TABLE OF
WELCOME FROM BRIGHT NETWORK PLATFORM CEO, KIRSTEN
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS TO HELP YOU LAND YOUR FIRST GRADUATE JOB
KICKSTARTING YOUR CAREER IN...
4-7 SCIENCE
8-11 TECHNOLOGY
12-16 ENGINEERING
17-20 MATHS
WHAT ELSE COULD YOU DO WITH A STEM DEGREE?
STARTING YOUR CAREER JOURNEY
BOOSTING YOUR CAREER OPTIONS OUTSIDE YOUR DEGREE
HOW TO CREATE YOUR STEM CV
STEM SUCCESS STORIES – ADVICE FOR SECURING A ROLE
VOICES IN STEM: GET INSPIRED
WELCOME FROM BRIGHT NETWORK PLATFORM CEO, KIRSTEN
Committed to helping bright and ambitious young people from all backgrounds, at Bright Network we’re on a mission to connect the next generation with the opportunities, insights and advice to succeed as the workforce of tomorrow.
That’s why we’re thrilled to have built a community of 300,000+ STEM members – supporting and empowering them to become future STEM leaders. We work with the world’s leading employers and have over 2500 live job opportunities in the STEM industry live on our website at any given time – providing you with the top roles to kickstart your career.
Taking your first steps in a career doesn’t have to be daunting. In this handy guide, you’ll discover the many doors that your STEM degree can open, and how you can land yourself a STEM role after university. Get inspired by voices in STEM, learn where your technical skills can take you and gain exclusive advice from professionals at leading STEM employers.
We can’t wait to start your STEM journey with you!
Best of luck,
Kirsten Barnes (she/her) Platform CEO
LAND YOUR FIRST TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
WHAT SKILLS DO EMPLOYERS WANT?
If you’re worried about demonstrating the right skills to employers, you’re not alone. Our recent research revealed just 54% of students feel confident in securing a graduate job after university.
Part of the reason for these low figures is likely a misconception about what qualities graduate employers actually look for. While students believe industry experience is the most valued skill, employers rank passion for their business, problem-solving skills and resilience as the most desirable qualities in graduate hires. In fact, among the employers we surveyed, industry experience was the least required value.*
GENERAL SOFT SKILLS
Graduate schemes are designed to give you training on the job. Employers know that students who have just left university won’t have much experience outside of their studies. Instead, they want to take on candidates with the right transferable skills, who can adapt to challenges and learn quickly.
We’ve compiled some of the soft skills you’re likely to have gained during your degree. You can use these as a starting point to collect evidence of your transferable skills and strengthen your applications.
Here are some of the skills required for any university degree, along with how you can demonstrate them:
Time management and organisation
Reference how you managed your workload to meet deadlines and juggled the demands of your course with any extracurriculars.
Project management
How did you keep track of your progress on longer projects? Include how you planned your time and proactively dealt with potential setbacks.
Adaptability
Consider how you coped with the change to your environment, and how you approached the step up from your A levels.
Resilience
Break down the steps you took to overcome academic challenges or your different approaches to succeed. Reflect on how you handled negative feedback.
Digital skills
Think about all the ways you’ve used
Don’t be afraid to go after that dream role – you already have plenty of skills employers are looking for!
GRADUATE JOB
SOFT SKILLS FROM YOUR STEM DEGREE
In addition, there are plenty of transferable soft skills that a STEM degree helps you develop:
Teamwork
Computing practicals, lab experiments and engineering projects all involve working with others to create desired outcomes.
Creativity
Solving complex maths problems and designing experiments, software and structures requires you to think outside the box.
Problem-solving
During your STEM degree, you will have practised out-of-the-box thinking to find the best chance of success, as well as other kinds of problem-solving – like planning for capacity on a project or overcoming conflicts within teams.
Attention to detail
All STEM degrees require you to focus on the specifics, whether you’re analysing experiments and data, debugging code or designing structures.
Communication
Writing reports and collaborating with others requires verbal and written communication skills. In any research project, you’ll have presented data, findings and questions to various audiences.
Curiosity
Whatever your subject interest, your innate inquisitiveness is evidence of the passion employers value most.
HOW TO SHOW OFF TRANSFERABLE SKILLS IN YOUR APPLICATIONS
• Transferable skills are great to highlight when applying for entry level roles: You might not have delivered a business pitch before, but your experience presenting scientific findings as evidence of your communication ability is still relevant.
• Make sure to use the same keywords as the job description when mentioning your skills.
The skills acquired throughout a STEM degree are transferable to lots of sectors. To explore your options outside STEM, see page 21.
• Flesh out your examples with details: For example, “I used strong time management skills to balance my university workload and position as netball society treasurer. This enabled me to successfully manage £1,000 of funds while completing all assignments to 2.1 level”.
• Remember, one experience could be strong evidence for multiple skills. Lab work requires attention to detail, teamwork and communication.
KICKSTARTING YOUR CAREER IN
TECHNICAL SKILLS FROM YOUR DEGREE…
Studying biology, chemistry or physics gives you the following abilities:
Research and analysis
Your science degree provides intellectually rigorous training in researching, interpreting and summarising complex information. Your experience planning, analysing and critiquing experiments is excellent evidence of your ability to problem-solve. To interpret results, you’ll also have used critical thinking skills and shown close attention to detail. Plus, when working with experimental data, you will have used statistical tests and might have explored mathematical modelling.
Scientific writing
Across your studies, you’ll have gained experience writing a variety of different documents, from research and literature reviews to lab reports. You know how to record experiments, express ideas clearly and evaluate the output of other scientists. This experience summarising existing materials and synthesising the results of your work is great evidence of your communication skills. Additionally, you know how to tailor your writing to different audiences, having written for a range of people, such as students, generalists and experts in the field.
… AND WHY THEY’RE VALUED
As a scientist, you have strong observation skills, rigorous critical thinking and follow logical steps when designing experiments and measuring outcomes. This highly desirable skillset is vital to businesses that want to research new avenues, improve their processes and discover new findings.
Practical project management
Your experience planning practical work and experiments is great evidence of project management. In particular, your ability to manage data, carefully juggle multiple components and prioritise your time effectively is highly transferable to a work environment. It suggests you’re comfortable taking the initiative, even on complex or long-term tasks.
Lab experience
Many jobs in science build on the lab skills acquired in an undergraduate degree. The ability to perform experiments using a range of scientific instruments is critical for research and laboratory positions. Your precision and attention to detail when collecting and analysing data is great evidence you’d be a reliable, skilled technician. You will have learned how to follow protocols and teach yourself new experimental techniques. This will translate well to picking up unfamiliar methods in a new job.
Your ability to manage data and communicate findings in reports and technical documents transfers well to industries like consultancy and finance. Employers also appreciate the strong interpersonal skills developed by working in teams during practicals and integrating into research groups for undergraduate projects.
HOW TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR SKILLS IN AN APPLICATION
1. Highlight relevant technical and lab skills near the top of your application, and tailor them for your audience. For scientific jobs, be as specific as possible with your skills and experience. For example, you could include titration and extraction skills in a lab technician application. For jobs where this knowledge isn’t needed, focus on transferable skills instead.
2. Give details of any modules that are relevant to the job in question. For example, highlight mathematical or statistical modules if you’re applying for a job working with data.
3. If you’re applying for a job within science, highlight any research projects in its own section. Flag the steps you followed, the scope of your research and its outcomes. For jobs outside science such as consulting, focus on project management and communication instead.
4. Don’t forget to include relevant work experience, volunteering or extracurriculars to highlight transferable skills like problem-solving, teamwork and adaptability.
5. If you haven’t done a research project or gained much industry experience yet, demonstrate your scientific skills by
TOP TIP
Don’t forget to include the soft skills outlined on pages 2-3. For jobs in science, emphasise teamwork, communication, independent thinking and attention to detail.
ARE YOU DOWNPLAYING YOUR SKILLS?
If you struggle with self-promotion or can be blind to your abilities, here are some skills you might have overlooked:
From lab work:
• If you managed deadlines: project management, dependability and prioritisation
• If you designed an experiment: decisionmaking, technical problem solving, creativity and logical thinking
• When you prepared the lab: attention to detail and risk assessment
• If you worked with others: teamwork, adaptability and communication
From written reports:
• When you interpreted results: technical aptitude, observation, data analysis and software experience
• When you researched other experiments: critical reading and research skills
• When you wrote up your findings: written communication and attention to detail
• If your work was reviewed: resilience and adaptability
SCIENCE CAREERS TO EXPLORE:
Which is right for you?
Research scientist
Research scientists plan, design and lead experiments to increase knowledge in a certain area. Many will work in universities but are also in demand in medicine, pharmacology and biotechnology companies. Doing a PhD is often a necessary step, so it helps if you have a master’s degree or longer research placement.
Lab analyst
Lab analysts help perform experiments, analyse samples, conduct tests and interpret results. You’re most likely to work in a hospital, university or testing company. Skills like attention to detail and data analysis are valued here.
Science communicator
Science communicators translate technical reports and findings into language nonexperts can understand. It’s a good option if you want to influence public opinion on a topic you really care about. Specific roles can include medical writer, policy advisor and science editor.
HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE
Biology:
Marine biologist, Environmental and sustainability officer, Clinical trial coordinator
Chemistry:
Chemist, Materials scientist, Crime scene investigator
Explore the jobs and internships available through Bright Network
Career clues
Many science degrees allow you to specialise by taking modules in relevant subfields. These can give you more niches to consider:
Biology students could explore:
• Biomedical science, screening biological samples for diseases
• Conservation and sustainability, carrying out studies on habitats and animals
• Biotechnology, working on new ways to improve health
Chemistry students might be drawn to:
• Analytical chemistry, investigating material composition
• Forensic science, assessing crime scene evidence
• Toxicology, measuring and assessing harmful substances
Physics students could consider:
• Astronomy, if you want to study planetary systems or the wider universe
• Geophysics, looking into earth’s properties, like magnetic fields
• Nanotechnology, working on the cuttingedge science of atoms
JOB TITLES YOU COULD TARGET:
Physics:
Aerospace engineer, Geophysicist Astrophysicist
Other jobs where a science degree would be valuable include:
Medical sales rep, Patent attorney, Scientific or technical consultant
THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM
Now you’ve explored some of the potential career paths you can take with your STEM degree, it’s a great idea to start thinking about some of the employers you might like to work for when you finish your studies.
HOW TO GET INTO DEPUY SYNTHES, PART OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON
Chloe
Don’t be afraid to showcase your non-STEM related experiences, projects, and hobbies. Whether it’s a part time job, society committee positions, or just particular hobbies or interests you have, talk about it! Working in the industry, it’s important to have the soft skills that may come from non-STEM related activities, like communication, team-working, and leadership skills, on top of the STEM knowledge you have.
Tania
From my experience, employers are especially looking for applicants who can communicate, cooperate and adapt well to working with others of varying roles and experience. I personally believe the key to achieving this is to refine your listening skills and continually be open to learn from those around you, which can help expand on existing connections.
CHECK OUT OTHER EMPLOYERS IN THE SCIENCE INDUSTRY THAT YOU COULD WORK FOR:
TOP TIP:
With a science degree, you have lots of transferable skills that are valuable in other areas of STEM. Many scientists pursue careers in data science (page 10) and data analysis (page 19). If you studied chemistry or biology, consider chemical or environmental engineering as well (page 15).
KICKSTARTING YOUR CAREER IN
TECHNICAL SKILLS FROM YOUR DEGREE…
If you studied computer science, software engineering or IT, you’re well-placed to begin a career in the tech sector. Here are just some of the hard skills you’ve gained:
Coding skills
Programming is one of the best assets to highlight on your CV: just 20% of students feel they can code to an intermediate or advanced level.* Many jobs and internships now involve a coding interview, which is a great opportunity to demonstrate what you’ve learned. Experience in several different languages is desirable (though not always necessary), so include everything you’ve worked with in your application!
Data analysis and interpretation
Most data analysis now relies on computer programs, and the work you’ve done across your degree gives you a better understanding of this process than many applicants. In particular, highlight any work you’ve done in programming languages like
… AND WHY THEY’RE VALUED
The technical abilities of computer science grads are in high demand among employers, who are always in need of more people to design, maintain and develop their software. With your deep understanding of how and why programming languages work, you’re able to pick up new systems quickly, endlessly adapting to technical advances.
Language first principles
A computer science degree teaches you all about the first principles that underpin programs and software. Using fundamentals like algorithms and data structures, you can contribute to tackling challenges across many different areas, including machine learning, AI, web development and cybersecurity. It’s also endlessly transferable to learning new languages and technologies.
Practical development experience
Most technical degrees set practical assignments. These are great ways to demonstrate you can combine your hard skills in software development with the creativity, teamwork and time management required in the world of work. A portfolio of projects that showcases multiple technical and non-technical skills is best. Don’t forget the experience you’ve gained in practices such as pairing, code reviews and demos, as well.
This flexibility is a real asset to employers. Your strong problem-solving skills and logical thinking mean you’re able to navigate complex challenges that would leave others stumped. Plus, your experience debugging software and testing code shows a precise attention to detail that’s valuable for all work projects.
HOW TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR SKILLS IN AN APPLICATION
1. List hard skills like programming languages near the top of your application. Include skills mentioned in the job description first.
2. Make note of the keywords used in the job description and use the same language in your application.
3. If you have experience creating software as part of a work placement or university project, include the results your work achieved. Small side projects that are visible on a website like Github are particularly useful evidence of your coding abilities. Open source contributions can also be valuable.
4. Get as specific as possible with module and practical project details. Don’t just say you did data analysis: explain how exactly you used Python, what methodology decisions you made and what conclusions you reached.
5. Remember to show evidence of your interpersonal and communication skills. Explain how you co-operated with other team members on any group work. It’s especially useful to note any systems you used to improve collaboration.
TOP TIP
Don’t forget to include the transferable skills outlined on pages 2-3. Employers recruiting for roles in the technology sector also look for skills such as teamwork, time management and creativity.
ARE YOU DOWNPLAYING YOUR SKILLS?
Of the members we asked, just over due to a lack of skills or their degree subject*. If you’ve studied any sort of technical degree, you have the right skills for entry level jobs.
One way to find more examples of your abilities is to closely comb through your previous experience working on a practical project. For example, let’s say you’ve developed a web page or app as part of your studies. Here are some skills you might have overlooked:
• If you worked to a brief: Decision making, working to stakeholder requirements, technical problem solving, creativity, research and software analysis
• If you managed your deadlines: Project management, time management and dependability
• If you worked in a group: Teamwork and communication
• The features you coded in a given language: Technical aptitude, adaptability and expertise in specific development technologies.
• When you released and checked your software: Version control, testing (quality assurance), troubleshooting and infrastructure deployment.
TECH CAREERS TO EXPLORE:
Which is right for you?
Software engineer
Software engineers are responsible for designing and structuring software. They also help maintain software systems through troubleshooting and problemsolving. From creating the mobile apps of the future to working hard on games like the next Legend of Zelda, there’s no shortage of creative projects you could choose between. Alternatively, you could specialise in a particular area, like machine learning or quality assurance.
Cyber security analyst
Cyber security professionals keep businesses safe from cyber-attacks and threats. In this role, you could protect sensitive company data against hackers, malware and phishing attempts. You’d be a great fit if you have a keen eye for detail and are interested in risk management.
Career clues
No one’s an expert in all programming languages, but your natural preference and skill can guide your career:
• If you love working with Android and IoS operating systems, consider mobile development.
• Being a HTML and Javascript whiz suggests you’d be a great fit for front-end work.
Data scientist
Data scientists use software to analyse large amounts of data. They interpret the results to advise on business decisions and track outcomes. If you love mathematical modelling and are keen to work with exciting emerging technology like Machine Learning and AI, this could be the role for you.
Systems engineer
Systems engineers advise clients on their network infrastructure and set up new architecture. It’s similar to software engineering, except you work with clients to design their networks and hardware as well.
This role is great for people who love problem solving since it involves research and analysis to decide which options align best with a business’s aims. Soft skills like project management and communication are also important.
Technology grads work across a huge range of industries and jobs. Here are some of the titles you could take on:
• Data analyst
Data engineer
• Technical business analyst
• Solutions engineer
Remember, a degree in technology is highly sought after in a variety of STEM roles for your technical aptitude and logical thinking – including in science and engineering!
UX designer
Game programmer
Compliance analyst
Product manager
Technical consultant
Technical support
Explore the current jobs and internships available through Bright Network
THE INSIDE SCOOP ON
HOW TO GET INTO FRAZER NASH CONSULTANCY
Anna Sustainability & Environmental Assurance
Applying for graduate roles is a daunting experience, particularly when roles within the sustainability sector are some of the most competitive. My honest advice would be to always show your genuine passion for the sector you are wanting to work in right from your application all the way through to interview. Enthusiasm and interest for the sector is equally as crucial as possessing the high technical expertise and skills to support it. Embrace your unique perspective and don’t be afraid to offer your genuine insights without hesitation.
CHECK OUT OTHER EMPLOYERS IN THE TECH INDUSTRY THAT YOU COULD WORK FOR:
TOP TIP:
Working in the technology industry brings the opportunity to transfer tech skills across many sectors. Employers will be looking for both your technical skills but also how you can utilise them in different environments – whether it’s in finance, cyber security or in sustainability. Make sure to highlight any related projects or extra- curricular activities to showcase your passion for the business.
Check out Bright Network’s list of engineering grad schemes to learn more.
KICKSTARTING YOUR CAREER IN
TECHNICAL SKILLS FROM YOUR DEGREE…
As an engineer, you have a fantastic blend of practical and design skills. Your degree gives you the following technical abilities:
Design and manufacturing techniques
Practicals will have honed your problemsolving and analytical skills. They also give you experience in deciding on a project’s approach and structure. You know how to identify and prioritise wants and needs and can take a problem from objective, through to prototype, to refined final project. Depending on your area of engineering, you’ll be able to design electrical power systems, mechanical parts like electrical generators and combustion engines or civil projects like bridges, railways and buildings.
Knowledge of sustainable practices
Companies are increasingly leaning on engineers to create more sustainable and clean systems and structures. Your degree prepares you for this well. Material Science modules teach you about the properties and expected behaviours of substancesas well as their environmental impact. You likely have experience weighing up materials based on considerations like durability, economic cost and environmental impact.
If you studied civil engineering, you’ll have learnt to consider how the environment impacts your design as well. You’ll have covered topics like water and waste treatment and gained practical lab skills such as soil testing and analysis.
Engineering maths
Your strong grounding in general statistics and applied mathematics gives you the technical skills required to solve complex real-world problems. A degree in engineering shows you can think both logically and creatively to come up with the best solution to a technical problem. It’s evidence you can take tricky processes like mathematical modelling in your stride while focusing on practical, real-world applications.
Software skills
Throughout your degree, you’ll have gained plenty of experience using the latest technology to process and visualise data. Using AutoCAD for design and MATLAB for numerical and statistical analysis, you’ll have developed the skills to assess complex structures and create optimised solutions. You might have worked in programming languages like Python, or even C or C++ if you’ve used lower-level systems.
These computing skills will help underpin your transition from university projects to real-world applications. Using MATLAB, for example, you could create simulations and models of signal processing as an electrical engineer, transport systems as a civil engineer, or control systems in mechanical engineering.
… AND WHY THEY’RE VALUED
As a vocational degree, a qualification in engineering shows employers you have strong analytical abilities and can adapt to practical requirements. Your technical grounding is highly desirable to companies working on the infrastructure and environmental projects that keep communities functioning and growing. Employers can also be confident you can
DOES SPECIALISATION MATTER?
work well under pressure to solve a variety of ever-changing problems, from risk assessment and design to liaising with external stakeholders. Your experience working on team projects is great evidence of your interpersonal and communication skills, which suggest you’ll thrive in many sectors and industries.
While courses in particular areas like mechanical or electrical engineering are often the best preparation for a job in that field, it’s also possible to switch your focus. This is especially true for graduates of more general engineering courses.
To make sure you have the right level of experience for the field you want a career in:
1. Take optional modules in your areas of interest.
2. Look for placements in the engineering specialism you’re keen to take on.
3. If your degree is in general engineering, get advice from tutors or lecturers on what modules to take to strengthen your application in a specific field. Most general engineering degrees include specialist pathways you can choose between as you progress. Some grad schemes also accept generalists and will train you in their specialism while you’re on the job.
4. Don’t forget that many fields require a mix of mechanical, electrical or civil engineering. For some, it’s even a requirement that you can work across multiple specialisms. For example, aerospace and automotive engineers need experience in both mechanical and electrical engineering.
5. Also, remember that all engineering degrees give you a grounding in applied mathematics and engineering design. These skills are transferable across
Check out Bright Network’s list of engineering grad schemes to learn more.
HOW TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR SKILLS IN AN APPLICATION
1. Emphasise your technical skills: Grades are the best evidence here, with a 2.1 or higher often required. You could strengthen your application with a personal project too!
2. Highlight industry experience: Include the specifics of each area you worked on and what skills you developed –including the soft skills and how your industry knowledge has grown.
3. If you don’t have as much practical experience, don’t panic: Use the questions below to gather examples of your other desirable skills. Don’t underestimate the value of passion: showing excitement about the position can help you succeed.
TOP TIP:
Other transferable skills valued in engineering include resilience, organisation, attention to detail and innovation. Learn more on pages 2-3.
4. Some grad schemes help candidates train and qualify as chartered engineers: When applying for one of these roles, try to demonstrate your commitment to further learning. Show employers you’re up for the challenge by preparing examples of overcoming academic setbacks in the past.
5. Finally, don’t forget your soft skills! Social skills are just as important as technical ability. Since they’re hard to teach, they can help you stand out. Think about how you resolved conflict during team projects or communicated decisions. Examples from group work, placements or extracurriculars are great.
ARE YOU DOWNPLAYING YOUR SKILLS?
If you struggle with self-promotion, use the following questions to unearth more of your competencies:
• How have you adapted to problems to reach a desired outcome? Remember, you can use evidence from your personal life or hobbies as well as university projects. Skills: adaptability, decision-making and creativity
• Did you ever have to analyse and weigh up two options? Which did you pick, and why? What were the consequences? Skills: analysis, decision-making, risk assessment and the ability to work under pressure
ENGINEERING CAREERS TO EXPLORE: Which
is right for you?
Civil engineering
As a civil engineer, you could specialise in areas including:
• Transport projects like roads, bridges and railways
• Environmental systems like water treatment and waste management
• Residential or commercial buildings
Some popular sectors for Civil Engineers include construction, local government, transport and utilities.
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineers work on electrical systems within most industries, including:
Telecoms, where you could be responsible for fibre optics and wireless networks
• Transport, working on signalling, power distribution and lighting
• Energy including generators, transformers and motors
Electronics if you’re especially good at circuits, capacitors and resistors
You could also work in emerging fields like robotics, AI and microelectronics.
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineers work across a wide range of sectors and industries including:
• Energy, including work on turbines, combustion engines and electrical generators
Construction, especially heating and cooling systems and ventilation
Marine, specialising in engines and propellers in ships and submarines
Within the energy and gas sectors, an increasing focus on sustainable solutions means you could research, design and implement new clean technologies.
Other options
• Automotive engineering (cars) or aerospace engineering (aircraft), if you have strong mechanical and electrical skills
• Chemical engineering, if you enjoy chemical or process engineering
• Environmental engineering, if you want to use your skills to tackle pollution, waste disposal and the climate crisis
While you can study undergraduate degrees in several of these specialisms, many employers welcome graduates with a more generalised engineering background. Specific job titles you could apply for include:
Maintenance engineer
Research engineer
• Test engineer
Other than engineering, consider roles in:
• Project management
• Operations and logistics
• Production management
TOP TIP
If engineering isn’t your calling, don’t forget your skills are highly transferable. Areas where your experience would be a particularly good fit include systems engineering, data science (page 10) and life sciences (page 6).
Discover the jobs and internships available on Bright Network
THE INSIDE SCOOP AT
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING:
What made you pursue a career at Arcadis?
Zahra Assistant Engineer
I’ve always aspired to be an Engineer as subjects like Physics and Mathematics have consistently ignited my curiosity on how various systems in our world operate. Growing up, I frequently encountered discouraging remarks such as “Engineering is not for women” or “Consider a different career path, suitable for Muslim women.” These recurring comments have only fuelled my determination to pursue a degree in engineering, as I saw it as an opportunity to prove to myself that I can indeed pursue my passions and aspirations. Undoubtedly, my hijab and faith have not hindered or should not hinder anyone from pursuing their dreams.
CIVIL ENGINEERING:
How to secure a role at WSP
Sam Civil Engineering
CIVIL ENGINEERING:
What’s it like working at Leonardo?
What’s it like working at Persimmon Homes?
Even though the company is very big, due to the structure of Persimmon, you don’t get that feeling at all. People from all levels are interested to hear your ideas and questions. Not once since I started have I felt like a small cog in a big machine as you can do in larger companies. Senior members of staff often take time to help you and give 1-2-1 advice.
Anna UK Engineering Innovation Lead
The graduate scheme enabled me to be involved in real-life engineering projects in a team while attending training modules with my fellow graduates. This ranged from awareness sessions to learning about all the different departments and roles at Leonardo, such as manufacturing, hardware, software, quality and so many more.
You meet other graduates from different sites and have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned through various training activities. In addition, modules for public speaking and finance help to enhance your business skills!
KICKSTARTING YOUR CAREER IN
SKILLS FROM YOUR DEGREE…
A maths, accounting or finance degree gives you the following abilities:
Strong mathematical grounding
Your ability to describe real-world problems in the language of mathematics underpins much of how we solve problems and make predictions. In particular, your statistics and applied mathematics skills are essential for risk calculation, predictive modelling and data analysis. These abilities underpin good decision-making in many career paths.
Abstract thinking
If there’s one thing a maths degree demonstrates above all else, it’s your excellent reasoning skills. Its technical and intellectual rigour means employers can be confident you can tackle even the most complex business problems. Your ability to take abstract situations, put them into a mathematical framework and then investigate specifics is a huge asset in industries like insurance or banking.
… AND WHY THEY’RE VALUED
Employers love maths grads due to their unique way of thinking and unparalleled reasoning skills. This strong mathematical grounding is highly transferable to more specialised niches and can be built upon with further training and accreditations.
The core business skills like problem-solving and numerical literacy that you’ve gained during your degree make you a great fit for strategy work. Furthermore, your ability to accurately interpret data to inform decisions differentiates you from those without a STEM degree.
Problem-solving and analysis
Completing a degree in mathematics requires strong reasoning skills and attention to detail. It demonstrates your ability to think through complex scenarios and precisely identify problems using mathematical terms. Your willingness to repeatedly approach problems without obvious or immediate solutions is excellent evidence of your resilience and logical thinking.
Computer skills
Throughout your degree, you’ll have gained valuable coding experience from using technology to answer questions. Knowledge of how to use computer software to facilitate your work, visualise large data sets or speed up processes is great to mention in applications. Employers will be encouraged since you’ll need strong technical skills to work with data on the job.
HOW TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR SKILLS IN AN APPLICATION
1. Include a skills section near the beginning of your CV and make it as specific as possible. For example, if you mention data analysis, add details of the coding languages and tools you’ve used, like C++, Python and GitHub.
2. Emphasise any experience you have applying mathematical skills to the scenarios mentioned in the job description. This could be through an internship or placement, but doesn’t have to be. For example, you might have managed a society’s finances as a treasurer, or have experience handling a small personal stocks and shares portfolio.
3. Demonstrate your analytical capabilities by including examples of your work with data sets. Include any experience gained in a business setting, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Maths is everywhere, so even something as unexpected as how you used statistical modelling to predict the performance of your favourite sports team could serve as evidence of your abilities.
ARE YOU DOWNPLAYING YOUR SKILLS?
If you studied a pure maths degree, you might struggle to translate your highly technical experience into the language of the working world. Here are some pointers and things to consider:
• Maths has a reputation for being a difficult degree. Just by completing your studies, you’ve shown perseverance, resilience, a shrewd intellect and selfdiscipline. You can highlight these to employers by talking through challenges you’ve faced and how you approached and overcame them.
• Strong communication skills are necessary for most jobs in finance, yet they’re not easy to demonstrate using your degree alone. Think about how you’ve co- operated with others in group projects or handled interpersonal conflict to reach a desired outcome. Leaning on
your experience as part of a sports team, university committee or volunteering can be helpful.
• Consider all the factors that go into solving a maths problem: breaking down complex material, skilled use of prior knowledge, logical thinking, seeing connections and expressing abstract thoughts in mathematical language are just a few of the skills you use every day.
• Don’t forget the more general skills you’ve gained throughout your degree, too. Meeting assignment deadlines requires self-motivation, independence, project management and dependability.
MATHS CAREERS TO EXPLORE:
Which is right for you?
Analyst
Analysts review and interpret large quantities of data to make business and investing decisions. If you like working with raw data and are skilled in data analysis, this could be the career for you. Analysts work across industries including in finance, economics, security, transport and utilities.
Actuary
If assessing risk and uncertainty is more your thing, consider a career as an actuary. This role relies on strong mathematical modelling abilities to determine the probability of a potential outcome and its possible impact. Actuaries typically work with insurance, investment and banking firms.
Check out the jobs and internships available on Bright Network
Evaluating which parts of your degree you most enjoyed can help you decide next steps:
• If you love the practical application of maths and are keen to learn more about businesses, consider accounting or consulting
• If you want to do more work with large data sets, look for a job as an analyst or statistician
• If probability theory and mathematical modelling call to you, check out actuary roles or the investment and insurance industries.
• If big-picture thinking is your forte and you’re interested in broader trends, look for opportunities in investing or economics.
Accountant
Accountants help businesses or individuals keep accurate financial records, review operations for greater efficiency and file tax returns. They can also advise on strategic business areas, such as financial risk management.
Economist
Economists research and analyse trends in the economy to forecast future outcomes. Typically, they work in an advisory role to the government or private companies such as banks and consultancies. As well as excellent research and analysis skills, you need to be a strong communicator and decision-maker to succeed in this role.
THE INSIDE SCOOP ON
A DEGREE IN MATHS COULD TAKE YOU INTO A VARIETY OF CAREER PATHS
Here are just some of the job titles you could apply for:
Data analyst
• Investment analyst
• Assurance analyst
Actuarial analyst
• Statistician
• Financial planner
• Auditor
• Accountant
Economic advisor
You’d also be a great fit for roles in related industries, such as:
Financial trader
• Quantity surveyor
• Insurance underwriter
TOP TIP:
Strong maths skills are highly transferable, particularly to the technology industry. In addition to some of the roles and opportunities listed above, check out data science and software engineering (page 10).
WHY JOIN GLOBAL TRADING FIRM, OPTIVER?
Joanne Graduate Software Developer
I joined Optiver because of the learning opportunities that were in store for me. I’m really interested in statistics, but i was also interested in the financial side of things too. There’s lots of growth opportunities for me to explore here, and the people above me are really keen to help me learn.
OTHER TOP EMPLOYERS YOU COULD WORK FOR AFTER
Check out the jobs and internships available on Bright Network
WHAT ELSE COULD YOU DO WITH A
Studying a STEM degree doesn’t mean you have to follow a career in a STEM industry. Whether you’re ready to leave STEM behind or just want to be sure you’ve explored all your options, the great news is that your degree has given you a huge range of hard and soft skills that transfer well to other roles.
Here are just a few examples of how you could apply your experience outside STEM:
With a science degree…
Your ability to conduct research, analyse data and think critically is useful in many industries.
In a career with the civil service or as a government advisor, you could use these skills to dive into a topic, learn as much as you can, critically assess the situation and relay the information in a relevant way.
As a tech student…
Your ability to understand technology processes and oversee projects makes you an ideal candidate for digital transformation management. You could ensure successful digitalisation initiatives within a range of industries, from healthcare to finance.
For engineers…
If you’re a strong communicator, you could build on your engineering knowledge with a career in technical writing. You could create instruction manuals and operation
With a degree in maths…
Your strong foundation in logical thinking and quantitative analysis makes you a versatile candidate for various roles.
Marketing or market research would let you apply your data analysis skills to assessing consumer trends and opportunities.
Top tips for applying to roles outside STEM
• Remember that for lots of grad schemes, what you studied doesn’t matter. Instead, employers value passion, adaptability and your ability to learn – so don’t box yourself in arbitrarily.
• Refer back to the transferable skills on pages 2-3 to strengthen your application if you lack relevant industry experience.
Not sure which career suits you? Take our Career Path Test to find out!
• Don’t be afraid to emphasise your technical abilities on your application. These skills are useful in ways you wouldn’t necessarily expect and are often unique to STEM graduates.
STARTING YOUR CAREER JOURNEY
There are many different ways to take your first career steps. What works for your peers might not be right for you, so try not to compare your experience against others. Here are some of the most popular paths to a graduate career:
Internships
Internships are a good way to test out different career paths, increase industry experience and build connections. They can even transition into an offer of permanent employment.
Some internships are open to recent graduates, however most take place between university terms. You can usually start applying for internships from your first year onwards.
Placement opportunities
Some courses include a compulsory placement, such as a year in industry. You’re likely to come across such schemes in more vocational subjects like engineering and computing. However, they’re becoming more popular in other subjects, too.
Placements help you demonstrate practical industry experience. They also help you figure out what you do and don’t want from your career while you’re still at university. Plus, many companies that offer placements are also keen to hire students at the end of their degrees.
Graduate jobs
Graduate jobs fall into two camps: schemes specifically targeted at recent graduates and entry-level roles for candidates just starting out in a given industry. On a graduate scheme, you rotate between multiple departments within one company before applying to or being allocated a specific role. With entry-level roles, you start in one role from the get-go and primarily learn on the job.
Both are great options if you have a decent idea of what you want to do and are looking for a longer-term opportunity. If you’re not sure about your career path, it could help to do a placement or internship first.
The typical STEM application process:
You send a CV and cover letter or fill out an online application. For tips on how to put together a CV for STEM roles, see pages 24-35.
If you pass the initial CV stage, some companies ask you to complete a numerical reasoning or personality test at home. For roles in computing, you might receive a coding exercise.
If your application and potential test results are strong enough, you’ll be invited to interview. Usually, this involves a general interview to assess your soft skills and a technical interview about job-related problems. These might take place over several rounds.
Some larger companies might invite you to an assessment day to evaluate how you work in a team and react to hypothetical scenarios. If successful, you’ll receive an offer of employment.
BOOSTING YOUR CAREER OPTIONS
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES TO MAKE YOU STAND OUT
While your education and work experience are important, employers also want to get to know the person behind your degree. Taking part in university societies and working on personal projects are fantastic ways to enrich your skill set while distinguishing yourself in a competitive job market.
As part of a university committee, you could use your leadership skills and enthusiasm to make a real difference in the experience of your peers, whether you’re encouraging sustainable practices or empowering women and non-binary people in STEM.
Personal projects like building a website, creating a portfolio or developing a mobile app can serve as tangible evidence of your abilities and are great ways to demonstrate your creativity and passion.
Even completely unrelated society positions or projects can demonstrate valuable skills. Managing the finances of a fund-raising student charity, or organising matches for your university tennis society, are excellent ways to showcase reliability, responsibility and enthusiasm.
Bright Network’s NextGen awards recognised the students and societies making a mark and driving positive change outside of their degrees.
Another way to improve your career options is to strengthen your network of industry connections and recruiters. The best ways to do so are by attending networking events and being active on LinkedIn.
5 ways attending networking events improves your prospects
• Hear about opportunities you might not otherwise have considered.
Connect with peers who are interested in similar career paths and exchange experiences.
Learn what a role or industry is like directly from employees.
• Get valuable face-to-face time with recruiters and industry experts to build connections outside the application process.
Mention specific interactions in a cover letter or application to prove your passion for and knowledge of a role.
At Bright Network, we have lots of events each year to help you connect with top employers and gain advice on how to secure your future career. Gain valuable insights from career leaders in STEM and learn how to stand out against other candidates when pursuing your career path.
Check out the events at Bright Network
STEM CV CREATE YOUR
Personal statement
Your personal statement should communicate who you are, your experience and what you’re looking for from your next career move. It’s important to make sure your personal statement is tailored to the role you’re applying for - never use a generic personal statement as this can suggest you’re not passionate about the role or employer you’re applying to!
Hobbies & interests
Show employers another side of you by including things activities you’re interested in outside of work. This will help potential employers get to know you better and potentially help you stand out from the crowd.
Positions of responsibility
This section is a great place to showcase any leadership roles you’ve undertaken, either in school, university or other organisations. If you’re on a society committee or a sports teaminclude these here!
Personal information
This section is usually at the very top of the page and should include your full name, email address and phone number. You can also include a link to your LinkedIn profile here, if you choose.
Education
For this section, start with your most recent education. If you’ve started university but haven’t graduated yet, you can include your degree and predicted grade if you have it! List your A-Levels here and your GCSEs below. Make sure to include where and when these were achieved and the grades you received.
Work experience
If you’re just starting university, you might not have a lot of experience in the world of work. Don’t worry if you don’t, it’s perfectly fine to include any part-time work or work experience you’ve undertaken at this stage of your career. List that part-time retail work you did last summer or the work experience you did in secondary school - these experiences will have loads of transferable skills that employers love to
It’s important to include your skills if you’re looking to go into a STEM-related career. These skills should be technically-focused and tailored to the opportunity you’re applying for.
STEM SUCCESS
ADVICE FOR SECURING A ROLE
Lauren Environmental scientist
If you are looking at pursuing an environmental role, or joining the nuclear industry, I would recommend keeping up to date with new innovations and technologies across the industry, as they are very interesting to learn about. There are lots of free-to-join events where you can have further insights into the industry, such as webinars and lectures. These are great chances to meet like-minded people.
Jared Technology Graduate, CMC Markets
Practice, practice, practice! Whether that’s for interviews, psychometrics tests or group assessment centres. My other piece of advice would be to make sure that you have extracurricular things on your CV to help you stand out.
Swayam Technology Consultancy Placement, Personio
Don’t give up after a few rejections. I must have gotten at least 100 and believe that with every rejection I learnt something new, which made me a better candidate in the long run. Also, use AI to your advantage when practicing for recorded answers to make sure you’re concise – that helped me a lot!
Alyssa Energy and sustainability graduate, CBRE
Starting your professional career journey can be challenging and you might find yourself facing setbacks or rejections along the way. Don’t be discouraged by obstacles; instead, see them as stepping stones. Remember that each one is a learning opportunity that takes you one step closer to where you are meant to be.
Emily Technology graduate, HSBC
I do a lot of extracurricular work. I really like volunteering and helping people and I think that helped quite a lot because it shows what I’m passionate about. Diversity and inclusion is a big part of that and I think I showed that through my work with all societies. Showing my interests other than academia helped a lot!
Michael Research Software Engineer
My biggest tip is to continuously build and refine your technical skills while staying curious about new technologies. Handson experience, like contributing to research projects or real-world applications, is invaluable. Don’t be afraid to take on complex challenges - each one will help you grow.
VOICES IN STEM:
I left school when I was 16 because I decided I wanted to gain work experience instead of going to university. I had a successful career in sales and recruitment, but it didn’t quite feel like the right fit. I was lucky that through the network I developed in my years in recruitment and having built contacts in the world of product and tech I was trusted to pivot to a product role. I have loved working in the product space ever since.
Ailsa - VP Product
I began my academic journey at the University of Bristol in 2018, pursuing an integrated MSci in Physics. During my third year, I completed a placement at an engineering company, which sparked my passion for the field. In my final year at university, I undertook a project focused on nuclear energy, which solidified my desire to contribute to sustainable and beneficial initiatives for the planet. This led me to join Buro Happold as a Sustainability and Physics Graduate Engineer in 2022. After two enriching and diverse years in their graduate scheme, I have successfully completed the program and look forward to advancing my career as an experienced engineer.
Toby – Sustainability & Physics Engineer
I was 13 when I wrote my first few lines of code. It was a small game where players had to collect gold coins while avoiding red dots. It was very simple and only took an hour to write, but I was hooked. I would spend the rest of high school writing small programs to help solve Maths and Physics problems. After that, I would study Computer Science at university, where I would learn fundamental principles that I still apply today in my current role as a software engineer.
Kareem – Software Engineer
I entered tech in 2015 during my final year of a Masters in Management and Public Administration in Romania. Transitioning from self-taught developer to web developer, I later earned a Master’s in Computing at Napier, Edinburgh. In 2024, I remain passionate about technology and lifelong learning and am enjoying my journey as a Front End Engineer at Bright Network.
Cristina - Front End Software Engineer
