What skills do you need to succeed? ASHURST SHARE THEIR TOP TIPS FOR GETTING A TRAINING CONTRACT IN LAW
FIND OUT WHAT TESCO LOOK FOR IN STUDENTS How to succeed in video interviews
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF NEXT YEAR AT UNIVERSITY
WHY SHOULD I DO A PLACEMENT YEAR?
Hear from Santander graduates about their first year on the job | Company profiles
CONTENTS
NATIONAL AWARD SPONSORS
Page 3
Lloyds Banking Group Society of the Year [Strathclyde Bright Futures]
Welcome from the team
Page 4/5 The skills you need to succeed Page 6
Develop your skills with help from Accenture
Page 7
Ashurst’s top tips for applying for a training contract
Page 8
How to make the most out of next year
Page 9
Hear from Santander graduates
www.lloydsbankinggrouptalent.com
HSBC Event of the Year [Southampton Bright Futures] www.hsbc.com/careers/students-and-graduates
Page 10 Our top tips for job hunting Page 11
Video interview tips with TUI
Page 12/13 Should I do a placement year? Page 14
What do Tesco look for in students?
Page 15
Join a Bright Futures society committee
Page 16
Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26
Company profiles TUI The Civil Service Ashurst Accenture Costain RPC Tesco Santander Arcadis KPMG
Tesco President of the Year [Strathclyde Bright Futures] www.tesco-earlycareers.com/
KPMG Most Inclusive/Diverse Society [Bristol Bright Futures] www.kpmgcareers.co.uk
TUI Fastest Growing Society [Southampton Bright Futures] www.tuijobsuk.co.uk/
Arcadis Newcomer of the Year [Glasgow Caledonian Bright Futures] www.arcadisukgrads.com
RPC Most Collaborative Society Aston Bright Futures www.rpc.co.uk/manifesto
Corporate Investor of the Year Civil Service Fast Stream www.gov.uk National Ambassador of the Year Andras Dombi (Glasgow Bright Futures)
WELCOME
from the team Welcome to the June edition of the MyKindaFuture E-magazine! This month, we have packed in loads of advice and tips for you to really boost your CV and employability both from the MyKindaFuture team as well as leading employers such as Accenture, Santander, TUI, RPC and many more. Whether you are coming to the end of your first year or graduating, there will be lots for you to take away! June is one of my favourite times of the year, for me it has always meant the end of exams and the start of summer! For many, this is really crucial time not only for relaxation and recuperation before next year, but a period where you can broaden your experiences, knowledge and hopefully your CV. Whether you are off travelling, returning to your hometown or have found a summer job it is a great idea to look for opportunities to pick up new skills.
If your plans are open, this is the perfect time to look into local volunteering, online courses and temporary jobs to make the most out of your free time. If you are living at home with your parents, why not volunteer or take an internship locally whilst the fridge is stocked and mum and dad can take care of the bills! Alternatively, you might be working in a summer job in retail or hospitality which is a great way to earn some money over the summer. Many students dismiss these roles as not relevant when applying for ‘real’ jobs when they graduate but don’t be so quick to overlook it! Think about the transferrable skills you will develop like team work, communication with tricky customers, time management and being resilient to change. Depending on the role, you can also look at ways where you can make an impact such as suggesting quicker or more effective ways of doing things, helping other team members or
taking on more responsibility. This will allow you to practice and show going above and beyond your role and is gold dust examples of your brilliance for job interviews! You can also use this time over the summer to research opportunities at your university for the new year such as societies you might want to join, volunteering opportunities, ambassador roles etc. By doing some research now and making contact with the organisers you will get a head start before the crazy fresher’s period. Many of our Bright Futures societies are still looking for students to join their committees so check out page 15 to find out more!
Lucy Godwin University Relationships Manager at MyKindaFuture
www.mykindafuture.com
If you don’t have a society at your university then set up your own! Contact us at society@mykindafuture.com and we can get you started right away!
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SKILLS FOR
success It is important to recognise the many of the skills and qualities required to obtain a good degree are simply not enough to secure a job anymore. Within many industries and organisations, knowledge or subject matter is not the most important factor recruiters consider when hiring new staff. This is why many organisations will consider applications from anyone with ‘any degree discipline’. More and more recruiters are now focusing on ‘soft skills’ that are transferable skills that can be used in many different types of jobs. This is not to say that technical skills and knowledge are not important however technical skills can be taught much more easily than soft skills. Soft skills are personal qualities, attributes and characteristics that can help you to work well with others and make a positive contribution to the organisations you work for.
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• 86% of graduate employers consider good communication skills to be important, yet many employers are dissatisfied and don’t believe that graduates can express themselves effectively. • ‘Soft’ skills such as teamwork and customer service are also vital and even more important than most ‘hard’ skills, although numeracy and literacy skills are considered essential by over 70% of employers.
Communication
Communication is perhaps the most common requirement on job vacancies and is considered to be the most important skill for any organisation. Skilled communicators get along well with colleagues, listen and understand instructions, and can convey their point of view without being aggressive. Good communicators can change their style of communication to suit any task – this can be invaluable in many different situations, from handling conflict within a team to trying to persuade a customer of the benefits of buying your product.
Time Management
When deadlines are looming, good time management is crucial and will be important in any role. Time Management is about prioritising the most important tasks you have to do, and then deciding which actions will help to ensure all tasks are completed in advance of their individual deadlines. Are you a good juggler - can you work on several different projects at once? Recruiters will be looking for you to demonstrate this during an interview.
Resilience
Resilience is a skill that we have all been exposed to since a very young age. Resilience is described as the ‘ability to recover from setbacks, adapt well to change, and keep going in the face of adversity’ (HBR, 2015). As students you need to be resilient with any coursework you have – if you receive an essay mark you aren’t pleased with; you need to be able to take on board any feedback you are given and ‘bounce back’ from that with your next essay. In the workplace resilience is equally as important as your ideas, suggestions or proposals may be knocked back and you need to be prepared to ‘take it on the chin’ and recover without further consequences.
It is important to continually assess your own strengths - to highlight to future employers and your areas for improvement – to ensure you are able to build on these and monitor your own personal development.
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The Essential Skills Series The Essential Skills Series from Accenture, is a video series designed to help you gain the skills you need to secure a graduate job or internship, and to get you off to a flying start when you get there.
The Essential Skills Series: • Influencing Skills - Zahra is a Managing Director and has delivered a wide range of global projects. Here she tells us how to influence people in order to succeed. In short, she says it’s about good long-term relationships. Watch here. • Time Management - Most people think they’re good at managing time. You only find out when the pressure’s on. James Langley, an Accenture Senior Manager and James McCann who’s an Analyst, talk to us about how to manage time effectively and make sure you always deliver. Watch here. • Project Management - Beth is a born project manager. Organised, forward thinking and full of ideas.
Like what you see and keen to find out more about Accenture? Visit accenture.com/ukgraduates to find out more.
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She is talking to us about to-do lists, useful tools and how to make sure you are always one step ahead. Watch here. • Presentation Skills - Whatever job you do, you’re going to have to present. George shows us how to be prepared for anything. From nervous fingers and difficult questions, to deliberate pauses and Prime Ministers. Watch here. • Problem Solving - Brainstorming conjures images of creative types sat around drinking coffee. Matthew shows us how individual creativity and some simple techniques can turn you into a one-person ideas factor. Watch here.
ASHURST TRAINING CONTRACT APPLICATION HINTS AND TIPS
1.
Make an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. Then compare that list with the competences stated in the ‘Apply’ section of our website.
2.
Our application form is in covering letter format. You should address it as a letter to Hammad Akhtar, graduate recruitment partner. We don’t ask specific questions on the competencies we’re looking for. We prefer to give you the space to tell us about them in your own words.
3.
This format also tests your ability to write clearly. Try not to make your application either overly wordy and formal or over-familiar. We will be most impressed if you explain yourself simply and clearly with the use of evidence.
4.
Don’t make mistakes. Lawyers are meticulous and accurate, and if your application form isn’t, then you’re unlikely to be invited to interview.
5.
Demonstrate you understand Ashurst. We ask two specific questions about our firm on the application form. This is to ensure we are interviewing people who have researched us well and understand why we are different.
6.
Be objective, not subjective. General statements about your qualities are less convincing than objective evidence. For example, don’t just tell us you’re a brilliant team leader. Instead, make sure you’ve included that you’re a society committee member and been specific about what your role entailed and what you achieved during your tenure.
7.
Avoid clichés. Lots of applicants tell us they want to be a lawyer because the law shapes society or they want to work at Ashurst because they would relish the chance to work on cutting edge deals. We’re interested in your communication skills and are far more likely to be impressed if you’ve used your own words rather than tired clichés.
8.
Use your work experience to full effect. It doesn’t matter whether your work experience is in a legal or non-legal role. Put it in and tell us what you learned from it. Applications are currently still open for September 2018 and March 2019 training contracts and close on 31 July 2016. gradrec@ashurst.com
careers.ashurst.com
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Making the most of next year at university It is a well-known fact that it is simply not enough to graduate with a good degree anymore. The graduate job market is becoming increasingly more competitive year on year and graduates With continuously increasing pressure from universities - ongoing deadlines, assignments and exams; the thought of doing anything else can be extremely daunting! For those of you who will be returning to university next year, we have included our three top tips to help you make the most of your time at university to help maximise your time whilst studying.
1. Keep up-to-date and get involved within your industry
2. Find some work experience within the field you want to work in.
One of the best ways to make the most out of your time at university is to keep updated with news from within your industry or field of study! This may sound boring and quite frankly pointless but getting involved within the industry will ensure you don’t miss out on any exciting events or opportunities that could enhance your career prospects. Simply spending an hour or so per week to read articles about the latest news relating to your degree will help you to be more informed about your industry and it will also help to ensure you stand out in any interviews or applications you make!
Obtaining work experience is perhaps one of the most beneficial things you can do during your time at university. Work experience will allow you to try out different elements of your degree discipline without committing yourself to a fixed term contract. Work experience or an industry placement will also help build to your CV, your skills and your knowledge whilst helping you to discover where you want your career path to lead. 3. Get involved with some extra-curricular activities and societies. There is no better way to maximise your time at university than getting involved with extra-curricular activities and societies at your university. Getting involved with such activities will not only
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need to find ways to differentiate themselves amongst their peers.
help you to build your experience and CV, it will also help you to make friends, learn new skills and will help to make you more employable! It was recently published that almost 60% of recruiters believe that extra-curricular activities and society involvement are pivotal when making decisions about applicants (Times Higher Education, 2015). Check out how you can get involved with our Bright Futures societies across the UK overleaf. Many students at university begin their studies not knowing exactly what they want to do when they graduate. Getting involved and grasping as many opportunities as possible and exposing yourself to as many aspects of university life as you can will help to inform your career aspirations! Creating your own personal brand by building your very own network will also help to plan your future and will help you make the most of next year at University!
The Grad Point of View
Hearing from our Graduates is something you can have a chance to do when attending Careers fairs to know what it is really like to work at Santander or to be on a Graduate Scheme. Today you have the chance to hear some advice from a couple of our Graduates through their blog posts...
“Don’t be put off in your first week if you feel like you are ‘thrown in the deep end’ with no idea what the business area does/ what you are meant to be doing. This is normal, and will become a familiar feeling at the beginning of all your placements (even number 4!). Just remember not to panic, your manager and colleagues will guide you through everything you need to know and what is expected of you. The support at Santander is fantastic, everyone is very approachable and friendly and will always find time to help you. The people are one of the best things about working for Santander. Also try to keep in touch in touch with your peers on the Grad scheme. Sharing experiences can be really useful as you are likely to be facing similar challenges” Eilidh – Technology and Operations Graduate “Speaking generically from my experience in the different teams so far, the majority of work is independent and requires a “self-start” attitude. Coming in as a graduate, just like all of us have experienced, a lot of things are unknown and unfamiliar to you so it is completely normal to ask questions, particularly
if you don’t understand what you are being asked to do or the material which your work is based around. A suggestion I would make to any graduate is; if you have questions try to produce a list of questions and ask to sit down with your line manager or colleague to discuss them. Colleagues are more than happy to help and answer questions but while they have deadlines and workflow is high, if they are being asked a questions every 10 minutes it is more distracting. The majority of colleagues would much prefer to sit down, for say 30 minutes, and have a discussion around any questions or queries you have. My biggest suggestion? Take every single opportunity you get as may not get them again!” Grant – Corporate and Commercial Banking Graduate
Interested in applying for our Graduate roles? Visit our website below in September 2016 for all of our available roles! www.santanderearlyincareer.co.uk
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TOP TIPS FOR SEARCHING FOR JOBS
What a relief, your exams are over and university life is coming to an end! Here’s to a summer of catching up with friends, relaxing and enjoying life without revision! But, if you have not secured a graduate job you may be filled with dread of the prospect of the job hunt. Do not panic, many students are in exactly the same position and we are here to support you in finding a great job quickly and easily!
We have combined some of our top tips to help you use your time efficiently when hunting for your next role: • Start off by reviewing your CV. This may seem like a simple step but it one of the most crucial when helping you to shine out to employers. One strategy which might work for you is to create a ‘master CV’ which has every single experience, skill and quality you have. This may end up being pages upon pages and this will always remain for your eyes only but will give you a master document which you can take parts from to tailor your CV to each role. • Get yourself out there. Upload your CV to online jobs board to make yourself visible in the recruiting world! Expect a lot of calls from recruiters, so be sure to be clear with them what you are and are not interested in and if a job doesn’t sound your cup of tea, don’t waste your time. • Use your contacts. Start with friends and family and let them know you are looking for experience and jobs. Those who know and trust you will be your best advocates. You can also look into your networks online, maybe an old school friend or an ex colleague from an internship may just know someone!
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• Contact your dream company directly. Show your initiative by making a speculative enquiry to your dream company explaining why you are passionate about what they do, why you want to work for them and why you are the right fit. Don’t be too overpowering or cheesy, this might not lead to a job but will be their first impression of you, so don’t mess it up. • Use social media! Don’t just clean up your social media profiles to make them suitable for prospective employers to look at, use social media to interact with the brands and companies you want to work for. Don’t be needy or too complimentary of them to charm them into hiring you but show interest into what they are posting and if you have an opinion on a topic then comment! It will be a great way to get noticed but just remember not to comment on everything they post, you will seem way too eager! • Share your knowledge and opinion. You can also utilise social media to take part in discussions, share relevant content and write / blog about your industry. This will show employers first hand that you know what you’re talking about, are passionate about the industry and are proactive. However, be careful and don’t make this seem like you are only posting because you want a job, make sure it is a genuine effort!
• Look at SME’s and smaller businesses. Large organisations are provide fantastic opportunities with great training and development however many hire long in advance and have a lengthy recruitment process. Plus, large corporations are not for everyone! Working for small to medium organisations have a whole range of different benefits including greater responsibility, the opportunity to pick up lots of different skills and work in closely with different departments and great career prospects. Many smaller companies hire much closer to when they need staff so you could be in a job quicker than you expect! • Look at how your sector recruits. This is one of the key things which graduates fail to take into account. If you are applying to the public sector or very large corporations, the likelihood is that they have a structured application process for everyone therefore you will be spending your time researching and creating a fantastic application to stand a chance. However, if you are looking at working in the creative industry for example, the majority of interviews and jobs are given to people who they meet. Going to networking and industry events will be key along with developing your CV and knowledge rather than trying to find jobs online. Word of mouth is your best friend here!
TUI UK & Ireland are part of TUI GROUP, one of the world’s leading leisure travel companies. You may have heard of some of our market-leading brands, such as Thomson, First Choice and Crystal Ski. In our holiday travel sector, we are a business that sells “smiles” and for our placement and graduate programmes we look for candidates who have a positive, can-do attitude and approach, a smiling and friendly personality and a good communication style.
For our 2016 graduate programmes we introduced video interviews as an alternative to telephone interviews as one part of our initial screening process. For us, a video interview is a great way for you to really show your personality, and show us that you are not just a list of qualifications! Our video interview link introduces you to our resourcing team who share with you a sample question and provide you with a number of top tips to help you make a really good impression. These include: • Make sure you are in a quiet and brightly lit room. If there is daylight it is better to face the window than have it behind you • The parts of you that are visible to the camera should be dressed appropriately and remember to check what’s in the shot behind you, a nice simple background is the best option!
• Speak loud and clear • Take up the opportunity to use the practice question so you can check that it all looks and sounds ok • A countdown will tell you how long you have to think about your answer but don’t try to unnecessarily fill the time given for each question • Try to look directly at the camera when you are recording and resist the temptation to look at yourself on the screen or you won’t be making eye contact with us
And finally, relax, be yourself and good luck!
We will be accepting applications for our 2017 schemes from September this year. To find out more and apply visit: www.tuijobsuk.co.uk or see our graduate blog at: tuiukgrads.wordpress.com
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Why should I do a placement year? Placements are increasing becoming a big part of University life. In this article we hear from our Editor, Lucy, about her experience of taking a placement year and why you should too!
Many University courses encourage students to do a placement year as part of their learning. You might have heard it refer to as a ‘sandwich’ or ‘industrial’ placement or even a year out. Whatever the terminology, a placement year is usually taken after your second year of study and involves you going to work in a company for between 9 and 12 months. The idea behind taking a placement year is to build up your experience, apply learning from your course and to kick start your career before you have even left University.
As a recent graduate myself, I have experienced first-hand the fantastic opportunities a placement year can give you and I wanted to share the pros and cons to help you make a decision!
My experience When I joined university to study Business and Marketing, I knew that a degree was not enough to get myself a great job after graduating. Along with running a society, volunteering and having a part time job, I knew that taking a placement year would be one of the best things to do to make me a great candidate as well as making the most out of university opportunities. Having worked in the start-up space, I knew a small company was for me so I waited until after my second year exams to start applying. Luckily a few weeks later I got a job in London with NACUE, an organisation who worked with my society. The year was a steep learning curve and one of my favourite times in my life so far. My experience on placement was one of the main reasons I was picked to join MyKindaFuture and I am really pleased I made the decision to take one.
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Benefits of taking a placement Money! It might sound obvious, but as a placement student you will earn a full time salary! This will depend on the company size and industry but will certainly be more than your student loan.
You are still a student Hello student discount! When I moved to London for my placement year, I still had my student status allowing me discounted travel as well as membership to student discount cards and sites meaning cheaper groceries, clothes, meals out, free admission to museums and many more!
It can improve your grades Although I was a keen-o with societies and volunteering, I wasn’t always a fantastic academic student. My placement helped me to put my degree into context and understand theories in a new way when I returned for my final year. It also gave me a great work ethic and I treated my degree like work, aiming to be in the library at 9 and leaving at 5:30. Of course this wasn’t always the case, but I could see a real difference between myself as a second year and final year and this reflected in much higher grades.
You get to experience a new city or country! The prospect of moving to London from the safe haven of Bristol was a
little scary at first, but knowing that it would only be for a year made it seem much more manageable! In the end, it wasn’t scary at all and it is now my home. Many of my friends who took a year abroad either working or studying agree that knowing that it is only for a year made it much less daunting and has allowed them to make even bolder moves upon graduating.
It makes graduating less scary. Many students panic when they think about life after university, growing up, finding a job, a place to live, moving to a new city etc. However, if you have already ripped off that plaster in your second year, graduating is a doddle!
You grow up When I returned back to university in my final year, there was a mix of students who had come straight through from their second year along with placement students like myself. On my course, the difference between the two groups were noticeable, placement students were much more confident and experienced! Many of them had graduate jobs lined up already from their placement or through contacts they had made in their industry.
Downsides You graduate at a different time to your friends Many of my friends decided not to take placement years and it meant they graduated a whole year earlier than me. This was a little strange returning back to a university where I didn’t recognise as many faces however my graduate friends made frequent visits back to relive their student days!
University fees and work Whilst you are on placement, your university will probably charge you a small amount to still have access to support and resources like the library. You can still gain support via a student loan but it is worth researching and considering. You may also still have to do some assignments to show your personal development or collect research for your dissertation project. I underestimated how hard it would be to do university work whilst working!
You might not want to go back! Many students become accustomed to working life, a regular salary, weekends without work and ‘being an adult’! It was a strange transition to come back to student life and suddenly have free time in the week again but soon I got back into it. University life is very short so I always remembered to try and make the most of it!
If you are lucky enough to be able to take a placement year then I would actively encourage you to do so! However, if you have doubts then I would advise going to speak to your lecturers and careers department for advice and to see if they can put you in touch with final year students who have completed one to find out their experience! Whatever you decide, good luck!
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AT TESCO, OUR PEOPLE ARE OUR BIGGEST ASSET At Tesco, our people are our biggest asset... over half a million of them! The success we have is shaped by the vision and ideas of our colleagues; and their ability to turn these ideas into a fantastic shopping experience for our customers.
What we look for in candidates:
Hints & Tips:
We understand that at school leaver and graduate level not everyone will have relevant business experience (although it’s great if you do!).
- Be yourself. It sounds simple, but we’re not looking for robots! We want to see your passion, energy and personality.
What we’re looking for is: - A genuine passion for the business area that you have chosen (do your research!). - A real desire to work for Tesco and in the retail sector. - Strong values, that you can demonstrate in a range of situations. - Candidates that can deal with change and are prepared to take a well calculated risk. - Energy, drive and desire for putting customers first…always! - Common sense, and a range of hobbies, jobs, experiences that showcase your versatility and ability to adapt.
We have a range of programmes, from Marketing and Human Resources to Supply Chain and Technology. We’re sure we have an opportunity that is just right for you. www.tesco-earlycareers.com
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- Take your time when applying. You might question why we’re asking you to provide so much information, and will we even read it?! Well….we do! - One of the questions we ask, is ‘Why do you want to join Tesco?’. Think about your answer! We read hundreds of these applications, you’d be amazed how many don’t show any passion. - As part of your application you will be asked to complete a verbal and numerical test. It’s important to practice these online, before taking the actual test.
Join your Bright Futures committee now! What are Bright Futures Societies? We are a network of over 50 student led employability societies in universities across the UK. Supported and connected by a National Team, each society runs their own interactive and fun events for students on their campus to connect with and learn from leading employers. Each society is made up of a small team of students who work with great employers to run careerfocused events. There are a range of roles available in each committee, such President, Event Manager and Marketing Manager but ultimately each team works together closely to grow your society and each other’s own personal development over the year. As a committee, you are in control of deciding what type of events you would like to run, how often and with which employers.
• Make your CV stand out by being part of this unique experience whilst gaining transferable skills which top employers seek • Develop your leadership and team working skills by being part of the largest UK network of empowered and career focused students • Grow your professional network and build an impressive portfolio by working directly with leading global employers • Help to develop the employability opportunities available to students at your University • Gain direct support and training from the National Team at MyKindaFuture who are here to support both your society’s growth as well as your personal development • Have fun and make the most out of your time at University!
Reasons to join a Bright Futures committee:
Running the Bright Futures society at Bristol has been a fantastic experience and a great life skill. It’s a way of making a difference to hundreds of students, makes you individually more employable and even helped me win an SU election.
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Michael Bolton, President of Bristol Bright Futures (2015/16)
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Bright Futures has given me the confidence to pursue all of the things I want to at university, both professionally and personally. It’s a network of like-minded students who support each other and have similar ambitions to excel in the graduate marketplace. Youssef Hounat, Bright Futures National Ambassador (2015/16)
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You will gain a huge amount of experience whilst driving your very own society on campus. From leadership to organisation and from adaptability to creativity, you will learn and develop a wide range of skills… just like the ones all employers like to see!
Make the most of this year and join your Bright Futures committee today! Get in touch with your Bright Futures society on the MyKindaFuture website or by emailing: society@mykindafuture.com
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Your passport to a dream career in travel
Each of our programmes ensures that you will experience an exciting mix of day to day business activities and high profile project work, as well as the opportunity to engage with senior managers in our business. Our Graduate programmes begin with a comprehensive induction week at our head office, supported by on-going development workshops, training opportunities and support from Buddies and Mentors.
As a flavour of the potential development opportunities provided, previous graduate development workshops have included: Project Management, Leadership, Finance for Non Finance Managers, Communicating with Impact, Personal Effectiveness and Emotional Intelligence, as well as the chance to participate in one of our Innovation Lab sessions. Our graduates spend time within our retail operation, contact centres and overseas destinations.
demonstrated, many of our previous graduates are now working in senior leadership roles within the business, and so we are also looking for leadership potential and the ability and ambition to go far, once the programme has ended.
FIRM PROFILE
Our Graduate Programmes are vital in ensuring we develop a pipeline of early talent for our UK & Ireland business. We offer opportunities in IT, Finance and Analytics
TUI
TUI UK & Ireland is the UK’s largest tour operator with key brands including Thomson, First Choice and Thomson Cruises. TUI UK & Ireland’s airline, Thomson Airways, is the UK’s third largest airline with 60 aircraft operating to over 73 destinations in 20 countries. Thomson Airways was the first airline in the UK to take delivery of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. With a team of 13,300 employees, TUI UK & Ireland serves more than 5.2 million customers each year. TUI UK & Ireland is a member of the TUI Group.
In our holiday travel sector, we are a business that sells “smiles” and we are looking for candidates who have a positive, can-do attitude and approach, a smiling and friendly personality and a good communication style. Ultimately, as our programmes have already
To find out more and apply visit: www.tuijobsuk.co.uk
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Civil Service Fast Stream
‘Wake me up….when September starts’
COMPANY PROFILE
Although we are now closed for applications for Analytical Stream, we can now start to look forward to the opening of all our schemes again in September! As well as our Analytical Stream (Government Economic Service, Government Operational Research Service, Government Statistical Service, Government Social Research Service), you’ll be able to apply to the Corporate Stream which consist of the following:
• Central Departments • Diplomatic Service • Houses of Parliament • Science & Engineering • Commercial • Finance • European • Human Resources • Government Communication Service • Digital & Technology • Project Delivery
If you feel ready for the Fast Stream, don’t wait until September – why not explore our website and feel fully prepared for when the applications are open.
To see our full range of schemes, including information about each one, please see our website at:
www.gov.uk/government/ organisations/civil-service-fast-stream
Click here for:
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Our website also has blogs from Fast Streamers about life in the Civil Service and their experiences on the programme. There is also detailed information about the application process and the types of roles you could potentially undertake.
YOUTUBE
See www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-fast-stream for more in-depth information on any of the streams.
About us:
Training A training contract at Ashurst will move your mind beyond technical knowledge of the law. Ultimately, we want to help you become a thought leader with a reputation for clear, perceptive and influential advice – a professional in whom governments and leading businesses the world over can place their trust.
Click here for:
YOUTUBE
This isn’t an easy route to take. You’ll need to become a shrewd negotiator, have an ability to read both balance sheets and behaviours, and become a commercial strategist with a deep understanding of specific industries. Our training contract will start you on that road. We will plan closely with you four seats of six months each, that will broaden your world view and hone your talents. At least one seat will be in a finance practice and we will also encourage you to join an overseas office or go on secondment to one of our most valued clients.
Who we’re looking for? We expect a lot of ourselves – and so, as you would expect, you will need to be comfortable with challenges and pressure. You should also be able to express yourself confidently on paper and out loud,
whether that’s among your team or in a client’s boardroom.
FIRM PROFILE
We take exactly the same approach with our people: we’re interested in understanding each other, finding new and better ways to bring out each individual’s talents, and simply enjoying the interaction with other high-calibre, down-toearth people. It’s a strong, shared culture that will enable you to apply your intellect, develop yourself and thrive as an international lawyer.
Ashurst
With 27 offices across the world’s leading financial and resource centres in Europe, AsiaPacific, Middle East and the USA, Ashurst offers the scale to attract global mandates. We operate at the cutting edge of the financial, resources and infrastructure, corporate and new economy markets, offering advice that’s as commercially astute as it is technically accurate in diverse areas of law including disputes, competition, M&A and finance. It’s that incisiveness that makes us different from other elite firms: we share our client’s ambitions and the depth of our insight allows us to cut to the heart of their issues with speed and clarity.
Alongside all the hard work, we also have fun. We’re incredibly proud of our culture: we thrive when we’re collaborating; we care about our standards of client service; we’re willing to explore ideas and be accountable for their success; and as people, we’re good company. We will expect all of that from you, too.
Next steps... The best way to learn what it’s really like to work at Ashurst is to meet us at an event or join one of our vacation schemes. Have a look at our website to find out which scheme would be best for you. The below will also give you an insight into what your life could be like as an Ashurst trainee:
For more information visit: careers.ashurst.com
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Be > You Imagined Accenture
Bring your talent and passion to a global organisation at the forefront of business, technology and innovation. Collaborate with diverse, talented colleagues and leaders who support your success. Help transform organisations and communities around the world. Sharpen your skills with industry-leading training and development, as you build an extraordinary career. Discover how great you can be. Visit accenture.com/ukgraduates
COMPANY PROFILE
As one of the world’s leading consulting and technology organisations, we achieve amazing things for our clients every day – whether that’s increasing profits, gaining a greater market share, redefining strategies, working with new technologies or offering better customer experiences. In short, we examine a client’s organisation, work out how best to improve it, and implement agreed actions to bring about positive, lasting and profitable change. For us, it’s not just about coming up with the big ideas, it’s also about successfully delivering and implementing them.
To manage the broad spectrum of challenges our clients face, our business needs to be diverse, which is why we’ve set up our organisation across five business areas: Accenture Strategy; Accenture Consulting; Accenture Digital; Accenture Technology; and Accenture Operations. This has enabled us to deliver some ground-breaking solutions; such as the RBS 6 Nations Championship app that delivers in-game statistics direct to your phone; technology that changes millions of lives, such as biometrics passport readers; visit accenture.com/ukicreds to
Click here for:
YOUTUBE
Visit: accentureukcareers/posts
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discover more of the surprising and innovative things we do every day to make people’s lives better. There are a variety of ways you can join us at Accenture. Whichever programme you join, you’ll enjoy the perfect mix of intensive training, expert support and live project experience. So why not make the most of your talents. Get the variety and scope of opportunities you deserve. Be an integral part of projects that impact the way the world thinks, works and plays. Enjoy the responsibility that helps you get ahead, fast.
GOOGLE+
We are on the lookout for over 100 Graduates who are seeking a role with real responsibility to join us this August.
Click here for:
Do you want to be involved in: • Writing bids to secure us exciting new projects (Graduate Bid Author) • Improving business processes which allow us to make innovative industry advances (Graduate Business Improvement Engineer)
We offer a 3 year Graduate Development programme to accelerate your career and enable you to achieve your potential both during and after the Graduate Development Scheme.
COMPANY PROFILE
You may just think of hard hats and construction sites when you think of a large Engineering Solutions provider such as Costain but we have a range of roles for students like yourselves that don’t necessarily require a degree in Engineering.
Costain
Not just for Engineers!
• Highlighting risks to the business and achieving Certified Membership with the Institute of Risk Management (Graduate Risk Co-ordinator)
YOUTUBE
Interested in finding out more and applying? Please visit www.costain.com/careers to search and apply for your future role.
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RPC
Rip up the rule book. Closing date for the 2018 RPC Training contract is 31 July 2017. Apply now and define your career.
COMPANY PROFILE
If you never go against the grain, always follow the well-trodden path and consistently take the safe option, you could find yourself sleepwalking into a predictable career with a traditional firm. If that’s how you see your future, we wish you every success. But please look away now.
If you prefer the bold to the boring, however, and find the prospect of joining a different kind of law firm enticing, we’d love to talk to you. Each year, we appoint trainees from a law or nonlaw background, on a fulltime contract for two years. They work closely with a partner and are given real responsibility as soon as they’re ready to handle it.
If this sounds like the type of role for you, we want to hear from you. Apply now by visiting: www.rpc.co.uk/manifesto Deadline for 2018 Training Contract applications is 31 July 2016.
We want to break the mould, rewrite the rules and redefine the legal profession. Your mission could be to build the law firm of the future, today. And to define your career at the same time. Click here for: www.rpc.co.uk/manifesto or follow us on twitter @LifeinaLawFirm
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What we’re about
Who are we looking for? We’re looking for talented individuals who share our passion for great service. People who have energy and enthusiasm for delivering, working collaboratively and managing large scale projects.
Of course, there’s plenty of learning, development and support along the way. We’re proud of our early career programmes, and the training we provide But we firmly believe that the most rewarding way for you to learn is to apply your own knowledge in real-life business situations.
COMPANY PROFILE
The customer is at the heart of everything we do. We’re continually striving to give them a better shopping experience, whether that’s through a seamless online experience or reducing the queuing time within our stores.
Tesco
Our people are our biggest asset – over half a million of them! The success we have is shaped by the vision and ideas of our colleagues; and their ability to turn these ideas into a fantastic shopping experience for our customers.
No two days at Tesco are ever the same so if you think you’ve got the skills and passion to help us serve our customers even better we would love to hear from you.
Where can I find out more? For more information on all of our programmes, Graduate, Summer Intern and School Leaver & Apprenticeships, visit: www.tesco-earlycareers.com
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Santander
Thinking about what comes after University life? Take the next step with Santander Early in Careers!
COMPANY PROFILE
It’s the time of year when most students start thinking about their next steps, whether that be another year of study, coming face to face with the world of work or embarking on an Intern/Graduate scheme. In the Early in Career team, we’re planning for a successful campaign to bring on board individuals to join our Santander family and build a successful long-term career with us. Currently we have both Graduate and Intern opportunities ranging across a number of business areas for those individuals who want to continue developing the skills they have learned during their studies and also be challenged through contributing to projects, such as around building new digital platforms, and creating new relationships. Our Internship opportunities provide a really great snap shot into what it is like to work for Santander and dependent upon performance, also offers the chance to be given a place on the Graduate programme without having to go through the
assessment process again. Not only does this relieve any pressure to complete interviews in the final year of your university life, it allows you to focus all of your efforts on obtaining the best results in your degree. Our Internships last for 10 weeks over the summer and the feedback we have had from the latest Interns is that they were surprised as to how much they were able to learn about Santander in the time that they had in the business, how much responsibility they were given on projects and how many people they were able to meet and network with. The Internship has opened up many doors for the students helping them to understand what the world of work is all about but also giving them a flavour of what else was to come if they moved onto the Graduate programme and we’ve seen the highest numbers of Interns move onto our Graduate programmes this year, for this very reason.
Should you choose to stay onto a Graduate programme with us, you will have a number of developmental opportunities as well as advice and guidance throughout the programmes from knowledgeable colleagues who know what you’re going through. You will have the chance to take part in our CSR project, supporting our charity of the year, which is a great opportunity to build a network of fellow graduates that will influence the rest of your career. By the time you’ve finished your programme, you’ll have earned an industry-recognised qualification in your area – such as a CIOBS, Professional Banker Diploma, ACCA or CIMA.
Click here for: For more information on the programmes please visit our website below:
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www.santanderearlyincareer.co.uk
Arcadis
We are the world’s leading natural and built asset design and consultancy firm. We work in partnership with our clients across all sectors and around the world to achieve exceptional, sustainable outcomes – providing valuable insights based on unrivalled experience. We stand out thanks to the quality of our people and breadth of our services. [our capability in design, consultancy, engineering and management services throughout the asset life cycle.] We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. Please visit: www.arcadisukgrads.com
Performance
We have the ambition to be recognized as being the best in everything we do and have a culture of continuous improvement. Performance excellence touches on many aspects of our work, including the way we select and develop our client relationships, and the way we develop and maintain market-sector insights and research to hold a differentiated, competitive advantage.
Collaboration
Through collaboration, we will leverage our capabilities and global footprint to bring the best of Arcadis to better serve our local, national and global multinational clients. Whatever you want to achieve, and wherever you’re looking to go, we’ll aim to find the right place for you. We offer the opportunity to be a part of some of the biggest and most important projects around the world, shaping environments and improving quality of life.
www.arcadisukgrads.com
We recruit Graduates into a number of disciplines as follows: Cost Consultancy Project and Programme Management Building Surveying Business Advisory – Management Consultant Asset Investment & Finance – Facilities Management Environmental Consulting Building Services Engineering Mechanical Engineering Rail Engineering Highways Engineering Water Engineering Design Engineering Arcadis people share, grow and explore their interests across a wide range of disciplines and geographies. It makes for a rich and enduring career. You will see that we are highly professional as we strive to exceed our clients’ expectations, and yet also friendly in the way we go about things.
COMPANY PROFILE
Our Passion is to improve quality of life and be recognised as the best. As a leader in sustainable societies (economic, social and environmental), wherever we undertake a project we work to make change for the better. Responding to community needs is something we take very seriously.
Entry routes: Graduate Opportunities - 2 year development programme Year Out for Sandwich year students 10- 12 months Summer placements - 8-12 weeks Our aim is to attract the very best people and provide them with the learning that will help us succeed as a business. We are looking for people who have a passion for excellence and those who are looking to build a long term career path. We have a two year development programme for our Graduates, during which time many work towards various accreditation routes which you will be fully supported with. 90% of our Year Out/Summer interns convert to Graduates when they finish university with sponsorship in the final year of study.
With Arcadis, you have a platform to drive your career, explore your capabilities turning your ambition into reality.
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Chanel’s Story KPMG
Even before Chanel had finished studying Economics with Central and East European Studies at Birmingham University, she felt sure that she wanted to embark on a career at KPMG...
COMPANY PROFILE
“When I was at university, KPMG was always my favourite of the Big Four firms,” she says. “I was confident that I’d thrive in the environment and felt well informed, as I’d spoken to lots of KPMG employees at different networking events. I liked the idea that I’d be able to add value to all sorts of different organisations, and especially the fact that I’d be working on real projects for real clients right from the start. I definitely made the right choice – I had high expectations and they’ve actually been exceeded. I’m making a difference to tech telecoms and media companies – whether they’re small firms or huge multinationals.”
Chanel says she’s found the support on offer to be excellent.
she does, doesn’t always match up with the reality.
“When I first started I was given lots of responsibility, but I was always supported by managers, my mentor and my team. The best advice I was given was ‘rule number one; ask questions.’ I’ve never felt lost in my role. I’ve used other graduates as a sounding board and because I’ve worked closely with them, I’ve built some great relationships.”
“Whenever I tell people I’m an accountant, the ruder ones audibly groan,” she explains. “The more polite ones try and make conversation, expecting boring tales of corrupted Excel files and broken calculators. Once I tell them about my experiences at KPMG, like how I’ve been bonding with paint-splattered partners at our department’s Corporate Responsibility event painting classrooms at a school for autistic children, suddenly, being an accountant doesn’t seem all too bad. Especially an accountant at KPMG.”
Even though Chanel was confident that KPMG was the ideal place for her, she was still a little apprehensive on her first day.
“I’ve successfully navigated my way through nine exams – soon to be 12, hopefully! I’ve had opportunities that have challenged me and I’ve been consistently encouraged to achieve new things, and to take on more responsibility.”
“I felt a bit out of my depth – as though I was a soon-to-be-discovered fraud amongst the other 10 or so new starters. But I quickly realised that it was just nerves because everyone was having first day jitters. We were all quickly put at ease during the induction.”
It’s thanks to the support she’s had from her peers and her more experienced colleagues that Chanel’s confidence has grown and grown.
On a day-to-day level, Chanel assesses whether the financial statements of different companies are a true and fair reflection of their transactions and works with her clients to build strong relationships. She loves the variety of her role, but has found that other people’s perception of what
Click here to view our Audit opportunities.
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Chanel’s found that the social side to life at KPMG is just as important as the thought-leading work she’s involved in. “In February, I was part of a team working in Dallas, Texas, for two weeks. As well as carrying out Audit work for our clients, we ate lots of delicious steak, watched the Super Bowl in a Texan bar, and went to a rodeo! We quickly became a close-knit team. We received a lot of support from KPMG managers in the UK too – it was an amazing experience.”