Jamie Cooper-Higgins discusses winning the Scotland Undergraduate of the Year Award 2014 and how maximising his experience at university has paid off…

I heard about the Undergraduate of the Year Awards through both the StrathclydeCareers Service and also TARGETjobs Events who run the awards. I decided to enter because it was simply too great an opportunity to pass up.

I could spend the time completing the application process for a shot at the next stage and ultimately winning, or I could not try and regret never knowing… It was worth the effort then and in retrospect definitely worth the effort now!

There are 12 different categories in the Undergraduate of the Year Awards which all follow a similar, but not identical, application process. I applied for the Scotland Undergraduate of the Year Award 2014 and first of all had to complete an online application, then a comprehensive set of SHL psychometric tests designed by the event sponsor The Corporate Executive Board Company (CEB).

We were then shortlisted, and I was invited to an assessment centre with Information Technology group CGI, at their UK offices in Reading. There I was assessed on all the soft skills they were looking for in a graduate. Along with the other finalists in my category I was then invited to attend the award ceremony but had no idea I had won until it was announced.

Although academic performance was a factor in winning, it definitely wasn’t the only one. The awards recognise drive and ambition in candidates, shown through extra-curricular activities and life experiences. I’ve tried to maximise my experience while at university through part-time work, marketing internships, military service with the RAF – and last summer as a Saltire Scholar I interned with Barclays Wealth & Investment Management in New York for two months. I’ve not had any of these opportunities handed on a plate to me, and I’ve had to work for them, but I’m very grateful towards organisations like the Saltire Foundation for working so hard to offer these amazing opportunities.

Attending the Grand Final in Canary Wharf, London, was absolutely fantastic! Sir Trevor McDonald hosted the awards and it really was an honour to accept the award from such a distinguished public figure. His speech about the trajectory of his own career and the merits of hard work and determination really resonated with everyone in the room. The whole episode will definitely stick with me forever.

The event was very well organised – The food and drink was really impressive and I’m very grateful I was able to share it with all of the fellow finalists and CGI staff on our table; it really was a fantastic day.

The whole experience has undoubtedly been worth it and I’m glad I went for it. The benefit of being able to put the accolade on my CV is great and time will tell what kind of doors that opens. On a personal level it was great to be recognised for the work I’ve put in over the last few years to make it happen.

Jamie Cooper-Higgins, Marketing, University of Strathclyde

Scotland Undergraduate of the Year winner 2014

Do you think this could be you for 2015? Apply to the awards here: undergraduateoftheyear.com

TARGETjobs career advice weekly roundup

Hello everyone it's that time again for your weekly fix for everything that is going on in the world of graduate recruitment!

To start I would like to share with you all this week's graduate job and internship deadlines.

Check out next week's application deadlines for graduate jobs and schemes in IT, finance and more - here

Don't miss out on next week's internship deadlines, click here to apply.

Career advice

Do you aspire to work within IT & technology? Have a read of our article 'Good answers to CGI's graduate scheme online application questions' for hints and tips of how to progress in you chosen career and answer those significant questions in your application.

CGI assessment centres for graduate jobs last half a day and consist of a one-hour interview and a group exercise. There is also a writing task to submit before the day. Have a read of our insider advice on how to succeed at CGI assessment centres and interviews.

The Pupillage Gateway is closed, but there’s not much time to have a break. If you’re a law student or BPTC-starter who has applied for pupillage this year, get yourself in shape in case an interview turns up with top tips from professional barristers.

Work experience is the holy grail you need before you’ll be considered for a journalism job. Find out what does and doesn’t count as work experience in journalism as well as which employers to look at and what you need to do to get it.  Click here to find out more.

Interview techniques and tips

An invitation to an interview means you're well on your way to securing yourself a graduate job. But selling your skills face to face or on the phone is very different from selling your skills on paper. Here in our article 'Eight steps to graduate interview success' are the main steps to help you think on your feet and prepare for all eventualities.

Mostly everyone gets nervous before a job interview so we have collected some expert tips in case you need a last-minute confidence boost before your graduate job interview. Have a read of our article 'Last - minute interview confidence boost: if you don't feel it, fake it!'

That's all for this week!

Good luck in your applications and have a great weekend.

Roxanne