Bright Futures e-mag [Feb12]

February/March Edition 2012

Have you found your Career Valentine?

We can help you play your cards right

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CONTENTS CAREER ADVICE

NEWS

>05 What will you ask?

>04 EDITORS LETTER—Putting a romantic spin on job hunting

Let us be your career guru—AllAboutCareers.com

>06 Finding Your Perfect Match Director of Careers at City University, Gary Argent, gives us insight into finding the right career for you.

If you hadn't heard, February is apparently the month for Love and Romance...

>07 Business Champions—The Update

We give you the current low down on the competition so far.

AllAboutCareers.com share help to ease the pressure and state the importance of learning how to multi‐task. >08 Dates for the Diary

See what some of our societies are up to this term—for >12 The Vickers Report more events see our calendar on the website What does it mean to graduates?

>11 The Higher Education Academy >13 The Review Room Bright Futures has featured as a significant player in With the boom of smart phones and tablet PC’s we encouraging students to “engage” with their programme thought we would give you a selection of student & of study... graduate recommendations for books and apps to make your like easier.

>10 Under Pressure

RECRUITER NEWS & ADVICE >15 HISCOX

>25 CENTRICA

Hiscox Graduate & Summer Intern Positions

Your special day—Make that perfect summer placement match. Also see page 2.

>16 THALES Thales Graduate Schemes—Software Engineering

>17 DELOITTE A match made in Heaven?

>27 ACCENTURE A long‐term career needs more that a good degree.

We’re at the heart of the best opportunities

>28 KPMG

>20 SOFTCAT

Final Year Student? Thinking about a career as a consultant?

Could you handle a serious relationship?

>21 IBM We’re more than an ideas company. We’re an IT company.

>22 ACCA Falling in Love with the Public Sector

>23 RBS Graduate and Internship opportunities with RBS

>24 THE IDM 5 top tips for a head start in marketing

>29 NESTLÉ The Nestlé Academy

>30 BPP Law School For the Love of Law

>31 EVERSHEDS Hong Kong work experience competition.

February/March Edition 2012

>19 PWC

>26 BIBBY FINANCIAL SERVICES Is your CV sending out the right signals?

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Editor’s Letter

Putting a romantic spin on job hunting...

February/March Edition 2012

If you hadn't heard, February is apparently the month for Love and Romance... This is a pivotal moment in the year when people wishing to express their ever lasting love to one another do so by presenting flowers, offering confectionary, and sending greetings cards. What better way to say “I love you”?

So, as a result of “Valentines” being celebrated in many countries around the world, we at Bright Futures thought we would extend the date to spread the love that little bit further and see if you have found your “career valentine” yet (cheesy I know but just go with it). If you haven't found yours yet, we have a whole host of advice on how to get it.

Putting a romantic spin on career hunting this month, we have a great article written by Director of

Careers at City University, Gary Argent, on finding the right career match for you >page 6. We also have an article written by a student from Aston University on what impact the Vickers Report has on Graduates.

Interviews are a fundamental part of the application process, no matter how differently various companies recruit, you are pretty much guaranteed to be called for a face to face at some point.

Preparing to answer interview questions is essential but many forget about preparing to ask questions once the interview is over.

As a result of this we have written a guide to assist you in creating questions that will ensure you ace any interview and stand out as high calibre candidate. Check out page 5 “What will you ask?”.

Jackie Bright Futures Editor & Society Manager

But that’s not all... We’ve also included an update on our Business Champions competition, we’re in “The Review Room” sharing some of the best books and apps for students and grads, we highlight a selection of events from our committees across the UK, AND we also showcase how Bright Futures are playing a key part in “increasing engagement” according to The Higher Education Academy.

On top of all that and we have the recruiter news to get your teeth into from page 14! We hope you enjoy the read! If you want to get in touch about anything in this month’s edition please do—we are always looking for guest contributors and review writers!

Email us: society@brightfutures.co.uk

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What will you ask?

You’ve got through the interview Questions, now it’s time to ask your own....

It is drilled in to us time and time again, by parents, friends, Careers Services and the random lady you chat to in the sandwich shop – Prepare, Prepare, Prepare! Being ready for all the tough questions you get in an interview is essential and there is much debate about Competency VS Strength based interviews and how to get the best from a candidate (for another article!), but what about when all‐ but‐one of the gruelling questions are

“

What questions have you got for us?

”

over? And that all‐but‐one‐question tends to be, “What questions have you got for us?”

By this time you will feel pretty wiped out, your brain has been working overdrive trying thinking of the best things to respond with, and even though you always know it’s going to happen, it often comes as a surprise to most and the mind goes blank.

It is just as important to prepare for asking your own questions as it is to prepare answering them. It is your last chance to shine or the last hurdle to jump, and it is fundamentally make or break if you ask the right things, so don’t take it for granted. They allow the recruiter to see if you have any further understanding of the organisation and the role and ultimately if you

February/March Edition 2012

are the right person for the job. By asking smart questions you can show them that you are passionate & knowledgeable about the company and the position, and that you really understand the industry you are potentially going in to.

If you are going through an agency, pay careful attention to the advice and guidance given by them as they will have a lot more insight and be aware of the individuals interviewing you. You need to ask the right questions to the right people at the right stage in the process. Sounds simple? Not so much.... We have tried to give you a bit of advice by helping you to structure your questions using these three headings:

1. Practicalities In depth questions about the specific role or branch of the organisation

2. Ambition Questions Ask questions that show you are ambitions and a good person to have on board

3. Strategic Questions Questions around the wider agenda for the business going forwards, this could be focused on future growth plans, diversification etc

Most University Careers Services will offer you the chance to run a mock interview. They can give you key points in which to develop and give you that must needed practice to help eradicate the nerves and get you thinking clearly under pressure.

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Career Advice & News

February/March Edition 2012

Finding your pe career m

As February dawned and St Valentine’s Day approached the thought of spending time with your perfect match may well have been at the front of your mind. But for the rest of the year, the challenge of finding the right job match is at the top of the agenda for most students.

Do the same principles apply?

For the lucky few finding the perfect graduate job might happen through good fortune, but for the vast majority the process takes time and patience, and in many cases a good dose of persistence. Here are some tips to increase your chances:

You probably would not go on a date without knowing a little bit about your partner, and the same applies in your job search. Doing your research is critical, but is a simple step that many students seem to miss. When I was a recruiter I never ceased to be amazed by the candidates who visited us for an interview without really knowing what our company did, who we did it for, or what the main challenges were in our sector.

Spending time before you meet understanding the company, the industry and the wider economic picture will help you make a good impression when you finally meet.

You need to understand yourself as well. Rather than arriving for the first date nervous and tongue tied with nothing to say, you need to think about what you can bring to the job, and how you can demonstrate that you are the right candidate for them.

Building your skills profile happens in many ways, inside and outside of your academic course, and being able to talk about your experience clearly and confidently will make you stand out from the crowd. That’s very comforting when there is a long line of potential suitors queuing up behind you to talk to your chosen employer.

Avoid being too superficial. You (hopefully) would not choose a long term partner based on just the colour of their eyes, and the same applies to your graduate job search.

Salary and location are important but there are a host of other factors

which contribute to a successful and fulfilling career, and you need to think about what is important to you when you look for the right partner.

If you want to find the right match you need to look below the surface, and that means understanding what the job will entail, how your personal development will work, and what has made other graduates successful in the past. Many employers visit campuses regularly and bring their recent graduates to speak – so take every opportunity that you can to be part of that conversation.

Some of the best relationships grow out of friendship, and getting to know an employer on a more informal basis

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rfect match

Written by Gary Argent Director of Careers, City University London.

We started with 50 teams and selected the strongest 10 which came from Hull, York, Brunel, Staffordshire, Exeter, Durham, UCL, Bristol and 2 from Manchester.

Now with only 5 weeks until the Finals of ‘Business Champions’ the teams are busy promoting their products and services, winning new customers, delivering great results and making profits. Here at Bright Futures HQ we have regular updates from the teams’ mentors who are all successful PwC employees. They are holding meetings and conference calls to share ideas, help deal with challenges, and keep the team moving towards the winning post on 16th March – all you need to take an idea and turn it into a reality!

The finals are being held at the fantastic new PwC offices at More London Place on 20th March and each team will be presenting to a panel of judges including the Head of Bright Futures and a PwC partner – on offer are employment opportunities, cash prizes and iPads!

So watch this space to find out who has won…

February/March Edition 2012

first is a great way to get ahead of the crowd in the search for a job. Internships, work experience and placements offer you the chance to get to know each other, and employers use these programmes to feed their graduate schemes. Placements in particular offer a depth of experience that gives you a head start when you eventually join the company, and may help you to progress faster as a result. If on the other hand the experience shows you that the match was not meant to be, well, it is better to discover this while you are still friends, leaving both parties free to go and look for another match.

Finally, and most importantly, the search for true love should start early. Searching for a job is not just a game of chance, and it takes time to do your research, build your skills and understand what makes you (and your potential partner) tick.

Starting this process half way through your final year when exams and deadlines are looming does not give you much room for manoeuvre, so come and visit your careers service early. Here at City we are seeing plenty of first and second year students at our events: they are getting ahead of the game….. are you?

BUSINESS CHAMPIONS The Update

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Dates for the Diary

r o f s Date y r a i the D

Business Awareness Week @ Lancaster

Date: w/c 5th March 2012 Location: Lancaster University The Lancaster Bright Futures Society will be hosting throughout the week highlighting various sectors an members to gain a wide range of skills, increase thei awareness and meet with a number of top graduate one week! For more info on how you can get involve recruiter, please contact: society@brightfutures.co.u

Dinner with Industry @ Swansea

February/March Edition 2012

Date: Tuesday 13th March 2012 Location: The Dragon Hotel, Swansea This is an opportunity for all students at Swansea Uni‐ versity to meet employers in a unique setting over din‐ ner and drinks. Students will have the chance to meet with a range of company sectors and representatives, rotating between courses, enabling them to develop their commercial awareness and see the range of op‐ portunities available to them.

It will be a fantastic opportunity for employers to en‐ gage with career‐motivated students, talk about their programmes and the culture of their organisation, and spot talent there and then and encourage applying. If you think this is an event you would like to be part of please contact us at swansea@brightfutures.co.uk

Speed Networking @ Exeter Date: Thursday 22nd March 2012 Location: University of Exeter Exeter Bright Futures are hosting their annual Speed Networking event with a range of companies from different sectors, from finance to engineering, IT to education. This event will give students a great chance to get great insight into a range of organisations as well as offer recruiters the chance to meet talented, career‐focused students.

Students can Join the society and find out more about the event on their GroupSpaces page here: http://groupspaces.com/exeterbrightfutures/

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a number of events d enabling their ir commercial e employers all in ed as a student or a uk

IBM Mock Assessment Centre @ Nottingham Date: Friday 9th March 2012 Location: Ropewalk Bar, Canning Circus, Nottingham Got an Assessment Centre coming up?

Need some feedback about your group work skills to get ahead?

IBM are hosting a mock assessment centre to give you guys the opportunity to see what they offer as an employer and to gain some valuable experience of assessment centres at the same time!

Acting as both participants and assessors, you will receive feedback on your working ‐style and be able to observe others on their working‐style. Refreshments will be provided and it's a great chance to get in some practice for those assessment centres!

To sign up, simply go to www . groupspaces . com/nottinghambrightfutures, click on the 'IBM Mock Assessment centre' event on the left side of our webpage and click 'attend' We look forward to seeing you there! ~The Nottingham Bright Futures Team

Inside Economics @ Bristol

February/March Edition 2012

Date: 15th February 2012 Location: Bristol University Economic crashes in capitalism have existed since throughout history.

The great economic challenge we now face is that the world is globalised ‐ it is one great civilisation, where one economy's demise will be the demise of everyone's. To avert the next great calamity, what we need is not better hindsight, but wisdom to better navigate through a deeply troubling future. We need "good" capitalists.

We explore case studies of capitalists and their inherent, as well as cultivated traits upon which their success was founded on, followed by a further exploration of what success must mean in the new economy if we are to move away from another major bust.

Speakers profile:

Sanjiv Patel, Managing Director Integral Wealth Management & Mentor at Warwick University Business School on their MBA Programme.

Dr Sachin Nandha, Managing Director of WeComeOne Group, MEng, MA, PgDip, DPhil (Oxford)

Register: http://www.facebook.com/groups/bristolbrightfutures/

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Career Advice

UNDER PRESSURE Learning to juggle…

“Pressure, pushing down on me, pressing down on you…”

February/March Edition 2012

I think we all know how Freddie Mercury felt when he wrote this; although, to be fair, he probably wasn’t talking about university exams.

Let me set the scene…

It’s two days away from deadline day and you’re yet to start a pretty important essay. Your mates have done theirs. To be fair, you’ve been busy with other work. You’ve put it off once or twice, but now you’re going to put in a couple of solid days. Hang on though. It’s a friend’s birthday tonight. That cancels out the evening (and most of tomorrow morning), so that leaves you with half a day of hard work, whilst trying to get the taste of rum and cigarettes out of your mouth. It’s not enough time to turn in a good paper so you panic, it all gets too much and aaaaaaaarghhhhhwhatareyougoing todo???!

Breathe, it’s cool. Pop the kettle on…

It’s just about prioritising. Follow a few simple rules and you will have time for absolutely everything: going out, seeing friends, watching TV, going on Facebook, joining societies, making cocktails on that new juicer your aunt gave you, and the small matter of submitting your dissertation and other projects on

and even set up study sessions with a group of people from your course. Having something in the diary like this will make it more real. For starters, just go to the pub with them and have a bit of a bitch about your workload. Then do something about it!

Speaking of the pub (and this isn’t a good study environment by any means), it’s important to get out of time. the house and mix things up a little.

I always seem absolutely stacked, Choose different environments to how do I find the time? work in. If you’re finding it a drag It may sound a little ‘too’ practical to work in your bedroom, go to the and clichéd, but make a list. Jot library or to a friend’s house. This down everything you need to do will give you a fresh perspective on and when things have to be done the work. Believe me; you can’t just by. Then put them in order of stare at the same four walls all day! importance. Having something down on paper can put your mind Most importantly, learn to relax. If you plan your time efficiently, at rest. You’re usually given a you’ll be able to socialise and see couple of weeks per university project, so as long as you plan your your friends. That’s not to say you should hit an 80s Cheese Dance time, you’ll be fine.

Party the night before an exam, but It’s important to use the resources when you are making a revision at your fingertips, i.e. your peers. schedule, you should plan for extra They are in the same boat as you ‐curricular activities too. After all, and if you ask them, you’ll realise future employers will be looking for that they are suffering from the rounded individuals, not just same anxiety as you. You can use bookworms. each other, bounce ideas around So, it’s all about multi‐tasking?

In a way, yes! However, it’s also about managing your time and using the resources available to you.

You’ve got your peers, you’ve got your list and you’re mixing up your working environments. Cool. But don’t be afraid to pay a visit to your lecturer. When you’re handed a project, spend the next morning looking over what actually needs to be done. If you’re unsure about something, email the lecturer or pay them a visit. There’s no use contacting them a day before it needs to be handed in. They’ll just have a “too little, too late”

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Bright Futures to “increase engagement” says The Higher Education Academy

attitude; and to be honest, that’s fair enough!

Written by AllAboutCareers.com

promotion and organisation of the society. He hope that the society will become part of “a tripartite approach to increase engagement with current students, alumni and partner colleges both nationally and internationally”. Another key objective , as well as helping to develop employability skills, is to encourage greater interaction of all students in the School’s committees, with the ultimate aim “enabling them to make a contribution to the development of the curriculum and the overall enhancement of the student experience”.

Read the full report from The Higher Education Academy.

February/March Edition 2012

It’s important to take your lecturers’ words of advice on board. They use their words sparingly, so jot down anything they say about your work.

The advice and feedback you receive from your tutors might not always come with the sugar‐coated words that you got from your A‐level teachers, so be prepared. These guys will treat you like the adults you are, so expect to hear some very blunt (constructive) criticism from time‐to‐ time. It’s not personal. They’ve seen a million and one students, so take note of their advice, apply it to your work and it will make a world of difference!

Bright Futures has featured as a significant player in encouraging students to “engage” with their programme of study and develop their potential as future employers, according to The Higher Education Academy.

Staffordshire University Business School has supported the formation and development of the Bright Futures Society on campus and encourage their students to be part of the society and attend events run in collaboration with the school and the Careers Service.

Jim Pugh, the School’s Student Experience Manager, has co‐ordinated the

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Career Advice & News

The Vickers Report—

February/March Edition 2012

What does it mean to graduates?

Commercial awareness is an important skill that employers look for in their applicants. Having an understanding of the business world and being able to look at events from a commercial perspective is key. One way to develop such skills is being up to date with developments in the industry.

One of the most important events for the Banking Industry in 2011 was the publication of the Vickers banking report, authored by the Independent Banking Commission. The recommendations suggested in the report will fundamentally change the way the banking industry operates. Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, said the government would implement all the changed recommended by the report. This makes it important for those wishing to work in the field to be familiar with the contents and the effects of the report’s recommendations.

The changes suggested in the report aim to create a more stable banking system and avoid a repeat of the 2008 banking crises; a crisis which resulted in multi billion pound tax payer bailout which at its

peak equated to £1.16 trillion. The main recommendations proposed in the report are:

 Ring fencing retail deposits from Investment Banking Division.  Retail banks will need to have equity capital of at least 10% of risk‐weighted assets.  Promoting competition in Retail Banking by taking steps such as forcing Lloyds to sell the majority of branches it acquired from the HBOS take over. Rolling back the exceptions from the Competition Commission issued by Lord Mandelson in 2008.

It is estimated by the Chancellor, George Osbourne, that the changes will cost the industry £6 billion pounds a year, but the Chancellor said the benefits of a more stable banking system far outweigh the costs. However, some analysts have criticized The Vickers Report for imposing too many regulations on banks, and punishing banks like Barclays which did not take tax payer money during the crises.

Furthermore, the Vickers Report’s recommendations would not have stopped the collapse of HBOS which was brought down by over exposure to defaulting mortgage loans. In addition, the capital requirements set by the report exceed those agreed by in the Basel Accords by the G20 nations, which in the long term may affect the competitiveness of UK banks. Overall, do the benefits outweigh the costs?

Written by Abbas Shah Student at Aston University twitter.com/abbas00_

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Amyas Morse Auditor General. (July 2011). The Comptroller and Auditor General's Report on Accounts to the House of Commons .Available: http:// www.nao.org.uk//idoc.ashx?docId=30fb52c9‐d654‐4486‐ a8df‐6e50b54c1753&version=‐1

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THE REVIEW ROOM

Smart phones and tablet computers have revolutionised the way we work, the way we socialise, and generally the way we live our lives on a whole. The electronic books have made reading so much accessible when on the move and living a busy lifestyle. So, as a result, we are launching our new feature “The Review Room”. Every month we will list what apps and books are recommended by our student and graduate members, with the hope you will find they just as useful too!

BOOK REVIEW

Title: The Graduate Jobs Formula Author: Paul Redmond Cost: RRP £15.99 Review: “I found this paperback extremely helpful when I started looking into the graduate employment market. The book really put employability into context for me and helped me understand how my experiences have shaped my employability. Interview tips and graduate application form advice were also invaluable.”

Ivaylo, Graduate Engineer @Messier‐Bugatti‐Dowty University of Birmingham

APP REVIEW

Title: CardMunch Type: iPhone with Android coming soon!

Cost: FREE Review:

Title: Evernote Type: iPhone / Android / PC Cost: FREE Review: “Evernote is a great app to use especially for those who are unorganised or very busy. Use this tool to snap pictures of products you see in stores and want to remember, to grab whiteboards in meetings so you don't waste time writing things down, or note great websites you want check out later. It can sync to your computer too! Only downside is you can’t use it offline, but it's one of those apps that might just change your life.”

Rohini, Staffordshire University

February/March Edition 2012

“In the 21st Century, an era dominated by technological innovation, it is no wonder a worldwide company like LinkedIn has reinvented their CardMuch app that integrates the traditional business card with the digital world. This app allows for the digitizing of a business card and translates it into an online connection linking similarities such as work experience, colleagues or hobbies.

How it works is simply snap a photo of the card and it gets digitized onto LinkedIn. The user gets to add notes to the digitized file such as where you met the contact or little facts you feel you would like to remember for your potential interview. The contactswill also be added to your phone’s address book and viewed as a mobile card rolodex.”

Sharon, University of Leeds

Recruiter News

RECRUITER NEWS & ADVICE

February/March Edition 2012

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>15 HISCOX

Hiscox Graduate & Summer Intern Positions

>16 THALES

Thales Graduate Schemes—Software Engineering

>17 DELOITTE A match made in Heaven?

>19 PWC We’re at the heart of the best opportunities

>20 SOFTCAT Could you handle a serious relationship?

>21 IBM We’re more than an ideas company. We’re an IT company.

>22 ACCA Falling in Love with the Public Sector

>23 RBS Graduate and Internship opportunities with RBS

>24 THE IDM 5 top tips for a head start in marketing

>25 CENTRICA Your special day—Make that perfect summer placement match. Also see page 2.

>26 BIBBY FINANCIAL SERVICES Is your CV sending out the right signals? >27 ACCENTURE A long‐term career needs more that a good degree.

>28 KPMG Final Year Student? Thinking about a career as a consultant?

>29 NESTLÉ The Nestlé Academy

>30 BPP LAW SCHOOL For the Love of Law

>31 EVERSHEDS Hong Kong work experience competition.

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Hiscox Graduate & Summer Intern Positions As a FTSE250 company, Hiscox leads the pack when it comes to the world of specialist insurance. We are experts in protection of a wide range of personal and commercial risks, which are often too complex or too much trouble for other insurance companies to consider. There is nothing grey about our business, and our graduate scheme is no exception.

Our formal graduate and internship programmes for 2012 are now closed for applications, however we have many exciting direct hire opportunities available across the Group for those with real drive and ambition.

Applications for our 2013 graduate scheme will open in autumn 2012. Our international two year graduate programme is designed to give you immediate hands‐on exposure, gaining on the job training from highly‐respected professionals.

Whilst working in your allocated team you will undertake at least three secondments across the

Group and overseas (to either the US, Europe or Bermuda) to enhance your commercial awareness, combined with professional study and a comprehensive training programme.

We also offer a competitive internship programme which runs for eight weeks each summer offering real work for real reward; you definitely won’t be stuck making the tea!

Applications for this programme will also open in autumn 2012.

If interested to learn more about what makes Hiscox, and the insurance profession, interesting then visit www.hiscox.com/graduates and select ‘Our People’ where you can watch a video of our current graduates.

If you are interested in viewing our immediately available direct hire opportunities then visit www.hiscox.com/careers.

February/March Edition 2012

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Recruiter News

Thales Graduate Schemes— Software Engineering

February/March Edition 2012

Pondering the positively perplexing sets our pulses racing at Thales*. Where others give up and go home, we take things to a whole new level and exceed expectations. If you’re exceptionally enthused about tackling the bafflingly bewildering, the impossibly intractable and the quirkiest quandaries, we’d like you to create superlative solutions to engineering enigmas.

You might not realise it but our work touches all of our lives – every single day. From BACS, the secure network communications system behind 3.7 billion secure electronic transactions every year, to in‐flight entertainment systems for

passenger planes and state‐of‐the‐art equipment for military aircraft, the scope and scale of our problem‐solving abilities knows no bounds.

Join us and you’ll get to grips with the full software engineering lifecycle. We’re looking for solid self‐starters with at least a 2.1 in a relevant degree discipline, as well as proficiency in languages such as Java, C++ and C#.

To find out more and apply for this or any of our other engineering and business & finance schemes, visit www.ukgrads.thalesgroup.com

*That’s Thales as in ‘Alice’ by the way.

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A match made in Heaven?

Deloitte is one of the world’s leading providers of professional services.

Here in the UK, our 12,000 people offer advice and services across Audit, Tax, Consulting, Corporate Finance and Technology. We work with an amazing breadth of clients – everyone from small businesses and high net worth individuals to government departments and major multinational corporations.

Our vision is to be the Distinctive Firm, standing out in our markets through the impact we have on the reputation and success of our clients. In pursuing this purpose, Deloitte contributes to a sustainable and prosperous society.

The foundation of this strategy is our commitment to having the best people. There is a fierce talent war in the market place, and we need to compete, not only to attract the best people, but to retain our top talent.

We will do this by creating a distinctive talent experience, which demands,

supports and rewards the highest performance, allows everyone to have the opportunity to shape their own career and provides an environment where training and development are genuinely first class.

Find the right match for you Deloitte are currently recruiting into various Tax, Technology Consulting and Enterprise Risk Services areas in regional offices across the UK. Find your perfect match by attending one of our events being held at an office or campus near you.

To find out more and register visit our website www.deloitte.co.uk/ graduates/events

It’s your future. How far will you take it?

Follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook. See what events are coming up too!

February/March Edition 2012

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We’re at the heart of the best opportunities Technology transforms businesses. But We help our clients and our people create only if they know how to harness it. the value they want. We work alongside That’s why Technology expertise is so in demand. You don’t need to be studying a our clients – from public and private companies to governments and charities related degree but you must have an interest in this area. We’ll provide you – to measure, protect and enhance the with all of the training and skills you need things that matter most to them. We have big ambitions to grow, and if you're to excel in these roles.

serious about a career in business, we What you need don't think anyone else can give you a A 2:1 or above in any degree better start. Students agree: we’re proud, discipline (A related degree is based on the opportunity we offer, required for Forensic Technology they’ve voted us number one in The Solutions) Times Top 100 Graduate Employers A UCAS tariff of at least 260 (or survey for the last eight years. equivalent)

What we offer How to apply Find out more about our exciting new programmes within our Technology Be part of something special, visit business, we have both undergraduate www.pwc.com/uk/careers/technology and graduate opportunities available.

These positions cover everything from IT Find us on facebook ‐ visit Risk, Data Assurance and Business www.facebook.com/PwCCareersUK Control Systems to positions within Human Resources and Forensics.

About PwC

February/March Edition 2012

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Recruiter News

February/March Edition 2012

Could you handle a serious relationship?

Going to a job interview is a lot like going on a hot date. You’re meeting someone for the first time. You’re both looking for something new.

You’ve put on your best clothes. You want to impress each other. The atmosphere might get tense. There will probably be a few awkward silences. Anything could happen...

Of course, it would be inappropriate to finish a job interview with a passionate goodnight kiss, but that aside we hope you can see the similarities.

Some people enjoy the thrill of the chase. They see their life as one big flirty interview, jumping from job to job and leaving hundreds of heartbroken employers in their wake.

But deep down we suspect that they, like you, would love to find their dream career and settle down with their perfect match.

For hundreds of IT salespeople, we are that perfect match. We offer you outstanding pay, perks, training and prospects for development in a working environment like no other.

We care about the little things, and win big awards for being a great employer.

In return, we expect you to have the drive to succeed in sales, to support our rapid growth, and to help make us the leading quality provider of software licensing, hardware, security and associated IT services.

If you think you can handle a serious relationship, you might like to drop us a line and show us some love.

Careers in London, Manchester and Buckinghamshire If you’re interested in IT sales, you can find out about our graduate programmes and next assessment days on our Facebook page, or on Twitter. Alternatively call 01628 403 408 and visit our website to apply.

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We’re more than an IT company. We’re an ideas company. errors… use spell checker!

That IBM pioneered the idea of ‘self service’ by 3. Copying and pasting old application answers to save time (yes, we know you do it!)… Get creating the first ever self‐service kiosk? That we someone to peer review your application made it possible to virtually see through walls before submission. with the Seer augmented reality application?

4. Writing one sentence answers… use all the That our employees have done over 10 million words available. hours of volunteer work in the last 5 years? And 5. Writing about yourself…do your research on that every time you get cash from a cash the company you’re applying for and relate it machine, you’re more than likely using IBM to your application. technology to do it? If you didn’t, then imagine

what else there is to find out about us!

If you want more information about our

company and handy tips for applications and This month, on our Facebook page, we asked our interviews we’re regularly updating our social followers how many applications they had submitted so far this year for Undergraduate and media pages so please find us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn at IBM UK Careers (for Graduate roles. The overwhelming majority of example: facebook.com/IBMUKcareers). people made told us they have submitted so

many applications they had lost count!

If you were surrounded by innovation, what This got us thinking, if you’re having trouble could you achieve? finding that dream job, maybe you are falling

into some of the common traps of application ibm.com/jobs/uk forms.

APPLICATION DEADLINE UPDATE: our Industrial So from IBM, to you, we suggest you avoid the Placement Software Development roles have following: 1. Using bog standard answers… make yourself been extended until 29th February 2012 and some of our Graduate roles have also been stand out!

2. Submitting an application form full of spelling extended, take a look at our Recruitment website to find out more. Good luck!

Did you know…

February/March Edition 2012

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Recruiter News

Falling in Love with the Public Sector

February/March Edition 2012

For those candidates ready for a challenge and keen to make their mark on an organisation, the public sector could be the place for you. The skills sought are not dissimilar to those needed in the private sector except individuals are arguably more accountable, because the money belongs to the public and not private investors.

Public sector accountants formulate and administer budgets, track costs and oversee projects in public sector organisations. This sector is funded through people’s taxes and needs to be accountable and provide value for money. The aim of public sector accountants is not to make a profit but to find the most effective and efficient ways of spending public funds.

In terms of salary expectations, candidates can expect a starting salary of between £15,000 and £26,000, but salaries can rise quickly depending on

your progress. It’s worth noting that benefits and holiday packages are often as competitive, if not more so, in the public sector as in the private sector.

Roles include auditors and assistant accountant, and many more, and the work can involve big numbers, large workforces and huge budgets.

Organisations you could work for include the police, central and local government, and the NHS. There are many non‐governmental organisations as well, such as Oxfam and other charities.

Next month in Bright Futures ACCA will be looking at finance careers in the Practice sector.

ACCA is your ticket to success in any sector, anywhere in the world. Start your journey today at www.accaglobal.com/ukgraduates

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Graduate and Internship Opportunities with RBS Internship across many of our business divisions.

We have opportunities for first years too.

TO GET A HEAD START. Our week‐long Easter Insight programme

is a brilliant introduction to financial Summer, Easter Internship and Graduate services – whatever your degree subject.

Opportunities If you’re a final year student looking to

An internship is key in today's economy. build on your general management skills, Not only is it a great way to introduce this is the place to do it. Apply for a place yourself to a company while getting that on our Retail Business Leadership all‐important insider experience, it also programme and realise these gives you a real competitive edge in the opportunities. With placements in all job market. Over one third of graduate areas of retail operation – from Retail Products and Retail Change Management, jobs go to interns, so for ambitious individuals, work experience is an integral to Marketing and Private Banking – there’s something for every interest. part of your CV. Applications close on 29 February. So visit

An internship at RBS is the perfect way to our website soon to find out more and apply. www.makeitrbs.com experience our culture and our people, receive training and build relationships

with people across the business. A real The place is here. The time is chance to find out what makes us different to other banks, showcase your now. talents and experience the world of work before starting a career. For those who are ready to experience more of our business, we offer a ten‐week Summer

RIGHT PLACE. RIGHT TIME.

February/March Edition 2012

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Recruiter News

February/March Edition 2012

5 top tips for a head start in marketing Marketing is a high profile, high energy and highly rewarding career. But it’s one of the most competitive to get into. We’ve put together our 5 top tips to give yourself a head start.

1. Get as much experience in marketing‐related activities as you can While you’re still at uni, see if you can get work experience at marketing agencies during the holidays. Are there relevant roles within your student union? Can you help with the university website? These give you real experience and are great content for your CV and at interviews.

2. Remember that every marketer you meet could be a potential employer More often than not, they are also happy to give advice and answer your questions. So talk to them, learn from them, stay in touch with them.

In today’s world it matters both what you know and who you know.

3. Get yourself on the business networks Create an up‐to‐date profile on LinkedIn and join relevant discussion groups. Join Twitter. It’s a great place to listen in on the conversations of experts, follow links to superb information sources and even communicate directly with people you’d never get hold of by phone or email.

4. Use the Internet There are plenty of information sources out there to help you find out more about the profession and the specialisms within it. A good starting point is http://www.urthebrand.co.uk/ company‐glossary.aspx

5. Apply to attend the IDM Marketing Summer School by 2 March A week‐long, intensive residential course that gives the best introduction to the business there is. If you’re accepted you’ll get the chance to meet leading marketers, learn about the profession, get to grips with a real brief for a top UK brand and network with future employers. All 27 of the graduates from Summer School 2011 were offered jobs in marketing as a direct result of their week at the IDM!

Find out more and download the application form at http://www.theidm.com/summerschool But hurry. We’ve extended the deadline exclusively for readers of this newsletter. Get it in by 2 March!

Our thanks to previous IDM Summer School graduates Ned Poulter and Kristina Tomes whose feedback helped provide some of these tips.

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Your special day—make that perfect summer placement match

February/March Edition 2012

When you’re considering the company you So why not start a new relationship this summer and challenge yourself in 2012. want to kick start you career at, where does your mind take you? A good careers Make the first step towards gaining experience in UK’s largest energy valentine is one where the student company. Like any good valentine you give matches the role and company. At Centrica, a lot of work goes into ensuring a present and receive one. At Centrica we offer summer placements so that students that the summer placement role and can gain confidence in their ability to student match as best as they can. We positively contribute to a multi‐national look into your strengths and also look at your development areas to ensure that the organisation. The summer placement is an role that you are assigned to will enhance excellent opportunity to develop your skill areas and develop in other areas. professional skills and competencies. What a perfect match!

We offer a wide variety of summer placement roles in General Management Here at Centrica we are at the heart of one of the biggest and most exciting industries (Marketing, HR, Analyst and Customer Operations), Finance, I.S, Engineering, and in the UK. Find out more on our website.

Subsurface. You have a real job, on a great Our summer placement programmes are salary (£14,000 pro rata with free still open but closing imminently; apply accommodation provided), get given great now! Find out more here. development opportunities and a fantastic Join us at www.facebook.com/ chance to prove you are a perfect match centricagraduaterecruitment for the graduate scheme on our multi Or follow us at www.twitter.com/ award winning programme and possibly leave the programme with a job offer for centricagrads Or view us at www.flickr.com/centricagrads the following year’s graduate programme.

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Recruiter News

February/March Edition 2012

Is your CV sending out the right signals?

To find your perfect career match and valentine, you need to make sure that your CV is sending out the right signals:

1. Keep it real!

Keep it punchy, to the point, and save those little details for the interview.

2. Tailor it Take the time to change your CV for each role that you apply for. Research the company and use the job advert to work out EXACTLY what skills you should point out to them.

3. Include a personal statement Don’t just assume an employer will see how your experience relates to their job. Instead, use a short personal statement to explain why you are the best person for the job.

4. Don't leave gaps If you’ve been out of work it can be a worry but just put a positive spin on it. Did you do a course, volunteer work or develop soft skills such as communication, teamwork or project management?

5. Keep it current You should keep your CV up‐to‐date whether you’re looking for a job or not. Every time something significant occurs in your career, record it so you don't later forget something that could be important.

6. Avoid easy mistakes If you're unsure then use a spellchecker and ask

someone else to double‐check what you've written.

7. Tell the truth The last thing you want is to start work and then lose your new job for lying. You also may get caught out at the interview stage when you suddenly can't answer questions on what you claim to know.

8. The maths When writing your work history, don’t just say that you increased sales; tell them you increased sales by 70% over a six month period.

9. Make it look good Use bullet points and keep sentences short.

Leave plenty of white space around text and between categories to make the layout easy on the eye.

10. Make it keyword friendly If you’ve uploaded your CV to a job site so recruiters can find you, keywords are very important. Job titles and job buzzwords will help a search engine pick out your CV from the pile.

If you follow these 10 easy CV steps, you should find your perfect career match in no time!!

Here at Bibby Financial Services we are waiting to match you to your perfect career. Visit the careers section of our website to find out more ‐ http://www.bibbyfinancialservices.com/meta/ careers/vacancies.aspx

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A long‐term career needs more than a good degree Lots more in fact. Of course, getting a good degree is a great start. But to ensure you shine at interview, and progress rapidly when you get a job, you need a lot more besides.

Employers are looking for a range of key employability skills. Skills that sound basic, but they are essential in the work place and they’ll make all the difference when you start in your graduate role or internship.

The Essential Skills Series from Accenture will help you build these key skills – and ensure you’re confident talking about them at interview too. It’s your chance to

hear real Accenture Consultants sharing the tips they’ve picked up throughout their careers. Watch them now on our youtube channel: AccentureUKCareers. You can also download the factsheets that accompany the series on our website.

There’s even the chance to take part in a live Q&A session with some Accenture Analysts and graduate recruiters. Ask questions and hear honest answers in return.

It’s a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights. Follow us on Twitter: AccentureUKJobs to find out more.

February/March Edition 2012

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Recruiter News

Final year Student?

Thinking about a career as a consultant?

February/March Edition 2012

The Inside Scoop Observe firsthand what it’s really like to be a consultant with one of the world’s largest professional services firm working with clients ranging from Premiership football clubs to international music gurus.

KPMG is offering a lucky few the chance to shadow their consultants in the Tax and Pensions Practice this Easter to get the inside scoop into the field of consultancy and what the work really involves.

Next stop; Interview!

After completing your KPMG Work Shadow and if you decide that being a consultant in KPMG’s Tax and Pensions Practice is for you, then you’ll head straight to a first round interview with a view to starting with KPMG this autumn 2012, should you be successful in the full recruitment process.

KPMG’s Tax and Pensions Work Shadow places are limited and offered on a strictly ‘first come, first served basis’, closing date is Friday 16th March 2012.

*Please note, this Work Shadowing opportunity is only available for Final Year Students, and only in KPMG’s Tax and Pensions Practice on 17th & 18th April 2012

For more information on KPMG’s Tax and Pensions Work Shadow and how to apply, click here

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The Nestlé Academy The Nestlé Academy is the hub for a lifetime of learning at Nestlé. It brings together our training and learning schemes, our graduate schemes and our apprentice programme. It’s about having one entry point and working with individuals to find the best way forward in their career whether that is a direct entry role, a development scheme or an apprenticeship.

an entrepreneurial mindset we will drive our business forward ‐ It’s as much about attitude and values as it is about simply having a qualification.

Doubling our number of graduates



As part of the Nestlé Academy we are:

Attracting new talent and investing in skills for the future is key to the continued success of our business  Through our Nestlé academy we are growing our own team of future leaders by offering a lifetime of learning from apprenticeships, graduate programmes and on the job training.  We offer flexible entry points – to attract young people at different life stages –to provide varied career development routes through our organisation.  Our academy focuses on developing a commercially driven work force – developing both functional expertise and





In 2011 we took on 25 new graduates taking our total to 52. In 2012 we will double our intake taking on 50 new graduates, placement students and interns.

Through our academy we are looking to stretch and develop our graduates further to ensure that they are challenged early on in their careers to develop the skills required to be our future business leaders.

At the end of their two year programme all of our graduates will go through a talent centre to assess their future capability as a Business Leader.

Find out more about the Nestlé Academy here: http://www.nestlecareers.co.uk/html/nestle‐ academy.htm

February/March Edition 2012

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Recruiter News

For the Love of Law Join us on the 29th February for a live online discussion about how practical Make practical work experience as important as your grades and you’ll be on work experience can enhance your CV. Register your interest your way to a successful career in law.

To find out what law firms have to say At BPP Law School we’re extremely about work experience, why not take a proud of our award winning Pro Bono look at the interviews we conducted with centre and how it has helped students some of the UK’s leading law firms who like you prepare for the realities of practice. Not only does getting involved choose BPP to be their exclusive provider.

The clips cover a variety of valuable enable you to demonstrate your legal insights from tips to securing a training professionalism, but also puts your contract, advice from past students who theory into practice to gain invaluable have done their practical experience and experience. how it helped them secure their position

To ensure you get maximum benefit we and law firm stances on commercial awareness. View the clips provide you with opportunities that match both your interests and personal To find out more about your legal study time available. Being involved means options and programmes available visit you’ll be helping local, national and our website www.bpp.com Alternatively international communities who would if you’d like to speak to someone, get in struggle to find legal help without touch with our Admissions Team on initiatives like this. You’ll find your admissions@bpp.com, we’d love to hear commitment both personally and from you. professionally rewarding.

February/March Edition 2012

Don’t just love the law – live it!

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Hong Kong Work Experience Competition

February/March Edition 2012

Eversheds are offering you the chance to spend a week in our Hong Kong office. You will get some fantastic work experience, that will look amazing on your CV and give you a chance to see how an international Law firm really works. What’s more, all of your expenses including flights, accommodation and food allowance will be paid for!

To be in with a chance of winning, simply think of an innovative idea, based on our core values, present it in a creative way and send it to workexperiencecompetition@eversheds.co m. The closing date for submissions is 1st March 2012. We have had some great ideas already, so make sure you do not miss the opportunity to win the chance to visit Hong Kong and gain some great work experience at the same time.

You can find more information on this, along with some hints and tips on the type of ideas we look for by visiting the following web page: http://www.eversheds.com/uk/home/ careers/graduates/competition.page