HirEd - March 2013

contents p3 Contents p4 Editor’s Letter p5 The Review Room p6-7 Will a Master’s Help you Stand Out p8-9 House Hunting Tips p10-11 The President’s Conference p12-13 The Power is in the People p14-15 What to Wear at an Interview Company Profiles p16 p17: Teachfirst p18: Bechtel p19: Linklaters p20: BPP Law School p21: Softcat p22: Thales p23: Kantar Worldwide p24: Tesco p25: Rolls Royce p26: Accenture p27: TJX

“

Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes.

It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.

“

Steve Jobs

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editor's letter Two months have flown by since we all launched into 2013 and it won’t be long until dissertations are handed in, end of year exams are sat and the summer springs upon us!

So with that in mind we have given you a bit of food for thought in this month’s edition...

If you’re starting to consider where you are going to live next year then we’ve provided you with a fantastic house hunting guide to making sure you aren’t left out in the cold, or out of pocket. We also have a thought provoking article from the Warwick Careers Service if you’re considering a Masters Degree. When it comes to applying for jobs, the “Power is in the People”, and why not find out what to wear for that all important interview.

As you may well know, students are the heart of everything we do, and our committee members are the ambassadors that help us make it all happen. To train and develop our committees we run a number of conferences each year, just for them, with the most recent being the President’s Conference. You can read about how it went down as well as discover about the next conference we have up our sleeves – which you can attend too!

Don’t hold back, take the plunge and check out what interesting news and company features we have in our March edition of HirEd!

Jackie HirEd Editor www.brightfutures.co.uk

e-zine 4

*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!

The Fine Art of Small Talk

by Debra Fine For as long as we remember we are told not to talk to strangers, yet starting a conversation with someone you don’t know is essential when you progress through your life and your career. Whether it’s on your first day in your new job to make friends, or your first networking event to build contacts to start your own business, talking to strangers is something that does require a bit of confidence, plus a few tricks up your sleeve to get people to warm to you and get the conversation going.

‘The Fine Art of Small Talk’ by Debra Fine is a great book for just that. She has an array of useful conversation starters, tips to engage people’s attention, move into a group or approach someone already in a conversation – either socially or professionally. The book is really easy to read, with the ability to flick in and out of it at your own leisure, picking up loads of tips as you go, and without having to read the whole book before you can unleash yourself to the networking world.

Get it now at WHSmiths from £7.19

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Will a Master’s help you

stand out?

This view has taken firm hold and it’s easy to see why. Just call it confirmation bias. You think a Master’s will confer a competitive advantage in the job market? Well, chances are you’ll find the evidence you’re looking for; a quick search on Google generates some pretty compelling and convincing headlines. Throw in some media hype about devalued first degrees, and high levels of graduate un(der)employment and suddenly postgrad study seems like a wise move.

Don’t drift into further study There are very few heart sink moments within careers, but here’s one: students who ‘drift’ into postgraduate study. It’s easy to see why this happens: job hunting takes time and the sheer weight of information can seem completely overwhelming. Maybe it’s just easier to defer your job search for another year? Perhaps you’ve yet to find your niche and think an extra year’s study will help you find clarity, with the added bonus of an extra qualification.

Does this sound like you? If so, stop and think.

Everything we know about the current job

market suggests that falling into postgraduate study may simply compound your problems.

A full time Master’s is really intense, leaving little time to find work experience or further your job search. And when you finish, you’ll be competing with a new batch of graduates hungry for work.

Postgraduate study can be a really positive, enriching experience, but it requires strong motivation and focus. It’s not a decision to take lightly.

A Master’s can help, but choose wisely…

In some sectors a Master’s qualification is almost a pre-requisite; if you’re considering a career in museums, libraries, social work or R&D a Master’s degree is almost essential. Chartership in both psychology and engineering is similarly dependant on securing a Master’s level qualification. And for the budding social scientists out there, an MSc in Research Methods is a sound investment of time and money.

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For less vocational, more academic, Master’s degrees the career benefits are not immediately obvious. That’s not to say it won’t pay dividends later on; strong academic credentials and substantive work experience combine in a pretty powerful mix. Just don’t expect a graduate recruiter to fall over themselves in awe; for the most part, Master’s degrees have little intrinsic value at the entry or graduate level.

Last year, along with my colleagues from the AGCAS Postgraduate Students Task Group I conducted some research into the myths surrounding postgraduate study. I confess up front to a small sample size and relaxed approach to research methodology, but the results seemto reflect wider trends and the experience of colleagues working in careers and graduate recruitment.

• Most employers - across most sectors - will not distinguish between first and second degree applicants. Very few recruiters offer distinct recruitment streams for Master’s graduates.

• Don’t assume there’s a financial premium attached to those extra letters. Salaries vary

If you’re looking for a more forensic analysis of employment rates for Master’s graduates, then take a look at Graduate Market Trends (Summer 2012).

Charlie Ball, Deputy Director of Research at HECSU, labour market specialist and all round stats whizz has crunched the

according to sector, role and organisation, rarely degree status. If you’re an ‘experienced hire’ and your Master’s is part of continued professional development, you could well command a higher salary, if not then you’ll simply start on the normal graduate salary.

• A Master’s qualification will not (generally) compensate for a lower degree classification (<2:1). Most graduate employers are looking for a 2:1 or above, but career success doesn’t start and stop with the Times Top 100. Why not be more creative and consider the SME route instead? Entry requirements are sometimes more flexible.

numbers from destinations data (2007-10) and found no evidence to support the claim that, “you need a Master’s just to stand out”. Charlie continues the theme on his HECSU blog, and manages to make a pretty strong case in one chart:

20,850

Number of UK 2010/2011 first degree students known to have been studying for a Masters after six months

110,785

Number of UK 2010/2011 first degree students known to have a job at professional level after six months

An informed choice is a good choice Before you commit to further study and further debt, really think about what you hope to gain. If it’s career advantage, then find out whether a Master’s is needed for your area of interest. Check the destinations information for and see what this tells you. The destinations data is not wholly reliable as it only captures graduates six months after graduation, but it can still help you weigh up the pros and cons of further study. I’m certainly not going dissuade you from studying at postgrad level;

I took an MA in Contemporary History and Politics (hardly a recruiter’s dream!) and loved every minute. My dissertation topic has proved to be an interesting talking point at more than one interview, and there’s no question I developed skills I’m still using in my current job. But one thing holds true: a Master’s will not automatically fast track you to better, more satisfying, and more remunerative jobs.

By Helen Stringer, Warwick University Careers Blog: careersblog.warwick.ac.uk @warwickcareers

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Finding your next student pad can be a stressful process, and if it’s not even a tiny bit stressful for you – are you thinking about it enough? There are a whole host of things that you need to consider when looking for your next home whilst studying at university, so we have come up with this mini house hunting guide to help you along the way.

First things first...

1. Figure out what you can realistically afford and stick to it. Remember those extra costs like your deposit and utility bills though!

2. Decide who and how many people you want to live with – carefully. Consider people on your course (study support) as well as who you do social activities with. Think about who will be easiest to live with, not who is the biggest party animal.

3. Think about where you’d like to live – how far is it from uni/town/amenities? Will you have to use public transport to get around?

On the Hunt...

Once you have figured out the basics, you can then begin your hunt for the perfect pad! Here are a few ways to get you started...

Word of Mouth You can often find the best houses and the best deals by asking around. Some friends may have vacant rooms opening up, or there may be a load of final years all moving out. They can also tell you the nitty gritty about the house, if there are any problems and what the landlord is like.

Online There are LOADS of websites out there for you to find rooms and properties from agencies to independent landlords and students advertising their spare rooms. But don’t just trust what you

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see online, make sure you visit the property and meet the landlord too. Some websites we suggest are: • • • • • • •

www.accommodationforstudents.com www.unite-students.com www.spareroom.co.uk www.flatmaterooms.co.uk uk.easyroommate.com www.zoopla.co.uk www.rightmove.co.uk

Local Newspapers Your local newspapers will usually have a section for house sales and lettings. Thursdays tends to be the day when the official local property newspaper is released so pop into an agent near you and ask if you can have a copy. Just double check that the properties is regulated and meets all the safety requirements.

Estate Agents There are good agents and bad agents, so asking your friends for their experiences is worth it. They can also charge you a lot of money in agency fees (that you won’t get back) when you take on a property (never before!) so be wary of this and add it to your budget. Make sure your agent is recognised by the Association of Residential Letting Agents (www.arla.co.uk).

University Accommodation Office Most universities will have their own accommodation office to support their students in the house hunting process. They will have a list of approved landlords and properties so you know you’re in good hands. They can also help out when it comes to checking over contracts and advising you. There won’t be any agency fees either and you may find there are shorter and more lenient tenancy agreements, which comes in handy if you are caught out with some bad housemates.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big task moving into a new property, so make sure you do it right before you even sign the contract to avoid any nasty surprises. Use this checklist to make sure there is nothing essential you have overlooked:

THE PROPERTY q Is the property accredited? q Is there a tenancy agreement? q Do you understand the paperwork/had it checked over? q Did you receive a copy? q Do you have all the details of your landlord? i.e.name, telephone, address.

q Report any damage to the landlord or agent immediately. q Check the security throughout the house.

Do all the catches and locks work on the windows and doors?

THE LOCATION

q Are there plenty of electrical sockets? q Is there a current gas certificate? q Do you have hot and cold running water? In all taps plus the shower and/or bath. q Is there sufficient heating? q Make note of the meter before you move in and tell the gas/electric companies.

q Is it convenient to campus? q How close it is to the nearest bus stop/train station? q What amenities are there? i.e. supermarket, doctors, chemist q Is it an area familiar to students?

OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY q Does it have a garden? Are the walls/fences maintained? q Who is responsible for maintenance? q Is there a burglar alarm that works? q Are all the external doors solid and fitted with strong, secure locks? q Are the ground floor windows secured with security catches? q Are the drains and gutters clear?

INSIDE THE PROPERTY q Is it furnished? q Is there enough furniture for every tenant? q Does the furniture have fire safety logos and is it in good condition? q Are there any signs of damp? q Is there adequate space to all store and prepare food? i.e. cupboard, fridge/freezer, worktops q Are there any outstanding repairs or work that needs to be done?

GAS, ELECTRICITY AND WATER

FIRE SAFETY q Are there smoke detectors and fire alarms?

Do they work? q Is there adequate means of escape? q Can the front and back doors be opened from the inside without a key? q Are there fire extinguishers and fire blankets provided in the property?

MONEY q How much is the rent? q How do you have to pay? q What does your rent include? i.e. bills/internet q Is your deposit protected, and which scheme is your landlord using?

BILLS q Do you need a TV License? q Have you sorted out council tax? (If all are students the household is exempt) q Have you sorted out contents insurance?

At Bright Futures, we host three annual conferences for our committee members. We help train them, develop them, give them a voice and award them for their achievements. The most recent conference was to develop the leadership skills of our Presidents.

Hosted by the FSA in their fantastic Canary Wharf offices, our key session was delivered by Tesco, preparing our students to be leaders and how to make an impact for all the right reasons.

Developing emotional loyalty was a key theme throughout.

Offering a great quote,

“Don’t treat people how you like to be treated, treat people how they like to be treated.”

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Another key area was your delivery of language, ensuring it is always positive and that you structure any feedback accordingly, positive and negative. This is it in a nutshell: 1. Explain the situation – when/what 2. Talk about how you felt 3. What was the effect?

4. And what is the change or the continual behaviour you would like?

You don’t need to be a leader to use this format. Praise and constructive criticism can be given no matter what your level or your pay grade, or to whom you want to offer the feedback to. As long as you structure it well, then your feedback should always be well received.

This is what our Presidents thought of the event: “Overall, the event was extremely successful and the day, I felt, was highly informative, energising and motivating.”

“This fun filled presentation, mixed with witty banter and a fresh perspective of leadership had definitely motivated all that were there to challenge the norms and to take away another understanding of what is meant by the term ‘leadership’.”

“Fantastic event and very informative – I’ve got a lot to share with my committee!”

“What a great day today was! It was really good to see the National Team, network with all the employers and meet all the other Presidents!”

Our next conference is open, not only to our committee members, but to any student who wants to share their views and have a voice when it comes to developing the future of employability, not to mention network with a whole range of progressive companies all keen to recruit students and graduates.

NEXT EVENT: What: The Future for Work: The Student Voice When: Thursday 18th April, 9am – 5pm Where: Aston Villa Football Club, Birmingham Register now to reserve your FREE place: brightfutures.co.uk/employabilityconference 11

Organisation after organisation recruit year on year and the general messaging is based on the type of people they’re after. Some will be looking for team-player, some leaders, others will be looking for analytics who can process vast amounts of data.

It really doesn’t matter! What matters is the common theme that people, above all else, make the majority of organisations successful, or not; no matter whether Multinationals, Charities, Public Services or Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).

With this in mind, it is no coincidence that there is increasing pressure on applicants to demonstrate different attributes and strengths and that competition to secure jobs is higher than ever. If an organisation bases the success or failure of its operations on the people it employs, then it would make sense to employ the strongest, most capable but also most suitable people to do the job.

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This is also important to remember when applying for job. ‘Obviously’ I hear you say.

And it’s true, it’s already common knowledge among applicants; everyone knows that companies employ you based on your skills and experiences, right?!

I totally agree, however, there is, as a result, an existing mindset that strikes me as very odd. And it’s this; We, the people applying to work in these organisations, potentially making them money and being integral to their success, seem to have the general mindset that we really need the job and don’t tend to consider the point of view of the recruiter.

Thousands of students per year apply to jobs in all different industries in the hope that they get a good job upon graduation.

It’s easy, when this is the case, to see the recruiter/applicant relationship being a very one-sided one.

The point of this post is to begin to realise earlier that we, the potential and future drivers within these organisations, are as important and sought after to them (if not more so) than the job is to us.

Now what I’m definitely not suggesting is that you stroll into your next interview with an attitude that says you’re more important than the company and that they need you and you should, therefore, expect the job. Because quite frankly, that’s a sure fire way of guaranteeing you don’t get the job.

What I am suggesting, however, is that you treat any recruitment process as a two way process.

Yes, we all know the company is asking you ‘Why should we employ you?!’ On the flip side, we very rarely ask the question, ‘Why should I come and work for you?!’

In the end, you have one career, one graduate scheme to choose, one future and making that decision is a tough and ultimately life-changing

one. By asking those employers why you should work for them, above all other options, you’re asking the questions that will ensure that you are best placed to make as well-informed a decision as possible for YOU. If you’re not a selfish person, be selfish this once and ask yourself ‘Is this job, with this company, right for ME?!’

You know something, why not ask the employers too. I dare you, in your next interview, to ask the person opposite you ‘Why do you work here?’ or ‘What do you enjoy about your job?’. If they like you and you’re satisfied by their answer, YOU choose to continue in their recruitment process.

The Final Word Recruitment is a two-way process. By realising this, we can adopt a mindset that not only allows us to make the best decision for us but also allows us to ask impressive, mature questions which show we really care about our own future.

Written by Chris Milborrow: chrismilborrow.tumblr.com/ @ChrisMilborrow

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Many of you will be attending interviews for placements or graduate jobs, or even for part time summer work, so regardless of the role it is as important to plan your interview attire as it is your interview answers.

FACT: 37% of employers decide on hiring over what interviewee wears! (According to a national survey by careers management company The Ladders)

What should women wear to an interview?

Girls, you don’t need to splash the cash to look great but you do need to stick to the basic rules! 33% of interviewers will judge your dress choice on whether you will suit the organisation. For example, if it is a law firm wear a suit, but if it is a child care position smart-casual is more suitable.

As a rule of thumb, use this checklist from Kim Zoller at Image Dynamics to make sure you aren’t over or under-dressing: • • • • • • • • • 14

Solid colour, conservative suit Coordinated blouse/shirt Moderate shoes (don’t go crazy with heels) Limited jewellery (this isn’t a fashion show) Neat, professional hairstyle Tan or light hosiery Sparse make-up & perfume Clean, Manicured nails Portfolio or briefcase

What should men wear to an interview?

Most people think that men have fewer decisions to make when hunting for the best interview outfit, however this is not the case, and men could even find themselves having a wardrobe malfunction.

Personally, I think all men should wear a suit as your interviewer most likely will be and you need to “look sharp”. When picking a suit it is important to make sure that you get the right size or you will look like your wearing your dad’s clothes – which is never good.

Here’s Kim’s checklist for men: • Solid colour, conservative suit (Don’t do a Django) • White long sleeve shirt • Conservative tie (my friend always takes a back up tie along with him) • Dark socks, professional, polished shoes (although a bit of coordinated colour could add some moderate flare)

• • •

Very limited jewellery (You are not Kanye West or Jay-Z) Neat, professional hairstyle Go easy on the aftershave Good luck with your interviews and get in touch with your success stories and we could feature you in our next e-zine! More interview tips can be found on our website here: brightfutures.co.uk/home/career-advice

By Danielle Chapman 15

The Teach First journey begins with a unique two-year Leadership Development Programme – featuring a range of high-quality training opportunities and supportive coaching – that focuses on graduates’ ability to positively influence the achievements and aspirations of pupils and their access to further opportunities, both in education and beyond.

opportunities to progress rapidly, while always staying focused on engaging with our vision.

Deadline: We recruit on a rolling basis and will fill our vacancies as we find those candidates that meet our competency and academic requirements.

How to apply: To apply for Teach First you will need to register interest and fill in an online application form

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What is Teach First?

How much you achieve in life should not be determined by how much your parents earn. Yet in the UK, it usually is.

We believe in the power of education to change this. We are an independent charity working with others to give every child the right to a decent education. We train people with leadership potential to be inspirational teachers in schools in low-income communities across the country.

These leaders go onto work in different sectors of society towards a future where no child’s educational success is limited by their socio-economic background.

Teach First

Take up the challenge, get involved, Teach First

Number of graduate vacancies: 1260 vacancies across 9 regions in the UK and in Wales.

We place participants in to primary Selection criteria: and secondary schools. If you are • 2.1 degree or above, 300 UCAS points successful at your assessment centre (or equivalent, excluding General you will be made a conditional offer Studies) for the Leadership Development • Have a degree or A-levels that Programme. The subject you teach satisfy our Teaching subject will be based on the needs of our requirements schools and your eligibility.

• Grade C (or equivalent) in GCSE Maths and English (Grade C in one Salary: Science GCSE is also required for Competitive Primary teaching eligibility) Teach First participants are employed, • Flexibility to work anywhere and paid by their primary or secondary within our regions school throughout the two years on the Leadership Development After these minimum requirements, Programme. Salary is dependent on selection is based on your ability to region you are placed in demonstrate relevant subject knowledge and eight competencies.

How the journey develops will be down to the individual, but Teach First will provide the support and the 17

Bechtel

Working for Bechtel is not just a job, it is a career. We care about you and the communities we work in. We help you develop through our NextGen organization to reach your potential. Also, Bechtel support community projects through our Stewardship programme to Build a Better future together.

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What is NextGen? NextGen is focused on the orientation, development and empowerment of employees as they begin and build their careers with Bechtel. NextGen groups focus on three key areas including New Hire Orientation, Professional Development, and Professional Networking.

Who are NextGen members?

NextGen targets those beginning their careers with Bechtel, which includes university hires. All Bechtel employees are welcome and encouraged to become involved with NextGen! How does NextGen help Bechtel?

NextGen provides opportunities for members to develop themselves and network with others throughout Bechtel. NextGen also provides management with a direct means of communication with employees.

Stewardship What is Stewardship?

At Bechtel, building for the future is what we do every day, and our involvement with the communities that surround our projects and offices is a critical component of our work.

As part of Bechtel’s commitment to building people and building a better future, we are focusing on three global platforms: volunteerism, education, and improving the quality of life.

Bechtel has committed to help five global organizations promote education, especially in the science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subjects, and improve the quality of life for people through our engineering and construction skills.

• Engineers Week • Engineers Without Borders

Discover more at: www.bechtel.com 18

• FIRST Robotics • Junior Achievement • Ocean Exploration Trust Who takes part in Stewardship?

Anybody can participate in the Stewardship programme in any way they feel comfortable. Join our AngelPoints portal where you can explore opportunities, sign up, share ideas, and more.

How does Stewardship help Bechtel?

Stewardship helps Bechtel connect with the local community and build lasting relationships in the areas we work all around the globe.

Stewardship also provides a chance for Bechtel to inspire the next generation of engineers to become part of our history and future.

Linklaters

Aspire Competition 2013

In this competition, students were given the opportunity to select their own prizes. We asked you to let us know, in 250 words or fewer, what you aspired to do or to achieve, and to convince us to award you the chosen prize.

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Our Aspire Competition has now closed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thank you to everyone who entered. We were delighted to receive numerous fantastic applications from students, letting us know about their aspirations for themselves and their communities.

The prizes we awarded ranged from digital cameras to document year-abroad programmes to language tuition, contributions to fundraising activities and sponsorship of day trips for children in the community.

For details of winners of the Aspire competition, visit our Facebook page and see our website.

For more information on graduate opportunities with Linklaters, please visit:

www.linklatersgraduates.co.uk 19

BPP Law School

Your ambition realised At BPP, we offer our GDL and LPC students more ways to study.

Whether you attend classes with your dedicated personal tutor face-to-face, participate live online, or watch pre-recorded sessions, you can study whenever and wherever you want.

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Furthermore, if you need funding, we offer exclusive Law Loans, Scholarships and interest free payment plans. (Investec Bank’s Law Loan of up to £25,000 is available exclusively to BPP’s GDL and LPC students.)

We are holding a number of open evenings on the 11 March at many of our BPP locations across the UK, so you can see yourself why we are renowned for our first class teaching. Each event starts at 6pm – 8pm.

BPP’s open evenings are a mixture of presentations, informal discussions and interactive sessions that allow you to have a taste of what law studies are like and speak to practicing legal professionals.

For more information please visit www.bpp.com/events

database to intensive interview coaching. If you are looking to start your GDL or LPC this September, why not guarantee your place with us today.

From the moment you accept your place, until you secure your first legal position, you’ll also benefit from our specialist careers advice, offering everything from a vacancies

For more information please call us on 020 3131 2692. You can email us on bpplawschool@bpp.com or visit our website at www.bpp.com/law

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Make like a March hare – and leg it!

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Softcat

Don’t sit back on your laurels counting your (Easter) eggs and watching the flowers grow. This Spring it’s time to get your jog on! There are hundreds of jobs out there just waiting for the right candidates to bound along. Your task right now is to get ahead of the competition and win the race to your perfect career.

Get cracking with our top tips: • Set yourself achievable targets, e.g. one application per day/ week on top of your other commitments.

• Treat yourself – after every application give yourself a reward. Okay, a trophy might be a bit much, but a celebratory cup of tea and a biscuit or a trip to the pub will reward you for your efforts and psych you up for the next application.

• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and relentlessly pursue that one ‘perfect’ job; you’ll be one hot cross bunny if you don’t get it. Apply for several jobs – this will increase your overall chances of getting an interview, and also give you more practice at writing applications.

• Research companies very carefully before applying – find out where the job is based and what exactly they are looking for before you spend three hours applying for a role, or you could end up wasting a lot of your precious time.

Here at Softcat we embrace the eccentric and the eclectic – bring us all your outrageous March hare enthusiasm and we’ll show you a truly unique workplace culture and give you a kick start to a career you can be proud of.

Careers in London, Manchester and Marlow Softcat is a fast-growing company with a passion for customer service and a commitment to employee satisfaction. If you’re interested in IT sales, you can find out about our graduate programs and upcoming assessment days on our Facebook page, or on Twitter.

Alternatively call 01628 403 408, email: careers@softcat.com or visit our website to apply.

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We love analysing amazing applications Thales

We love investigating the impossibly intractable. We love deciphering the dazzlingly difficult.

And we love unravelling the unrelentingly unknowable. Why? Quite simply, because creating the most ingenious technological systems and innovations is in our business DNA.

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From Software Engineers to Finance, Design Engineers to Business Management, we have a range of opportunities on offer for the brightest graduate talent.

To find out more and apply, visit www.ukgrads.thalesgroup.com Check out our top ten hints & tips below on how to perfect your application. If thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough to whet your appetite, log on to our website for more helpful pointers on how to get ahead.

2. Complete all sections of your application and keep to the word count.

3. Plan and organise your time.

Make sure you prioritise when completing time-limited exercises; allow plenty of time to get to your interview/assessment centre.

4. Think about the skills we are looking for. Look at our competencies and get a feel for the company culture by looking at our core values and the company website.

1. Before completing an application or attending an interview, research 5. Research competency interviews/ the company in detail. Ensure you questions. These are different to know why you are applying to traditional CV based interviews.

Thales and your chosen role.

6. Present yourself in a professional manner at all times.

7. Ask questions, this shows you are keen and means you will have a better idea about our business and whether weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a good fit for you.

8. Familiarise yourself with the role and section of the business you have applied to.

9. If you are going to a technical interview, revise all modules of your degree course.

10. Be confident! We want to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

The assessors are not looking to fail you. If we are inviting you to attend an assessment centre or interview it is because we have seen something that we have liked!

To find out more and apply visit: www.ukgrads.thalesgroup.com 22

Because we have access to the buying and usage habits of 25,000 households in the UK (and some of the biggest consumer panels overseas) we’re the people who provide valuable knowledge to major retailers, manufacturers and city clients.

They already know how valuable our knowledge can be – because we’ve helped hundreds of them to better understand their shoppers’ needs and grow their business.

So we’ll be the first to know the outcome of the ongoing olive, peanut battle, just like we could already tell you in early march that Android is dominating the smartphone market over Apple’s iOS…

Kantar Worldpanel

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Join the company who knows: The olive could soon overtake the peanut

Visit: www.highlydefinedcareers.com to find out more about our world and apply.

We will soon be recruiting our next intake of Graduates for September 2013 (with a selection event in July). So, if you want to be the one to tell our clients about the next big thing, watch this space!!

www.highlydefinedcareers.com www.kantarworldpanel.com 23

Tesco

Spring in to action this March with Tesco… the hibernation is over!

The cold months are almost behind us and we’re looking forward to warmer times!

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Your vacation is almost here, and you’ll be thinking about the “what’s next”… whether that’s your summer plans or your career after university.

Whilst you’re thinking about vacations and the summer, our new Graduates will be thinking about their six month anniversary at Tesco. It will have been an exciting few months for them… learning about their product areas and roles, and starting their leadership training scheme!

Emily is one of our new graduates, working as a Buyer in our Procurement team and has this to say about her first few months at Tesco…

“It was a great experience joining Tesco! The role confused me so much at first so don’t be alarmed if you feel that way too, we all did. It becomes clear and your teams help you along the induction… My tops tips would be to not worry and to relax and enjoy your first few weeks. Get to know your surroundings and the nature of the industry… and use all the resources around you!”

It’s been a whirlwind for Emily and our other graduates, and they’ve all learnt so much in such a short space of time.

We hope that you enjoy your vacation and that your plans for the Summer are falling in to place! We have had a lot of applications for our programmes and so to those of you who have already applied, good luck, and we hope to see you soon!

To find out more visit www.tesco-graduates.com 2242

Rolls-Royce is proud to be sponsoring the Target Jobs Female Undergraduate of the Year award: www.undergraduateoftheyear.com Over the last 6 months, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been searching the best universities in the UK to find the outstanding female undergraduate who possesses the winning mix of personal skills, career motivation and an excellent academic record.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had an outstanding response and are currently selecting our top ten who will be invited to the awards ceremony in Canary Wharf London on 19 April 2013. Here, the winner will be presented with their award and will win a ten-week paid Summer Internship with Rolls-Royce, an exclusive

opportunity to shadow a senior female manager for a day and an Apple iPad. We aim to celebrate their success, whilst inspiring many more female undergraduates and girls in education along the way. Next year, it could be you!

Our commitment to gender diversity

Rolls-Royce

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Rolls-Royce sponsors the: Female Undergraduate of the Year Award

opportunity to maximise their potential in our organisation.

We are dedicated in our efforts to encourage females globally to recognise and fulfil their potential â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not only those interested in engineering and manufacturing but across all disciplines and sectors.

We are keen to help as many future leaders identify their aspirations, set stretch goals and support their efforts in achieving these.

Approximately two thirds of our workforce are employed in Engineering or Manufacturing roles.

In many of the countries where we operate, female representation of these disciplines is inherently low.

We continue to work actively with schools and universities to encourage diversity, and take steps to ensure that females have every

For more information on our internships and graduate programmes, visit: www.rolls-royce.com/earlycareers 25

Accenture

Discover how a career in Accenture Technology Solutions could transform you This very second, every other letter or package posted across the world is being processed using our systems.

It makes you think, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it? It certainly does us.

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Technology is a challenging, inspiring and truly innovative area of our work. From social media and data security to cloud computing and mobile apps, we work with leading edge technologies so that our clients can adapt to change and put ideas into action. It is impressive stuff and all delivered

by Accenture Technology Solutions (ATS).

By joining Accenture Technology Solutions (ATS) you too can play your part in transforming how we live and work.

You will quickly gain the core knowledge you need to design,

build and support high quality solutions across the UK and around the world. Along the way, you will also develop advanced skills in testing and technologies such as Java, Agile, iOs and SAP among others.

We have found that experience is the best teacher and so a lot of your growth will come from getting stuck in to live projects. Of course, you can also rely on getting the training you need, when you need it. That includes a four-week training programme designed to give you a deep insight into particular technologies.

Most graduates join ATS in Software Engineering. However, if you have the skills and we have a business need, we may suggest that you train within our Java Specialisation. To join Accenture Technology Solutions, you will usually need a degree in IT, computer science or a technology-related subject; however, we also take maths, science and engineering graduates who can demonstrate a passion and flair for IT. Technology is only going to become more important to the world and you could be right here making things happen.

Applications are now open; visit accenture.com/ukgraduates to find out more.

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T.K.Maxx

Merchandising & Buying Graduate Programme with TK Maxx – German speakers!

Start our Programme in Düsseldorf in July 2013 and by 2015

The Merchandising & Buying Graduate Programme, like our Off-Price business model, is unconventional and unlike most other retailers. Our programme takes place in the two areas which are at the heart of making our concept work: Merchandising and Buying. Why so different?

We source, plan and buy every day of the year and according to the market. So we must use every ounce of flexibility and fresh thinking we have. Our people are empowered to make their own decisions, even when it comes to spending the Company’s money to get the best deals.

talented Associates to become successful buyers of the future, especially considering the growth potential of our business.

Spending time in our Merchandising function initially affords an understanding of the fundamentals of our business enabling Associates to be well equipped for future roles in both Merchandising and Buying.

It is a structured career path with continuous training and progression opportunities into Merchandising or Buying. At TJX Europe we invest in our graduates, their development and careers. This will lead for some to careers in Merchandising, some in Buying and, ultimately, a potential future in Executive Management.

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you could be spending our money on designer brands…

The opportunities in our German business are growing all the time, just like our store base. With just over 50 stores today, and plans for up to 300 in Germany, this is a great place for ambitious graduates with both German and English language skills to develop their careers.

With over 700 people in the broader TJX Buying organisation and over 15,000 vendors globally it is essential that we identify and develop

Applications are on-going with intakes in July and September 2013. Find out more and apply at : www.tjxeurope.com/careers 27