Bolier.

Soms werk je alleen aan je scriptie

Soms wil je sparren met professionals

Je bent bijna klaar met je studie. Nu je scriptie nog. Geen inspirerender omgeving om die te schrijven dan bij ons. Eén van onze vaste professionals staat je met raad en daad bij. Je krijgt een goede stagevergoeding. En je kunt onbeperkt gebruikmaken van onze informatiebronnen en van de kennis van onze collega’s.

Die overigens waarschijnlijk snel na de uitreiking van je bul ook jouw collega’s zullen zijn. Kijk voor meer informatie op www.werkenbijpwc.nl/afstudeerstage

Kom verder met een afstudeerstage bij PwC

General Members Assembly During this assembly, the 50th EFR-Board got installed. The meeting took from 8 pm until 7 am the next morning… Amongst many other things, the agenda included Yeti-statuses, the beard of the president, the language of the General Members Assembly, installation of the EFR-Business Week Committee, an update on the reduced membership fee and the policy speeches of the 50th board members.

September 13th

EFR-Active Members Weekend 27-29 September. See page 14 EFR-Drink

October 3rd

As always, the EFR-Drink took place at café the Stoep. Here, the IBEB committee held their IBEB Introduction Weekend reunion in Oktoberfest style. Afterwards, a happy hour with beer for €0,50 kicked off the drink, which led to lots of Beerpong and to the invention of a new game “WAR!”.

Parents Day On Saturday, 5th October 2013, EFR, together with the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), organized the yearly Parents Day for first year Economic students and their parents. Many parents had accepted the invitation and came to the Erasmus University, where they were informed about the economic study of their children. Several speakers were there to inform them: Prof. Dr Arnold (vice dean of the ESE) gave a welcome, Chava Beijk (study advisor ESE) informed about study in general, Jolien Paalman (President EFR) talked about EFR, Dr. Kamphorst (assistant professor of ESE) gave a Microeconomics class and Brigitte Hoogendoorn explained the concept of the Bachelor Honours Class. Also two EFR active members told about their own experiences, about their respective committees, their study and their student associations.

November 30th

Neem voor meer informatie contact op met een recruiter:

October 5th

Bachelor Graduation Party On the 29th and the 30th of November, the ESE bachelor graduation took place. For all the bachelor graduates, there was a party at BED. This party was jointly organized by EFR, R.S.V. Christiaanse Taxateur, Econometrisch Dispuut and In Duplo.

088 792 87 77 werkenbijpwc@nl.pwc.com www.werkenbijpwc.nl/afstudeerstage Volg werkenbijpwc op Facebook en Twitter

© 2012 PricewaterhouseCoopers B.V. (KvK 3412089) Alle rechten voorbehouden.

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