1. REDESIGNING THE
SCHOOL-TO-WORK
TRANSITION
Part 1 – Empathize & Define

2. STAKEHOLDER PROFILE
CRISTINA SOFRONE
 My 21 year old sister
 Fresh undergraduate, looking for a suitable Masters Programme & a part-time job
in Romania
 Studied economics so far and would like a career in online marketing &
communication

3. CRISTINA SAYS:
 “I want to continue my studies and get a specialization but I can’t afford not to get a
job and continue to receive money from my parents”
 “I wish for a part-time job so that I still have enough time to go to University but I
know that there are very few available on the market ”
 “At university so far I’ve learnt a lot of theory but few close to 0 practical courses
which makes me think I don’t actually know how to do anything”
 “I’m pretty sure my first job ever will have nothing to do with what I’ll be studying in
University because it’s going to be more about getting some money fast and not
necessarily the first step in my desired career”

4. CRISTINA SAYS:
 “I’m willing to do internships but only if they are paid. I find the concept of
working for free wrong in the current economy where money is scarce for the young
people”
 “I wish the University would be a true support in helping students get hired, right
now they don’t do anything. There’s not even a counselor or psychologist available to
talk about these kind of things”
 “I would like to work in an environment where I can experiment with tools &
technology and where I am not afraid of making mistakes”

5. CRISTINA DOES:
 Look for jobs online. She first looks after the kind of job she would like to do and
after acknowledging the lack of them (or the higher standard of expertise one must
have), searches for low-entry job in any field.
 Get influenced easily by her friends. She easily jumps on the bandwagon, whether
it’s a Masters Programme or looking for a particular type of job.
 Not know her rights as a future employee
 Hope to overcome the lack of practical knowledge by enthusiasm and great
attention for what the others around her are doing (learn by doing)

6. CRISTINA THINKS
 She shouldn't wait to finish her studies to get a job so that she won’t miss
on different opportunities
 Universities could do a lot more in helping students figure out what careers
they are more suitable for them
 The curriculum in the university is old fashioned and inappropriate for the
current job market and requirements
 Professors and company managers should find ways to collaborate in order
to help people live to their full potential

7. CRISTINA FEELS
 A lack of confidence in her powers >> unprepared
 Unwanted
 Lost
 Scared of responsibility
 Hungry for knowledge
 The need to be considered useful

8. INSIGHTS
 Cristina is not confident about her future yet, just like the rest of her generation
peers
 Universities in Romania don’t have in their internal structures people who can offer
advice and guidance for career choices, leaving students to trust their feelings, their
parents and their entourage
 Students often end up pursuing careers very different from what they studied in
school (not necessarily a bad thing but there are too many doing this which is a clear
sign we have a problem on our hands)

9. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Cristina, a confused young girl struggling to get her first job after finishing
university, needs to develop a system that will help her figure out what are
the most suitable jobs for her talents and skills because too often students
in Romania end up working just for the sake of earning some money and
not developing a career.