THE OXFORD GUIDE TO CAREERS

pp16–35 Developing your career ideas

pp36–46 Gaining experience and developing skills

pp66–143 Sector advice and alumni profiles CREATE TODAY. PREDICT TOMORROW. WELCOME TO THE OXFORD GUIDE OPPORTUNITES FOR GRADUATES IN THESE AREAS:

Quantitative Research Infrastructure GRADUATES AND INTERNS TO CAREERS 2021 Machine Learning Data Analytics Software Engineering Human Resources We hire a significant number of graduates and interns every I can confidently predict that this year is going to be year from all levels ranging from quite different for getting a job. Don’t believe everything undergraduate through to PhD. you read or hear from friends and family; as in every time of major change or recession, there will be roles and expanding industries that are keen to recruit you. There Join Europe’s leading quantitative finance research APPLY TODAY will be organisations that are winners as well as some firm and work alongside the brightest minds in that are losers. gresearch.co.uk/graduates the world to tackle some of the biggest questions To succeed in this time of change, I’d recommend you stay adaptable and open to new opportunities. Focus on in finance. developing your set of transferable skills – like problem solving, teamwork, business awareness and leadership We use machine learning, big data, and some of the most – that every employer is seeking when they recruit. You advanced technology in the world to predict movements can develop your employability skills in our programmes in financial markets. Develop your skills in a cutting-edge and also in activities across the University and beyond, environment, surrounded by colleagues who are leaders in their OFFICE Jonathan Black, including college, departments, student societies, sports, fields. We’re proud to offer a highly competitive compensation Whittington House Director of the Careers Service volunteering, and the creative arts. and benefits package, plus a dedicated intern social program. London WC1E 7EA

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 1 WELCOME SOLVE PROBLEMS. SAVE LIVES. NO EXPERIENCE £45k REQUIRED STARTING SAL ARY

Graduate Software Developer

Graduate Analyst We have written this Guide for any and every Oxford • learn about information interviewing with alumni student: undergraduate or postgraduate, artist or • attend one of the many ‘Introduction to …’ talks scientist, who each usually have one of three questions: we run • Where do I start? • To gain more skills: Marketing & • How do I gain more skills to improve my chances • take part in the Oxford Strategy Challenge or The (especially in this time of change)? Student Consultancy Communications • Where do I find jobs and internships? • work, as the students above have, in an Oxford- You’ll find answers to these questions, and many exclusive Micro- or Summer Internship Programme more in this Guide: from ‘How do I write a winning • attend Insight into Teaching/Medicine/ CV?’ to ‘What does it take to be a solicitor?’ and from Business/Publishing/Academia/Pharma Account Manager ‘How do I get experience in the museum and heritage programmes. sector?’ to ‘How do I meet a careers adviser for a 1:1 • To find jobs and internships: appointment?’. • log onto CareerConnect This Guide is just one of the many free services you • sign up for automatic alerts about new jobs in Commercial Manager can access from the University Careers Service. Other your industries of choice services you can use include: • meet the Internship Office to explore our • To get started: Internship and Micro-Internship programmes • book a confidential 1:1 (there are over 5,000 a We look forward to meeting you at our fairs and year to choose from) events; in your college, department or faculty; or at the • visit some careers fairs Careers Service at 56 Banbury Road – both while you www.tpp-careers.com • use our Career Weaver tool are here and for the rest of your career (we offer the meet some employers Oxford Careers Service for life). • TPP Careers @TPPCareers @tpp_careers TPP 2 www.careers.ox.ac.uk CONTENTS

p8 p36 THE CAREERS SERVICE GAINING EXPERIENCE AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

An overview of the recruitment Core employability skills: what year at Oxford University and they are and ideas on how to the range of support available develop them. p66 at the Careers Service. INDUSTRY SECTOR THE OXFORD Gaining experience and developing skills ...... 36 Your Careers Service ...... 8 Developing core skills ...... 37 BRIEFINGS AND What’s next? What’s first?...... 10 Joining employability programmes ...... 39 GUIDE TO Careers term by term ...... 12 Seven ways to gain experience ...... 42 ALUMNI PROFILES Careers year by year ...... 14 Making the most of the internship office...... 45

CAREERS 2021 An introduction to a wide variety of different industries, The team p16 p47 including real-world insights Content: The Careers Service and advice from Oxford alumni. Editor: Julia Sadler DEVELOPING YOUR APPLICATION Academia and higher education ...... 68 Publishing assistant: Pauline Gümpel Accountancy and financial services...... 70 Design and layout: Simon Minter, Nineteenpoint Ltd CAREER IDEAS ESSENTIALS Advertising, marketing and PR ...... 73 Sales: Aisling Ridge and Eleanor Russell Arts and heritage ...... 76 Marketing: Corina Lacurezeanu Banking and investment ...... 78 Accounts: Soon-Mi Newman Business and management ...... 83 With thanks to: Careers information and advice Advice, guidance and tactics Business with purpose ...... 86 All Careers Service staff and alumni contributors for everyone – including how for being your best at all stages Charity and social enterprise ...... 88 Images: Alumni photographs are the subjects’ own to develop and explore ideas of the application process. Consultancy ...... 91 for what to do next, from Education ...... 99 Where to find us Successful applications ...... 48 Energy, sustainability and environment ...... 101 further study to how to find Equality and diversity in the Engineering ...... 105 Health and social care ...... 109 The Careers Service is offering a full programme of graduate jobs. application process ...... 50 International policy and development ...... 111 support and activities online throughout the current CVs ...... 51 Law ...... 113 pandemic. See www.careers.ox.ac.uk for details. Cover letters ...... 54 Five steps for better career planning ...... 17 Application forms for employment Media and journalism ...... 120 National policy and government ...... 123 56 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6PA Ethical networking ...... 22 and further study ...... 56 Publishing ...... 125 Telephone: + 44 (0) 1865 27 46 46 Building your occupational awareness ...... 25 How to reflect the same experience Science ...... 127 Email: [email protected] Routes into graduate employment ...... 28 in a CV, cover letter and application form ..... 57 Start-ups and entrepreneurship ...... 131 www.twitter.com/oxfordcareers Further study ...... 30 Recruitment tests ...... 58 Tech: IT, data, AI and machine learning ...... 134 www.instagram.com/oxfordcareers Working in different countries ...... 32 Assessment centres ...... 60 Other careers ...... 140 www.youtube.com/user/OxfordCareersService Visa options for working in the UK ...... 34 Confident interviews...... 62 www.facebook.com/internshipoffice

4 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 5 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX / CONTRIBUTORS’ INDEX CONTRIBUTORS’ INDEX

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX CONTRIBUTORS’ INDEX

Oxford Careers Service would Oxford Careers Service would Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Patchwork Hub Martin Dickson ...... 115 Beth Kume-Holland ...... 89 like to thank all supporters of like to thank all contributors for this publication. submitting profiles and quotes. Genomics plc REED Specialist Recruitment Limited Dr Maria C Suciu ...... 131 Ann-Marie Jay ...... 84

Ab Initio Software Ltd ...... 136 Accenture Government Legal Department Reuters Dr Lakshmi Manjoosha Adapa ...... 36, 106 Cisco Systems, Inc...... 136 Shanice Mahil ...... 116 Yörük Bahçeli ...... 121

Compass Lexecon ...... 93 Admiral Financial Services Limited GroupM Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust Cornerstone Research ...... 93 Sophia ...... 71 Issah Abdul-Moomin ...... 19 Sachin de Stone ...... 110

Da Vinci Derivatives ...... 80, 82 APR LLP Landmark Chambers Schools Eden McCallum LLP ...... 93 Ian McFarlane ...... 71 Joel Semukala ...... 116 Alice Bloom (secondary school) ...... 100 Simon Davies (secondary school) ...... 100 EY-Parthenon Strategy ...... 93, 96 Arup Law Trainee Flow Traders ...... 80 Tabitha Kennedy ...... 62, 104 Amy Rickwood ...... 47, 115 Shell Heather Winsor ...... 129 FTI Consulting, Inc...... 94 B Lab UK Marshall Wace LLP G-Research ...... premium slot, 143 James Ghaffari ...... 87 Dr Eddie Rolls ...... 97 Swire GSA Capital Partners LLP ...... 80 Tom Spearman ...... 84 Bain & Company Monitor Deloitte Hogan Lovells International LLP ...... 117 Rachael Martin ...... 92 Hal Bigland ...... 92 Teamspirit INSEAD ...... 101 Sandy Downs ...... 74 Beamery Museum of the History of Science Newton Europe Ltd ...... 94, 96 Sultan Murad Saidov ...... 132 Robyn Haggard ...... 77 Tessella Nomura Holdings, Inc...... 80 Dr Francis Newson ...... 44, 135 Boult Wade Tennant LLP New Ground Coffee Optiver ...... 81, 136, 138 Charlotte Martin ...... 128 Jonny Walker ...... 87 The Value Engineers OxWEST ...... 130 Rachel Ballard ...... 19, 74 Oxford Alpha Fund ...... 81 Brunel University London Osprey Publishing Dr Joanna Bagniewska...... 132 Kyriaki Kyriacou ...... 126 University of Oxford Oxford Guild Business Society Dr Joanna Bagniewska ...... 128 ...... 81, 96, 117, 137 Corporate Finance Analyst Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Dr Simukai Chigudu ...... 69 Tom Johnson ...... 79 Dr Joseph Feyertag ...... 124 Dr Jessica Hedge ...... 69 Oxford Hub ...... 90 Oxford Mental Health Network ...... 90 Cycle.land Oxford Hub Water UK Agne Milukaite ...... 132 Lizzie Shelmerdine ...... 89 Dr Alice Carrington-Windo ...... 104 Oxford University PGCE ...... 102 RBB Economics ...... 97 DeepMind Oxford University Press (OUP) Wiener Staatsoper (The Vienna State Opera) SES S.A...... 141 Dr Markus Wulfmeier ...... 106 Naomi Crookston ...... 126 Indyana Schneider ...... 77

TPP Ltd ...... premium slot, 142 Emilyeverdee.com Pamela Steele Associates LTD UNICEF TTP plc...... 107, 108, 130 Emily Everdee ...... 119, 121 Priyanka Raj ...... 112 Janita Bartell ...... 112

Two Sigma Investments, LP ...... 107 Financial Conduct Authority Primary Care Network Zoopla Property Group Vantage ...... 117 Sam Banks ...... 124 Freya Turner ...... 110 Will Moyle ...... 135

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Daily Plus…

Advice appointments: Confidential and impartial one- Insight into: Short programmes to help you develop to-one meetings with a careers adviser held in person at your knowledge and understanding of a specific field, the Careers Service, on the phone or online, with extra including Insights into Teaching, Medicine, Business, sessions hosted in departments and colleges. Book in Publishing and Academia. advance on CareerConnect. Recruiter in residence and mock Weekly interviews Newsletter: The easiest way to keep up to date during term, our newsletter hits your inbox each Meet employers one-on-one to learn about their sector week with details of upcoming events and or organisation, get advice on your CV and applications opportunities. or have a practice interview. Times and topics advertised on CareerConnect. Talks and workshops: We host talks on specific career options and run skills workshops frequently, many with THE CAREERS invited external speakers. Most are open to all students, The Careers Service and with several tailored to master’s students, DPhil students or research staff. COVID-19 SERVICE AND In 2020, we are delivering all our usual workshops, Termly programmes and appointments from a safe distance. We are offering careers advice sessions on the phone TOSCA: Work in a team to help local organisations solve and online; we are negotiating remote-working YOUR YEAR AHEAD real business problems and develop your employability internships with employers; and we are delivering our skills: includes consultancy training. talks, workshops and insight programmes virtually. We are staying up to date with the latest employer news Skills sessions: Workshops and presentations on a so that we can pass useful information on to students The Careers Service provides support and impartial specific topic, such as psychometric tests or interviews, and alumni via our website and weekly newsletter. All led by an employer or a careers adviser. All advertised on bookable on CareerConnect in the usual way. advice on any careers-related topic. Use this Guide to CareerConnect. get started, and see our website for in-depth guidance: Micro-internships: Two- to five-day voluntary, full- www.careers.ox.ac.uk time work placements with a host organisation, run in CareerConnect 9th week every term. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careerconnect 56 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6PA Kellogg College Annually Accessed with your Oxford Single Sign-on, CareerConnect is the password-protected area The Careers Service is offering a Career fairs: Meet employers and alumni to learn of the Careers Service website that provides full programme of support and about and explore some of the options available. dedicated services enabling you to: Starting early in Michaelmas term, we run at least • Book appointments. activities online throughout the eight sector fairs. • Browse our calendar of events. Wycliffe Hall • Book your place on workshops and employer- current pandemic. Opportunities: Nearly 10,000 vacancy and led events. internship positions are advertised every year on • Search our extensive database of job vacancies Jericho CareerConnect. and internships. See www.careers.ox.ac.uk • Access additional resources to which we University The Summer Internship Programme: Hundreds of subscribe on your behalf, including practice tests. for details. Parks work experience opportunities in many sectors and … and much more! countries exclusively for Oxford students.

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What’s Career readiness grid 1 Make a start next? Plot your Focused exclusively progress! Whether your next move is to explore a little and try on my degree something new, or to reflect on your personal preferences and start planning, the important thing is to make a start. What’s • Attend a career fair or company events. Where I have a clear focus • Use career planning tools to generate ideas and a and how that I am working focus. Unsure do I start towards I have first? • Get involved with a student society. what I 1 2 a clear • Sign up for some workshops. want focus The pointers opposite (for students in Quadrants 2 to do or goal Take a breath, find your bearings and 3) indicate more specifically what’s needed to move I have ideas but I am well organised and ‘down’ and ‘right’ on the Career Readiness Grid. I’m not sure what’s 3 4 clear about and think about what would Remember, it’s never too late to start, and the right for me my next steps most help you move forward. Careers Service is here to support you all the way. Exploring interests Most students will explore career options, including and developing skills further study, alongside their studies. This Guide is for I have a focus but I’m everyone considering what to do at the end of their 2 current course, and will help students who have a clear not sure… focus to sharpen their career objectives and add polish to their applications. It summarises our guidance and …how to show companies I am a strong candidate, I enjoy lots of different Organised and clear about signposts further resources to explore options, make …if it is truly right for me. 3 4 decisions and work purposefully towards a successful things: how can I choose next steps future. Whether your focus is a logical next step from your between them? Consider the following questions about your possible degree, or comes from career planning (or even a If you have placed yourself in this bottom right quadrant next steps and mark where you currently stand on the hunch), getting some experience will help you both to be (you may already be applying and interviewing), grid on the opposite page. a stronger candidate and understand better why a role, Oxford students often have potential to succeed in reflecting on how you developed your focus, examining • How clear are your ideas? organisation or further study option is right for you. many different roles and fields and, yes, it can be difficult any assumptions and aligning your choices to your core • How well do you understand your core interests and The most powerful way to find out if you enjoy to choose! motivations can: motivations? something is to try it. See the guidance on Gaining If you are already exploring options and taking on • reinforce decisions made; • And, do you have sufficient understanding and Experience and Developing Skills for advice and ideas different roles to build skills and experiences, see the • strengthen applications, by improving the evidence experience to make a sound decision? about opportunities to ‘learn by doing’. Consider: section on Developing Your Career Ideas for guidance you present of your skills and interests; • Taking on a similar role in your extracurricular and tools such as Career Weaver to help you identify • help identify viable alternatives. activities (e.g., for a student society). your pattern of interests and motivations. Reflect on Additional support can still be helpful, especially • Doing an internship or volunteering. your experiences and try to identify any themes that are if your early applications aren’t working as you’d like. • Participating in the Careers Service’s employability important to you: Attend workshops, company events and chat with a programmes. • Why do you choose to do these activities? careers adviser to hone your approach and consider • Work-shadowing or short-term work experience • Which skills do you use? what plan B and plan C might look like. (e.g., a micro-internship). • What do you enjoy doing most and why? Use career fairs and company-led events to talk with • How important to you are the people, relationships alumni and others working in specific fields to test any and outcomes? assumptions, deepen your understanding and extend Once you understand what kind of work and More information your thinking. When combined with experience you may outcomes offer you intrinsic satisfaction, further www.careerweaver.ox.ac.uk identify additional ideas to develop into your plan B and research through the web and ‘in person’ into industries, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/i-am-exploring-ideas plan C as a back-up to your primary focus. roles and organisations will help you to create focus and www.careers.ox.ac.uk/i-have-some-ideas If you have doubts or questions, book an make decisions. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/i-am-deciding-on-a-plan appointment with a careers adviser on CareerConnect If you are struggling to narrow your focus, a confidential www.careers.ox.ac.uk/i-have-a-clear-plan for an unbiased conversation. chat with a careers adviser can help you gain clarity.

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• Understand the application processes for different Michaelmas term firms and be sure to note and hit any deadlines. Hilary term Careers • Beware! Some sectors close as early as the end of October (notably banking and investment, the Civil Michaelmas term is the time to talk to firms that interest Service Fast Stream and management consultancy) Finalists and graduating master’s students who have you. In fact, we run eight of our annual career fairs in and some have ‘rolling recruitment’, filling vacancies made good applications should expect January and term weeks 1 to 3, and this term will account for almost 75% as and when students apply. February to be busy with interviews. Continue to target of all the company presentations and company visits Other firms will open applications during this term and new graduate programmes and seek advertised positions coordinated by the Careers Service in the whole year. into Hilary term. Monitor careers sites, set email alerts – you may also find attractive internships to apply for. At our career fairs and company presentations you and follow target companies on social media to make Similarly, those targeting further study should continue by term can meet: sure you hear first about new opportunities. to make applications to courses and funding bodies. • Recent alumni working in areas you might be Plan enough time to make high quality applications: CVs, Hilary Term is also a key time to start seeking interested in – people who were in your shoes not so cover letters and application forms take time to complete internship and summer opportunities. The advice above Graduate recruitment runs long ago. well and should be tailored for each and every application. about applying for full-time positions all holds true • Recruiters who can tell you more about the firm, Read our advice on crafting good applications in this here. Some firms that recruit graduates only open their year-round and there are graduate roles and training, and the recruitment later section of the Guide. summer internship places to penultimate-year students, always new positions being process. Be ready for the recruitment process to move quickly and these can lead to full-time offers for interns that do • Senior managers and business leaders (many will once you have applied. Online testing, interviews and well. But also look out for other opportunities including advertised. However, many also be Oxford alumni) who can provide a wider assessment centres can all follow within a few weeks, our own Summer Internship Programme, which offers of the biggest recruiters perspective on the organisation and graduate career and offers may be made before Christmas. all Oxford students exclusive internship opportunities, trajectories. Consider booking a one-to-one discussion with a careers many of them in sectors where internships can be hard link their cycles to the Use the Events Calendar on CareerConnect to adviser and find relevant workshops and skills sessions to find, or overseas. find company presentations and to book advertised on our Events Calendar on CareerConnect. Keep abreast of the skills sessions, workshops and academic year, with places on relevant workshops and seminars offered at the Careers Service via the Events full-time positions HT20 skills sessions offered through the Considering further study? Calendar on CareerConnect. 18 Careers Service. Research possibilities now to understand application for finalists processes and funding options. advertised from Finalists and one-year • Popular courses can fill quickly, so consider applying early. Trinity term master’s students • Research deadlines to apply for grants and bursaries too. late summer, Number of Read more about bursaries and grants in our further Employer Events at TT20 Full-time jobs and study article here. Be sure to keep on track academically and invest enough for entry the Oxford 2019–20 42 graduate schemes time to do yourself justice in finals or any exams that following year. Applications will already More than one year to completion you have. MT19 have opened during the The big graduate schemes form only a small Every year, hundreds of 148 summer at most large Internships, spring weeks and insight days proportion of the graduate employment market and organisations visit Oxford graduate recruiters. If you Organisations with substantial graduate recruitment the number of vacancies offered every month through specifically to meet you – to have not already started, finalists programmes are increasingly interested in meeting CareerConnect remains start a conversation. However, our and one-year master’s students penultimate-year students, freshers and second fairly constant through the academic terms are NOT created equally. should move quickly to: years on a four-year course. Use careers fairs to ask year, so there are always about internships and ‘taster programmes’, and when new opportunities. However, applications will be opening. keep an eye open as some Virtual careers fairs Some companies now start to accept applications graduate schemes re-open The following fairs will be run on our virtual platform • Law Fair: Wednesday 21 October for internships and insight days towards the end of this term to fill any remaining and will be open from midday to 6.00 pm. See our • Careers in Computing Fair: Monday 26 October Michaelmas, with many more opening in the new year. places. You can also apply to website and CareerConnect for details. • Jobs for Mathematicians Fair: Wednesday 28 The recruitment processes often mirror those for full- firms that have year-round October time positions because success in the internship can lead rolling recruitment. • Oxford University Careers Fair (for all to an offer for a full-time position the following year. The Careers Service sectors): Tuesday 13 October In 2019, we ran the Ox and Start-ups Fair in First years and second years on a four-year continues to offer workshops • Finance Fair: Wednesday 14 October Hilary term and the Graduate Jobs and Internship programme should note that places for taster days and careers advisers continue • Management Consultancy Fair: Thursday 15 Opportunities in Trinity term. Dates for 2021 yet to and spring weeks are limited and can fill in less than with confidential one-to-one October be confirmed. a week. Be sure to sign up for alerts if you intend to discussions during Trinity and • Science, Engineering and Technology Fair: apply: the prize not only includes first-hand experience the long vacation, on Skype, Monday 19 October of the organisation but quite often a fast-track to paid telephone or virtual platforms internships the following year. such as Microsoft Teams.

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advertised from January onwards as part of the the Developing Your Career Ideas section. Careers Service Summer Internship Programme. • Visit the Careers Service website to start researching what you could do and check out your Talk to people and network options. Careers • Find out about their jobs, their companies and • Talk to a careers adviser if you need help with your the sector at the many careers fairs and company plans or ideas for how to get started. presentations held in Oxford or virtually. Most people year remember what it is like being in your position and Start to develop your skills want to help. • Review the skills you can evidence already. Consider • Use LinkedIn to contact alumni whose work interests where and how you can develop these further, and you. which new skills you might develop. by year • Get advice and tips from final-year students. Ask • Review your ideas by following the guidance in the about their summer internships and for introductions Gaining Experience and Developing Skills section. to their colleagues to learn more. • Support your college or department with their • Plan how to make the most of your summer vacation, outreach programmes. • Consider participating in our skills programmes and and make speculative applications to find work • Get involved with an Oxford SU campaign or a charity Finalists and one-year Insight programmes if you haven’t already done so. experience with organisations of interest that don’t fundraising event. • Apply to our own Summer Internship Programme offer formal internships. • Volunteer with Oxford Hub and local charities in masters’ from January onwards. term-time and during the vacation – a great way Considering further study? of gaining skills, meeting people and making a Develop your plan and extend your research Network and build your visibility • Talk with tutors, supervisors and research students in difference. • It is never too late to start thinking about your • Meet contacts and alumni at events and reach out to your field. • Participate in staff/student liaison committees within career. Make a commitment to make a start and them. • Ask about working as a research assistant during your college or department. give yourself the best chance of success. Turn to the • Use LinkedIn and social media as research tools, to vacations. • Refresh your old CV; attend a CV workshop. Developing Your Career Ideas section and make follow targeted companies and make yourself easier plans to talk to a careers adviser. to find. Build your skills and experience Gain some experience • If you already have clear goals, or even fuzzy ideas, • Attend the cringe-free networking workshop run • Get elected to a position in a society, common room • Look for, and apply to, insight days, spring weeks and research online and meet employers at fairs and at by the Careers Service each term, bookable on or club and make a difference by organising an event, work-shadowing opportunities in different sectors company presentations. See the Events Calendar on CareerConnect. running the show or starting something new – all will for inspiration. Places are limited and application CareerConnect for dates and to book your place. • For some sectors – such as creative careers, develop your skills and add value to your applications. windows can close within days, so register for • Research options of further study and apply early to journalism, publishing, charities – networking and • Sign up for workshops and skills sessions at the notifications and be ready to apply as early as popular programmes. speculative approaches can be important to uncover Careers Service or join one of our employability October. opportunities: thinking six months ahead is key. programmes. • Apply for vacation work to earn money and gain Make applications and prepare for • Try out different ideas, perhaps via our micro- experience and skills. Every opportunity can provide interviews internships, work-shadowing or work experience. meaningful experience: bar and retail work can • Understand your motivations, your strengths and be Volunteer with local charities or through the Oxford develop your customer focus, teamwork skills and ready to support your applications with evidence as Hub. insights into what makes a successful business. discussed in the Application Essentials guidance. Penultimate year • Visit the vacancy database • Find the workshops you need on our Events on CareerConnect to look Calendar on CareerConnect. for part-time and vacation • Polish your application skills and seek advice from a Start to focus on what you might do after More than two years from opportunities. careers adviser if you want a second opinion on your graduating completion • Apply for a summer CV, cover letters or application form. • Review your career preferences and interests, or start placement on the Summer • Submit applications for both your plans A and B (and your self-assessment. The Developing Your Career Internship Programme plan C …) in parallel. Ideas section will help. Follow the advice to finalists Get involved and enjoy Oxford from January for • Be ready for online tests and interviews, some of above – the same rules apply! • Join and get involved in societies, clubs and a social overseas internships, and these happen straight after you have submitted your • Plan, research and develop your CV – attend relevant life alongside your studies. from mid-February for application. workshops organised by the Careers Service. internships in the UK. • Attend the relevant careers fairs. Get into your Start thinking • Start to build your It’s not too late to develop your skills and job-market research and look for application • It’s never too soon to start thinking about your post- network, and to learn experience deadlines – be aware of deadlines as early as October university plans. about sectors and • Continue to be fully involved in student life through for consulting, banking and the Civil Service among • Develop some awareness of your career-related organisations. societies, volunteering and extra-curricular others. preferences and interests with some self-assessment activities. • Apply for summer internships, including those exercises, such as Career Weaver and other tools in

14 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 15 DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS Five steps for better career planning

Take time to understand what you enjoy most and what helps you succeed. Combine these insights with research into your preferred options to make decisions and take action.

1 What you do and what you like best… Your strengths and skills are also important, and you Use Oxford’s new Career Weaver tool to explore what can enhance existing skills and learn new ones. Use the interests and motivates you most. list of eight core employability skills on this page to Reflect on past experiences that have given you a consider what you are good at and what you really enjoy sense of enjoyment, achievement or real satisfaction. doing. Think about your range of skills: Re-examine what determined your choice of subject and • Where have you developed and used them? which elements of your current studies most engage you. • How do you like to use and apply them both in your Examine your extra-curricular activities for insight by studies and extra-curricular activities? asking yourself: See Generating Career Ideas at www.careers.ox.ac. • What appealed to you when you chose a specific uk/generating-career-ideas to learn more about using activity? Career Weaver and a variety of additional tools and ideas • What has given you most satisfaction? you can use, including: • What have you learned or gained from your extra- • Psychometric tools based on short questionnaires, DEVELOPING curricular activities? including Prospects Career Planner • What are your reasons for continuing with it? Or, • Reference books at the Careers Service, including perhaps, for stopping? Build Your Own Rainbow, Where Am I Going And Can Link these questions to the prompts in the table I Have A Map?, and What Color Is Your Parachute? YOUR CAREER on the next page to begin to better understand your • Book an appointment with a careers adviser to personal pattern of career interests and motivations. discuss any questions you have and for advice on IDEAS how to interpret and apply the insights gained. What is your personal Core employability skills pattern? The next chapter defines the ‘transferable’ employability Our new Career Weaver tool skills listed below and reviews many options to practise With hundreds of possible directions, many students will help you go much further in and develop them. find it hard to decide what they want to do after thinking about the kind of role, • Business awareness culture and rewards you would value most in your • Communication graduating, and may even find the process quite future work. It provides a rich variety of short • Creativity exercises to stimulate and structure your thinking • Initiative daunting. and helps you to identify and describe: • Leadership • What you love. • Planning • What you are good at. • Self-management • Why you do what you choose to do. • Teamwork This chapter can help you make a start and get you Use your SSO to open your personal account In addition to these core employability skills, some at www.careerweaver.ox.ac.uk and begin to jobs require specific skills such as languages, computing thinking about how to identify careers that might explore, define and explain your most important and IT, or even specific laboratory skills. appeal to you, and how to choose between them. drivers and best examples.

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2 Exploring possible occupations and Who are you working with, and how? Style of work Nice to have Important Essential • creating your ‘long list’ • What does an ideal working day/week look like? As an Oxford graduate from any discipline it is possible Each time you find an idea of interest to you, consider Analytical (researching and investigating, numerical work) to work in many industries. In the UK, the majority of the specific skills and attributes typically required Collaborative style of working graduate roles do not require a specific degree and for that role and how strongly these match your many organisations seek to attract a diverse pool of preferences. Also, look for related or adjacent fields to Creativity and generating ideas candidates. This opens a world of possibilities and increase the options you are considering. creates choices for you. Enterprise and business Start to build your ‘long list’ of possibilities, 3 Researching your options considering both the industry sector(s) and the kinds of Researching industries, individual organisations, and Managing and leading people roles you might be interested in: remember, similar roles roles helps you make better choices. It also lays the can often be found across different sectors; whether it’s foundation for successful applications because it Social and caring roles design work, financial management, planning, managing helps you: or communicating. • To be clear that you’d be happy doing the job! Solving problems It might be important for you to use the knowledge • To signal why you are motivated to do the job with gained from your degree, or find a related role where you that specific organisation. Supporting and advising people can still draw on that knowledge. Alternatively, you may • To impress recruiters with insightful questions and an Theoretical and conceptual (working with ideas) choose to apply the transferable skills that you have in a awareness of issues or trends that may affect their totally new area. market. Working with defined processes Ideas and tactics to build your long list include: • reviewing roles suggested by an online career- Research: get first-hand experience Working with technology planning tool. First-hand experience allows you to explore whether you • exploring what others with your degree have chosen have the ability and interest to perform well in a role. You to do: also learn more about the organisation, its people and Motivations Nice to have Important Essential • Review the Graduate Outcome Survey on the working culture, which helps you evaluate whether you careers website. are likely to enjoy working there. Altruism or benefiting society • www.prospects.ac.uk has pages on ‘What can I The next chapter provides a fuller overview of the do with my degree?’. options available, which include not only internships Challenge • Examine the careers of 200,000+ Oxford and work experience but also a variety of shorter alumni via the University of Oxford page on opportunities to visit organisations. These programmes Connection (belonging and friendship) LinkedIn. can help you to: • browsing jobs boards, including CareerConnect – • Learn about an industry and a role, and the Empowerment (autonomy) what catches your eye? organisation and its culture. • thinking about careers related to your interests and • Develop transferable skills and a track record that Financial reward extra-curricular activities. provides evidence of your ability and motivation. dreaming a little and envisioning your future in an Secure an offer to the next stage: Fun • • ideal world… • Insight programmes may provide a fast track on What are you doing? What skills are you using? to an organisation’s internship programme. Influence • • What happens? What results do you deliver? • Leading employers report that nearly a third Job security • Where are you working – an office/outside/at of their graduate intake will have undertaken home? work experience with them before they are Learning and personal growth hired, and this rises to more than two-thirds in some sectors. Personal recognition It’s OK not to know what to do and it’s OK to take your time to find it. If you Research: other methods Positioning (for the next career move) find something you really want and truly believe Read widely to research the industries and organisations you’re suited to then you have a much better you are targeting. Start with the following ideas: Prestige or status chance of getting the job and of enjoying it. • Read our industry sector introductions in this Guide. Progression (scope for rapid advancement) “ • Over 40 in-depth sector briefings on our website: Rachel Ballard, Music, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/sectors-occupations – Responsibility (for delivery or people or things) New College, 2016 dig deeper using the resources listed in these. Variety • Company websites, particularly their career pages, Read Rachel’s full profile often provide lots of information, including:

18 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 19 DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

additional factors to the grid, or use an alternative approach. The Careers Service advice on How to Make Researching employers’ diversity and a Career Decision provides further details on the inclusion policies ‘decision-making grid’ and three other decision-making It is often difficult to know strategies: the D.E.C.I.D.E.S. model, Force-field Analysis, whether an employer is and Visualisation. genuine about recruiting At this stage, you do not need to narrow your choice applicants from diverse to a single option. In fact, we recommend you work in backgrounds and not just parallel on your ‘plan B’ (and perhaps ‘plan C’) in case ‘ticking a box’. There are your first choice does not work out. For every option several indicators that will help you to decide you follow, though, allow yourself enough time to whether a recruiter is truly proactive. If you are undertake sufficient research and to make high quality interested in specific recruiters, research their applications. diversity and inclusion policy and practice, talk with their representatives at careers fairs and question Example of a decision-making grid them as to what their organisation does to recruit and retain staff from diverse backgrounds. Decision Indicators of the strength of their commitment Weighting Option X Option Y Option Z factor to recruiting from diverse backgrounds can include: They are a ‘Disability Confident’ employer. Look Staying in • Profiles from recent graduates. Attend company presentations and events to meet 2 2×2 = 4 2×2 = 4 2×1 = 2 out for the government-endorsed logo below • • Oxford • Information about their graduate programmes. senior managers, alumni and recruiters. on their promotional material and vacancy Creative • Tips and practice materials for the recruitment • Talk informally with family, alumni, and others to 3 3×1 = 3 3×0 = 0 3×1 = 3 adverts. This means the employer has made a processes. understand their careers and what their organisations job commitment to employing disabled people. • Professional bodies’ websites. are really like: Learning: • They are accredited as a ‘Mindful Employer’, • Free resources at the Careers Service: • Talk to friends and finalists returning from quality of 3 3×1 = 3 3×1 = 3 3×2 = 6 indicating that they are extremely supportive • Podcasts of relevant panel discussions. internships or work placements. training of employees with mental health issues. • ‘Our Resources’ sections of our online guidance • Use LinkedIn to find alumni you might approach • They have diversity networks and buddy outlining books and periodicals in the Careers directly. Total 10 7 11 schemes, such as Gender Balance Network and Service Resource Centre. • Join relevant societies to find like-minded students Carers Schemes. • Search for GoinGlobal (country guides) and and more events – many with employers. Weighting of criterion: • They partner with and provide internships for practise psychometric tests on our website. • Speak to a careers adviser who has a particular 3 = important, 2 = quite important, 1 = less important. people from under-represented backgrounds • Join relevant LinkedIn groups to keep up to date with interest in that sector. through organisations such as SEO (Sponsors current topics in the sector. Criterion satisfied in this occupation/role: for Educational Opportunity), EmployAbility, • Use your Single Sign-On and Bodleian Library 4 Narrowing down your options 2 = almost ideal, 1 = quite good, 0 = not met at all. The Windsor Fellowship, and Rare Recruitment. membership for free subscriptions to The Financial For many people, career planning is an ongoing process, • They score highly on indicators such as the Times, The Economist and plenty of leading revisited and revised as they gain experience, learn and 5 Moving forward from your decisions Stonewall Workplace Equality Index due to newspapers and industry journals. grow. The choices you make now are just the first steps; Allow plenty of time for this and in particular: their work ethos and practices. changing career direction in the years after graduation is • Plan ahead and attend events listed on our Events There is more advice on equality and diversity Research: talk to people quite common. Calendar on CareerConnect. These include: in the application process on p.50. To go beyond the information on an organisation’s However, it is important to engage. Make a decision • Career fairs. website, talk to people – lots of people – about what rather than ‘drift’ into a career or further study simply • Company presentations. they do, what they like and don’t like, and ask for their because it seems within reach. To weigh up the ‘pros and • Skills workshops and training sessions. advice. cons’ of different choices, analyse your options • Ensure you receive the Careers Service’s weekly You might be tired of hearing it, but Read the guidance on how to find and network with and listen to your intuitions, with the aim of newsletter. you’ve probably got more free time people who are able to share their experiences and offer identifying which roles best match up with your key • Save searches on CareerConnect to receive job alerts. on your hands now than you ever will. Use it relevant advice and insights into the roles that interest criteria. • Check application deadlines for your top choices and wisely! Start figuring out what you like and you most. One option is to build a ‘decision-making grid’, where begin to plan your applications. dislike (just as helpful), and to start building the During term time, particularly in Michaelmas you weight the relative importance of your key criteria Bookmark target firms’ careers pages, set up email • “foundations that will give you the best shot of term, take advantage of the many chances to meet and score each career option independently. In the alerts for vacancy notices, and follow them on landing that dream role. and talk with company representatives – check the worked example (below), it seems that option Y is least LinkedIn and social media. Careers Service Events Calendar on CareerConnect. attractive – and could be discarded – but it might be • Continue to research your target organisations and • Attend the careers fairs and our industry panel worth pursuing both options X and Z as attractive choices. roles. Issah Abdul-Moomin, PPE, events to hear from and meet recent graduates and To distinguish between options X and Z more fully, • Check your own online presence, particularly your Lady Margaret Hall, 2014 recruiters. it may be necessary to do further research or add visibility on social media.

20 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 21 DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

Ethical Networking 1 2

The phrase ‘It’s who you know, not what you know’ makes us 3 a little uncomfortable as we put more emphasis on widening participation, diversity and inclusion.

Surely we want to live in a world where people are how they may be helped’ Maurice McCartney, hired based on a diligent and transparent process which entrepreneur in residence, Oxford Careers Service. 4 considers: • ‘Networking is about conversation and generosity,’ add • Formal qualifications. Dr Rachel Bray and Dr Steve Joy, researcher careers Who could I network with? • Size and scope of relevant achievements that prove advisers of Oxford and Cambridge respectively. • Oxford alumni: skills and strengths. • ‘You can make more friends in two months by • Your tutors and your college alumni office • Sector and organisation knowledge that proves becoming interested in other people than you can in may be able to give tips on who to contact. enthusiasm and fit with the role. two years by trying to get other people interested • Use LinkedIn and My Oxford Network: So what are the ethical reasons for networking? in you,’ says Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win myoxfordnetwork.com. • To become aware of opportunities: it is said that 60% Friends and Influence People. • Contacts of people you know (ask friends, of jobs are never advertised (‘the hidden job market’) Viewed through this lens, networking is a way of life, 5 relatives, tutors for introductions). e.g., a start-up with no time nor HR department. the goal is to build and maintain a ‘network of reciprocal • People you have worked with, or contacted on • To understand what really goes on inside assistance’. So it is best to think of networking as going behalf of a society or committee. organisations so that you choose the right out and making new friends. The only thing to get used • People you research online and then approach opportunities to apply for. to is that this very normal human process is preceded by speculatively. • To uncover the language and terminology of the some planning and preparation so that you can find out • Fellow students, in college and in your organisation so that you can make your achievements more about new organisations. 6 department, will know people and have sound as relevant as possible and talk like an insider experience that might tie in to your goals. to establish fit and enthusiasm. How do I approach people? Beyond the objectives of ethical networking, we The key to effective networking is research. Always need to approach the subject with emotional prepare in advance; when you are going to meet someone, intelligence, people do not like being sold-to or taken- look them up on LinkedIn, so you can talk their language. Discovering your network Platforms for networking advantage-of: Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, • My Oxford Network: A networking platform • ‘As you walk into a room to network: don’t prepare gets very embarrassed when women ask her to mentor 1 Read (auto)biographies of sector leaders. just for Oxonians. to sell yourself, prepare to understand people and them: ‘While asking a stranger to be a mentor rarely, if • LinkedIn: The biggest professional social ever, works, approaching a stranger with a pointed, well 2 Engage with the latest stories from the sector in network, with powerful search tools. thought-out inquiry can yield results. Focus on how to mainstream media. • Twitter: Use the search facility to find people Students ask me what it takes to be manage a business not on how to manage a career’. When who mention their employment or university in successful and there are many factors. Bill Gates was a teenager he read ‘tons of biographies and 3 Research the sector on Google, so you never ask their profile. But most important is to go out into the world autobiographies’ of technologists and business people a question that is answered on the website; look • Facebook: Post a message to your personal and make lots of friends and no enemies. It is to create a foundation on which to build his commercial at competitors. contacts letting them know what you are most never worth winning an argument and losing awareness (so he could start Microsoft at 19 years old). interested in and asking for recommendations Also, tailor your elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is 4 Research people who work in the sector on LinkedIn. for people to contact. “a friend. Bake cakes, buy beers, socialise at three sentences: Industry websites: Many employer websites lunchtime. The more you can turn your tutor or • 1. Who am I? – tailor it to resonate with who they are 5 Talk to junior sector workers and note the include ‘about us’ or ‘staff team’ pages where supervisor or other senior people into sponsors looking for. language and technical terms they use as they you can learn more about who works there who support you and push you forward for 2. What do I want? – tailor it to resonate with what talk about their job. (sometimes there is also an email address). things, the more successful you will be. they are offering. • ResearchGate: A social networking site for 3. A question – to start a conversation, research it, 6 Network with sector leaders or interview them scientists and researchers to share papers, ask Dr Mike Moss, Careers Adviser make it engaging and demonstrate the depth of when you understand the job inside out and how and answer questions, and find collaborators. knowledge you already have. to talk about it like an insider.

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1 To... Building your [email protected] Subject Student advice request on [sector/job function] occupational Dear [Name],

I’m a [second year/finalist] at [college] here in Oxford and I’m interested in working in/as [sector/job awareness function]. 2 3 4 I want to work in [briefly reference relevant courses/websites/societies/reading] and John Caruthers It can sometimes be useful to look at what other Oxford students suggested that you might be willing to share your experience in the field. 5 have done after completing their degrees to get a better I would truly appreciate a few minutes of your time to discuss your insights into [the work/role/their understanding of the breadth of choices open to you. To go beyond company/how best to prepare]. Perhaps we can meet for a ten-minute chat/arrange a time to speak by phone/Skype. the outline provided here, use the Careers Service’s webpages on 7 6 ‘What alumni have done’ to see the early-career destinations for I know that you might be busy and if it will not be possible to [meet/speak], I fully understand. Thank you for considering my request however, and if there is anyone else you’d recommend I contact to learn about over 30,000 Oxford graduates from 2012 to 2018. the sector, I would greatly appreciate an introduction. 8 With best wishes, Further study • Our resources. Nearly one in three graduates choose further study and • External resources. Signed …… the Careers Service provides support and advice on this – from finding courses to assisting with applications, and www.careers.ox.ac.uk/sectors-occupations advising on potential funding sources or studying abroad. Turn to the Further Study advice for more information Graduate destinations on options and planning for further study. See the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018 results below. Consider carefully what benefits you hope to gain This survey is taken 15 months after graduation. At the Email/social network message from undertaking another degree, against the time and time of going to press in September 2020, we were still costs required. Although further study is a prerequisite for awaiting HESA final survey data. 1 If you do not have a direct email address, try 5 Asking for advice or information is useful – it is some careers, and highly desirable for others, for many an organisation’s generic email address marked free to give and people are usually happy to share careers it’s unnecessary and may make no difference to ‘FAO [name of contact]’, politely asking for it to what they know. It also covers many possibilities, either your entry level or starting salary. be forwarded. including where to find information, insider Further views on careers, tips for getting in, other www.careers.ox.ac.uk/further-study study 2 Make a connection so your contact understands potential contacts and even unadvertised jobs. who you are and how you found them. Occupational sectors 19% 6 Explain what you are most interested in. Try to be Careers are often labelled according to their industry Developing 3 Build your credibility and show you are serious specific so they understand what you hope for sector, and the latter section of this Guide provides portfolio/ by briefly outlining relevant research, and and can judge whether they can help you – if you short industry introductions and company listings 61% Work volunteering explaining where you identified them as a ask a vague question, you will get a vague answer, covering over 20 major industry sectors that our leavers potential contact – perhaps the college alumni or none at all. enter. There are many more – nearly 50 – detailed Looking 9% office or LinkedIn … briefings on our website, covering all the sectors in this for work 7 Suggest a way forward, and be specific about Guide and more. Briefings usually include five sections 4 A reference from someone they know can be a what you are expecting: 10–15 minutes is plus suggestions for additional resources: 8% powerful incentive to respond, but check first realistic for a first chat or call. About this sector. 3% • Doing something with your source that they are happy for you to • Entry points. else eg: travelling use their name. 8 Show respect for their time, keep it polite and • Skills needed. positive, and keep the door open to future • Gaining experience. contact. • Getting a job.

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Students who go into work after graduation, work in a And many more… Don’t worry if you’re not interested wide range of sectors such as: in any of the listed sectors, we’ll try to help you find the Don’t panic if you leave Oxford Why do some sectors seem more • Academia and higher education right sector and role for you. unsure of your next steps! Many visible than others at Oxford? • Education We know that: graduates have no idea what they want to do Whether it’s the advertised listings in this • Health and social care • Oxford leavers enter a diverse range of fields, after leaving university. It can also take time to Guide, company presentations on our • Banking and investment spanning the full spectrum of graduate careers. find your first post-university job, so don’t get termly Events Calendar or sector-specific Charity, development and NGOs By far the most popular sectors are academia career fairs, you’ll will probably notice that • • “discouraged. Bear in mind the Careers Service Consultancy and higher education (mainly as researchers) and recruiting firms within the four ‘City’ sectors • supports alumni as well as students, which is an Government and public policy education (mainly as teachers), followed by health are highly visible in Oxford. So why do • opportunity definitely worth taking. • Computing and IT and social care. accountancy, banking and investment, • Accountancy, insurance and financial services • A similar number of leavers enter third-sector roles Hannah Shearer, Development consultancy and law firms stand out so much, • Media and journalism (charities, development and not-for-profit) as go into Assistant at Exeter College, if they each account for only a small proportion • Advertising, marketing and communications banking and investment. BA History, Balliol College, 2014 of all the destinations of leavers? • Sport, leisure and tourism • Government and policy, and computing and IT attract There are a few reasons for this apparent • Engineering and manufacturing similar numbers as both consultancy and law. imbalance: • Energy and the environment Graduate outcomes data helps dispel the myth Changes in direction • In some sectors, such as media, retail, that the four ‘City’ sectors (accountancy and financial It’s also true that careers develop over time. Whatever and FMCG (fast moving consumer goods), services; banking and investment; consultancy; law) are direction you start out in doesn’t tie you to that and energy, a few big organisations the main destinations for Oxford’s graduating students. industry or function for life. It’s is quite natural for your dominate – and many are already ideas to develop and change as you gain experience household names (BBC, Google, John Functional roles and find new interests, or as new opportunities present Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Shell and Unilever.) The industry or sector that someone works in is only themselves. These companies don’t need to advertise one aspect of their career. Equally important is the A change of career doesn’t mean wasted time: most their names brands to become known, role or function that the person takes on. Many larger of your skills will be transferable to other careers. Some and students find their graduate companies offer graduate-entry programmes where the graduates choose to gain specialist expertise through opportunities unaided. In contrast, large first two -years involve rotation through a number of a graduate scheme, such as general management, ‘City’ firms can have significant graduate different functional areas to provide a broad grounding marketing or accountancy, and use this as a stepping programmes but aren’t well-known outside in the company and its business. Graduates also have stone into an industry where graduate opportunities their field, so need to promote themselves time to assess their strengths and preferences for later can be harder to find – such as the arts and heritage, more. specialisation. charities, or creative industries. These first career steps • Smaller organisations – which account for It’s important to consider which functional roles therefore provide both professional qualifications and the majority, perhaps 85% of all graduate- you might be most interested in. For some people, experience that is highly valued but which tends to be level jobs – generally have less predictable the function becomes their primary goal, and so hard to come by as a new graduate entering directly into recruitment needs, smaller recruitment remember that the same functional role can the alternative sector. budgets, and may not have a ‘graduate frequently be found in many diverse industries: Read the alumni profiles included in the industry programme’ to promote. Instead they will charities need IT specialists, marketers and HR sectors of this Guide: they demonstrate that shifts in hire into specific graduate-level positions, managers as well as front-line volunteers, fundraisers career direction are quite common, and that even a advertising these individual jobs as and when and policy-makers. Data analysts are needed as much radical change of direction is possible. positions arise. in the advertising and retail sectors as in academic The Careers Service only tracks leavers’ initial career • In some sectors – such as, advertising, arts research, social policy work or either finance or directions using these official surveys (DLHE and and heritage, charities, international consultancy firms. Graduate Outcomes) with any accuracy. However, we development, marketing and PR, and media Take time to think more broadly about where you have surveyed alumni ten years after leaving and this and journalism, only a limited number of might find opportunities that you’d be interested at. revealed that: ‘graduate schemes’ exist. A lot of recruitment is If you do not limit yourself by exclusively targeting • On average alumni had worked for three employers done from the network of people known to the industries that seem to have the right label, you may be since leaving Oxford. company, often from people seeking relevant surprised at the possibilities you find – both as a first • The sector in which alumni worked after ten years experience and visibility through volunteering career destination or a few years later. could be very different from the sector they initially (charities), or being runners/assistants For example: entered. (TV & film) or field-workers volunteers • Would-be journalists can learn valuable skills in a PR In recognition of the fact that careers are not fixed, (development). Paid and unpaid industry role in any sector, and by blogging. the Careers Service provides access for alumni to the specific work experience tends to be very • Considering a career in IT? IT roles now exist majority of our events and service for life. We also have important in these industry sectors and both in virtually every field in all but the smallest a careers adviser specifically working with alumni who direct approaches and speculative applications organisations, and 40% of IT professionals work can advise on decisions and strategies for managing are often expected. outside the computing and IT sector. career changes.

26 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 27 DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

• Use the Events Calendar on CareerConnect to find dates, times and locations. Finding work in specific UK locations • Follow employers’ websites, Facebook and Twitter for Geography and reputation mean that recruitment the latest news and job alerts. at Oxford can appear London-centric. However, • Use national graduate career sites like Prospects, opportunities exist across the UK: TARGETjobs, and Milkround. • Major organisations often offer a choice of locations in regional offices. Graduate training programmes • Some sectors, like education and healthcare, Organisations that recruit a number of graduates provide opportunities countrywide. every year often have structured training schemes. • Many thousands of small and medium-sized These generally last for one or two years and provide enterprises (SMEs) offer graduate jobs too, formal training and development as part of a formal and the websites of professional bodies usually programme. Often they also offer ‘rotations’ through a list locations for SMEs in their industry. succession of roles in different parts of the organisation. Some regions are recognised for specific Routes into Graduates gain a range of experience, specific skills and a industries. For example, Manchester is increasingly broad introduction to the firm and its industry. seen as a creative hub, and Cambridge has a Applications usually open during the summer (July reputation for science and computing start-ups. onwards) and often close during Michaelmas term (as Oxford is also particularly good for science, health graduate early as October!) for start dates in July to September and publishing jobs, and has a vibrant and growing following graduation. Check the relevant industry sector tech sector: attend our ‘OX and Start-Ups Fair’ briefings for more specific information. each Hilary term to meet some of these dynamic Oxford’s numerous careers fairs in October and and rapidly expanding companies. employment November support this cycle. These, together with Many job platforms allow you to search our other fairs in Hilary and Trinity terms, are excellent by region – including our own vacancies on opportunities to meet a wide range of recruiters and CareerConnect – and you can search specifically The Careers Service offers impartial advice on different approaches alumni face-to-face, to find out more about their work for jobs in: to finding graduate-level employment. We can relate this to and explore possibilities. With a little preparation, they • Scotland www.s1jobs.com are also a chance to make a good first impression and • Wales www.gowales.co.uk different industry sectors and roles, and will not steer you in any show your interest in an organisation. • Northern Ireland www.gradireland.com Many employers also run separate company Read the advice on working in different particular direction. presentations in Oxford. Go to these whether you are countries and UK visas, or see a careers adviser simply interested to learn more about their graduate at the Careers Service for advice if you are scheme, or use them specifically to deepen your considering working abroad. Within a sector, organisations frequently run similar knowledge about that company and meet more people recruitment processes, but each organisation will from the firm. You’ll find these listed in the Events manage its vacancies and applications in its own way, so: Calendar in CareerConnect. • Understand both the industry pattern and the exceptions for the roles you are targeting. Individual graduate roles • Be clear about timescales and deadlines from the What can you offer an employer in Many, many more graduates join organisations to fill Unadvertised roles beginning! addition to your degree qualification? a specific position rather than as part of a graduate A significant number of job vacancies are never • Start your sector research with the 20+ short Graduates who can demonstrate the training programme. All types of organisations offer advertised or only advertised via social media. Employers industry briefings in this Guide. Each one includes transferable skills most commonly sought by these direct entry roles, including employers with big often recruit people they know, who are recommended advice on recruitment processes and outlines ideas on recruiters will find that they have a competitive graduate schemes. to them, or who approach them speculatively. In certain how to develop relevant skills, enriched by personal Graduate jobs are advertised widely, generally one sectors, such as media and advertising, networking is an “advantage in the jobs market. The eight core stories and advice from Oxford alumni, and supported to three months before a job starts. The best places to essential and expected part of the application process employability skills that employers look for by listings from some of the major employers. start looking for vacancies include: for both full-time jobs and work experience. are described here: www.careers.ox.ac.uk/ Talking to companies and people doing the work • individual organisations’ websites and, increasingly, Networking can help you understand the industry in which you are interested can be invaluable. While employability-skill. Use this resource to identify their social media feeds. in which you are interested and uncover possible you can network all year round, the first few weeks of your own skills gaps, get tips on improving your • the Careers Service’s vacancy database on opportunities. For more information see our advice on Michaelmas term see hundreds of companies visiting profile and boost your chances of job success. CareerConnect. ethical networking. Oxford every year for our career fairs and company-led • national graduate career sites like Prospects, As you build your contacts and knowledge, you events. Plan your time well: Rebecca Ehata, Careers Adviser, TARGETjobs, and Milkround. develop the foundations to make well researched • See Careers Term by Term for an overview of the Oxford University • industry professional bodies and specialist media speculative applications that are properly tailored to the recruitment year at Oxford. channels. specific needs of an employer.

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• Research Councils, www.ukri.org, fund some UK PhDs by allocating funds to Doctoral Training Centres or departments to distribute to eligible Recruitment agencies candidates. Recruitment agencies help organisations recruit staff • Scholarships are listed on the graduate admission for a fee (paid by the company) by providing their pages of university websites. Check eligibility and clients with quicker access to pre-screened and qualified closing dates carefully. candidates. Agencies often specialise in specific sectors, • Graduate assistantships, and other opportunities and if you have relevant experience they can be an to teach or conduct research in your department extremely effective way of finding work. Research or college, may provide additional income. In the agencies in your field and select one or two to build a US, they are a common way to fund study. Discuss relationship with. opportunities with departments. If you are working with an agency, it is important • Sponsorship or employer support is relatively rare to remain actively involved in your own job search Further but not unheard of in scientific and engineering and continue to check employers’ websites and other disciplines (e.g., Industrial CASE awards – via sources for vacancies. Research Councils – and Knowledge Transfer study Partnerships at ktp.innovateuk.org). Jobs from internships and work experience Work experience and internships can be a great way Studying abroad to secure a full-time offer. This is especially true for Taught masters’, research Higher education is an international marketplace. You companies offering internship programmes exclusively might be tempted by lower fees charged in certain for penultimate-year students: these are often used masters’ or doctoral degrees? countries, by the opportunity to improve your language as a core recruitment tool, with a successful internship In the UK, Europe, North skills or by a centre of academic excellence in your leading directly to a job offer for the following subject. Many universities in Europe offer courses year. Research by High Fliers confirms that at major America or elsewhere? taught in English. Application schedules vary, so research employers, nearly a third of positions are filled by Narrowing down your options the differences carefully. graduates who had already worked for the company. Our Fees and funding There are useful country-by-country overviews experience suggests that in some specific sectors, such can be tricky. Costs vary but are likely to run to many thousands of at www.prospects.ac.uk and on GoinGlobal via www. as banking, this proportion can rise to as high as three- pounds. careers.ox.ac.uk. quarters of graduate positions. • Self-funding is the reality for many graduate The Careers Service publishes advice on study in the All companies – large and small – may offer work Consider your motivation students: savings, family support or loans. USA and abroad, all available online. experience or internships. In line with the advice for • It might be to satisfy intellectual curiosity, to access a • Postgraduate loans of up to £11,222 are available finding full-time positions, use companies’ own websites, specific career or change direction. Think about what for masters’ degrees in the UK. Loans of up to our CareerConnect, and graduate recruitment sites. you need to know to assess how effectively potential £26,445 are available to residents in England for More information Speculative applications can also be highly effective, courses can deliver your goals. Talk it over with a doctoral study at UK universities. www.gov.uk/ www.careers.ox.ac.uk/further-study/ and sometimes firms will even create an opportunity careers adviser if you need to. postgraduate-loan. when approached directly. Read our advice online about making speculative approaches. Talk to people Specific opportunities for Oxford students include: • Recommendations from Oxford academics in your Careers adviser Abby Evans answers equivalent, and many graduates with 2:1s successfully • The Oxford University Internship Programme, run field. further study FAQs apply for further study. However, a first class degree by your Careers Service, which sources hundreds of • People working in your sector of interest – find them might increase your chances when applying for internships in locations around the world exclusively on LinkedIn. Do I have to do a master’s degree before a PhD? popular courses, and may help you secure funding. open to Oxford students. • Get in touch with prospective tutors and supervisors. Not always: it is possible to go straight on to a • The Micro-Internship Programme, run by the PhD programme from a first degree course. This is How can the Careers Service help? Careers Service, offering work experience projects in Do your research common in science and engineering in the UK. Some In addition to extensive information on our further 9th week of every term. • Academic literature and conference proceedings to PhDs have a master’s year built in. However, in many study webpages, we also offer seminars on a range • The Oxford Hub offers a Social Impact Internship find key research groups. continental European countries a master’s degree is of aspects of further study including Postgraduate Scheme – go to www.oxfordhub.org or email hello@ • Destination statistics for each course. required to begin a PhD. Even in the UK, most arts, Study in North America and in Europe, Writing oxfordhub.org. • University rankings. humanities and social science students complete a Personal Statements and Applying to Oxford. For more ideas on how to find work experience and • Research Excellence Framework assessments of master’s degree before embarking on their PhD. You are welcome to book an appointment with a short-term engagements, turn to our advice on: research departments www.ref.ac.uk. careers adviser to discuss your options, strategies • Gaining Experience and Developing Skills • Teaching Excellence Framework at Will I need a first class degree? for choosing courses or securing funding, or to get • Application Essentials www.officeforstudents.org.uk/advice-and- Most courses ask for at least a 2:1 class degree or feedback on your application materials. • Networking. guidance/teaching/tef-outcomes/#/tefoutcomes

30 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 31 DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

and/or extreme flexibility regarding job location. societies. Employers may contact international Examples of such recruiters can be found in many student societies to advertise in-country roles. different sectors, and includes BMW (automobiles), Alumni from Oxford live all over the world, and are Aviva (insurance), Unilever (fast-moving consumer often happy to give advice to current students. Use goods), TUI (travel), Airbus (aerospace), Pandora (retail), ‘My Oxford Network’, your college alumni office, and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). or LinkedIn to connect with them, or contact If you are seeking short-term work in another international alumni branches via their websites or country, and an opportunity to experience international Facebook groups. See the earlier article on Ethical environments, the Careers Service’s Summer Internship Networking in this Guide. Programme provides opportunities for current Oxford If you are an international student looking to work students across the globe. at home, maintain links with your home country. For example, keep in contact with friends at university Time out after your studies there and join your national student society at Oxford Taking some time out to travel after graduating can for networking opportunities. Use the resources and often be funded by working simultaneously. Depending tips described above to research your options and stay on your nationality, there are a number of visa schemes in touch with relevant opportunities and developments to help you gain short-term employment outside your in your home country. Remember that the recruitment country of citizenship. Check with the embassy of cycle and processes may be different to those in the UK. your destination to find out more, and see the website Anywork Anywhere for many examples and further Online resources resources: www.anyworkanywhere.com. Online databases provide a vast array of resources to People who are fluent in English are in demand as aid job-seeking in most countries. Many are referenced teachers all around the world, and Teaching English on the Careers Service website. Some examples you can as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is a popular option for search for include: experiencing life in another culture. TEFL can also • The Careers Service’s vacancy database on Working become a longer-term international career. Certain CareerConnect frequently holds job postings placed schemes and some schools will provide training and by international recruiters. others will require further qualifications. Read our online • GoinGlobal – an external resource accessible via the advice about TEFL teaching for full details. Careers Service website with your Oxford Single Sign in different Other options exist for volunteering/work experience On, featuring profiles of 38 countries, a directory where you receive bed and board: eg. teaching positions of employers, and international vacancies and brokered by the British Council; VSO; WWOOF; Work internships. Away. See the advice on Gaining Experience and • Our online briefing on finding work outside the UK countries Developing Skills: Volunteering for details. contains links to a number of national and regional jobs boards. Employers at Oxford and beyond • GradLink – advice and job boards for graduates You may decide to work outside Consider your motivations carefully and research your Many multinational firms visit Oxford’s career fairs. If looking to work in China, South-East Asia, the Gulf, your home country as part options thoroughly to understand what opportunities are you are interested in working for one of their global Canada, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and India. available. You will need to be aware of requirements in offices, ask their UK representatives how you can apply • EURES – a website listing private and public job of a career with international terms of languages and qualifications and to investigate to work for the firm in a different or your home country. opportunities across all member states of the any work restrictions. Visa options for working in the Some international employers also visit Oxford to give European Union. postings, as time out after your UK are outlined in the next article. recruitment presentations (and may conduct interviews • If you know your destination, search for ‘expat’ studies, or as a planned long- here), so check CareerConnect’s online Events Calendar websites which may offer great advice and Jobs with international opportunities regularly for details. opportunities to meet others who have made the term emigration. Opportunities Multinational companies, multilateral organisations, Many other fairs organised by international same transition. international development agencies and diplomatic recruitment organisations take place throughout the are numerous and many Oxford services may all offer secondments or transfers to their world: some in London, while others are ‘virtual’ and graduates work internationally international offices after a period of time, or as part held online. Look out for details of these on the Careers More information of graduate training. Talk to organisations of interest to Service’s blog and weekly newsletter. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/goinglobal at some point in their career. assess your chances of gaining an international posting www.oxfordalumnicommunity.org if you work for them. If you have wanderlust, a range International networking www.gradlinkuk.com of organisations have graduate programmes that are Make the most of opportunities, while you are in www.ec.europa.eu/eures explicitly intended to give international experience. Oxford, to develop your language skills and intercultural www.graduateland.com Often these require fluency in more than one language, awareness by joining relevant international student

32 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 33 DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

To stay in the UK to work after nationals who will need a visa if they start on or after Start-up visa your studies, international Friday 1 January 2021 and they do not already have This visa is for students who have an innovative, viable Visa pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement and scalable business idea for development in the UK. students will need permission Scheme, or are not eligible to apply under that scheme. Oxford University can endorse applicants each year Further details are expected soon and the Student and applications are made via the Careers Service. in the form of a visa, unless you Immigration team will keep colleges and departments We advertise details of the application process via the options for are an EEA or Swiss national. updated on the changes and any impact. See the Careers Service’s blog and in our newsletters. If you information box opposite for ways to keep up to date on are endorsed by the University or another authorised The rules about working in the the new Graduate Route. endorsing body you will need to apply for a start-up visa, working in which is valid for two years, via the gov.uk website. UK are complex and change Tier 2 frequently, so be sure to Under Tier 2, licensed employers can sponsor Tier 5 for an internship in the UK applicants for a specific graduate-level job. There You could apply for a Tier 5 Government Authorised the UK check for full and up-to-date are special arrangements for applying in the UK for a Exchange visa for an internship related to your degree for information. Tier 2 visa for recent graduates and DPhil students up to a year. This would normally need to be sponsored who have completed at least a year of their course. by a third-party sponsoring organisation, such as: To qualify under this scheme you must have a suitable • Access Tier 5: www.accesstier5.com or Tier 5 Intern: The University’s visa and immigration advisers give job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship from an tier5intern.com regular talks at the Careers Service on the current work employer who holds a Tier 2 license, and meet • For Government information on this, see: www.gov.uk/ visa options and can also cover individual queries. Check financial requirements. You will need to discuss with tier-5-government-authorised-exchange our Events Calendar on CareerConnect for details. a prospective employer whether they are willing and Regrettably, the Careers Service’s staff cannot advise on able to sponsor you. The salary offered must be Other options visas. both at the appropriate level for the job and a Nationals from some countries may have access to other minimum of £20,800. If you apply under the special routes for working in the UK, including a scheme for New immigration system launches on arrangements for students, your employer is exempt Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the Monday 5 October 2020 from undertaking a Resident Labour Market Test UK, and the Tier 5 visa (Youth Mobility Scheme), both of The Home Office announced, as this publication was and paying the Immigration Skills Charge. It is also which you must apply for from your home country. ‘going to press’ in September 2020, that legislation has possible to apply under Tier 2 later, from outside the been laid in Parliament for a new Student Route that will UK, but this is more restrictive for both you and the start on Monday 5 October 2020 and replace the Tier 4 employer. More information system. It will be similar to the Tier 4 system with some UKCISA provides useful information about applying www.ox.ac.uk/students/visa/work slight changes to make the process easier for student under Tier 2, and you can check the Home Office’s www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas visa applications. The primary reason for the change is register to see whether an employer is a Tier 2 licensed www.ukcisa.org.uk/information-advice to include EU/EEA (excludes Irish nationals) and Swiss sponsor.

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3 Teamwork Organisations want to know that Developing you can work in a group to achieve something tangible. There are many ways to develop teamwork skills, including: core skills • Joining a sports team. There GAINING are dozens of student-run sports clubs, and many more for individual colleges. See www.sport.ox.ac.uk 1 Initiative for inspiration. EXPERIENCE Recruiters want you to be able to demonstrate making • Getting involved in a choir, orchestra or things happen and getting things done. Ideas to help you band – or helping to produce a play. develop this include: • Contributing to the decision-making of your • Organising a unique fundraising event for a charity. Common Room committee, or a student society. & DEVELOPING • Helping to increase participation or membership for • Choosing to do group project work, if the option is an event or society. offered on your course. • Setting up an Oxford student arm of a professional • Joining The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA), organisation or a charity. or student-led initiatives for consultancy work in a SKILLS • Joining The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA). group, like OxAid or the Microfinance Initiative. • Developing your own website, or building one for a • Completing a Duke of Edinburgh award. Alongside your studies making time for extra-curricular activities student society. • Campaigning with Oxford SU. Campaigns promote • Starting your own society, social enterprise or small many good causes, from mental health to racial can not only be enriching personally, but professionally too. business. equality. Learning new skills and developing those you most enjoy will • Volunteering as a student representative for your course. • Becoming part of the student team that runs Oxford Hub. contribute crucially to your overall employability as the majority of 2 Communication organisations look for both academic qualifications and interests Employers want to see that you have good interpersonal 4 Creativity skills, and can communicate verbally and in writing – to Creativity is about being curious and innovative, finding beyond academia. empathise and persuade. You can display these skills by: new ways of doing things and understanding and taking • Persuading guest speakers to attend a society event risks. Consider: you are helping to organise. • Driving change, improving systems and services. Graduate employers expect you to have both a solid • Securing corporate sponsorship for a club or • Brainstorming ideas for events or realising a themed (predicted) degree class and strong employability skills encouraging alumni to donate as part of a college ball. that you have developed at university. fundraising campaign. • Lighting, set and costume design as well as On the following pages, we highlight the core • Representing an external organisation as their Oxford performing and directing. employability skills that recruiters look for, and brand ambassador. • Creating ideas or work for The Agency, run by the suggestions of how to build and improve these while • Work experience in a customer service role. Careers Service. you are at Oxford. Additional job specific skills can • Write a regular blog on something that interests you, • Joining Oxford Entrepreneurs’ pitching event: be expected for many roles as well, such as strong and record ‘likes’ and ‘click-throughs’ quantitatively. Idea Idol. numerical and analytical skills, or specific language and • Contributing articles or reviews to student technical knowledge or expertise. Despite the challenging academic publications or contributing to Oxide Radio. 5 Planning Recruiters tell us that they are generally impressed workloads, make time for • Creating publicity materials for a charity. Employers will want to see evidence that you can with the ability of Oxford students to display these skills extracurricular activities because the skills you • Acting as secretary of a student society or your organise people and resources to achieve objectives and compared to other graduates. However, they stress learn here will be invaluable and help you later Common Room. work to a deadline. Outside managing your studies, ideas the importance for Oxford students to develop and with your job interviews. Recruiters appreciate • Debating at the Oxford Union or the Oxford of how you can develop this include: demonstrate skills that are not necessarily developed International Debating Society. Organising a ball, bop, conference or campaign. “the extra effort and time that goes into these • through their academic work – especially commercial Creating YouTube presentations or doing your own Co-ordinating your Common Room’s annual elections. activities and enjoy listening to competency • • awareness and teamwork. podcasts on something of interest to you. Organising a group or event to raise money for examples related to outside academia. • To support you, the Careers Service run a number • Volunteering to help with outreach and access charity. of programmes to enhance your experience and work- events: assisting at Oxford open days, or visiting • Organising an away-day for a society, or an inter- relevant skills, including insight schemes, internships and Dr Lakshmi Manjoosha Adapa, schools to encourage students to apply to Oxford. university match for a sports club. personal development programmes. These are outlined IT Consultant at Accenture • Volunteering to give a presentation in your college/ • Editing a student publication, such as a newspaper, in the guidance on employability programmes. department on an academic project. website or yearbook.

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6 Leadership languages? How will robotics and artificial Employers will want you to have the ability to motivate, intelligence influence medicine, law, government or influence and organise others. Leadership involves manufacturing? How will sustainability affect global having a vision, enrolling others into your vision and travel and food security? Joining delivering tangible quantified results. You can develop • Take part in initiatives towards zero emissions, zero this by: single use plastics etc. • Taking a position of responsibility in your Common • Get involved in data analytics, machine learning, Room or with Oxford SU. robotics etc. employability • Producing or directing a play, or organising an event, such as a ball. 9 Computing & IT • Joining the Oxford University Officers’ Training You could boost your IT ability by: Corps, for their leadership development training • Enrolling in a free course and learning to do programmes programme. something new: Oxford’s IT Services offer a wide • Volunteering with youth organisations, such as the range of free courses during term. girl guides, scouts, or even a cycling proficiency • Free coding workshops are run by CompSoc and group! CodeFirst: Girls. • Offering to help train new staff in a part-time job, • Self-directed video based learning at LinkedIn The Careers Service runs several captaining a sports team, or running a student Learning (formerly lynda.com): free to you via the society. Oxford IT Services’ website using your SSO. programmes to help students • Leading a team on The Oxford Strategy Challenge • Downloading professional software, such as Adobe develop and practise the key (TOSCA). Creative Suite, and seeing how proficient you can • Encouraging students to apply to Oxford. become during the free trial. skills outlined in our article on • Familiarising yourself with another operating system. core employability skills. 7 Self-management • Taking free LinkedIn Learning online courses via Recruiters will want evidence that you can manage your Oxford IT Services to develop greater skill with, own time, are flexible, resilient, and can improve yourself say, Excel. All you need is your Oxford Single The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA) business challenge for a client organisation, with project based on feedback. You can demonstrate this by: Sign-on. The Careers Service runs The Oxford Strategy Challenge completion targeted for 8th week. • Doing any extra-curricular activities or part- And if you are already quite skilled, you could try: (TOSCA) every term. It is designed to help Oxford TOSCA is a rich learning experience relevant to time work in addition to your degree. This will • Designing an app. University students develop core employability everyone, not just those interested in a consulting signal to employers that you can balance various • Making a website for a student society. skills. Selections usually take place in 0th week and career. No matter what your career aspirations, you responsibilities and workloads. • Volunteering to help out your college IT officer. consultancy training in 1st week. Students then work in can benefit from the programme; TOSCA will provide a • ‘Up-skilling’ yourself. Why not take a course at the • Joining CompSoc or attending Oxford Geek Night to a team through the rest of term on a strategic issue or valuable source of skills to evidence in job applications Oxford Language Centre, or a free computing course meet and learn from developers and designers. and interviews. at IT services during term? Students from all degrees and years are welcome to • Setting yourself personal goals that require training 10 Commercial awareness (Dis)AbilityWorks participate. Our clients include businesses, local charities, to complete, such as running a marathon. All organisations – including not-for-profits – will The Careers Service puts local government and other agencies. • Participating in an organised charity challenge, such want you to understand the key factors behind inclusion and accessibility as the RAG jailbreak or ‘Three Peaks Challenge’. successful businesses. You can develop commercial at the front of everything The Agency • Undertaking an extended research project as part of awareness by: it does. We aim for all of our services to be The Agency was formed out of a desire from both your academic studies. • Organising an event that has to turn a profit, such as accessible but, recognising some students prefer The Careers Service and the Oxford Advertising and a concert, ball or a college bop. bespoke support, we also offer a series of events Marketing Society to help students gain useful hands- 8 In-touch and agile • Joining The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA) to and workshops to advise and provide practical on experience working within an environment similar Academia is about specialisation, and many courses at get an insight into a local business. help and resources for students with a disability, to a traditional creative agency – with real clients Oxford are quite traditional and/or theoretical. Being • Suggesting ways to improve efficiency at work, neurodiverse condition, mental health need comprised by local businesses, charities and community ‘in-touch’ means being aware of the broader general resulting in time or cost savings. and/or long-term health condition. Events will organisations. context, and being sensitive to new and emerging • Attending the Careers Service’s Insight into Strategy be publicised through the Events Calendar on Students work in small teams over one academic trends. Being agile means demonstrating responsiveness and Management programme. CareerConnect and sessions are likely to include: term to find a creative solution to an intellectually to these emerging trends in a practical and productive • Negotiating with a local business to give a discount to • Extended 1:1 guidance sessions. challenging problem. Projects could include working way. You can: members of a student society you belong to. • Talking to employers about a disability: if, how out a means to attract a different demographic to a • Research the latest and potential future trends in • Taking part in a business case studies workshop run and when. book store, overhauling a company’s brand language or your sector of interest. How will machine learning by the Careers Service. • Developing confidence in your career planning. analysing the effectiveness of a previous advertising influence sectors like banking and consultancy? • Joining relevant student societies, such as Oxford • Developing resilience. campaign with a view to implement a new strategy. We How will machine learning automate the Entrepreneurs, or the Oxford Guild. • Quiet time at careers fairs. usually run The Agency programme in Hilary and Trinity communication between people of different • Taking part in virtual investment competitions online. terms. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/the-agency

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Insight into… programmes Insight into Teaching Whether you are considering a career in teaching or are Cherwell School were really The Careers Service has established a series of just weighing up your options, experience in school can accommodating and I got to see a ‘Insight into…’ programmes to accelerate students’ be very valuable. This programme allows you to spend variety of lessons through year group and ability. learning and provide direct experience of the three days in a school, observing lessons, shadowing It was great to see different teachers’ styles and workplace and style of work in different sectors. teachers, and perhaps planning and teaching a lesson. how the different sets changed: teaching the top Last year, we offered five programmes: Insight Placements are available in a wide variety of subjects; in “and bottom of the year. I enjoyed chatting to into Strategy and Management, Medicine, primary and secondary schools, and sixth-forms, across the children – hearing what they enjoyed about Pharma, Publishing and Teaching. For more the state maintained and independent sector, and in lessons and what they hated. information, including how to apply, see the Oxford and other locations nationally. Placements take webpages for Our Skills Programmes, and monitor place during 9th week of Hilary and Trinity terms. our blog posts and the Events Calendar on Insight into Teaching participant, CareerConnect to hear about new programmes. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-teaching 2019

Insight into Publishing Launched in 2020, Insight into Publishing gives I gained a lot of valuable experience future publishing candidates the chance to hear from throughout the three sessions and professionals in the different departments of a publishing appreciate all the hard work that went into the house, take part in group work ending in a presentation organisation and execution of these. to publishing professionals and discover practical ways to make their job and internship applications publishing- “ focused. It runs over three sessions and is open to Insight into Publishing Insight into Medicine undergraduate and postgraduate students. participant, 2020 If you are thinking about a career in medicine, spending I enjoyed seeing the day-to-day time shadowing a doctor is extremely important. It can interactions with patients and getting www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-publishing help you decide whether a medical career is right for to grips with not just the science (which I love) you, and will enhance your UCAS application to medical and the patient care (which I love) but how the school. If you have difficulty arranging your own medical NHS works: why decisions are made and how Insight into Academia Insight into Strategy and Management work shadowing, this programme enables you to spend a This seminar series explores topics relevant to those Our Insight into Strategy and Management programme “doctors interact with patients in regards to this. day with a hospital consultant in Oxford. This programme considering higher education roles in research, teaching is designed to demystify business and increase It made me surer about entering the profession runs in 9th week but not in every term, check the Events and related areas. Open to current matriculated Oxford understanding of professional life to help students – seeing the medical teams interact to help Calendar on CareerConnect. University students, alumni and early career research become ready for employment. people made me know I wanted to be able to staff at the University. These informal sessions are At the end of the programme you will be able to www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-medicine contribute that way too. intended to provide an open and impartial forum for you demonstrate to prospective employers a broader to learn more about the reality of becoming and being understanding of business, strategy and finance Insight into Medicine participant, an academic, how to position yourself for success, and principles. You will also learn about matching your 2018/19 practical guides to job search and the application process personal profile to prospective employers to help with in the UK and globally. All are led by careers advisers and career choices and how to apply the learning to cases we often invite early career academics and others to join and interviews. us to share deeper insights. For more information see Insight into Pharma/Biotech the website. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-strategy-and- This programme is specifically for science students who I really enjoyed the presentations at the management are interested in research within the pharma/biotech start (where they compared academia www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-academia industry and it gives you the opportunity to gain an insight life and working in a biotech company). The into working at a local biotech company. You will have tour afterwards was also very helpful, and the a laboratory tour, and the chance to speak to scientists staff did a great job at answering questions. to find out more about what the work is like. It typically “ takes place in 9th week of Michaelmas and Trinity terms: More information check the Events Calendar on CareerConnect. Insight into Pharma/Biotech www.careers.ox.ac.uk/employability-skills www.careers.ox.ac.uk/the-agency participant, 2019/20 www.careers.ox.ac.uk/tsc www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-programmes www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-pharmabiotech

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1 Do an internship • OCVA – Oxford Community and Voluntary Action is our local city volunteering hub, with lots of opportunities available: www.ocva.org.uk A short fixed period of paid work • UN Volunteers (Online) – international volunteering experience in an organisation, usually opportunities with a development focus, that you can working on a graduate-level, structured project do on your laptop: www.onlinevolunteering.org or a defined set of tasks, which is designed for • Consider getting in touch directly with local someone hoping to enter the profession. organisations with causes you care about to discover “ if there’s something you could help with, or to suggest a project, both in Oxford or near your home. These might be advertised opportunities requiring an application, or arranged with an organisation after 3 Insight days/open days contacting them speculatively. They can take place at Some organisations advertise insight days, giving Seven ways any time of year, but most advertised opportunities students talks and tours at their place of work. These take place in vacations, particularly the summer. are often offered to help students who are interested Some organisations offer internships purely to in the industry make a more informed application, provide interested students with some first-hand but are not offered in all sectors, particularly during to gain experience and do not expect to hire interns at the COVID-19 restrictions although some offer virtual end of the period. Others use internships as a core tours or insight days. In a similar vein, many major part of their recruitment process, particularly major graduate recruiters will run company presentations experience graduate recruiters, who often advertise summer and events in Oxford or virtually, where you can learn internships for penultimate year students in about the organisation, their recruitment processes and Michaelmas Term. meet their staff. The Careers Service also runs its own unique schemes exclusively available to Oxford students: Work experience is an Work experience can be: • The Oxford University Summer Internship How recruiters support equality and • A way to develop valuable skills and accomplish Programme, which provides 4–12 week summer diversity opportunity to explore your something noteworthy. work experience across the globe. Recruiters are very keen options and make good • A chance to try out possible career directions. • The Micro-Internship Programme, which provides to raise their profile with • An opportunity to make contacts in fields that short, convenient work placements in Week 9 applicants from all backgrounds and to dispel things happen. See individual interest you. or 10 of each term based in organisations across perceptions that may deter applications. The best employers’ websites to check • A chance to earn money. Oxfordshire and other UK locations. way to assess whether their projected image is Work experience provides a valuable opportunity to ‘reality or myth’ is to speak with current employees. how they have adapted their develop awareness and understanding of yourself: what 2 Volunteer A useful starting point can be the ‘buddy and really interests you, how you like to work, and what you Volunteering is a great way to develop employability mentor’ groups or forums (eg, LGBT and BAME offering during COVID-19 find most fulfilling. skills and help others at the same time. As a volunteer forums), which many organisations now promote. restrictions. It also has a very important role in enhancing your you can work on projects or tasks that still use and An increasing variety of organisations are also employability. In a study of major graduate employers develop your skills, but you have the added benefit of establishing internship programmes, insight days, (High Fliers 2017), half of the recruiters surveyed full flexibility and negotiable hours. networking events and mentoring opportunities to warned that graduates with no work experience were Here are a few suggestions for finding volunteering encourage a greater diversity of applications. Such unlikely to be successful in applying for graduate experience while at Oxford: opportunities will be focused on groups which an level jobs in their organisations. This is because work • Oxford SU – organises diverse fundraising organisation feels are under-represented in their experience: activities you can get involved in, including the employee profile; so check what is available in the • Enables you to enhance and apply your skills. annual RAG campaign. Oxford SU also wants industries that you are most interested in. There • Provides evidence of your skills and achievements volunteers for Target Schools and other programmes. may be opportunities that focus around gender, that you can highlight in your applications and talk See www.oxfordsu.org ethnicity or sexuality, or for those from lower about in interviews. • Oxford Hub – a student-run organisation that acts socio-economic backgrounds. There’s lots of work experience that you can do eg: as a focal point for charitable activity in Oxford. You could also explore specialist organisations student committee roles, volunteering, summer jobs It co-ordinates a variety of volunteering projects in that support candidates from under-represented and individual projects. What you’ve chosen to do many sectors. You can visit its website at groups, such as Creative Access, SEO London or already can be a useful clue as to what other forms of www.oxfordhub.org Rare. Alternatively, look for programmes run by work experience and ultimately, jobs, might be fulfilling, • Do-It – a web-based national database of specific employers, such as the Civil Service Fast as outlined in the earlier section on Developing Your volunteering opportunities. Search for projects in Stream’s Summer Diversity Internship Programme. Career Ideas. Here are seven ideas to get you started. Oxford at www.do-it.org

42 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 43 GAINING EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS GAINING EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

Take opportunities to try new things at Oxford. I did voluntary tutoring and was a postgraduate teaching assistant during my PhD, and these experiences have helped me when it comes to discussing complex ideas with “clients. Dr Francis Newson, Scientific Software Analyst. DPhil Particle Making the most Physics, Christ Church College, 2011 of the internship

4 Work shadowing 6 Vacation and seasonal work Shadowing is a short period of time spent observing in a Seasonal jobs can provide money, an insight into an office workplace. It can help you assess at first-hand whether industry and demonstrate your adaptability and skills. a possible career might suit you, yet you don’t have They are often advertised in the few months preceding to have the skills needed to actively participate in the a vacation. They might be found on local employment work. For this reason, formal shadowing programmes are websites, the organisation’s own website, through often offered in fields where further training is required temping agencies, word-of-mouth or by signs on The Internship Office at the The Summer Internship Programme in order to actively participate, such as the health organisation premises. You might also be interested in The Internship Programme offers hundreds of summer professions or teaching. organisations which offer seasonal work abroad (such Careers Service offers a internship opportunities in locations across the globe, It is actually not difficult to set up shadowing yourself as Work Away or WWOOF), some of which run on an range of unique schemes that all exclusively available to current, matriculated Oxford in any industry. Contact the organisation or individual accommodation-for-work (work exchange) basis. University students. They’re offered in a wide variety you would like to observe, and ask! If they are not able provide Oxford students with of sectors, and often come with funding support or to help, you could ask whether anyone might be willing 7 Personal projects research and professional work travel scholarships. There are opportunities suitable to meet with you over coffee to help you learn more Depending on your goals, you might want to generate for students of all levels of experience and of all years about the work they do. your own experience. It could be: experience opportunities with of study, from first-year undergraduates to final-year • Managing a ‘fantasy fund’ to demonstrate your DPhils. 5 Spring weeks/spring insight programmes passion for financial markets. organisations across the UK and Examples of funded opportunities offered previously In an increasing range of sectors, organisations with • Creating a piece of work to add to your artistic around the world. include: larger graduate intakes now run one- or two-week portfolio. • Internships with world-leading international insight programmes targeted for first years (and for • Starting an entrepreneurial or charitable endeavour. development organisations, such as the UN second years on a four-year course). These discovery • Using your technological skills to code a new website/ Development Programme as well as development programmes often happen around Easter and usually app/ game. charities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. have their own application process. In addition to See if there are any local organisations that might • Professional placements from multinational offering participants industry insights and the chance to be interested in using your project to help their work, organisations like Mitsubishi in Japan and consultancy meet recent graduate recruits, they frequently include or giving it publicity. Working with other organisations companies around the world. some skills development, advice on applications and may will give you new contacts and might lead toward • Scientific research internships with universities and lead directly to offers for summer internships in your referrals as well as increasing the scope for your project. institutes in China, Brazil, Russia, Germany and more. penultimate year of study. Some accept applications in These could all be added to your CV under ‘Relevant • Teaching positions in schools around the world. Michaelmas, so start looking early! Experience’ or ‘Projects’. • A wide range of arts and heritage internships, from theatres in the UK to museums in Russia.

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The Internship Programme also offers access to days, and take place in 9th week. They are available placements in the UK, beyond the undergraduate every term, and are open to all matriculated students. internship schemes of the major graduate employers. Micro-internships are an excellent way to fit valuable Many Oxford-based opportunities frequently feature work experience around your studies. Each placement among these placements, with an increasing number offers the chance to gain useful insight into a particular of placements available within Oxford University itself, sector while tackling a challenging work project that including colleges, departments, the Bodleian and the will make a significant difference to the internship host. University museums. Micro-internships are available in all sectors, from APPLICATION The Internship Office strives to ensure that every investment firms to consultancy, tech start-ups to placement, UK or international, comes with funding or heritage sites. Host organisations provide interns with assistance with travel or accommodation. Additional travel and lunch expenses. internship awards are also available for some internships. ESSENTIALS UK internships advertised through the programme Mentoring Programmes are paid at national minimum wage or above if the work The Careers Service runs two mentoring programmes. is offered by a company in the for-profit sector. The The Crankstart Careers Mentoring Programme, Good advice on applications internships are advertised from January each year, with exclusively for Crankstart Scholars, and the Promentor Tailoring applications to a handful of applies to every aspect of the application deadlines from February onwards. Programme, which matches selected mentees with a organisations is better than applying a number of alumni mentors over the duration of their scattergun approach. It can be tempting to copy process, from preparing your Crankstart Programme undergraduate degree. Both programmes handpick and paste similar content but demonstrating CV and cover letters through If you are a Crankstart Scholar, additional funding is experienced professionals to suit the mentee’s area(s) you understand the employer’s culture can available specifically for undertaking internships. You can of career interest, and encourage collaboration to “help make your application stand out. Each to interviewing and assessment apply for this at any point during your undergraduate explore aspects of a profession that may be of interest. application took me around a day and a half but studies. Internships can be sourced through our regular Mentoring can be a great way to gain different centres. And it is relevant the time is worth it: there is a career at the end. programmes, independently (directly with an employer) perspectives, insight into certain sectors and develop or through our Crankstart Exclusive Internships, which key skills – among many other things. for any application, whether are advertised via a regular bulletin. Amy Rickwood, Future trainee it’s for further study, a small solicitor, New College, 2019 The Micro-Internship Programme More information charity, a graduate position The Micro-Internship Programme offers convenient, See the Our Internship Office section of our For more application tips from Amy, read her profile on or an internship with a leading short-term work placements with organisations based website: www.careers.ox.ac.uk/internships page 115. across the UK and beyond. Placements last two to five multinational.

46 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 47 APPLICATION ESSENTIALS APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

Successful applications

Throughout the application process: Identify and evidence the required skills • Demonstrate that you have the desire to do the job; Identifying the skills and competencies required for a Assertion or evidence? Demonstrating commercial awareness right mix of skills; and potential to grow and learn. role can be straightforward because these are often I will make a strong contribution at [company’s Good candidates are able to demonstrate an • Explain clearly why you want to join their listed in the job description and personal specification. name] because I am a good team player and understanding of an organisation’s core activities, organisation; and how you fit both the role and the Application forms often ask you to give examples of the natural leader. products and services; the marketplace – including culture. specific skills sought. Even where these are not clear, or Last spring, my leadership enabled our competitors; and how political and technological Successful applications therefore grow from when making a speculative approach, you should try to student consultancy team to make robust change might affect their sector in future. enthusiasm for an organisation and knowing you would identify which core employability skills are likely to be recommendations to our client, a local charity, • Learn about the sectors you are targeting. be happy doing the job. Invest time in identifying your most important for the organisation. on how to increase volunteering amongst sixth • Attend company events and career fairs, talk to preferences, motivations and skills. Research industry Effective applications are supported throughout by formers based on over 100 survey responses. alumni, join relevant student societies. sectors to target your efforts better; try to understand evidence – it builds credibility. Simply asserting that you • Read journals and websites dedicated to the the culture and style of different organisations and the have a skill does not work, not least because anybody sector. skills and qualities sought. Talking to people working in can make that assertion! Consider the opposite example Remember… • Find and follow professional bodies and the sector can really help to deepen your research. in the ‘Assertion or evidence?’ box. opinion leaders as well as companies and For more detailed advice, see our section on Developing The examples you use in written applications and Lastly, remember that recruiters are not mind-readers, organisations. Your Career Ideas. interviews can be drawn from a variety of activities, and frequently work to tight deadlines. Never expect • Be ready to discuss industry trends and Good research is vital and will help you stand out. as transferrable skills are developed in many situations recruiters to infer how you fit their criteria. Instead, how current issues might affect an It lays the foundation for communicating clearly how – through your studies, extra-curricular activities and make it easy for them to find the evidence they are organisation’s markets or strategy – and/ you meet the requirements for the role and fit the work experience. Choose examples that: looking for. or their clients. organisation. Before applying, analyse the advertisement • relate to what you actually did, rather than what you • Be direct and state how you meet the criteria clearly, • Read the (financial) news and follow one or or personal specification to understand: might do in a hypothetical situation; with lots of evidence to back up your claims. two major current affairs over time. • What the job entails. • show your personal contribution, even within a team • Mirror the language used in their recruitment • Consider how organisations in the sector • Which skills are most important. effort; literature to: compete with one another. • What excellence might look like. • had positive outcomes; • Align your style to theirs. • Become comfortable with business All elements of your applications can then: • are relevant to the employer – signpost this by • Enable software used to scan applications to terminology and financial measures relevant to • Actively promote your strongest relevant skills and mirroring the language used in the job description; match your evidence to the key competencies and the sector and role. abilities. • are fairly recent (preferably in the last two to three years); skills required. Gain first-hand experience and insight • Present evidence showing where and how you have • allow scope for you to expand on if asked for more • Highlight relevant aspects of your background, through our employability programmes and developed and applied these skills and abilities. detail in an interview. knowledge and experience for each organisation and work experience. See our advice on Gaining • Persuade your audience of your interest, From building your CV to answering competency-based role. Experience. excitement and motivation for the role and their questions in interviews, you can add structure to your • Reflect how your aspirations and longer term goals organisation. evidence by using the CAR or STAR mnemonics. align to the opportunity.

48 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 49 APPLICATION ESSENTIALS APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

CVs The goal of a CV and its cover letter is to get you to an interview: for a speculative application, it is to encourage Equality and diversity in the reader to respond positively. the application process Remember, recruiters usually review CVs very quickly – perhaps only 10–20 seconds – and so CVs have a There are four key characteristics of certain style all of their own. The primary challenge is to CVs that work well Many students worry that Whilst you may fear that your circumstances will be make it easy for the recruiter to find exactly what they recruiters will be biased, viewed negatively, for the recruiter they are often seen are looking for. Focus on their core requirements and Relevance as an asset – for example, your problem-solving skills adjust or adapt your CV for each specific application. • Content is relevant to the position applied for – fearing preconceptions about developed through having a disability may be much this is not a list of everything that you’ve done. higher than others. Ultimately, what matters is how • Content highlights your personal contribution. race, disability, ethnicity, you evidence your skills, motivation and competencies Getting ready to create your CV gender, sexual orientation, throughout the application process – you are your best Clarity advocate! • Create your long list of all your experience, • A well laid out CV is inviting to read and easy to mental health conditions, Depending on your situation, and to prevent putting achievements and key dates. Transferable skills are scan quickly. yourself at a ‘disadvantage’ to others, you may choose to developed and demonstrated in diverse situations, so • Use simple language – avoid jargon, acronyms social class or age. ‘disclose’ or be open about your circumstances, so that include: and technical details that may not be the recruiter can put in place adjustments/support that • Educational achievements, prizes, awards. understood or provide too much detail. The reality is that recruiters want the ‘best individual for enable you to demonstrate your potential at each stage • Voluntary, paid and unpaid work experience. • A standard reverse chronological format helps the role/scheme’ and are keen to recruit employees from of the application process (eg. extra time for online • Involvement in societies, sports and clubs. recruiters as they know where to find what diverse backgrounds but are not always sure how to tests, specific software for visually impaired applicants, • Additional interests and skills (eg. languages; IT they are looking for. demystify or prevent misconceptions. visiting the test centre before the day to familiarise skills; music). Many employers are proud to have robust diversity layout and many more). • For each application, identify the skills and Evidence based and inclusion policy and practice – look for indicators It is your personal decision whether or not to tell a competencies required. • Provide evidence of your contribution and when researching organisations. These organisations recruiter of your circumstances. And, if you do choose • Select your most relevant experiences to demonstrate impact. recognise and value the unique skills, experience and to share this information, you must also decide at what the skills and competencies required for the role. • Focus on ‘actions taken’ rather than attitudes that individuals bring owing to their personal point in the recruitment process (application, interview, • Select your format – for most graduate positions, ‘responsibilities’ to showcase your skills. circumstances. They also understand that students with job offer or in the job) to do so. a standard reverse chronological format is • Use numbers, percentages and values to a disability, health condition or those who have had to Everyone’s circumstances are different and recommended (see Siân Magellan’s CV). quantify your impact and give a sense of scale ‘suspend studies’ are often concerned that they may be understanding your situation in this context can be • Consider which headings are most useful to present to your actions. at a disadvantage in the recruitment process – that it difficult. Try not to pre-judge how recruiters might view your experience most effectively: • Avoid unsupported assertions or opinions. will not be fair. you from what you have read or heard in the media and • EDUCATION will normally be at the top. Applicants have protection in law. This will vary from others – instead, seek advice and more information • EXPERIENCE rather than ‘Employment’. Brevity depending on the country you wish to work in but the to help YOU to make the right decision for YOU. • headings such as ‘POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY’ • Avoid paragraphs, as these are slow to read. UK Equality Act 2010 protects you – at all stages – • The Careers Service has advisers who specialise in or ‘AWARDS’ can signal other important information. • Use bullet points to package information from discrimination due to disability, age, gender, race, disability and diversity issues and can help you to • INTERESTS or OTHER INTERESTS AND SKILLS succinctly. religion and beliefs and sexual orientation. It is worth decide if, when and how you might want to be ‘open’ should be included to indicate extra-curricular • Avoid too much context, excessive detail or familiarising yourself with the law – see www.gov.uk/ about your particular circumstances. activities and diverse talents. This section might unfocused material that will dilute the impact guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance and the law in • Approach the organisation’s recruitment team for include sub-headings such as Languages; IT Skills; of your most relevant messages. the country you’d like to work in. advice – this is an important part of their role. Sports; and Music.

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Other forms of CV • Second, always check carefully for errors and typos – many recruiters dismiss well qualified candidates Some roles may allow for, or invite, a different form of CV. if there is even one typo in the CV, cover letter or application form! SIÂN MAGELLAN Balliol College, Oxford, OX1 3BJ Creative CVs • Finally: M: 07685 314529 E: Siâ[email protected] If you are applying for a ‘creative’ role, in advertising or • Hold your CV at arms-length – does it look easy design for example, they may look favourably upon an to read? infographic or otherwise visually unusual CV. This allows • Fold it vertically and scan the left side in 10 seconds: EDUCATION you to project something of your style and personality • Will the reader get the gist of your application? and can demonstrate your ability and skill communicating • Are your strongest skills immediately visible? BA Hons English, Balliol College, University of Oxford 2017 – 2020 information clearly in a creative and striking way. • Check for jargon and acronyms, and over-long • First year exam results: 2.1 (65 average) bullets – edit vigorously. • Researched and delivered on time 12 3,000 word essays on new topics in each 8-week term for discussion with peers and leading academics Academic CVs • Is it the right length? There is no upper limit on the number of pages expected Some employers (eg, investment banks) • St John’s School, Milton Keynes 2010 – 2017 in a CV for an academic post. Information should still be expect just one page. A levels: French A*, English A*, Chemistry A, Geography A relevant, brief, evidence based and clearly presented. • Aim for a maximum of two pages, except for GCSEs: 5 A*, 3 A, 1 B including A* in English and Maths If applying for a postdoc, fellowship, lectureship or an academic CV. research assistant post, make sure your CV has: EXPERIENCE Sections for professional memberships, publications, Finally, finally! • WWOOF, Organic Farm in Haute Vienne, France, Volunteer (summer) 2019 and conference presentations/posters. Take a good break and then proofread – yes, again! – double • Independently planned and organised 2 months’ work in France • A focus on areas specific to academia, such as checking for errors and typos. Save your CV as a PDF to • Improved to near-fluent French, while learning food production chain process research experience, teaching experience and any ensure it keeps its beautiful formatting when you send it. • Developed good working relationships with 22 colleagues from 12 countries university/college administration or committee work. • Details of successful bids for awards, grants and Oxford University, The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA), Team Leader, (8 weeks) 2018 collaborations. More information and examples • Led a team of 5 students to develop marketing strategy for local start-up • Designed and executed paper and phone surveys, engaging 250 participants Referee details – usually three – ideally academics www.careers.ox.ac.uk/cvs • • Presented recommendations to client; all implemented within 3 months and delivering who both know you and are recognised in your field. 20% increase in sales within 6 months It can take a number of revisions before you are happy with your CV, and getting a second opinion can EGM Analysis, Market Research Assistant (1 month internship) 2018 be very helpful. It might all make perfect sense to you, Comments on Siân Magellan’s CV • Produced 8 accurate data tables to summarise previous field activities but you could be surprised by the things that others may using SPSS question or not understand. Ask a friend to check it or Overall • Presented daily key data summary to managers with a colleague • Developed knowledge and interest in marketing and consumer goods meet a careers adviser for feedback. • Looks easy to read. • Text and dates aligned, no full-stops and plenty Red Lion Hotel, Newport Pagnell, Waitress (part-time summer work) 2018 of ‘white space’ around text. • Provided professional, courteous dinner service in busy gastro-pub with 80 covers Final checks • Consistent use of headings, capitals and bold • Maintained positivity and good working relationships in high-pressure service environment text provide clear signposting. Once you think your CV is ready, we recommend a few No jargon or acronyms that may muddle Milton Keynes Hospital, Data Entry Clerk (part-time holiday work) 2018 • • Developed administrative skills, and understanding of organisational processes final checks: understanding. • Ensured accurate classification of records and meticulous proof reading • First, ensure that you are putting forward your best • Numbers, percentages and values add clarity • Liaised with 6 hospital departments to compile datasets to tight deadlines case – that everything included is relevant. and give a sense of scale. OTHER SKILLS AND INTERESTS Bullet points Applications outside the UK Separate bullet points cover a single idea, skill or Languages: English – native; French – near-fluent; German – conversational Proficient in Excel and SPSS, WordPress, InDesign and MS Office Expectations and conventions for what is activity. IT: Music: Lead clarinettist in Milton Keynes Youth Band; member of National Youth Orchestra acceptable in a CV varies between countries: eg, Note: Siân has used Context, Action, Results Marketing Officer for Balliol College wind ensemble. Promoted concerts and a photograph is never included in a resume for the (CAR) as a structure for her Experience section. managed ticket sales, increasing audience numbers by 30% in the first year USA, but is expected on a German CV. If applying • Context: Dates, organisation name and Sport: Balliol College women's football team; training twice a week outside the UK, research country-specific current positions/role give sufficient context. Captain of St John’s School women’s football team (under 18s) practice, starting with: • Action: Bullets start with active verbs/skills, Travel: Extensive travel throughout Europe, including organising work placement • Our advice on Working in Different Countries. aligning these to left margin for ease of scanning. in France • GoinGlobal country reports, free to use via • Results: Outcomes included to show how and www.careers.ox.ac.uk/goinglobal. where Siân added value.

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Your address

[email protected]

Their address

Date

Cover letters Dear . . . OPENING PARAGRAPH: Simply state what you are applying for and where you found out about it. This tells the recruiter why they are reading the letter, and helps them know which promotional tools work. Briefly introduce yourself: what you are studying, where, and which year you are in or when Always submit a cover letter if you have the chance. Aim to be you will finish. focused and engaging. Make a strong and persuasive case built on Explain why you are interested in the position and/or the organisation. Differentiate yourself. Genuine enthusiasm and specific knowledge of the organisation will set you apart from those your research and supported with evidence linked to your CV. sending generic letters. Draw on your research to demonstrate understanding of the business and the way they work that goes beyond the corporate website. Reflect what you learnt from speaking with their staff: be specific about why you want to join the organisation or why the position is The cover letter gives you scope to: This advice also applies if you are writing a speculative particularly attractive for you: back this up with evidence from your past, or link this to your broader • Showcase what interests and drives you, your letter or application, perhaps asking an organisation if career plans and aspirations. enthusiasm for an organisation and the role. they can offer you work experience. State clearly why Align yourself with the organisation’s strengths, you are writing in your opening paragraph, and go on Help the person reading your letter to understand how you meet ‘essential’ requirements for the • role. State explicitly how you match their criteria, supported by evidence from your CV. Focus on values and culture. to outline two or three areas where your core skills and your accomplishments and the most relevant transferable skills you have for the role. If you have • Highlight your knowledge and strongest, most experiences best fit the organisation’s needs. Close with good evidence for any ‘desirable’ traits in the job description, include this too. Even if you think the relevant skills for the position. an indication of what you would like to happen next. position is out of reach, you may convince the recruiter you are qualified enough and able to do the Try to sound professional yet conversational, rather job – particularly if you demonstrate strong motivation elsewhere. than wordy or too stiff and formal. Write in clear, concise English – take care not to drown your reader with detail, Top tips for cover letters Support your claims with examples from your CV. You may build a stronger, more credible case by linking different experiences to highlight different aspects of competencies or development of a and avoid jargon they may not understand. Search online The outline letter opposite provides ideas about skill. Consider these examples: for advice from The Plain English Campaign, which offers content and structure to enhance your letters. simple, clear guidance on improving your writing style. Keep it short – a concise letter demonstrates • having run [named event] at school, I further developed my organisational skills when raising [£££] • through a College fundraiser in my first year and, more recently, by leading [a major event] for the While this may sound simple, your early cover letters focus and strong communication skills. [named Society] attended by [number] of people. may go through three or four drafts (or even more!) • Project confidence – write with the assumption before you are happy with them. that they will interview you. • the [role applied for] would allow me use my passion for helping others, which underpins both my work as College Welfare Officer and the real sense of achievement I get from tutoring When you feel your cover letter is finished, put it Keep the tone and content professional – • disadvantaged children through Oxford’s Schools Plus programme. down overnight (or at least for a couple of hours) before attempts at humour are best avoided. reading it through – aloud. • Include specific relevant details that show your CLOSING PARAGRAPH: Keep it simple and clear. Thank the employer for their interest in your As you read, listen to yourself: research and how you consider they differ application and reiterate your desire to join the organisation. If known, refer to the next step: eg, Does it say clearly what you want it to say? from their competitors – do not cut and paste 'I look forward to interviewing with [Company name] in two weeks‘, or ‘discussing the position with • you soon’. • Does it have your ‘voice’? Do you sound confident? content. • Enthusiastic about the company? Excited about the • As for CVs, double check for errors and typos: Yours faithfully, (if you started ‘Dear Sir or Madam’) role? using a spell checker is not enough. or • If you insert a competitor company’s name, does the • Ask for feedback from a careers adviser. Yours sincerely, (if you addressed the letter to a specific person) letter still read the same? If so, try to differentiate each letter more! • Are there any sections that are hard to read or Signature follow? If yes, try simplifying your language, using More information shorter sentences or try taking that section out www.careers.ox.ac.uk/cover-letters completely.

54 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 55 APPLICATION ESSENTIALS APPLICATION ESSENTIALS Application forms How to reflect the for employment same experience in and further study a CV, cover letter Many applications, both for employment and further study, require and application form an application form. You are more likely to be successful sending targeted applications, rather than a mass of near-identical forms. For any application, you should lead with your best, most relevant

Application forms usually include questions that experience for the role. It is likely, therefore, that you will want to refer prompt similar content to a good cover letter and/or More information and examples to some experiences more than once in different elements of the process. competency-based interview questions, eg: www.careers.ox.ac.uk/application-forms • Why are you interested in this role/organisation/career? • What are your three strongest skills for this role? The paragraphs below illustrate how this might look an effective marketing strategy. Thirdly, and based • Provide an example of a time when … [you have taken for Siân Magellan’s Student Consultancy, now known on the combined skillset of my team, I allocated roles a leadership role]. Applications for further study as TOSCA, leadership experience in her cover letter, to each member, covering research, survey design • Outside your course, what extra-curricular activities For most courses applications are made direct to application form and CV. and implementation, budgeting and reporting. Having are you involved in? each university. In Europe and North America most established a way forward, we then agreed a timeframe • Which relevant transferable skills can you further study applications open during the autumn 1. Cover letter for each aspect of the project. As team leader, as well as demonstrate? with deadlines between Christmas and Easter, but While participating in The Oxford Strategy Challenge being responsible for survey implementation, I remained Draft your answers offline first, so you can: some do close earlier so check individual closing (TOSCA), I developed my leadership skills by leading the focal point of contact with our client, keeping them • Bring your answers and job description to review with dates carefully. Some vocational courses have a a team of five students to design and implement a up to date with all our project implementation, key a career adviser at the Careers Service. centralised application system, notably graduate marketing strategy to increase sales for our local start- findings and asking for any clarifications when required. • Thoroughly check for typos. entry medicine, teacher training and Graduate up client. I organised our meeting schedule, allocated I also kept in touch regularly with each team member • Ensure you don’t lose your answers if the server Diploma in Law. roles to each team member, coordinated with the client, in between our team meetings so that I could deal with ‘times out’. Details differ, but you are likely to need the implemented our surveys and ensured that we delivered any unexpected delays or findings and keep our project • Create a bank of material to help you answer similar following: our recommendations on time. As a result of my team’s on track. We delivered our recommendations on time to questions asked by different organisations– but • Application form. recommendations, six months later our client’s sales our client, who welcomed and implemented them all. Six always tailor responses. • Personal statement and/or research objective. have increased by 20% and I received excellent feedback months later, the client’s sales have increased by 20% • Don’t be tempted to copy and paste directly from • Transcripts of university exam results. both from the client and other members of my team. and our suggestions are still being followed. one application to another. • Two or three references. • Review your answers before your interview. • CV. 2. Employer Application Form (EAF) 3. CV Always follow the instructions given. For example, if • Examples of written work. Describe a time when you demonstrated leadership you are asked to write to a word count be sure to stick Results of standardised tests (eg GRE for the skills: Last January I led a five-member team on The • EXPERIENCE to that. Use concise sentences and active verbs. Never USA). Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA), an eight-week take a shortcut by simply including your CV; if a recruiter • Payment of a fee. programme run by Oxford University Careers Service Oxford University, The Oxford Strategy 2020 wants your CV, they will ask for it. to build commercial awareness and team skills. Within Challenge, Team Leader, (8 weeks)

Personal statements may be required if an this timeframe, my goal as team leader was to deliver a • Led a team of 5 students to develop marketing strategy organisation has listed the skills and experience needed series of recommendations to our team’s local start-up for local start-up for the role in detail. Aim to show how you meet each More information client to increase their sales. First I organised a series • Designed and executed paper and phone surveys, engaging 250 participants item on the list. Be guided by their sub-headings and See our guidance on types of further study, of meetings across the eight weeks when all or most of • Presented recommendations to client; all implemented consider using these to organise your own statement if choosing a course, studying abroad, fees and us could get together to work on the project. Secondly within 3 months and delivering 20% increase in sales feasible – making it even easier for recruiters to find the funding and www.careers.ox.ac.uk/further-study I asked each team member to share their skills and within 6 months evidence they are looking for! insights into how they could contribute to developing

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Recruitment tests

Graduates will often face • A good strategy is to eliminate as many wrong Situational judgement tests are becoming more answers as possible. For example, with numerical widespread. These require candidates to identify the Equality and diversity: disclosure or psychometric testing when tests a quick estimate may help you discard several of best (and worst) options for addressing work-related being ‘open’ applying for jobs. Recruiters the options without working out every alternative. scenarios, and the judgements needed can seem If you feel that you might • Keep an eye on the clock. finely balanced. You should consider both how fully be at a disadvantage to are increasingly using online • Do not spend too long on any one question – if you get each option achieves the required objective and others in the application and tests as an initial screening stuck, leave it and move on rather than wasting time. whether or not the actions are in line with the selection process (eg online tests, video interview, organisation’s stated values and core competencies. time-out from studies), owing to a disability, stage, although candidates may Types of tests In-tray/e-tray exercises are also used to test judgement health condition or dyslexia and dyspraxia, then Tests of ability include numerical and verbal reasoning tests. and work skills. contact the recruiter beforehand to discuss if the encounter tests later in the Unless a job requires a high level of numeracy, Some firms are using game-based assessments, process can be adapted or ‘adjustments’ could be process, and even be re-tested numerical tests are not likely to be pitched higher than which can be engaging for candidates, require no special made for you, for example, by giving you extra GCSE-level maths. Candidates can expect to calculate gaming skills and may reduce bias. time in the timed tests. Your experiences of at assessment centres. percentages and ratios, and extract information from Personality tests evaluate traits and preferences, and adjustments that are made for you at university charts and graphs, accurately and under considerable do not have right or wrong answers. Answer intuitively are a good guideline for what to ask for, or advise time-pressure. If your mental maths or calculator as yourself. a recruiter to put in place. technique are rusty, start practising: Ability tests require both speed and accuracy. Test • study different types of charts and financial reports familiarisation and a little practice helps candidates to in quality newspapers and the financial press focus their energy on finding correct answers, rather • attend the Careers Service’s numeracy refresher Top tips for succeeding in recruitment tests than wasting time on understanding how to answer sessions, advertised via the Events Calendar on In-tray or ‘e-tray’ exercises are a test of your ability • Scan all the information quickly to get a sense of the questions. See the Careers Service’s advice on CareerConnect. to deal with a real work scenario. You may be given the information contained in different messages. preparation and how to access free practice resources Verbal reasoning and critical reasoning tests typically a simulated inbox full of emails, reports and other • Prioritise tasks that are both ‘urgent and at www.careers.ox.ac.uk/psychometric-tests. evaluate your ability to extract the details and main correspondence – or it may start nearly empty, but important’ that you must complete. Lastly, even if you feel well prepared, we recommend points from a short piece of information, sometimes you can expect additional emails to arrive during • If tasked with providing a written report or candidates should always study any practice questions requiring you to make logical inferences from the text. the exercise. Employers are usually looking for you briefing document, you may need to use offered by a company to minimise the chance of Use the free practice resources we offer you to become to prioritise your workload, draft replies, delegate information from a variety of messages, so meeting new styles of question. familiar with these tests and the range and subtleties tasks and recommend actions. Keep focused – time identify sources for these main points early. To perform at your best in these tests: of the distinctions you need to make. These tests are is often short, so work quickly and avoid getting too • Don’t get drawn into working on issues that you • Choose a time and place where you can focus perhaps more difficult to prepare for than numerical absorbed in any single aspect of this task. should delegate to others, or which are not urgent without distraction. tests, but reading material from outside your academic Take care to: and can be marked for completion ‘later’. • Read instructions carefully and follow them. discipline, for example in technical and business journals, • Read the instructions carefully and thoroughly to • Highlight any resource constraints, conflicts • Work as quickly and accurately as you can, reading can help you to become comfortable with different understand what you must do. between tasks or implications for the organisation. both questions and answer-choices carefully. written styles.

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Presentations and written reports You may be asked to prepare some materials in Because time will be short, it is best to start advance of the assessment centre or be given some with the key issue and your main conclusion or key time to prepare on the day based on a case study. recommendations. The rest of the presentation You will present to the assessors, and possibly other should support this conclusion. candidates. When preparing your presentation: • Structure your arguments and limit complexity – • Make sure that you understand what is required and eg, three to six main messages. the time you have both to prepare and to present. • Support your ideas and themes with examples, • Consider your audience – this will influence the statistics and facts and (brief) anecdotes – content, level and tone of your presentation. but keep it moving to reach the end of your • Timing is important as you will be stopped when presentation. your time is up. Consider whether an interactive element would Keep the structure simple: be appropriate given the context – eg, in a teaching 1. Tell them who you are and what you are going to or training type role play, this could be appropriate. Assessment tell them. Allow time for questions at the end if this feels 2. Tell them. appropriate. 3. Summarize what you have told them. centres Group exercises The most important outcome for group exercises is given, but don’t waste time on minute details. for the group to deliver successfully against the given • In the light of the information given, help the Many employers believe that individual interviews can’t tell them brief. This really is not about winning or losing! group decide on your objectives and priorities, enough about candidates and prefer to use a range of selection Successful teams work together. They find and use make a plan, and follow it. the best contributions from across the whole team and • Be assertive and persuasive, but also diplomatic. techniques incorporated into an assessment centre. good teamwork involves listening to, acknowledging • Listen to what everyone else has to say, and try to and following through on the ideas of others: it’s about get the best contribution from each person. building on one another’s strengths and contributions. • Don’t assume that shy or quiet members have What to expect • Group exercise, solving a work-related problem. But yes, you are being assessed, and assessors can nothing to contribute – ask for their thoughts. Assessment centres tend to be between a half-day • Interview(s): ranging from strengths-based to only judge you on the contributions they see, so it is • Find the balance between taking your ideas to two days in length and will consist of a range of competency-based interviews. important to get involved and make sure that your forward and helping the group to complete the selection methods such as aptitude tests, personality The assessors will keep notes of how each candidate contribution is heard. Even if your ideas are not taken task. questionnaires, case studies, group discussions, spoken performs. Try to stay focused throughout the day, and up by the group there are many alternative ways that • Keep an eye on the time and overall objective of presentations, one-to-one interviews, socialising (which don’t allow yourself to lose confidence if you feel you you can gain recognition – eg, leading, facilitating, the exercise, and help ensure that the group keeps is still observed!) and meeting recent joiners. have under-performed in an exercise. Remember: try generating ideas, encouraging, monitoring progress, on track and delivers against the brief. Applicants will usually be assessed against selection to stay positive and in the moment as the assessors are re-capping/summarising, questioning, or analysing. • Wear a watch so you can still keep track of time if criteria based on the company’s competency framework, looking at your overall performance. • Get a good grasp of any information you are there is no clock in the room. which defines the core abilities, skills and behaviours judged to be necessary for the role. These competencies Virtual assessment centres In-tray exercises are likely to include key transferable employability At the time of writing (Summer 2020) many employers In-tray or ‘e-tray’ exercises are a test of your ability • Prioritise what is most important or urgent by skills as well as company-specific competencies and/or are moving over to virtual assessment centres in order to deal with a real work scenario. You may be given scanning the information. technical skills for some roles. to comply with social distancing guidelines. For many, a simulated inbox full of emails, reports and other • Identify which items you need to complete during Typically, competencies include areas such as: the main focus for the virtual event will be the interview correspondence – or it may start nearly empty, but the exercise (handling tasks that are both ‘urgent • Creativity, analytical skills and problem solving. and presentation. While everyone is becoming much you can expect additional emails to arrive during the & important’ as a priority). • Effective communication skills and teamwork. more used to the technology of things like ‘breakout exercise. • Select which items could be delegated/referred • Business/commercial awareness. rooms’ on Zoom, group exercises are more difficult to • Employers are usually looking for you to prioritise to someone else and those that can be noted for • Ability to influence/persuade. run, so may be dropped or replaced with other exercises; your workload, draft replies, delegate tasks and completion ‘later’. • Drive, initiative and flexibility. alternatively the skills that would be tested in a group recommend actions. • Highlight any resource constraints, conflicts A typical one-day assessment centre may consist of: setting may be added to interview questions. • Keep focused – time is often short, so work between tasks, or implications for the • Introduction and company presentation. quickly and avoid getting too absorbed in any organisation. • Psychometric testing. single aspect of this task. • If asked to draft a written response to any item, • In-tray exercise. More information Take care to: identify the main points of your response quickly • A presentation. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/assessment-centres • Read the instructions carefully and thoroughly. and expand concisely on them. • Lunch/socialising informally.

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Competency-based recruiting Many companies still use competency frameworks to identify and group related skills, knowledge, attitudes and abilities that are needed to be effective within their organisation and the range of situations typical for a particular role. In interviews, competency-based questions are common and tend to follow the structure:

“Can you tell me about a time when………………?” [insert competency here]

Using a simple framework to provide structure to your answer helps you to: • Tell your story clearly and makes it easier for an interviewer to follow that story. • Include all the most relevant and important points. Confident Structure your responses with these interviews mnemonics: If you have been invited to interview, you have convinced the employer that you are Situation Context suitable for the role on paper. An interview Task Action Action Result is your opportunity to confirm this Result impression, and demonstrate that you are what the hiring manager is looking for. For example, use the STAR outline to: First: Briefly describe the specific SITUATION How to prepare • Think about how the organisation competes in its you were in. Remember interviews work both ways: Repeat the preparations detailed throughout this market, and how it compares with its competitors. Second: Describe the TASK you needed you’re interviewing the prospective section, but in more depth. Re-read the job • Read a quality broadsheet and be ready to offer to accomplish. Give only enough detail for the company as well as being interviewed. description and candidate specification, and ensure an informed opinion on business and current recruiter to appreciate your contribution. I built up a good rapport during my Arup that you understand the job and the competencies affairs. Third: Describe the ACTION(s) you took. Keep interview and knew the people I’d met would required. Be clear about the points you absolutely • Prepare some questions (note them down) to ask at the focus on what you did rather than the efforts want to make, and practice building them into different the interview. of the team, even for a group project. “be great to work with but it definitely wasn’t like answers. Lastly: Describe the RESULT. Based on that for all other interviews. Don’t be afraid to As a starting point, prepare some answers to Support at the Careers Service relevant measures of success, outline what turn down a job offer if you don’t think it’s the typical questions, and practice answering them aloud. • Sessions for improving your interview skills are held happened and what you accomplished. right fit for you. Articulating your answers is harder than thinking them each term, and dates and times are advertised in our When appropriate, probably within an over in your head, and saying them aloud will help you to weekly newsletter and on CareerConnect (p.7). interview, you can extend this structure by Tabitha Kennedy, Environmental sound more convincing and fluent on the day. • Employer-led mock interviews are offered every including ‘E’ for EVALUATION (STARE): Consultant, Arup. BA Geography, • Be clear on your motivations: why you want to work term. You are able to make a recording to review at • Highlight what you learned from the Hertford, 2016 for the organisation and do that specific job. a later point, and the recruiter will give feedback to experience, or what you would change if went • Be ready to show commercial awareness: help improve your technique. through the process/experience again. • Consider how recent global events, current • You can also use a short discussion with a careers • Explain how this experience might be relevant Read more about Tabitha’s recruitment experience in affairs and the economy may affect the adviser to discuss interview technique or tackle some in the role applied for. the energy sector alumni profiles. organisation. general interview questions.

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Strengths-based recruiting Top tips for answers Prepare for the most typical questions Telephone, Skype, virtual More and more graduate recruiters use this type Try to use examples from different experiences, Employers will want to understand what your pre-recorded interviews of interview as they understand that employees such as your studies, work experience, extra- interests are, what you enjoy doing, and how Many employers now use virtual interviews will perform best when using their individual curricular activities and volunteering. these relate to the position, so some questions are as the first stage in the process and, at the time strengths. They aim to get the best out of you by • Be as clear as possible – many of us tend to quite common. They will want to understand what of writing (Summer 2020), at every stage in focusing on your natural aptitude, what you enjoy ramble when we’re nervous, so use specific motivates you and how much insight you have order to meet social distancing requirements. doing and what engages you. examples that provide evidence of your skills into yourself, their company and the role – so be Prepare for this type of interview as if for a In this type of interview, interviewers may and contribution. sure to prepare well and practise aloud for these face-to-face interview – don’t treat it any less ask a wide range of questions to get a good feel • Feel free to use examples already mentioned FAQs. formally. of your personal abilities and will be looking not on your written application: the interviewer • Tell me about yourself. If you’re asked to do a video (or pre- only at what you say but also how you say it; to will not have memorised all of them. Be ready, • What attracted you to this company? recorded) interview, you’ll be sent a video see if your tone, body language and expression however, to go into more detail. • Why do you want this position? link and will complete the interview via demonstrate a genuine motivation. • Think about the structure of your answer to • What will you bring to this role? web-cam. You’ll be asked a question, given They may ask questions such as: ensure you that get the relevant points across • Tell me about a time when you led a team/ a short time to prepare, and then have to record • When are you at your best? clearly. For competency-based questions, use completed a project/worked with someone your answer; you can usually pause between • What are you most proud of? the STAR/CAR mnemonic. you found difficult to work with. questions but not after the question has been • What do you do well? • A good interview is a dialogue, and you should • What would you do differently if faced with asked. • What do you love to do in your spare time? take an active role in the conversation. that (difficult) situation again? • How would a close friend describe you? • If you are not sure that you understand the • What do you consider your greatest When preparing for the interview • How do you feel when working on a question, ask for clarification. Similarly, if you strength? • Ensure that you have privacy for the disorganised project? What do you do in are wondering whether you have answered a • …your greatest weakness? interview away from noise and distractions. situations like this? question fully, you can ask the interviewer if • What has been your greatest achievement? Ask friends or family not to disturb you – put a • How do you ensure you maximise your time to they would like more information. sign on your door! achieve your goals and targets? • Ensure your phone/laptop is charged, check In order to prepare you will need to think about the signal/internet access, and/or that the your achievements academically, professionally and in • Take time to think before answering. have responded differently and what you could add to virtual platform the recruiter has invited you to an extra-curricular capacity. What have you done that • Make sure you answer the question you have been strengthen your answer(s). This will help if you are asked use is working properly. you particularly enjoyed – why did you enjoy it? Also, asked. similar questions in future – including during a final round • Have your CV or application form available as as with all interviews think about the organisation and • Structure your answer so it is easy to understand. interview – if the organisation decides to drill deeper a prompt, as well as some paper and a pen for the role you are interviewing for: does it allow you to • If you have finished – and the interviewer remains into areas which have already been assessed. making notes. use your strengths and natural talents? silent – don’t keep talking to fill the gap. • The main difference between telephone • Be positive in everything you say: Handling offers or rejections and standard interviews is the lack of visual • Don’t make negative comments about previous If you’re offered a job and are still hoping to hear back from cues, but your body language is still very On the day employers or tutors. other recruiters, look up the advice on handling offers important as it affects your confidence and • Plan your route and aim to arrive 15–30 minutes • If asked about something that went wrong, outline on the Careers Service’s website. If you are still unsure, performance. early to settle down and relax. Plan what you will what you learned from the experience and how discuss your situation with a careers adviser. If you are not • Dress smartly, even for a telephone interview do if there is an unexpected delay. Always have the you would handle it differently next time. offered the job, do feel free to contact the recruiter for – as this will affect your overall attitude and name and telephone number/email of your main • Aim to keep answers reasonably short – if there is feedback – it can be really helpful. Most importantly, learn confidence. contact within the organisation. more that you could add, perhaps ask the interviewer from the experience and try not to lose confidence. • Smile! By smiling, you will sound friendlier and • Consider what you are going to wear: be clean, neat if they would like more details or further examples. more confident. and tidy, and dress appropriately for the environment • Don’t let a friendly, informal interview style lull you • Use gestures as you would in a normal you would be working in. into a false sense of security: you are still being More information conversation; this will help you sound livelier. • First impressions are important: be ready to say hello assessed. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/types-of-interview Vary your pace and pitch to avoid sounding with a confident handshake and steady eye contact. • Keep your answers professional, focused and relevant. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/interview-technique ‘flat’. • Remember – you are on show from the minute you • Be aware of body language and try to maintain eye www.careers.ox.ac.uk/make-a-good-first- • If there are any long silences after your answer arrive to the point that you leave. contact. This is particularly important in a panel impression and you are not sure whether to continue, you • Be polite and friendly (but not over-familiar) to interview, where eye contact can help you to engage www.careers.ox.ac.uk/case-study-style- can always ask, “Would you like me to expand everyone you meet – receptionists, secretaries… all the panel members. interviews further on that?” everyone. Arrogance or rudeness will be noticed and www.careers.ox.ac.uk/telephone-video- • You can stick post-it notes around your screen will work against you. After the interview interviews if there’s some information you really want to As soon as possible after the interview, jot down www.careers.ox.ac.uk/handling-offers remember during the interview – the recruiter In the interview(s) notes of what was discussed, what you feel went www.careers.ox.ac.uk/handling-rejection can’t see them. • Don’t be afraid of silence: well, and what didn’t go well. Consider how you could

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Advertising, marketing and PR ...... 73 Education ...... 99 Media and journalism ...... 120

The Value Engineers Secondary School emilyeverdee.com Rachel Ballard ...... 74 Alice Bloom ...... 100 Emily Everdee ...... 121

Teamspirit Wheatley Park School, Oxford Reuters Sandy Downs ...... 74 Simon Davies ...... 100 Yörük Bahçeli ...... 121

Arts and heritage ...... 76 Energy, sustainability and environment ...... 103 National policy and government ...... 123

Wiener Staatsoper (the Vienna State Opera) Water UK Financial Conduct Authority INDUSTRY Indyana Schneider ...... 77 Dr Alice Carrington-Windo ...... 104 Sam Banks ...... 124

Museum of the History of Science Arup Overseas Development Institute (ODI) SECTOR Robyn Haggard ...... 77 Tabitha Kennedy ...... 104 Dr Joseph Feyertag ...... 124 BRIEFINGS Banking and investment ...... 78 Engineering ...... 105 Publishing ...... 125 Corporate finance analyst Accenture Oxford University Press Tom Johnson ...... 79 Dr Lakshmi Manjoosha Adapa ...... 106 Naomi Crookston ...... 126

AND ALUMNI Marshall Wace DeepMind Osprey Publishing Dr Eddie Rolls ...... 79 Dr Markus Wulfmeier ...... 106 Kyriaki Kyriacou ...... 126

PROFILES Business and management ...... 83 Health and social care ...... 109 Science ...... 127

Swire Primary Care Network Boult Wade Tennant LLP Tom Spearman ...... 84 Freya Turner ...... 110 Charlotte Martin ...... 128 The overviews over the next 80 pages give you a summary of each sector followed by revealing insights REED Specialist Recruitment Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust University of Oxford, Brunel University London from Oxford alumni about how they got into the Ann-Marie Jay ...... 84 Sachin De Stone ...... 110 Dr Joanna Bagniewska ...... 128 sector, the skills they use day to day and how they made their applications stand out. This is an excellent place to Business with purpose ...... 86 International policy and development ...... 111 Shell start your research. Even more briefings, such as music Heather Winsor ...... 129 and radio, TV and film and social care, are available at B Lab UK UNICEF www.careers.ox.ac.uk/sectors-occupations. James Ghaffari ...... 87 Janita Bartell ...... 112 Genomics plc. Dr Maria C Suciu ...... 129 New Ground Coffee Pamela Steele Associates Jonny Walker ...... 87 Priyanka Raj ...... 112 Start-ups and entrepreneurship ...... 131 Academia and higher education ...... 68 Charity and social enterprise ...... 88 Law ...... 113 Cycle.land Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Agne Milukaite ...... 132 University of Oxford Oxford Hub Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Dr Jessica Hedge ...... 69 Lizzie Shelmerdine ...... 89 Martin Dickson ...... 115 Beamery Sultan Murad Saidov ...... 132 University of Oxford Patchwork Hub Law Student/Future Trainee Solicitor Dr Simukai Chigudu ...... 69 Beth Kume-Holland ...... 89 Amy Rickwood ...... 115 Tech, IT, data, AI and machine learning ...... 134

Accountancy and financial services ...... 70 Consultancy ...... 91 Landmark Chambers Tessella Joel Semakula ...... 116 Dr Francis Newson ...... 135 APR LLP Bain & Company Ian McFarlane ...... 71 Rachael Martin ...... 92 Government Legal Department Zoopla Property Group Shanice Mahil ...... 116 Will Moyle ...... 135 Admiral Financial Services Limited Monitor Deloitte Sophia ...... 71 Hal Bigland ...... 92

66 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 67 SECTOR BRIEFINGS ACADEMIA AND HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Getting in and entry points For undergraduates/masters’ students: Depending Dr Jessica Hedge ACADEMIA AND Staff Development Coordinator, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN), University of Oxford on your subject, a masters’ may be necessary to Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Zoology, 2016–2019; Nuffield Department of Medicine, 2013–2016 HIGHER EDUCATION undertake a DPhil/PhD. Most application deadlines for postgraduate study and funding in the UK are between What: After six years as an academic researcher outreach activities and Working in the university sector offers a wide December and February in the academic year prior to investigating the evolution of infectious diseases, I teaching. These could set variety of professional roles from academic starting. We advise allowing plenty of time beforehand switched to higher education support. My current role focuses me up for a career either research to HR. to talk to your tutors, the Careers Service, and research on supporting staff development and improving gender equality within or beyond academia. institutions to consider whether and where to continue in academia, which involves an interesting mix of project Academia itself can be a stimulating career option, offering your studies. “management, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and Top skills for success: the potential for significant autonomy and flexibility in your For DPhil students: Networking throughout your review of policy and practice. Learning to code was by far the working life. It is a challenging route that demands drive DPhil will mean you hear of posts through contacts, and most important skill I developed and commitment to your area of research and to producing will know people to advise you on applications. Postdoc Career path: After my biology degree, I completed an MSc during my postdoc (although admittedly, the publications, grant applications and projects expected positions are advertised all year round, but fellowship and then a PhD at Edinburgh on the evolution of the 2009 flu I was initially rather reluctant). Being able to code makes me by university departments. Competition for roles after deadlines can be up to one year before they start. Junior pandemic. During two postdoc positions at Oxford, I became very efficient at everyday data-related tasks and gives me the the doctorate means that you can expect several years of Research Fellowships – offered at Oxford, Cambridge involved in several staff development projects at the university. confidence to handle large, messy datasets. Another important insecurity while trying to find a permanent position. and a few other UK institutions – are highly competitive, I increasingly enjoyed the strategic, team-based and practical skill in my field is being able to communicate complex ideas It is near essential to have a DPhil/PhD in order to gain vary in salary, and are advertised from September work involved and began exploring jobs more closely aligned clearly – whether that’s to attract funding, inform policy or just a permanent academic position in the UK and many other onwards. Most are advertised between February and with these interests. My current role offers all of the above and get your research published. countries. Following a DPhil/PhD, next steps include a April. Lectureships are advertised year-round for the UK, enables me to apply the skills I’d worked so hard to develop as a postdoctoral research position or a fixed-term teaching and from September to December for North America. postdoc to new, interesting challenges. Advice: Remember that both a PhD and postdoc are training contract. Independent fellowships offer a grant to develop positions, so make the most of the professional development your own research, so attract many applicants. Postdocs Extra-curricular ideas Why: I became a postdoc because I enjoyed working in a diverse, initiatives which are (often freely) available. You’ll find these in and fellowships can last from six months to several years. • Before doing a DPhil, try to gain experience by stimulating environment and doing cutting-edge science with your department, college, university or professional societies. Early career academics often take on a variety of roles supporting research in some way. Ask tutors/ leaders in the field. But I was also attracted by the numerous They will make you a better researcher, expand your professional as stepping stones to a permanent position, or towards a academics in your field how you might assist, or get professional development opportunities, from presenting work at network and help you match your strengths and interests to ‘portfolio career’ in which academic work is one of several tutoring or teaching experience with any age group. international conferences and building collaborations, to designing future career options. strands such as consultancy, editorial or advisory work. • During a DPhil, get university teaching experience Permanent lectureship positions combine research and or get involved in The Brilliant Club – giving tutorials teaching with administration duties, such as organising to outstanding school pupils from disadvantaged seminar series and sitting on committees. There are very few backgrounds. Dr Simukai Chigudu teaching-only or research-only permanent academic roles. • Start building a network around your area of interest. Associate Professor of African Politics, University of Oxford. DPhil in International Development, St Anne’s Academic support roles in universities typically offer Join societies related to your subject, and attend talks College, 2014–2017; MSc in African Studies, St Anne’s College, 2013–2014 a stimulating range of activities, teamwork, creativity as at the Careers Service on developing a professional well as opportunities to develop policy and interact with network within academia, and using LinkedIn and What: My academic interests are focused on the as a clinician and public academics engaged in cutting-edge research. They can other relevant social media. social politics of inequality in Africa, which I examine health specialist. After also offer more stability. • Search the professional, managerial and support roles using disease and public health as organising frameworks for years of toying with the Career paths vary depending on discipline, type of advertised on www.jobs.ac.uk for inspiration about both contemporary and historical case studies. My recent book, social sciences, I eventually institution, and region. Aspiring academics will find more other roles in universities. Despite there being only The Political Life of an Epidemic: Cholera, Crisis and Citizenship decided to commit. I left my opportunities if they are flexible about location and willing a few graduate schemes, most professional-support “in Zimbabwe, is a study of social and political causes and job as a public health doctor to consider working abroad. The HE sector is expanding, functions are filled by university graduates. consequences of Zimbabwe’s catastrophic cholera outbreak in and came to Oxford to read for instance, in South America, Asia and the Middle East. • Get your work out there; submit articles for 2008–2009, the most extensive in African history. I argue that for degrees in African studies and publication and get involved with outreach in your the cholera outbreak was a politically constructed disaster; I show international development. subject in different public spaces. how an epidemic delineates the contours of inclusion and abjection Working at the interface of research, • Speak at conferences, or organise one yourself. within the body politic; and I demonstrate critical weaknesses in Top tips: I was very fortunate to be appointed as an Associate teaching and action is very exciting. • Apply for internships with non-UK universities and/or the global humanitarian response to medical disasters. Professor only a year after submitting my doctoral thesis. My Persistence, courage and being strategic are all industry to gain international and practical experience, advice to PhD students who want a career in this profession is to key to making academia work for you. e.g., those offered by the Careers Service. Career path: I took a meandering path to my current position. put your work out there. Publish as early and as often as you can. I studied medicine as an undergraduate at Newcastle University. Present your work at conferences and workshops. Give lectures “ Dr Rachel Bray, Careers Adviser During my medical studies, I became interested in politics and and seminars on your material. This will create a cycle of receiving for Researchers and Research More information health inequality, and pursued these interests through various both exposure and feedback, which will enhance your reputation Associates, Department for Social www.careers.ox.ac.uk/academia avenues: a human rights internship in San Francisco, an overseas and improve the quality of your work. Academia can be rewarding Policy and Intervention, Oxford www.careers.ox.ac.uk/researchers clinical placement in South Africa, and a research project in but it is tough! Enthusiasm, open-mindedness and perseverance Tanzania. Following graduation, I spent three years working are powerful qualities to cultivate in this line of work.

68 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 69 SECTOR BRIEFINGS ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR BRIEFINGS

various industries, especially the pensions, insurance and investment sectors. Most graduates have a numerate Ian McFarlane ACCOUNTANCY Actuarial Associate, APR LLP degree (eg, mathematics, statistics, economics), but BA Maths, Balliol College, 2017 AND FINANCIAL students from other disciplines can demonstrate their numerical ability by passing the Certificate in Financial What: As an actuarial student, my job is broadly to Main challenges: Balancing Mathematics (CT1) exam. predict and manage financial risks, largely in insurance, work and studying for the SERVICES pensions or investments. At APR, most of our work involves actuarial exams is very Insurance being placed in a client company, working alongside the different to being a full- The financial services sector includes some of the Insurance is focused on protecting the value of an client’s own actuarial teams to perform this analysis, so that we time student, and definitely largest graduate recruiters and offers positions individual’s or organisation’s assets, and has huge “can offer additional expertise and a fresh perspective. Our work takes some getting used to. across a wide range of functional roles (eg, legal, breadth, including corporate insurance, personal is important as we help these companies protect and enhance My employer is very supportive HR and technology roles) alongside financial insurance, reinsurance, and life assurance. their assets, which in turn protects policyholders. and has a generous allowance and advisory roles. A high degree of comfort Firms are similarly diverse. Employers are generally of study days (days you can take off with numbers is important for finance-related open to graduates of all degree disciplines, although Why: I always wanted to use the maths and statistics I’d learned work to study in the lead-up to the exams), but it takes a lot of some employers have a preference for numerate degrees. as a student in my work, and being an actuary is the perfect commitment so make sure you’re aware of this before choosing roles as well as key employability skills such as career for that. The role is technically challenging and allows an actuarial career. communication, team-working, problem-solving Getting in and entry points for continuous progression, thanks to the variety we get from and analytical skills. Meet firms at our virtual careers fairs in Michaelmas moving around clients and projects – each one is different and Advice: Before you apply, make sure you understand the job term and company presentations, and monitor your there is always something new you can learn. My organisation as fully as possible – actuaries work in lots of different sectors In many areas, graduates can expect to study for a target firms’ websites. has a strong and comprehensive training programme, with a lot and the job is more varied than you may initially think. It’s also professional qualification alongside their work, which Accountancy: The large accounting firms open of scope to tailor this to each person’s strengths and interests worth looking into how the exams work and how much study is provides a firm foundation for a professional career. Most graduate recruitment during the summer in the year as you progress. These opportunities mean that there’s always required – employers usually won’t expect you to study for these employers will pay for the training and routinely offer study before graduation. Positions in London fill quickly in a sense of moving forward and developing professionally – on your own beforehand, but they’ll want to be clear that you’re leave to trainees. Accountancy training normally takes three Michaelmas term, so apply early, whilst vacancies for I’ve learned a lot in just one year here! committed and informed. years, and actuarial training from three to seven years. regional offices may exist late into the year. Firms with smaller annual recruitment targets will typically open Accountancy vacancies in Michaelmas term or recruit on an on- Accountants work in varied roles across a broad going rolling basis. It can also be worth considering a range of service areas, including advisory, assurance, speculative approach to small firms even if no ‘graduate Sophia Business Development, Admiral Insurance corporate finance, tax and risk. Accountants play a key programme’ is advertised. Classics, Exeter College, 2017 role in decision-making by providing accurate financial Actuarial work and insurance: Graduate information and analysis for management. Therefore, programmes will vary depending on the size of firm and What: I joined Admiral’s general graduate scheme in internationally, which is organisations look for people with strong commercial areas of specialism, and application deadlines also vary, 2017 after graduating with a classics degree. Admiral something that I had always awareness and good interpersonal skills – not just so research and prepare applications early. is a FTSE100 company and one of the largest car insurance wanted in my career. ‘number-crunchers’! There are opportunities in both providers in the UK with a presence in eight countries (including commercial and public sector organisations at firms of Extra-curricular ideas Spain, Italy, and France). After completing the scheme, I accepted A good fit: A financial all sizes. The larger organisations, including the ‘Big 4’ • Demonstrate your interest in the sector by becoming “a full-time role within the business development team, which services company may not (Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC), have broadened their active in related student societies – such as the acts as an internal consulting function to help shape the future of sound like the best fit for a focus to provide strategic advisory services and now Oxford Guild, Oxford Microfinance Society and the the business. classics graduate; however, my also include large management consultancy practices. Oxford Finance Society. degree has helped me in surprising ways Chartered accountants provide professional advice to • Show your financial acumen as treasurer for a society Why: I was initially drawn to the 18-month graduate scheme during my career so far. I was able to apply learnings from fee-paying clients, small businesses, large organisations or JCR/MCR. because it encourages you to rotate around different areas my philosophy and logic modules to areas such as pricing and individuals – in areas such as audit, financial • Help run an event that makes a profit, from charity of the business. I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do and IT, and I was able to apply my analytical and creative reporting, insolvency and restructuring. fundraising to a college ball. when I left university, so I was keen to join a graduate thinking to areas such as product development and Management accountants usually work in-house • Apply to ‘insight days’ and ‘spring week’ programmes scheme where I was able to do a bit of everything. The problem solving. If you’d told me during my first year that (although they can be external) and their role is to as a first year (or a second year on a four-year degree). variety and breadth of the programme was something that my classics degree would help me to understand rating advise an organisation’s senior management about the • Attend the Careers Service Insight into Strategy and really stood out for me and set it apart from other graduate tables, coding and product development, I don’t think I financial repercussions of business decisions, and to Management programme. schemes. With a variety of different departments and would have believed you! monitor corporate spending. products within several different markets, I was able to shape the graduate scheme to suit my specific interests, which was a Advice: A career within financial services or insurance isn’t just Actuarial work More information huge bonus. for graduates from numerical backgrounds; as a humanities Actuaries are risk management experts, applying www.careers.ox.ac.uk/accountancy The length of the scheme was just right and it allowed for student you have valuable transferable skills, so don’t be afraid mathematical tools to assess the probability and risk www.careers.ox.ac.uk/actuarial-profession quick progression into a permanent role. The multinational nature of applying. of future events. Actuarial assessments are used in of the business also meant there were opportunities to work

70 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 71 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

arise with few offering specific graduate schemes (and ADVERTISING, internship programmes). Applications for these often open during the summer – deadlines can fall early, some before the end of October. MARKETING AND PR Expect competition for advertised positions to be Dynamic, diverse and fast-moving, this sector intense, but there are alternative routes into agencies. offers roles for graduates from all degree This is a highly networked sector. It is therefore very disciplines. There are some 10,000 agencies helpful to be visible and known: work experience is in the UK, from specialists to multi-nationals important, and speculative approaches for full-time offering services across the full span of roles, internships or work experience are often welcomed communication specialisms. as they demonstrate interest, motivation and initiative. These industries thrive on creativity, so think about making your speculative approach a little different too. Employers look for creative graduates who have high- Not all agencies want a traditional CV and creative level communication, analytical and organisational skills alternatives can sometimes be effective, such as an and a keen interest in digital and social media. Different infographic or videographic CV. A website or blog are roles at agencies commonly include creatives, account good forums to showcase skills, and it is important to management, strategic planning, media planning and use social media to keep in touch with agencies’ latest buying, and production. work and to hear first about new opportunities – but Graduates from STEM subjects and people with candidates are advised to manage their own web- FINANCE IT skills are increasingly in demand because of data visibility carefully! analytics to unlock insights into customer behaviour and Agencies are not the only option however. Marketing the potential for application of AI (artificial intelligence) and communication roles are needed in all sectors, and to exploit the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The there are many prestigious graduate programmes with sector offers numerous opportunities for social larger companies in brand management, marketing media strategists, analysts, web developers, and user and market research (consumer business insight), and FAIR experience (UX) designers. general management roles – deadlines often fall in rtual Fields of operation (and terminology) for agencies in November and December. You can also gain experience Vi the sector overlap, but can be broken down as follows: as an in-house marketing assistant, for example with a • Advertising uses paid-for space across all media to charity or technology firm, as a foundation to build on. motivate people to buy products and services, or to alter their attitudes. Extra-curricular ideas WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER • Public Relations (PR) involves managing and • Join OxAdSoc, the Oxford Advertising and Marketing enhancing reputations (people, products or services), Society, to learn about the sector, gain experience, EXHIBITORS FROM 12:00-18:00 principally by influencing the media. Tools range from and meet alumni working in these industries. press releases to promotional events. • Get involved in the marketing of an event, fundraiser, • Public Affairs is similar to PR but focuses on or any aspect of promotion of a student society and persuading policymakers to adopt particular enhance your use of social media. viewpoints. • The Agency programme, run by the Careers Service, • Marketing Agencies will advise on brand strategy, gives you first-hand practical experience and insight management and communications, and provide into this industry. services across the range of advertising, market • Get involved promoting Oxford SU’s campaigns. research, media planning and buying, PR, distribution, • Stay abreast of the industry through key resources, sales strategy etc. such as Marketing Week; Campaign Live, and The THE FAIR FOR THE FINANCE SECTOR • Market Research seeks to understand people’s Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) website. preferences to inform product development and/or • Apply to be ‘brand ambassador’ for a recruiter looking marketing campaigns. to raise their profile at Oxford. Opportunities exist in cities all over the UK but the Meet recruiters and find out about a main cluster of agencies are in London. Large agencies and PR consultancies are often international in scope, with More information variety of different career options across some having a parent company based in another country. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/advertising www.careers.ox.ac.uk/marketing Getting in and entry points www.careers.ox.ac.uk/public-relations the finance sector. Most agencies recruit into specific roles as positions www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-fairs www.careers.ox.ac.uk 73 ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND PR SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Rachel Ballard Marketing Consultant, The Value Engineers Music, New College, 2016

What: I’m a consultant at The Value Engineers Top tips: It’s OK not to (TVE), a strategic marketing consultancy. From day know what to do and one you’re thrown right into the deep end: real projects, with it’s OK to take your time real responsibilities and client interaction almost instantly. to find out. If you find My first projects covered an array of brands, from Sony to something you really want “Angry Birds to McDonald’s, and a broad spectrum of work, and truly believe you’re from creating the next best cheese product, to developing a suited to, then you have a much holiday journey for a customer, to tracking interest in the better chance of getting the job biggest tech brands on a global scale. This variety has continued and of enjoying it. throughout, and is a hugely valuable aspect of the job and my I found my organisation thanks to the Careers Service. Attend enjoyment of it. as many talks and events you can and use all the resources available; unsurprisingly, it’s invaluable knowledge and advice. How: When I graduated I knew that, although music would If you don’t ask you won’t get. Talk to anyone you can about always remain a hobby, I didn’t want a career in it. But I had careers, applications or interviews. You have nothing to lose and OXFORD very little idea of what I did want as a career. It was at a Careers it could give you that winning edge or sector knowledge that rtual Service event that I saw a talk given by TVE. It was like a penny makes the difference. Vi dropping. They spoke about the variety of work and brands, Really think about what you’ll enjoy from a career and why. but also that they were looking for graduates who could think You’ll pinpoint roles that will suit you faster (and avoid wasting creatively, strategically and rigorously. Until then I didn’t realise time on applications that don’t), plus self-knowledge shows UNIVERSITY it was this balance I was looking for from a career. Now it seems maturity and thoughtfulness – two things employers are keen fairly obvious. to find. CAREERS FAIR Sandy Downs PR Account Manager, Teamspirit Oxford SU VP Welfare & Equal Opps 2016–2017; PPE, Corpus Christi College, 2016

What: I am an account manager in PR at Teamspirit, Advice: I didn’t realise a communications agency that is a financial services how many types of PR TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2020 specialist. The agency is fully integrated, which means we have there were. Financial PR, advertising, and creative departments. services is pretty content At its core, my job is to come up with media stories for my and data heavy – you’re EXHIBITORS FROM 12:00-18:00 “clients. Financial services is broad, so we’ve got everything from making people care about banks to insurers to retirement villages, and even the odd health things that can seem boring. app. But you might prefer consumer PR, My day-to-day varies massively. It’s a very reactive job – we or financial calendar work with IPOs and spot interesting topics at 9.00 am and have comments drafted the like. and out to press before 10.00 am. We run large research projects used as legitimate data by the Bank of England, we draft press Top tips: Do your research, you need to know roughly what releases, and we meet journalists and clients. I also manage you’re interested in. Pick a type of PR. This could be sector, THE FAIR FOR ALL SECTORS juniors, having been promoted in my time here, which is a new firm size, integrated agency, etc. Chat to someone: recruiters, skill to learn. friends and family, the Careers Service, alumni Facebook groups – I guarantee you can get hold of someone who can Why: Everyone had told me I’d be good at PR because I’m loud give you some honest answers. There’s a lot of pressure on Meet more than and find out and like people. Everyone is made very welcome, but we are finding the perfect job right out of university, but that doesn’t 50 recruiters a pretty vocal bunch. I love the job because I’m never bored – need to be the case – if you’re interested in an opportunity, about a variety of career options across a wide it’s extremely fast-paced and you have to spin a lot of plates. give it a go. The cons are similar: it’s pretty busy and the pressure is high, range of employment sectors. especially when you’re answering directly to clients. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-fairs 74 www.careers.ox.ac.uk SECTOR BRIEFINGS ARTS AND HERITAGE SECTOR BRIEFINGS

• Browse job adverts to understand which roles commonly require additional study and which Indyana Schneider ARTS AND HERITAGE Opera Singer, Wiener Staatsoper (the Vienna State Opera) qualifications are sought. Music, Magdalen College, 2016 Arts and heritage jobs can be found in museums, • Investigate career destinations of graduates, and public and commercial galleries, archaeology tutors’ backgrounds, for courses you are considering. What: I’m lucky in that, for a long time, I’ve known my Then, I got very lucky. In organisations, auction houses, theatres, the music • Ask alumni and others working in your preferred dream job – to be an opera singer. But I also know that my dissertation, I used the industry, performing arts companies, venues, field which courses they took and/or which are most working in the arts is tough. So, my initial plan was to work in innovative touring opera historic sites – and many specialist organisations. respected. London to save some money and gain some vital CV experience, company, OperaUpClose, before taking the plunge. as a case study. I joined their Getting in and entry points “My extracurriculars at university largely revolved around mailing list. As I graduated, This sector covers a huge range of roles, from artistic Competition for positions can be high, so relevant organising TEDx conferences and performing in plays, musicals they were advertising for a (designers, performers, artists, writers) to ‘arts experience on your CV is vital. Consider: and operas. I really can’t stress enough how these creative Development Manager job – all management/ administration’, requiring organisational, • Volunteering with local arts and heritage outlets helped both my wellbeing and future job prospects. about opera economics. Working for operational and leadership skills. Other roles use organisations – seek out local museums (eg, OperaUpClose, I acquired a range of business, fundraising and research or academic skills (‘curatorial, conservation www.museums.ox.ac.uk) and heritage organisations, Why: The summer after second year I interned for BCG, the financial strategy skills. After 18 months, I felt ready to leave and and specialist’ jobs), involve teaching or training (‘arts such as Oxford Preservation Trust. management consultants. I realised very quickly that I did not want pursue my dream job. Currently, I’m singing in operas while working education’) or technical skills (eg, fashion or set design). • Advertised internships and short-term seasonal to work as a management consultant after graduating as, with part-time as Head of Development for Just Like Us, an LGBT+ Employers in this sector often rely on candidates to jobs offer great experience, paid or unpaid (eg, paid the long and demanding hours, I had no time to do any singing. charity. I finish my contract in June, and am moving to Vienna to seek them out and there are very few graduate schemes. work staffing festivals and events; front-of-house or I worked in the finance sector and, while the learning curve was sing with the Wiener Staatsoper: the Vienna State Opera. • The vast majority of roles are advertised as individual promotional work; support for tours; summer work steep, it sparked an interest in financial modelling, which informed It’s funny looking back and seeing how each of these (at the opportunities – check organisation websites, as well with children and young people). my final dissertation – opera’s terrible economic model. time) self-contained decisions can tell quite a neat, linear how-I- as sector-specific job sites such as Arts Jobs, Arts • Asking directly about jobs, internships or volunteering got-here story. That certainly wasn’t the case. Professional, Museum Jobs, BAJR (for archaeology), by networking and speculative approaches to Career path: I considered studying a Performance Master’s at the Heritage Daily, Screen Skills, Creative and Cultural skills, etc. organisations, even if there is nothing on their website. Royal Academy of Music, but decided to stick to my original plan. Advice: Be patient, trust yourself, try and talk with people • A handful of graduate schemes exist (eg, Sotheby’s, • Positions may not be advertised widely (or at all!) so I turned the place down without a back-up, which was equally who’ve been there and done that, and do what you love – the Christie’s and Ambassador Theatre Group’s graduate check websites and approach individual organisations brave and stupid. results are always worth it. scheme; the Arts Fundraising Fellowships), but these directly. are really unusual in this sector. Create your own professional portfolio/blog to • Do not just consider the big names. There are hundreds of document your creative work and interests. smaller organisations, which often attract less competition. If you love the work of a particular organisation, then sign Extra-curricular ideas Robyn Haggard Public Engagement Officer, Museum of the History of Science up to their newsletter for up-to-date information. Take advantage of the rich cultural life of Oxford and the MSc History of Science Medicine and Technology, St Hilda’s College, 2015 • Think about your local organisations and research University to try things out. For example: within your region. • Perform in or direct student theatre or music events What: As public engagement officer about 60% of my roles in the museum sector • Consider gaining experience with organisations – see www.ouds.org role is creating events for the museum, from debates are. Once I realised I was providing specialist services to the arts and heritage • Join community arts projects: eg, explore to musical promenades through the building. The event I’m interested in events, rather world: eg, art investment, specialist legal and www.oxonarts.info proudest of was an astronomy afternoon in University Parks with than curation, I was able to insurance firms, marketing and PR firms, specialist • Work on student films with the Oxford Filmmaking a local community observatory. Over 300 people gathered to target my volunteering to IT or training companies, public sector bodies and Foundation “watch the transit of Mercury. The other 40% is managing the improve my skills in that area. charities. • Write a researched short article for Trusted Source Museum’s communications, including press and marketing, social • Develop expertise and relevant skills in a different on the National Trust’s website – exclusive to Oxford media accounts and print material. Advice: Volunteer as much as you sector before moving to the arts later – eg, University! can, but make sure you are strategic. It’s accountancy, law, marketing, teaching, graduate • Try arts production or marketing; run events as ‘entz’ Why: Running both our events and communications allows me to definitely not the only way into the sector – look out for paid leadership schemes. officer for your college. help shape the way the Museum is presented to the public. I also internships and apprenticeships – but it is a common one. See the Careers Service’s briefing for more on • Submit articles for arts, culture and heritage sections love being able to share the specialist knowledge I gained during But, if you take volunteer roles whenever they come up specific roles, ideas on how to build experience, and links of student newspapers. my MSc. As with all small institutions, there’s a lot of opportunities you’re likely to burn out before you get a paid job in the sector. to external resources. • Start something new: eg, establish a performance to get involved in areas outside of my role. I learn new skills all the Once you have worked out what skills you need to get your group; create a heritage-style ‘audio guide’ to your time, whether its conservation or website development. dream job don’t be afraid to target those areas and ask for Further study college; write a blog; curate a sale of student art. training while volunteering. Further study may be needed for certain careers (eg, Getting started: I realised I wanted to work in museums during curatorial or technically skilled roles) and it can help my undergrad. This mean that I was in a position to gain a lot of Top tips: Talk to everyone you can about their jobs and when seeking roles that attract strong competition. It More information volunteer experience while studying. experience. Building up your own network is really important is important to research courses before signing up, so www.careers.ox.ac.uk/arts After coming to Oxford I was able to volunteer across the for future jobs, and having people you can turn to for advice is consider the following: Oxford University Museums and discovered just how varied the invaluable.

76 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 77 SECTOR BRIEFINGS BANKING AND INVESTMENT SECTOR BRIEFINGS

the most competitive. Bankers in this area often work the longest hours, and are among the most highly remunerated. Tom Johnson BANKING AND Corporate Finance Analyst BA Physics, Lady Margaret Hall, 2016 INVESTMENT Getting in and entry points This is a highly competitive sector and firms receive What: As a corporate finance analyst, I work with to fit a client’s needs with Opportunities in this sector are many and varied, applications from students across the globe. However, clients to help raise funding for their business. The a realistic funding solution so if you are interested in finance you should be with the proper research and preparation, there is no day-to-day work can vary drastically but typical graduate tasks that works for investors. It able to find the role and firm that’s right for you. reason why you shouldn’t be able to secure the right job. include: financial modelling of transactions; working on investor also gives me the chance to You don’t need to have studied a finance-related degree, presentations; and analysing businesses. It’s a role that is often experience a wide variety of Generally, this sector can be split into the buy-side and but it’s important to have a keen interest in and understanding “associated with big banks but is actually very often done by small, sectors and the opportunity to the sell-side, and within each of those there are a variety of the wider concepts within the banking industry and global specialist teams. Being in a small firm has brought a lot of exposure work with senior level executives of roles offering very different remuneration, work/life markets. You also need a high degree of analytical intelligence to work that is typically done by high-level people in the business to really understand their business. balance and skill requirements. and the ability to build and maintain good working relationships such as negotiating directly with large private equity funds. in what can be a competitive and pressurised environment. Advice: Don’t only focus on the big firms. While the big firms The buy-side (investment) In order to secure a full-time graduate role getting work Why: Coming from a scientific background, the main factor I was can be great on the CV, smaller firms can often provide higher The buy-side make money for the client including high- experience is very important, and even a requirement for looking for in my career was to continue problem-solving. The work levels of exposure and responsibility early on in your career. Many net-worth individuals, governments, pension funds some firms. It’s important to note that most banks, and done in corporate finance appeared a great way to do this in: trying boutiques have areas that they’re particularly strong in so if you etc by investing its capital in various financial products. increasingly asset management firms, use their internships know what you want to do; researching smaller firms that are Their aim is to deliver higher rates of return by devising as a major pipeline for their graduate programmes. We would strong in that area could be time well spent. effective investment strategies. recommend looking for banking ‘spring weeks’ (typically Networking is key: corporate finance is a people You may have heard of terms including hedge funds, one-week work experience) in your pre-penultimate year business. Reaching out to people on LinkedIn – Top tips: Networking is key. Corporate finance is a people pooled funds, mutual funds etc. All of these fall broadly and summer internships (8-12 weeks) in your penultimate especially other Oxford alumni – can be a great business and who you know can often be key to finding the under the asset management umbrella and have roles year to gain as much experience and exposure as possible. way to find people who are often willing to talk solution for a client or the next job in your career. Reaching out to including fund managers, analysts, researchers and It’s really important to have a good understanding of and give advice. people on LinkedIn, especially other Oxford alumni, can be a great operations analysts. All have different skill sets but as an application deadlines; these are usually in early Michaelmas way to find people who are often willing to talk and give advice. investment analyst you would typically conduct research term and often work on a rolling basis, (they are reviewed as and analysis to make decisions about which companies and when people apply) so there is a benefit to applying early. to start or stop investing in. If you don’t get an internship in your penultimate year, all is not lost; a number of the large banks offer The sell-side (banking) ‘off-cycle’ internships for those who have just graduated Dr Eddie Rolls Quantitative Researcher, Marshall Wace The sell-side provide a market for their clients (the buy- and smaller boutique banks, corporate finance houses MMath in Mathematics, St Anne’s College, 2014; DPhil in Mathematics, Pembroke College, 2018 side) to purchase financial products; this is known as and trading firms offer less rigid recruitment processes. market-making. They also provide complementary research See the more detailed briefing on our website for What: I work as a quantitative researcher in the to develop my coding and and custodian services (the holding of assets). The market- further information on the skills required and recruitment equities team at Marshall Wace as part of its graduate research skills. making roles, often referred to as ‘markets’ or ‘secondary timeframes associated with the different job functions. programme. This involves writing automated trading algorithms capital markets’ include sales, trading and research roles. that trade in real time, turning data from a variety of sources Advice: In an area like The sell-side also has another core function in helping Extra-curricular ideas into an optimised portfolio. I’ve been given the opportunity to finance, it’s very hard to get companies raise capital. This can be in the form of debt • Engage with employers in Oxford at careers “contribute from very early on in my career, to the extent that accurate information about (similar to you taking out a credit card or loan) or equity fairs, presentations, workshops etc, especially in algorithms I’ve written are currently being traded in live. what it would be like working (selling a part of their company). These markets are Michaelmas term. at the firms you’re applying for, so often referred to as DCM (debt capital markets) and • Join and actively participate in relevant student Why: Working as a quantitative researcher has given me use interviews as an opportunity to ask ECM (equity capital markets). societies: eg, the Oxford Alpha Fund, CapitOx, the opportunities to work at the cutting edge of data science and questions and figure out where you want to work. They should Oxford Guild, and the Oxford Finance Society. machine learning, which are both very exciting areas to be be pitching the job to you as much as you are pitching yourself to Mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance • Demonstrate your skills at managing finances by involved in going forwards and give stimulating problems to work them – you’re going to be spending a large portion of your week The other function of investment banks and other specialist overseeing your own fantasy fund or learn a valuation on. Unlike perceptions of finance as aggressive Wall Street trading at work, so it helps if it’s an enjoyable experience! corporate finance houses is to help companies to restructure methodology such as valuation methodology such as floors, I work in a friendly research-style environment with through buying or selling parts of, or their whole company, or discounted cash flow (DCF). intelligent and enthusiastic colleagues, which has enabled me Finding a path: Like many of my colleagues, I didn’t have a merging with another company. This is known as M&A and the • Apply to ‘insight days’ or ‘spring week’ programmes in conventional route into finance – in the penultimate year of function most readily associated with ‘investment bankers’. your first year (or second year of a four-year degree). my DPhil, I started entering coding competitions run by hedge The buy-side and sell-side distinction is somewhat In an area like finance, it’s very hard to get funds, who would pitch to me what it would be like to work different in this context: if the bank is acting as an adviser accurate information about working at the there. Having been persuaded this was a direction I wanted to go to the potential seller they are on the sell-side; conversely, if More information firms you’re applying for, so use interviews as in, I formed a mini-society with some friends to skill ourselves they are advising the potential acquirer they are on the buy- www.careers.ox.ac.uk/banking-investment an opportunity to ask questions. up in anticipation of interviews. Following this, I made several side. This is a deals-based, high-profile function and often applications, and picked the place I liked most.

78 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 79 NOTHING BEATS

Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands WINNING Main Locations: Amsterdam, Chicago, Shanghai & Sydney About us: Da Vinci Derivatives was founded in 2015 by a group of About us: Over thirty years ago, Optiver started business as a single young trading professionals and has since been growing successfully. trader on the floor of Amsterdam’s European Options Exchange. With our own capital and sound risk awareness we trade listed Today, we are a leading global electronic market maker, focused on derivatives on markets globally. We identify opportunities and trade “ BE READY TO MAKE pricing, execution and risk management. We provide liquidity to based on in-house developed strategies, and we provide liquidity and QUICK DECISIONS AND financial markets using our own capital, at our own risk, trading a efficiency to the markets. SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES.” wide range of products: listed derivatives, cash equities, ETFs, bonds Our philosophy towards work is best captured by the saying “Be and foreign currencies. With over one thousand Optiverians globally, good, work hard and great things will happen”. We are meritocratic our mission to improve the market unites us. Thriving in a high by nature and believe that empowering talent in our organization performance environment, we pioneer our own trading strategies and is the only way forward. We aim at attracting the most qualified Do you want to learn from the best? systems using clean code and sophisticated technology. We achieve people in the industry, train them, provide them with all the required this by attracting, developing and empowering top talent, in order to tools, continuously challenge them and allow them to grow both As a Trader, you are at the heart of our success! We are looking sustain our future. professionally and personally. Our business is highly innovative, IT for creative problem-solvers with a passion for financial Opportunities available: Insight Day for first year STEM students, driven and entrepreneurial by nature. Our goal is to become the best Trading and Software Engineering Summer Internships for penultimate markets. Traders will begin with an extensive 4-month training trading company in the world! year STEM students. For final year students and graduates we have Opportunities available: Graduate roles for Traders, Quant Analysts program. the following full time roles: Traders, Researchers, Graduate Software and Software Developers and Application Engineers and Risk Managers Recruitment criteria: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mathematics, If you already want to learn the tricks of trading, join our Recruitment criteria: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in either Physics, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Computer Science or Business Course or apply for our Summer Trading Internship! Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, Economics, Computer Science or equivalent equivalent. Application advice: Candidates are advised to apply through Application advice: Apply online with CV and cover letter. Early our website by uploading their CV and motivation: https:// application (before November 2020) is advised for all Trading roles. davinciderivatives.com/careers/ Reach out to us at: Full recruitment process and timeline will be provided at the start of your application. Contact details: [email protected] [email protected] The final stage will be an interview day in Amsterdam or remote. flowtraders.com/businesscourse oxfordalphafund.com Email: [email protected] facebook.com/oxfordalphafund linkedin.com/company/oxford-alpha-fund

davinciderivatives.com/careers/ Flow Traders is an international leading principal trading firm. www.optiver.com

The Oxford Guild Careers in Finance GSA is a collaboration of approximately 180 people. For over a Main locations: London & European offices World's Largest University Society decade we have worked together creating and applying innovative About us: Nomura is an Asia-headquartered financial services group www.theoxfordguild.com technologies to solve problems in the investment management with an integrated global network spanning over 30 countries. By industry. Over 60% of our staff work in research or on developing ‘Connecting Markets East & West’, Nomura services the needs of The multi-award winning Oxford Guild Business Society, est. 1897 is the largest society in Oxford, Europe and the world as of 2015 according to technology necessary to enable and monetise our research. We are an individuals, institutions, corporates and governments through its three The Times, Forbes, Milkround and BBC. Our unrivalled track record eclectic mix of mathematicians, scientists, programmers, economists business divisions: Retail, Asset Management, and Wholesale (Global speaks for itself. and a great deal more. We live by the scientific method in building Markets and Investment Banking). Founded in 1925, the firm is built quantitative models that analyse and predict real world behaviour. We on a tradition of disciplined entrepreneurship, serving clients with 100% FREE TO JOIN, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS, 120+ implement algorithms based on these models to systematically invest creative solutions and considered thought leadership. At Nomura, EVENTS ANNUALLY, 60+ SPONSORS. in markets. At GSA we reward people based on merit and excellence, internships are the perfect preparation for a subsequent full time We worry about your career so you don't have to! not necessarily on experience. We avoid the bureaucracy of larger role. We offer a range of graduate and internship programmes across organisations, and keep our management structures flat. People who three key areas: investment banking, global markets and corporate BIGGEST SPEAKERS, EVENTS, BALLS, SOCIALS, TRIPS & work here enjoy a culture of trust, innovation and scientific rigour. It’s infrastructure. Internship opportunities include a 9 week Summer CONFERENCES. a friendly, open place where people are motivated because they enjoy internship or Spring in London, or a 3-6 month off-cycle internship in what they’re doing. one of our regional offices. We are widely recognised for being the most established, dynamic, Opportunities available: Quantitative Strategists, Software Opportunities available: Investment Banking, Global Markets, active and professional society on campus for students looking to apply Engineers, Algorithm Developers, Systems Engineers Technology and Risk for internships/jobs and are renowned for our experience. We have demonstrated consistent success in providing effective recruitment and Graduates Sought: Students of all academic levels from the Graduates sought: All disciplines with students on track to receive brand awareness opportunities and services for organisations we work following and any closely related disciplines including Computer minimum of 2:1 with. We help a huge range of companies from JP Morgan and Citadel Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Economics and Visa sponsorship: Yes to BlackRock, Big 4 and more increase the quality, diversity and Empirical Finance. Graduate salary: Competitive quantity of their applicants. Graduate Salary: Competitive base salary + discretionary bonus + Vacation work: Spring insight programmes & summer internships comprehensive benefits package Application advice: Online application with CV and application We are the founders of the CollegiumGlobalNetwork which has 40+ Vacation work: Internships or work experience available all year questions – no cover letter! universities across the world involved so far including our Cambridge Apply at www.gsacapital.com/careers Guild etc.

With world class speakers (including major CEOs to Nobel Prize Winners, world leaders, top actors, musicians etc. from KanyeWest to Malala), and initiatives including our startup accelerator, investment fund, consultancy, app and intranet platform, become part of www.gsacapital.com/careers www.nomura.com something special at www.theoxfordguild.com!

80 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 81 SECTOR BRIEFINGS We are defined by innovation and collaboration, encouraging new ideas and working together to make them WE ARE DA VINCI a reality. We are driven by passion and wanting to be the best DAVINCIDERIVATIVES.COM/CAREERS Other graduate schemes offer the chance to try at what we do! BUSINESS AND different ‘rotations’ over the course of two years before We are Da Vinci Derivatives. A young and ambitious trading deciding to specialise. Competition for these schemes firm in Amsterdam aiming at becoming the best trading firm in MANAGEMENT can be intense. Many of these opportunities will open the world! in August and September with deadlines on a rolling From multinational companies to city councils, basis. Students who have gained commercial insight Find out more! Visit our careers page. business permeates all organisations. The range via an internship or position of responsibility during of opportunities spans a wide range of functions their degree are likely to be at an advantage when including strategy, HR, IT, finance, marketing, applying for graduate schemes or management roles. logistics and sales to name but a few. Demonstrating motivation for the business you apply to is essential, as is showing your ability to work with people and build relationships. Many Oxford graduates enter this sector for a career Deadlines for internship schemes, usually aimed at with prospects of early management responsibility, high penultimate year students, also tend to be in Michaelmas salaries, excellent benefits and the possibility of working or early Hilary term. If you want to gain some experience in globally. a company that doesn’t appear to advertise an internship, Given the breadth of roles available within business approach them speculatively for some experience or a and management, it makes sense to consider the shadowing opportunity. While multinational corporations type of business you want to work in (small tech offer a number of internships and graduate roles, it’s worth start-up to major supermarket chain) and the sort remembering that the majority of businesses are small or of role that appeals to your strengths and interests medium sized, in which case research businesses in your but, generally speaking, management activities local area and find out if you can help out with any office include: tasks or projects during the vacation. • Defining objectives, allocating resources, meeting Looking further ahead, if your aim is to reach the INNOVATE COLLABORATE INDULGE BEAT THE MARKETS targets and taking responsibility for the business managing director role in an organisation, most large decisions. companies will look for someone with experience in • Project work. more than one management area and in more than one • Recruiting, supervising, motivating and developing company so be prepared to work in different businesses staff, to ensure effective team working. across the industry. • Effective communication. • Controlling finances and managing budgets. Extra-curricular ideas Meet recruiters • Problem solving and dealing with complaints. • Run a mini-business that has to turn a profit, such as Managing change. a theatrical production or a college ball. and find out • The opportunity to enter general management • Make use of the Oxford Foundry, the entrepreneurial about a variety is often seen as a stepping stone that in time can centre for Oxford students. of different either remain as a standalone function particularly in • Sign up for Insight into Strategy and Management, career options a manufacturing or retail organisation, or to carve a to learn core elements of strategy, marketing and particular professional route in one area. Graduates can management and learn how to build a profit-and-loss Virtual across the be recruited by a variety of industries and sectors such account. finance sector. as consumer goods, retail, energy, healthcare, transport • Join The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA) for an and leisure. Management and leadership opportunities insight into the challenges faced by real businesses FINANCE FAIR aside, job titles across ‘business’ can vary significantly and for the opportunity to help solve problems faced and so deciphering what is involved in the role is crucial; by local companies. if strategy and problem solving really appeal look out • Become a campus ambassador for a large for business analyst graduate roles and for growing company (many employers advertise these via WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER a business (including sales) look out for business CareerConnect). development executive roles. • Sign up for other relevant student organisations such EXHIBITORS FROM 12:00-18:00 as the Oxford Strategy Group and Oxford Women in Getting in and entry points Business. Many organisations offer management positions that tend to specialise in specific areas, such as technology, marketing, finance, human resources or distribution, all More information of which have an element of general management work www.careers.ox.ac.uk/business-management www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-fairs/ within them.

82 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 83 BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Tom Spearman House Staff Management Trainee at Swire MChem, Brasenose College, 2018

What: After a four-week induction programme in While there are Hong Kong with 11 other new starters, I was seconded disadvantages to being to the shipping division in Singapore. Training also included so far from home, it is visiting the company’s largest market, Papua New Guinea, and great fun, and a useful returning to Singapore by a two-week sea passage on board a learning opportunity. “container ship. I wanted to work for a As a management trainee, my role currently involves learning company that had a long-term as much as I can about the organisation, focusing mainly on outlook, with a really positive ethos the commercial side. My work involves several small projects where I am seen as a long-term project within the company, such as working closely with executives to to nurture, rather than as a resource to extract for a few years. monitor the performance of different trade regions, managing I wanted to be in a role that would allow me to have an opinion, relationships with some key partners, and, as part of our current and to be in a position to influence the company. push to be more digital, I am developing data reports that are As a chemistry graduate, I also wanted to understand how being used across the whole organisation. things really work and felt that an in-depth exposure to a particular industry was more satisfactory than merely scratching Why: I feel that it is an opportunity to develop my leadership the surface as in other roles. THE OXFORD skills early in my career and an opportunity to be posted around Asia (and the world) from day one of graduation. Tips: Every recruit is a potential future leader, and employers are I’m developing business and leadership skills on the job, and looking for someone they want to work with, not a superhero. learning about Asian economies from a unique perspective. Have something different to say about yourself; it’ll make the As a market leader in several countries, I can see what is going interview more memorable. STRATEGY in and out and really understand how these countries work.

Ann-Marie Jay CHALLENGE Business Analyst (IT Analysis and Design), REED Specialist Recruitment Earth Sciences, Worcester College, 2017

What: My teammates and I are involved in all non- huge number of connections. technical aspects of the software development process Although I no longer work Get real-world client work experience at REED – from analysis of a problem through to ensuring any in an operational role to development meets business stakeholder requirements. support and enable people, I on our hackathon-inspired have been able to work with “Career path: After graduating, I worked at the Oxford Careers local universities to support Service and as a private tutor while recovering mentally from their care-experienced and consultancy challenge open to all completing my degree and figuring out what I wanted to do. I estranged students. found the experience invaluable and it enabled me to mentally current students, from 1st years to adjust to post-degree life. Lessons learned: • Ask for help when you need it. How: In September 2018, I joined the REED graduate training • Don’t let fear stop you from making a change or taking on a DPhils and researchers. scheme. My first role was as an employment adviser working new challenge. on a government welfare-to-work programme; I loved the team • Taking a break is not necessarily a bad thing – it will allow you but I interviewed for my current role when the opportunity came to refocus your energy. up to try something that was a better fit for me. • You can’t enable someone who doesn’t want to help The business analyst role is not technical – I have absolutely themselves. no knowledge of coding – and it allows me to engage my • Every opportunity to improve on yourself is a gift. problem-solving and creative-thinking skills. I’m also involved with • Make the most of any careers/networking advice and support projects across the business and am exposed to all aspects of the available to you – through the Careers Service, friends and recruitment process; it provides valuable industry insights and a family, and professional mentoring. Find out more:

84 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk/osc SECTOR BRIEFINGS BUSINESS WITH PURPOSE SECTOR BRIEFINGS

• Browse job adverts to understand which roles commonly require further study and qualifications. James Ghaffari BUSINESS WITH Director of B Corp Certification, B Lab UK Investigate career destinations of graduates and PPE, St. Peter’s College, 2012 tutors’ backgrounds of further study courses. PURPOSE • Ask alumni and others working in your preferred field What: At B Lab UK, we are creating a community of I enjoy the pleasure The phrase ‘business with purpose’ is not a new for course recommendations. companies (B Corps) that want to put people and of working with those sector in the traditional sense, but terminology • The vast majority of roles are advertised as individual planet alongside profit and redefine what it means to a successful who already understand that seeks to define the changes we are seeing opportunities – check organisation websites, as well business. My role is to build this community by helping companies this imperative and the within the business world. as sector-specific job sites such as B Work. understand the importance of sustainability and manage the challenging of convincing • Consider the issues that are important to you. “impact of their operations on their employees, suppliers and those who do not that we must Research organisations on that basis. Do you want to customers as well as society and the environment in general. make a just transition to a more There has been a huge shift in the business sector over work to minimise plastic use? Are you interested in Working with these businesses across sectors is a great equitable and regenerative economy. the last few years, with a large proportion of companies the product side, innovating materials to be more eco opportunity to understand the different ways in which companies putting a greater focus on sustainability initiatives, friendly? can create positive impact through their business models and it Advice: Don’t discount small companies and start-ups when social and environmental impact, and employee welfare. • Unilever, Danone and P&G are taking great steps to is always intellectually challenging to explore how sustainability looking for your first role. Working in these companies will expose As well as this section, take a look at the business move big business forward in this area. However, do relates to food and drinks brands, construction firms or the you to a wide variety of different positions within the sector and and management overview, charity and social not just consider the big names. Look at Patagonia and financial services industry, for example. force you to build a broad skill set at the start of your career. It enterprise overview, and energy, sustainability and the Finisterre (outdoor clothing brands in retail/fashion will also give you the opportunity to see a direct link between environment overview in this Guide. sector), Ella’s Kitchen (FMCG), Triodos Bank (finance) Why: With a decade left to meet the UN Global Goals for the work you put in and the outcomes you create – something A huge range of roles exist in this area from and Kickstarter (community and crowdsourced Sustainable Development that define how we can meet the that can be trickier in a bigger organisation. Finally, start-ups operational, financial and managerial (eg sustainability funding platform) for growth examples. See the B needs of humanity within the means of the planet, I believe we are usually more agile and willing to listen to all voices in the manager, supply chain manager) to technical. Other Corp directory for a list of certified companies. must harness the power of business to create positive change. company, so they can be fun and empowering places to work! roles use research or academic skills (eg climate science, For too long, companies have been allowed to exploit people and So find the smaller firms doing the exciting and experimental sustainability knowledge, wellbeing at work) or involve Getting in and entry points degrade the environment, but now many are realising this system things in the sector in which you want to work and send them an consultancy, teaching or training or technical skills Competition for positions can be high so relevant can no longer work. email as they can always use an extra hand. (material scientists, environmental scientists). experience on your CV is vital. Consider: When conducting your job search, it is worth • Advertised internships and short-term seasonal jobs. looking at the structure of individual companies to see • Asking directly about jobs, internships or volunteering if the organisation takes sustainability, environmental by networking and speculative approaches. Positions and social issues seriously by embedding them within may not be advertised widely (or at all!). Jonny Walker Project Developer, New Ground Coffee company values and strategic planning. If there is BA Theology and Religion, Worcester College, 2019 someone in a senior position within that company, who Extra-curricular ideas is charged with leading on strategy for sustainability • Join or follow the work of relevant societies eg the Why: I became interested in social enterprise towards the networking and research for example, this is a good indicator that the company Oxford Climate Society or become a member of end of my time at Oxford. I realised that business is great skills, while working towards is looking at its suppliers, customers, environmental your college’s Green Impact Team. at innovating and finding new ways of doing things, but primarily a worthwhile goal of impact, communities and wellbeing of employees • Seek out companies within the Oxford area who are focused on the pursuit of profit. On the other hand, charity is transforming society for the alongside pure profit and shareholder interests. seeking to do business better. Look at OXWash and brilliant at focusing on injustice in society, but isn’t always the most better. One way of showing that you are a ‘business with certified B Corp ClimateCare as a starting point. “strategic in its approach. So, what if we could innovate solutions purpose’ in a meaningful and recognisable way is by • Submit articles for publications on issues relating to to social problems – channelling the innovation and strategy of Advice: If you want to make certifying as B Corp. This means that a company has ‘business with purpose’. entrepreneurship to tackle issues of injustice in the world? a difference with your career, undergone an evaluation process and impact assessment • Create a LinkedIn profile and follow business with do not be afraid to jump straight in. So in order to be certified. These types of business are purpose thought leaders like Paul Polman (ex-P&G, What: New Ground Coffee is a café and coffee roastery in often people embark on the corporate route with the hope that legally required to consider the impact of their decisions Nestle and Unilever) and Colin Mayer (Said Business Headington, providing employment and training to ex-offenders. somewhere down the line they will be able to ‘transfer their on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and School) to keep up-to-date. 50% of ex-offenders are likely reoffend within in a year without skills’ for good. Often this is an authentic hope to start with, the environment. The majority of B Corps will also be work and 90% of employers immediately overlook them. We want to and sometimes the approach works, but so often that passion working to ensure their business goals are aligned with make really good coffee and in doing so empower that demographic. gradually gets lost with the stresses of work and desire for career the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. There is more More information I have been working on training programmes to provide those progression. So, while it might work for some, I’d encourage information on B Corps on bcorporation.uk. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/business-management coming out of prison with the skills and motivation they need to get most people to find something they are passionate about, or a www.careers.ox.ac.uk/charities into work and get their lives back on track. Alongside this, I have problem they want to solve. Spend time learning about this early The following insights and advice can also help: www.careers.ox.ac.uk/sustainability-environment been involved with policy work – collaborating with other social on by getting involved with organisations already tackling the • Develop expertise and relevant skills in a different www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-with-social-impact enterprises with a similar heart to raise awareness and tackle some issue, and get to know real people with real struggles as you do. sector before moving into a business with purpose, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/entrepreneurship-social- of the systemic issues at the root of this injustice: poor education; Perhaps later you might seek some more specialised experience eg accountancy, marketing, teaching, graduate enterprise insufficient housing; and excessive use of prison sentences to name a and training to bring to your work, but by that point you will have leadership schemes. few. This has been an amazing opportunity to build communication, caught the bug and always want to go back.

86 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 87 SECTOR BRIEFINGS CHARITY AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SECTOR BRIEFINGS

• Further study – many roles are accessible without a further degree but this may be important for some Lizzie Shelmerdine CHARITY Programmes Manager, Oxford Hub roles (eg, policy). BA English Language and Literature, Corpus Christi College, 2018 AND SOCIAL If you are considering further study as part of your strategy, it is advisable to: What: Oxford Hub runs a range of social action and Why: I decided I wanted • Understand which roles commonly require higher volunteering projects. My role is to manage our to go into the third sector ENTERPRISE qualifications by reviewing job descriptions and environmental volunteering projects as well as fundraising after volunteering with advertisements. centrally for the organisation (if you’re looking for experience a range of social action This sector offers: diverse roles; a chance to drive • Ask people working in your preferred area what in the third sector, come and volunteer with us). I’m loving the charities and initiatives change; and the opportunity to work on a cause qualifications they have and which courses they “flexibility and creativity of my role, and have found a particular at university. The sense of that matters to you. recommend for entry and progression (if any). passion for fundraising which I’d like to pursue in the future. doing good for other people, • Investigate providers and specific courses, including Highlights of my work thus far have included launching and the environment in particular, the background of tutors and destinations of recent OxUnboxed, our zero waste pop-up shop, and designing a was something that I quickly realised I Charities do not seek to make profits, and are usually graduates. training programme for people to set up their own community wanted to be a part of my daily life and work. funded through donations and grants. Social enterprises gardens. are businesses which trade for a social/environmental Extra-curricular ideas Top tips: Thinking about what I value most was a great way to decide purpose, reinvesting profits to further this purpose. Relevant experience is usually essential. Here are some Getting in: I graduated from Oxford in 2018, and went straight what I wanted to do as a career. It was the first step to understanding There is a huge range of causes served, and ideas to try while you are here at Oxford: into the third sector. Graduate jobs in charities can be difficult to what kind of job would suit me. As a student, I got stuck into a whole workplaces range from small start-ups to big • Explore volunteering opportunities through Oxford come by, so I applied to Worthwhile – a scheme for entry-level range of social action opportunities, from class-related campaigning organisations with a more corporate culture. Charities Hub, which also offers grants and training for those jobs in charities. Through Worthwhile, I heard about the project to mental health volunteering, and from blogging to managing a and social enterprises have the same range of job wishing to try out a social enterprise idea or find officer role at my charity, which I successfully applied for. clothes-sharing platform. University is the perfect opportunity to try roles as any organisation, such as marketing, HR, PR, opportunities using www.do-it.org or OCVA. I now work full-time at Oxford Hub, and attend regular out a whole load of different things, skill up, and find out what you’re IT, project management, fieldwork, finance, policy, • Join a cause-related student society: get involved training and development opportunities with Worthwhile. passionate about to prepare you for job applications. and research. Charities often also have an extensive in projects and committee or leadership positions fundraising or ‘development’ department. or establish a new society serving a cause you care about. Getting in and entry points • Participate in The Oxford Strategy Challenge: The following options offer different ways into the charities and social enterprises are among the clients Beth Kume-Holland Founder and Company Director, Patchwork Hub charity and social enterprise sector: seeking student advice. BA History, Pembroke, 2013 • Internships – although paid opportunities are • Look out for Oxford Micro-Internships which are advertised, internships are often offered as unpaid often based in social enterprises and charities. What: Patchwork Hub is an accessible employment category added on it at the volunteering. If it is not possible for you to volunteer, • Get involved with Oxford University Innovation social platform for anyone whose personal circumstances end of a document. So, I ask whether there’s any way they could make the enterprises. prevent them leaving the house. Through the online platform, wanted to create something opportunity more accessible: fewer days or hours or • Look for the Skoll World Forum activities and the a person can connect with employers offering tasks, projects suitable for all users. working remotely to allow you to accommodate other fringe events such as Oxjam. or permanent employment. They can connect with training to With the projected paid work. “upskill themselves and easily access the centralised resources and growth of online talent • Job opportunities generally will require some previous support they need. platforms in the next five years, experience, such as volunteering. Administrative, More information I feel strongly that an accessible project or case-work supporting roles can be a way www.careers.ox.ac.uk/charity/ How: I started Patchwork Hub after realising the number of social enterprise, with sustainability into the sector. Check organisations’ own websites work-for-yourself highly-skilled people with various health conditions or personal and inclusion at its core, should be one of the market leaders. and specialist job sites such as Charity Jobs, Third circumstances that are working unsustainably or unable to work a Accessibility doesn’t always have to be an afterthought – it can Sector Jobs, Guardian Jobs, Idealist and Social conventional job. These are people who want to work for themselves and should be fully integrated into the future of work. Enterprise UK. and use their skills to build their career and income but there was no • Contact organisations speculatively to find short- The ‘learn, do, retire’ model of work platform they felt able to use. I have been working hard with leading Top tips: It’s OK to have no idea what you want to do or which term roles and entry-level work. is no more and I think now it’s about businesses, national charities and governments to develop this sector you want to enter. Think about your passions, your • Graduate schemes are relatively rare, but taking opportunities in their various service and I love the work I get to do. I am also the audience and motivations for the work you want to do and take as many examples include CharityWorks, Gradunique (BHF forms, working hard but staying kind. If you’re market insights lead for Scope, the national disability charity. opportunities as you can to try things out. Volunteering in the and Macmillan Cancer Support), and Cancer looking for experience in the third sector and third sector is a great way to do this, you’ll gain usable insights Research UK. Why: The idea for Patchwork Hub arose from the disability and experience of what you enjoy but will also be putting your “start-up world, come and voluntter with us. • Some people transfer into the charity sector having advocacy work I got involved in after my disappointing experience time into something impactful. If you’re looking for experience in gained skills and expertise in a private company first. Beth Kume-Holland, Founder and as a disabled graduate student at Harvard University. I was so the third sector and start-up world, come and volunteer with us. This is particularly true of roles like accountancy or Company Director, Patchwork tired of faceless corporations having monopoly of tech platforms; The ‘learn, do, retire’ model of work is no more and I think legal work where the charity or social enterprise Hub I met so many disabled persons fed up of ‘disabled’ people now it’s about taking opportunities in their various forms, might not have the resources to train someone. always being an afterthought – a wheelchair logo and a separate working hard but staying kind.

88 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 89 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

A few firms recruit all year round (e.g., Accenture CONSULTANCY and Newton Europe) or on a ‘rolling basis’, reviewing candidates and filling positions as applications are Management consultancy offers variety, received. Lastly, firms usually only allow one application

intellectual challenge and the chance to work in a year and so when applying for consulting at the Big 4 Join the OMHN mission. professional service firms this means deciding whether high performance teams with big-name clients. The Oxford Mental Health Network (OMHN) is a to apply for their ‘management consulting’ or ‘strategy charity connecting young people in Oxfordshire to consulting’ practice. the mental health services and resources that Critical skills include team-working and communication, Internships are not offered universally (application they need through awareness campaigns, social analytical and problem-solving skills, business awareness deadlines fall between November and January), but are media and our website: Oxfordshire’s mental health search engine. Currently, we are launching and ability to deliver results. becoming more common. However, use commercial a new online information hub and resource Consultants help client organisations improve their work experience in any sector to acquire and display database for people aged 13-25, for which we performance by, for example: relevant skills and enhance your business awareness. were granted funding after winning Oxford University’s IT Innovation Challenge 2018. • assessing the business case for new products or Case study interviews are central to the process. expansion to new markets ‘Cases’ challenge you to show you can think through

• advising on scaling back, closing operations, business problems like a consultant and, generally, reorganisations and cost-cutting, and you will need to do a good job on every ‘case’ and an • all points in between, such as improving systems and outstanding job on a couple of them. Use the available processes, and building better teams. options to prepare thoroughly for case study interviews: We are looking for enthusiastic and dedicated Graduates are expected to be active and productive • Read our guidance www.careers.ox.ac.uk/ campaigners to join our team – no experience in projects from the start, working with staff at all levels, case-study-style-interviews. required. Get in touch at [email protected] and can quickly gain experience across a wide range of • Attend case study workshops at the Careers Service, industries. However, new entrants should also expect or with student societies or run by companies. long hours, extensive travel and lots of time working on • Practise a lot, with friends and societies. spreadsheet analyses and presentations – rather than strategising with the CEO in the boardroom. Extra-curricular ideas Consulting firms range from large, multinational • Become active in a student society, such as the firms working across a variety of industries, to niche Oxford Management Society, CapitOx, the Oxford consultancies specialising in expert advice on a specific Strategy Group, Oxford Women in Business or the industry, such as healthcare, media or financial services. Oxford Guild. Broadly, firms work in two ways: • Sign up for Insight into Strategy and Management to 1. Strategy consultancy: Understanding and finding introduce you to core business concepts and enhance solutions to strategic problems faced by an organisation: commercial awareness. THE eg, understanding competitors; the market; and/ • Check out the The Oxford Strategy Challenge or future drivers of growth. Projects tend to be fairly (TOSCA), a team-based, experiential learning short, and roles often involve significant travel. event. TOSCA is a chance for you to gain hands- 2. Implementation consultancy: Developing a on experience with local organisations. You’ll work OXFORD strategic idea or solution and making it a reality. in a team on a project that’s important to the Projects tend to be longer than in strategy organisation. consultancy and consultants are often based at the • Work as a consultant with other societies: eg Oxford client organisation and ensure that all elements of a Strategy Group, Oxford Consulting Initiative; Oxford STRATEGY business – people, technology and processes – come Development Consultancy. together to deliver a successful outcome. • Get involved with activities that provide business insight, teamwork and demonstrate impact, eg lead Getting in and entry points on sponsorship for a student society, participate CHALLENGE Competition can be fierce and the assessment process in team sports or outdoor pursuits with different is rigorous, typically including aptitude tests (online) people, manage a recruitment drive for a society or and several rounds of interviews and/or an assessment improve the process of a virtual event/activity within Get real-world client work experience centre, plus partner interview. Once the process starts your college. it can move quickly, so prepare thoroughly in advance. Use individual firms’ websites to understand their recruitment processes and timelines, and plan ahead. More information www.careers.ox.ac.uk/oxford-strategy-challenge For full-time positions, applications at most firms www.careers.ox.ac.uk/consultancy open in August or September and close in late October.

90 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 91 CONSULTANCY SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Rachael Martin Consultant, Bain & Company Main locations: London, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Main Location: London Physics, University College, 2015 Madrid, Paris, Helsinki, Singapore, and Tel Aviv. About us: Cornerstone Research is a consulting firm specializing About us: One of the world’s leading economic consulting firms, in the analysis of complex financial, economic, accounting, and What: At Bain, we work with our clients to solve Why: I was keen to find a Compass Lexecon specialises in the economic analysis of competition, marketing issues. We have over 750 staff and offices in Boston, regulatory, litigation and policy matters. We advise leading Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, their most challenging business problems. I will lead role where I could develop corporations, law firms, governments, and other public-sector entities and Washington D.C. Cornerstone Research has consulted on a wide on a distinct aspect of a project, and my role differs at each quickly and which I would in high profile mergers, government investigations, and private variety of projects involving numerous industries. Our clients include stage of a project. In the early stage, I will immerse myself in still find interesting after litigation. Our EMEA team includes more than 200 professionals. major securities firms, top consulting and other professional service Many hold PhDs from leading economics departments in Europe and firms, leading pharmaceutical companies, major participants in energy the client, interviewing clients and Bain experts, to get up to a couple of years. The the U.S., and several hold academic positions at prestigious European markets, over one hundred Internet and other high-technology firms, “speed. As we develop a hypothesis, I work with my team to local and global training universities. and large telecommunications providers. analyse client data and test our thinking internally before programmes and flexibility Opportunities available: Internships during, in-between, or after Opportunities available: Summer Analyst, Analyst your economics degree. Research Analyst positions after your BA Graduates sought: Undergraduate and Masters working with clients to refine our recommendations. I’ve worked of options are outstanding, and I in Economics or in another quantitative subject (one- or two- Graduate salary: Competitive year fixed-term positions). Analyst positions after your MPhil in across both the public and private sectors, on business problems have travelled to Cape Cod and Cancun Application: To apply, please submit your CV, cover letter, and on Economics. Economist positions after your DPhil in Economics. ranging from high-level strategy through to how to make and trained in teams in which everyone is from a different office. course transcript to Cornerstone’s website: www.cornerstone.com/ Graduates sought: First-rate economics BA (PPE or E&M), MPhil, careers operations more efficient. I have a mentor from outside my project team who acts as an or DPhil with excellent analytical skills and preferably with a focus I am lucky to have the opportunity to get involved in independent source of advice. I have the option to transfer to on microeconomics, industrial organisation or econometrics. For the Research Analyst position, candidates with first-rate BA in other pro bono projects with charities as part of my company’s another office for six months, take time off for travelling. I’m quantitative subjects are also considered. diverse social impact programme, as well as help with keen to do an MBA, which my organisation will sponsor. Visa sponsorship: Yes recruiting or organising office social events. Having Graduate salary: Very competitive volunteered with schools and educational charities at Advice: Don’t be worried if you don’t have a business-orientated Pattern of recruitment: Summer internship, Research Analyst and Analyst applications for the London office close on 31 January. Oxford, I’ve been delighted to continue this at work, by degree. The training teaches you everything you need at each Annual vacancies: No fixed intake. helping education charities shape their strategy and recently career step. I recommend exploring as many careers possibilities Application advice: Apply at www.compasslexecon.com/careers by becoming a school governor through my organisation’s as you can; I only realised I was more interested in business governor programme. strategy than finance through internships I had in banking. www.compasslexecon.com www.cornerstone.com/careers

Hal Bigland Senior Consultant, Monitor Deloitte MEng Engineering, Oriel College, 2015

Why consulting: When I left Oxford I was keen was perfect for me as I Main locations: We are accepting applications to join our London Main locations: London to try something different, and gain some could get to know and Amsterdam offices. Fluency in English is required for all roles, and About us: EY-Parthenon Strategy is committed to bringing fluent Dutch for roles in Amsterdam. unconventional yet pragmatic thinking together with our clients’ business knowledge, having tried engineering and decided everyone but still have About us: Eden McCallum is redefining management consulting. smarts to deliver actionable strategies for real impact in today’s it wasn’t for me. I had zero experience in anything other variety of projects. We support clients to resolve their most pressing issues of strategy, business landscape. With more than 6,000 professionals in more than engineering, however I found the challenging nature of We have a fantastic operations and organisation. Working with independent consultants than 50 countries, the EY-Parthenon Strategy teams are continually of the highest calibre, we have pioneered a tailored approach that answering the “What?” and the “How?” questions on the CEO agenda “consulting appealing, and I was further convinced to pursue community in the firm which delivers tangible impact, client ownership, and deeper insight. to help deliver long-term value across our clients’ organisations. this after attending the events held by the Careers Service and I have enjoyed being a part Opportunities available: As an analyst in your first 2 years, the Through formal and on-the-job training and mentoring, Associates acquire valuable analytical and interpersonal skills that equip them speaking to friends and family about my options. of, both in my smaller part of the programme combines year-round structured training, on-the- job learning and development, and hands-on mentoring from our with expertise for their role at EY-Parthenon Strategy, and for firm but also connecting to people across senior team to nurture you to be your best. You will develop the full any careers beyond. EY-Parthenon Strategy’s non-hierarchical Why my firm: When considering a consulting career, my the business. I would stress, every individual and firm is consulting toolkit by working with some of the best consultants in environment enables Associates to take initiative and drive their the world. As part of a dynamic and innovative firm, you will have professional experience. main advice is to think about which firm(s) suit you best, different, so make sure to spend the time looking at each the opportunity to drive initiatives to support our continued success; Opportunities available: Any degree discipline, minimum 2:1. and vice versa. Most consulting firms are very different, organisation in more detail. build connections, a network and friendships for life. High performers Successful candidates are curious, hardworking, with an enthusiastic eg in culture, type of work and size. Determining the best- after 2 years have the opportunity for promotion taking on greater and approachable demeanour and entrepreneurial mind-set. responsibility for leading a workstream, influencing and engaging Visa sponsorship: Will sponsor work VISA’s for successful international suited firm for you will not only show during interviews, but My role: I’ve been in my role for nearly four years and in clients, and coaching others. full-time applicants who hold a visa for the UK at the time of job offer will make for a more fun and successful career. I applied to that time I’ve worked in a variety of sectors, including Graduates sought: Undergraduate/Masters (not MBA) in any (no VISA sponsorship for internship applicants) seven consultancies, with a large amount of effort required defence, retail, and consumer health. I predominantly work discipline. Graduate salary: Highly Competitive Visa sponsorship: No. Vacation work: 8 week summer internship programme aimed at for each application. Interestingly, I only progressed past the in London, with some opportunity to travel including Japan Graduate salary: Competitive. penultimate year students, wishing to join the firm full-time in 2022 first round of the two firms I was genuinely interested in, and the USA. Application advice: Please refer to our ‘How to apply’ section via our Annual vacancies: No fixed quota which, to me, really illustrates the importance of the firm’s fit I find I am continually being stretched to think beyond my website. Application advice: To apply, http://parthenon.ey.com/ to submit your CV and cover letter. Full-time Associate deadline: 29.10.20. for you. comfort zone and find my work incredibly rewarding, diverse and, https://edenmccallum.com/join-us/analyst/ Summer Associate Internship deadline: 07.01.2021. Monitor Deloitte was one of my preferred firms, with support from senior leaders, I continue to learn and develop, because of its focus on people and the variety of work. Being and to really enjoy what I do. a small practice within a large firm combined with the culture edenmccallum.com/join-us/analyst/ http://parthenon.ey.com

92 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 93 Graduate Opportunities

As a graduate in our Economic FTI Consulting is a world leader and Financial Consulting practice, in business advisory and consulting. you will have the opportunity to: With over 5,700 employees worldwide, — Work with world-leading we are looking for bright and motivated economists, accountants and graduates from all backgrounds financial experts and disciplines to contribute to our — Work across a variety of continued success. industries and projects

www.fticonsulting.com — Receive extensive in-house training and study for a professional qualification — Transfer between our international offices MANAGEMENT

www.fticareers.co.uk/graduates/efc CONSULTANCY

01603_FTI_164mmx125mm_Recruitment Advert_Oxford Careers Guide_v2.indd 1 07/07/2020 16:48 FAIR NEVER NOT Virtual CREATING MEANINGFUL THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER 2020 CHANGE. EXHIBITORS FROM 12:00-18:00 NEVER NOT NEWTON.

Whatever you do as a graduate at Newton, you’ll always be helping real people live better lives. We partnered with a large county council to redesign its Older People and Physical Disability service to help older members of the THE FAIR FOR CONSULTANTS community live happy, independent lives for longer. This work prevented 450 people going inappropriately to residential care each year, increased practitioner productivity by 85%, and saved the council £30m annually. Meet a wide range of employers in the Find out more at WorkAtNewton.com consultancy sector. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-fairs 94 www.careers.ox.ac.uk Unconventional thinking. RBB Economics offers career opportunities for entry level economists Real impact. Smart. Nice. Driven.SM Who are we? We give our staff the opportunities they sophisticated medical equipment, financial These are the words we use to define who we are, RBB Economics is an independent need to flourish professionally, including services and sports rights. what we value and what we seek in individuals. economics consultancy specialising early responsibility for our work product Our requirements in competition policy. We are one of the and to engage directly with clients largest competition economics practices and their legal advisors as well as with We’re looking for exceptional, highly in the world, with offices in London, competition authorities. motivated economists to join our multi- Brussels, Dusseldorf, The Hague, However, we always offer our national team. If you have outstanding EY-Parthenon professionals Interested in strategy consulting? Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Madrid, staff support, guidance and career academic credentials and flourish are global leaders in strategy Melbourne, Paris and Stockholm. Our progression advice from more in the face of complex, intellectually Come and meet the team to learn more about EY-Parthenon. consulting. EY-Parthenon work concerns the behaviour of firms experienced team members. challenging issues then we would love to hear from you. Important dates teams are committed to with market power, and covers issues RBB is meritocratic, not hierarchical bringing unconventional yet such as mergers, vertical agreements, and offers a supportive and highly Qualifications are usually to postgraduate • EY-Parthenon virtual Monday, 26 October 2020, Time: 12:00 p.m. joint ventures, price setting and the pragmatic thinking together sociable working environment that adds level, preferably with an interest in abuse of dominant positions. info session: To register, please visit parthenon.ey.com and navigate with clients’ smarts to deliver greatly to the enjoyment of working here. industrial organisation. We are looking for We work in dedicated, multi-national consultants with a range of quantitative to the careers page actionable strategies. We teams which combine the experience Our clients and analytical skills, and the ability to recruit undergraduate and • EY-Parthenon virtual Tuesday, 27 October 2020, Time: 12:00 p.m. and expertise relevant to each case. RBB have built up strong relationships communicate complex economic concepts skills session: To register, please visit parthenon.ey.com and navigate postgraduate candidates This enables us to respond to our clients’ with clients from all areas of industry and in a clear concise style. from any degree discipline. needs in a focused and flexible manner. commerce as well as with all of the major to the careers page To apply Successful candidates We offer a hands-on service, supporting law firms specialising in competition law. • Application deadlines: Full-time Associate position: Thursday, 29 October 2020 are intellectually curious and working in partnership with our Over the years we have been involved To apply please fill in the online application clients and their legal advisers. form on our website http://www.rbbecon. Summer Intern Associate position: Thursday, 07 January 2021 and hardworking with an in hundreds of the most high-profile competition cases around the world. com/working-at-rbb/ entrepreneurial mindset. Our working environment To learn more about EY-Parthenon, please visit parthenon.ey.com Our expertise is wide ranging, from For general enquiries contact vacancies@ The work at RBB is stimulating, industries such as energy, mining rbbecon.com challenging, demanding and rewarding. © 2020 Ernst & Young LLP UK. All Rights Reserved. ED None Find us and join the conversation and steel, to the manufacturing of www.rbbecon.com

2020_Oxford-CareerGuide-Ad-v2_164w x 125h.indd 1 7/29/2020 1:32:22 PM

The Oxford Guild Careers in Consulting Main locations: UK-wide World's Largest University Society About us: We’re a team of the brightest and most curious minds with www.theoxfordguild.com a fundamental belief that every organisation can be better. We crack some of the toughest business and public sector challenges of the The multi-award winning Oxford Guild Business Society, est. 1897 is the largest society in Oxford, Europe and the world as of 2015 according to day. Not with reports or copy & paste thinking. But by pinpointing and The Times, Forbes, Milkround and BBC. Our unrivalled track record implementing the changes that will make the biggest difference. We speaks for itself. demand better in everything we do. We think you should too. Opportunities available: Operations Consultants and Digital 100% FREE TO JOIN, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS, 120+ Consultants. EVENTS ANNUALLY, 60+ SPONSORS. Graduates sought: Graduates from any degree discipline who are We worry about your career so you don't have to! highly numerate with a logical mindset and strong analytical and conceptual skills. We’re looking for strong, effective communicators BIGGEST SPEAKERS, EVENTS, BALLS, SOCIALS, TRIPS & who have strong interpersonal skills, a high degree of emotional CONFERENCES. intelligence and an ability to build and sustain positive, productive relationships. They should have an exceptional ability to create insight We are widely recognised for being the most established, dynamic, active and professional society on campus for students looking to apply from an ocean of information, thrive on early responsibility and be for internships/jobs and are renowned for our experience. We have self-motivated and driven to succeed. Graduates should demonstrate demonstrated consistent success in providing effective recruitment and a collaborative approach to teamwork and have a high level of self- brand awareness opportunities and services for organisations we work awareness, being happy to receive and act on feedback. with. We help a huge range of companies from Accenture, MBB, Oliver Visa sponsorship: We are able to sponsor visas. Wyman, FTI, Big 4 and more increase the quality, diversity and Graduate salary: £45-50k starting package. quantity of their applicants. Annual vacancies: 110 We are the founders of the CollegiumGlobalNetwork which has 40+ Application advice: Visit the website to learn more about the universities across the world involved so far including our Cambridge application process and apply. Early application advised. Guild etc.

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96 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 97 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

There is no formal requirement for a teaching qualification in the independent sector and some will employ new graduates and offer on-the-job training. Others recruit recent graduates through graduate assistant roles, particularly in boarding schools. CareerConnect and the Times Educational Supplement EDUCATION (TES) are good sources of vacancy listings for independent schools. Education is one of the most popular sectors Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and for Oxford graduates. Diverse areas including private tutoring are popular short-term occupations on publishing, policy, administration, charities leaving Oxford, but can also be longer-term careers. and NGOs, psychology, arts and heritage and A degree from Oxford may be the only qualification academia may be relevant if you’re interested in needed for some teaching jobs, but experience is always education. Here we look at teaching. helpful for applications, and a TEFL qualification may make it easier to find work abroad. There are a few graduate training programmes in Teaching demands communication skills, energy and a education policy and administration. The Ambitious commitment to inspire students. It offers an opportunity Futures programme www.ambitiousfutures.co.uk to make a difference, to use your subject and to advance offers a 15-month rotational programme at a number THE OXFORD your career in a variety of directions. of universities for graduates with the potential to reach Teachers can rapidly specialise into managerial, senior positions in a university administration and pastoral or training roles in schools. Many also move into management. Imperial College also runs a graduate education roles in other areas. management and finance training scheme. Education policy could form part of the Civil Service Fast Stream or STRATEGY Getting in and entry points local government schemes such as the National Graduate Teacher training options divide into two main types: Development Programme. The TES and the Guardian are School-led: One or two year programmes based key publications for opportunities in the education sector. in school, some salaried, others funded by loans and bursaries, eg Teach First, School Direct, Researchers in Extra-curricular ideas Schools, some School-Centred Initial Teacher Training • Observe teachers at work in local schools. Insight CHALLENGE (SCITT), Premier Pathways, Engage Education, and some Into Teaching run by the Careers Service, offers three independent schools. days in schools around the UK. The government-run University-led: Usually one-year programmes based School Experience Programme also offers time in in university but with extended periods in partnership schools. Alternatively, approach schools directly to Get real-world client work experience schools. E.g.PGCE, PGDE, SCITT. Funded via bursaries ask if you can observe lessons, or help in other ways. (level varies with teaching subject) and tuition fee loans. • Get international teaching experience in the summer on our hackathon-inspired Whichever route you choose to follow, it is important vacation through The Internship Programme. to gain some relevant experience prior to application. • Volunteer your time with local children through Applications for most UK teacher training courses are via organisations such as Jacari, KEEN, Splash at Oxford consultancy challenge open to all UCAS, others take direct applications. or Oxford Hub’s Schools Plus programmes. • Develop pastoral skills by helping with Oxford current students, from 1st years to University Scout & Guide Group, or volunteering with Don’t assume that you will simply be a Sexpression Oxford to promote sexual health. good teacher because you have been • Offer mentoring for UNIQ Summer School DPhils and researchers. to Oxford or that it will be a breeze participants, volunteer with Oxford University because you know so much. Don’t get me Admissions or work with Target Schools to promote wrong, you will be an asset to any school you access to university, or with OxFizz to give interview practice, mentoring, or to run summer camps. “work in, but so much of what will make you excel is your ability to be humble and inspire.

Simon Davies, Head of History More information and PSHE Curriculum Design, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/tefl Find out more: Wheatley Park School, Oxford www.careers.ox.ac.uk/teaching

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/osc www.careers.ox.ac.uk 99 EDUCATION SECTOR BRIEFINGS PhD in Management Call for applications 2021 intake Alice Bloom English Teacher BA English Language and Literature, Exeter College, 2015 PURSUE AN EXCITING CAREER IN BUSINESS ACADEMIA

What: I am an English teacher at a mixed comprehensive Top tips: Don’t assume Are you curious about Are you keen to pursue research school in Oxford. Shortly after finishing my degree, that you will be rubbish at interesting business questions that is relevant and rooted in the and data, and the creation of real world; thus, having I applied to the OTSA SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher behaviour management. new knowledge? significant impact? Training). Now in my second year as a fully-fledged teacher, I feel I Being quiet, small, and have one of the toughest but most fulfilling jobs in the world. young-looking, I was “ worried that the kids would Why: I wanted to pursue my love of my subject, and I knew from eat me alive. But teacher training tutoring and volunteering that I enjoyed working with young prepared me really well – I was people. I wanted to do something creative and valuable. I have gradually inducted rather than thrown to always cared deeply about social justice. I get to combine all the wolves – and I realised that behaviour management isn’t about these things in my teaching job. No two days are the same for being able to shout or look intimidating. It’s almost the opposite: me; I’m never bored, and I never feel that what I’m doing isn’t building positive relationships, and using them to get the best out Open to final undergraduate year and masters students, important. And I get to laugh so much (children are hilarious). It of your students. With that in mind, learn names as quickly as you regardless of subject area background; research interns; recent graduates with or without research or isn’t always easy, but it wouldn’t feel special if it was. can. It’s one of the easiest ways to show a child that you care. work experience; and industry professionals looking for Why choose INSEAD a career change PhD? Scan the QR code to learn more. How my degree helped: The intense workload at Oxford made Best bits: The look on my Year 9s’ faces when they found out it much easier for me to keep up with the demands of teacher that they’d won a national competition. The moment when a Year PURSUE THE INSEAD PHD

training. The breadth and rigour of the Oxford curriculum 10 got the grade they wanted, because of their hard work and 5-YEAR FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ALL ADMITTED STUDENTS. also gave me a solid grounding in my subject, which has been perseverance. Talking to kids about the books they love. Getting STUDY IN TWO LOCATIONS - ASIA AND EUROPE. APPLICATION STARTS IN EARLY FALL OF THIS YEAR. especially useful for teaching A Level and really high-flyers. handmade thank-you cards. Finding a whiteboard pen that works. https://bit.ly/insead-phd-admissions | https://bit.ly/why-insead-phd

Simon Davies Head of History and PSHE Curriculum Design, Wheatley Park School, Oxford PGCE (Oxford Department of Education), Lady Margaret Hall, 2011 Meet a wide variety of What: I am the head of history and personal, Top tips: Don’t assume that social, health and economic education (PSHE) at a you will simply be a good recruiters and comprehensive school in Oxfordshire; part of a multi-academy teacher because you have find out about trust across the county. I entered teaching through the been to Oxford or that it different Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) route, which is will be a breeze because you career options “available to you through Oxford University’s Department of know so much. Don’t get me across a range Education. This September will mark ten years since I began my wrong, you will be an asset to PGCE and the last decade has given me a worthwhile, interesting any school you work in, but so much of employment and varied career. I have taught in schools in London, Brussels of what will make you excel is your ability OXFORD UNIVERSITY sectors. and Oxford. to be humble and inspire. Don’t go into any setting with the attitude that you are ‘doing the kids a favour’ – and if you go into Why: I wanted to be part of a profession that could offer a PGCE interview with that mindset, it will be spotted straight Virtual CAREERS FAIR something to a community. I initially worked in Westminster away! Always remember teaching is ultimately a human-facing after university, but soon became disillusioned and wanted to profession: learn names quickly; take time to get up to speed on work as a driver for change. As well as this, I knew that things; and gradually build your mastery in what is a complex but TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2020 teaching would offer a creative outlet through lesson design very rewarding craft. and allow me to engage with academic interests while at the EXHIBITORS FROM 12:00-18:00 same time enabling me to communicate these interests with Best bits: When you genuinely know you’ve helped someone a group of people on a daily basis. As time has gone on and I achieve something they never thought possible. Whether it’s have taken on leadership roles, I have also found purpose and helping a student use a difficult word in context or leading a Year interest in developing as a leader and recognising that school 10 to a national debating championship final held at Windsor environments are one of the best to test one’s own capacity Castle, teaching never fails to give you something to smile about in leadership. at the end of the day. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-fairs/

100 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 101 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

discipline, with closing dates towards the end of ENERGY, Michaelmas term or early in Hilary term. Many also offer internships to students in their penultimate year at Oxford. Look beyond the job title to establish if SUSTAINABILITY sustainability is incorporated into a role. The renewable energy and environmental industries AND are dominated by small or medium-sized organisations with only occasional vacancies, and may require ENVIRONMENT relevant expertise (perhaps gained through a relevant postgraduate qualification). It is important, therefore, From global energy companies to specialist that you take a proactive approach. Research firms that technology firms, regulatory bodies to think match your interests and connect with alumni working in tanks, national power generation companies relevant roles to learn more and build your network. to micro-generation schemes, conservation Build relevant experience to develop skills, showcase charities to mining corporations, carbon motivation and increase your knowledge of the sector consultancies to commodities traders: the range and issues affecting it through student societies, volunteering, attending talks and completing internships. of opportunities in this sector is immense. The Micro-Internship and Summer Internship Programmes often offer opportunities relevant to this Students consider a career in sustainability, energy or sector and are open to students of all year groups. the environment for a range of reasons. Many seek to make a positive impact and work for organisations Extra-curricular ideas whose values mirror their own. • Take an active role in relevant student organisations Environmental-awareness is not limited to careers such as the Nature Conservation Society, the Energy that are traditionally considered ‘green’. Existing Society, or Oxford SU’s Environment and Ethics businesses are changing – consider the development campaign. of electric cars, or moves to increase sustainability in • Stand for election for your college JCR committee, retail. Sustainability is an issue for all sectors, a new many colleges have an environment and ethics rep. breed of firms exploiting the drive for business to • Volunteer with charities such as the Oxford operate in a more sustainable way has emerged, but Conservation Volunteers, the British Trust for in-house opportunities also exist in large established Conservation Volunteers, or with sustainability organisations. This diversity means that well-defined charities that work with Oxford Hub. career paths in sustainability can be hard to find. Roles • See relevant sectors of this Guide for ideas to may have sustainability as the core focus, a main develop skills for roles in engineering, finance and responsibility or just a small aspect. marketing. If you are interested in a graduate scheme with a large energy company, see the Developing Getting in and entry points Core Skills’ advice for ideas on how to develop The diverse nature of this sector is reflected in the leadership and organisational skills for project wide range of possible entry points. Graduate schemes management. offered by large companies and multidisciplinary consultancies tend to recruit students from any

Industry and businesses are increasingly required and motivated to engage with their impact on the environment, and there is huge potential for innovation – so it’s an amazing time to be exploring roles in this “area.

Dr Alice Carrington-Windo, Policy More information Adviser (EU and Environment), www.careers.ox.ac.uk/energy Water UK www.careers.ox.ac.uk/environment

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Work experience is important, and it is worth bearing Dr Alice Carrington-Windo in mind that the Engineering Science course at Oxford Policy Adviser (EU and Environment), Water UK ENGINEERING DPhil Anthropology, Kellogg College, 2019 is unusual in not having a built-in period of six or twelve Engineering and skilled engineers make a months spent in industry. However, larger firms (many of What: Water UK is a membership organisation that Advice: There are significant contribution to UK productivity as well which will attend the Science, Engineering & Technology works with water companies to develop industry-wide numerous ways of as working towards mitigating the grand global Fair in Michaelmas term) often offer internships that policies and frameworks. My focus is on environmental policy, breaking into a career in challenges of climate change, food security, will fit into a long vacation. Smaller organisations are so my day-to-day work involves tackling issues such as plastic sustainability: through clean water and energy, artificial intelligence and often willing to offer work experience or internships pollution, carbon emissions, wastewater treatment and water policy, tech, business, robotics. – check on CareerConnect or contact particular firms “conservation. This involves close contact and co-ordination research and NGO work. speculatively to enquire. Internship opportunities are between water companies, government departments and Industry and businesses are usually advertised a little later than graduate jobs, with regulators, and NGOs. Work is fast-paced – every day brings increasingly required and motivated The engineering sector contributes 26% of GDP to the deadlines tending to fall from December to February. new priorities and I’m constantly learning. to engage with their impact on the UK economy which is more than the retail, wholesale, environment, and there is huge potential for innovation – so it’s financial and insurance sectors combined, with 5.7 Extra-curricular ideas Why: After submitting my PhD thesis, I took a few months an amazing time to be exploring roles in this area. If the water million people employed in the sector across over • Join Oxford’s Engineering Society, Biomedical to consider my options, having decided that I wanted to industry interests you, consider looking at water companies’ 600,000 engineering companies. The engineering sector Engineering Society or OxWEST (for women). explore fields outside academia. Job-searching, considering graduate schemes. in the UK is expected to grow to £608 billion by 2022. • Join UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and my values and ambitions, and numerous conversations with These companies are projected to have 265,000 Development of Space). my friends and family led me to the sustainability sector – Shifting focus: Start building a narrative that makes use of your annual job openings between now and 2024, and there • Volunteer with Engineers Without Borders during despite not having worked in this area before. I focussed existing skills (direct and transferable). Acknowledge gaps in your is currently a shortage of qualified engineers graduating your vacations to build your skills and take part in on finding a job within sustainability that utilised skills I had experience and find opportunities for development. Emphasise in the country. development projects. A branch has recently been developed during my PhD and in other areas of my professional the fact that you bring different perspectives to someone with The engineering sector includes a wide range started at the University. development. I was immediately drawn to the water sector sector-specific experience. Look beyond the obvious – use the of organisations. This includes vast, multinational • Take part in Oxford University Racing, run by the because of the close link between water quality/availability and Careers Service and CareerConnect, which I found to be a hugely corporations right down to small, independent Institution of Mechanical Engineers, to find the best environmental degradation, and because the water industry useful tool in exploring roles that I might not otherwise have engineering companies and start-ups; for example, race car. See [email protected] is strongly engaged with understanding and mitigating our thought of. Most importantly, be bold in the applications you 58% of engineers are in SMEs with fewer than 250 • Read, and write a guest post for Developing environmental impact. make – you never know who might take a chance on you. employees. Some of the biggest recruiters of Oxford Engineers, a blog written by young engineers. engineers are Arup, Atkins, Mott MacDonald, Rolls- • Share your passion for engineering with Royce, BAE Systems and Jaguar Land Rover. schoolchildren to also showcase your enthusiasm to future employers. There are a number of outreach Getting in and entry points programmes organised by professional bodies and the Tabitha Kennedy For technical engineering roles, a degree in engineering UK government, such as STEMNET. Environmental Consultant, Arup BA Geography, Hertford, 2016 (or sometimes a related subject, such as physics, • Join a professional engineering body as a young materials science or mathematics) is usually required, member – or represent students on their board. What: As an environmental consultant for an Advice: If you want to and the average graduate starting salary is around • Enter the Institution of Civil Engineers’ engineering firm, I work on projects to assess the pursue a career in the £30.5k. Non-engineering roles in these firms tend to Communications Competition. environmental constraints they face, assisting them in complying environmental sector, try offer similar starting salaries to their competitors in with environmental law and mitigating any environmental and get as many varied other corporate sectors. Roles are offered year-round, impacts. The work is incredibly varied – one day I could be work experience placements but many of the larger graduate schemes have deadlines “sitting in the office writing a chapter of an Environmental Impact as possible. Not only will closing each year around December/January. Assessment for an NSIP (Nationally Significant Infrastructure this be good exposure to the Project) or assessing the environmental constraints facing a small sector but will also make you stand scale water treatment works and the next out on site in the out as an interview candidate. My work More than 33% of UK electricity is wilds of Wales assisting ecologists with a dormouse survey or experience included writing a positive impact assessment report from renewable sources. Energy attending an external client meeting. on a wealth management agency’s positive impact portfolios consumption in the UK peaked in 2005 and and trying my hand at writing articles for both an environmental is now down to 1994 levels due to energy Why: I wanted to apply the knowledge I had acquired during magazine and a wind energy consultancy firm. efficiency. We need Oxford engineers to drive us my degree in a practical sense and continue to be challenged – “towards a sustainable future. doing a job that covers sectors including waste, water, Top tips: Remember interviews work both ways – you’re More information heritage and renewable energy means I am constantly having interviewing the prospective company as well as being www.careers.ox.ac.uk/engineering to write reports on things I’ve never learnt about before. I also interviewed. I built up a good rapport during my Arup interview Dr Mike Moss, Career Adviser, www.engineeringuk.com/news-media/ wanted a job in which I could have a positive environmental and knew the people I’d met would be great to work with but it The Careers Service, University of 2017-engineering-uk-the-state-of- impact and am therefore aiming for a specialism in renewable definitely wasn’t like that for all other interviews. Don’t be afraid Oxford engineering-published energy. to turn down a job offer if you don’t think it’s the right fit for you.

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Dr Lakshmi Manjoosha Adapa IT Consultant, Accenture MEng Engineering Science, Jesus College, 2008; DPhil Engineering Science, St Edmund Hall, 2012

What: Based in Amsterdam, I am working as an Advice: After completing IT consultant at Accenture as part of the service your PhD, don’t limit management team. We constantly design, deliver, manage yourself to academia and improve the way information technology is used within an or feel demotivated by organisation to ensure the right processes, people and technology the number of rejections. “are in place to help our clients. My job often involves conveying There will be very few complex technical concepts from the development team to clients’ opportunities related to your business process owners and act as a facilitator to design and doctorate but there are plenty of implement processes to improve and achieve client’s business goals. other career paths where the skills gained during your doctorate will be valued. Sometimes a little Why: After completing MEng and DPhil in Engineering Science, I change in career might open new doors, taking you to new started working as a water technology market analyst at BlueTech heights that you would have never imagined. Hence, grab the Research, a leading think tank in water research. I was responsible opportunity and seek advice from the Careers Service from an for researching, analyzing and formulating data into strategic reports early stage. to help the company’s clients to make informed decisions on water technology market opportunities. Having developed strong technical Top tips: Despite the challenging academic workloads, make time and analytical skills, I then decided to pursue a career in the IT for extracurricular activities because the skills you learn here industry to improve my techno-commercial skills, to gain exposure to will be invaluable and help you later with your job interviews. different industries and to understand how organisations work. This Recruiters appreciate the extra effort and time that goes in these was a career change for me, however, I really enjoy the varied type activities and enjoy listening to competency examples related to of roles that I have and the multi-disciplinary teams that I work with. outside academia.

Dr Markus Wulfmeier Research Scientist at DeepMind (Machine Learning and Robotics) DPhil Engineering Science, New College, 2017

What: Together with my colleagues at DeepMind, I When choosing an work to improve our understanding as well as ability to employer, I was motivated build intelligent systems. In particular, my work focuses on the by the possibility to create intersection of machine learning (ML) and robotics, which means a positive impact and the that not all of my work focuses on sitting in front of a computer. incredible team of colleagues “My average week focuses on: reading and writing publications; and friends at DeepMind. designing algorithms and programming; testing ideas in simulations and on real hardware; and many discussions with extremely smart Advice: Motivation is key for and talented colleagues – the most enjoyable part. many aspects of life and curiosity can be an excellent source thereof. Every model gets improved Why: I did not plan to move into fundamental research for all of my (or replaced) over time. Take some time to question the most undergraduate degree. However, I completed it – by pure luck – basic concepts in your field and follow the line of reasoning that We’re looking for people who see with a stint as visiting researcher at MIT. The type of responsibilities established them. There is a good chance that – depending on beauty in data—and the possibilities it of a project related to NASA’s MER missions and the type of creative your field – some of the core ideas will considerably change in reveals: Modelers who see connections work connected to it changed that in under six months. There are the next 5, 10 or 20 years. in unexpected places. Engineers who two main perspectives that make my field, the intersection of can harness technology to channel robotics and ML, particularly interesting in this context: Academia and industry: Academic and industrial research massive amounts of data into powerful 1. Robots acting in the physical world can greatly benefit from positions will always differ in some aspects and you should get tools. And people across multiple ML to handle the complexity of real-world data. informed about which perspectives suit you the most. However, disciplines to support it all. 2. The embodiment provided by robotics and the connected we’re living in an incredibly privileged time where the additional We are hiring for recent graduate @twosigma access to rich and complex data can strengthen current ML benefits (eg work stability) of industrial research in artificial and internship positions in London. models, which rely on breadth and richness of data. intelligence come with very similar work. Learn more at twosigma.com/careers Two Sigma

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Training Programme (STP). Workplace-based and salaried, HEALTH AND the scheme trains people to become specialists in various About us: TTP is an independent technology company where scientists and engineers collaborate to invent, design and develop new disciplines from microbiology to medical physics. Closing products and technologies. dates are normally early in Hilary term. Main location: Cambridge, UK. SOCIAL CARE Social workers can qualify via either an undergraduate Opportunities available: We are looking for scientists at graduate The UK health and social care sector employs over degree or a postgraduate qualification. Frontline’s and postgraduate levels to join us permanently in one of our consultant roles, as well as for students interested in internships. 3 million people, of whom over 1.7 million work graduate programme (www.thefrontline.org.uk) offers a Graduates sought: Physicists, Material Scientists, Biologists and Life for the National Health Service, and the rest for new route into children’s social work by providing a paid, Scientists. Our flat structure means you’ll start working on technical work-based course in which participants simultaneously projects straightaway, whilst having the freedom and support to public sector employers (such as local authorities), guide your own development; from technical exploration, to project the private sector or for voluntary organisations. complete a master’s in social work. Likewise, Think leadership or cultivating insights into business. Ahead (www.wethinkahead.org) have launched a similar Vacation work: We offer summer and year-long internships, typically course in adult mental health social work. hosting just under 20 students each year. Our projects involve everyone, so you’ll be given responsibility from day one: testing The actual array of roles in the sector is vast, ranging Students wishing to train as psychologists in the UK things that have never been done before, working on technologies from doctors and NHS managers, to social workers. The need first to obtain the Graduate Basis for Chartered and products we’re creating, or even making your own. All with the support of world-leading scientists and engineers, who will help you allied health professions alone include a huge range of Membership (GBC) from the British Psychology along the way. roles such as art/music/drama therapists, dietitians, Society (BPS). This may be done either through an Visa sponsorship: We are happy and able to sponsor Tier Two visas physiotherapists, radiographers, and speech and undergraduate degree in psychology or through a for successful applicants. language therapists. conversion course. Relevant work experience is then Application advice: Apply online at ttp.com/careers. Our graduate roles are open all-year long. Internship opportunities open in required before embarking on a doctorate in clinical September with applications considered on a rolling basis (places are Getting in and entry points psychology (currently funded by the NHS), or a typically filled by January). A significant number of Oxford graduates each year doctorate or qualification in counselling psychology study medicine as a second degree. Four-year, ‘fast (normally self-funded). track’ medical degrees for graduates are offered at The sector also has graduate management training www.ttp.com several UK universities, with some funding available. programmes, which are open to graduates of any degree Applications for these courses are made through subject. The NHS programme allows specialism in general UCAS and close in October, and entry requirements management, HR management, finance management vary: some only accept applicants with a degree in life and health informatics. Administrative roles are plentiful, sciences, some specify certain subjects at A level. Most and may be found alongside clinical roles at www.jobs. use admission tests as part of the application process. nhs.uk, or through many private sector websites. Alternatively, you could apply for a second, full degree in medicine through UCAS. These have much more limited Extra-curricular ideas Find out about funding and therefore tend to be less competitive. • Volunteer with local charities and community a variety of Many of the allied health professions can be entered organisations to help the vulnerable or disadvantaged. different career by undertaking a two-year postgraduate qualification. Use Pastoral experience is useful for all roles in the sector. options across the course finder on the NHS Health Careers website to You could initially do voluntary work on a hospital check entry requirements and available funding. A science ward, through student-run community groups, or the science, degree is normally required, with some exceptions. An through Oxfordshire volunteering organisations. engineering alternative option for scientists is the NHS Scientist • Get involved in Oxford SU Mind Your Head campaign and technology to promote mental health awareness. SCIENCE, ENGINEERING Become a Student Peer Supporter, a JCR Welfare Rep, sectors. • In looking for other clinical or volunteer for Nightline. & TECHNOLOGY applications of psychology I came • Arrange some work-shadowing in a hospital or across the Improving Access to Psychological health centre if you are thinking about graduate Virtual FAIR Therapies (IAPT) programme and immediately entry medicine, or apply to our Insight into Medicine realised I had found a viable alternative career programme. “path. Active listening is a real skill and it can MONDAY 19 OCTOBER 2020 be harder than you realise to sit with another More information person’s distress. Volunteering for a mental EXHIBITORS FROM 12:00-18:00 www.careers.ox.ac.uk/medicine-as-a-second- health or social support charity can be a great degree way to get experience. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/psychology www.careers.ox.ac.uk/public-health Bethany Doran, Trainee, IAPT www.careers.ox.ac.uk/social-care www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-fairs/

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or two years’ work experience. Generally, the precise Freya Turner master’s course title doesn’t matter, but it can be Link Worker (Social Prescribing) for a Primary Care Network INTERNATIONAL MSc Comparative Social Policy, Green Templeton College, 2017 important to highlight the most relevant modules taken POLICY AND and to illustrate that you have very good knowledge What: Social prescribing is a new movement within ‘social’ determinants of of the subject, research techniques, technical skills, the NHS to give patients access to more holistic ‘social’ health. It’s a great feeling geographical regions, and relevant languages. More support through their GP practice. My role involves having when you have gotten DEVELOPMENT research-driven organisations (such as the OECD) and coaching conversations with patients to elicit their motivations to know a patient over many think tanks may require that you have undertaken and concerns, and help put a plan in place to link them with a few months and can Working in this sector involves developing policy further study to the level of a doctorate, as well as “local services and community groups who can help them solve watch them develop the coupled with practical implementation, that having several years of professional experience. problems and reach their goals. These could be related to confidence to try new things. empowers people across the globe to improve You can spend time at Oxford building up insights housing, finances, social networks or healthy lifestyles. I am considering training as a their lives. into the sector and its range of organisations – both psychotherapist in the future, and this to increase your chances of securing a job and to help Why: My previous role was in social research but I felt I wanted job offers great experience of working one-to-one with people you work out which areas and employers are for you. to experience a more frontline role while still working on the without needing a specific formal qualification. Practice areas are diverse, encompassing, governance, Most think tanks are open to students undertaking healthcare, education, gender, disaster preparedness, short internships with them. These are not always paid, Advice: I had not worked in a frontline role before, so I was infrastructure, economics, livelihoods, human rights and so you may need to try to set up shorter traineeships I had not worked in a frontline role before, so nervous about whether I had enough experience. In my interview other associated issues. that you can combine with other paid work. The EU I was nervous about whether I had enough I talked about my volunteer work for a rape crisis helpline, which You could be working in a think tank that seeks offers longer five-month paid traineeships to recent experience. In my interview I talked about my gave me lots of useful examples to work with. Volunteering really to address issues of global concern, in your country’s graduates. Internship schemes with larger international volunteer work for a rape crisis helpline, which pays off if you are finding it hard to get paid work in a new field. foreign service to formulate and implement international organisations are normally reserved for postgraduate gave me lots of useful examples to work with. My role can be quite emotionally demanding as patients often policy; in the civil service of a regional organisation students. Masters’ or DPhil students may also be able to bring very complex problems into our sessions, so my top tip such as the EU; as a researcher in a political risk or find paid part-time consultancy work with international Volunteering really pays off if you are finding it would be to make good use of supervision time, and step up your international development consultancy; or in an development, or political risk consultancies or and think hard to get paid work in a new field. own self-care outside of work to make sure you stay resilient. international organisation (IO) such as the UN or World tanks – especially those students with, sector specific Bank. Alternatively, you could work for a global charity knowledge, expertise and language skills. (see the charity sector briefing for relevant advice). As You can enhance your ‘insider’ knowledge of this is a popular sector with moral appeal, competition the sector and hear of upcoming opportunities by for employment can be intense, but it offers rewarding following our networking advice. Talk to speakers and Sachin De Stone careers for those who persevere. employers at careers events and seminars, and network Graduate Entry Medicine, Warwick Medical School, 2020 BA Mathematics and Philosophy, St Peter’s, 2013 through the My Oxford Network, LinkedIn, or college Getting in and entry points development offices. Why: I graduated from Oxford thinking I would like to Entry straight from an undergraduate degree can be go into international development policy. When running Opportunities: Since difficult, as most organisations value some kind of Extra-curricular ideas a randomised-control trial with Oxford and the WHO in South starting medicine I have relevant ‘field’ or transferable experience – whether in Spend as much time as you can gaining international Africa, I was working with lots of doctors and first saw what the competed in pre-hospital the private, public, or charitable sector, however, there experience and knowledge. Spend a summer on the job could be like. Policy-making was fascinating and impactful but medicine competitions, are some graduate schemes available, such as the UK’s Careers Service’s Summer Internship Programme “nothing can replace patient interaction and the complexities of founded and taught a Diplomatic Service Fast Stream. working on a development project, building your applying policy and guidelines to individual patient cases. teaching group for non-science- Direct recruitment into a permanent role is also language skills and getting to know a region. Also: background medical students. I have possible into NGOs and think tanks, but most require • Write relevant articles for student newspapers, How: I was not at all sure that someone without a science taken medicine up mountains, out on the at least a master’s qualification, and sometimes one journals or blogs, to demonstrate that you can use background could even study medicine. But as I investigated, it ocean with lifeguards, across the continent to work with Syrian research to inform and influence opinion. became clear that a few places did offer such an opportunity. I refugees in northern Lebanon, to young offenders’ institutions • Take a course at the Oxford University Language studied for chemistry AS level at 5.00 am before work in South to teach first aid, and to numerous conferences across the A thesis project or one or two longer Centre, to develop or improve a second language. Africa, and then flew home to take my UKCAT test. I worked for a country. Medicine opens so many doors that lead to exciting internships are a great way to set foot • Join university societies related to development. year as a health economist in the UK so I could be in the country places and opportunities and this is one of the best reasons into the sector and show how you can add to get more work experience in the NHS. for doing it. value to an organisation. Top skills required are: empathy; curiosity; creativity; flexibility; More information Advice: UKCAT and other entrance tests are important hurdles www.careers.ox.ac.uk/international- “frustration; tolerance; and humility. I was not at all sure that someone without a but do not make for a successful applicant – having experience development science background could even study medicine. that you can reflect on and discuss in interviews is the most www.careers.ox.ac.uk/international-law Medicine opens so many doors that lead to important aspect of the application. This is not restricted to Janita Bartell, Hygiene Specialist, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/international- exciting places and opportunities. hospital experience but any type of patient interaction or UNICEF organisations healthcare provision.

110 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 111 INTERNATIONAL POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT SECTOR BRIEFINGS SECTOR BRIEFINGS

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have Janita Bartell announced plans for substantial changes to the steps to Hygiene Specialist, UNICEF LAW MSc Sociology, St Hugh’s College, 2014 becoming qualified as a solicitor. In the new system you Intellectual challenge, a constantly changing will need to: What: I started this position at UNICEF headquarters Career path: After finishing environment and the opportunity to effect change • Hold a degree (or equivalent) – law or non-law. in December 2019 to support the organisation to high school I started off are just some of the characteristics of the roles • Pass two sets of centralised exams – the Solicitors bring hygiene back on the global agenda for humanitarian with volunteering in a available within the UK legal sector. Opportunities Qualifying Exam (SQE) 1 and 2. interventions and development. This includes rethinking what remote mountainous village are many and varied; you could be supporting a • Complete 24 months of qualifying work experience. we mean with ‘hygiene’ (in the past the field has often been in Tanzania for one year. vulnerable child, advising a government minister The earliest introduction date for this is autumn reduced to promoting handwashing with soap and a few During my undergraduate 2021 with a substantial period of transition to give “ or managing a newsworthy commercial deal. other hygiene behaviors) and how in the future UNICEF can degree I studied one year in Peru those who have already embarked on law degrees, contribute to better hygiene conditions and behaviors around and after graduation went back to GDLs, LPCs and training contracts the chance to the world. work there for another year. After finishing Solicitors complete their training under the old system. Employers, Then COVID-19 hit. All of a sudden the work of the coming my MSc in Oxford, I worked for three and a half years in Cambodia legal education providers and others are still planning three years was fast-tracked and under intense scrutiny. Today, for a local NGO. I toured the world and different types of The majority (65%) of the UK’s 143,000 practising how to integrate these future changes into their I support country offices with guidance on how to include organisations to get a good grasp of what the field of international solicitors work in private practice law firms, which are academic, recruitment and training programmes. You handwashing in their response plan; shape global initiatives development is all about, had a look into different thematic areas. owned and managed by the partners. These firms vary are advised to keep up-to-date with developments for hygiene; contribute to a decent level of coordination and enormously in size and specialisation. There tends to and how they might affect you by visiting the Solicitors alignment internally and with external partners; help with the Top tips: First, live abroad. Anything under six months does not be a division between firms that serve the needs of Regulation Authority website. knowledge management; feed COVID-19-hygiene-related count. The earlier you get started in life, the easier it is. Second, commerce (such as corporate matters and commercial content into UNICEF’s external communication; and sit in be hands on. Work and live with local communities. This might litigation) and those that deal with clients with personal countless meetings. not render you a fancy job title or a brand name on your CV, legal dilemmas (such as family issues or criminal Barristers but helps you develop an understanding of and empathy for the matters). The remaining solicitors work outside private Why: Is there anything more meaningful, interesting and communities you are trying to serve. Ultimately, this will make practice partnerships, and their number is growing. After There are approximately 13,400 barristers at the intellectually challenging than trying to understand why in a you a better professional. Local charities are the best place gaining their qualification, and often after building some independent (or self-employed) Bar, practising in 400 world of abundance so many people struggle to make ends for that. The UN is not – as they are usually one or two steps experience, many solicitors move away from private sets of chambers across England and Wales. A further meet? If so, contact me and I might rethink my career. removed from the ‘action on the ground’. practice into a variety of governmental, business or not- 3,000 work in an employed capacity for numerous for-profit organisations as in-house lawyers or advisers, organisations, including the Government Legal both within the UK and internationally. Department and the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as in commerce and industry. Getting in and entry points There is much discussion in the legal press about Priyanka Raj Currently there are three steps required to achieve the future of the independent Bar, stemming from the Programme Officer, Pamela Steele Associates (PSA) Ltd MSc in Comparative Social Policy, Green Templeton College, 2017 the professional qualification needed to practise as a increasing pressures on public funding and its allocation, solicitor. the increase in solicitors’ rights of audience, and What: I work to ensure that there is availability of Advice: The sector is looking • The academic stage, which is satisfied by completing government reforms in the way that legal services will medicines to patients in Africa. I provide solutions for innovative and creative a Qualifying Law Degree (ie the BA in Jurisprudence) be provided. However, barristers continue to provide to organisations, generally national or state-level government people with relevant or, for non-law students, the Graduate Diploma in essential and effective services, often attracting headline agencies, in the healthcare sector in Africa to enhance their experience and skills. To Law (GDL) or the Senior Status Law Degree. cases from both the UK and beyond. Barristers practise supply-chain efficiency. The job requires me to combine technical gain experience, internships • The vocational stage, which is completed through the in a wide variety of legal areas – some well known, such “project management and consultancy skills with knowledge of are useful entry-points. I had Legal Practice Course (LPC); required for both law as family, criminal and property, and others less so, such health policy, a topic I studied during my master’s. a five-day Micro-Internship with and non-law graduates. as intellectual property and international border disputes. Working in a small and medium enterprise (SME) challenges PSA through the Oxford University’s • The practical stage, a ‘period of recognised training’ There can be considerable differences in the nature me to wear many hats. This sector will often take you out of your Careers Service in the winter break, and I usually known as the training contract. and lifestyle of a barrister’s work, and some almost comfort zone, especially when you work to solve complex world converted that to a job after I finished my master’s. There are approximately 5,000 training contracts never appear in court. Family or criminal barristers may issues like public health crisis, disaster response, poverty, etc. Hence, It is valuable to have any kind of work experience in available each year, and well over 90% of them lie within appear in court most days, whilst barristers specialising the career trajectory is fast in SMEs in this sector – I started working developing countries. If you want to work in the UK and are the private practice sector. The remaining positions in commercial work may spend the majority of their time by assisting teams in collating their reports, and today I work to an international student, then look for UK or international are to be found in the Government Legal Department, drafting pleadings and opinions. However, advocacy ensure that there is high agility and quality in health agencies in Africa. experience to supplement your experience in developing nations local government, legal departments in industry and the remains a vital skill for the barrister, and it is one of the as an entry point. This will also help you in getting work visa Crown Prosecution Service. Short periods of paid work most distinctive elements of this role. Why: The impact of my work is direct and visible. I would love to sponsorship. If you don’t find advertisements, then directly experience, known as vacation schemes, are available see a better world and I am passionate to use my skills to solve inquire at the company for internships or work shadowing at law firms during the Christmas, Easter and Summer Getting in and entry points real-world problems for the upliftment of people. The impact on placements. This sector looks for long-term commitment and holidays, as well as opportunities to attend ‘Open Days’. The Bar Standards Board (BSB) have also completed a the people and governments of Africa makes me want to come it is advisable to have a coherent profile with a demonstrated These are an ideal way to check if this is the right career full review of education and training. This has resulted in to the office every day. There is much good to do in the world. commitment to a cause. for you. some changes to the qualification elements which are

112 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 113 LAW SECTOR BRIEFINGS LAW SECTOR BRIEFINGS designed to improve access, flexibility and affordability. responsible for ensuring that an organisation complies Martin Dickson There are three components involved in qualification: with standard financial and legal practice, so must have Associate Solicitor, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer • The academic component. You must have a degree a thorough understanding of the laws that affect their BA Jurisprudence, St Catherine’s College, 2015 and, if this is not in law, you need to take a law work. A common route to this is through several years conversion course (eg the Graduate Diploma in of business administration experience with the option of What: After training to be a solicitor in Freshfields’ You’ll be able to do that Law), which covers the seven foundations of legal taking the professional exams offered by the Institute of London and Washington, DC offices, I qualified as an by meeting the firms, knowledge. The BSB will cease to regulate the Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. associate in the firm’s antitrust, competition and trade team asking questions and specific type of law degree required for professional If working with individuals or causes is more suited in September 2018, based in London. My practice covers all attending open days. practice, which will allow more freedom of choice of to you, there are options working as campaigners, policy sectors, but my current focus is advising tech and consumer Then you can feed all of course as long as the key subjects are studied. writers or case workers within the third sector, NGOs “goods companies on the ever-changing regulatory landscape of that accumulated knowledge • The vocational component. This is to provide you with and government organisations working in areas such as the digital economy. into your application so that the specialist knowledge required for practice at the immigration, housing, and many other social welfare and it is evidently tailored to them Bar. Previously known as the Bar Professional Training human rights related areas. Perhaps life in academia has Why: You would be forgiven for considering it a bit of a cliché to (and you). Course (BPTC) there is now a greater choice of ‘Bar’ caught your attention? If it has, there will be options go from studying law at Oxford to the ‘Magic Circle’ – however A similar thing can be said for extra-curricular activities. courses; some are available at significantly lower cost for you, with the addition of further study, to work in outdated that cliché may be nowadays given the range of firms Your application will be more impressive if you can demonstrate than before. Prior to getting on the course you must teaching and research within higher education or other and careers that my law peers at St Catz have gone on to pursue. measurable achievements in a few societies, committees or have passed the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) and legal education providers or research institutes. While I came to Oxford to study law, however, I continued to dip sports than if you describe all of the activities you may be joined one of the four Inns of Court. On passing your These are just some of the possible options. There my toe into economics and, through my Oxford studies and later involved with in insignificant detail. Bar course you are ‘called to the Bar’ and are able to are many others, such as legal clerks, paralegals, legal working as a research assistant in the Centre for Competition In addition, it is always worth using the Careers Service when use the title of ‘barrister’ but you may not practise as executives, legal publishers, trade-mark attorneys, Law and Policy, I found that competition law was the area where you’re in the final stages of drafting your applications to get one until you have completed the final component. notaries, licensed conveyancers, lawyer-linguists and more. I could satisfy both interests. My firm is consistently ranked top another perspective and make sure you are landing your points • Pupillage/work-based component. This is your period globally for competition law, so it was the place best suited for strongly. of recognised training where you are supervised by Extra-curricular ideas me to start my legal career. Sometimes the path most travelled is Finally, don’t forget about the importance of demonstrating a qualified barrister. The majority of pupillages are • Join relevant student societies, such as the Oxford still the best path to follow. commercial awareness when it comes to interviews. Following undertaken with chambers and are divided into two Law Society, the Bar Society or Oxford Lawyers a few business stories across a range of news sources can help parts (‘sixes’): the non-practising six months, during Without Borders, which run skills sessions, dinners Advice: It is worth investing your time in really getting to you to develop a natural commercial ‘fluency’, allowing you to which pupils shadow a supervisor, followed by six and other social events with law firms and chambers. know around between four and eight firms, and focusing your comfortably speak knowledgeably about a topic at interview and months of practice when pupils undertake advocacy • Get involved with mooting competitions or join a time on making your applications to those firms stand out. show an awareness of different perspectives. and other legal services. debating society. After this final stage of pupillage, a barrister can • Join the Oxford Law Faculty’s careers mailing list to either apply for a permanent position as a tenant within hear about events, mooting competitions and work chambers, or seek a role at the ‘Employed Bar’ (such as experience. Law and non-law students can sign up. the Crown Prosecution Service or CPS) or elsewhere. Volunteer for a not-for-profit organisation to help Amy Rickwood • Law Student/Future Trainee Solicitor At every stage of qualification, competition for places is individuals, such as Citizens Advice or Asylum Welcome. BA Jurisprudence, New College, 2019 intense. Approximately one in five students who apply for • If you are a law student, consider the Bonavero one of the Bar training courses will successfully complete Institute Student Fellowships to contribute to a variety What: I graduated from New College last year and Advice: Don’t worry about through to pupillage. Careful assessment of your skills, of legal organisations or engage with the Pro Bono am currently studying an LLM (Master of Law) in securing a training contract motivations and academic credentials, combined with Publico programme – both run by the Law Faculty. Commercial Law. I begin the LPC (Legal Practice Course) next in your second year. Think detailed research on the role will help you to decide • Prove your commercial awareness. All law firms are year and will start a training contract in Manchester in 2021. carefully about where you whether this is the right option for you. Many chambers businesses and most have businesses as clients. Get want to work and what firm offer a few days of work shadowing in the form of a involved in one of the Careers Service employability “Career path: I decided quite early on that I wanted to pursue you want to work for. London mini-pupillage, which can be extremely valuable. programmes such as The Oxford Strategy Challenge a career in commercial law due to my interest in private law is a great city but there are (TOSCA), or Insight into Strategy and Management, topics. In my second year, I applied to around 20 London firms amazing opportunities in the regions or find another way, such as an internship to prove as I thought this was what everyone was doing and I received a as well. While salaries may be less, the cost Other options in law your commercial skills. mass of rejections. This was disheartening but the silver lining of living is also substantially lower so it is swings and roundabouts. was that it gave me a chance to properly think about where I Applying to a handful of firms and specially tailoring Approximately 50% of Oxford law students decide wanted to work. This was when I started to look at Manchester applications is better than applying a scattergun approach. not to go on to take the professional qualifications to More information firms as I love the city and the smaller intake of regional firms It can be tempting to copy and paste similar questions but become a solicitor or a barrister, but are still keen to www.careers.ox.ac.uk/barristers means trainees get more hands-on work. In my final year, I demonstrating you understand the firm’s culture can help make utilise their degree and do so through different sorts www.careers.ox.ac.uk/solicitors chose a handful to apply to and tailored my applications more your application stand out. Each application took me around a of legally related work that is available in all kinds www.careers.ox.ac.uk/international-law specifically, with help from the Careers Service. This time around, day and a half but the time is worth it, as there is a career at the of organisations. If, for example, you are interested www.careers.ox.ac.uk/human-rights-public- I got past the application stage on four out of six and received end. Utilise the Careers Service. Even if it is just to check your in compliance or corporate governance, one option interest-law two offers, allowing me to choose a firm that I really wanted to applications, it is really important to make use of the resources is to become a company secretary. Secretaries are work for. available to you.

114 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 115 LAW SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Joel Semakula Join the Pupil Barrister at Landmark Chambers Law with Senior Status, Mansfield College, 2016 Global What: I am currently in my public law seat at Landmark Top tips: Resilience and Chambers. My two prior seats were in planning and scholarships will help you Game-Changers property law. However, my route to the Bar has not been linear. succeed at the Bar. Undergraduate and graduate careers in Law I came to Mansfield for my second degree having left a previous • Resilience: If you career as an investment banker. want to be a barrister, £46K starting salary 48 global offices “While at Mansfield – as with most Oxford students – my you have to be able to focus was on my academics. That said, I found time to moot, join pick yourself up after the 2600 lawyers worldwide 34 FTSE 100 clients

the Oxford Bar Society and take advantage of the networking setbacks. It took me 3 years, 45 70 vacation schemes up to 50 training contracts opportunities organised by the Careers Service. Oxford was also applications, 30 first-round interviews, where I started as an improv comedian, which I have now been 18 final-round interviews, 7 reserves and 41 rejections to Solve some of the toughest legal problems around doing for five years. secure pupillage. That was on top of a rejection in 2012 for the world. Work on headline-grabbing projects the Law with Senior Status course and a rejection during my across industries, borders and time zones. Help Life after Oxford: Immediately after Oxford, I completed the first attempt at an Inn scholarship. prestigious clients become ever more innovative. BPTC and was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in September 2017 • Funding: I know first-hand that the route to the Bar can be That’s what it means to be a global game-changer. by Lady Hale. As a BPTC student, I continued to develop my an expensive one. I was fortunate enough to secure multiple And it’s a challenge our teams rise to every day. advocacy skills through mooting and pro bono work. Following this, scholarships from the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Programme Question is, are you ready to do the same? I was a judicial assistant to Gloster LJ in the Court of Appeal. This and Gray’s Inn (including a residential housing scholarship), experience was instrumental in my securing pupillage that year. without which I never would have been able to keep going.

In the following ‘gap year’, I was a legal intern with Shell • Luck: Securing pupillage is so competitive that even the most Find out more at International’s global litigation team. This role equipped me qualified candidates can find it challenging to secure an offer. hoganlovells.com/graduates with an understanding of how litigation is conducted from the Do not take the rejections personally; there is an element of perspective of a large lay commercial client. luck in this whole process.

HGL-421595-164x125-Oxford-Careers-Guide-2020.indd 1 28/07/2020 18:09

Where firms find you. Shanice Mahil The Oxford Guild Careers in Law Trainee Solicitor, Government Legal Department World's Largest University Society BA Jurisprudence (Law with Law Studies in Europe), Wadham College, 2016 Vantage is an online portal that connects www.theoxfordguild.com you with top law firms. Why: I really enjoyed my law degree, and particularly further education and The multi-award winning Careers in Law Arm @ The Oxford Guild Business Society, est. 1897 is the largest society in Oxford, Europe and loved constitutional and administrative law. A training apprenticeship opportunities the world as of 2015 according to The Times, Forbes, Milkround and contract with the Government Legal Department therefore for young people and, of BBC. Our unrivalled track record speaks for itself.

seemed like the perfect fit, and I was eager to experience the course, Brexit. 100% FREE TO JOIN, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS, 120+ intersection of law, politics and government policy. It is also worth EVENTS ANNUALLY, 60+ SPONSORS. “ mentioning the work/life We worry about your career so you don't have to! What: I’m now coming towards the end of my training contract, balance that is commonplace BIGGEST SPEAKERS, EVENTS, BALLS, SOCIALS, TRIPS & and have been in both litigation and advisory seats. It was here – working late into the night is CONFERENCES. amazing to be given responsibility for managing my own caseload unheard of (and discouraged). We are widely recognised for being the most established, dynamic, in litigation, and being trusted with independently drafting active and professional society on campus for students looking to apply for internships/jobs and are renowned for our experience. We have documents and liaising with counsel (barristers) and clients. I Top tips: I recommend practising as much as possible for the demonstrated consistent success in providing effective recruitment and was also able to work on very high-profile litigation (such as the online tests – there are plenty of verbal and critical reasoning brand awareness opportunities and services for organisations we work with. We help a huge range of firms from Magic and Silver Circle to recent Heathrow third runway litigation) and attend numerous tests online. The interview for the trainee scheme is designed to US, local and more increase the quality, diversity and quantity of their Unlike any other law careers platform, Vantage allows hearings in the High Court and Court of Appeal. assess the skills and behaviours required for the role, so I would applicants. firms to find specific students based on different criteria such as subject of study, year of graduation In my advisory seats, I have provided advice to clients and recommend thinking about your strengths in these areas and We are the founders of the CollegiumGlobalNetwork which has 40+ ministers on a range of policies and have been involved in drafting examples of how you have demonstrated these. Your examples universities globally involved so far including our Cambridge Guild etc. or area of interest. When a firm contacts you through Vantage, you know that they’re genuinely interested EU exit legislation. This has involved getting to grips with the don’t have to be based on legal work experience – I drew on non- With world class speakers (including major CEOs to Nobel Prize in engaging with you. policies and objectives of two completely different departments legal work experience, as well as the volunteering that I’d done at Winners, world leaders, top actors, musicians etc. from KanyeWest to Malala), and initiatives including our startup accelerator, investment as well as a range of different areas of law such as EU law, contract university (such as access work and tutoring). In line with that, I’d fund, consultancy, app and intranet platform, become part of Sign up to hear directly from firms at: law and human rights. It has also been great being able to work say that life at Oxford is obviously very busy, but getting involved something special at www.theoxfordguild.com! on matters that are of such public significance, such as increasing in societies and voluntary work is incredibly worthwhile. vantageapp.io

116 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 117 Virtual THE OXFORD LAW FAIR STRATEGY

WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER 2020 EXHIBITORS FROM 12:00-18:00 CHALLENGE Get real-world client work experience on our hackathon-inspired consultancy challenge open to all current students, from 1st years to THE FAIR FOR THE LAW SECTOR DPhils and researchers.

Meet representatives from Barristers’ Chambers, and Solicitors’ Practices, and a variety of other organisations. Find out more: www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-fairs www.careers.ox.ac.uk/osc SECTOR BRIEFINGS MEDIA AND JOURNALISM SECTOR BRIEFINGS

directly. See our advice on networking and speculative approaches, and take steps to develop and cultivate your Emily Everdee MEDIA AND Independent Film and Video Producer – emilyeverdee.com contacts – some great opportunities can arise this way. BA French, St Hilda’s College 2015 JOURNALISM As well as making speculative enquiries to build up experience, it is worth knowing about the other ways What: I’m a film producer, and work freelance in film financing and loads Significant numbers of Oxford graduates into the industry: production across fiction shorts, TV drama and music more. Over the last six find ways into this sector every year – • Look for advertised runner/researcher roles: free videos, while developing a slate of independent feature film and months, since graduation, entering journalism, TV, radio, film and media sites include The Unit List, Talent Manager. short film projects under my banner Everdee Media. I’ve been working freelance management. • Explore media graduate training schemes, such as the I graduated from the National Film and Television School across a variety of projects BBC and Channel 4’s Graduate Programme, as well “(NFTS) in early 2019 with an MA in Producing Film & Television, as lead producer. as occasional schemes with independent television during which time I held scholarships from BAFTA and Warner Now, I’ve just stepped into a Journalists, broadcasters and directors form the public companies. Bros. Creative Talent. role on a big TV drama for HBO and face of the sector, but there are many other roles. There are also postgraduate courses which include Sky as a production runner, where I’ll learn Researcher roles are relatively common entry points substantial work experience, including master’s First steps: My first opportunity was a paid summer internship as how to apply my production skills to larger-scale productions. for Oxford graduates: these involve fact checking programmes, the NCTJ for journalism or the NFTS a production assistant with ITN Productions, after I emailed them WHY: I used to worry I’d never find a career that satisfied the content and finding people to appear in programmes. for people with some film and television experience. looking for experience before my last year at Oxford. I then began two sides of my brain: the creative part (I was into music and A large proportion of people employed in the sector It is important to do research and weigh the costs producing student films with the Oxford University Film Foundation film) and the organisational urge to ‘be on top of everything’. I are freelancers, with many more employed on short- and benefits for individual situations: some people during my final year of studying French at St. Hilda’s College – then discovered that producing requires the perfect balancing of term contracts, and so flexibility and a willingness to be recommend them as a way to gain contacts and I was hooked. Producing is a complex role, but I threw myself in, the two – applying the instincts of a manager or business person proactive are definite assets. The impact of digital media experience, but others do not consider them as asked loads of questions, and improved with each project. to an artistic medium. is redefining both journalism and broadcast content, and necessary. having an awareness of multimedia platforms and tools After Oxford: The year after graduation, I worked as a Top tips: Start now, work hard, and always be nice! Talk to is now crucial for graduates seeking to enter this sector. Extra-curricular ideas Communications Officer through the week, while producing shorts those in positions of knowledge, try out a range of roles, and Many are attracted to the sector for its ‘creative’ Plan ahead to get an edge on the competition after on evenings and weekends. Later that year, I applied for the NFTS if you can’t find film projects, create them yourself. Chat to element, but there is increasing demand for graduates graduation by accumulating experience whilst at Oxford. and, after a challenging application process, was offered a place. the president of the OUFF and attend their workshops. Finally, in the management side – such as in IT, sales, licensing, • For graduate careers in journalism, candidates It was an incredible, in-depth course that trained in all aspects of although the film industry can seem difficult to tap into, tenacity, marketing, legal, financial, business development and will need to build a portfolio of samples of your producing from script development, physical production, feature honesty and confidence go a long way. consultancy. published writing, and a good record of relevant work experience. Getting in and entry points • Take every opportunity to contribute to student Experience, including work experience, is mandatory, but media: student newspapers, Oxide Radio etc. Write; there are lots of opportunities to gain experience whilst get editorial experience; take and select pictures; do Yörük Bahçeli Financial Reporter, Reuters you are at Oxford through societies and local media. layout work. MPhil in Comparative Government, Balliol College, 2016 Most people need to start in a basic entry level position, • Write a blog and/or produce video or comment often as an intern or (in the broadcast media) a ‘runner’ pieces for other websites on topics of interest. Build a Why: I developed an interest in journalism as a was often me and just one for example in a TV or film company. For industry website/blog to showcase your portfolio. teenager, seeking a role where I could contribute to other reporter covering the insights, see www.screenskills.com. • Become active on social media: develop essential public debate, which I saw as a key means to achieving social whole of the Netherlands, Also, it is important to establish and cultivate skills and build your network. justice. Today, I feel that I made the right choice for two reasons: which was very exciting professional contacts because those interested in this • Join relevant student societies, such as the Oxford firstly, I see journalism as an essential public service to provide for a first big gig! After sector will often need to find (or create) their own Filmmaking Foundation or Drama Society. “information to decision-makers as well as the general public. my studies, I worked as a openings by contacting individuals and organisations • Shoot your own documentary, direct, produce, act, Secondly, I have always been curious by nature and feel that freelance journalist in Amsterdam etc in a stage play. journalism is the one field where your job description requires you covering politics and social issues for • Create advertising copy/film to promote a project. to stay a learner forever on the widest spectrum of subjects. just under a year before my current position. I used to worry I’d never find a career • Offer work and assistance to different kinds of media that satisfied the two sides of my brain, outlets: free, national, specialist. You are almost What: I am currently a financial reporter, covering corporate Advice: Be proactive: it really isn’t a cliché that most jobs are [...] I discovered producing requires the perfect certainly an expert in something, so find a magazine bonds at Thomson Reuters for wire services and a trade magazine not advertised; none of my internships or graduate roles were a balancing of the two – applying the instincts for people with similar interests. in several formats. I write breaking news, a daily briefing and result of formal applications. of a manager or business person to an ‘artistic long-form stories. Our coverage relies entirely on building and Don’t shy away from meeting people and telling them about maintaining relationships with market players, so a proactive your passion and how you can contribute to their work. If you “medium.’ More information approach, quick thinking and a drive to ask critical questions, is key. do apply for an advertised role, don’t hesitate to contact your www.careers.ox.ac.uk/journalism During my studies at Oxford, I was a summer intern with the would-be manager, to find out what exactly it is they are looking Emily Everdee, independent film www.careers.ox.ac.uk/music-radio news agency’s Amsterdam bureau, covering everything from the for; job descriptions rarely scratch below the surface. Remember: & video producer www.careers.ox.ac.uk/tv-film Dutch macroeconomy to the European refugee crisis. Working in most people enjoy answering questions about themselves. Also, a three-reporter bureau during the holiday season meant that it editors are looking for people who don’t shy away!

120 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 121 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

will be advertised on the Civil Service website as they NATIONAL POLICY arise. Other routes in include temping and short-term project roles. Internships are not generally offered, apart from AND GOVERNMENT the Summer Diversity Internship Programme (deadline Working in national policy and government offers in October) and Early Diversity Internship Programme. variety, new challenges, and opportunities to do Some specialist programmes also advertise internships something that has a big impact on the public. from January to March eg, Government Economic This page concentrates on the sector in the UK, Service, Communications, and Operational Research. however, much of the advice can be extended to In local councils, the Local Government Association careers across the world. runs a two-year graduate scheme: The National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP). This programme aims to provide local government with high A career in this sector appeals to those interested calibre managers, training graduates through a series of in making a social or legislative impact in your home placements within councils. Options include policy and country – working for a political party or think tank or strategy posts, customer-facing roles, and finance and becoming a civil servant at local or national level. operational positions. Since 2002, over 800 graduates OXFORD There are currently almost half a million people in have completed the programme, and many now hold rtual the UK Civil Service, working in 250+ departments, influential managerial and policy roles. Direct entry Vi services, graduates. Local government is an even bigger positions can be found on council websites. employer in the UK, with 1.2 million staff in over 350 The website www.w4MP.org is the primary jobs local authorities. board for positions working with MPs, political parties UNIVERSITY Civil servants are officially apolitical, informing and campaigning organisations. Internships may well and implementing policies of elected representatives. be offered (and are worth a speculative application), Graduates may also work for elected representatives though they tend to be London-based and unpaid. directly as advisers, researchers and assistants, which can be an effective way of entering politics. You could Extra-curricular ideas even stand for election as a councillor or MP. • Stand for your JCR/MCR committee or the Oxford SU CAREERS FAIR Think tanks are more concerned with policy than executive – or get involved in Oxford SU’s campaigns. politics, but are sometimes aligned with a particular • Enter debate competitions in societies or the Oxford position on the political spectrum. They seek to influence Union to sharpen your communication skills. public policy and debate through the media, and through • Get involved with your local political party or student direct contact with politicians and organisations. For society branches and politics-related student TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2020 more about think tanks see the ‘International Policy and societies. Development’ section in this Guide. • Join The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA): Oxford City Council is a frequent client. EXHIBITORS FROM 12:00-18:00 Getting in and entry points • Get involved with student societies and volunteering The Civil Service primarily recruits graduates through through OxHub. its ‘Fast Streams’ – there are 15 ‘streams’ ranging from Generalist, Diplomatic Service, Houses of Parliament, Science and Engineering, to Government Communication Services and Government Economic Service. The deadline for the Fast Stream falls in early Michaelmas term. THE FAIR FOR ALL SECTORS Fast Streamers usually gain experience in more than one government department and in more than one part of the UK and have opportunities for secondment into the private sector, charities, and other public sector Meet more than and find out organisations. 50 recruiters Some departments and agencies have separate about a variety of career options across a wide recruitment schemes, including the Economic Service, More information Government Legal Profession, HM Treasury, the FCA, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/government range of employment sectors. ONS, the Security Services and GCHQ. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/think-tanks Individual, graduate-level vacancies in departments www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-fairs www.careers.ox.ac.uk 123 NATIONAL POLICY AND GOVERNMENT SECTOR BRIEFINGS SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Getting in and entry points Sam Banks A few of the larger publishers run formal graduate Graduate Training Scheme, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) PUBLISHING MMaths, Merton College, 2018 schemes. Most, however, recruit graduates for specific Do you have a creative mind, a proactive and entry-level jobs such as marketing or rights assistant, What: I am on the graduate scheme at the FCA, which Pros and cons: Graduates resourceful nature, good organisational skills and and the majority of people in publishing start in regulates the provision of most financial services in the are given a lot of trust a passion for creating content? If so a career in administrative positions and work their way upwards. UK. As I’m on the market oversight stream, my main focus is on and responsibility. I have publishing may be an interesting option for you. For any job, a demonstrated interest in the sector the UK’s stock markets, but graduates are involved in everything helped to interview is extremely important, and having relevant work from preventing financial crime through to making pensions policy. company directors as part experience can be a real advantage. A few large players “My job has varied a lot across my different rotations. My of our investigations, and The UK publishing industry employs 29,000 people offer formal internship schemes, but outside of these, current role involves programming and data analysis to help worked to develop the FCA’s directly in the UK and is the largest exporter of books in you can make speculative approaches to seek work detect unlawful stock market activity, using the data we receive approach in new areas. the world. It divides into three main fields, with academic experience at any publisher. as the regulator. But in the past, I have worked on investigations The scrutiny we are under as a publishing being the biggest of the three: CareerConnect is a useful source of vacancies for into public companies’ behaviour, internal strategy pieces, and regulator means that it sometimes takes a little while to make • Trade or consumer publishing: fiction and non- jobs and work experience in the sector. Key external thematic work on companies’ reporting and governance. decisions. This can be frustrating at times, but it’s better than fiction books that are published through the book job sites include The Bookseller, Oxford Brookes’ list of making the wrong decision quickly. In spite of (or perhaps trade to a general audience. publishing jobs and internships (they run three publishing How: I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after university but I because of) the never-ending amount of work that the regulator • Academic publishing makes scholarly research masters’ degrees), and the Independent Publishers Guild knew I wanted to do something with more practical impact than could do, the organisation is really supportive of everyone having available via texts and journals. (IPG) job board. Many companies, particularly smaller pure mathematics (not too difficult!). I found out about the FCA’s a good work-life balance. • Education publishing produces school textbooks publishing companies and literary agencies, do not formally summer internship at the Oxford Careers Service Finance Fair, and English Language Teaching (ELT) materials. advertise vacancies, which means you need to get in touch decided to apply and was successful. I really enjoyed it and was Top tips: I would definitely recommend applying for summer There are a huge number of publishing companies in the speculatively to enquire and follow their social media pages. offered a place on the graduate scheme after the internship. internships – they’re a good way to get to know an UK, with the three largest companies (Penguin Random The Publishers Association website www.publishers. I really value the overview of particular industries that I get organisation, and can take the pressure off applications in House, Hachette Livre, HarperCollins) taking around half org.uk provides lots of information on the industry, roles working at the regulator – in front line roles, you get to see how your final year. of total UK customers sales. Other large employers include and careers. different companies go about their business. I also enjoy the I think being up front about my motivations really helped me Pan Macmillan, Pearson Education, Oxford University Press different rotations on the scheme, which provide an opportunity – working in public life is about considering the right principles (OUP), Bloomsbury, Simon & Schuster, and Wiley, with Extra-curricular ideas to try different things out and learn new technical knowledge. and the people affected, as well as being technically good. many other smaller independent publishers. • Join the Society of Young Publishers. Run by Generally, the processes of publishing are divided into professionals in the sector, it holds regular editorial, design and production, marketing, distribution, networking nights and careers events in Oxford. contracts and rights, and administration. Specific job • Demonstrate interest by joining other related student functions range from commissioning editor to editorial societies, such as the Oxford University Society of Dr Joseph Feyertag or publishing assistant, from content editor to marketing Bibliophiles. Research Fellow, Overseas Development Institute (ODI) MSc Comparative Social Policy, Green Templeton College, 2010; DPhil Social Policy, St Edmund Hall, 2014 and sales officer, and from rights manager to web • Gain experience by working for a student publication, developer as the rapid growth of online and digital eg, The Oxford Student, Cherwell, Isis, The Oxford What: I work in international development, primarily consulting. I highly publishing drives change across the industry. Scientist and so on. Many offer experience in editorial focused on conducting research on agricultural recommend gaining There are also literary agencies, which act as and technical roles. development in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. On a day- practical experience; intermediaries between trade publishers and writers. • Choose a topic you are interested in and blog about to-day basis, my work is probably split between 50% research working on a variety of Normally working in small firms, agents have exposure it. Developing a regular blog is a good way to (statistical analysis, writing reports, reading other people’s projects can help you find to the whole publishing process: editing books with demonstrate relevant publishing skills. “research), 25% communication and 25% travel. something that genuinely authors, convincing publishers to buy them, and dealing • Attend the London Book Fair in April: a huge exhibition interests you. Intellectual with contracts and media enquiries. aimed at the publishing industry. It is a great way to Why: Think tanks and research institutes occupy a space between curiosity is important because it will learn more about the sector and build your network. academia and actual policy practice. In other words, we turn the ‘why’ not only improve your job satisfaction, but • Offer to help in your department or college, for example, into the ‘how’ by using rigorous research to advise governments on also your productivity and therefore your performance as well. Try to get some work experience. As to support the production of conference materials and what to do and how to do it. One of the biggest lessons I took away well as formal internships, publishers reports, internal documents or promotional material. from my academic career was that there is often a huge disparity Top tips: A research degree is not just a one-way ticket into academia. may also offer work experience on an ad hoc • Sign up for the Careers Service’s Insight into between what policy-makers do and what academics know, and I The invaluable skills you gain from an MPhil or DPhil are highly desired, basis. There are also many different areas that Publishing programme. wanted to help bridge that gap. ODI fitted the bill as a longstanding opening doors to interesting and dynamic careers in many fields. work together to make a successful publishing • Working in a bookshop will give you useful insights and reputable international development organisation with good ties You won’t have all the answers on what you want to do for the rest into the consumer market. “company so consider all your career options, to government, universities and the private sector. of your working life upon graduation. At my organisation there are such as marketing and finance as well as editorial. a huge variety of interesting roles, ranging from more traditional Career advice: Your degree equips you with all the skills and data-driven research to fieldwork in far-flung places, creative digital Naomi Crookston, Publisher, More information methods you need but it’s up to you to decide how and where communications and managerial tasks in programme management. All Oxford University Press www.careers.ox.ac.uk/publishing to apply those skills. Before joining ODI, I worked in private routes are open to you both at the beginning and in mid-career.

124 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 125 PUBLISHING SECTOR BRIEFINGS SECTOR BRIEFINGS

In general, only major companies have graduate Naomi Crookston schemes. The earliest deadlines are before Christmas, Publisher, Oxford University Press (OUP) SCIENCE BA (Hons) Modern Languages, Lady Margaret Hall, 2003 but many recruit on a rolling basis. Gaining employment There are many opportunities in this sector, with well-known firms can be highly competitive What: I attend educational conferences and visit Pearson Education. It was including careers in research, creating (particularly in the pharmaceutical sector) and relevant schools to learn about what teachers and students great to finally be making new technologies, developing or refining industry experience is always useful. need to improve language learning. I put together proposals use of my degree and the manufacturing processes, or innovating medical Many large firms offer internships to penultimate for new products and commission authors to write them. I skills I’d developed in the solutions. So make sure you quiz Oxford scientists year students. More opportunities exist with smaller, manage a team of editors who oversee the production of the early years of my career. about the options while you’re here, as many less well-known companies, which usually recruit for commissioned print and digital publishing from manuscript Since then, I’ve worked in a specific vacancies – either directly or through specialist “ have connections outside academia. development through to publication. number of roles in the UK and recruitment agencies. Small scientific companies are international divisions at Pearson and often clustered on science parks. Check their websites Why: Although a lot of the work I do now is on digital products, I Hodder Education before moving to OUP. Scientists are likely to be involved in research, for vacancies, register with relevant recruitment still love the smell of a freshly published book! I also like seeing our development and analysis. Opportunities in industry agencies, and also make speculative applications for jobs products being used by teachers in the classroom and making a Top skills: Communication skills, both verbal and written, are range from the research divisions of global companies and for getting work experience. difference to students. It’s not just about what I work on but also the really important in the publishing industry, where you will to niche technology firms. Other options include The availability of work in government agencies people I work with and I’m lucky to work in a friendly and supportive work with authors and freelancers externally, and with design, government- or charity-funded research institutes, and independent research institutes varies according environment, and always have done throughout my career. marketing, editorial, production and digital teams internally. hospitals, and university research. to subject. DSTL (Defence Science and Technology A keen eye for detail is vital, whether for checking proofs or Science and technology span diverse disciplines Laboratory) runs a graduate scheme across most Early career: I didn’t have any relevant work experience, so I started scrutinising the numbers when working on a proposal. and so too does the range of opportunities in the scientific disciplines. DESG (Defence Engineering as an administrator at a small publisher that produced careers advice science sector. Roles for hands-on scientists exist and Science Group) is focused mainly on physical magazines. I progressed to editor, overseeing the commissioning Advice: Try to get some work experience. As well as formal in manufacturing, energy, medicine, scientists and engineers. Independently funded and development of magazines covering careers in medicine, retail internships, publishers may also offer work experience on an ad pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, environment, research institutes – such as those operated by and hospitality. I moved to Elsevier where I worked on business hoc basis. There are many different areas that work together to defence, aerospace, transport, electronics, space Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust – are magazines for the plastics production industry. The job didn’t really make a successful publishing company, so consider all your career technology, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), more common in life science disciplines. For some jobs suit my skills and interests so I got a job as a languages editor at options, such as marketing and finance as well as editorial. and many more areas. it can be an advantage to have a relevant PhD, and The sector also needs science literate graduates some roles will require them. who can use their knowledge in other ways: eg, making scientific ideas a commercially viable reality, Extra-curricular ideas or communicating research to investors or the general • Join subject-based student societies, and others such Kyriaki Kyriacou public. as the Scientific Society, OxWEST (for women) or the Editorial Assistant, Osprey Mst English and American Studies, Kellogg College, 2019 You may primarily be driven by your subject interest, Energy Society. but you should also consider the environment that would • Volunteer to do outreach work, for example, with What: As an editorial assistant at Osprey (an imprint my degree. It gave me the most suit you. For example, working in a small startup the MPLS Division’s School Liaison Officer, or Science of Bloomsbury), my job involves a lot of admin: opportunity to network and technology company is likely to give a very different Oxford. organising weekly publishing meetings; writing minutes; sending discover what working in experience from joining a large graduate scheme with an • Seek a summer research assistant position at your out advance copies of books; booking freelance copy editors and publishing was really like. If established employer. department or through your tutors’ contacts. managing the editorial inbox. I read proposals from prospective you can’t find a publishing • Write for The Oxford Scientist, Oxford’s science “authors and support the editorial team with proofreading and internship, extra-curricular Getting in and entry points magazine. cover checks. When you first begin in publishing, you often don’t activities also look great on The first step for many scientists wanting to pursue • Become a student member of a relevant professional have the opportunity to work immediately on a manuscript your CV. For example, editing your a career in science is a PhD (DPhil in Oxford). Do not scientific society – many offer networking – that comes later, once you’ve received copy editing and college newspaper demonstrates attention be put off if a PhD is not for you at this stage; many opportunities. proofreading training and gained greater responsibility. to detail, time management and organisation skills; all are vital organisations offer science roles that do not require a PhD. in publishing. Why: I studied literature at university, but it was my love for commercial fiction and interest in bookselling as an industry that Advice: Get involved with the publishing community as much as Make the most of expertise around really encouraged me to pursue a career in publishing. possible. The Society of Young Publishers is a great organisation you. Quiz Oxford researchers and that regularly puts on CV and publishing skills workshops, lecturers about their career and collaborations More information Getting in: It’s no secret that publishing is extremely competitive. advertises job openings and allows you to network with other – many have connections that reach far beyond www.careers.ox.ac.uk/pharmaceuticals- With 1,000 applicants sometimes applying for a single entry- hopeful publishers. Subscribe to The Bookseller to keep in touch academic research labs. biotechnology level position, finding a job in the sector can seem impossible. with the latest industry news. Remember, loving books is not “ www.careers.ox.ac.uk/science-alternatives To make yourself stand out, I would recommend getting as enough –you need to prove that you understand that publishing Dr Abby Evans, Careers Adviser, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/science-research- much experience as possible. I completed a Careers Service is a lucrative business. Finally, persist. Rejection is inevitable, but Oxford University Careers Service development Micro-Internship with Lantana Publishing just after I completed you will eventually find a job that is the perfect fit for you.

126 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 127 SCIENCE SECTOR BRIEFINGS SCIENCE SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Charlotte Martin Dr Maria C Suciu Trainee Patent Attorney, Boult Wade Tennant LLP Senior scientist, Genomics plc MEng Engineering Science, Mansfield College, 2019 DPhil Genomic Medicine and Statistics, St Cross, 2017

What: Patent attorneys are specialist legal agents that arrays and much more. What: Genetics and the study of genomes (ie in training for a more combine an in-depth understanding of intellectual Patent law also affords genomics), with the hope of achieving precision and computational role and in property law with strong scientific and communication skills. We clear and structured personalised medicine, is one of the most exciting fields to work finding a role that suits me. assist clients in seeking patent protection for their inventions and career progression. It takes in at the moment. The genetics revolution is not fictive, as seen Now, at Genomics plc, I advise on infringement of existing patents. I am a trainee patent between three and five in movies. It is real, and it is happening now driven by amazing do what I enjoy most – using “attorney working in the high-tech and electrical department of years of on-the-job training “technological developments. This new field offers enormous the diverse skills I developed one of the larger European intellectual property law firms. to become a chartered patent opportunity to apply one’s skills for solving some of the most during my doctoral training (both My day-to-day work involves reading about a wide variety attorney, during which you work difficult challenges humanity faces: curing cancer; preventing lab knowledge and computational of emerging technologies to identify the novel features and on real cases and are closely supported by neurodegenerative disease; drug development. skills) to decode the information stored in our commercial value of an invention. I then distil this information supervisors who value your technical input. DNA and make sense of the world’s genomes. into arguments, designed to overcome objections raised by the Career path: My interest in computational biology and patent office examining a patent application. Other tasks include Advice: For those interested in patent law, I recommend applying bioinformatics was triggered by the need to analyse the Why: Science allowed my inquisitive and curious nature to corresponding with our clients and drafting new patent applications. for the vacation schemes and open days offered by most large genetic data I was generating during my lab-based doctorate, develop, while discovering the living world around us. The profession is definitely worth considering as an alternative to a patent firms. These vacation schemes and open days provide an while investigating the mechanisms of inherited anaemias. I was I found the process of investigating and then solving problems career as a scientific researcher, academic or engineer. opportunity to learn all about the firm, its people, and its culture, so intrigued by the wealth of information stored in the DNA, and challenges extremely rewarding and would recommend this so can be really helpful in deciding where you want to apply. They and the creative ways to develop computational solutions to path to anyone who wants a dynamic, versatile career. Why: Towards the end of my degree, I was considering three may also give you application hints and tips, or an opportunity to decode it, that I slowly transitioned to a computational biologist potential career paths: academia, engineering, and patent law. informally meet the partners who will be interviewing you. I would role. I was supported by my supervisors and department Top tip: Be flexible, there are many ways to use the skills acquired I chose patent law over academia and engineering because of also say it is worth getting your application in early. I started – science is extremely versatile and the job prospects are diverse the range and diversity of work. I typically only work on one applying for trainee roles at the end of my third year and was able (ie academia, industry, public engagement). But in the process invention for a day or two at a time, before switching to focus on to secure a job before starting my fourth year. This meant I could I would recommend this path to anyone who of finding your path, follow your interests even if that involves something new. In the past month alone, I have worked on aircraft focus on my studies, and never had to worry about fitting job wants a dynamic, versatile career. change, as that is what will keep you motivated. control systems, blockchain networks, juicing devices, micro LED applications or interviews around my lectures and tutorials.

Dr Joanna Bagniewska Heather Winsor Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sciences, Brunel University London. Communications and Public Downstream Commercial Graduate Scheme, Shell Engagement Officer, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford; DPhil in Zoology, Linacre College, 2013 BA Biological Sciences, Brasenose 2018

What: I split my time between an academic career in have to sacrifice any of What: I joined the Downstream Commercial Graduate responsibility despite zoology, and a research support role in communications and my interests. I was not Scheme at Shell in September 2018, which consists of my lack of experience. public engagement. For half the week I lecture, design curricula and prepared to give up zoology two 18-month rotations. These rotations can be in any part of Furthermore, I felt the do research; for the other I prepare newsletters, build and maintain – but simultaneously I the downstream business, from non-fuels retailing, to trading, to direction Shell was taking websites, write press releases and plan public engagement activities. In acknowledged that it is a sales. In my first rotation I worked in London as an analyst in the to make its operations and “my spare time, I also do freelance science communication and coaching. difficult and highly competitive “quality division of the lubricants supply chain. I was responsible products more sustainable field, and I needed to use my for producing monthly global reports on our quality performance was exciting. This feeling Career path: After my DPhil, I lectured at Nottingham Trent transferrable skills to find a back-up and tracking the quality of our third-party suppliers. I also has only grown stronger since University and the University of Reading, while pursuing science plan. My current jobs complement each worked as a product owner for our new quality management joining, and my short career here has communication as a hobby. I won FameLab Poland, which led other: I use my communications and public engagement expertise system and led a project to quantify the carbon impact of supply already seen a trial of Shell’s first aviation biodiesel and the to collaborations with journalists and science writers, and gave in lectures, and my research background to better understand chain incidents. launch of Shell Energy, our 100% renewable residential power me an understanding of how the media works. I presented at the scientists I work with in my communications role. However, provider. As someone who’s ultimate goal is to work in corporate TEDxWarsaw and Soapbox Science, taught at summer schools and sometimes the work adds to more than one full-time job! Why: While working as an intern at my company in 2017, sustainability, I felt that my organisation’s huge global presence began performing science stand-up comedy – and learnt a lot in I felt that my colleagues were not afraid to give me real and active investment in sustainability initiatives would let me the process! Even though academics sometimes consider public Advice: Your degree is more than just academic skills, it’s an have a real impact in the area. engagement to be a ‘distraction’ from ‘real work’, the experience I opportunity to try out a range of new activities. Do it – you gained landed me my first permanent position at Oxford University. never know what will come in handy! Use diverse, unusual Don’t narrow down your career options too Advice: Don’t narrow down your career options too early – experiences to your advantage; they will set you apart from early – you never truly know whether something you never truly know whether something will be for you until Why: Having a multi-pronged career offers more job security, other applicants. And finally, always ask yourself: Why am I doing will be for you until you try it. you try it. Furthermore, the experience that you get from the provides diverse learning opportunities and means that I don’t this? What is my goal? How do I measure my success? roles you try will likely be applicable to your future career.

128 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 129 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

indemnity insurance could cost as little as £150 per year. START-UPS AND As a limited company you are personally protected from Main Location: Oxford About us: TTP is an independent technology company where the business debt but you have to publish your accounts About us: OxWEST is a University of Oxford based society that scientists and engineers collaborate to invent, design and develop new aims to promote and encourage women in engineering, science, and products and technologies. at Companies House. Once your annual taxable sales technology Main location: Cambridge, UK. ENTREPRENEUR- pass £85,000 per year, you will need to register for OxWEST provides resources for women interested in careers in Opportunities available: We are looking for scientists at graduate and charge VAT to your customers, payable to HMRC. academia, industry, finance and related sectors; the society also acts and postgraduate levels to join us permanently in one of our as an informational and support platform for women in all stages of consultant roles, as well as for students interested in internships. SHIP As a self-employed person, you will have flexibility and their careers while at the university. Graduates sought: Physicists, Material Scientists, Biologists and Life independence, but in addition to delivering your service, 3 Sectors Scientists. Our flat structure means you’ll start working on technical Becoming an entrepreneur is a popular you will need to do business development (sales) to Events: Organize talks and panel discussions with prominent members projects straightaway, whilst having the freedom and support to of the scientific and engineering communities, workshops furthering guide your own development; from technical exploration, to project aspiration for an increasing number of students, obtain new customers. This is why many people choose employability skills, as well as social gatherings. leadership or cultivating insights into business. as is establishing or working for a start-up or to go freelance later in life when they already have a Conference: Organize our annual conference where senior academic Vacation work: We offer summer and year-long internships, typically network of contacts that acts as a readily available and industrial leaders are invited and share their valuable experiences hosting just under 20 students each year. Our projects involve spin-out. Mentoring: Offer an opportunity for every OxWEST member to find everyone, so you’ll be given responsibility from day one: testing customer base. In this respect you will need to consider a Mentor to facilitate personal development, gain insight into career things that have never been done before, working on technologies how you market yourself, your business name, website, paths and products we’re creating, or even making your own. All with the support of world-leading scientists and engineers, who will help you The priority when it comes to a career search is to get brand equity, competitive edge, etc. Please get in touch if you would like to hear more about what we do! along the way. round pegs in round holes, and nowhere is this more Visa sponsorship: We are happy and able to sponsor Tier Two visas true than in start - ups and spin-outs. The adventurous for successful applicants. risk seekers who will thrive in this activity are relentless Application advice: Apply online at ttp.com/careers. Our graduate More information roles are open all-year long. Internship opportunities open in in understanding how business works: they are not just September with applications considered on a rolling basis (places are commercially aware but business savvy. Ideas typically filled by January). There are many things to consider when starting a Enterprising Oxford: www.eship.ox.ac.uk business. A good way to understand all the business The Oxford Foundry: elements is to complete a Lean Canvas, which helps you www.oxfordfoundry.ox.ac.uk www.ox-west.org www.ttp.com to plan out what problem you are trying to solve, what Oxford Hub: www.oxfordhub.org your solution is, who your customers are, how you will be Oxford Entrepreneurs: sustainable, and who your competition is. This provides a www.oxfordentrepreneurs.co.uk strong foundation to develop your business further. This will give a good first step for anyone thing about Hands-on starting a business. Oxford University Innovation Startup Incubator: innovation.ox.ac.uk/startupincubator Working for yourself OX1 Start-Up Incubator Programme: Find out about You will need to decide whether you want to operate as www.ox1incubator.com a variety of a sole trader, limited liability partnership (LLP), or private The Oxford Foundry LEV8: different career limited company PLC). The advantage of being a sole www.oxfordfoundry.ox.ac.uk/about-oxfo-lev8 options across trader is that you do not have to publish your accounts so you keep your privacy; but you are responsible for Spin-outs, space and support the science, any losses that your business makes, which means that Oxford University Innovation: innovation.ox.ac.uk engineering your home and possessions could be at risk. Having said Begbroke Science Park: www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk and technology that, if your business is a consultancy, your professional OxLEP Business: SCIENCE, ENGINEERING www.oxfordshirelep.com/business sectors. & TECHNOLOGY Hone your persuasion skills. This often comes down to being a good Virtual FAIR storyteller. Whether it’s applying for a job, Oxford University Careers Service run or motivating people to join your team, The Student Consultancy Programme MONDAY 19 OCTOBER 2020 many important decisions are made through (now known as TOSCA) that provides student “compelling stories. Being a good listener is consultancy to local businesses. As a student, EXHIBITORS FROM 12:00-18:00 equally important – to be able to mirror back I joined the programme and worked with the people’s desires in ways that align with yours. “Story Museum on opening up their coffee shop.

Sultan Murad Saidov, Co-founder, Agne Milukaite, Founder, Beamery cycle.land www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-fairs/

130 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 131 START-UPS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Agne Milukaite Founder, cycle.land M.Sc. Migration Studies, 2013

What: cycle.land is a peer-to-peer bike sharing social Top skills: Rather than marketplace. having a particular set of skills, a person needs to Why: I am a social scientist and I enjoy bringing people together. look into their strengths Bikes are perfect to connect people: practical, environmentally and use them resourcefully. “friendly, affordable, and an empowering solution to get around. I read this book as a child that I love turning my idea into a company that solves people’s explained to me that nobody problems. Entrepreneurship is about seizing the day – looking for has everything but everyone has opportunities and then going for it! something. Find that something and use it.

Career path: After graduating from Oxford University, I moved Advice: The most important lesson I learned is the importance of to Berkeley, California to work for a Canadian home robotics reaching out to people. They will steer you towards other like- company. I returned to Oxford to launch my start-up. The first minded people. Use that to your benefit and create a community breakthrough came through the VIEW programme run by the around you. Go to Launchpad at the Saïd Business School. Also, Entrepreneurship Centre at Saïd Business School. During the first Oxford University Careers Service is an excellent resource. They class, I met my mentor Roy Azoulay who runs Oxford University run The Student Consultancy programme (now known as TOSCA THE OXFORD start-up incubator. He was super enthusiastic about the idea of – see opposite) that provides student consultancy to local peer-to-peer bicycle sharing. My start-up is now incubated with businesses. As a student, I joined the programme and worked Oxford University and about to start its first accelerator program. with the Story Museum on opening up their coffee shop. Now, I I was really excited when the VIEW panel voted my business ‘the work with a great team of student consultants who advise on my best business idea’. start-up. Worry less; create more. STRATEGY

Sultan Murad Saidov Co-founder, Beamery PPE, Keble College, 2012 CHALLENGE

What: Beamery’s software platform powers HR we have customers spanning processes for many of the world’s biggest companies. over 40 countries who run From attracting new candidates to empowering employees to their recruiting process Get real-world client work experience grow through discovering meaningful work they love. Beamery’s through our AI driven Talent “mission is to make every company a great place to work. Operating System. on our hackathon-inspired How: The journey that led me to starting Beamery began on my Advice and top tips: gap year, during which I spent six months as an audit intern at • Explore new ideas. Expose consultancy challenge open to all Deloitte. This was during the 2009 financial crisis, an experience yourself to randomness, while keeping an that left me in equal parts wary of, and more drawn to, the open mind to new interests and passions. current students, from 1st years to world of finance. It also made me acutely aware that where you • Be proactive about your choices. Seek out people who have work (especially where you start your career) is one of the most done something, or worked somewhere, you are interested important decisions you make, and yet we are often expected to in. If you are looking for a job, it’s worth noting that many DPhils and researchers. find the right workplace with limited information. In my last year of advertised opportunities are in fact already closed, and many university, I began thinking of ways to fix this, started a side project available positions have not been advertised yet. Reach out to ‘reverse recruitment’ (enabling companies to find you rather than and create opportunities for yourself. having you apply) and taught myself to code. However, not being • Hone your persuasion skills. This often comes down to being a able to support myself financially through this project by the time good storyteller. Whether it’s applying for a job, or motivating I graduated, I joined a sales and trading desk at Goldman Sachs. people to join your team, many important decisions are made After a year there, I was ready to commit myself to my passion. through compelling stories. Being a good listener is equally With some personal savings, followed by some angel funding, I quit important – to be able to mirror back people’s desires in ways my role and began building Beamery full time. Seven years later, that align with yours. Find out more:

132 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk/osc SECTOR BRIEFINGS TECH: IT, DATA, AI AND MACHINE LEARNING SECTOR BRIEFINGS

for new graduates, from an initial intensive ‘bootcamp’ to on-the- job development. Starting salaries, even for Dr Francis Newson TECH: IT, DATA, Scientific Software Analyst, Tessella those without technical skills, often exceed £30,000. MPhys, Christ Church, 2011 AI AND MACHINE The IT consultancy industry is also growing fast, and organisations will train new recruits fully before What: I work at Tessella, supporting data science for I’ve had a mixture embedding them with clients to work on specific research & development in industry across a range of of roles, from working LEARNING projects. Some major players operate globally, sectors from aerospace to life sciences. directly with specialists offering strategic advice, systems development and The work spans a whole spectrum of activities. At one on the client’s side to Computing and IT jobs exist in all sectors and all implementation. A number of companies now provide end, I’m involved in data analysis, hunting for answers in client understand what they want types of organisations – in fact, more than 40% ‘free training’ linked to a contracted minimum period as a “data sets, spotting anomalies, building algorithms to detect to do and chase down the of all IT professionals work outside the sector. consultant on the firm’s graduate scheme. patterns and finding ways to communicate it all to the right data they need, to working in people. our company’s office with software Getting in and entry points At the other end is software development, building tools architects, testers, business analysts and Demand for people is high and growing quickly, with Companies visit Oxford throughout the autumn to run that can be used again and again to transform and analyse data others on complex software systems. As well as the purely technical many entry opportunities open not only to those and attend events: SET Fair; Careers in Computing Fair; sets automatically, and producing applications clients can use to work, I’ve developed other skills, running workshops and working with proven IT skills, but also to anyone with the right and Jobs for Mathematicians Fair. Deadlines tend to interrogate the results. with senior managers to understand how we can stay at the forefront interests and potential. fall either side of Christmas, running into late January/ of the industry by making the latest computing technologies available Within the IT sector there is a huge range of jobs, February. However, jobs continue to be advertised year- Why: I enjoyed undergraduate physics enough to go to a PhD, to our analysts. There’s a real feeling that everyone can get involved in roles and job titles - from software engineering, to round to fill empty seats. which introduced me to using computers to analyse data. By the contributing to the life of the company, from day one of their career. website production; cloud computing and systems Whilst computer science graduates are in high time I finished, I was keen to see a broader range of science and development to cyber security specialists. The rapid demand, having some technical experience is very make use of my new programming experience. Tessella was the Advice: Take opportunities to try new things at Oxford. I did expansion of AI, data analyst and data science roles useful, even if this is self-taught or from your extra- perfect fit – I’ve had the chance to learn about everything from voluntary tutoring and was a postgraduate teaching assistant is adding to demand. The sector also employs people curricular experience. In addition, many opportunities software architecture to pure statistics, always with a link to during my PhD, and these experiences have helped me when it across the full variety of non-technical roles – eg, sales are open to anyone who demonstrates potential and a research in interesting areas of industry. comes to discussing complex ideas with clients. and marketing, legal services, HR, and finance. keen interest in the field. Consider how you can provide Outside the IT industry, technical roles exist across evidence of that interest or, if you struggle with this, all industries because computing and IT underpin find an opportunity to get involved now and gain some critical processes in all types of organisations. Some experience. sectors recruit particularly heavily into IT roles, Will Moyle Data Analyst, Zoopla Property Group notably in advertising and marketing, banking and Extra-curricular ideas MMath Mathematics, St John’s College, 2012 financial services, games development, consultancy, • Join societies and attend events: try CompSoc, manufacturing, retail and public sectors. In parallel, the Oxford Women in Computer Science (OxWoCS) and Why: Modern companies have a vast quantity of data Similarly, the role growth in tech start-ups is creating significant extra AI Society. at their fingertips – but few are truly able to make the requires more than demand for technically skilled graduates and, at Oxford, • Enter competitions or attend a hackathon, including most of the incredible opportunity this presents. The role of a technical know-how. hiring is increasing in rapidly expanding fields such as the annual Oxford Hackathon in November. data analyst is to turn data that businesses have at their disposal Analysis by itself holds little ‘data analytics’ and ‘FinTech’. • Attend free courses run by societies and CodeFirst: into meaningful strategic insights. This helps people make the value without its results The volume of employment opportunities for IT Girls. “right decisions for the future of the business. and recommendations being professionals is growing fast and firms can struggle to fill • IT Services offers free access to LinkedIn Learning’s In my role at Zoopla, I am able to utilise data from millions of effectively communicated. This positions. As a result, people with proven programming vast online library of video-based courses. website visits and app sessions, as well as details of millions of ability to work and communicate skills are highly sought after and many companies now • Try free, open source self-directed learning at property listings across the UK in order to help build a property with people, as well as to understand their actively recruit people without technical skills, but who www.codecademy.com and similar sites. Popular platform that enables people in the UK to find their dream home. motivations, is what makes an effective analyst and is why I love have the potential to learn and develop quickly once in languages include C, C++, HTML, Java, NET, Python my job. post. Companies provide excellent training and support and SQL. Why: My path has taken me from studying maths at Oxford, • Showcase your programming skills on open-source through working as a strategy consultant at Deloitte, to a master’s Top tips: I’d advise anyone to learn basic database coding skills. platforms such as GitHub or take part in competitions degree in computer science, and finally to a career in analytics: a Datacamp, for example, has free beginner courses in Python and Try to understand what you’ve enjoyed run by companies and via Kaggle.com. field which combines the best of my passions. Analytics includes a SQL. Similarly, the free ‘Google Analytics Academy’ provides a about your studies so far. In my case, • Volunteer for an IT-related project/responsibility with large amount of experimentation and testing, which builds on my fantastic grounding on the fundamentals of analytics. Even these programming was a by-product of my research your JCR/society/club or local charity. maths and statistics background, as well as coding in SQL, Python introductory courses will give you an edge in interviews and but turned out to be the basis of the rest of my and R, which I began learning during my master’s. might inspire you to delve into the career, as they did for me. career. However, the most interesting aspect of the field is the human Finally, take every opportunity to practise public speaking. This “ More information element. In order to be an effective analyst, it’s important to advice applies to almost every career path: the ability to clearly Dr Francis Newson, Scientific www.careers.ox.ac.uk/technology-data- understand that the data are not just numbers, but that they and effectively communicate ideas (especially to a non-technical Software Analyst, Tessella machine-learning-ai represent real people and real human behaviour. This is key to audience) really sets people apart and is something I wish I had developing ideas and gaining insights that affect business decisions. done more of earlier in my career.

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Main locations: Harpenden, Uxbridge and Feltham Main locations: Amsterdam, Chicago, Shanghai & Sydney Meet a About us: #WeAreCisco, where each person is unique, but we About us: Over thirty years ago, Optiver started business as a single bring our talents to work as a team and make a difference. Yes, our trader on the floor of Amsterdam’s European Options Exchange. diverse technology changes the way the world works, lives, plays and learns, Today, we are a leading global electronic market maker driven by but our edge comes from our people. We connect everything – technology, employing over one thousand Optiverians from more range of people, process, data and things – and we use those connections than 40 countries. We build high-performance, low-latency trading to change our world for the better.We innovate everywhere - from systems and algorithms that are constantly evolving. With 12 recruiters in creating a new era of networking that adapts, learns and protects, to datacenters and thousands of servers, we run ten thousand trading the IT and building Cisco Services that accelerate businesses and business results. components executing hundreds of thousands of trades every Our technology powers entertainment, retail, healthcare, education day, responding to changes in microseconds. All of our systems are computing and more – from Smart Cities to your everyday devices.We benefit developed in-house, predominantly using C++, C# and Python. everyone - We do all of this while striving for a culture that empowers We look for engineers who care deeply about every line of code CAREERS IN sector. every person to make a difference, at work and in our communities. written, who understand the impact of their decisions, and seek Virtual Opportunities available: Software engineering, Associate Solution immediate feedback on their work. We work with cutting edge Engineering and Consulting Engineering roles for graduates, summer technology interns and micro-interns Opportunities available: Insight Day for first year STEM students, COMPUTING FAIR Graduates sought: Any STEM related degrees. Some of our teams Software Engineering and Trading Summer Internships for penultimate accept applications without programming skills. year STEM students. For final year students and graduates we have Graduate Salary: Competitive. Including extensive compensation the following full time roles: Graduate Software and Application plan- bonus, pension, 5 days to give to your preferred charity, Engineers, Traders, Researchers and Risk Managers MONDAY 26 OCTOBER 2020 birthday off- on us and much more. Recruitment criteria: Bachelor’s degree in either Computer Science, Vacation work: Summer internships and micro-interns Engineering, Information Systems or equivalent. Annual vacancies: About 15-20 graduates and 10 internships, but Application criteria: Apply online with CV and cover letter. The first EXHIBITORS FROM 12:00-18:00 we will always consider exceptional candidates. step after applying will be an online (HackerRank) test assessing your Application advice: CV application; see our website for details programming fundamentals. & deadline. We accept applications all year, but focus mostly on Email: [email protected] Michaelmas term.

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136 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 137 WELCOME TO OPTIVER WHERE TRADING AND TECHNOLOGY JOIN FORCES SCIENCE,

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We achieve this by attracting, developing and empowering top engineering THE FAIR FOR THE TECH SECTOR talent. As an engineer at Optiver, you will be collaborating with our traders and researchers to solve complex problems and to develop proprietary software that provides immediate results and direct impact. Find out about a variety of different Talk to us via career options across the science, [email protected] or check out our career page: engineering and technology sectors. https://www.optiver.com/eu/en/job-opportunities www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-fairs OTHER CAREERS TAKE YOUR STORY TO NEW HEIGHTS Other careers Are you ready to take your story in any direction you want —unlimited by geography, technology or even gravity?

Beyond the industry sectors listed on the previous pages, there are After all, it’s your story. As the global content and connectivity company, our passion is many more opportunities – some of them are quite niche, and some helping people connect with the world’s most valuable content— are in rapidly expanding fields at the edge of current knowledge. so that even the most ambitious stories, like yours, come true. Our FourDoors Programme gives you the space to write your next chapter. Whether you start as an Intern, Technology Associate, Commercial Associate or Early in Career Professional, Do not feel restricted by the range of graduate jobs patent attorney, hydrologist, animator and company your narrative is in your hands. A world of satellite networks, that normally get promoted, and think creatively about secretary. Each profile offers links to, professional innovation, extraordinary people, and a chance to advance digital equality everywhere will engage everything that you what would best suit you. Jobs exist now that were not bodies, sources for vacancies and suggested courses are—giving you freedom to take your story to new heights. around a decade ago; from YouTube content creator and professional development. Take your story anywhere. With SES. to drone operator. Sometimes it can feel as though • Identify the professional body or society for your field everyone at Oxford ends up working in ‘the City’ but of interest. www.ses.com/fourdoors graduates go into a whole range of job sectors such as • Their website is likely to include masses of useful acting; emergency services; religion (particularly from information, including industry news, company Oxford’s Permanent Private Halls); fine art conservation; and event listings, and job vacancies. managing clubs and music venues; executive search; • Professional bodies frequently also publish an libraries; translation; and many more. industry magazine (often with vacancies), and run industry or sector awards which you can use to Other options find leading practitioners. If you are aiming for a route less travelled you may need • Examine vacancies to understand the common to think more widely and be more creative in how you requirements such as key skills, qualifications and source information, find contacts, and build and develop experience sought, as well as industry norms and your network. If you are interested in a career that does terms (jargon). not get much exposure around Oxford, The careers • Find websites for your niche, eg working for an MP: service is very happy to help: careers advisers will be www.w4mp.org; Space Internships Network (SpIN) happy to work with you on a 1-to-1 basis to provide via the Catapult Programme: www.catapult.org.uk; support and ideas to help you move forwards. for animators: www.cartoon-media.be Even within the core sectors covered on previous • Use social networks to the full – follow bloggers and THE pages there are unusual individual roles. For example, if you experts on Twitter and ask to join specialist groups are passionately interested in the world of online gaming on Facebook and LinkedIn and see who is part of the but do not fancy a technical or coding type role, leading conversation and who the opinion leaders are. UK companies also employ historical researchers, writers • Make yourself visible online: start your own blog OXFORD and storytellers, artists, technical support for live motion or website; showcase your portfolio; make sure capture, as well as the full range of business managers your LinkedIn page reflects your goals and relevant such as sales and marketing, HR and finance functions. experience; comment in discussions, ask for advice and make contacts. STRATEGY Finding out more • Specialist recruitment agencies can be another route • There are a number of strategies you can follow to to finding out information about particular sectors find out more about any role or industry. In some and sourcing vacancies. ways, the more niche your specific interests are the CHALLENGE more focused you can be. If you can find a good starting point – especially a supportive contact More information or mentor – they might help you to make a lot of www.careers.ox.ac.uk/other-sectors Get real-world client work experience progress quickly, for example, by helping you to www.careers.ox.ac.uk/library-information-work identify and contact leaders in your chosen field. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/business-management • There are some 400 different job profiles covered www.careers.ox.ac.uk/translating-interpreting by www.prospects.ac.uk for roles as diverse as www.careers.ox.ac.uk/networking glass blower/designer, toxicologist, youth worker, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/oxford-strategy-challenge

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