Interested in applying to the UGOTY Languages Award? We had a catch up with our Winner, Aysel!

After some very busy summer months travelling around and expanding what will be my infinite repertoire of useful and not-so-useful expressions in foreign languages, I have finally arrived in Copenhagen to undertake my LLM in Human Right Law.

It has been a very busy time for me after winning the Languages Undergraduate of the Year award all the way back in April. Immediately after the incredible ceremony in East Wintergarden, where I got to meet the lovely people working at different EU institutions, I had to get back into study mode as my exams were fast approaching. Thankfully, there was my visit to Brussels to look forward to, not to mention an additional trip to the EU offices in London! It was completely unexpected and a very kind gesture by everyone on the EU team to arrange an additional part of the trip. They put in a lot of effort to rearrange events and work their schedule around mine, just so I could get more exposure to their work in various locations. It was both incredibly flattering and very humbling to be in the presence of so many very accomplished individuals, who were taking time off their busy schedules to spend it with me.

The visit to Brussels itself was an action-packed three-day trip, whereby I probably visited more EU institutions in 72 hours than most of the people working for the EU do in the first few months of their employment. Since my preferred destinations were kindly asked for before my arrival, my whole time in the city was spent meeting what I thought were the most interesting people and participating in what seemed like the most engaging conferences. Everything from law to refugees, to new EU regulations that were coming into place, and even a lovely lunch with David Barfield was in place for me. Once more, I felt tremendously privileged to be where I was: in the heart of Europe and its legal machinery amidst the most impressive individuals from all over the continent. I would really love to thank everyone who made my trip as special and insightful as it was for all their effort and encourage every person out there with an interest in languages to apply. Just going through the application process is an eye-opening experience, whilst getting to the final stages is an incredible opportunity to meet remarkable individuals from all over the country who share the same passion as you.

Today, I am in Copenhagen to undertake my LLM, a decision, which has come to be thanks to the Erasmus programme, yet another EU initiative. Coming here for a year, meeting the country’s people and picking up the local language, was so incredible that I had to return. I am now studying Danish intensively alongside my studies, whilst also taking final level Spanish upon a reassurance by someone on the EU team that it wouldn’t be that hard. I took the challenge and although it is proving difficult at times, I love the feeling of excitement and deep achievement I get every time I commit a new vocabulary word to my memory. Thank you, TARGETjobs and EU Careers for once again reminding me how much I love languages and seeing me worthy of this incredible award!

Register for the 2016 Undergraduate of the Year awards now. 

Our Male Undergraduate of the Year, Harrison Dent, tells us what he's been up to since winning the Award!

Why L’Oréal? Because it’s worth it!

What a summer it has been for me! While it seems only yesterday that Managing Director of L’Oréal UK & Ireland read out my name at the 2015 Undergraduate of the Year awards ceremony, so much has happened and I have come so far since that moment.

Straight from the morning of my first day with L’Oréal, I was inducted into the Giorgio Armani fragrances team and given real responsibilities and a very real workload. Day to day administrative tasks were, in fact, kept to a minimum; instead, I was given big project work, from allocating and distributing Christmas gifting elements following complex retail analysis to conducting assessments and analysis on a brand’s promotional performance to adapt and enhance their promotional strategies.

I would even spend time out of the office, analysing the market from a consumer’s perspective and feeding back my findings to the division’s Managing Director. Every task that I carried out added value in some way and that made myself, as an intern, feel valued and essential – something which is often hard to come by in larger companies.

Me at the Body Shop HQ

It has to be said, a marketing internship with Armani fragrances does not mean a marketing internship with Armani fragrances. I was carrying out tasks relating to finance, sales, logistics, commercial to name but a few; and was even given the chance to work across a few of L’Oréal’s designer fragrance brands rather than simply remaining with Armani Fragrances; from Diesel, to Ralph Lauren and even Viktor & Rolf.

As part of winning the award, I was also lucky enough to spend a few days in Paris, meeting various members of Senior Management and shadowing them in certain meetings, giving me a wider understanding of the company as a whole. Upon my return, I was given the chance to have lunch with Michel Brousset, MD of L’Oréal UK&I and discuss with him my experience with the company, his views on certain brands as well as my future career; it felt surreal to be eating fish and chips with the top dog of L’Oréal discussing what my future with the company could entail.

Towards the end of my internship, I applied for the Management Trainee scheme that would begin after I graduated. As I was already integrated into the company, the application process was extremely straightforward. After a short presentation of my work and a brief interview process, I was accepted onto the graduate scheme! It took a while to sink in that before my final year at university had begun, I had already secured a position on a graduate scheme for the following year!

I can honestly say that working for L’Oréal has given me some amazing opportunities and has provided me with a brilliant platform from which to launch a future career. The company as a whole supports its employees in any and every way possible and makes each and every person from the top to the bottom feel valued and important. Although I knew little about neither the beauty industry nor marketing in general before I joined, I can now say that I have a passion for both and cannot wait to start next year’s graduate scheme. Applying for the Male Undergraduate of the Year award is turning out to be one the best decisions I have ever made in terms of my future career!

Myself with Michel Brousset, Managing Director of L'Oréal UK!

Apply for the 2016 Undergraduate of the Year awards now.

Decisions: do I get a graduate job or do postgraduate study?

If you’re struggling to make a decision between doing postgraduate study or getting a graduate job, here are some pros and cons that might help you weigh up your options.

Pros of postgraduate study…

• It might be the key to your dream job. Some graduate schemes and roles require a masters/post-doctoral degree or equivalent. Some sectors require graduates to undertake a conversion course if your first degree isn’t in a relevant discipline – including IT, law and property – and a PGCE is the usual route to becoming a teacher. For graduates whose dream career requires this kind of further study, it’s a no brainer.

• You get to spend more time studying the subject that you love. Some graduates can’t wait to delve deeper into the topics that interest them through postgraduate study. However, you might have hated your degree and find the idea of studying for another year (or more, if you fancy a PhD) unimaginable. If so, it’s probably not the right choice for you…

• More letters after your name. Maybe you just really fancy having ‘Dr’ as your title…

Cons of postgraduate study…

• It can be hard to find funding. This is probably the number one factor that puts students off committing to further study. However, there is help out there – use TARGETpostgrad.com to browse hundreds of bursary, scholarship and fee waiver options to see whether financial support is available for your course.  

• The wealth of options for postgraduate study can be bewildering. If you think that you’d be interested in postgraduate study but feel as if you need more information about what’s available to you then get down to the TARGETpostgrad Study and Funding Fair. The fair is touring the UK until March 2016, giving you the chance to meet course providers and funding experts who will help you answer your questions.

• You might be worried about getting a job afterwards. In some cases postgraduate study is used as an excuse to put off entering the world of work. It’s important to be sure that you really want (or need) to embark on further study rather than using it to bury your head in the sand. If you’re worried about employability, it’s worth noting that most employers will value a year of work experience above a postgraduate degree, unless it is directly relevant to the role.

Pros of getting a graduate job…

• You earn a wage. After three or more years at university living off a student loan, many graduates can’t wait to start to start earning money. Even if it’s just to start paying back some of that debt…

• You usually get on-the-job training. Many graduate schemes and jobs offer the opportunity for candidates to work towards a professional qualification or receive training while working. Some employers also allow graduate employees to take designated study leave to prepare for exams. If financial concerns are putting you off postgraduate study, but you’re keen to work towards further qualifications, this could be the route for you.

Cons of getting a graduate job…

• It might be more difficult to start postgraduate study later on. It is not uncommon for people to return to education later in life, but obviously this is not always simple if you are in a full-time graduate position – it can sometimes involve taking time out of work.

• It can be pretty stressful. University is tough and embarking on a demanding graduate career immediately after graduating can be a recipe for burnout. Although it’s not advisable to take a five year break, it’s not uncommon for graduates to take a year out if they do feel overwhelmed.

• You have to start paying back your student loan once you start earning £21,000. Need I say more?

Whichever route you choose to take, TARGETjobs and TARGETpostgrad have plenty of advice, from tackling the mission that is writing a cover letter for a graduate job to deciding where to do your postgraduate study. If you’re really struggling, the TARGETjobs career planner can help you to become clearer about your career options and make a more informed decision about your career path.

Considering postgraduate study? Want to know more?

If you are considering undertaking postgraduate study, chances are you have a fair few questions - 'How will I get funding?', 'Which universities should I apply to?', 'What course is right for me?'

TARGETpostgrad is the leading provider of postgraduate fairs in the UK, giving you the opportunity to meet course providers and funding experts from across the UK, Europe and beyond. All of this and more for FREE!

2015/16 PG Fairs - dates and locations

• Glasgow: 19th November 2015
• Newcastle: 26th November 2015
• Birmingham: 3rd December 2015
• Cardiff: 4th February 2016
• Sheffield: 18th February 2016
• Liverpool: 25th February 2016
• Southampton: 3rd March 2016

Find out more and register to attend on the TARGETpostgrad website now. 

Read on to see what our runner up Alexander has been up to since the UGOY awards!

Name: Alexander Mäkelä
University: University of Lancaster
Course: BA (Hons) Politics, Philosophy, and Economics

I felt that the Undergraduate Of The Year contest truly kicked in during the assessment center. It was thrilling and exposed me to an industry I’d never considered before. I’ll always fondly remember working on a business case for Armani fragrances as part of our individual tasks. Using creative thinking and applying things you learned at university felt so exhilarating. It sparked an interest, so when I found out that I’d been shortlisted as a Undergraduate Of The Year finalist and invited to attend the Grand Gala in London I felt proud.

The gala itself was an amazing experience and TARGETjobs couldn’t have organized a better event. It was great to be surrounded by young, ambitious, and bright people – the vibe and energy was certainly contagious! While I didn’t win I still saw reaching the final stage as an achievement and a treasured memory. I’m also glad I was able to ride on that feeling and the momentum far into the summer.

Fresh out of university, I welcomed the first guests to the refugee housing facility I’d been working on for bit over a year and I co-founded a new initiative focused on fostering innovation on a Nordic level through large scale incentive competitions. Trying to create a public-private partnership unlike anything attempted before. With this aim I attended two separate week long political festivals in both Denmark and Sweden with goal of gaining support. I’m happy to say that I was invited to present a proposal to national representatives from the Nordic countries at a Nordic Council meeting in Oslo just a few weeks back and the dream is very much still alive! Even as I’m writing this blog post, I’ve just returned from the Association of Space Explorers’ annual congress, oddly enough due to another contest I entered - trying new things and following your dreams can truly bring you to unexpected places!

Apart from that, as a finalist of the Undergraduate Of The Year I was offered a placement within the L’Oréal group - one that I gladly accepted. After the summer, I ended up within the commercial development team at The Body Shop. So far the job has been great, plenty of new things to learn (especially as I’m working with new makeup products – as a guy that’s not easy I’ll tell you!). Plus living in London and getting to explore the city has been a fantastic experience so far and I’ve only gotten started!

I’d say take bold steps as you’ll never know where you’ll end up and who you’ll meet during your journey. For me, the experiences I got with Undergraduate Of The Year opened new opportunities and paths I could never have imagined before. I live and work in one of the most vibrant cities on the planet. Every day as I walk to work I think to myself, I live in a city that almost has as many people as my home country. It always baffles me, it’s simply amazing and I can’t thank TARGETjobs and Undergraduate Of The Year enough for that feeling.

Pre-register for the 2016 Undergraduate of the Year Awards now.

Runner up Laura tells us what she's been up to since the UGOY awards

Name: Laura Mckechnie
University: University of Strathclyde
Course: BA (Hons) Finance and Marketing

I first heard about the TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year competition from an e-mail sent to me by my careers service at my university. I had no expectations of making it through the online tests given the tough competition but nonetheless, I had nothing to lose by applying.

The online tests were something I had never experienced so I was extremely surprised when I found out that I was through to the top 36. I can remember my excitement when I set off for ACCA’s headquarters in London for their assessment day. This was by far the most challenging part of the competition. I was pushed out of my comfort zone but I remained confident in my own abilities. There was no way of telling how each candidate had performed but I left having met some very inspiring, talented young people.

To my amazement, I found out that I had reached the final 10! Before the final in Canary Wharf, I was invited back to ACCA’s headquarters to meet and network with some representatives. It really hit me when these busy professionals had taken the time to come and speak to me and the other finalists about our career aspirations. It was at this point that I also noticed I was one of only two females to make the final cut. This filled me with even more pride.

The final in Canary Wharf was something else. The highlight for me was sitting next to the CEO of ACCA, Helen Brand, throughout the award ceremony. It was a surreal experience that I will never forget. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank TARGETjobs and ACCA for their input and organisation of the event.

If you have read this blog and are thinking of applying this year, my advice would be to go for it! Even if you are having doubts, just think – what’s the worst that can happen?

My top tips for this year's applicants would be:

1) Prepare – carry out research and practice online tests (I found SHL.com very useful)
2) Get involved – don’t stand back and let everyone talk over you but don’t be over powering either
3) Enjoy and learn from the experience – you will most likely encounter challenges, some harder than others, but try and learn from them as this will help you in the future

Feel free to contact me on LinkedIn!

Pre-register for the 2016 Undergraduate of the Year Awards now. 

Our UGOY Low Carbon runner up, Luthfilaudri, tells us about his experience of the awards!

The first time I heard about TARGETjobs' Undergraduate of the Year Award was when I was in my second year. I received an email from my university about the Low Carbon Undergraduate of the Year Award. At the time, I did not bother applying for the award and filling out a lengthy application form. I was thinking that the chance for me to win the award is really small since there is only one winner for each category. I thought that it would be better to apply for other summer internships which have bigger chance of getting accepted. 

In my final year, I received  the same email from university inviting me to apply for Low Carbon Undergraduate of the Year Award. But that time was a bit different as the uni told us that we had won the Low Carbon Award in 2014. That encouraged me to apply for the award, despite the stress I was bearing from doing my final year project. I filled out the application form and wrote the essays required for submission. After that, I clicked the submission button and I immediately received an email that led me to a series of online tests. And hey, who would have known that a couple weeks later I was emailed by EDF energy that a phone interview will be conducted to shortlist several candidates to be invited to an assessment centre. 

The day of telephone interview with an EDF employee eventually came. I was quite nervous at that time although it was not my first time conducting a phone interview. As soon as the conversation started, I felt a sense of relief because the interviewer was really friendly. This phone interview was the toughest interview I had ever done as the interviewer expected concise answers from a set of tricky questions. After the interview ended, all I could do was to pray and hope that I would get to the next round, the assessment centre. But surprisingly, I received an email from TARGETjobs saying that I managed to be in the top 10 finalists for Low Carbon Award. EDF decided not to do an assessment centre. They used the application form and the interview as the basis of their assessment. 

So briefly speaking, I was invited to Canary Wharf in London for the grand finale event. The event was a really great opportunity to network with many talented students from across the UK as well as many employees from highly reputable companies. Not to mention, the food they served was heavenly tasty (that was my first time eating a fancy three course meal). Time did fly and the moment of the winners announcement came. I already had a feeling that my best friend at uni, Rahul, would have won the award. I knew him as a well rounded person, who does not only excel academically but also in social aspect since he was once the president of Chemical Engineering society at uni. And my guess was right, Rahul managed to get the Low Carbon Undergraduate of the Year Award! I was really happy for him.

Although I did not win, I did not go home empty handed. I brought with me a spirit to be a much better individual. I also boosted my confidence level that everything could actually be achieved even if it seems far away from our reach. This has been proven by myself being able to get a postgraduate course and secure a prestigious government scholarship! So my message to all of you who wish to apply for this award is just apply because you will never know what you will get in the end. Do not see a failure as a failure, instead see it as an opportunity to learn and rebuild yourself to come back stronger than ever.

Me with the Uni of Manchester Finalists (top left).

Pre-register for the 2016 Undergraduate of the Year Awards now. 

Our UGOY Engineering winner, Jessica, tells us her experience of the awards!

Applying

Starting my 2nd year at Cardiff University studying Integrated Engineering I had to decide whether I should do a year in industry and what the benefits would be. I was looking at what was to offer when I came across the TARGETjobs competition for ‘Engineering Undergrad of the Year Award’. Looking at the previous year’s winner, the prize looked amazing. Not only would the winner get a year placement with Eon, they would also win a trip for two to one of Eon's European projects, an invitation to the awards ceremony and a trophy. I’m interested in the energy sector so knowing Eon sponsored part of this interested me. This title seemed pretty immense but I thought I’d give it try.

Process 

The process was quite straight forward. This process ranged from answering questions related to the energy sector to psychometric and logic test and submitting your CV. Don’t get put off by this it was all in small chunks which made it easier. I suggest doing them as soon as you can but there is still time to do them last minute if you forget! If you’ve made the effort to apply you’d be silly not to go the last leg. 

Assessment Centre

I got a call from both TARGETjobs and an Eon representative; I was invited to come to the assessment centre along with 20 others for the day. Assessment days are always a bit daunting but this one was actually quite fun (as fun as they can be!), all the assessors there really just wanted to get the best out of you to see your full potential. I thought the assessment day went relatively well but now it was just a waiting game to hear back from them.

Awards Ceremony 

The phone call I had been waiting for! I had been shortlisted to come to the awards ceremony. I was ecstatic. It was such an honour to get to the top 10, getting to this point was an achievement in itself. The competition was tough, I knew this the second I met all these energetic intellectuals at the assessment centre.

The awards ceremony was held in East Wintergardens in London, it was such a vibrant day, I got the chance to meet the other candidates from across the different awards and the Eon representatives. It was a really good place to network. TARGETjobs pulled all the stops out with this, from the delicious food to Fiona Bruce!  Of course one of the most interesting things was meeting her; she gave a great talk to kick off the ceremony. As she read through the winners I started to get a little nervous, the ‘Engineering Undergraduate of the Year’ was one of the last to be called out. Then it was the time all of us at the table had been waiting for. When she called my name out I froze, I couldn’t believe it. Certainly a moment I will never forget.

Working for Eon

I have now started my placement. It wasn’t what I expected as I didn’t know what to expect! With regards to developing and gaining new skills this is a fantastic place to do so. I feel part of a team here. I’ve been here four weeks and loved every minute of it. On top of this I still have a trip planned, to go to Germany to see one of Eon's projects.

Moving on/Advice

A female winning the ‘Engineering Undergraduate of the Year Award’ is a milestone in relation to us as a society moving forward in promoting STEM subjects to females and equal opportunities, I want to say a big thank you to TARGETjobs and Eon for supporting this, hopefully this will encourage girls to follow their dreams in subjects that are prevalently taken by boys. It is so important to have a mixed gender workforce!

Only advice I would give is to just go for it, do it for the placement, do it for the holiday, do it for the experience, the awards ceremony and for you. Through any part of the process you will only gain valuable skills to help you further in life. Apply now what have you got to lose!

Apply for the 2016 Undergraduate of the Year awards now. http://undergraduateoftheyear.com/  

We’re off! Our time as TARGETjobs editorial interns…

Hi, we’re Charlotte and Ruth, two of the editorial interns here at TARGETjobs. Today marks the end of our four month internship, so we thought we’d reflect on our time at GTI Media.

Highs

We’ve sincerely appreciated the friendly vibes at GTI. The expectation as incoming interns, as most students imagine, was that we’d be ostracized by the more mature and experienced full-timers due to our lack of life experience and the bad rep we suffer from as ‘students’. However, we couldn’t have been made to feel more at-ease. As a reasonably small company, we’ve gotten to know a lot of our co-workers – even the CEO stops for a quick chat when we’re grabbing a cuppa.

One of the best parts of being an editorial intern was the interviewing, from partners in law firms to accountancy graduates, we all got to talk to industry professionals. The variety of interviewees means every interview has been different; you could be talking about the impact of the legal aid cuts one day, and about advice for aspiring engineers the next. It’s great to see the article printed and seeing your name credited in the publication too.

As we’re both going into final year (scary!) it’s officially time to sort ourselves out and start applying for grad jobs. Our time working at TARGETjobs has definitely been instrumental in figuring out what we actually could (and want to) do with our lives.

Lows

We are based in an office and sitting down all day on a computer can take its toll (hard to believe, we know). There is also constant cake in the office and biscuit time at 3 pm means a fat bulge has appeared. No summer bod for us.

It’s great to have a CV with no gaps, but a four month internship does push the boundaries of endurance. Maybe that has something to do with being accustomed to the luxury of the student-summer, but the summer holiday bants have been sorely missed.

Relocating

Being from NI, commuting to work in Oxfordshire every morning wasn’t really on the cards. Luckily (especially given rent prices in the area) one of my best friends lives 20 minutes from the office. It might sound like a long time to be on top your friend and her family, but in reality when you’re working 9 – 5 and have a social life, you really aren’t in the house for much other than dinner and bed. – Ruth

I’m not from the Oxford area either, so had to rent a room that I found online and it really wasn’t as bad as it sounds. The family were very welcoming, and a full-time job and making friends in the area meant I was hardly in the house. I’d moved away from home for uni, so knew I’d be able to do it again. – Charlotte

Signing off…

We’ve both learned a lot this summer, and honestly feel like much more employable adults! So we can’t recommend getting a summer internship enough – and if you’re lucky, the person you get stuck sitting beside for over 40 hours each week could be really sound.

Article written by Charlotte Wharf and Ruth Thompson, TARGETjobs Editorial Interns. Connect with Charlotte and Ruth on LinkedIn. 

Was I right to go to university?

Hi I'm Charlotte, a current editorial intern at TARGETjobs. I have recently read a research report by TARGETjobs’ parent company, GTI Media, which was sponsored by EY. It found many parents seem to think of university as the only route for their children, as only 1% said they know ‘a lot’ about university alternatives such as school leaver programmes. 

During my editorial internship at GTI Media, I have researched and drafted articles for TARGETjobs, which is a graduate careers site, and I have also researched and drafted articles for TARGETcareers, which is aimed at school leavers who are deciding whether they want to go to university or not. I have learned there are many options available to students who have completed their A levels and it has made me think about my decision to go to university: is a degree worth the price tag or are work experience and other ‘earn while you learn’ routes  more valuable in the current employment market? Here are my thoughts.

The benefits of working

I have developed many skills that I can take to a publishing workplace during my four month internship. GTI Media has offered me training in how to conduct editorial interviews, how to communicate with clients, and the basics of search engine optimisation and HTML. I have also learned what recruiters think when interviewing, which will help me with interview processes in the future. These are all great skills and examples to add to my CV.

The best part, for me, has been gaining an understanding about business in general. I’ve had part-time jobs before, but attending weekly meetings at GTI Media about the progress of publications and online content, for example, has given me a commercial awareness and exposed me to how a successful business operates. My experiences have led me consider a business career – something I would never have thought of before. 

The training I have been given has been invaluable. My communication skills have grown from emailing and calling clients as well as interviewing professionals and graduates. My persistence has been tested from not giving up when clients have been hard to get hold of. My writing skills have been developed from drafting articles aimed at different target audiences that are published online and in print. I have learned that I work best when I have many different projects to keep my mind busy, and that I am motivated by visual results, such as seeing articles I have drafted being uploaded online. Surely these examples and skills will appeal to recruiters, not what I think of Dante’s Inferno?

The benefits of university

I have learned a lot of life skills during two years at university that are invaluable for later life. Moving away from home to a new area has allowed me to come out of my comfort zone. It took me time to realise that I'm not going to get on with everyone I cross paths with. I have learned how to pay bills, how to deal with the council, and how to balance my academic studies, extracurricular activities, a part-time job and a social life. How would I have gained these experiences if I did not go to university?

Being an English literature and drama student, I have developed my analytical, research and writing skills from meetings with academics who are experts in their field. University has also given me the opportunity to get involved with extracurricular activities, such as production managing for a theatre company, which has allowed my organisation and management skills to grow. Would I ever have got involved with production managing without going to university? I doubt it.

In conclusion

I have not reached an answer to my original question – I believe there are many options available to students and that all are valuable for different reasons. I do not regret my decision to go to university, as I will have three years’ worth of great memories and friends, and have accepted I will start my working life with a lot of debt. However, I do think that being in the workplace (whether via an internship or apprenticeship) teaches you how to apply your skills in a professional, working environment. Everyone has different desires and needs – students need to explore the variety of routes available to make sure their decision is the best one to suit their aspirations and career. 

Article written by Charlotte Wharf, TARGETjobs Editorial Intern. Connect with Charlotte on LinkedIn. 

Catching up with our Future CFO runner up, Daniel Tascon

I applied for the Future CFO of the Year award because the award sounds very respectable, and it suited my interests in both Accounting and Finance. I was told about this competition through my university's career service, but it was one of many emails I received so when I saw it for the first time I didn’t pay much attention. But as the competition deadline coincided with the end of my applications for summer internships, I felt that being part of a respected competition such as Undergraduate of the Year would really improve my chances next year, and add to my CV regardless of how far I came in the competition. For these reasons I applied for the competition. 

After applying I was invited to take part in the numerical test and was told that I would know if I got through after a month or so. This period was quite nerve wrecking as I of course wanted to make it through to the assessment centre! After a month I was glad to receive confirmation that I passed the tests, and ACCA invited me to an assessment centre in their offices. I approached this assessment centre with little expectations that in a group of 30 people I would be able to stand out, but excited to see what ACCA had in store. When I got there the day was run very professionally, and I had to take part in a wide range of activities that tested skills such as presenting, problem solving and communicating clearly. 

After the assessment centre I had to wait another month or so before knowing whether I had made it into the last 10, and if I would be going to the awards ceremony in Canary Wharf. I was very honoured when I received confirmation that I was a finalist in the competition. I attended the event which involved networking and a speech from Fiona Bruce, which was all very enjoyable. In the end I did not win the award, however the experience was worth it and applying to the award helped me to gain confidence in my abilities as well as learn a lot!

After the competition I completed a 9 week internship at Barclay's within their Finance Department, which I found very interesting. However I have now decided to apply to Investment Banking this coming year, since I have developed a large interest in understanding corporate finance. I hope being a finalist in the Undergraduate of the Year Awards reflects my interest in the finance world and will help me achieve this!

Apply for the 2016 Undergraduate of the Year Awards now. 

An intern’s guide to writing CVs and impressing at interviews

Hi I’m Lizzie, a current editorial intern at GTI Media (the parent company of TARGETjobs). As an intern, I am very familiar with the process of applying for work experience; I’ve been through it! Here are some key pieces of advice that I’ve learned on writing a good CV and covering letter, and how to impress at an internship interview. 

Writing your CV and covering letter

My key pieces of advice for applying for internships are to thoroughly research the companies that you want to apply for before you write your applications, and to tailor each CV and covering letter to what the individual job advertisement asks for. If an employer puts a list of skills or attributes they want candidates to have, go through the list and explain how you have them/give examples for each on your covering letter. If they ask for your earliest starting date, put one! If they put a name on the job description, address your application to that person – if there is no name, either see if you can Google who to address or phone up the company and ask.

Here are some resources that I found useful when applying for internships. 

• An essential guide on how to write your CV

• An example internship CV template

• How to fill in an online application form

• How to write a covering letter

Presenting yourself well at interview

You should take internship interviews just as seriously as you would interviews for permanent roles; securing an internship could make a huge impact on your future career! Dress smartly, show up about 10–15 minutes early, give a good handshake, smile, make eye contact and be polite – don’t let being nervous make you come across as uninterested or rude! Preparing answers to common interview questions beforehand can also make a big difference to how well you come across during the interview.

Although you should have researched the company when you applied, you’ll need to do it again to refresh your memory the day before your interview, and to see if there are any updates. Also, if you have to travel quite a long way to get to your interview, plan your route in advance and make sure you know where you’re going when you arrive.

Once you are invited for your interview, don't forget to check out advice on how to shine in your work experience interview. 

Article written by Lizzie Akass, TARGETjobs Editorial Intern. Connect with Lizzie on LinkedIn.

TARGETjobs career advice weekly roundup

Hello, welcome to this week's weekly roundup post.

This week I will be sharing with you all the latest career advice that we have published onto our website. 

http://targetjobs.co.uk/

Before I begin with this week's upcoming internships and graduate job deadlines, I have an exciting announcement to make.

The BIG announcement

As from 2 July 2014 TARGETfcourses.co.uk will be renamed to TARGETpostgrad.com. 

The reason behind this changeover is to enable more perspective students from around the world find our site and we can deliver you a more interesting service. 

Now, on to the careers advice

This week's upcoming internship deadlines could see you jetting off to the Netherlands with Unilever or to India with Pursue Asia. Whether you're looking for four weeks of work experience or a year in the industry, apply now before it's too late!

It's also time to apply for the many end-of-the-month deadlines for graduate jobs. 30 June in particular is a big day, with more than a dozen employers closing theirs doors to any more applications. Whether it's law, engineering, retail, business or IT roles you're looking for, there are still plenty of options available with popular graduate employers, such as Skanska UK, Centrica and Peel Hunt LLP. So don't wait around - make sure you apply before the month is out.

Sector areas

Law

The TARGETjobs Law team recently visited seven law firms to see what they wanted to tell you about diversity in the workforce. Law firms want to see the best training contract applicants regardless of race, gender or background, but there is sometimes the worry that this message doesn't get across. Here's what we found out: 'What are law firms doing about diversity?'

If you’re considering a career in law and are thinking to apply to Clyde & Co, then remember you have until 31 July to get your training contract applications done. That gives you plenty of time to get researching and plan out what you’re going to say before you send in that final, perfect application. When you need help, check out our guide to selling your skills in a Clyde & Co training contract application. 

Property

Gerald Eve are currently recruiting for immediate start vacancies, this is a rare opportunity to have! To all those interested in a career within property this is for you. 'Tailor you graduate application form and CV to Gerald Eve' A word of warning: completing this application form will be time consuming, with five applications questions and a covering letter to write from scratch, as well as a CV tailored to the firm. Gerald Eve look for such specific attributes in graduate employees that adapting an application you've made to another property firm will end in rejection. 

Retail

Majestic Wine is expanding and they are seeking to hire graduates from any discipline into trainee management roles. Read our article 'How to become a trainee retail manager with Majestic Wine' to find out more about the retailer's recruitment plans and how you can impress in your application and interview. 

Finance

The Royal Bank of Scotland typically holds two rounds of interviews for its graduate programme: a telephone interview and an interview at an assessment centre. Little can prepare you for these interviews like a heads-up of the types of questions that you may be asked and advice for answering them. Have a read of our article 'Common RBS graduate interview questions and how to answer them' to help you focus your answers and impress on the recruiter.

That's all from me this week.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend and good luck with your applications.

Roxanne

TARGETjobs career advice weekly roundup

We hope everybody is looking forward to the bank holiday weekend – here’s our weekly career roundup to make the weekend even better!

As always I will start with next week's internship and graduate job deadlines:

Summer and graduate internships and placements to apply for now, with application deadlines coming up next week - apply here.

There are graduate job deadlines coming up fast in a range of career areas here on targetjobs.co.uk, from financial services and insurance to engineering, IT and sales. Click here to apply now!

Job opportunity

Now, do you like what we do? Do you also have a passion for events? Then apply to be an Event Promotions Executive and join our team here at TARGETjobs!

As an Event Promotions Executive, you will

• Develop your communication skills
• Gain hiring and management experience
• Be responsible for planning and executing your own event attendance
• Demonstrate you can exceed targets
• Learn from a hands-on marketing team
• Get you own company car!

If this sounds interesting to you then why not apply now! We currently have four opportunities available so don't miss out on working for a fun, inspiring and prestigious company.

On to our latest career advice articles..

If you're thinking of applying to Arup then we can tell you all about their interview process. Over the years, many students have asked TARGETjobs questions about succeeding at the Arup UK graduate recruitment process – whether at careers events or via social media. So we spoke to Aman Rai, graduate recruitment adviser at Arup, to get answers to your most frequently asked questions about applying to the firm. Read here to find out what questions they’re likely to bring up.

Now the interview is the second and final stage of the Arup graduate recruitment process in the UK, read this article to find out what Arup interviewee's are looking for in a successful candidate and find out how this could be you!

Are you interested in working in construction and property development? If your answer is yes then have a read of our article for application tips on how to apply for a graduate role with BAM Construct UK Ltd.

If you have decided to apply for a graduate position with BAM then we can tell you all about the interview process. The graduate recruitment process at BAM Construct UK is pretty simple: if you are successful at the application stage, you will usually be asked to participate in a telephone ‘screening’ interview and attend up to two face-to-face interviews. 

Members of the graduate recruitment team usually conduct the telephone interview. They will also sit in on at least one of your face-to-face interviews, which are usually led by senior managers in the region or sector you’d be working in. Read more on this topic here.

This article is for all the law students - Once you’ve submitted your targeted and proofread training contract applications before the July deadlines (having read all our handy applications advice on targetjobslaw.co.uk, of course), you’ll hopefully  be invited along to a law firm’s assessment centre. Find out in our article 'Be your best self in a law assessment centre group exercise' what we learned by being a fly on the wall at a Reed Smith group exercise – our advice applies to all law assessment centres. 

Did you know that GlaxoSmithKline was the most popular science recruiter at the TARGETjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2014? Maintaining their remarkable track record. The pharmaceutical company has won this award for as long as it has been up for grabs. So what is the secret of GlaxoSmithKline’s enduring popularity? If working in Pharmaceuticals is your desired career then have a read of our article 'The key to GlaxoSmithKline's popularity? Students who want to help'.  Find out why GSK is such a popular company amongst science undergrads. 

That's all from me this week! 

Best of luck with any applications that you make this week.

Have a great weekend.

Roxanne

TARGETjobs career advice weekly roundup

Hello, it’s that time of the week again for me to tell you what we've been reporting in this past week on all things to do with graduate recruitment. 

General news from TARGETjobs

Let me start with some exciting news. Our How to get hired Live event is fast approaching. 22 April 2014 at Wembley stadium – 600 students, 150 recruiters this is the biggest career event of the year!

With a line-up of some of the UK's leading industry professionals as the guest speakers, this career event offers first hand advice to all attendees.

 There is still chance to buy a ticket... Click on www.gethiredlive.co.uk

On to our latest career advice articles:

Have you considered what you are looking for when job hunting? Have a read of our article ‘Fun,prospects or money: what are you looking for?’ Even if you don’t know what career to go for you may have a good idea of what they want out of a job? Are you looking for prestige or power, money or fun? You decide.

Social networks are great tools for keeping in touch with your friends and family, but graduate recruiters can use them too. With this in mind, we've looked at how you can manage your online reputation and use social networks in your search for a graduate job. Have a read of our article ‘Social networking and graduate recruitment: manage youronline reputation’ to find out how to make use of your social networks for professional gain.

With so many graduates now on the market, employers will look for evidence of skills and work experience which will make you stand out from the crowd. Start gathering them now or work on what you've got so you are ready to impress recruiters. Have a read of our article ‘The top10 skills that'll get you a job when you graduate’ to find out what those skills are. 

Are you interested in finding out which professions offer the highest starting salaries? See what's on offer from big recruiters in the most popular graduate career areas in our article 'Which graduate career offers the best pay'.

We conclude as always with the roundup of graduate job deadlines closing soon: here

We wish you the best of luck with your applications.

Happy Easter everyone!

Roxanne