As the new CERN Ombud, I attended the information session for all new employed and associated members of the CERN personnel held on 11 June. There, I had the opportunity to meet students who were taking their first steps in the world of work.

They were enthusiastic and curious, and they expressed many expectations, some of them high. It's true that a lot is at stake for them. An experience like this can influence their studies and even the course of their lives. It reminds me of my first internship, which made me realise that translation wasn't for me and led me to change my career path.

Students with little or no professional experience may be taken aback when they find themselves in unfamiliar situations. This was the case for one student who recently knocked on my door: "I don't have any professional experience, so I was left speechless when my supervisor criticised how I organise my work, even though I’m doing a good job".

Thanks to our conversation, the student was able to take stock and realise that she needed to be given more autonomy and more flexibility in the way she organised herself on a daily basis in order to perform to the best of her ability. Following this period of reflection, she was able to discuss her expectations with her supervisor and to calmly accept what was expected of her.

Our working relationships require regular adjustments throughout our professional lives. As the above example shows, we must first take stock of our own expectations, needs and possible fears in order to decide how we would like to interact with others, and how we want others to interact with us. This also makes others more likely to respect us and appreciate our collaboration.

Regardless of its impact, what matters most is that this first experience of the working world goes smoothly and that the students, with the support of their colleagues, feel that they have progressed and made a valuable contribution.

Marie-Luce Falipou

I would like to hear your reactions and suggestions – join the CERN Ombud Mattermost channel at: Town Square - CERN Ombud CERN Mattermost

The Ombud is available from Monday to Friday in office B500/1-004 on the Meyrin site. To make an appointment, in person or online, contact the Ombud at ombuds@cern.ch.

More information can be found on the Ombud’s website: https://ombuds.web.cern.ch/

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