Archive for the 'Graduate jobs' Category
Interview with an Alum – Csongor Máthé and “being a self-starter”
By skye.aitken, on 22 September 2021
Interview with CsongorMáthé, UCL alum. Written by Sue-Zhen Yong, Work Related Learning Officer at UCL Careers.
Following on our series of alumni interviews, we continue to shine the spotlight on start-ups. This time, we sit down with Csongor Máthé who shares his experience studying at UCL as well as offering insight into his career journey so far. Having dipped his toes into the start-up world during his studies, Csongor was keen to find a role in FinTech that he was passionate about, leading him to join Jumpstart’s start-up graduate programme. Last September, he started working as a Product Analyst at TreasurySpring, a FinTech start-up that offers innovative cash management solutions to corporate clients.
1. What did you study at UCL? And what did you do outside of your studies?
I studied a BA in History, Politics and Economics, specialising in Economics and Business.
I built up a German tutoring business from scratch, teaching more than 30 students. Additionally, I sat on the UCL FinTech society committee as their Events Executive, acted as the Hall Representative for my university hall as well as played for UCL’s Football club. To further my interest in financial markets, I also joined the MFC Equity investment club.
2. Did you engage with the services or events delivered by UCL Careers during your time here? What service/event did you find the most valuable?
I found the job and internship listings on the myUCLCareers jobs board particularly useful. Being able to access vetted job opportunities in one place has simplified an otherwise complicated process, offering access to exciting jobs and companies one may have otherwise not necessarily would have been exposed to.
3. What does your career path look like? What motivated you to pursue this line of work? How did you get from UCL to where you are today?
Having always been very passionate about start-ups (even writing my dissertation on start-up fundraising), I craved learning new skills in a stimulating, high-paced environment and I thought a young start-up would be a great place to start. Working at TreasurySpring has exceeded all my (already high) expectations – every day brings a new challenge and the work I do is incredibly varied and exciting. In my role, I work directly with the Chief Product Officer on originating new financial products for our clients to invest in. Whilst my focus is within Product, I also have great exposure to all parts of the business, including sales, ops and tech.
Looking back on my studies, the interdisciplinary nature of my degree has taught me to understand and utilise new concepts quickly. Studying the combination of history, politics and economics has developed my critical thinking, which is especially important at a start-up where you are constantly encouraged to think about how things could be improved. The business and finance modules from my degree also proved to be a good foundation of knowledge when starting out in my role.
4. What is the biggest lesson you have learned from your career so far?
Being a self-starter is highly valued in a start-up like TreasurySpring – there is no formal training week, and you start doing your job on the first day. It is all about learning as you go, which can feel challenging sometimes, but you can learn and progress very quickly. Whilst true for all careers, it certainly is for start-ups: What you put in is what you get out.
5. How have you found working in a start-up/SME during the pandemic? What are currently the most topical issues of your industry?
Due to the pandemic, I’ve worked from home for nearly a year and only met my colleagues for the first time a few weeks ago. Although home working is certainly unusual at the start, it has worked surprisingly well for me. That said, I look forward to being more in the office and interacting with colleagues and clients.
Over the last decade, money markets have undergone unprecedented change, which has been accelerated since the start of the pandemic. Two key trends that have shaped the cash management industry during the pandemic have been the digital revolution within treasury and the growth in demand for ESG (standing for environmental, social and governance).
6. What does a normal working day at TreasurySpring look like for you?
I typically start work at 8am from the comfort of my home (or more fittingly, bedroom, office and gym). To help prep for our daily team meetings, I read the major news on financial news sites like Bloomberg and Financial Times and subsequently make notes on the most relevant macroeconomic events. On an average day, I liaise with members of the team and with bank or corporate clients. Other daily tasks can range vastly from data analysis to producing marketing materials to doing research on our product targets.
7. What is the most rewarding part of your work? Equally, what is the most challenging part of your work?
Calls with bank and corporate clients are one of the most exciting parts of my job as I get to attend meetings with incredibly high-profile clients – something that started happening just a few weeks after starting my role. This level of exposure, coupled with the high responsibility you get early on, is simply unique for an entry-level graduate position. As a result, it is very motivating that I can see the impact I make every single day.
One of the main challenges (and benefits) is that the learning curve at a start-up is much steeper than at larger businesses. Whilst big corporations typically have established ways to do everything, there are a lot of firsts at a start-up that require figuring out the ‘what’ and ‘how’ quickly. Being exposed to new problems every day, it is important to be able to take small, calculated steps, move fast and seek constant feedback and discussion.
8. Finally, what advice would you give to students and recent graduates who are looking to move into your area of work?
I think it’s critical to find a role that you’re really passionate about and everything else will come (more) naturally. If you’re after stability and consistency, think twice about joining a start-up. If, however, you’re looking for an exciting challenge that beats large corporations’ graduate schemes hands down for creativity, fun and motivation then it might be worth applying to Jumpstart’s graduate programme!
Interested in learning more about getting a job at a start-up? UCL Careers are hosting an Industry Update Session with Jumpstart on Thursday 7 October, 6-7pm. Register your spot to learn first-hand from the people running UK’s only start-up graduate programme on relevant skills and knowledge you’ll need to gain to land a job at a start-up and the general sector trends to watch out for.
Filed under Alumni Profiles, Careers Advice, Graduate jobs
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Interview with an Alum – Maia Gummer and ‘Leaning In’
By skye.aitken, on 22 September 2021
Interview with Maia Gummer, UCL alum. Written by Sue-Zhen Yong, Work Related Learning Officer at UCL Careers.
Ever wondered what it’s like working at a start-up? To this day, more and more start-ups are starting to recognise the intrinsic value hiring students and graduates can bring to their businesses. That said, the world of start-ups can seem like unfamiliar territory to students.
Meet UCL alumnus Maia Gummer – Maia began her BSc in Human Sciences at UCL in 2016 before pursuing an MSc in Space Physiology and Health. During her time at university, she was a scientific contributor for a number of student newspapers, worked abroad, served the RAF as a volunteer reserve, and co-founded a life science research team that has gone on to present their work internationally. After graduation she joined Jumpstart, the UK’s only start-up graduate programme and started working at Quell as the first employee, a fitness gaming company who recently celebrated their one year anniversary!
We spoke to Maia about how her time at UCL has shaped her career trajectory along with a glimpse into what it’s like working at a start-up and top tips for securing a job at a start-up.
- What does your career path look like? What motivated you to pursue this line of work? How did you get from UCL to where you are today?
Studying Human Sciences at UCL tapped into my real love for learning new things and enabled me to develop a broad skill set, exposing me to a wide variety of disciplines—life sciences, politics, philosophy, and even architecture! The interdisciplinary nature helped me become increasingly agile and adaptable, where I had to show initiative, pick things up quickly, think critically, and become comfortable with ambiguity.
After finishing my studies, I joined a start-up graduate scheme at Jumpstart that trained me up and helped me land my current job at Quell! Start-ups were one of the few career options where every day looked different, and I could draw from the skills I developed at UCL and learn from true innovators, in a fast-paced environment that challenges me to solve interesting problems every day.
At Quell, it’s been incredibly gratifying to see your efforts have a meaningful impact on the business. Like every company, we face our fair share of challenges, but each time we overcome something, it’s celebrated across the board. Everyone feels its impact. Equally, the reverse is true. It’s difficult to keep all areas of the business moving forward with the same momentum, and challenges are shouldered by everyone.
2. Did you engage with the services or events delivered by UCL Careers during your time here?
I didn’t actually engage with UCL Careers until my final year! I had no idea where I saw myself after graduation, especially since Human Sciences is an interdisciplinary degree, and each student takes a vastly different path after university. It wasn’t until I attended a careers seminar in my third year that I realised how many options I had. A generalist skillset was shown to be a strength, even in a specialist world, so I began to look at careers where I could wear many hats.
3. What does a normal working day at Quell look like for you?
Each day is different. Currently, I’m taking lead on insight generation—planning and executing our first-ever user test. This involves creating and validating a testing protocol, acquiring subjects and researchers, and liaising with different stakeholders before giving the green light to begin. I’ve also been able to use my scientific background, specifically my MSc in Physiology, to advise on exercise best practices in design. I develop and deliver the tests that validate the product and find ways to endorse our work through third parties, such as health charities and scientific advisors.
4. What is the biggest lesson you have learned from your career so far?
If you’re asked to take on an unfamiliar task, lean in to the opportunity. I’ve doubted my ability and experience in the past, but I’ve realised how much more you learn from your mistakes than your wins. It’s a steep learning curve, but you’ll gain valuable experience in a shockingly short amount of time.
5. How have you found working in a start-up/SME during the pandemic? What are currently the most topical issues of your industry? How do you see this growing in the future?
It’s been a mixed bag! On the one hand, I was able to knuckle down, bond with the team, and adjust to working life with minimal distractions. On the other hand, the volatile state of global affairs heightened the uncertainty you already face every day in a start-up.
That said, I’m fortunate enough to be working in an industry that has thrived during the pandemic, and if the predictions come to be true, then this continued growth will be sustainable. Gyms, team sports, and hospital visits came to an abrupt halt in a year where health and fitness became more important to us than ever. HealthTech and FitTech became the answer for many people, and the companies in the sector flourished as a result.
6. And finally, what advice would you give to students and recent graduates who are looking to move into your area of work?
Take time at university to really understand the way that you think, learn, and work as well as your strengths and weaknesses – start-ups offer a diversity of thought and there’s a role for everyone. Also, gain experience outside of your studies that demonstrates your proactivity and ability to overcome challenges. In my experience, those are the two most important qualities that you’ll need to work in a start-up.
Interested in learning more about getting a job at a start-up? UCL Careers are hosting an Industry Update Session with Jumpstart on Thursday 7 October, 18:00 – 19:00. Register your spot to learn first-hand from the people running UK’s only start-up graduate programme on relevant skills and knowledge you’ll need to gain to land a job at a start-up and the general sector trends to watch out for.
Filed under Alumni Profiles, Careers Advice, Graduate jobs
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7 Signs That You Should Consider a Career in Accountancy
By Rachael Richardson-Bullock, on 17 June 2021
Read time: 2 minutes
Written by Tom Bilby, Marketing Executive, The Accountancy Partnership
Right, let’s get this straight – being a successful accountant isn’t all about tricky mental maths and crunching numbers.
Sure, numericalskills arean important part of therole,butthere’s more to accountancy than working outpercentages without the help of a calculator.
Fear not though!Attending university meansit’slikelyyou’vealready got an entirearsenal of tools under your beltthat should certainly not be overlooked or undervalued.
Here are 7 signs that a career in accountancymightjust beyour cup of tea:
1. You’re strict about hitting deadlines
If ‘deadline-crusher’ is your (double-barrelled) middle name, you’re halfway there already. As an accountant, you’ll be dealing with tight deadlines on a regular basis. Organisation and the ability to prioritise whilst staying cool, calm and collected under pressure are all vital accountancy attributes.
2. You take an analytical approach to problems
When faced with a task or problem, an accountant needs to be able to switch into analytical mode in order to navigate an effective solution. This is something university students are well-practised in thanks to all that lateral thinking and research.
3. You know how to budget and save cash
Were you the envy of your peers for being able to budget your student loan down to the last penny every month? No? Either way, there are lessons there that you now have experience of, whether you’re a budgeting wonder or not. That skill will serve you well when it comes to offering clients advice on how to nurture their cash flow, spend wisely and cut costs efficiently.
4. You ain’t afraid of no test
Ongoing exams come hand-in-hand with a career in accounting but hey, as a (former) student, you must be well-versed in the world of studying and revision by now. If you don’t mind another few years of qualification-chasing, you’ll be just fine.
5. You have Dragon’s Den on series record
Although you might not want to own your own business, it does help to have an entrepreneurial streak, or at least an empathy for it. That way you’ll understand your clients and help them identify ways in which they can grow their own ventures.
6. No mistake flies under your radar
A major part of an accountant’s job is helping clients reduce the risk of errors across their accounts and bookkeeping. So, you’ll need a keen eye for errors and anomalies, and the ability to be proactive in putting them right.
7. You have an endless supply of patience
As an accountant, you’ll spend a fair amount of time communicating with clients about their financial situation and the status of their business. At times, this might be a high-pressure role as clients come to you with stress or worries about money.
Sometimes what is second nature to you can be quite complex to a non-accountant, so when having these conversations, you’ll need to be patient and willing to explain things multiple times if needs be.
You ready for it?
Do some, or all of these, sound just like you? If so, it might be time to start seriously considering hopping onto the very first rung of the accountancy career ladder!
Don’t worry if that ladder starts to wobble, there are plenty of resources and channels of support out there to help you keep your balance and carry-on ascending.
The Accountancy Partnership is an online accounting firm for small businesses. Learn more about our approach to changing the profile of modern accounting!
Filed under Careers Advice, Graduate jobs, Jobs
Tags: Accounting, advice, skills
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Share your Talents…with UCL Talent Bank
By skye.aitken, on 23 February 2021
Read time: 2 minutes
Written by Victoria Abbott, Recruitment & Selection Advisor at UCL Careers.
If you are looking for a job for when you graduate, or an internship for the summer break, try UCL Talent Bank.
UCL Talent Bankis a service run byUCL Careerswhich matches UCL candidates with opportunities sourced by the UCL Talent Bank team. The team actively source opportunities for UCL students and graduates, and then present applications to employers.
Anytime you submit an application via UCL Talent Bank and are unsuccessful in securing the role, one of our career professionals will provide you with tailored feedback on your application, helping you to develop your application skills andincrease your chances of successfully securing a role in the future.
Typically, these opportunities are at Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and include internships, graduate roles, and part time jobs. Plus, all of the opportunities are exclusive to you as a UCL student or graduate, increasing your chances of successfully securing a role!
Keep reading for an exclusive interview with Nasima Bashar, Internships & Vacancies Officer at UCL Careers, who helps organise opportunities for UCL students via the UCL Talent Bank service.
This sounds like an amazing opportunity for students! Can you tell me a little bit more about the process and how students can apply?
Once we advertise the role on myUCLCareers, students can start their application, which typically involves uploading a tailored CV and cover letter. Once the deadline has passed, we review the applications and send the shortlisted candidates to the employer.
Students can apply for as many UCL Talent Bank opportunities as they like and all opportunities on myUCLCareers are paid in accordance with National Minimum Wage legislation.
The employer will then get in touch with any candidates whom they wish to follow up with, and progress to the next stage of the recruitment process. If students are not invited for an interview, but were shortlisted, we ask the employer to provide feedback on the application and why they chose not to interview on that occasion.
If students are unsuccessful for a role, we can also provide individual and tailored feedback, specifying key areas that can be worked on to ensure improvements ready for the next application.
So how are UCL Talent Bank opportunities sourced compared to other roles that students may find for themselves?
We will actively source opportunities for UCL students and graduates, and present applications to employers on every occasion we possibly can, to ensure students have the best opportunities available to them.
We look for roles that will be of benefit to UCL students in terms of the skill set, support, and general wealth of experience that can be gained from working at each organisation. There are dedicated members of the UCL Careers team who seek roles for specific student groups, including engineering students, PhD and research students, and opportunities which are appropriate for all student levels across all academic disciplines.
It is a great pleasure to source opportunities where students go on to thrive in their roles and really enjoy working within a supportive and engaging workplace.
Fantastic! Are there any additional advantages to be gained from engaging with the UCL Talent Bank service?
A UCL Talent Bank opportunity is typically exclusive to UCL students, but this is not the only benefit of the service. When sourcing an opportunity, we make sure there is a good amount of support in place for our students who successfully secure the role, whether that be a supervisor or mentor who oversees the student.
We also ensure there are specific objectives and outcomes which the student can work towards throughout their time at the organisation and really try to ensure there are real benefits and tangible skills the students will gain from the opportunity.
Employers are very interested in recruiting the best talent, and UCL is the best place to do so. We have over 40,000 students within the University made up of undergraduates, postgraduates and research students and employers are fully aware we have plenty of bright students who meet their organisational needs!
Many UCL students and graduates have benefited from the scheme, which began in 2015. Sarah, UCL BSc Economics alumni, had this to say about the service:
“UCL Talent Bank is a quick and easy way to find fantastic opportunities with SMEs. As a recent graduate I found many relevant, interesting opportunities and the first one I applied for, I got! The job I have now has fast tracked my career and I’ve even started a professional qualification.”
To begin your UCL Talent Bank search, just log-in to your myUCLCareers account and select UCL Managed Opportunities Scheme list, UCL Talent Bank to view all available opportunities.
Filed under Careers Advice, Careers Resources, finding employment, Graduate jobs, Internships, Jobs
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5 things to gain from International Development Week
By skye.aitken, on 18 January 2021
Read time: 3 minutes
Written by Glyn Jones, Careers Consultant at UCL Careers.
UCL Careers will be running a series of online events between 1 – 4 February focusing on careers within International Development. The week will kick off with an introductory session, followed by panel discussions throughout the week, giving you the opportunity to hear from professionals working in the industry. These panel events are an excellent opportunity to hear about new career pathways, as well as giving you the opportunity to gain sector insights from people working in the industry.
Below we’ve highlighted 5 things that you will gain from attending events run during the International Development Themed Week.
- An introduction to International Development
Throughout the themed week you’ll learn about what working in International Development means and find out what opportunities there are for graduates.
On Monday 1 February, the week will start with an introductory session run by a UCL Careers Consultant. This will provide an overview of International Development as a work sector, and offer advice on how to get the most out of the week. Registration for this talk is now open and bookings can be made through the event page.
- Hear from UCL Alumni working in the industry
When thinking about your own career prospects, it can often be beneficial to hear from others and see what pathway they have undertaken. By hearing from UCL Alumni you’ll be getting insights from those who have been in the same position as you and have the opportunity to gain any tips that they may share from their own experiences.
We have numerous UCL Alumni joining us throughout the week, and on Thursday 4 February we have our ‘Connecting with UCL Alumni’ event, which will focus solely on UCL Alumni. To find out more about the event take a look at the event page.
- Learn about different career pathways
Our events will offer insights into the range of careers and employers who work in the sector. As well as hearing these first-hand accounts, we will have a session focusing on the different career pathways within the sector. This event will enable attendees to hear about the variety of routes available to graduates, whether these are specific programmes associated with International Development, graduate vacancies or alternative career pathways that can lead to working in the industry.
For further information about our ‘Pathways into International Development’ event, take a look at the event page.
- Learn about how the sector has been impacted by Covid 19
Throughout all the events we’ll hear about how the pandemic has changed the work of our panellists and the sector as a whole. Given the huge impact of Covid 19, we’ll also have a dedicated session that will look into how the sector has had to adapt as a result.
Our event on Tuesday 2nd February focuses on International Economic Development and the impact of Covid-19 on the sector. For more information on the event, visit the event page.
- Grow your professional network
Throughout our events, you’ll have the opportunity to put your own questions to the experts. Furthermore, for some panellists we will set up individual rooms for speakers at the end of the session, giving you the opportunity to speak directly with panellists. Not only are these opportunities a unique way to learn first-hand about what working in International Development is really like, but you’ll also have the chance to grow your professional network.
For full details of all event hosted throughout the week and how to register for events, please visit the International Development Themed Week webpage.
Filed under Careers Advice, Careers Resources, Events, Graduate jobs, Jobs
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Ensuring your Digital Footprint Leaves a Good Impression
By skye.aitken, on 29 May 2020
Read time: 5 minutes
Written by Lee Pike, Careers Consultant at UCL Careers.
If a prospective employer is checking you online, think about what they might find. Have you ever been embarrassed by a social media post you wrote or regretted a photo you were tagged in? The good news is you can, and should, control what recruiters see.
There are approximately 45 million users of social media in the UK in 2020, which equates to approximately two thirds of the population. Regularly engaging with others is generally seen as positive by employers. It shows you’re tech savvy but also gives prospective employers a more rounded picture of who you are.
With increased recruitment costs averaging £3,400 per person, many prospective employers are using social media to proactively undertake targeted recruitment, predominantly using LinkedIn. But scarily, many employers are also using someone’s online presence to vet prospective candidates (as well as existing employees!). Therefore, it’s important to ensure your digital footprint leaves a lasting positive impression.
Thankfully, what you project online is within your control and the way to do this is relatively straight-forward – it’s just realising it’s necessary in the first place. Once you start to manage your digital self, you can make sure that you are presenting a professional but also personal persona.
Steps to managing your online presence
- Search for yourself.
The simplest way to start is to use a search engine on yourself (and if you don’t see anything, try searching ‘name + UCL’). It’s important to not only look at the initial page/subsequent pages of results, but also at the images and videos.
Does what you find worry you? Put yourself into the shoes of a recruiter – does it worry you now? Is there anything you wouldn’t want your parents to see?!
Conversely, you may prefer not to have an online presence or your search has zero results. Think to yourself – what might a recruiter think if they see no online presence? Could it be interpreted to mean you have something to hide? As such, is having no online presence a positive thing? How might you have an online presence that is positive for a recruiter to see?
Understanding what others can (or cannot) see about you means managing your professional and personal presence is made easier.
If you see something you don’t like or is no longer true for you, can you remove it? If you see something which someone else posted, ask them to take it down (or contact the owner/administrator if they don’t).
- Limit who can see what.
An easy way to limit what others can see is to check your privacy settings. You might decide to limit your ‘fun’ online media so only friends, connections or approved followers can see it, making it invisible to the general public. Anything negative should be made private (or better deleted).
You might be connected to, and hence associated with, something that is sending out negative or unprofessional points of view. Remember you can leave certain people/organisations/groups and remove any followers you feel might be detrimental to your online persona.
Untag yourself from photos and avoid any bad language, ill-advised comments or jokes. Remember, there is no distinction between what you say in real life and what is said online.
- Create a positive digital impression.
The great thing is, you can control what people see and there are many ways to do this. Here is just selection you can try:
- As it says on their website, ‘LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the internet.’ Don’t miss out. Use LinkedIn for your professional online presence.
- Use a professional looking head & shoulders profile picture – people with a profile pic on LinkedIn are 14 times more likely to get clicked on.
- Be selective about who you follow. Think about that positive message you want to convey and remember, this is a professional network platform, not a social network platform, so don’t simply follow friends.
- You can try creating an online portfolio such as starting a blog, creating your own website, or design an infographic about your interests and experiences. These can demonstrate your digital and content producing skills.
- Engage positively in discussions, forums and debates. By taking part you’re expanding your presence and making others more aware of you. You’re also leaving behind positive digital footprint impressions.
Next steps
Why not set aside some time within the next week or so to start this process. Search for yourself and see what you do (or do not) find. Think about the results in terms of a recruiter and think – does this represent me in a good way? If not, what actions do I need to take to improve things?
Remember – you are in control of your own online presence. You only have one attempt at making a good first impression – make it count!
Filed under Careers Advice, Graduate jobs, Recruitment, Tips and hints
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Why Startups can be a Perfect Place for Graduates
By skye.aitken, on 16 January 2020
Written by Theo Margolius, BSc Economics UCL 2015 & Co-founder of Otta
I didn’t discover how great it was to work for a startup until I moved to work for Nested after 2 years at an investment bank. In this post I explain why you should be considering startups for your first full time job, even though you may have mostly had exposure to large corporates in your research so far.
When I went to a careers event at university in 2014, most companies on the attendee list were established brands with well over 1,000 employees. This makes sense, as universities want to help get all of their students a job and big companies hire the most people. At the same time, large corporations have the time and resources to dedicate to these events (while fast-growing startups are focused on building their company and product). However, just because these firms are the ones you hear the most from, it doesn’t mean they’re the only option.
While graduate schemes at big companies can be good, I strongly believe that going to work for a startup straight out of university can be a great move for lots of people. Here’s why:
- The growth opportunity is huge compared to corporates.Large corporates are complex machines that need individuals to do very specific jobs for them to function properly. At startups, your role may change and you’re likely to get involved in a wide range of tasks. This gives you more opportunity to learn, explore different parts of the business and develop your skills. At Nested, I saw the company triple in size and moved roles twice within the first 15 months across operations, finance and strategy. Everyone at the company had a good amount of exposure to the CEO, which is unheard of at big corporates
- You can experience a fresh approach to culture and ways of working.While big corporates are trying to modernise their culture to make themselves more appealing to the next generation of workers, they simply can’t make that shift overnight. At startups you can experience a more flexible approach to work that might suit you better (like working from home on some days)
- The pay is not always low.There’s a common misconception that jobs at startups are low paid. While it’s true that your pay is unlikely to reach the levels it would at investment banks or consultancies, great startups pay competitively to attract the best talent. While you need to make sure your salary is high enough so that you’re comfortable, I’d argue that the start of your career is not the time to focus on salary and you should be focused on learning as much as you can. As an extra perk, a lot of startups give their employees stock options in the business, which allows you to share in the upside if the company is a success.
- Our generation wants to be mission driven.You’re more likely to find pleasure from work where you’re having an impact on something that matters to you. You have a lot more chance of finding meaningful work at a startup where you believe in the mission. For example,Fluxare trying to get rid of paper receipts andKoru Kidsare reinventing childcare options for busy parents
- There’s no better way to see how to run a business.Joining a small and fast growing company gives you a significantly better overview of how the whole business works and what makes it successful. If you’re thinking of starting your own business early in your career then why not learn how it’s done sooner rather than later?
- You don’t have to battle with the academic recruiting cycle.Big corporations typically hire for their graduate schemes at the same time of the year, with work on most schemes starting in August/September after you graduate earlier in the summer. On the other hand, startups hire when they need people. This could give you the flexibility to take time off and travel after university then interview with startups when you get back and start shortly afterwards
- You won’t close doors.It’s unrealistic to expect to find your perfect job from day 1, and you shouldn’t feel like you have to. Your first job should enable you to learn as much as possible, and if it doesn’t quite work out, you’ll still be able to join a graduate scheme in a year’s time
If these points resonate with you then you should consider launching your career at a startup rather than taking the traditional graduate scheme route. It’s worth noting that choosing the right startup is more of a skill than choosing the right graduate scheme, so it’s important to do your research and get to know the company you’re considering working for more deeply.
At Otta, we’re rebuilding job search. Our product is the smartest way to search for entry-level jobs at startups in London. Find your next role at a fast-growing company byvisiting our website. If you want to know more, feel free to email me using theo@otta.co
Filed under Careers Advice, Graduate jobs
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By skye.aitken, on 14 October 2019
Considering a career in Engineering?
The UCL Careers Engineering& Built Environment Fair features some of the top employers from the fields of chemical, civil and environmental, electronic and electrical, and mechanical engineering, as well as construction and the built environment.
Employers will be hiring for permanent graduate positions as well as internships and placements so this fair is mainly aimed at final year and penultimate year Engineering, Bartlett or related students.
All students are welcome to attendin order to research companies, but there may not be suitable structured programmes on offer.
When:Monday 21October 2019 | 5:30pm – 8pm
Where:North and South Cloisters, Wilkins Building
Some employers attending include:
· Mott Macdonald
· RAF
· GSK
· Atkins
· Bouygues UK
· Eurostar
· Berkley Group
· Ministry of Defence
Plus many more!
For a full list of employers attending the fair, visit:
Engineering & Built Environment Fair
You do not need to book to attend our Careers Fairs, but you must bring valid UCL ID to gain entry.
For more information on about the fair and how to prepare, visit:http://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/about/events/careers-fairs
Filed under advice, Careers Advice, Engineering, Events, finding employment, Graduate jobs, Jobs
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How To Plan Your Graduate Job Hunt | CareersLab
By skye.aitken, on 14 October 2019
It’s that time again – we’re kickstarting our week with another episode of CareersLab with Careers Consultant, Raj Sidhu.
Are you wondering how to structure and organise your year to maximise your chances of getting that dream graduate role?
Then watch this video to learn:
- The right things to do and when
- How to research, plan and apply to roles with confidence
We’re be posting a CareersLab video every week on the UCL Careers YouTube channel and right here on the UCL Careers blog.
If you’re a UCL student or recent graduate and you have a question you’d like Raj to answer in a future CareersLab video then please email us at careers.marketing@ucl.ac.uk.
Don’t forget to subscribe to ourYouTube channeland theUCL Careers Newsletterso you never miss an episode.
Filed under advice, Careers Advice, finding employment, Graduate jobs, Tips and hints
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Applying to GSK’s graduate scheme in 2019/20? | CareersLab
By skye.aitken, on 8 October 2019
This week, Careers Consultant, Raj Sidhu, takes CareersLab on the road! Watch his journey to GSK’s headquarters to learn more about their graduate opportunities.
Want insider tips from GSK’s graduate recruitment team, that could help you with every graduate scheme application you make?
Then watch this video to learn:
- The best time to send graduate scheme applications
- What the recruitment process for a graduate scheme looks like
- Insights into GSK’s graduate scheme
We’re be posting a CareersLab video every week on the UCL Careers YouTube channel and right here on the UCL Careers blog.
If you’re a UCL student or recent graduate and you have a question you’d like Raj to answer in a future CareersLab video then please email as at careers.marketing@ucl.ac.uk.
Don’t forget to subscribe to ourYouTube channeland theUCL Careers Newsletterso you never miss an episode.
Filed under advice, Careers Advice, Careers Resources, finding employment, Graduate jobs, Jobs
No Comments »
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