STEMming problems BARRATT’S
insight day
What SKILLS do you have that are actually RELATIVE?
KPMG Graduate Careers | Phoebe’s pantry | The Review Room | Company Profiles
contents Editor’s letter 10 reasons why you should study abroad STEMming Problems Performance is art. Rolls Royce KMPG Graduate careers What skills do you have that are actually relative? Phoebe’s Pantry Barratt’s Insight Day The Review Room
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Company profiles
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Bechtel
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Centrica
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RPC
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Thales
19
20
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Bank of England
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Atkins
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TeachFirst PwC
National award SPONSORS IBM Society of the Year [University of Manchester] www.ibm.com/jobs/uk/graduate
RPC Event of the Year [Time with Industry - Staffordshire University] www.rpc.co.uk/manifesto
Siemens Collaboration Award [Staffordshire University] www.siemens.co.uk/careers
Advorto Fastest Growing Society [King’s College, London] www.advorto.com
Rolls-Royce President of the Year [Chris Milborrow - University of Strathclyde] www.rolls-royce.com/careers
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editors letter Dear all, Happy Easter to you all! It’s that other time of year (after Christmas) when we are encouraged to eat too much chocolate especially so if you have given it up for lent. Personally I could never give up chocolate, I tried once and I forgot about 5 minutes later so I just gave up trying completely. It is almost the end of term and it will have been another very busy term balancing academic study, job hunting or even securing your internship or graduate job – so share your highs and lows with us #mybrightfuture This month’s Ezine has an article about tips on studying abroad whilst you are University. It’s an amazing opportunity, offering you so many different experiences that you will only get when you travel. Secondly we have some statistics on how many students are applying for STEM related subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths), and if you are studying one of these then you should definitely go for a job within these subject as they are more likely to get paid more than most graduates. That is definitely an incentive to carry on with a STEM related subject.
Lastly we have an article on the ‘Ten essential skills for a graduate’. You may well think you know what they are, but some even surprised us as to what employers are looking for today. As always we have a new recipe in Phoebe’s Pantry, the review room and all new exciting intern & graduate opportunities from our clients! Until next month Phoebe HirEd Editor
www.brightfutures.co.uk P.S Make sure you check the ‘How to get Hired live’ event, which is being held at Wembley Stadium on the 22nd April – it is an event not to be missed! Click on the link below to see full details: www.brightfutures.co.uk/home/events
*If you don’t have a Society at your university then set up your own! Contact us at society@brightfutures.co.uk and we can get you started right away!
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10 reasons why you should study abroad
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Are you thinking about studying abroad on a placement year or after university for a year? If so here are some reasons on why you should maybe think about studying abroad 1. You should travel when you are young or before you get tied down so the best time to go is probably when you are studying 2. You will meet lots of new people, mainly they will be friends but there will also be contacts for when you are looking for jobs or if you want to go and work in the country they can help you get on your feet. 3. Learn new skills and experience a lot more than what your friends who stayed in your home country will do. 4. You will hopefully learn a new language. This looks great on your CV. 5. You will learn to be fully independent as it is a lot harder to ask your parents for help. 6. You will immerse yourself in a whole different culture 7. Experience a different education system than your home country 8. It will look great on your CV. It will be something that will make you stand out from the rest. 9. Studying abroad can sometimes add more value to your degree, especially if it is a Placement year. 10. Lastly it is something totally different and an unforgettable experience. You will never do anything like this again in your life. If you are considering travelling abroad whilst you are studying make sure you go and talk to your placement team at University or ask your student services for help. You can also join a scheme called Erasmus. Erasmus stands for European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, it is government funded scheme which allows students the study abroad for a year whilst exchanging with another student from the country you wish to go to.
If you want to find out more about the Erasmus scheme then click here http://www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus.htm There are also many more websites available for you to look at if you are thinking about studying abroad! 5
Science | Technology | Engineering | Mathematics
STEMm problem Trying to get students into STEM (Science, Technology, engineering or mathematics) is a national problem. In a summit meeting, hosted by BAE and The Times, it was agreed that getting students interested in these subjects still proves a challenge.
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ming ms
Mathew Hancock is the Skills and Enterprise Minister states that the new 2014 curriculum will improve students capability’s regardless of career preference. He stated that the analytical testing and raising expectations of performance will build their ‘grit and character’. He followed this by saying that he expects their overall academic studies to improve with more students studying STEM subjects. Also, for the students that decide to take up salaries in STEM they will be rewarded with higher salaries. 45% of graduates that studied STEM subjects at university earn more than regular courses. On average STEM students earn £136,000 more than regular courses in their lifetime.
The lack of motivation for the subject could stem from the lack of role models in the subjects. However, this problem is particularly damaging for females as only 25% of STEM students are girls. This has lead to a cyclical problem where the students that actually are interested become teachers to try and get more students involved with STEM. Richard Hamer, director of education at BAE Systems, stated the stem students tend to go to university and then return to schools to teach these courses. This was also supported by Jenny Body, president of Royal Aeronautical Society, who also agrees with the cyclical problem but hopes that returning STEM students will break the continual chain. So with less people going for STEM careers, more money to be made and more jobs available in the industry it should be your first subject to research! Remember that all careers stem from interests. 7
www.rolls-royce.com/performanceisart
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Graduate Careers in Technology Consulting Apply now for an autumn 2014 start Let’s cut to the chase. As a Technology Consultant, you could be the one writing the rulebook. That’s why thinking on your feet and having an inquiring mind are so important in Technology Consulting; one of the fastest-growing areas of KPMG. As a graduate, you’ll help develop game-changing solutions on exciting projects for fascinating clients — from cyber security to new financial technology, from governments to global blue chips. Whilst a technical degree isn’t vital, plenty of ambition and a passion to shape the future of technology will be. There’ll be challenges along the way and it’s going to be a lot of hard work. But that’s what makes it so exciting. Sound like a career for you? Find out more and apply at www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/graduates
© 2014 KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, is a subsidiary of KPMG Europe LLP and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative, a Swiss entity. The KPMG name, logo and “cutting through complexity” are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International.
Do you want it sugar coated or straight up?
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What skills do you have that are actually relative? The Association of Graduate Recruiters and Graduate Recruitment Company recently compiled a list of ten essential skills that graduates need. Graduate jobs are expected to rise by 10% this year so it is become increasingly important to get these skills honed and ready. The companies also said that these skills need to be worked on continually throughout your time at university and not thought about last minute as ‘buzz words’ to insert into a CV. In fact, it is now a regular occurrence where students think that their degree by itself will get a job and this is completely inaccurate.
1: Business Sense
6: Socially Adaptable.
2: Global Perspective
7: Computer Skills
3: Multiple Languages
8: Leadership Skills
4: Environmentally aware.
9: Clear Communication
5: Strong Etiquette
10: Positive Attitude
These are skills that are considered vital for any graduate. However, there are a few others that might prove useful. First, although a driving license is no long the prerequisite it used to be for jobs it is still useful to have. This is especially important in more rural areas, however, in urban areas it might still be looked for. Second, unusual skills might come in useful in your career. These skills cannot be planned for but refusing to try new things could get in the way of your career. Famously, Steve
Jobs dropped into calligraphy classes at university that turned out to be vital for this typography design in Apple. So make sure you are taking every opportunity at university to join societies or clubs and improving those vital skills. Remember, if you are not learning the skills that you need then you can be sure one of your friends is taking full advantage. Don’t miss out on your career because you knew but didn’t act.
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Phoebe’s
Pantry
Chocolate Buttons Easter Eggs This month is Easter and what a great time to eat and make Easter Eggs. I know they may seem hard but you never know you might find yourself as a Chocolate Connoisseur. For the egg • 200g good-quality dark chocolate, plus a little extra for decorating To decorate • 25g bag chocolate buttons • 25g bag white chocolate buttons, with speckles • Ribbon, approx 50 cm long Special equipment • 2 chocolate egg moulds, clean flat pastry brush or small paintbrush 1. Break the chocolate into pieces and gently melt in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Stir until smooth, then take off the heat and leave until cool, but still runny. Spoon a quarter of the chocolate into one of the egg moulds and spread thickly over the inside with a flat pastry brush or paintbrush. Be sure to cover the sides well, as this makes it easier to join the edges. Check that the chocolate is even by holding the mould up to the light. Repeat with the other mould. Leave in a cool place to set, then chill for 5 12
mins. TIP: Putting the egg halves in the fridge once the chocolate has set makes it easier to add another layer of warm chocolate. Don’t be tempted to leave the moulds in the fridge any longer than necessary as condensation could cause the chocolate to discolour. 2. Re-warm the remaining chocolate and repeat the process for each side of the mould, saving about 1 tbsp of chocolate for later. Use a knife to scrape away any excess around the rim of the mould to give a clean, straight edge. Turn out each half onto a sheet of greaseproof paper, carefully pulling away the mould until it releases itself. 3. Place one half of the egg on its back (you can create a nest of scrunched greaseproof paper to stop it from rolling about). Warm the reserved chocolate and brush around the edge of the egg. Place the other half on top and press together. You can seal the join further by brushing with a little more chocolate and filling in any jagged edges or holes. Leave in a cool place to set firm. 4. To decorate, use the paintbrush to dab a little chocolate on the backs of the chocolate buttons. Gently press them onto the egg. For the finishing touch, tie the ribbon around the middle to hide the join
Barratt opments PLC
Devel mes & David Wilson Homes) (B arratt Ho
Day Insight14th May
Wednesday pm Start 2.00pm – )5.00 (approximately
Barratt Developments are inviting you to attend an Insight Event at their Northampton division. The event has been specifically designed to give you the opportunity to meet directors, managers and graduates to find out what it is really like to work at the company, which is ranked 1st in the Property and Housebuilding sector and 2nd overall in the Job Crowd’s ‘Best Companies for Graduates to Work for’ Top 100. Barratt is Britain’s largest and best-known house builder. But while the business is certainly about building, for their graduates, the real focus is on building the business: gaining the commercial know-how, decision-making skills and leadership ability to take a successful business to even higher levels of performance. The Insight Event will give you the opportunity to experience life working in and around the
East Midlands, in a variety of different career areas. You’ll experience both the office environment, and you’ll have the opportunity to see the sharp end of the business; where homes being built and sold. The afternoon will consist of a presentation about the business and its award winning graduate programme, Q&A session with directors and managers, and a site tour, and will end with time to network with current graduates, directors and manager informally over drinks and nibbles. This event is open to students with degrees in the ‘built environment’ studying in their 1st, 2nd or final year, who have a genuine interest in a career in residential development. If you’re interested in finding out more and joining Barratt for the afternoon then please make an application...
to apply please click here 13
Gojimo
Interviewy
SignEasy
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Content is available for Common Entrance, GCSE, A-Level, IB, ACT (US), SAT (US) and AP (US). The in-app store makes it easy for you to sample and purchase quizzes and study guides: you can browse by subject or qualification. Study guides can be searched, making it easy to quickly look something up. Alternatively, navigate by chapter and topic. You can even tick off the topics you feel you already know. Over 30,000 quiz questions are available through Gojimo! Within each set, you can take a random quiz or choose a specific topic on which to focus. Use the optional timer for an extra challenge. Learn from your mistakes with in-depth explanations and links to further reading. You can also track your improvement over time in the progress review section! Gojimo is an essential app for all students! If you want to do better in your exams then download Gojimo now, for free.
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At Bechtel diversity includes you Bechtel
company profile
At Bechtel, respecting diversity means respecting individuals and valuing the talents that make each of us unique. Diversity needs an inclusive culture that enables each of us to thrive. We’ve been successful for more than 100 years. To sustain that success for the next 100 years, we are helping grow a diverse, global engineering workforce for tomorrow. Encouraging and educating the next generation of innovators will help to ensure economic growth and improve the quality of life for communities around the world for generations to come. You’ll find Bechtel employees in more than 40 countries, representing 120 nationalities and speaking 80 different languages. We’re proud of this diversity and it’s one of our strengths.
Bechtel’s London Bus Helps Steer Diversity A Bechtel-branded double-decker bus was launched on a popular tourist route in central London today. The bus is one of a three-vehicle fleet operating to promote Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf’s “Power of Diversity” programme, which highlights ways the City of London can maximize the energy and innovation that diversity can bring to business. Bechtel’s support of London’s diversity program reflects its alignment with our culture and way of working. Bechtel employees in the UK represent 48 nationalities. Nearly one quarter of our UK employees and 14% of Bechtel’s UK engineers are women, more than twice the current UK industry average of 6%.
To find out more about diversity at Bechtel visit : www.bechtel.com 16 20
Globally, Bechtel has employees in more than 40 countries, representing 120 nationalities and speaking 80 different languages. Bechtel’s diversity bus will provide normal passenger service in London for 10 months.
Be part of our world
mentors will encourage and inspire you, whether you’re interested in exploration, production or frontline customer service management. Plus, you’ll join an inclusive workplace where individuality is valued – so if you’re assertive, hard-working and ambitious, we’ll support you all the way.
Summer programme placements
Although our summer placements is designed to help you discover what you’re good at, we also want you to have fun. That’s why we’ll cover the costs of your accommodation and ensure you’re
Join our paid summer placements and you’ll work on real projects and develop a host of new skills. Over 10 weeks, our expert team of
company profile
As a top 30 FTSE 100 company with over 25 million customer accounts, a £22 billion turnover and more than 34,000 employees, we offer students in the UK unmatched training with a range of global brands: Centrica Energy, British Gas, and Centrica Storage.
Centrica
Centrica is an international energy company that sources, generates, processes, stores, trades, supplies, services and helps its customers save energy. Securing energy to power the future is an important priority for us, and we’re making vital investments across the entire energy spectrum.
located alongside other students on placement – to make sure your social life is as interesting as your studies. Find out what our previous summer placements have been up to by following #summeratcentrica.
Find out more: Website www.centrica.com/graduates Join us at www.facebook.com/centricagraduaterecruitment Or follow us at www.twitter.com/centricagrads 17
RPC Training Contract in Bristol and London. Apply now! RPC
company profile
Leading lawyers. Great clients. And an unrivalled commercial approach to business. At RPC we offer a depth of knowledge and creativity that few firms can rival and combine this with high quality training programmes that are consistently lauded in the leading directories. Headquartered in a state of the art site in the City of London, we also have stunning offices in Bristol, Hong Kong and Singapore. Our open plan, collaborative working environment – where knowledge is easily shared and access to partners an everyday reality – is designed to bring out the best in our people and to ensure that the service we offer our clients is second to none. And it is.
We provide top quality legal services to global businesses across a wide range of industry sectors and practices, including insurance, commercial litigation, construction, engineering and projects, corporate/M&A, IP and technology, media, real estate, employment and pensions, outsourcing, regulatory, tax and competition. Twice nominated as Law Firm of the Year in 2013, in 2012 we won Insurance Team of the Year at the Legal Business Awards, Corporate Team of the Year (midcap) at The Lawyer Awards, and Service Provider of the Year at the British Insurance Awards, as well as being voted by the Financial Times as one of the most innovative firms in Europe.
www.rpc.co.uk/manifesto or follow us on twitter @LifeinaLawFirm 18
If you like a challenge and want to join us in challenging convention, we’re offering training contracts in both London and Bristol, on a full–time contract for two years.
As a major engineering and technology company, 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 stateof-the-art equipment for military aircraft, the scope and scale of our problem-solving abilities know no bounds.
Talented people are the key to our success. So from the outset we’ll encourage you to become professionally qualified and give you the training to realise your potential. Our comprehensive Graduate Development Programme (GDP) runs parallel with your Engineering role or placements on the Business Programme. It offers everything from an introduction to our organisation, culture and processes to formal training in the form of seminars, specialist courses and visits. We will also pay your annual membership fees for a relevant professional institution.
We recruit on a rolling basis. Our application system is opened for a period of approximately one month and then closed to reassess recruitment needs. If additional applications are required the system will reopen and will subsequently be closed approximately one month later. This process is repeated until our recruitment needs are met. So, in order to allow us analyse your amazing application, we recommend submitting it as soon as possible.
company profile
We love cracking the confusingly complex at Thales. We love investigating the impossibly intractable. We love deciphering the dazzlingly difficult. And we love unravelling the unrelentingly unknowable. Why? Quite simply, creating the most ingenious technological systems and innovations is in our business DNA.
Thales
We love analysing amazing applications
The Thales UK graduate Development Programme is accredited by the following Engineering Institutions: IET, IMechE, Royal Aeronautical Society and Institute of Physics.
For more information visit: www.ukgrads.thalesgroup.com 19
Teach First
Change their lives. Change yours.
company profile
Teach First is about becoming a leader and achieving success – both for yourself and for others. It’s an intensive two years. Beginning with the Summer Institute, the Leadership Development Programme combines working, qualifying and training as a teacher with leadership development training, coaching and mentoring and a range of networking and internship opportunities. Through completion of your PGCE, you will also gain credits which you can put towards a Masters qualification. Upon completion of the programme, you will then graduate to become a Teach First Ambassador.
• Intensive teacher training leading to a PGCE • Real responsibility from day one • Opportunity to pursue Masters qualification at reduced cost • Ongoing leadership development, coaching, business training and skills workshops • Opportunity to be part of a movement that is changing lives and will change society • Access to professional development and a network of supporters • Full-time, paid position for a minimum of two years
Find out more at: www.graduates.teachfirst.org.uk 20
Change their lives. Change yours.
PwC
Your career is just that; yours. You choose it. You live it. You make it happen. To get the best from it, you need the best opportunities.
Our offer to you... • To be part of the world’s leading professional services network and enjoy the benefits that come with that. • Work directly with big name clients where you’ll get to grips with the value they’re looking for by getting into the detail. • Provide an environment where you’ll be able to explore new opportunities, to help you grow and find your niche. • Give you access to be best learning and development around.
Ways you can join us Get a unique insight into what we offer on one of our undergraduate programmes ranging from our Shadow a Female Leader Programme to our Summer Internships and Work Placements. For final year students, join one of our business areas; Assurance, Actuarial, Consulting, Deals, Tax or Technology. Don’t miss the second chance to apply to join our Consulting practice with new vacancies opened for Autumn and Winter 2014 together with our new Insight into Consulting days.
formats, provide tips on how you should prepare and also uses some examples for you to consider. We hope you will find the e-learn useful, there’s no other free tool like it currently in the marketplace.
company profile
Opportunities are at the heart of a career with us. And we’re proud, based on the opportunity we offer, that students have voted us the number one Graduate Employer in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers survey for the last ten years.
www.pwc.co.uk/careers/elearn What you need to bring to us • A 2:1 or above in any degree discipline (some programmes do require specific degrees) • A UCAS tariff of at least 300 (or equivalent) How to apply
We welcome all degree disciplines and with offices UK wide, we have something for everyone.
Interview e-learn Our new e-learn is designed to better prepare students for what an interview actually is, to help you to understand the different interview
We know that the skills and experiences you develop with us, will stay with you throughout your career. So join us, and we’ll help you reach your full potential.
Take the opportunity of a lifetime. www.pwc.com/uk/careers www.facebook.com/PwCCareersUK 21
Bank of England
Experience you can bank on. Develop your skills with an iconic organisation
company profile
As the country’s central bank, we play a fundamental role in the UK economy – ensuring monetary stability and contributing to financial stability. Our work is challenging, high profile, and truly fascinating. It has an impact on the entire nation and touches the lives of people every day. Choose a career with us and you will have the chance to make a difference. We are currently looking for: • First degree graduates • IT graduates • Postgraduates • Undergraduates Our graduate recruitment programmes are open to first degree graduates from all degree disciplines and offer experience within many areas of the organisation. Join one of our structured career paths, and you will benefit from excellent development opportunities as well as the chance to be supported and mentored by seasoned colleagues. .
Our Postgraduate Programme offers those with a master’s degree in economics or finance the chance to undertake long-term research and short-term analysis whilst our IT programme sees graduates follow one of four specialist paths. Undergraduates can take advantage of our eight-week penultimate year internships or our new six-week first year internship for first-year degree students. This is a great taster for our graduate programmes – as well as a chance for undergraduates to show us their skills
work with flexible working options and a range of extra benefits, including buying extra leave and taking up full family medical insurance. Our benefits package is refreshingly family friendly.
So take a closer look, and see the Bank differently
We still have applications open for many of these programmes and in particular are looking for candidates that are interested in a career in Prudential Regulation, IT, HR or Statistics. Wherever you join us, you will be involved in a range of varied and challenging projects. In return, you’ll be rewarded for your hard
To look further into what we can offer and apply go to: www.bankofenglandgraduates.co.uk 22
Each year we offer a range of graduate and apprentice opportunities as well as summer and year in industry placements across our UK offices and business disciplines. If you share our boundless curiosity and drive to improve the world in which we all live, work and play, it’s a chance to become an expert in whatever inspires you most.
Instead of leading you down a set career path, we’ll give you guidance and choices about how your career unfolds and provide a breadth of projects to gain experience. Our graduates follow a three year Graduate Development Programme which marks their journey through to professional Accreditation and is flexible and very much tailored to their individual skills and own personal development plan. We work hard to be great at what we do and hire people who will equally be brilliant so our reputation is something we’re proud of. We currently feature in The Guardian UK 300 Graduate Employers, Times Top 100 Graduate Employers, Times Top 25 Big Companies to work for and were recently awarded again the Most Popular Graduate Recruiter by TARGET in the category of Construction, Civil Engineering and Surveying. For the first time we’ve also been awarded for flexible
working by winning a Top Employer Award from Workingmums.co.uk and are equally as committed to diversity as we are to excellence.
company profile
The Atkins Early Careers team is delighted to be working with Bright Futures and as we’re new we thought it would be useful to tell you a bit about us, as there’s more to use than meets the eye. We’re the UK’s largest engineering consultancy and the biggest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe. We’re also the seventh largest design firm in the world with a c£1.4 billion turnover and a global team of around 17,000 brilliant people.
Atkins
We won’t limit your aspirations to anything less than outstanding
To find out a bit more about Atkins and what we have to offer then visit our careers pages by CLICKING HERE Just a snap shot for now, but we very much look forward to meeting and working with you over the coming year.
To find out a bit more about Atkins and what we have to offer then visit our careers pages at www.atkinsglobal.com/careers/graduates 23