CyberFirst is a Student scheme inspired and led by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) which aims to support and prepare undergraduates for a career in cyber security. NCSC partners with other government departments and selected industry to offer students a comprehensive package of financial assistance and cyber skills training to help you kick start a career in cyber security.
Find out more at gchq-careers.co.uk/early-careers/cyberfirst.htm
Unlocked Graduates are inviting students from Brunel University London to an
interactive discussion about how we can improve trust in the criminal justice system amongst BAME communities, kindly supported by EY. Unlocked, is a graduate scheme in which graduates can build leadership skill through working as prison officers.
Unlocked’s participants build exceptional leadership skills, complete a bespoke Master’s and work with prisoners to help them break the cycle of re-offending.
David Lammy MP and other top speakers working in the criminal justice system will be sharing their views on why there is a lack of trust in the criminal justice system among BAME groups. We will then open the debate up, asking delegates to discuss and develop their solutions during an interactive session.
Come along to find out more about findings from David Lammy MP’s review of BAME representation in the criminal justice system, hear from thought leaders in the prison service and diversity and inclusion and share your perspective on the how we can improve equality in one of our most important public services.
The event is open for all students and graduates. It will be taking place on Wednesday
8 November 2017 from 12.30-4.00pm in Canary Wharf. To attend and receive further details on the event venue RSVP at trustincjs.eventbrite.co.uk.
Don’t give up… turn things round and look at other strategies – outlined in this article on LinkedIn Pulse!
So, who are we? We’re the Placement and Careers Centre – known for short as the PCC – part of the School of Professional Development.
How can we help you? We can:
Just come in and ask… You can find us on the 1st Floor in the Bannerman Centre – come in the main Library entrance and up the stairs in front of the Student Centre.
Interested in a graduate scheme where you can progress into management within 3 years? Apply at http://apply.reed-gts.co.uk
![data_financial_sheets_800_13227[1]](https://brunelpccblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/data_financial_sheets_800_132271.jpg)
Whether you’re searching for an internship, placement, graduate training scheme or a permanent role or just want some work experience:
Careers Consultants and Placement and Internship Advisers can help you with your job search, CV/applications and interview skills.
Take a look at the Guardian UK 300 to find out which companies went up, and which went down…
Based on the results of the trendence Graduate Barometer, which asks students which career sectors interest them the most and which graduate employers within those sectors they most want to work for, the Guardian UK 300 ranks the most popular UK employers by sector.
As I left student life behind me and entered the professional workplace, it did seem a bit daunting at the time.
During any one month I could be on a year-end audit at our larger clients, or preparing monthly management figures for those clients too small to have their own finance director.
I enjoy spending time at clients’ premises because I can build up a really good relationship with the people, and it gives me a much clearer view of business as a whole, rather than just the accountancy side. And no two clients are the same – their structures, the products and services they sell, the way they produce their accounts will all be different, not to mention the characters that run them! Accountancy opens your eyes to the business world at large and I think I’m improving my people skills, and developing as a rounded business person along the way.
The day can be quite long sometimes if the client is out of the area, as we have to do a full working day on their premises, but at least the mileage expenses are good!
Spending time in our own office is good too, as I get chance to catch up with my friends at work and the rest of the students. When I’m in the office I’m typically preparing annual accounts, personal tax returns or VAT returns for clients. The phone rings regularly with client queries, which could range from asking for help with something that’s come through the post to Sage accounts training. It’s very rewarding when you get a nice email from a client who really appreciates your advice.
Depending on which qualification you opt for, some are day release and some block release. I’m doing the chartered exams (ACA) so I’m doing block release, but I have to put in quite a few hours of private study every week alongside my courses. It was quite a shock at the start to discover how much more difficult the exams are, and how many extra hours are needed to be able to pass them. I guess it’s the same though for any professional career path – at least it’s quicker than studying to be a doctor or a vet!
This can be tough though when I’m working out of the area, as the working day is already a long one with travelling added to it. The key is getting into a routine and being disciplined enough to stick to it (easier said than done sometimes when my friends are going out and I’m not).
One bit of advice I’d give is not to rush through the exams as quick as you can. If you take on too many at a time you’ll run out of steam and have no time for your personal life – I need time to play hockey and to go out socially to keep me sane! You’ll also be passing the exams quicker than you’re learning in the workplace, so you could end up without the experience to do anything with the qualifications you’ve got.
Choosing the right firm for you is important too. There are reasons for and against each size of firm, but personally I’m glad I chose a mid-sized one because I’m not pigeon holed into one large department at work. Mitten Clarke is an award winning firm and big enough to give me really broad training, and I travel around the country meeting clients of all sizes.
Socially there’s plenty going on too – we go out regularly, some of it is paid for by the firm and other times it’s just a few of us getting together to see a band or to go out for a drink. This year a few of us completed the national Three Peaks Challenge for our designated charity, and we hold our own 5 a side tournament to raise funds too. We don’t play regularly enough to win anything, but it’s good to let off steam together out of the office.
So the exams aren’t easy, and you have to be prepared to put the work in, but the rewards are there to be had. Whether I choose a career in business or the profession, and decide to work in the UK or abroad, I’ll have a very promising future and hopefully a very good salary to go with it!
Craig McIntyre, aged 24
Trainee Accountant at Mitten Clarke. BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance
You may not have considered this as one of your options once you’ve graduated: take a look at the NOMS graduate programme. You will need to apply in October/November in the year before the programme starts.
Join them on Facebook
Are you interviewing for a graduate scheme or summer internship at an investment 
bank? Do you aspire to be an ‘analyst’ or ‘summer analyst’? Which questions will you be asked at interview? Efinancialcareers have a definitive guide to investment banking with interview questions from the past few years.
What kind of jobs are advertised?
How do I access the jobs board? Online at www.brunel.ac.uk/services/pcc/vacancies/_nocache
How can I sign up for graduate job alerts?
Go to www.brunel.ac.uk/services/pcc/vacancies/subscribe [You can stop alerts any time you want!]
Can I still access the jobs when I’ve graduated or from off campus?
Yes, you can if you’re a Brunel student or graduate
Take a look at the Bank by bank graduate and internship application deadlines (London), 2013-2014 on the eFinancialCareers website. Quite a few of the schemes have already opened!
Markit Academy host monthly trade simulator competitions which give you the opportunity to have your CV considered by leading financial institutions. They also have a CV database which will match your skills to any new job opportunities and graduate schemes that are placed with them by firms and institutions. You can also find Markit on Facebook.
This is a great opportunity if you’re studying economics or related subjects but it’s open to anyone who feels they have the right skills. If you’re not sure what’s involved in a role as a financial trader, take a look at this profile…
‘The Graduate Market in 2013 – a study of graduate vacancies and starting salaries at one hundred leading employers conducted by High Fliers Research in December 2012 – … highlights that employers are offering a record number of paid work experience places this year for students and recent graduates, but recruiters warn that new graduates from the ‘Class of 2013’ who haven’t had any work experience at all whilst at university are unlikely to get a job offer from the country’s most prestigious employers, irrespective of their academic achievements.’
We’re often asked ‘what’s a graduate training scheme’ or ‘how do I apply for a graduate training scheme, and is it too late?’
A graduate training scheme is full-time employment with a major company once you graduate, offering structured management/professional training and development . Schemes usually last between one and two years and may be business or finance-related, HR, IT, engineering, marketing etc. The company may help you with training and support towards your chosen professional body’s recognised qualifications – eg chartered engineer status or professional membership of CIPD for the HR profession.
If you’re a final year or postgraduate student, you can find schemes and graduate jobs advertised on the PCC website, and you can sign up to receive email alerts. Also, register with prospects.ac.uk and targetjobs.co.uk to receive job alerts.
Come in and see us if you want more help in applying for these schemes or want to know more about them.
Check out the UK Top 100 Graduate Employers timeline on Timetoast.
Brunel University Placement and Careers Centre Blog 