This half-day event offers a range of client hosted workshops and panel discussions relating to career development skills, culminating with a keynote speech from people management and development skills expert Sandy Begbie, CEO of Scottish Financial Enterprise.
Client-hosted workshops will focus on a range of career development skills, including:
- Interview tips
- Assessment centre workshops
- Effective online networking
- Strength-based interviews
- CV writing skills
- Telephone interview skills
- Maximising your job application
This is your chance to gain invaluable first-hand knowledge from HR and recruitment professionals to help you find that first job out of University, and how to make yourself stand out in a crowded job market. Participation in the event counts towards the Edinburgh Award and MSc Career Development Programme.
Programme
Welcome and Introduction, 12:45–13:00
- Welcome from Wendy Loretto, Dean of the Business School and Professor of Organisational Behaviour
- Introduction to event from Pete Maksimczyk, Student Development Manager
Workshops, 13:00–13:50
Turner and Townsend: Succeeding in Assessment Centre Group Exercises
Students will be shown a typical case study designed to test their soft skills at an assessment centre. The session will adopt a 'walkthrough' approach, whereby an output response to the design brief is built in a step process. The exercise will provide information on how individuals are typically assessed in industry and advise how to make best use of your character traits to succeed.
Google: Strength-based Interviews
Strength-based interviewing has its foundations in positive psychology. Unlike their competency counterparts, strengths interviews are more personal and allow businesses/recruiters to gain a genuine insight into the personalities of candidates and to see whether they'd be a good fit for the company. We will talk through the foundations of a strengths based interview, including examples, and finish with an open discussion.
Renault F1: CV Writing Skills
As a large employer with over 700 staff, Renault F1 Team is an immensely popular, aspirational company to work for. They do literally get hundreds of applicants for every single advertised position. Ian Goddard, Head of Technical Partnerships has personally overseen entry-level recruitment for over 10 years and over 100 recruited roles.
What catches the attention of employers and recruitment selectors like Ian? How do you successfully market yourself and build your profile to stand out in the global marketplace in the unprecedented commercial outlook faced in 2021? While there is no single answer, this session will give highlights through a Q&A driven session to give informed guidance.
User Testing: Interview Hints and Tips
This workshop will run for 30 minutes, ending at 13:30. It will cover:
- Preparing for an interview effectively
- Useful hints and tips on what hiring managers look out for when conducting interviews
- An example of a great interview. What are the key characteristics of a great interview?
- Some common pitfalls to look out for
Amazon: Networking Skills
This session will focus on the importance of networking, its benefits, and how one must build and develop their professional network.
Amazon: Telephone Interview Skills
Learn and explore the best practices necessary to successfully prepare for a telephone interview which is among the first steps towards that dream job.
Workshops, 14:00–14:50
NatWest Group: Virtual Assessment Centre Workshop
Join this interactive application workshop to meet NatWest's Early Careers team and get hints and tips from current graduates who were in your shoes not long ago.
The session will outline NatWest's application process, the competencies they assess against, and ideas from graduates about how you can stand out at the virtual assessment centre in 2021. We hope you'll leave the session feeling clear, capable, and motivated to make a great application with NatWest Group. This is a great chance for you to gain more in-depth information about what they're really looking for than you can find on the website!
Finally, you'll have the chance to experience a short mock-assessment centre and ask the graduate and Early Careers team any questions you might have directly.
Doctor Care Anywhere: Networking in a Global, Yet Locked Down World
Networking is hard enough as it is, let alone when global events make it difficult to interact with potential employers. During this session, Paul Tambeau, Chief Transformation Officer, will share some insights and ideas on how to network effectively, how to find that first job out of University, and how to make yourself stand out in a crowded job market.
JP Morgan: How to Make the Best Out of Your JP Morgan Application
This workshop will cover:
- Brief presentation of the Edinburgh office, split between the Investment Bank department and the Wealth Management department
- JP Morgan application process
- Online video interview tips
- Networking skills tips
- Q&A
Amazon: Strengths Interviewing
This session will familiarise students with strengths-based interviewing and a working session to go through a few mock questions. A strengths-based interview looks at what you enjoy doing and have a natural aptitude for.
Amazon: CV Writing Skills
Find out more about what employers look for when reviewing CVs, Dos and Don'ts, and best practices for designing your own.
Amazon: Maximising Your Job Application
Get all the insight you need to maximise your job application at Amazon. Sharing hints and tips to allow you to showcase 'you' at your very best!
Workshops, 15:00–15:50
Doctor Care Anywhere: Networking in a Global, Yet Locked Down World
Networking is hard enough as it is, let alone when global events make it difficult to interact with potential employers. During this session, Paul Tambeau, Chief Transformation Officer, will share some insights and ideas on how to network effectively, how to find that first job out of University, and how to make yourself stand out in a crowded job market.
EY-Parthenon Strategy: CV Dos and Don'ts
This workshop will cover:
- Introduction to presenter(s)
- CVs: Dos and Don'ts
- Case interview session (including walkthrough of example case study)
- Overview of EY-Parthenon
Capgemini: How to Ace an Assessment Centre
What does the Capgemini Application Process and Assessment Centre look like for graduate roles? How do I prepare? When can I apply? This session will answer all this and more, as Capgemini continue their collaboration with the University of Edinburgh Business School.
Capgemini often say they're the biggest company you've probably never heard of. Capgemini is made up of almost 270,000 people in over 50 countries and work with world-renowned clients to find solutions to their most demanding challenges. They are a global leader in Consulting, Technology Services, and Digital Transformation.
Amazon: CV Writing Skills
Find out more about what employers look for when reviewing CVs, Dos and Don'ts, and best practices for designing your own.
Amazon: Maximising Your Job Application
Get all the insight you need to maximise your job application at Amazon. Sharing hints and tips to allow you to showcase 'you' at your very best!
Panel Discussions, 16:00–16:50
Hear from successful Business School alumni on a variety of key subject areas.
Forging a Career in Finance and Accounting
Considering a career in finance? Learn how to maximise your next steps from the following speakers:
- Alessia Bonacini, Brokerage Trade Support Analyst, JP Morgan
- Richard Henderson, Chief Risk Officer and Executive Director, Tesco Bank
- Bruce Cartwright, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Chartered Accountants
Understanding Career Paths in Marketing and Analytics
Discover top tips for success from:
- Mike Carter, Director, Cuirass
- Narmin Mustafayeva, Assistant Country Manager, Azerbaijan, Unilever
Careers in Innovation and Enterprise
Find out how the following alumni built their own businesses:
- Paul Tambeau, Chief Transformation Officer, Doctor Care Anywhere
- Ritesh Kotak, Principal, Ritesh Kotak Consulting
- Jamal Bjaly, Co-founder, Alex App
- Pankaj Kankaria, Director and Partner, Risa Sustainable Solutions
Exploring Opportunities in Management and Strategy
Understanding the differences and pathways to success with:
- Ray MacSweeney, Director at Strategy Advisory, EY Parthenon
- Stephen White, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Yorkshire Building Society
- Andrew Zdunich, Chief Security Officer, Teranga Gold Corporation
- Helene Claire, Managing Director, Bleufuture
- Jordan Sinclair, Vice President, Group Strategy and Corporate Development, Barclays
Making the Most of Your Next Steps in Human Resources
Discovering different journeys in the field and top tips on how to grow your career from:
- Tim Puddy, Assistant Vice President from Reward, Mizuho Bank
- Simone Smink, HR Advisor, Philips
- Mikaella Christodoulidi, HR Business Account Manager, Proctor & Gamble
- Andy Agouridis, Founder and Director, Career Higher
Keynote, 17:00–18:00
Sandy Begbie, CEO of Scottish Financial Enterprise
The Employability Skills Expo will culminate with a keynote speech from people management and development skills expert Sandy Begbie, CEO of Scottish Financial Enterprise. Sandy will provide tips on how to maximise your potential during these unprecedented times, sharing insights on what employers are looking for, and the future of the world of work, followed by a Q&A.
How to Participate
This event is for University of Edinburgh Business School Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Hons) students. You do not have to attend all sessions; feel free to sign up to as many as you wish. More information on how to sign up for workshops and panel discussions will be released in early January 2021.
Spaces are limited, so please register now: