1. ANDREW HILL – DESIGN THINKING ACTION LAB
IDEATE ASSIGNMENT
PROBLEM STATEMENT:
‘Steve needs a way to understand employers’ requirements to help him reset his expectations for his first job.’
IDEATE:
1. Career sessions run by school
2. Company executives presenting to schools
3. Recruiters ‘first job’ tuition programme
4. Formal interview feedback
5. Speak with competitor companies about the same type of role (to become familiar with the industry)
6. Apply for alternate roles for interview practice
7. Work for no pay for a month to gain insight into the company
8. Ask more questions of the recruiter
9. Ask questions in first interview to help for second (if it goes that far)
10. Watch You Tube video’s of similar interviews
11. Watch Ted Talks video’s to learn about the industry
12. Watch Ted Talks to learn about the company or its competitors
13. Do a post-graduate course to help stand out from the crowd
14. Speak to classmate who are also interviewing for similar roles
15. Go for a coffee with people in the business before the interview to understand the company better
16. Read the company’s Annual Report if available
17. Reconnect with Deloitte contacts
18. Investigate oversees opportunities
19. Work in a different industry as a first job
20. Look for an accounting job in a smaller firm to start with
21. Attend industry forums to learn
22. Attend industry breakfasts to network
23. Do something out of the ordinary for the job application – send the CV on branded letterhead (download a logo and create letterhead)
24. Meet with successful candidates to find out what differences there were on paper
25. Meet with successful candidates to find out what cultural differences you foresee
26. Make contact with 3rd
party agencies the organisation uses to gain insight into what the company might be looking for
27. Apply for a junior role that you’re over qualified for (so HR will promote your CV)
28. Apply for a super senior role that the recruiter will notice and hope they take steps to give you more realistic expectations and
feedback
29. Start a business that offers internships for small groups for a short period to gain inside view of different organisations
30. Create an agency with several Graduate’s on staff – give them all the same problem for potential employers and evaluate how they
approach the task, offer job at the end of the project
31. Be a PA for a senior associate to get high level insight into the business, apply for role after a year of learning
32. Ask for a mock interview with staff from the organisation
33. Visit the local coffee shop and try to introduce yourself to ‘the right people’ from the organisation
34. Apply for a role with the company in an oversees location
35. Apply for a role in another city (with intention to transfer back later on)
36. Apply for a role in a tier 2 organisation and gain exposure to the big 4 through external projects
37. Call a radio station and pitch yourself to the business in the public domain
38. Create a You Tube video to demonstrate why you deserve a role in their business, send the link to key people in the business
39. Work in the coffee shop where staff go – strike up conversation about what you studied with intent for an introduction
40. Phone an out of town office and ask about the Auckland office and the person you’re interviewing with
41. Universities should offer more ‘real life’ project work for students within big organisations. They should work with organisations to
deliver small scale projects free of charge.
42. Give the recruiter a list of questions to find out before your interview (to show interest)
43. Ask to meet with a range of people from the organisation to learn about the business
44. Start your own accountancy business with other students
45. Start a small group of students and offer your services free of charge to an organisation
46. Offer free of charge ‘sick day’ cover for staff who fall ill during work
47. Create a business card for the company your applying to work for an attach to your CV. Ensure ‘sample’ is across the business card
48. Send a dancing telegram to deliver your CV to the employer
49. Write your cover letter in the format of an industry press release to announce your appointment
50. Continue Uni and do a PhD before applying again

2. THE TOP 3 IDEAS:
1. Universities should offer more ‘real life’ project work for students within big organisations. They should work with
organisations to deliver small scale projects free of charge.
- The idea here is for students to gain more exposure to organisations while at University
- This idea would allow future employers to work with students at no cost to their business
- Encourages students to perform to their best knowing a job offer may come off the back of the work
2. Speak with competitor companies about the same type of role (to become familiar with the industry)
- This idea is around gaining industry insights to support you during the interview
- Sounding like you’re ‘in the know’ will help to set you apart from other applicants
- It also demonstrates pro-activity and a willingness to learn
3. Attend industry breakfasts to network
- Breakfast presentations occur almost every day in various industries. Find out when and where they happen and who
will be attending. Get an invite and do your best to network
- Better still, find a topic to present to the industry and find an opportunity to speak in front of potential employers.
Use the opportunity to shamelessly pitch your service to the organisation

3. APPENDIX
Empathy Map
Description of the stakeholder
My stakeholder, Steve, is a 25 year male, A grade student, who has recently graduated from Auckland University with a Bachelor
of Business majoring in Accounting and is seeking his first job.
Problem statement (PS): Is it generative?
‘Steve needs a way to understand employers’ requirements to help him reset his expectations for his first job.’
Insight
Steve considers his successful education will allow him to get a great first job and is not considering the employers key
requirements nor the other applicants.
SAY
•I was a straight A student so it should be easy to find
a job
•I want to work for a well known company,ideally
one with a global footprint
•My interview at KPMG went well but I didn't get the
job
• I spent some time at Deliotte during summer break
as my Uncle works there
• I'm looking for a role in the Audit team initially
becasuethat'swhere most graduatesbegin, but I
want to move into acquisition in an analyst type role
•I want to stay in Auckland becasue that's where the
big companiesare
• Starting salaries are around $37,000 which is
nothing.I'm hopingfor closer to $45,000-50,000
THINK
•Gettinga job should be easy
•Academic successwill equal a great job
• Big roles are only available in Auckland (not thinking
about abroad)
• Already has an inside understandingof big
companies
DO
•Applying for a range of jobs, but all carefully selected
based on size, global footprint
•Applying for middle management roles
•Applied for 5 graduateprogrammesbut hasn't been
selected for any (classmates applied for 20+ in some
cases)
•Completed projectson placement during Uni so felt
he had some experience
• Continuingto work as a barman until the right job
comes up
FEEL
•Feeling hard done by from his interviews so far
• Feels superior to peers and others already in the
role
• Feels like he has the right to choosethe company
and role rather than it being the employers choice
•Previous exposure to companieswill position him
aboveother candidates
• It's all about what he wants, rather than considering
otherapplicantsand what sets him apart from them