Freshers’ Special! WHAT I WISH I HAD KNOWN BEFORE GOING TO UNIVERSITY…
GRADUATE SUCCESS STORIES Introducing MyKindaFuture | Freshers’ Fairs | How To Get The Best Graduate Job | Company Profiles
CONTENTS Page 3 Welcome from the MyKindaFuture team Pages 4 & 5
Introducing MyKindaFuture
Page 6
Things you parents would tell you before
NATIONAL AWARD SPONSORS BPP Society of the Year [Strathclyde Bright Futures] www.bpp.com
St James’ Place Fastest growing Society [King’s College Bright Futures] www1.sjp.co.uk
starting University Page 7 Things I wish I had known before going to University Pages 8 & 9
Bright Futures National Training Conference
Pages 10 & 11
Recruitment Successes
Page 12
How to get the Best Graduate Job
Page 13
Freshers’ Fairs 2015
Page 14
An insider’s guide to Edinburgh
Page 15
How to throw the best Halloween party
Page 16
Vodaphone: Meet Alexandra Lannou
Page 17 Employability Conference 2015 Page 18
RPC; Insight Days
Page 22 Company profiles Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37
The Civil Service Most Inclusive/Diverse Society [Worcester Bright Futures] candidate.faststream.gov.uk
RPC President of the Year [Shah Ahmad - Aston] www.rpc.co.uk/manifesto
TCS IT Futures, Tech Challenge
Page 19 Vodaphone: Meet Sergio Coppola Page 20-21
HSBC Most Collaborative Society [Lancaster Bright Futures] www.hsbc.com/careers
Lloyds Banking Group Santander Tesco RPC KPMG Accenture Nestlé UK&I Bechtel M&S Civil Service Fast Stream HSBC TUI Arcadis Credit Suisse Costain
CAPP/Jobmi National Ambassador of the year [Adam Engdahl - Royal Holloway] www.jobmi.com
Lancaster University Corporate Investor of the Year [RPC] www.lancaster.ac.uk/careers/
M&S Newcomer of the Year [Southampton Bright Futures] careers.marksandspencer. com/graduate-careers
GE Aviation Event of the Year [Strathclyde Bright Futures] www.geaviation.com
EDITOR’S letter
The MyKindaFuture team at the Student Central London Freshers’ Fair!’
Welcome to a brand new academic year, and refreshed look for HirEd. As usual this monthly e-zine will continue to provide helpful editorial on how to shine in the graduate market, whilst sharing insight and fantastic opportunities from a number of great employers.
a huge success, providing the committees with the first opportunity to network with this year’s impressive list of Corporate Investors. You can read all about this on pages 8 & 9 through the words of some of this year’s Bright Futures National Ambassadors.
So much has happened already this year and as many of you settle back into university, and others acclimatise for the first time, our Network of Bright Futures student societies continue to grow and impress with their plans for the year. We welcome brand new societies into the network, including committees at Sussex, Bournemouth, Birmingham and Newcastle Universities and we can’t wait to see more students than ever be involved in Bright Futures events and opportunities.
We are really pleased to have seen so many of the societies in action, having supported over 50 Fresher’s events in September alone – something completely new for the National Team. We now look forward to providing bespoke on-campus training for each and every society committee throughout October. There’s really never been a better time to be part of a Bright Futures society!
To kick start the year, in September we invited all of the committees of Bright Futures societies to the annual National Training Conference. It was
Finally I’d like to say a huge welcome to both Lucy Godwin and most recently Mark O’Neill who have joined the National Team to ensure that there is maximum support for each society and to implement our big plans for 2015/16. As a team
we’ll be doing everything we can to help the societies smash all of their own personal and professional goals. It’s set to be a great year and we’re pleased that you’re going to be part of it!
Toby Horner: National Societies Manager
www.mykindafuture.com
‘Introducing the rest of our team at the National Training Conference in September’
If you don’t have a Society at your university then set up your own! Contact us at society@mykindafuture.com and we can get you started right away!
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There’s magic behind the union of two great forces. Think cookies and cream, Bert and Ernie, Bey and Jay. Back in January, Bright Futures merged with MyKindaCrowd to bring young people of all ages exciting opportunities and connections with awesome employers. In August, we decided it was time for a fresh new look and to celebrate our merger, a brand new name too!
Welcome to MyKindaFuture! We help students to explore their career options post education, whether that be a graduate programme, job in an SME, starting your own business or further education. Our activities, such as our brilliant network of Bright Futures Societies, range of workshops and online challenges enables young people to come face to face with employers and learn how to make themselves competitive in the job market.
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Check out some great opportunities from MyKindaFuture’ #Makeitright with Three! Reimagined Learning is an innovative training programme that teams up university students with Three’s employees to develop their presentation and communication skills by building a workshop to deliver to secondary schools as well as Three’s senior leaders. Three are looking for talented individuals who question the norm and are always looking for ways to innovate. The winning students will be invited to Three’s headquarters in Maidenhead where they’ll gain a unique insight into the business, rub shoulders with senior business figures and sharpen their communication and presentation skills. Be quick as entries close on Thursday 15th October! www.mykindacrowd.com Challenges/reimagined-learning/
Channel 4 Pop ups Channel 4 and MyKindaFuture are on tour! We are running workshops all over the UK for young people aged 16 – 25, giving you an insight into the media industry with workshops covering topics such as TV production and Marketing as well as exploring new digital media. So far we have visited Bournemouth, Norwich and Wolverhampton and had a real blast and we are now looking forward to going to Preston on the 14th October and Glasgow on the 10th November. Are you or your friends based near Glasgow? You can still sign up now! Be quick as the deadline for submissions is the 18th October! Find out more here: 4talent.channel4.com/4talent-days
Win a terms supply of chocolate and a special visit from successful entrepreneur Louis Barnett! To celebrate the start of the new term, MyKindaFuture have teamed up with the brilliant entrepreneur and chocolatier Louis Barnett to offer you the chance to win a chocolate tasting session with Louis at your University. One lucky student will also win a term’s supply of chocolate!! Louis began his journey into chocolate at the age of 12 and by age 15 he was stocking the shelves of Waitrose and opening his first chocolate factory. Since then, he has released his first book and sells his products all over the world, appearing on television and speaking at prestigious events such as the youth Olympics in Singapore. All you need to do to enter is to sign up to the MyKindaFuture website, it’s that simple! The deadline for entries is on the 31st October and remember, the university with the most sign-ups will win the prize so make sure to share it with your friends! For more information: www.mykindafuture.com/Blog/ Details/choc-it-like-its-hot
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THINGS YOUR PARENTS WILL TELL YOU WHEN GOING TO UNIVERSITY Going to university is a huge achievement for students and as much as it may seem exciting to you, this can be a very nerve-wracking and worrying time for parents. So we have collated some top tips for you to keep your parents happy and stay healthy and safe at university… whether you are a fresher or a final year! 1. Learn how to live on a
budget! University can be really expensive… There is not only monthly rent to consider but also all of the living costs for food and the academic costs for textbooks and stationery all add up! Learning to live on a budget from an early age will stand you in good stead for ‘becoming an adult’!
2. Stay on top of your workload.
We all know this is easier said than done! If you can get into the habit of staying on top of things from the start, this will help to find the correct work/study/life balance!
3. Use Skype and Facetime to
keep in touch. Technology is great and there are many ways to maintain contact with your family and friends! Don’t forget that your family, especially your mum and dad, will worry about you. Be sure to keep in touch just to let them know that you are ok and fill them
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in with all the exciting things going on in your new life!
4. Familiarise yourself with your
local facilities if you are not from the area you are living in. You should also spend time finding out what support is available to you should you need it. If you feel homesick, try speaking to someone at your university! Support staff are familiar with helping students settling in and they will be more than happy to assist you with adjusting to your new surroundings.
5. Be safe and look after your
personal belongings. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of moving away from home but always remember to keep your valuables secure no matter how comfortable you may feel in your surroundings!
6. Enjoy healthy, fresh and
nutritious food! Most universities offer free cooking demonstrations during freshers week and beyond. If your university does not offer these classes or you miss out, there are lots of resources online such as video tutorials and student cook books! Why not try a ‘come dine with me’ style dinner, where everyone cooks for each other? You might just learn a thing or two from your friends!
7. Look after yourself. Make
sure your flat or student accommodation is loaded with essentials such as a First Aid Kit and plenty of tablets (including vitamins!) to keep you fit and fighting.
8. Finally, make your room feel
like home! One of the easiest ways you could do this is by simply filling your flat with items from home or those that are special to you! Home comforts will often brighten up your day!
Things I wish I had known before going to University
University is a really special time in everyone’s life and although it might not seem like it when you are there, it goes by very quickly! It is really important to make the most out of your time as a student so we have rounded up the best hints and tips from graduates on what they wish they would have done at university. 1. Meet as many people as you can This may sound obvious but try and expand your network at often as possible! The more contacts you make whilst at university, the better your network will be when you leave! Your first year is the best chance to do this whether you are living in a flat, in halls or at home – there are lots of opportunities! 2. Participate in social, non-academic activities Your student union will be full of societies – academic, social and sport (to name a few)! Make sure that you
participate in social, non-academic activities to meet new people and to gain new skills or knowledge. Just get involved, even if it’s just for fun. 3. Use Social Media to your advantage Many people talk about the ‘dangers’ of social media but in your first year at university, social media will become your best friend! Social media will help you find your way between classes and it will also keep you updated with what is happening, where and when (both academically and socially)! It is also a great way to keep in touch with family and friends if you are living away from home.
4. Studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity One of the best-kept secrets at most universities is that all students have the opportunity to learn a language and study abroad as part of their course. Having the ability to speak another language is invaluable and will impress many employers! Also having had the opportunity to say that you have lived abroad demonstrates many skills that organisations are looking for such as independence and using your initiative! 5. Get involved from day one – do more and enjoy it! Many final year students regret having not been involved in as many activities or societies that they could have been. There are lots of opportunities out there… you just need to get up and grab them!
The main thing to remember is enjoy the experience, get involved and make the most of your time!
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Bright Futures National Training Conference Friday 18th September 2015 To kick off the start of the new university year, we bought together all of the students who run Bright Futures societies across the UK to give them a day of training and networking with employers! It was a fantastic day, held in the lovely offices of Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in central London. We asked some of our National Ambassadors to tell us what they thought of the day.
Andras Dombi from the University of Glasgow
This year’s National Training Conference was a great way to catch up with friends from last year as well as new committee members from Bright Futures Societies from across the UK who are full of energy! We were greeted by the National Team in the spectacular office of the law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in central London. After some refreshments, a welcome presentation, and an icebreaker, we were split up into groups to attend a series of training sessions. Every presentation was themed around a different topic, to introduce us to the world of Bright Futures and to train us in all areas of society management. Lucy, the National Societies Executive talked to us about her past experience in student societies, and shared some of her insight into how successful societies work. Then, we could broaden our understanding of the role of corporate investors behind Bright Futures, as Claire, the Head of Society, provided us some hints and tips for organizing events with these companies. On the next session, we were introduced to the new website and its capabilities, and were trained on how to maximize our web presence by Toby Ward, Head of Production. We also had a chance here to familiarize ourselves with the Bright Futures tablets that will make signing up so much easier and much more fun in the future. On the final session, Toby Horner, the National Society Relationship Manager wrapped things up with tips on how to make the most of the year, and ensured us that however well we do, the National Team will always be there to help and support us.
Youssef Hounat from the University of Strathclyde
The National Training Conference was a great way to meet the other students from Bright Futures societies all over the UK and learn about how to our societies can be as dynamic and engaging as possible over the next year.
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It was incredibly encouraging to see so many different universities represented and to see
the potential of all the various committees. There were informative sessions delivered by the Bright Futures team on how to plan for the year, run great events and get the most out of being part of a society. One of the main highlights of the day, however, was the opportunity to network with the employers who were interested in bringing students some great experiences by running events with Bright Futures societies.
Diana Iusco from the University of Worcester The National Training Conference was great, both in terms of providing information for the committee members as well as in being a great networking environment. Linkedin was the word of the day! People went around exchanging Linkedin profiles and enriched their professional network by asking people what universities they came from, what role they held in their local committee etc. All the students present at the event were very professional and really interested into boosting their societies and meeting new people that could help them. The “newbies” asked the more established societies about ways in which they could attract more members, ways to approach employers or what marketing tools they could use. In the meantime, the societies that have been doing this for a while now proceeded into arranging and discussing future events with the employers that attended the event. Apart from committee members enriching their knowledge, the conference also allowed them to make new connections, to find out how similar/different things societies might do on the other side of the country and with all of them exchanging details, who knows, maybe new friendships were born! As a committee member attending the event for the first time, I found the networking between the committee members one of the best parts and it was really nice to see that so many people are interested into boosting their local society and getting as many members to as many events as possible! Judging by the students’ enthusiasm, all the societies are soon to become champion ones!
Shah Ahmad from Aston University
One of the moments which inspired me the most about the training conference was the revelation of ’47 x 47 x 47’. We spend on average 47 hours a week, 47 weeks of the year and 47 years of our lives working. As so much of our lives are dominated by our careers it’s so crucial that we make the right choices to get fulfilment not only in work but also in life.
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RECRUITMENT
SUCCESS At MyKindaFuture, we are really lucky to work with some amazing graduates and help them in finding their dream role. Every graduate has a different experience of the job hunting process and we have contacted a few of them to share their story! If you are looking for a graduate role then please head over to the MyKindaFuture website to find out more about the opportunities we have.
Katie, Commercial Graduate at Halfords After the initial application process, I had a telephone interview with a member of the MyKindaFuture recruitment team. Nerves are normal, so I think I spent the first ten minutes of the assessment shaking, but a friendly voice and comfortable conversation soon put my mind (and my shaking) at ease. The assessment centre was one of the most nerve-wracking things I have ever done. It was my first experience of an assessment centre, therefore I had no idea what to expect. However, doing plenty of research and preparation eased my nerves and being with the other applicants all in the same boat made me feel more comfortable. I continually told myself I had already come so far, which made me determined to try and get even further through the assessment process and secure a place on the Commercial Graduate Scheme. I was lucky enough to get through to the final interview stage with the Commercial Director, Emma Fox, and she made me feel very at ease. At this stage I communicated my passion to work for Halfords, my previous experience, University achievements and
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Katie, Commercial Graduate at Halfords
extra-curricular activities. Two days later, MyKindaFuture rang me with the most amazing news and I was overwhelmed and ecstatic to have secured a place on the Commercial Graduate Scheme.
I managed to secure a year-long internship as Corporate Communications Intern with Skills Development Scotland, the national skills body for Scotland, which I started in September.
A big thank you to MyKindaFuture and Halfords, I can’t wait to start!
I believe being involved in a Bright Futures Society really helped me in my application and also in my interview and assessment centre for this role, as it gave me lots of examples to use such as being nominated for President of the Year last year. I also feel that it demonstrated that I was interested in employability, which is a major theme of the organisation. In general though.
Eilidh, Corporate Communications Intern at Skills Development Scotland I first joined the Bright Futures Society committee at the University of Glasgow in my third year of university, as Corporate Liaison Officer. Last year, I undertook the position of President. I found my time at Bright Futures to be extremely fulfilling, rewarding and a great learning experience. I also attended Bright Futures’ national events such as the National Training Conference and the President’s Conference which were very useful and inspiring. I have recently found that being on the committee of Bright Futures also helped me greatly when job hunting. On finishing university, I went travelling for a month then started my job hunt,
I feel Bright Futures would be beneficial in any interview because employers will be most interested in candidates who are forward-looking and ambitious. Being involved with Bright Futures provides demonstrable evidence of this and it is also helpful when it comes to CV writing, applications, interviews and assessment centres because by attending workshops on these topics, you have an awareness of what they will be like and how to prepare. Overall, I feel that my roles on the committee of Bright Futures really helped me in securing a job after graduating.
Jack, Graduate Sales Executive at Story Homes My experience with the MyKindaFuture team was thoroughly enjoyable and professional from start to finish. The drive and ambition of the company is evident through the staff and the way they made enormous amounts of effort to make my experience as positive, successful and stress free as possible. From the very first time in contact with Mandy Finnigan from MyKindaFuture she made me feel so comfortable and relaxed about the situation while at the same time giving me vital information, tips and guidance that has ultimately made me successful for the job, Mandy has an amazing skill that allows her to find the perfect balance between being professional and talking as a friend. the assessment day was nothing short of outstanding, cannot fault anything about it, it worked really well as the values of both Story homes and MyKindaFuture are very similar.
Stacey – Graduate Buyer at Story Homes From submitting my application to the Story Homes graduate programme, to actually receiving my employment offer, I could not fault MyKindaFuture, the whole process was structured and informative throughout, and the input I received from Mandy Finnigan was extremely helpful and made me feel relaxed and at ease throughout.
From start to finish there was frequent communications from Mandy. She was friendly, knowledgeable and took a real interest in the candidates. It was a welcome change to previous graduate schemes/recruitment firms I have dealt with where I just felt like a number. Bright futures and Mandy made me feel valued and the interest they showed in me encouraged me to do my best when it came to interview/the assessment day. From my telephone interview up to receiving my employment offer, communication and feedback was prompt and in depth. This again came as a welcome change to previous companies I have dealt with”
Mark, new employee of ETS MyKindaFuture has been so helpful in my search for a new job and I cannot thank them enough for their service. While looking for work, I have come across many other recruiters that have claimed to help you but I would rarely hear back from them, but MyKindaFuture are one of a kind. The helpful team are in regular contact with you, discussing the role you have applied for, giving you all the important information you need, before and after your interview. The team are incredibly friendly to talk to and really make you feel comfortable while discussing your future. I would highly recommend their service
Johannes, new employee of Arqiva Having been offered a dream job at Arqiva, I have to give credit where it’s due. The MyKindaFuture team played an integral role in helping me secure a brighter future. I would like to extend my special thanks to Caroline Ellis and her amazing team, especially for their calm and reassuring manner when my frustration was at an all-time high. I cannot thank the MyKindaFuture team enough, and I would absolutely recommend them to all my friends and other graduates.
Sahebeh, new employee of Chiumento Caroline from the MyKindaFuture team took the time to get to know me as an individual which in turn meant that she matched me to the perfect role! As a candidate that felt lost and frustrated with the whole recruitment process, she gave me the confidence, advice and support to ultimately get me the role that I was searching for. Both Caroline and Kate made me feel valued and as though I was their top priority, frequently mentioning that they were available to support or answer any queries I had. From our initial conversations and emails to their level of postplacement care, they have been part of my journey, always willing to do everything they can to help.
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“Very informative and possibly the most productive hour I have spent in the lecture theatre!” “It was good to see someone with such a positive outlook, it was very honest about searching for a job and I feel I learned a lot from the seminar.” “I thought I already knew a lot about job hunting, but I learnt so many useful hints and tips which have really helped!”
Do you feel like you are making the most out of your time at University?
During October and November, MyKindaFuture are on tour to present our flagship event‘How to get
the Best Graduate Job’ in collaboration with Bright Futures societies in Universities across the UK. This is a great opportunity for students in any stage of their university life to learn the best hints and tips for securing yourself that dream internship, placement or job. During the event, we look at the graduate market to understand how tough it really is, talk about what to include (and what to chuck out) on your CV, how to cope with online tests and application forms and how to stand out at interviews and assessment centres. We will also be exploring the different types of companies you could work for and most importantly, how to find them.
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This is the perfect time of year to be thinking about your CV and jobs, although the summer may seem like a long way away, it is important to understand what you can be doing now to make the most out of university and how you can make yourself competitive to your future employer.
You can find us at Universities across the UK, to find out when your event is happening please head over to the MyKindaFuture website and find your society. If you can’t see an event at your university then get in touch with: society@mykindafuture.com
We look forward to meeting you all soon!
This year, MyKindaFuture is going on tour to visit universities up and down the UK! In September, we were lucky enough to relive our student days and come along to over 65 different freshers’ fair events! Most of the time, we were supporting the committees of Bright Futures societies and helping to spread the word about the great events they run to boost students’ employability. As you can see, we had lots of fun and we are looking forward to revisiting all of the societies to deliver a bespoke training session for the committee and help them host their first event called How to get the best
graduate job!
If you missed us at your freshers’ fair then head over to the MyKindaFuture website to find out more about the society at your university! As you can see they are all a friendly bunch so don’t be afraid to get in touch with them to see what they have planned.
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Tourist guide to Edinburgh
Students are very fortunate in that they get a fantastic holiday entitlement each year to counteract the hard work during each of the academic semesters. You may also have many friends at different universities across the country (or even abroad!) so make the most out of a free place to stay!
This month’s insider guide comes from the newest member of the Bright Futures National Team, Mark O’Neill. Mark studied and lives in Glasgow but holds the Scottish capital very close to his heart!
Edinburgh, as a city, has many hidden treasures that go beyond the iconic castle that it is so famous for! As well as being renowned for its history and culture, the city manifests itself in its tourist attractions and scenic landscapes. Perhaps the most famous landmark is the castle that lies at the top of the Royal Mile! *Top Tip: Don’t bother with the entry fee to the castle (there are plenty free historic buildings throughout the UK you can visit) but make sure you get a photo of yourself outside the castle and post it to Facebook and Instagram! Edinburgh is also home to a number of other cultural phenomena’s including the Scott Monument, Arthur’s Seat, the Scottish National Gallery, Holyrood
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Palace and the Scottish Parliament building! All of these are worth a visit if you get the chance!
patience levels will be tested to the max during the Fringe – the city is unbelievably busy!
One of the exciting ways you can discover the medieval history of this city is by taking part in a traditional ghost walk tour which will take you through the closes and courtyards, sites and stories and give you a true relocation of the past and people of Edinburgh!
No trip to Edinburgh would be complete without partaking in the Scotch Whiskey Experience that is situated a two-minute walk from the castle. Scotland is most well known for its Malt Whisky so be sure to enjoy a dram during your trip so that in future, you can look back on Edinburgh with fondness!
There is no doubt that the best time to visit Edinburgh is during the month of August when the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is taking place! This gives you plenty of time from now to plan your trip for next year. Edinburgh is always a vibrant and exciting city but during the Fringe the atmosphere is not comparable. Be aware though – your
Next Stop….. ?? If you would like your home or University city to be featured here then please email:
lucy.godwin@mykindafuture.com to get you and your city featured!
How to throw the best...
Halloween party Student halls and flats can often be dark places without the need for any decorations but it is now less than a few weeks until Halloween… eek! It is also very important to ensure that there is a balance between studying and fun and therefore we have put together our top suggestions for hosting the best Halloween party on campus!
Decorations Decorations don’t ever have to be expensive… and this suggestion for making creepy cobwebs is very cheap, effective and they are very easy to make. All you need is a bin bag, cello tape and scissors! Find out how to make them here:
CREEPY COBWEBS
If you are thinking of carving a pumpkin this year, make sure to keep the insides and find a fun recipe online to make the most of your tasty pumpkin. One of our favourites are roasted pumpkin seeds!
As the Great British Bake Off is drawing to a close, you might be inspired to try some baking! Spider cupcakes are a must try for any Halloween Party!
Food and Drinks
Spooky Spider Cupcakes
Perhaps the most important elements that make for any successful party are the food and drinks! There are lots of cool cocktail ideas that will go down a treat, especially amongst students. There are lots of suggestions online that you could make but why don’t you try creating your own! One of the simplest ways to add a colorful element to cocktails is to add skittles to a bottle of vodka, leave it for a day or two then fish out the skittles and you are ready to go! For a Halloween twist, try green skittles!
Check out the recipe here:
Games No Halloween party would be complete without party games! From ‘Pumpkin Bowling’ to ‘Mummifying your Mates’, there are lots of fun ways you can have fun! Just be sure to clean up any mess afterwards otherwise the post-party clean up could be torturous!
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Meet Alexandra Iannou I’m partway through the grad scheme at the moment – working in Marketing Comms right now after a stint in the Business Process team. I’ve learnt an incredible amount already, including the fact that when times are tough, the support is there for you.
Learning curve
Good deed for the weekend
Like every grad on the scheme, I’m learning on the job as I move from department to department. I’m on my second placement right now and working on a Transformation project that’s all about fixing and improving the network. Everything’s new at this stage so the learning curve is massive, but it’s very exciting at the same time.
So what does the future hold? In the immediate term it’s this weekend’s 10km run for Mind. It’s for a good cause and it’s also a bit of a personal challenge. Beyond that, I’m looking forward to developing my career at Vodafone. There’s still so much to learn.
The Women’s Network I’ve had some tough personal times since joining, but thankfully I was able to take advantage of the network of support within Vodafone. I went along to The Women’s Network and there were lots of people to talk to – and not just women. It really turned things around for me and I got my motivation back.
Spreading the word I’ve also spent some time working with the graduate team to think of ways to spread the word about Vodafone careers. I thought there would be a good connection with the university paper I worked on when I was an undergraduate – The Founder. It took a while to get everything organised, but the first ad is about to run, so a bit of persistence paid off.
Case Study – Alexandra Iannou
of attendees last year said the event “ 94% was very good or excellent!
“
AGENDA Doors open from 9am and conference starts at 10.15am
Topics for the day include: • Brand|ME. Defining your brand, checking your brand, and promoting yourself. • Industry challenge • Breakout sessions for school and university students • The employment journey - explore how employment works • Q&A - Q&A with a twist • Networking Conference wrap up at 4pm.
What is MyKindaFuture’s National Employability Event? MyKindaFuture ‘up skills’ and helps students across Secondary, Further and Higher Education in the UK, connect with employers and then make the right choices about their future career and employment. We specialise in helping young people develop employability skills and connect students with businesses through meaningful face-to-face engagement and distinct online challenges, career societies and events. This national event, now in its 4th year, will inspire students (from schools and universities), and help them understand different options, career routes, sectors and disciplines. They will get to meet employers for a fun, informative and engaging day which will encourage them to take control of their future, be that university or the world of work.
Benefits for students This event will be an interactive experience for students to learn more about their future career, professional opportunities available and how to learn how to successfully connect with employers. All students will walk away with improved work-readiness skills from a series of workshops and new employer connections, from a range of industries, that they have made themselves! Their ‘voice’ will be heard by employers and will have something great to add to their CV.
Themes include: · Brand|Me– a focus on the core skills involved in branding yourself. Students will recognise their current skill and translate them to the world of work. · Networking – students will learn the skills needed to network successfully with future employers. They will end the day putting this into practice with a networking session with employers including Tesco, HSBC, Costain, Channel 4, TFL, Nestle, Vodafone and many more. · What career option is the best?! – we will explore the options available via a spoken word interactive session · The student voice – your students will get the chance to have their voice heard and tell employers exactly what they need and want, what works and what doesn’t For you to be part of this unique event and to hear more please contact Emma O’Connor: T: 0207 620 4463. E: emma@mykindafuture.com The event is free for students but there are limited places available, so contact us today…
Meet Sergio Coppola It was a big move to leave Italy and join Vodafone’s technology grad scheme, but it’s one I’m so glad I made. The work and the team are great and I’m feeling right at home within Vodafone.
Warm welcome
Vodafone life
My passion is technology, so the graduate scheme was an amazing opportunity for someone like me – the chance to work with the best technology in the field, basically. When I came for the interview, the whole experience was so welcoming that any worries I had about fitting in with the language and the culture disappeared.
One of the key things here is the quality of life – both in work and outside it. I love the fact that it’s not about the number of hours you spend at your desk, but about the quality of the work you do. And there’s an amazing sense of community too, which is great when you’re new to the country like I am. Volunteering is a great way to meet people and Vodafone gives you a certain number of days each year to support good causes. So far I’ve painted a centre for disabled people and I took part in Store Wars, which was 12 teams competing to raise money for terminally ill children. Both were really rewarding experiences.
Taking the lead After spending time in the stores I moved on to technology where I’m taking the lead for the first time. In retail, I found the different accents quite tricky at first. But the team were amazing and once I’d got the hang of it I really enjoyed the whole experience. Now I’m a project manager, I have to ask people to do things for me…not something I’ve had to think about before. My manager’s incredibly supportive, and I feel my confidence growing every day.
Case Study – Sergio Coppola
www.mykindacrowd.com/Events/Detail/13
Lloyds Banking Group
The diverse bank where graduates and interns are encouraged to be unique
Lloyds Banking Group is one of the nation’s biggest banks. We have over 80,000 colleagues across our diverse businesses, everything from retail & commercial banking, to digital and legal. Our prestigious brands include Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Scottish Widows. As well as providing communities with great banking, we actively support charities and projects that make direct differences. When it’s time to select the graduates and interns who’ll build an exciting future here at Lloyds Banking Group, what we look for above all are individuals. Our business relishes diversity, encourages innovation and values curiosity. Everything we do is driven to help Britain prosper.
And it is fresh thinking which makes that happen. We offer 14 graduate programmes, and internships to match. The route you choose depends on what suits your personality and passions. If you love connecting with people, you’ll flourish in one of our Customer Facing roles. Problem solvers and strategists will relish the complexity of Financial Management. Those who love to engage and inspire others will be at home in People Strategy. Customer & Business Management is for creative thinkers who want to make things work better. People with a passion for powerful solutions will love pushing boundaries in Business & Technology Management.
COMPANY PROFILE
You are who you are. And that’s precisely what Lloyds Banking Group is looking for. Inquisitive, independent, open-minded interns and graduates who will thrive in a business that prides itself on becoming the best bank for customers. Whatever programme you choose, you’ll have a role that matters with us. You’ll develop consulting, managerial and innovation skills together with renowned professional qualifications. All while enjoying agile working, great mentoring, diverse networks and compelling rewards. Bring your difference to us and we’ll show you what a difference you can make. To explore all our opportunities, visit: lloydsbankinggrouptalent.com
To find out what you’re made of, play our game at: www.discoverwhatmatters.co.uk Join our community of differences and enter our prize draw to win a life-changing prize: www.youmakeusdifferent.co.uk
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Get your Career Started with us at Santander Santander
We are the Career starters... We’re a fast-paced and dynamic organisation, offering new graduates a wealth of opportunities for personal development and growth. Everything we do comes back to making things simple, personal and fair, and that means giving our people room to grow – supporting their talents and creating a diverse culture, where everyone counts.
COMPANY PROFILE
Our two-year graduate schemes are designed to give you all the practical skills and experience you need to start an incredible career. Over four six-month rotations, or three one year rotations for Finance, you’ll work on live projects, becoming valuable member of your team while developing a broad understanding of our business. What’s more, you’ll be given the support to complete an industry-recognised qualification, so by the time you’ve finished the programme, you’ll have all the tools you need to become a future leader.
If you’ve got a 2:1 degree (or predicted) and 280 UCAS points in a relevant discipline, this is the scheme for you.
All programmes are open from 5th October, but be quick as we will close as soon as we fill our intake places.
Our 10-week internships are the perfect introduction to your chosen career area. Working with colleagues across the business, you’ll learn key skills and develop a basic understanding of how we work. If you’re in your penultimate year of university and on track for a 2:1, 280 UCAS points this is the scheme for you. And if we’re impressed, you could even return to university with a firm offer to join our highly sought-after graduate programme.
For more information go to: www.santanderearlyincareer.com
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What we’re about
Who are we looking for? We’re looking for talented individuals who share our passion for great service. People who have energy and enthusiasm for delivering, working collaboratively and managing large scale projects.
COMPANY PROFILE
The customer is at the heart of everything we do. We’re continually striving to give them a better shopping experience, whether that’s through a seamless online experience or reducing the queuing time within our stores.
Tesco
Our people are our biggest asset – over half a million of them! The success we have is shaped by the vision and ideas of our colleagues; and their ability to turn these ideas into a fantastic shopping experience for our customers.
Of course, there’s plenty of learning, development and support along the way. We’re proud of our early career programmes, and the training we provide But we firmly believe that the most rewarding way for you to learn is to apply your own knowledge in real-life business situations. No two days at Tesco are ever the same so if you think you’ve got the skills and passion to help us serve our customers even better we would love to hear from you.
Where can I find out more? For more information on all of our programmes, Graduate, Summer Intern and School Leaver & Apprenticeships, visit: www.tesco-earlycareers.com
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RPC
RPC Training Contract Applications for London open – Apply now!
COMPANY PROFILE
If you never go against the grain, always follow the well-trodden path and consistently take the safe option, you could find yourself sleepwalking into a predictable career with a traditional firm. If that’s how you see your future, we wish you every success. But please look away now. If you prefer the bold to the boring, however, and find the prospect of joining a different kind of law firm enticing, we’d love to talk to you.
We run summer vacation schemes each year to enable prospective trainees to spend time with us, getting a feel for what we do and what it’s like to work here.
If this sounds like the type of role for you, we want to hear from you. Closing date for Vacation scheme is 31 January 2016.
We want to break the mould, rewrite the rules and redefine the legal profession. Your mission could be to build the law firm of the future, today. And to define your career at the same time.
www.rpc.co.uk/manifesto or follow us on twitter @LifeinaLawFirm
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Initially joining Corporate Finance, Restructuring or Transaction Services, during the three years you’ll have the opportunity to experience a minimum of six months work in a different area of the business, dependant on the service lines available within the office you join. Tailored to you, it will provide you with a broader commercial understanding and the opportunity to expand your network
At KPMG, your long-term future is every bit as important to us as it is to you. That’s why our aim is to give you experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime. Whether it’s great training and development, mobility opportunities or corporate responsibility volunteering activities – you’ll gain a wealth of experiences on which to build a rewarding career. We’re proud of our culture – it’s one that recognises hard work, encourages new ways of thinking and embraces diversity and inclusion. We have an innovative spirit which inspires what we do and how we do it – striving to be better lies at the heart of who we are.
COMPANY PROFILE
Continually enhancing value for our clients across the deal and economic cycle, our specialists guide them through the entire process – from the initial concept of buying a business to turning their business around in times of difficulty.
KPMG
Deal Advisory a fast-moving area of our advisory business.
of recognising and rewarding our colleagues for giving their best at work. Through ‘The Academy’, you’ll have access to communities which will support and develop you so that you build your skills and career. From introducing secondment programmes to preferential banking, and student loan payments to your birthday off, we’re making sure that our people have an amazing experience. Excited? Click HERE to read more about the role from our current trainee, Deli.
Don’t miss out, apply today!
We’re at our best when you’re at your best; that’s why we’ve created ‘Our Deal’ and ‘The Academy’. They’re our way
www.kpmgcareers.co.uk
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Accenture
BE > YOU IMAGINED Graduate and Undergraduate opportunities available at Accenture
COMPANY PROFILE
We are in business to help our clients achieve higher performance. It’s why we’re recognised as one of the leading consulting and technology companies in the world today. It’s never been a more exciting time at Accenture, so join us and you’ll discover this firsthand. Bring your talent and passion to a global organisation at the forefront of business, technology and innovation. Collaborate with diverse, talented colleagues and leaders who support your success. Help evolve organisations and communities around the world. Sharpen your skills with industry-leading training and
development, as you build an extraordinary career. We are in business to help our clients achieve higher performance. It’s why we’re recognised as one of the leading consulting and technology services and outsourcing companies in the world today.
Vacation Scheme to a full 12 months on our Industrial Placements. To learn more and to apply visit: accenture.com/gradfutures
Transforming businesses, charities and governments around the world gets us excited. Creating an environment where our people can evolve themselves excites us too. As well as graduate roles across the variety of programmes, we also have a number of placement opportunities, from eight weeks on our Summer
Facebook: Accenture Careers UK Twitter: @accentureukjobs Google+: Accenture UK Careers YouTube: Accenture UK Careers Instagram: accenture_uk_careers
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Nestlé UK&I
Nestlé’s big focus on the future
Nestlé’s big focus on the future
What is the Nestlé Academy?
As the world’s largest food company, Nestlé employs more than 276,000 people at over 500 sites across the globe. Our success as a business is built on genuine care for our consumers, customers, suppliers and the communities in which we work. But none of this would happen without the people who work for Nestle, putting our vision into practice.
The Nestlé Academy was launched in 2011 to grow our business with high performing talent, in order to develop our future leaders. Whether you’re about to leave school, studying at university, or recently graduated, the Nestlé Academy offers you the chance to develop your skills and gain experience in a vibrant global business.
With applications now open for our 2016 intake, there has never been a better time to join our company. And what better place to start than at the Nestle Academy.
As a dedicated programme, the Academy sets you up to succeed and build a rewarding career at Nestlé. Whether you want to gain professional qualifications or develop your personal skills, support is never far away. The Nestlé Academy is a great place to build a career for life, whether that be in Engineering,
COMPANY PROFILE
As the world’s leading nutrition, health and wellness company, we are constantly on the lookout for the next generation of future leaders. Applications for our 2016 intake of Graduates, Placements, Interns and Fast-Starts are now open; please visit: https://nestle.apply. cappats.com/Jobs to see the job opportunities available. Supply-chain or one of the many other functions that we offer a scheme within. From school leavers to university graduates, the Nestlé Academy offers a variety of schemes. If you’re looking for high calibre training leading to a degree qualification, together with practical experience and a promising career, our Fast Start programme offers just that. About to graduate university? Check out one of the eleven graduate schemes that we offer in order to get your career off to a flying start.
To see all of the opportunities we have available please visit - nestle.apply.cappats.com/Jobs Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest happenings within the business - twitter.com/NestleAcademy
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Bechtel
Engineering the Extraordinary
COMPANY PROFILE
About Us Bechtel is one of the world’s most respected engineering, procurement and construction companies. With operations in more than 140 countries and over 53,000 Bechtel people across the globe, we’re tackling the kind of ground-breaking projects that will shape the world today and define the way we live our lives tomorrow. Bechtel’s experience and expertise is expansive, with services across a wide range of industries, including: • Infrastructure • Mining and Metals • Nuclear, Security & Environment • Oil, Gas & Chemicals And behind some of our most high-profile projects are real graduates doing real jobs. Such projects include the ambitious 21km tunnel under London that’s part of the commuter railway,
Crossrail. Or the construction of three world-scale plants in Australia to process the region’s vast coal seam gas reserves, and one further plant processing gas from offshore.
Your Development No matter which graduate programme you join, you’ll receive the same or similar training. Our dedicated Learning and Development team runs annual training sessions, which take place every September and start the moment you join. As a new joiner, you’ll benefit from team skills training, which will explore team dynamics and their role in a project team environment. This will provide you with tangible skills you can use on any project. The second-year training builds on what you learned in the first
www.bechtel.com/emea-grads
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year, and looks at how different team roles work. You’ll also fill out various questionnaires to help you discover the best role for you within a project environment. As you progress through the programme, your training does too. During your third year, we’ll give you leadership skills training, and then we’ll test some of those leadership skills at our Early Career Hire Summit in the U.S. Other development opportunities you’ll enjoy include:
• Technical training – organised by your function • Lunch and learns – organised by your function or our employee resource group, NextGen • Bechtel University (BU) – includes online, virtual and classroombased learning
Perfect Products, Perfect Careers
We strive for perfection in everything we do. You can find it in all of our stores and every aspect of our operations. You can see it in our exquisitely executed, expertly edited fashion collections; and taste it in our melt-in-the-mouth food ranges. You can feel it in every fibre of our fabrics and experience it through the warmth of our customer service. Perfection is what inspires us; and what our customers have come to expect. As a bright, talented graduate, we see no reason why you should settle for anything less. Which is why we’ve created perfect careers with you in mind.
We now welcome over 33 million customers through our doors and over 6.1 million people to our website every single week. And our continued growth has seen us develop new channels and expand into new markets. Meaning, for you, that we can offer virtually unlimited opportunities.
COMPANY PROFILE
You’re an ambitious graduate looking for the perfect place to make the most of your talents and build a career. You’ve found it at M&S.
M&S
The perfect role is waiting for you at M&S; applications open now.
Applications for our business placement and graduate programmes open from 14 September 2015.
So whether you want to pursue a career in retail management or specialise in one of the many Head Office disciplines that make our business tick, the perfect role is waiting for you here at M&S.
You can find out more about our programmes by visiting; www.marksandspencergrads.com
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Civil Service Fast Stream
Civil Service Fast Stream 2015: Where will you lead? Do you see yourself as a future leader, solving some of the biggest challenges facing Britain? Are you looking for a graduate programme which offers a number of different scheme options, tailored to suit your career interests? If so, APPLY by Monday 2nd November!
COMPANY PROFILE
If you are looking for a challenging role with unparalleled development opportunities, look no further than the Civil Service Fast Stream. 12 of our corporate schemes are currently open for applications, listed below:
GENERALIST SCHEMES
• Science and Engineering: Development and application of policies in areas including health and defence. • HR Fast Stream: Three year programme consisting of two placements in HR policy, HR operations or a corporate role. 2:2 degree in any discipline.
OTHER CORPORATE STREAMS
• Digital and Technology Fast Stream: 2:2 degree in any discipline and strong interest in (You can apply for up to two of the technology. four generalist schemes) • Government Communications Service Fast Stream: Roles across • Central Departments: Four-year a range of communications programme with roles in areas disciplines including campaigns such as operational delivery, policy development and financial and marketing. 2:1 in any degree discipline. management. 2:2 in any degree • Finance Fast Stream: Series of 6 subject. and 9 month postings. 2:1 in any • Houses of Parliament: Four year programme for anyone interested degree subject. • Commercial Fast Stream: Series in the constitution, politics and of 6 and 12 month postings across public policy. 2:2 in any degree a range of departments. 2:2 in any subject.
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degree subject. • European Fast Stream: Four year programme made up of a corporate/operational role, an EU-facing policy role and a five month secondment to the European Commission. 2:2 in any discipline with an A-C in French or German at A-Level. • Project Delivery Stream : 6-12 month postings over a four-year period. 2:2 in any degree discipline.
If you are a diverse first year undergraduate or a diverse penultimate or final year undergraduate, you should explore our Early Diversity Internship Programme and Summer Diversity Internship Programme. Apply between 12/10/2015 and 30/11/2015.
See www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-fast-stream for more in-depth information on any of the streams.
We need forward-thinking, driven, perceptive students and graduates to help our customers realise their hopes, dreams and ambitions. This means people who are dependable, open to different ideas and cultures, and enjoy being part of a team. People who have the potential to become the future leaders of HSBC. We offer internships and global graduate programmes in many parts
www.hsbc.com/careers
of the world, in Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, Global Private Banking, and Retail Banking and Wealth Management. At every stage of your journey, you will learn and discover new skills in our diverse, values led culture. We’ll be there to help guide and encourage you to explore new paths, as well as provide the opportunities for you to connect with customers, colleagues and the communities in which we operate. Joining one of our internships or global graduate programmes will be the start of a rewarding career in banking.
COMPANY PROFILE
The World is changing. New trade routes are being pioneered. New centres of wealth are emerging. Regulation has a greater impact than ever. In this rapidly evolving climate HSBC is committed to setting the benchmark for banking and we’re looking for progressive minds to join us.
HSBC
HSBC Graduate and Internship Opportunities: Progressive Minds Apply
into the future. Valuing difference is a core principle at HSBC. We know that we achieve more when we bring people together, in business and in communities. Ours is an inclusive environment that supports flexible working, treats people with respect and welcomes different opinions. We focus on doing the right thing, and delivering long-term sustainable value to our clients and communities.
A world of possibilities awaits you.
We aim to be the world’s leading international bank. We’ll achieve this by recruiting talented students and graduates who share our vision and can lead us
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Your passport to a dream career in travel TUI
TUI UK & Ireland is the UK’s largest tour operator with key brands including Thomson, First Choice and Thomson Cruises. TUI UK & Ireland’s airline, Thomson Airways, is the UK’s third largest airline with 60 aircraft operating to over 73 destinations in 20 countries. Thomson Airways was the first airline in the UK to take delivery of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. With a team of 13,300 employees, TUI UK & Ireland serves more than 5.2 million customers each year. TUI UK & Ireland is a member of the TUI Group.
COMPANY PROFILE
Our Placement and Graduate Programmes are vital in ensuring we develop a pipeline of early talent for our UK & Ireland business. We offer Placement opportunities within our Commercial functions and Graduate opportunities within IT, Finance, Analytics and Commercial Leadership. Each of our programmes ensures that you will experience an exciting mix of day to day business activities and high profile project work, as well as the opportunity to engage with senior managers in our business. Our Graduate programmes begin with
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a comprehensive induction week at our head office, supported by ongoing development workshops, training opportunities and support from Buddies and Mentors. As a flavour of the potential development opportunities provided, previous graduate development workshops have included: Project Management, Leadership, Finance for Non Finance Managers, Communicating with Impact, Personal Effectiveness and Emotional Intelligence, as well as the chance to participate in one of our Innovation Lab sessions.
friendly personality and a good communication style. Ultimately, as our programmes have already demonstrated, many of our previous graduates are now working in senior leadership roles within the business, and so we are also looking for leadership potential and the ability and ambition to go far, once the programme has ended.
We will be accepting applications for our 2016 programmes from mid October 2015.
In our holiday travel sector, we are a business that sells “smiles” and we are looking for candidates who have a positive, can-do attitude and approach, a smiling and
To find out more and apply visit: www.tuijobsuk.co.uk
Welcome to the world of Arcadis
need to work hard, and gain as much experience on projects as possible. It is demanding but you will have the support of our graduate development programme.
We operate across a wide range of sectors and our professional skills include disciplines from asset and facilities strategy to cost consultancy, programme management, engineering and environmental consulting.
EC Harris became part of ARCADIS in 2011 and in the UK it is the leading built asset advisory practice, program and cost management consultancy. It has worked on many of the UK’s most important structures including Terminal Five at Heathrow, the Thames Tideway tunnel and the Olympic Park. Founded over 100 years ago it employs the most Chartered Surveyors in the UK.
Everyone who joins Arcadis has the opportunity to drive their own career turning their ambition into reality. If you have the desire to become one of our future leaders, you will
Hyder became part of ARCADIS in 2014 and is a multinational design and engineering consultancy renowned for working on some of the world’s most iconic buildings and
www.arcadis.com/en/global/careers/
COMPANY PROFILE
If you’re looking for a career above and beyond the average “9 to 5” then join Arcadis – the world’s leading natural and built asset design and consultancy firm. We offer the opportunity to be a part of some of the biggest and most important projects around the UK and worldwide, shaping environments and improving the quality of life.
Arcadis
Start your journey with us in the UK and See how far you can go – we employ Graduates, Under Graduates & Apprentices, disciplines include design engineering, cost management, project management, management consultants, environmental consultants, transport.
structures. In London these include the current London Bridge Station redevelopment, the Cycle Superhighway design and the original design engineering for Tower Bridge in the 1890’s.
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Credit Suisse
Credit Suisse Virtual Online Events Interested in a career in banking? But we don’t visit your campus? Then join us at one of our upcoming Online Virtual Events to find out more and chat live to our representatives.
COMPANY PROFILE
Recruitment in a Digital Age – online event with live networking 26 October, 2015 6:30-8PM This Online Event will provide you with a better understanding of Credit Suisse, our strategy and what makes us one of the best global banks. Get to know our people by chatting to them live, to learn how our culture provides a fulfilling work environment and how you could build your career with us. Both senior leaders and junior hires from across Investment Banking, Fixed Income, Equities, Operations and Technology (IT) will present from our Virtual Auditorium on their business areas and career opportunities on offer in this dynamic industry.
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Afterwards, you can network live with our business representatives via online chat rooms and ask any additional questions you might have. So join us online, from the comfort of your own home. We look forward to chatting with you! RSVP via this
LINK ASAP
Spring Insight Program Panel – online event with live networking 4 November, 2015 6:30-8PM Curious about Banking as a career? Want to understand the different roles available? If you graduate in 2018, then sign up to join our Spring Insight Program Panel!
credit-suisse.com/careers
Credit Suisse is delighted to host this Panel, led by students who have attended our Program and are keen to share their experiences with you. You can find out how the application process works, what to expect from the Program and how to get the most out it. After the Panel you can network live with our business representatives via online chat rooms, to ask any additional questions you might have about Credit Suisse and our Internship Programs. We look forward to you joining us! RSVP via this LINK ASAP Kind Regards, Credit Suisse Virtual Recruitment
Young female engineers leading the way… Costain
Karin Jones
I joined Costain in 2012, after I graduated from the University of Liverpool, with a First Class Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Having enjoyed maths and science throughout school, I chose to follow my father into Civil Engineering. During my time at university, I got involved with Careers Wales and Construction Skills, participating in STEM events across North Wales with 8-16 year olds. This is something I passionately enjoy, and have since become a STEM Ambassador and continue to engage in STEMNet events. During university I completed summer placements at Gwynedd Council in their Structures and Highway Maintenance teams. I got my first taste of design in the Structures team, carrying out the design and managing the construction of a retaining wall in North Wales. Shortly after joining Costain, I joined the Tunnel Remediation Project at Heathrow as a site engineer. This project involved upgrades to two tunnels at the airport. I managed the installation of traffic barriers, signage and the traffic management. The volume of traffic traveling in and out of the airport
COMPANY PROFILE
Scheme Project Manager, Costain meant that works were completed on tight six-hour night shifts. I designed and implemented a traffic management system, using mobile variable message signs. In order to achieve this, I delivered training on the system to the airport Landside Operations Team. Following the completion of the project, I managed several survey packages across the airport, including intrusive ground investigation of the runways. Working on the airfield is particularly thrilling, dealing with unique challenges, such as the risk of striking a critical service and shutting down the airport, or not completing works in the short night shift delaying the first flights of the day. I am pleased to say my packages ran successfully with no impact on the airport. In April 2014 I moved on to join Network Rail’s Multifunctional Framework, helping to deliver improvements and upgrades along the Kent rail network. I am currently managing four projects on the framework. I manage all aspects from design, through construction, to handover back to the client. Although I am an engineer at heart, I enjoy
getting involved in the contractual and commercial aspects of projects. Due to the high turnover of smaller value projects, I get the opportunity to gain contractual experience that many young engineers on larger projects may miss out on. Design management currently plays a large part of my role, through which I have gained valuable insight into the complexities of interdisciplinary design. Outside of my day job, I have been lucky to be invited to present to Costain’s directors and executive board members on several occasions, including proposing a business plan, and more recently as part of a focus group on Quality. This year, I have been shortlisted as Trainee of the Year at Costain’s Annual Awards, and will find out in December whether I have been successful!
Congratulations Karin! If you are an undergraduate and are interested in engineering roles, Costain are hiring! Please visit our website: www.costain.com/careers and apply today. Our applications close on Friday 27th November 2015.
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