National award SPONSORS IBM Society of the Year [University of Manchester] www.ibm.com/jobs/uk/graduate
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RPC Event of the Year [Time with Industry - Staffordshire University] www.rpc.co.uk/manifesto
Editor’s letter p3 Making the difference awards p4-5 Students given an equal voice in boosting employability in the UK p6-7
Siemens Collaboration Award [Staffordshire University] www.siemens.co.uk/careers
Graduate business start-ups p8-9 10 reasons why you still don’t have a job p10-11 Questions to ask in an interview p12-13
Advorto Fastest Growing Society [King’s College, London] www.advorto.com
A conversation open, a conversation continued? p14-15 Aspen graduate programme p16-17 The review room p18
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Company profiles p19 p20: T.K.Maxx p21: Softcat p22: Pinsent Masons p23: Teach First p24: KPMG p25: Linklaters p26: Thales p27: Rolls-Royce p28: PwC p29: Bechtel
Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt. William Shakespeare
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Rolls-Royce President of the Year [Chris Milborrow - University of Strathclyde] www.rolls-royce.com/careers
editor's letter This has been a challenging but hugely rewarding month for Bright Futures. We hosted our very first National Employability Conference, entitled ‘The Future for Work: The Student Voice’, seeing over 160 students, employers and career professionals come together to discuss the future of employability. The event was a huge success, but would not have been so without its fair share of blood, sweat and tears putting it together. To end the day on a high, we followed the conference with our Bright Futures Society Awards Dinner. Celebrating the success and achievements of each and every one of our student led societies across the UK, showcasing outstanding talent and the utmost dedication. You can see the award winners on pages 4 & 5 and a summary of the conference on pages 14 & 15. If you want to read the Conference Report and check out the slides and delegate list, then you can find them all on our website here: conference report As we do every month, we have compiled a huge amount of information for you to keep on top of your job hunt and help you to secure your dream career or placement. Not sure what questions to ask at the end of an interview? We have 21 great suggestions to choose from. Considering setting up your own business? Matthew Maxwell tells us why you should do it now. Struggling to grasp why you aren’t having any luck getting a job? We share the top 10 reasons why you’ve been unsuccessful so far. Our employers this month have loads of great stuff to offer you too. Softcat talk about the ‘work hard, play hard’ ethic. Pinsent Masons take the strain off gaining commercial awareness whilst studying for your exams. All is not lost for KPMG’s graduate and summer internship opportunities for 2013. Are you a first year law undergraduate? Linklaters has a two-day ‘Pathfinder’ programme on offer. It has been announced that Rolls-Royce have been voted the most popular engineering graduate recruiter – find out why inside. And Bechtel offering you 5 top tips to your CV. And that’s not all, we also have articles from PwC, Teach First, and Thales! Now flip on through to the other pages and send us your feedback when you’re done! Better yet, write your own articles or reviews and send them to society@brightfutures.co.uk Over and Out!
Jackie HirEd Editor www.brightfutures.co.uk
e-zine
*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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Making the Difference Awards Dinner
Bright Futures empowers students to drive their own employability to stand out in the competitive job market; this is done via the largest network of career-focused student-led societies in over 50 universities across the UK. Sponsored by over 40 of UK’s top FTSE companies, Bright Futures also enables employers to target & recruit the best intern & graduate talent. Our ‘Making the Difference’ Awards Conference celebrates the success and efforts of each and every one of our societies, from newcomers to the fully established. Our societies run in excess of 250 events for students each year, with each event bringing employers into contact with the strongest student talent & seeking to ‘make a difference’ for the career prospects of the students who take part. This year’s awards night took place at Aston Villa Football Club, with special thanks to our sponsors for helping to make the event happen: Thales, Centrica, IBM, RPC, Siemens, Advorto, and Rolls Royce.
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With special thanks to our sponsors
Winners of this year’s awards are: Society of the Year
President of the Year
Congratulations to Manchester Bright Futures for winning Society of the Year sponsored by IBM. Their presentation won them the Investors vote with their dedication, innovation, and ability to drive through any challenges that faced them.
President of the Year, sponsored by Rolls Royce, went to Christopher Milborrow from Strathclyde Bright Futures. The award was given for his dedication and passion for driving the society at Strathclyde and Nationally, his communication and professionalism, along with his leadership ability and innovation, plus his eagerness to support new ventures and other societies beyond his own.
Fastest Growing Kings College, London secured the award for the fastest growth rate of any society across the UK with very 300% growth from last academic year, taken from members officially registered with Bright Futures. This award was kindly sponsored by Advorto.
Event of the Year It was a very tight competition for Event of the Year, sponsored by RPC, with Staffordshire only just clinching it in the votes made from their presentation on the night. Their event, Time with Industry, is a scheme forged to provide week long work experience opportunities for students within local businesses. Its success has seen the scheme taken on by the Business School to develop and make compulsory for students on business courses next academic year.
Collaboration Award This award represents our strong message that society collaboration with careers services, academic departments, other societies and more, is absolutely essential. Staffordshire scooped up this award for building fantastic and consistent relationships, most importantly their Business School which is now implementing one of their events within the curriculum. This award was kindly sponsored by Siemens.
Diversity Award Aston secured the award for the most diverse membership, taking into consideration gradation year, course and gender, as well as the breadth of careers they have covered throughout their events.
Newcomer of the Year London South Bank University clinched the award over a large number of other new societies after a great year building the foundation required to take the society to the next level, ensuring a great relationship built with the national team and continuity planned to ensure the continued success of the society in years to come.
Investor of the Year Bright Futures offers this award to the client who has stood out during the academic year through their innovation, dedication, their consistent communication with our societies and the national team, along with eagerness to get involved in new and exciting initiatives. This year the award goes to PwC for the second year running.
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Students given an equal voice in boosting employability in UK At Bright Futures we are firm believers that collaboration is the key to success. Bringing 160 like-minded individuals who all share one key aim is exactly what we did on Thursday 18th April – it was an employability conference with a difference – seeking to expose the employability agenda to all forces and shape it to meet the demands of the future workforce. Those forces were employers, careers professionals and most significantly, the students themselves. We pride ourselves in empowering students to take responsibility of their own future and supporting them to develop the key skills they need to succeed beyond education and in their careers. To do this, we work with employers who are eager to gain access to the most passionate, dedicated and talented students, as well as encouraging our students to connect with their Careers Service to offer a double-pronged approached to boosting career-awareness on campus. Many employability conferences are focused on just one of the key parties banging their heads together to decide what the outlook is for our leaders of the future. But rarely do we find these groups coming together in one place, at one time. So on the 18th we absolutely made the most of it. Over 160 attendees were given leading edge insights from keynotes delivered by TomorrowToday, Alexander Mann Solutions and CIHE/NCUB, covering topical subjects such as “Global Skills” and “Embracing the Working Revolution”. This powerful content was complimented by cross-sector panel debates of entrepreneurs, Managing Directors, students and subject experts, along with interactive mixed-table discussions and video footage from students saying what skills they have to bring to the workplace of the future.
This is what our delegates had to say: “This event definitely exceeded my expectations and has provided me with a great opportunity to get my ideas across a number of employers and careers services” “It allowed me to understand that employability goes past the work place and a good candidate doesn’t have to be driven by qualifications – that’s reassuring!” “Great presentations, excellent content and visuals, with both compelling and interesting speakers” “An excellent venue, well organised and a well run event with just the right mix of talk and discussion” “I have such a lot to change, the student were amazing! How do I raise other students to this level?!” Find out more about the powerful messages raised at the conference, head to the website to download your copy of the conference report. This will outline key recommendations of what you should be doing to stand out in the ever competitive and changing workplace. www.brightfutures.co.uk
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After graduation, the traditional career path is to look for a traditional career. However, working for someone else is not the only option, and starting a business is (and always has been) a potentially fantastic choice. It’s not for everyone of course, but the sense of freedom and enjoyment that can be gained through working for yourself, and on your own business challenges rather than someone else’s, can be huge. There are, of course, plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t be flying solo just yet: often setting up a business can cost a good amount of money for travel, equipment, telephone bills, manufacture, accounting, maybe a second employee; a classic problem for start-ups is proving the company’s reliability and quality when neither the business of the founder has much experience behind them to convince clients; the salary you can command from your own start-up is typically negligible in the first year or two and is often variable even when money does start to come in; compared to a guaranteed, fixed salary from a graduate-job salary this can seem unattractive, especially when friends and peers begin to look at finding a house or are searching the car market... the list against setting up a business seemingly grows whenever you think about becoming an entrepreneur. Add to this the hours you have to put in covering all business roles and the quantity of work you have to churn out, working on your own to make your own business successful, and you can understand why the traditional career is the only option in many a graduate’s eyes. But, speak to any 9-to-5 office worker, and they´ll give you plenty of reasons to start-up, and start soon. For me, personally, the single biggest advantage would be choosing, every day, where to work. Want to share a house in Birmingham with your uni mates after graduation? No problem. Fancy spending January at home in Exeter to help dad finish the Christmas turkey? Visiting your sister on Erasmus for two weeks? It’s your call. As long as you can still put
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in the working hours, you can spend your free time literally anywhere with an internet connection and mobile coverage. The mobile and cloud technologies exist for bosses to de-anchor employees from the office, but when you’re your own boss, you’re guaranteed the answer you want, and with a lot less bureaucracy. Corporations have proved them slow to adopt genuine remote working. But there’s also the strategy and strategic decisions that you get to make. You’ve no unintended incentive to chase; you’re not chasing short-term points or scorecards. You’re trying to build something that potential clients will want, and will pay for. That’s different to a company training scheme which will often simply train you to use the company’s software and processes. Start to take a longer-term view and it becomes clearer that if ever you were going to start a business, immediately after graduation is not a bad time to do it. Naturally, the practicalities will depend on the type of business, the business model, and the industry. But what is undeniably true is that one of the few times you can afford to earn a negligible salary is when you have little or no liabilities (mortgages, loans, families,
have had is huge and admittedly rare, but the extra experience you gain and the executive contacts you make as the head of a successful start-up will propel you far higher up the management tree than any graduate program will. The key is picking a suitable business. Do a SWOT analysis. For instance, a consultancy business run by an inexperienced graduate may not easily gain traction unless it consults in a highly specialised area. But that specialism could be good knowledge of a specific area and its market, of a foreign language, of a specific skill such as photography, or of the student market (you have just been immersed in this market for the last 3+years after all). These are qualities that other experienced consultants may not be able to match. pensions) that you want to be paying and when you don’t have to take a significant pay cut. After graduation fits this bill perfectly. You will also learn a lot about how to find out what the market wants, and how to talk to clients and network, both verbally and through marketing. These are transferable skills that will always serve you well if you decide to move into a career with another company later on. A failed business, if you can demonstrate what it’s improved about your profile to a potential employer, will make you more employable than before you started. You’ll actually be in a better position as a graduate after learning from an unsuccessful start-up. That may not be true if a business set up in your 50’s fails. And there’s every chance that after a few harsh lessons in business, and a few troughs as well as peaks, that the business will indeed take off. And when a business takes off, it takes the start-up’s leaders with it. Extreme cases are Mark Zuckerburg (Facebook), Andy Mason (Groupon) and Melissa Meyer (Yahoo! CEO at 37, who saw her management credentials grow as Google grew – she was an early Google employee). The success these companies
It’s also very important to minimise costs; don’t be exuberant. The success of your start-up will not depend on having the latest iPad – a low-range laptop would suffice. Utilise low cost technologies such as Skype, try flexible rented office space or simply work from home to avoid rent completely, use a professional template website rather than an all-bellsand-whistles website, and save as much money as you possibly can to make sure you can afford to get in front of clients. Above all, enjoy it and learn for yourself how the business works. That’s what will be valuable both to a future employer and to your business’ future success. So consider the option. You may not find the idea appealing, or you may have already decided to go into an industry in which a start-up after graduation would not be as strong as it would be after a few years experience. It may be that you’re looking for more stability to start with. However, if you are interested in one day being your own boss and running your own operation, now could well be the best time to do it.
Written by Matthew Maxwell @mattmaxw
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Why am I still jobless? This is something that many students ponder about endlessly and struggle to move beyond. Here are a few very simple reasons that could be holding you back: 1. You aren’t utilising your network It’s thought around 70% of the job market is hidden i.e. not advertised. So who is filling all these hidden vacancies? Well, they are scooped up by people who have taken the initiative to network or apply directly to the company they want to work for, all in hope that they have a suitable vacancy ready for them to walk right into. 2. You don’t interview well It’s easier said than done and nerves can get the better of even the most prepared candidate. At the end of the day practice makes perfect, so get someone to test you when you least expect it and prepare answers to typical questions as if you were rehearsing for a show in the West End. Make sure you are dressed appropriately, you’ve done your research, you aren’t chewing gum and you don’t argue with your interviewer.
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3. You haven’t got a clue You don’t know what to do with yourself, so your applications are a bit haphazard. You aren’t really sure of your skills, your strengths and interests so you don’t know which jobs would suit you. Many students are in the same boat – experience is the best way to identify more of you. Pop to your careers service to see if you can do a few mini taster work placements (1-2 weeks) sign up to do a few days of volunteering here and there and try out some online skills test. Prospects and AllAboutCareers.com have great ones. 4. You’re applying to everything Most students make the fatal error of thinking “the more I apply to the better chance I’ll have of getting one of them”. It’s not true. The more you apply to, the less effort you’ll be putting in to each application and therefore you won’t get shortlisted. Check that you’re not punching above your weight too by applying for jobs you aren’t qualified for. There’s a general rule of thumb – if you don’t have at least 60% of the qualifications called for, don’t apply. You are wasting both your time and theirs. 5. You aren’t following instructions As tedious as application forms can be, it is important to read all the questions and instructions thoroughly. If you can’t follow the simplest of instructions then you aren’t going to get the job. Don’t rush it and check, check and check again. 6. You don’t have the right attitude If you come across as being a bit arrogant or having a generally bad attitude, then you’ll be lucky to get beyond interview. It’s important to be confident but don’t overdo it and come across cocky. Be passionate, positive and interested. 7. You talk too much Nerves can give your mouth the runs and cloud your brain from thinking clearly. If there is a pause, don’t use it as an opening to talk more. State your point and stop. Consider using the STAR technique to give your answers structure. End. 8. You’re just unprepared If you haven’t done your research on the company, don’t even bother going to the interview. Get your smart phone out and get Googling. Don’t just look on their website either, check out the news too and their competitors too – have they been up to anything new? Have they launched a new function? Have they entered a new country/opened a new store? Do you know someone that works there? – ask them for information. 9. You’re procrastinating When you know you have a tough task to do it can sometimes be easier to do it tomorrow. Yet tomorrow never comes. Then sure enough, the days and the weeks fly by until you find you’ve graduated, you’ve got no job and you have no idea where to start. START NOW! Even if it is just a tiny step at a time, searching for opportunities, signing up to job sites, listing some closing dates so you can schedule them in accordingly. 10. You’re accident prone You keep sending off the same CV and the same answers to different companies, littered with errors you only notice after you’ve hit the send button. You’re also guilty of accidently forgetting to change the name of the company you’re sending your application to. Epic fail.
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The most disappointing thing for any recruiter is having a great interview and the candidate to turn away without asking any questions. You may think THANK GOD IT’S OVER and run for the door, BUT you must battle through until the very end. This is your chance to really explore the company and find out exactly what you need to know about the job role in order to make the right decision for you. An interview is as much about you interviewing them as it is about them interviewing you. So be armed with a big list of relevant questions that you can ask your interviewer at the appropriate time (not all the questions below will be suitable).
1. Can you describe a typical day or week in the job?
Don’t be afraid to notes throughout questions afterwa and helps you stri covered and leave
questions to clinch
12. If you are happy to disclose, I would be eage interviewing more people for this position.
2. What is the scope for progress and promotion within the company? 3. What kind of work will I be responsible for over the next year/ throughout my programme?
13. Will the job involve any travelling? If so, how expenses be covered?
14. What is the social atmosphere of the workp 4. In your opinion, and considering my responsibilities, what is the most company run any social activities for staff to important attribute or achievement you would like to see from me and skills development? within my role/trial period/internship? 15. Would you like a list of references or any ad 5. How many people work in the team? What are their job roles? information from me? Who reports to whom? 16. Does the company offer anything in terms o 6. Will I be expected to work unsociable hours or at the weekend? development training and progression? How implemented and monitored? 7. If the job is in a brand new department, find out the reason for establishing the department, their objectives and what the plans 17. How does the company reward or recognise for growth are. and excellence? 8. How will my performance be measured? 9. If you ask the above do prompt to cover appraisals and performance reviews – how often? Will they be tied to pay increases or bonuses? Who conducts the appraisal? 10. Can you describe your ideal employee? 11. What skills and experience would you say are necessary for someone to succeed in this job?
18. What are the company’s plans for the future business goals?
19. Will my role be limited to what has been ou description or will I be expected to take on a responsibilities as needed? If so, to what ex being the case?
20. When are you looking for someone to start? 21. When can I expect to hear from you?
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A conversation open, a conversation continued? Bright Futures ‘The Future for Work’ Conference, Thursday 18th April If you were to ask for feedback from students who attended a conference geared towards discussing the employment agenda, you’d probably be pretty happy with this feedback: ‘An opportunity to network with employers I would otherwise not have had the chance to meet.’ ‘A yearly gathering of like-minded people, gaining insights on how to become future leaders.’ However, ‘The Future for Work’ Conference achieved something far more than just engaging students in activity to increase their employability; it gave students the opportunity to understand the landscape of employability from those who create it. For me, the conference broke down barriers; between students and recruiters, recruiters and careers services, careers services and their students.
President of the Year 2013 Chris Milborrow University of Strathclyde
By offering a backdrop to conversations through excellent key note speakers on how the technological age is changing the graduate skill set, how global skills are becoming ever more important and how university demographics can affect career choice, it enabled us to full use of the discussion tables. Each table had representatives from different parties, tackling tough questions including; how we engage students early about becoming employable, how employers can attract the right talent and how students can develop in order to fulfil employer expectations. As a student, it was refreshing to hear the views of my peers being recognised by professionals as knowledge sharing took priority over industry experience and any hierarchy took a back seat. Students acknowledged that ‘A degree used to be your employability. Now you need to do far more.’ and ‘If you’re not going above and beyond, you’re behind.’ I can imagine those in industry being relieved that the students in the room understood the landscape, engaged in discussion to understand the challenges, and realised that getting a job isn’t easy, but most importantly were asking how to overcome them. These sentiments were shared as we presented our discussions, our debates and our answers to the prompted questions, our responses
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were complimented by student and employer interviews presented via two videos. There was also a panel of experts who shared their own insights to a variety of challenging employability related questions, finalising the day with informal networking and some final thoughts. And that’s the end, I suppose? That’s what happens at these things, isn’t it?
Personally, I really hope not! What the Bright Futures Conference did was opened up a conversation that should remain open. Some of the actions that came from this discussion were not only productive, but very timely as graduate jobs become more and more competitive. This conference was a breath of fresh air; engaging the applicant, the recruiter and the facilitator in the debate. ‘How do we attract the right talent?’ ‘How do we become more employable?’ ‘How do we gear our students up for work?’ These questions aren’t to be pondered inside the four walls of our independent office, they have to be shared and collaborated on. Discussion focused on ‘attitude’, at all levels, and what this day did was allow us all to effectively and successfully communicate which attitudes we need to drive forward the discussion of how students can become more employable. What summed up the conference for me is when Keith Holdt from ‘TomorrowToday’ explained that we are in an era where we ask ‘Why?’ Like the school kid who gets bad grades, we now blame the teacher and not the child. Students too are now asking ‘Why didn’t we get the job?’ , ‘Why aren’t we employable?’. This isn’t because we’re angry or bitter, but because we want to ensure we can learn and develop. Only by engaging with those who sit on the other side of the desk, can we begin to help provide our peers with the knowledge and experiences that will make them work-ready. The last slide was about ACTION and as a result of the conference, I’ll be engaging more with those who employ. I’ll be continuing to provide guidance, not only using my own experiences, but from the wisdom of those who interview, who assess and who hire; what will this conference inspire you to do?
Written by Chris Milborrow | University of Strathclyde | @ChrisMilborrow
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Aspen Graduate Programme Underwriting Chris Baddeley Tom Waples Tom Lewis I was recently delighted to be offered a job at Aspen Re as an Underwriting Graduate. Although the process was certainly long and challenging, Bright Futures were extremely helpful throughout. Having applied to many graduate jobs, I have dealt with a fair few recruitment consultants. Bright Futures were really easy to talk to and genuinely seemed to want to make the process as clear and transparent as possible. The questions asked in the written application, over the telephone and on the assessment day were all sensible and pertinent to the role, rather than deliberately awkward or trying to catch you out. In particular Bright Futures gave me thorough and useful feedback at every stage of the application, which I am 100% sure helped me secure the job.
Actuarial Joy Onah Daniel Bagguley Mark Hewitt I would just like to say that I cannot thank everyone
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at Bright Futures enough for making my application, interview and assessment experience an extremely pleasant and enjoyable one. I would also like to comment on the helpfulness and friendliness of the Bright Futures staff who kept me well updated and were only too happy to help with any questions I had throughout the entire process. I am absolutely delighted that I have been offered a job as a trainee actuary at a company as exciting as Aspen and I cannot wait to start my career and this new chapter of my life with them.
Risk Management Dolu Ilori The best thing that happened to me this year (at least so far) was getting the graduate scheme with Aspen Insurance. I remember sitting in a crowded bus, tears running down my cheeks after the ‘CALL’ from HR saying I had gotten the offer. I was flabbergasted, I was excited and I was a little bit puzzled that they had chosen ME!! I remember I kept saying ‘thank you Kate, thank you Kate’ over and over again during the ‘CALL’. It was only a few hours and one email later that I realized it wasn’t ‘Kate’ that had called me (what a blunder! thank goodness, I had gotten the offer already). You see, Kate was the Bright Futures representative assigned to me during the recruitment process.
She was the one that said my application was being considered. It was her voice that was on the other end of the line inviting me for a telephone interview when the time came. It was her straightforward manner of carefully explaining the process without giving too much away that encouraged and motivated me throughout the process. I remember especially enjoying the telephone interview with Bright Futures, the interviewee asked the relevant questions but in such a manner that made me confident and relaxed enough to answer the questions without pressure. Fast forward a few weeks later and yet again it was Kate calling to remind me not to miss my assessment centre appointment. A few days before the assessment centre, I went on the Bright Futures website and I was amazed at the wealth of information on it. Luckily, there was a blog post and an e-zine article particularly devoted to assessment centres. I remember jotting down a few tips and adding them to my ‘to-do’ and ‘not-to-do’ list - they came in really handy at the assessment centre. When I finally got yet another call from Kate saying I had done well at the assessment centre but Aspen had requested one more interview, I wasn’t particularly excited. I remember Kate asking if she thought it was ‘good or bad news’ - she probably sensed how tired I was - and she said ‘you’ve got this far, just give it your best shot’ and that gave me that last blast of encouragement I needed.
We would like to congratulate the following graduates for securing positions on the Aspen Graduate Programme stating in September 2013. Bright Futures received an unprecedented number of applications to screen and interview and we are absolutely delighted for those that have been through a huge amount of assessment to get their dream jobs!
I remember thinking during the recruitment process that if I ever needed help getting a job, then Bright Futures was the way to go for me. I can’t begin to say how grateful I am to Kate, to Bright Futures, to Aspen.... I’m immensely grateful to everyone that made this opportunity possible for me.
knew exactly what tasks I was going to undertake during the process and felt prepared. It was then up to me to ensure I conducted all tasks and interviews to the best of my ability. I immediately felt at ease when I walked into Aspens office as everyone was very friendly and encouraging.
rewarding and I was very pleased when two days later I got a call offering me the job!
Finance Hana Fitzpatrick Sam Tye
Internal Audit
Capital Modelling
Rachel Burns My experience with Bright Futures has been extremely positive; through my application to internal audit at Aspen. The first stage of the process required me to submit an application and answer a number of questions; both competency based and on my knowledge of Aspen. I felt the process was seamless and I received a quick response from Bright Futures informing me I had passed to the next stage.
Mark Holliman Bright Futures were incredibly comforting throughout the application procedure. They gave me helpful advice and kept me calm through my first ever interview and assessment centre. Without them I really think my nerves would have got to me. Bright Futures were also great at keeping in touch and reminding me of the times and dates for different parts of the application procedure.
The second stage was a telephone interview, where Kate from Bright Futures made me feel at ease and answered all my questions on Aspens specific industry lines. I found out that I had progressed through to the assessment centre right away and was thrilled with how fast the application process was moving.
IT
Bright Futures told me everything I needed to know about my assessment centre at Aspen, which was the last stage of the process. I
Kassel Charlemagne Since I started University, I had always heard that a graduate scheme was the best avenue for career progression – especially within my field of IT. One company stood out to me from all the others – Aspen. They offered an extremely attractive graduate scheme specifically tailored to IT. The recruitment process was challenging but extremely
Alison Lawrance The process of applying to Aspen was straightforward. After filling in an online application (with competency based questions), a telephone interview followed. The recruitment interviewer was genuinely interested in me as a person, my aims and ambitions. After this interview, I was enthused that this was a company that would fit my training and development needs, while I would be able to make a worthwhile contribution. This enthusiasm was confirmed on the assessment day, with senior staff from Aspen. The assessment day was based around competency questions in a structured interview, along with group tasks. The venue was Aspen’s great central London office, bright, light with modern artwork. A few of us were then called back to a final interview. All in all, a company with a sincere interest in understanding potential employees. Roll on September!
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Fantastical
Shazam
Sky Scanner
Platforms: Apple
Platforms: Apple, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry
Platforms: Apple, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry
If you’re an Apply lover, this app allows you to manage your schedule better than ever, with the ability to sync it with both your iPhone and your Mac. Intuitive and easy to set up events, invite people from your contact list and use voice activation to create new entries. It recognises the location of your events so you always know where to go. Ditch the old school diary and use Fantastical to write up all your meeting notes too.
Have you ever been in a car, a shop or a nightclub and heard a great tune but don’t have a clue who it is? Well those days are over, with Shazam if you hear a song you like (or if you’re trying to cheat in a pub quiz) just hold your phone up to the music or TV and within seconds loads of information will be displayed, such as the name of the track and the artist, the lyrics, any videos, exclusive content and more! You can even buy the track straight from the app if you like it that much.
After being one of the fastest growing social media sites to date, the developers have finally made a Pinterest app across multiple mobile platforms. So, if you haven’t got it already, it comes highly recommended. It has a pin-board style interface which enables you to post images, links, quotes, recipes... pretty much anything you want to share. You can re-pin other people’s posts too, find out useful information, and create your very own pin boards of the stuff you love.
Price: £2.99 Website: www.flexibits.com
Price: FREE Website: www.shazam.com
Price: FREE Website: www.skyscanner.net
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T.K.Maxx
Merchandising & Buying Graduate Programme with TK Maxx! Start our Programme in Dßsseldorf in July 2013 and by 2015 you could be spending our money on designer brands‌
company profile
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.
develop 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.
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
Applications are on-going with intakes in July and September 2013. Find out more and apply at : www.tjxeurope.com/careers 20
Softcat
Work hard, play hard
We believe that working hard and having fun goes hand in hand; happy employees work harder, a fact proven by our extremely high levels of employee and customer satisfaction, and our year on year revenue growth. From the day you start we ensure you feel welcome and ‘looked after’. We make sure you feel comfortable and competent with all the technology you’ll be selling by providing you with thorough, industry-recognised training. In return for your hard work, we will provide you with a host of fantastic incentives and benefits, from paid
nights out to trips abroad – last year we sent our sales team to Hawaii. What’s more, we don’t cap commission so the sky really is the limit – you get back what you put in. Career progression is there for the taking for those who want it; work hard and your manager will notice: it’s as simple as that.
company profile
Do you subscribe to the ‘work hard, play hard’ ethic? IT reseller Softcat does – and with good reason. We spend around a third of our time at work, so it’s really important that we enjoy our jobs.
If you’re a ‘work hard, play hard’ kind of person and you like the sound of our various perks and benefits, send your CV to careers@softcat.com
We’ve also designed bright, funky workplaces to create a fun and welcoming work culture, with quirky designs and vivid murals painted around the offices. One office even has a wall-to-wall X-box experience for employees!
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. 21
Pinsent Masons
Let others take the strain for you at revision time. It can be difficult making the time to keep up-to-date with what is going on in the business world when you are also studying for exams; submitting dissertations and holding down a part-time job. But for those of you who want to enter the corporate world it is essential that you can develop your commercial awareness.
company profile
So how can you try to reduce the time spent on this task, without compromising on your own personal development? Work as a team - Split different publications and websites amongst your friends and then agree to meet up once a week to compare notes and discuss what you have been following. Quality not quantity - While it is important to ensure you get a balanced view of the issues don’t think you need to know everything. Employers prefer you to be able to show depth of understanding in some areas rather than a shallow understanding of everything.
Let the news come to you - By using Google news alerts, reading corporate blogs and following twitter feeds you can stay focused on the key developments relating to the companies and industries that interest you. If a company posts a link to an article they obviously think it is worth reading! Little but often - Using the above techniques should allow you to remain commercially aware despite only setting aside 2-3 hours per week. Avoid trying to cram all your learning into the fortnight before an interview. It might work for your exams but it tends not to when it is your commercial acumen that is under scrutiny! Good Luck!
www.pinsentmasons.com BLOG (click here) www.out-law.com
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Pinsent Masons are currently recruiting for trainee solicitors looking to commence a training contract in September 2015. Applications should be made online prior to the deadline of 31 July 2013 at: www.pinsentmasons.com/graduate
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. How the journey develops will be down to the individual, but Teach First will provide the support and the 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. We still have vacancies for STEM students to start in September 2013. Selection criteria: • 2.1 degree or above, 300 UCAS points (or equivalent, excluding General Studies) • Have a degree or A-levels that satisfy our Teaching subject requirements • Grade C (or equivalent) in GCSE Maths and English (Grade C in one Science GCSE is also required for Primary teaching eligibility) • Flexibility to work anywhere within our regions
available for STEM students. We place participants in to primary and secondary schools. If you are successful at your assessment centre you will be made a conditional offer for the Leadership Development Programme. The subject you teach will be based on the needs of our schools and your eligibility.
company profile
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
Salary: Competitive Teach First participants are employed, and paid by their primary or secondary school throughout the two years on the Leadership Development Programme. Salary is dependent on region and school you are placed in.
After these minimum requirements, selection is based on your ability to demonstrate relevant subject knowledge and eight competencies. How to apply: To apply for Teach First you will need to register interest and fill in an online application form Number of graduate vacancies: 1290 vacancies across 9 regions in the UK and in Wales. Vacancies still 23
It’s not too late! KPMG
Are you yet to secure a 2013 summer internship or autumn graduate role?
company profile
Are you yet to secure a 2013 summer internship or autumn graduate role? Although we are almost full, it’s not too late to bag a job at one of the country’s leading graduate employers. KPMG still have a last few 2013 opportunities in Audit, Tax and Consultancy at a range of locations across the UK.
We recruit on a first-come first-serve basis so beat the rush and apply as soon as possible before we close all our 2013 routes.
CLICK HERE TO SEARCH AND APPLY FOR ALL OPPORTUNITIES All the best KPMG
To find out more, go to www2.kpmgcareers.co.uk/graduates/
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This year, we ran one Pathfinder scheme in March and another in April, to introduce our culture and work, develop team-working and networking skills and enhance students’ commercial thinking. Each student also undertook two micro-shadowing sessions to observe the work of our trainees and associates and
company profile
We are always looking to attract exceptional people at the earliest possible stage so we introduced our ‘Pathfinder’ programme, which provides a two-day insight for first year law undergraduates to gain a real insight into a career in a global law firm.
Linklaters
‘Pathfinder’ insight scheme
to find out more about life in a leading commercial law firm. We met a fantastic group of students from a wide range of universities and very much enjoyed hosting the scheme.
Visit our Facebook page or visit our website.
www.linklatersgraduates.co.uk
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Thales
As a major engineering and technology company, our work touches all of our lives – every single day.
company profile
From BACS, the secure network communications system behind 3.7 billion secure electronic transactions every year, to in-flight entertainment systems for passenger planes and state-of-the-art equipment for military aircraft, the scope and scale of our problem-solving abilities knows no bounds. To watch a short video about who we are and what we do, click here: ukgrads.thalesgroup.com We have graduate jobs, placements and internships on offer for students just like you. These roles range from Systems and Software Engineering to Cyber Security Practitioner and Research & Development Engineer. A snapshot of one our roles can be seen below. Systems Engineer In systems engineering we start by capturing user needs before designing systems that meet our
clients’ requirements. This means you could get involved in anything from high-level system design and producing test requirements to writing system test schedules and investigating and analysing faults. You’ll also get the opportunity to see through a complete project over its entire lifecycle. It’s a chance to make a real difference and take on some heavyweight responsibility early on in your career. What’s more, you’ll get to do different work every day, as you’ll move around different projects and have the flexibility to state which projects you’d like to work on.
producing new cockpit systems to redesigning Watchkeeper, an unmanned aerial vehicle, to sell to another country. Find out more about this role and all of our other graduate jobs and internships at ukgrads.thalesgroup.com But hurry, we work on rolling deadlines so once the roles are filled we won’t reopen this year. Our next deadline is Friday 17th May.
We’re looking for people who can complement their engineering or science background with strong IT skills. You’ll also need to be a problem solver and be able to appreciate things from our customers’ viewpoint. Variety and challenge is on offer here in equal measure – from
To find out more and apply visit: www.ukgrads.thalesgroup.com 2262
Rolls-Royce was voted the most popular engineering graduate recruiter in a survey completed by over 23,000 students from over 100 Universities in the UK. Actor and comedian Rob Brydon presented the ‘Most Popular Graduate Recruiter – Engineering, Design and Manufacture’ award to the Rolls-Royce graduate recruitment team at the 2013 TARGETjobs Awards Ceremony held in London. Andrew Deighton, Rolls-Royce, Head of Early Career Pipeline said: “We are delighted to have been selected by students as the most popular engineering, design and manufacturing recruiter. Like many high tech companies, Rolls-Royce relies on a strong pipeline of science and engineering talent to support the growth objectives of the company. With the graduate market becoming more competitive for both the candidates applying for roles and the organisations
looking to attract the top talent it is important that companies like ours continue to reach out to students and highlight the opportunities a career in engineering can bring.”
rotate around the business during their programme and are offered a number of training and development opportunities around the world.
Two graduates and one apprentice from Rolls-Royce were also recognised at the TARGETjobs Awards Ceremony. James Gyves and Sarah Hunt were finalists in the Rising Star category and Charlotte Chetwyn was a finalist for the Apprentice of the Year award. RollsRoyce was also named as a finalist for the Innovation on Campus Award and for Best School-leaver Programme.
For more information on graduate and apprenticeship opportunities at Rolls-Royce, please see our careers website: www.rolls-royce.com/earlycareers
Rolls-Royce
company profile
ROLLS-ROYCE VOTED MOST POPULAR ENGINEERING GRADUATE RECRUITER.
In 2012 Rolls-Royce recruited 312 graduates, from 89 universities, in 36 countries including the UK, USA, Norway, Germany and Singapore. Graduates are recruited for a number of business areas ranging from Engineering to HR to Customer Management. Rolls-Royce graduates
www.rolls-royce.com/earlycareers 27
Summer Internship opportunities with PwC – 2013
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. That’s why opportunities are at the heart of a career with us.
company profile
Our offer to you… Experience what it’s like to be part of the world’s leading professional services network and enjoy the benefits that come with that. You’ll work directly with big name clients where you’ll get to grips with the value they’re looking for by getting into the detail. We’ll provide an environment where you’ll be able to explore new opportunities, to help you grow and find your niche. And we’ll give you access to be best learning and development around. Our Summer Internship If you’re in your penultimate year, build your skills and your confidence by working alongside specialists in your chosen business area for six weeks (eight weeks for management consulting) during the summer. You could also be in the final year of an undergraduate degree with a one year postgraduate degree place
confirmed. Either way, you could go back to university with a firm graduate job offer. What you’d do On our programme, you’ll experience work and life at PwC, and gain a valuable insight into our business and culture. We have internship opportunities in the same business areas as our graduate training programmes: • Actuarial • Assurance • Tax • Technology Whichever business area you choose, you’ll get a real taste of life at the heart of the firm, working alongside graduate trainees and experienced professionals on live and interesting client projects. You’ll be doing real work on real clients so be prepared to get stuck in.
Web: www.pwc.com/uk/careers Connect with us: www.facebook.com/PwCCareersUK Follow us: www.twitter.com/PwC_UK_Careers 2282
What you need to bring us • On course for a 2.1 or above in any degree discipline • A UCAS tariff of at least 300 (or equivalent)* *Or at least 280 for Forensic Technology Solutions, and at least 320 for Actuarial.
Bechtel
At Bechtel we believe in the quality of our products and the quality of our relationships.
Five CV tips: 1. Begin with a personal profile (2/3 sentences) about yourself, current situation and future aspirations. 2. Use bullet points to make sure the content is clear, concise and relevant. 3. Tailor your CV to the industry and company you are applying to & emphasise your relevant skills and experiences. 4. Include all the jobs and work experiences you have had. Each show you have learnt a new skill. 5. Remember when writing your CV you are marketing yourself to that particular company.
Five Interview tips: 1. Be prepared – research the role you are interviewing for and research the company. Not only check out the company’s website but check out their Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter pages for up to date news. 2. Dress appropriately – Make sure you look smart, presentable & appropriate for the industry you are applying to. It is better to arrive a little overdressed than underdressed. 3. Answering difficult questions – Read your CV and prepare a response for each experience and skillset you have identified. Get others to look through as well to help you identify any gaps.
company profile
What qualities can Bechtel find in your CV? What qualities will Bechtel discover in your interview?
4. Body language – Be confident, enthusiastic and speak clearly. Listen carefully to the questions, do not interrupt the interviewer and take your time. 5. Saying goodbye – Thank the interviewer at the end of the interviewer, reiterate your interest in the position and remember to take any company brochures they gave you during the interview!
Find out why and how Bechtel emphasises quality in its projects at: www.bechtel.com
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