THE OXFORD

2023
GUIDE TO
CAREERS
pp 8–15
Developing career ideas

pp 47–65
Application essentials

pp 66–136
Industry sector briefings
 WELCOME TO THE
OXFORD GUIDE
TO CAREERS 2023
After two years of generally remote working, disrupted
lives, and organisations trying to work out the best
New Ways of Working, it’s exciting and wonderful to be
returning to normal. We’ve all missed being with other
people, having creative working sessions, and the chance
to meet employers and colleagues in person.
In Oxford we’re looking forward to hosting live panel
discussions, in-person careers fairs, and the chance to
travel to internships all over the world. We want to retain
the good parts of the last two years, as we’ve learned
we can achieve even more, meet many more of you,
save you time, and still provide all the skills training that
employers want. We’ll give you the choice as many of
our 1:1s, insight talks and so on will be offered online.
Jonathan Black, Employers are in transition, so do stay adaptable
Director of the Careers Service and open to new opportunities. Focus on developing
your set of transferable skills – like teamwork, business
awareness, leadership, and problem solving – that

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 1
WELCOME

every employer is seeking when they recruit. You can • Visit in-person careers fairs.
develop your employability skills in our programmes and • Meet some employers in person and online.
also in activities in many other places including college, • Arrange to have some information interviews with
department, student societies, sports, volunteering, and alumni.
the creative arts. • Log onto or attend one of the many ‘Introduction
We have written this Guide for any and every Oxford to…’ talks we run.
undergraduate or postgraduate, artist or scientist, who • To gain more skills:
each usually have one of three questions: • Take part in the Oxford Strategy Challenge or The
• Where do I start? Student Consultancy – online or in person.
• How do I gain more skills to improve my chances •
Get work experience through an Oxford-exclusive
(especially in this time of change)? summer internship.
• Where do I find jobs and internships? •
Attend Insight into Teaching/Medicine/Business/
You’ll find answers to these questions, and many Publishing/Academia/Pharma programmes.
more in this Guide: from ‘How do I write a winning CV?’ • To find jobs and internships:
to ‘What does it take to be a solicitor?’ and from ‘How •
Log onto CareerConnect.
do I get experience in the museum and heritage sector?’ •
Sign up for automatic alerts about new jobs in
to ‘How do I meet a careers adviser for a 1:1 meeting?’. your industries of choice.
This Guide is just one of the many free services you •
Connect with the Internship Office to explore
can access from the University Careers Service. Other our Summer Internship Programme and Micro-
services you can use include: Internship Programme.
• To get started: We look forward to meeting you in person or online
• Book a confidential 1:1 (there are over 5,000 at our fairs and events – both while you are here and for
online every year to choose from). the rest of your career.

2 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
In-person
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY
CAREERS FAIR
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | 11:00-15:00
Examination Schools, OX1 4BG

Meet recruiters,
explore graduate
roles, internships
and full-time jobs,
and find out about
different career
options at Oxford
University's careers
fair for all sectors.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/oucf
 p 8
THE CAREERS SERVICE
AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD

An overview of the recruitment

THE OXFORD year at Oxford University and

the range of support available

GUIDE TO
at the Careers Service.

CAREERS 2023 Your Careers Service .............................................. 8

What’s next? What’s first? ................................ 10
Careers term by term ......................................... 12
Careers year by year ........................................... 14

The team

16
Content: The Careers Service
Editor: Leanne Carveth p
Publishing assistant: Charlotte Murphy

DEVELOPING YOUR
Design and layout: Simon Minter, Nineteenpoint Ltd
Sales: Aisling Ridge
Marketing: Corina Lacurezeanu
Accounts: Stacey Phillington CAREER IDEAS
With thanks to:
All Oxford University Careers Service staff and alumni
contributors
Images: Ian Wallman Photography, John Cairns Careers information and advice
Photography, Stuart Cox Photography, Oxford University for everyone – including how
Images, and past and present Oxford University
students. Alumni photographs are the subjects’ own. We
to develop and explore ideas
also acknowledge Shutterstock and Unsplash for images for what to do next, from
further study to how to find
Where to find us graduate jobs.

56 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6PA

Telephone: + 44 (0) 1865 27 46 46 Five steps for better career planning .............. 17
Email: [email protected] Ethical networking ............................................... 22
www.facebook.com/oxfordcareers Building your occupational awareness ............ 25
www.linkedin.com/company/oxford-careers Routes into graduate employment .................. 28
www.twitter.com/oxfordcareers Further study ......................................................... 30
www.instagram.com/oxfordcareers Working in different countries .......................... 32
www.youtube.com/user/OxfordCareersService Visa options for working in the UK .................. 34
www.facebook.com/internshipoffice

4 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 CONTENTS

p 36
GAINING EXPERIENCE
AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

Core employability skills: what

they are and ideas on how to
develop them. p 66
INDUSTRY SECTOR
Developing core skills ..........................................
Joining employability programmes ..................
37
39 BRIEFINGS AND
Seven ways to gain experience ........................
Making the most of the InternshipOffice ......
42
45 ALUMNI PROFILES

An introduction to a wide
p 47 range of different industries,
including real-world insights
APPLICATION and advice from Oxford alumni.

ESSENTIALS Academia and Higher Education ....................... 68

Accountancy and Financial Services ................ 72
Advertising, Marketing and PR ......................... 76
Banking and Investment ..................................... 78
Advice, guidance and tactics Business and Management ................................ 82
Business with Purpose ........................................ 85
for being your best at all stages Charity and Social Enterprise ............................ 87
of the application process. Consultancy ........................................................... 90
Creative Industries ............................................... 97
Culture and Heritage ........................................ 101
Successful applications ....................................... 48 Education ............................................................. 103
Equality and diversity in the Energy, Sustainability and Environment ...... 106
application process .............................................. 50 Engineering ......................................................... 109
CVs ........................................................................... 51 Health and Social Care ..................................... 113
Cover letters .......................................................... 54 International Policy and Development ......... 115
Application forms for employment Law ........................................................................ 117
and further study ................................................. 56 National Policy and Government ................... 122
How to reflect the same experience Publishing ............................................................ 124
in a CV, cover letter and application form ..... 57 Science ................................................................. 127
Recruitment tests ................................................ 58 Start-Ups and Entrepreneurship ................... 132
Assessment centres ............................................. 60 Tech: IT, Data, AI and Machine Learning ..... 134
Confident interviews ........................................... 62 Other careers ..................................................... 140

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

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX CONTRIBUTORS’ INDEX

3Keel LLP
Oxford Careers Service would Josefin Malmberg .............................................. 107

like to thank all supporters of Accenture

this publication. Dr Lakshmi Manjoosha Adapa ........................ 110

Admiral Insurance
Compass Lexecon ................................................. 92 Sophia ...................................................................... 73

d-fine Ltd ............................................................... 92

APR LLP
Da Vinci Derivatives ................ 80, 81, 137, 138 Ian McFarlane ........................................................ 73

Eden McCallum ..................................................... 92 AstraZeneca

Ulrike Künzel ....................................................... 129
EY-Parthenon ........................................................ 93

FTI Consulting ....................................................... 95 Asylum Welcome

Katie Forsyth ......................................................... 88
G-Research ............................. Outside back cover
B Lab UK
GSA Capital ............................................................ 81 James Ghaffari ...................................................... 86
IMC ........................................... 74, 112, 130, 139
Barts Health NHS Trust
INSEAD .................................................................... 71 Eleanor Sharpe ................................................... 114

Jane Street ............................................................. 81 BBC

Oxford Alpha Fund ............................................... 80 Safa Dar ............................................................... 100

Oxford Hub ............................................................ 89 Beamery

Matthew Noble .................................................. 135
Oxford Strategy Group ....................................... 94

Oxford University PGCE .................................. 105 Clyde & Co

Ewan Fraser ......................................................... 120
Oxford Women in Business ................................ 84
DeepMind
Vantage ................................................................ 121 Dr Markus Wulfmeier ....................................... 110
RBB ........................................................................... 96
Deloitte Consulting
Reply Ltd .................... Inside back cover, 95, 136 Jonny Walker ......................................................... 86

Teach First ........................................................... 105 dunnhumby

Teneo Consulting .................................................. 96 Jasper Hajonides ................................................ 135

The Oxford Guild Business Society E Co

Debasmita Boral ................................................ 116
................................................75, 80, 95, 121, 137
Element Energy
TPP ............................................... Inside front cover
Alistair Duffey .................................................... 107
TTP ........................................................................ 111

6 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 CONTRIBUTORS’ INDEX

Oxford Careers Service would like to thank all

contributors for submitting profiles and quotes.

European Centre for Medium-Range Mother

Weather Forecasts Melanie Eckersley ................................................. 77
Sam Hatfield ....................................................... 129
Organisation for Economic Co-operation
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Development (OECD)
Sam Banks ........................................................... 123 Emile Rolland ....................................................... 116

Fishawack Health Osprey Publishing

Phoebe Hobbs .................................................... 128 Tallulah Griffith ................................................... 125

Freelance Outer Temple Chambers

Esme Ash ............................................................. 100 Courtney Step-Marsden ................................. 119

Freelance Oxford University PGCE

Andy Laithwaite .................................................... 99 Joseph Drakeley ................................................. 104

FTI Consulting Penguin Random House

Fred Hudson ........................................................... 91 April Peake ........................................................... 125

Gotoco Procter & Gamble (P&G)

Richard Lloyd and Danny Parrott .................. 133 Catherine Haigh .................................................... 83

Government Legal Department REED Specialist Recruitment Limited

Olivia Phelan ....................................................... 120 Ann-Marie Jay ....................................................... 83

Haseltine Lake Kemper LLP Secondary School

Dr Lisa Rodermund ........................................... 128 Imogen Hobby .................................................... 104

HSBC South London and Maudsley NHS

Oliver Brophy ......................................................... 79 Alicia Graham ...................................................... 114

IGG Mobile Games The National Trust

Paoula Sobanda ..................................................... 99 Katie Ramsey ...................................................... 102

iLoF The Value Engineers

Mehak Mumtaz ................................................. 133 Rachel Ballard ........................................................ 77

Innovia Technology University of Konstanz

Runsen Ma ............................................................. 91 Dr Lena Rose ......................................................... 69

Jane Street University of Oxford

Nicole R ................................................................... 79 Oliver Hedges ........................................................ 69

Janus Henderson Investors Unlocked

Larissa Wilson ..................................................... 119 Esme Herman ........................................................ 88

Ministry of Justice V&A Museum

Nicholas Linfoot ................................................. 123 Isobel Cockburn .................................................. 102

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 7
THE CAREERS
SERVICE AND
YOUR YEAR AHEAD
The Careers Service provides support and impartial
advice on any careers-related topic. Use this Guide to
get started, and see our website for in-depth guidance:
www.careers.ox.ac.uk
Kellogg College
56 Banbury Road,
Oxford OX2 6PA

The Careers Service

offers a full programme
Wycliffe Hall
of support and activities
both online and in person. Jericho

See www.careers.ox.ac.uk University

Parks

for details.

8 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 THE CAREERS SERVICE AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD

Daily Recruiter in residence and

Advice appointments: Confidential and impartial one-
mock interviews
to-one meetings with a careers adviser held online, on
the phone or in person at the Careers Service, with extra Meet employers one-to-one and learn about their
sessions hosted in departments and colleges. Book in sector or organisation, get advice on your CV and
advance on CareerConnect. applications or have a practice interview. Times and
topics advertised on CareerConnect.

Weekly
The Careers Service and
Newsletter: The easiest way to keep up to date
during term, our newsletter hits your inbox each
COVID-19
week with details of upcoming events and
opportunities. In 2022 and 2023, all our usual workshops, programmes
Talks and workshops: We frequently host talks on and appointments will go ahead. Over the last 2 years of
specific career options and run skills workshops, many the pandemic we have, more than ever, been reviewing
with invited external speakers. Most are open to all how we bring our careers services to you. Going forward
students, with some tailored to master’s students, DPhil we are planning to run some of our events, such as
students or research staff. careers fairs and workshops, in person while others will
predominantly be online. Some events may be hybrid
– with options to attend in person or online! We plan
Termly to be out in departments and colleges too wherever
this is possible. All the details you need will be included
TOSCA: Work in a team to help local organisations solve on the event information when you book your place on
real business problems and develop your employability CareerConnect in the usual way. We are staying up to
skills: includes consultancy training. date with the latest employer news so that we can pass
Skills sessions: Workshops and presentations on a useful information on to students and alumni via our
specific topic, such as psychometric tests or interviews, website and weekly newsletter.
led by an employer or a careers adviser. All advertised on
CareerConnect.
Micro-internships: Two- to five-day voluntary, full-
time work placements with a host organisation.

Annually CareerConnect
Career fairs: Meet employers and alumni to learn about www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careerconnect
and explore some of the options available. Starting early
in Michaelmas term, we run at least eight sector fairs, Accessed with your Oxford Single Sign-on,
whether online or in person! CareerConnect is the password-protected area
Opportunities: Nearly 10,000 vacancies and of the Careers Service website that provides
internships are advertised every year on CareerConnect. dedicated services enabling you to:
The Summer Internship Programme: Hundreds of • Book appointments.
work experience opportunities in many sectors and • Browse our calendar of events.
countries exclusively for Oxford students. • Book your place on workshops and employer-
led events.
• Search our extensive database of job vacancies
Plus… and internships.
• Access additional resources to which we
Insight into: Short programmes to help you develop subscribe on your behalf, including practice
your knowledge and understanding of a specific field, tests.
including Insights into Teaching, Medicine, Business, … and much more!
Publishing and Academia.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 9
THE CAREERS SERVICE AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD

What’s Career readiness grid

next? 1 Make a start

What’s
Whether your next move is to explore a little and try
something new, or to reflect on your personal preferences
and start planning, the important thing is to make a start.
•

first?
Attend a career fair or company events.
• Use career planning tools to generate ideas and a
focus.
• Get involved with a student society.
• Sign up for some workshops.
The pointers opposite (for students in Quadrants 2
Take a breath, find your bearings and 3) indicate more specifically what’s needed to move
‘down’ and ‘right’ on the Career Readiness Grid.
and think about what would Remember, it’s never too late to start, and the
most help you move forward. Careers Service is here to support you all the way.

Most students will explore career options, including

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 not sure…
current course, and will help students who have a clear
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;
signposts further resources to explore options, make …if it is truly right for me.
decisions, and work purposefully towards a successful
future. Whether your focus is a logical next step from your
Consider the following questions about your possible degree, or comes from career planning (or even a
next steps and mark where you currently stand on the hunch), getting some experience will help you both
grid on the opposite page. to be a stronger candidate and understand better
• How clear are your ideas? why a role, organisation or further study option is
• How well do you understand your core interests and right for you.
motivations? The most powerful way to find out if you enjoy
• And, do you have sufficient understanding and something is to try it. See the guidance on Gaining
experience to make a sound decision? Experience and Developing Skills for advice and ideas
about opportunities to ‘learn by doing’. Consider:
• Taking on a similar role in your extracurricular
activities (for example, for a student society).
• Doing an internship or volunteering.
• Participating in the Careers Service’s employability
programmes.
• Work-shadowing or short-term work experience.
Use career fairs and company-led events to talk with
alumni and others working in specific fields to test any
assumptions, deepen your understanding and extend
your thinking. When combined with experience you may
identify additional ideas to develop into your plan B and
plan C as a back-up to your primary focus.
If you have doubts or questions, book an
appointment with a careers adviser on CareerConnect
for an unbiased conversation.

10 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 THE CAREERS SERVICE AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD

Plot your Focused exclusively

progress! on my degree

Where I have a clear focus

Unsure
what I
and how
do I start
1 2 that I am working
towards I have
a clear

3 4
want focus
to do or goal
I have ideas but I am well organised and
I’m not sure what’s clear about
right for me my next steps

Exploring interests
and developing skills

I enjoy lots of different Organised and clear about

3 things: how can I choose
4 next steps
between them?
If you have placed yourself in this bottom right quadrant
(you may already be applying and interviewing),
Oxford students often have potential to succeed in many reflecting on how you developed your focus, examining
different roles and fields and, yes, it can be difficult to any assumptions and aligning your choices to your core
choose! motivations can:
If you are already exploring options and taking on • reinforce decisions made;
different roles to build skills and experiences, see the • strengthen applications, by improving the evidence
section on Developing Your Career Ideas for guidance you present of your skills and interests;
and tools such as Career Weaver to help you identify • help identify viable alternatives.
your pattern of interests and motivations. Reflect on Additional support can still be helpful, especially
your experiences and try to identify any themes that are if your early applications aren’t working as you’d like.
important to you: Attend workshops, company events and chat with a
• Why do you choose to do these activities? careers adviser to hone your approach and consider
• Which skills do you use? what plan B and plan C might look like.
• What do you enjoy doing most and why?
• How important to you are the people, relationships
and outcomes?
Once you understand what kind of work and More information
outcomes offer you intrinsic satisfaction, further www.careerweaver.ox.ac.uk
research through the web and ‘in person’ into industries, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/i-am-exploring-ideas
roles and organisations will help you to create focus and www.careers.ox.ac.uk/i-have-some-ideas
make decisions. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/i-am-deciding-on-a-plan
If you are struggling to narrow your focus, a confidential www.careers.ox.ac.uk/i-have-a-clear-plan
chat with a careers adviser can help you gain clarity.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 11
THE CAREERS SERVICE AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD

Careers Michaelmas term

term Michaelmas term is the time to talk to firms that interest

you. In fact, we run eight of our annual career fairs in
weeks 1 to 3, and this term will account for almost 75%

by term
of all the company presentations and company visits
coordinated by the Careers Service in the whole year.
At our career fairs and company presentations you
can meet:
• Recent alumni working in areas you might be
interested in – people who were in your shoes not so
Graduate recruitment runs long ago.

year-round and there are always • Recruiters who can tell you more about the firm,
graduate roles and training, and the recruitment
new positions being advertised. process.
• Senior managers and business leaders (many will also
However, many of the biggest be Oxford alumni) who can provide a wider perspective
recruiters link their cycles to on the organisation and graduate career trajectories.
Use the Events Calendar on CareerConnect
the academic year, with to find company presentations and to
book places on relevant workshops
full-time positions HT22
86 and skills sessions offered
for finalists through the Careers Service.

advertised from Finalists and one-year

late summer, master’s students
Number of
for entry the Employer Events at Full-time jobs and
Oxford 2021–22 TT22 graduate schemes
following year. 11+ Applications will already
MT21
have opened during the
Every year, hundreds of
198 summer at most large
organisations visit Oxford graduate recruiters. If you
specifically to meet you – to start a have not already started,
conversation. However, our academic finalists and one-year master’s
terms are NOT created equally. students should move quickly to:

Careers fairs
The following fairs will be run in person. See our • Law Fair: Saturday 15 October, 10.30 – 1.00,
website and CareerConnect for details. Exam Schools
• Careers in Computing Fair: Michaelmas Term,
• Oxford University Careers Fair (for all see our website for dates
sectors): Thursday 6 October, 11.00 – 15.00, • Jobs for Mathematicians Fair: Michaelmas
Exam Schools Term, see our website for dates
• Finance and Management Consultancy Fair:
Friday 7 October, 11.00 – 15.00, Exam Schools Earlier this year, we ran the Careers Conference
• Science, Engineering and Technology Fair: for Researchers in Hilary term and the Summer
Saturday 22 October, 10.30 – 13.00, Exam Careers Fair in Trinity term. Dates for 2023 yet to be
Schools confirmed.

12 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 THE CAREERS SERVICE AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD

• Understand the application processes for different

firms and be sure to note and hit any deadlines. Hilary term
• Beware! Some sectors close as early as the end of
October (notably banking and investment, the Civil
Service Fast Stream and management consultancy) Finalists and graduating master’s students who have
and some have ‘rolling recruitment’, filling vacancies made good applications should expect January and
as and when students apply. February to be busy with interviews. Continue to target
Other firms will open applications during this term and new graduate programmes and seek advertised positions
into Hilary term. Monitor careers sites, set email alerts – you may also find attractive internships to apply for.
and follow target companies on social media to make Similarly, those targeting further study should continue
sure you hear first about new opportunities. to make applications to courses and funding bodies.
Plan enough time to make high quality applications: CVs, Hilary Term is also a key time to start seeking
cover letters and application forms take time to complete internship and summer opportunities. The advice above
well and should be tailored for each and every application. about applying for full-time positions all holds true
Read our advice on crafting good applications in this here. Some firms that recruit graduates only open their
later section of the Guide. summer internship places to penultimate-year students,
Be ready for the recruitment process to move quickly and these can lead to full-time offers for interns that do
once you have applied. Online testing, interviews and well. But also look out for other opportunities including
assessment centres can all follow within a few weeks, our own Summer Internship Programme, which offers
and offers may be made before Christmas. all Oxford students exclusive internship opportunities,
Consider booking a one-to-one discussion with a careers many of them in sectors where internships can be hard
adviser and find relevant workshops and skills sessions to find, or overseas.
advertised on our Events Calendar on CareerConnect. Keep abreast of the skills sessions, workshops and
seminars offered at the Careers Service via the Events
Considering further study? Calendar on CareerConnect.
Research possibilities now to understand application
processes and funding options.
• Popular courses can fill quickly, so consider applying early. Trinity term
• Research deadlines to apply for grants and bursaries too.
Read more about bursaries and grants in our further
study article here. Be sure to keep on track academically and invest enough
time to do yourself justice in finals or any exams that
More than one year to completion you have.
The big graduate schemes form only a small
Internships, spring weeks and insight days proportion of the graduate employment market and
Organisations with substantial graduate recruitment the number of vacancies offered every month through
programmes are increasingly interested in meeting CareerConnect remains
penultimate-year students, freshers and second fairly constant through the
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
Some companies now start to accept applications graduate schemes re-open
for internships and insight days towards the end of this term to fill any remaining
Michaelmas, with many more opening in the new year. places. You can also apply to
The recruitment processes often mirror those for full- firms that have year-round
time positions because success in the internship can lead rolling recruitment.
to an offer for a full-time position the following year. The Careers Service
First years and second years on a four-year continues to offer workshops
programme should note that places for taster days and careers advisers continue
and spring weeks are limited and can fill in less than with confidential one-to-one
a week. Be sure to sign up for alerts if you intend to discussions during Trinity and
apply: the prize not only includes first-hand experience the long vacation, on Skype,
of the organisation but quite often a fast-track to paid telephone or virtual platforms
internships the following year. such as Microsoft Teams.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 13
THE CAREERS SERVICE AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD

Careers
year
by year
• Consider participating in our skills programmes and
Finalists and one-year Insight programmes if you haven’t already done so.

masters’ • Apply to our own Summer Internship Programme

from January onwards.

Develop your plan and extend your research Network and build your visibility
• It is never too late to start thinking about your • Meet contacts and alumni at events and reach out to
career. Make a commitment to make a start and them.
give yourself the best chance of success. Turn to the • Use LinkedIn and social media as research tools, to
Developing Your Career Ideas section and make follow targeted companies and make yourself easier
plans to talk to a careers adviser. to find.
• If you already have clear goals, or even fuzzy ideas, • Attend the cringe-free networking workshop run
research online and meet employers at fairs and at by the Careers Service each term, bookable on
company presentations. See the Events Calendar on CareerConnect.
CareerConnect for dates and to book your place. • For some sectors – such as creative careers,
• Research options of further study and apply early to journalism, publishing, charities – networking and
popular programmes. speculative approaches can be important to uncover
opportunities: thinking six months ahead is key.
Make applications and prepare for
interviews
• Understand your motivations, your strengths and be
ready to support your applications with evidence as
discussed in the Application Essentials guidance. Penultimate year
• Find the workshops you need on our Events
Calendar on CareerConnect.
• Polish your application skills and seek advice from a Start to focus on what you might do after
careers adviser if you want a second opinion on your graduating
CV, cover letters or application form. • Review your career preferences and interests, or start
• Submit applications for both your plans A and B (and your self-assessment. The Developing Your Career
plan C …) in parallel. Ideas section will help. Follow the advice to finalists
• Be ready for online tests and interviews, some of above – the same rules apply!
these happen straight after you have submitted your • Plan, research and develop your CV – attend relevant
application. workshops organised by the Careers Service.
• Attend the relevant careers fairs. Get into your
It’s not too late to develop your skills and job-market research and look for application
experience deadlines – be aware of deadlines as early as October
• Continue to be fully involved in student life through for consulting, banking and the Civil Service among
societies, volunteering and extra-curricular others.
activities. • Apply for summer internships, including those

14 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 THE CAREERS SERVICE AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD

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.
• 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
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.
• 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.
and make speculative applications to find work • Get involved with an Oxford SU campaign or a charity
experience with organisations of interest that don’t fundraising event.
offer formal internships. • Volunteer with Oxford Hub and local charities in
term-time and during the vacation – a great way
Considering further study? of gaining skills, meeting people and making a
• Talk with tutors, supervisors and research students in difference.
your field. • Participate in staff/student liaison committees within
• Ask about working as a research assistant during your college or department.
vacations. • Refresh your old CV; attend a CV workshop.

Build your skills and experience Gain some experience

• Get elected to a position in a society, common room • Look for, and apply to, insight days, spring weeks and
or club and make a difference by organising an event, work-shadowing opportunities in different sectors
running the show or starting something new – all will for inspiration. Places are limited and application
develop your skills and add value to your applications. windows can close within days, so register for
• Sign up for workshops and skills sessions at the notifications and be ready to apply as early as
Careers Service or join one of our employability October.
programmes. • Apply for vacation work to earn money and gain
• Try out different ideas, perhaps via our micro- experience and skills. Every opportunity can provide
internships, work-shadowing or work experience. meaningful experience: bar and retail work can
Volunteer with local charities or through the Oxford develop your customer focus, teamwork skills and
Hub. insights into what makes a successful business.
• Visit the vacancy database
on CareerConnect to look
for part-time and vacation
More than two years from opportunities.
completion • Apply for a summer
placement on the Summer
Internship Programme
Get involved and enjoy Oxford from January for
• Join and get involved in societies, clubs and a social overseas internships, and
life alongside your studies. from mid-February for
internships in the UK.
Start thinking • Start to build your
• It’s never too soon to start thinking about your post- network, and to learn
university plans. about sectors and
• Develop some awareness of your career-related organisations.
preferences and interests with some self-assessment
exercises, such as Career Weaver and other tools in

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 15
DEVELOPING
YOUR CAREER
IDEAS
With hundreds of possible directions, many students
find it hard to decide what they want to do after
graduating, and may even find the process quite
daunting. This chapter can help you:

• make a start
• identify careers that might appeal to you, and
• choose between them.

16 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 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 Career Weaver app to explore what can develop existing skills and learn new ones whilst at
interests and motivates you most. University. Start with the eight employability skills listed
Reflect on past experiences that have given you a below and consider what you are good at and what you
sense of enjoyment, achievement or real satisfaction. really enjoy doing. Think about your range of skills:
Consider how you decided which subject to study 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 and ask studies and extra-curricular activities?
yourself: See Generating Career Ideas at www.careers.ox.ac.
• What appeals to you about your chosen activities? uk/generating-career-ideas to learn more about using
• What gives you most satisfaction? Career Weaver and a variety of additional tools and ideas
• What do you learn or gain from your extra-curricular you can use, including:
activities? • Psychometric tools based on short questionnaires,
• Why do you continue with this activity? Or, why did including Prospects Career Planner
you stop? • Suggestions for other tools to look deeper (for
Link these questions to the prompts in the table example, CareerRadar; Strengths Profile) and books
on the next page to begin to better understand your like Build Your Own Rainbow and The Squiggly Career
personal pattern of career interests and motivations. which offer ideas and resources.
• Book an appointment with a careers adviser to
discuss any questions you have and for advice on
how to interpret and apply the insights gained.

What is your personal Core employability skills

pattern? The next chapter defines the ‘transferable’ employability
Our Career Weaver tool helps skills listed below and reviews many options to practise
you to think about what you and develop them.
value most in your working • Business awareness
environment. It provides a rich variety of short • Communication
exercises to stimulate and structure your thinking • Creativity
and helps you to identify and describe: • Initiative
• What you love. • Leadership
• What you are good at. • Planning
• Why you do what you choose to do. • Self-management
Use your SSO to open your personal account • Teamwork
at www.careerweaver.ox.ac.uk and begin to In addition to these core employability skills, some
explore, define and explain your most important jobs require specific skills such as languages, computing
drivers and best examples. and IT, or even specific laboratory skills.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 17
DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

Style of work Nice to have Important Essential

Analytical (researching and investigating, numerical work)

Collaborative style of working

Creativity and generating ideas

Enterprise and business

Managing and leading people

Social and caring roles

Solving problems

Supporting and advising people

Theoretical and conceptual (working with ideas)

Working with defined processes

Working with technology

Motivations Nice to have Important Essential

Altruism or benefiting society

Challenge

Connection (belonging and friendship)

Empowerment (autonomy)

Financial reward

Fun

Influence

Job security

Learning and personal growth

Personal recognition

Positioning (for the next career move)

Prestige or status

Progression (scope for rapid advancement)

Responsibility (for delivery or people or things)

Variety

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

2 Exploring possible occupations and • What does an ideal working day/week look like?
creating your ‘long list’ Each time you find an idea of interest to you,
As an Oxford graduate from any discipline it is possible consider the specific skills and attributes typically
to work in many industries. In the UK, the majority of required for that role and how strongly these match your
graduate roles do not require a specific degree and preferences. Also, look for related or adjacent fields to
many organisations seek to attract a diverse pool of increase the options you are considering.
candidates. This opens a world of possibilities and
creates choices for you. 3 Researching your options
Start to build your ‘long list’ of possibilities, Researching industries, individual organisations, and
considering both the industry sector(s) and the kinds of roles helps you make better choices. It also lays the
roles you might be interested in: remember, similar roles foundation for successful applications because it
can often be found across different sectors; whether it’s helps you:
design work, financial management, planning, managing • To be clear that you’d be happy doing the job!
or communicating. • To signal why you are motivated to do the job with
It might be important for you to use the knowledge that specific organisation.
gained from your degree, or find a related role where • To impress recruiters with insightful questions and an
you can still draw on that knowledge. Alternatively, you awareness of issues or trends that may affect their
may choose to apply the transferable skills that you have market.
in a totally new area.
Ideas and tactics to build your long list include: Research: get first-hand experience
• Review roles suggested by an online career-planning First-hand experience allows you to explore whether you
tool. have the ability and interest to perform well in a role. You
• Explore what alumni from your subject chose to do: also learn more about the organisation, its people and
• Review the Graduate Outcomes Survey on the working culture, which helps you to evaluate whether
careers website. you are likely to enjoy working there.
• 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
• Examine the careers of 250,000+ Oxford and work experience but also a variety of shorter
alumni via the University of Oxford page on opportunities to visit organisations. These programmes
LinkedIn. can help you to:
• Browse jobs boards, including CareerConnect – what • Learn about an industry and a role, and the
catches your eye? organisation and its culture.
• Think about careers related to your interests and • Develop transferable skills and a track record that
extra-curricular activities. provide evidence of your ability and motivation.
• Dream a little, envisioning your future in an ideal • Secure an offer to the next stage:
world… • Insight programmes may provide a fast track
• What are you doing? What skills are you using? to an organisation’s internship programme.
• What happens? What results do you deliver? • Leading employers report that nearly a third
• Where are you working – an office/outside/at of their graduate intake will have undertaken
home? work experience with them, and this rises to more
• Who are you working with, and how? than two-thirds in some sectors.

“
Research: other methods
It’s OK not to know what to do and it’s Read widely to research the industries and organisations
OK to take your time to find it. If you you are targeting. Start with the following ideas:
find something you really want and truly believe • Read our industry sector introductions in this
you’re suited to then you have a much better Guide.
chance of getting the job and of enjoying it. • Dig deeper with over 50 in-depth sector briefings
and the resources we have listed on our website:
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/sectors-occupations.
Rachel Ballard, Music, • Company websites, particularly their career pages,
New College, 2016 often provide lots of information, including:
•
Profiles of recent graduates.
Read Rachel’s full profile •
Information about their graduate programmes.

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

• Tips and practice materials for the recruitment senior managers, alumni and recruiters.
processes. • Talk informally with family, alumni, and others to
• Professional bodies’ websites. understand their careers and what their organisations
• Free resources at the Careers Service: are really like:
• Podcasts of relevant panel discussions. • Talk to friends and finalists returning from
• Search for GoinGlobal (country guides) and internships or work placements.
practise psychometric tests on our website. • Use LinkedIn to find alumni you might approach
• Join relevant LinkedIn groups to keep up to date with directly.
current topics in the sector. • Join relevant societies to find like-minded students
• Use your Single Sign-On and Bodleian Library and more events – many with employers.
membership for free subscriptions to The Financial • Speak to a careers adviser who has a particular
Times, The Economist and plenty of leading interest in that sector.
newspapers and industry journals.
4 Narrowing down your options
Research: talk to people For many people, career planning is an ongoing process,
To go beyond the information on an organisation’s revisited and revised as they gain experience, learn and
website, talk to people – lots of people – about what grow. The choices you make now are just the first steps;
they do, what they like and don’t like, and ask for their changing career direction in the years after graduation is
advice. quite common.
Read the guidance on how to find and network with However, it is important to engage. Make a decision
people who are able to share their experiences and offer rather than ‘drift’ into a career or further study simply
relevant advice and insights into the roles that interest because it seems within reach. To weigh up the ‘pros
you most. and cons’ of different choices, analyse your options
During term time, particularly in Michaelmas and listen to your intuitions, with the aim of identifying
term, take advantage of the many chances to which roles best match up with your key criteria.
meet and talk with company representatives – One option is to build a ‘decision-making grid’, where
check the Careers Service Events Calendar on you weigh the relative importance of your key criteria
CareerConnect. and score each career option independently. In the
• Attend our career fairs and industry panel worked example (opposite), it seems that option Y is
discussions to hear from and meet recent graduates least attractive – and could be discarded – but it might
and recruiters. be worth pursuing both options X and Z as attractive
• Attend company presentations and events to meet choices.

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

To distinguish between options X and Z more fully, it

may be necessary to do further research or add additional Researching employers’ diversity and
factors to the grid, or use an alternative approach. The inclusion policies
Careers Service advice on How to Make a Career It is often difficult to know
Decision provides further details on the ‘decision-making whether an employer is
grid’ and three other decision-making strategies: the genuine about recruiting
D.E.C.I.D.E.S. model, Force-field Analysis, and Visualisation. applicants from diverse
At this stage, you do not need to narrow your choice backgrounds and not just
to a single option. In fact, we recommend you work in ‘ticking a box’. There are
parallel on your ‘plan B’ (and perhaps ‘plan C’) in case several indicators that will help you to decide
your first choice does not work out. For every option you whether a recruiter is truly proactive. If you are
follow, though, allow yourself enough time to undertake interested in specific recruiters, research their
sufficient research and to make high quality 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:
Staying in • They are a ‘Disability Confident’ employer. Look
2 2×2 = 4 2×2 = 4 2×1 = 2 out for the government-endorsed logo below
Oxford
on their promotional material and vacancy
Creative adverts. This means the employer has made a
3 3×1 = 3 3×0 = 0 3×1 = 3
job commitment to employing disabled people.
Learning: • They are accredited as a ‘Mindful Employer’,
quality of 3 3×1 = 3 3×1 = 3 3×2 = 6 indicating that they are extremely supportive
training of employees with mental health issues.
Total 10 7 11 • They have diversity networks and buddy
schemes, such as Gender Balance Network and
Carers Schemes.
Weighting of criterion: • They partner with and provide internships for
3 = important, 2 = quite important, 1 = less important. people from under-represented backgrounds
through organisations such as SEO (Sponsors
Criterion satisfied in this occupation/role: for Educational Opportunity), EmployAbility,
2 = almost ideal, 1 = quite good, 0 = not met at all. The Windsor Fellowship, and Rare Recruitment.
• They score highly on indicators such as the
5 Moving forward from your decisions Stonewall Workplace Equality Index due to
Allow plenty of time for this and in particular: their work ethos and practices.
• Plan ahead and attend events listed on our Events There is more advice on equality and diversity
Calendar on CareerConnect. These include: in the application process on p.50.
• Career fairs.

“
• Company presentations.
• Skills workshops and training sessions.
• Ensure you receive the Careers Service’s weekly You might be tired of hearing it, but
newsletter. you’ve probably got more free time
• Save searches on CareerConnect to receive job alerts. on your hands now than you ever will. Use it
• Check application deadlines for your top choices and wisely! Start figuring out what you like and
begin to plan your applications. dislike (just as helpful), and to start building the
• Bookmark target firms’ careers pages, set up email foundations that will give you the best shot of
alerts for vacancy notices, and follow them on
landing that dream role.
LinkedIn and social media.
• Continue to research your target organisations and
roles. Issah Abdul-Moomin, PPE,
• Check your own online presence, particularly your Lady Margaret Hall, 2014
visibility on social media.

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

Ethical Networking
The phrase ‘it’s who you know, not what you know’ makes us
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.
considers: • ‘Networking is about conversation and generosity,’
• Formal qualifications. adds Dr Rachel Bray, Research Staff Hub lead and
• Size and scope of relevant achievements that prove former careers adviser at Oxford University.
skills and strengths. • ‘You can make more friends in two months by
• Sector and organisation knowledge that proves becoming interested in other people than you can in
enthusiasm and fit with the role. two years by trying to get other people interested
So what are the ethical reasons for networking? in you,’ says Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win
• To become aware of opportunities: it is said that Friends and Influence People.
60% of jobs are never advertised (‘the hidden job Viewed through this lens, networking is a way of life;
market’), for example, a start-up with no time nor HR the goal is to build and maintain a ‘network of reciprocal
department. assistance’. So it is best to think of networking as going
• To understand what really goes on inside out and making new friends. The only thing to get used
organisations so that you choose the right to is that this very normal human process is preceded by
opportunities to apply for. some planning and preparation so that you can find out
• To uncover the language and terminology of the more about new organisations.
organisation so that you can make your achievements
sound as relevant as possible and talk like an insider How do I approach people?
to establish fit and enthusiasm. The key to effective networking is research. Always
Beyond the objectives of ethical networking, we prepare in advance; when you are going to meet someone,
need to approach the subject with emotional intelligence, look them up on LinkedIn, so you can talk their language.
people do not like being sold to or taken advantage of: Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook,
• ‘As you walk into a room to network: don’t prepare gets very embarrassed when women ask her to mentor
to sell yourself; prepare to understand people and them: ‘While asking a stranger to be a mentor rarely, if

“
ever, works, approaching a stranger with a pointed, well
thought-out inquiry can yield results. Focus on how to
Students ask me what it takes to be manage a business not on how to manage a career’. When
successful and there are many factors. Bill Gates was a teenager he read ‘tons of biographies and
But most important is to go out into the world autobiographies’ of technologists and business people
and make lots of friends and no enemies. It is to create a foundation on which to build his commercial
never worth winning an argument and losing awareness (so he could start Microsoft at 19 years old).
a friend. Bake cakes, buy beers, socialise at Also, tailor your elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is
three sentences:
lunchtime. The more you can turn your tutor or
1. Who am I? – tailor it to resonate with who they are
supervisor or other senior people into sponsors
looking for.
who support you and push you forward for
2. What do I want? – tailor it to resonate with what
things, the more successful you will be.
they are offering.
3. A question – to start a conversation, research it,
Dr Mike Moss, Careers Adviser make it engaging and demonstrate the depth of
knowledge you already have.

22 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

1 2

3
4

Who could I network with?

• Oxford alumni:
• Your tutors and your college alumni office
5
may be able to give tips on who to contact.
• Use LinkedIn.
• Contacts of people you know (ask friends,
relatives, tutors for introductions).
• People you have worked with, or contacted on
behalf of a society or committee.
•
6
People you research online and then approach
speculatively.
• Fellow students, in college and in your
department, will know people and have
experience that might tie in to your goals.

Discovering your network

1 Read (auto)biographies of sector leaders. Platforms for networking

• LinkedIn: The biggest professional social
2 Engage with the latest stories from the sector in network, with powerful search tools.
mainstream media. • Twitter: Use the search facility to find people
who mention their employment or university in
3 Research the sector on Google, so you never ask their profile.
a question that is answered on the website; look • Facebook: Post a message to your personal
at competitors. contacts letting them know what you are most
interested in and asking for recommendations
4 Research people who work in the sector on LinkedIn. for people to contact.
• Industry websites: Many employer websites
5 Talk to junior sector workers and note the include ‘about us’ or ‘staff team’ pages where
language and technical terms they use as they you can learn more about who works there
talk about their job. (sometimes there is also an email address).
• ResearchGate: A social networking site for
6 Network with sector leaders or interview them scientists and researchers to share papers, ask
when you understand the job inside out and how and answer questions, and find collaborators.
to talk about it like an insider.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 23
DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

1
To... [email protected]
Subject Student advice request on [sector/job function]

Dear [Name],

I’m a [second year/finalist] at [college] here in Oxford and I’m interested in working in/as [sector/job
function].
2 3 4
I want to work in [briefly reference relevant courses/websites/societies/reading] and John Caruthers
suggested that you might be willing to share your experience in the field.
5
I would truly appreciate a few minutes of your time to discuss your insights into [the work/role/their
company/how best to prepare]. Perhaps we can meet for a ten-minute chat/arrange a time to speak by
phone/Skype.
7 6
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
the sector, I would greatly appreciate an introduction.

With best wishes,

8

Signed ……

Email/social network message

1 If you do not have a direct email address, try 5 Asking for advice or information is useful – it is
an organisation’s generic email address marked free to give and people are usually happy to share
‘FAO [name of contact]’, politely asking for it to what they know. It also covers many possibilities,
be forwarded. including where to find information, insider
views on careers, tips for getting in, other
2 Make a connection so your contact understands potential contacts and even unadvertised jobs.
who you are and how you found them.
6 Explain what you are most interested in. Try to be
3 Build your credibility and show you are serious specific so they understand what you hope for
by briefly outlining relevant research, and and can judge whether they can help you – if you
explaining where you identified them as a ask a vague question, you will get a vague answer,
potential contact – perhaps the college alumni or none at all.
office or LinkedIn.
7 Suggest a way forward, and be specific about
4 A reference from someone they know can be a what you are expecting: 10 to 15 minutes is
powerful incentive to respond, but check first realistic for a first chat or call.
with your source that they are happy for you to
use their name. Show respect for their time, keep it polite and
8

positive, and keep the door open to future

contact.

24 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

Building your
occupational
awareness
It can sometimes be useful to look at what other Oxford students
have done after completing their degrees to get a better
understanding of the breadth of choices open to you. To go beyond
the outline provided here, use the Careers Service’s webpages
on ‘The Graduate Outcomes Survey’ to see the early-career
destinations for Oxford graduates from 2012 to 2018.

Further study
Just under 20% of graduates choose further study and Further study
the Careers Service provides support and advice on this:
• From finding courses, to assisting with applications,
and advising on potential funding sources or studying
abroad. Turn to the Further Study advice for more 19%
information on options and planning for further study.
Developing
Consider carefully what benefits you hope to gain portfolio/
from undertaking another degree, against the time and 61% volunteering
costs required. Although further study is a prerequisite
for some careers, and highly desirable for others,
for many careers it’s unnecessary and may make no
Unemployed and
looking for work
9%
difference to either your entry level or starting salary.
8%
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/further-study 3%
Occupational sectors
Paid work for employer/ Not available (travel/
Careers are often labelled according to their industry self-employment/ caring for someone/
sector, and the latter section of this Guide provides running own business retired/something else)
short industry introductions and company listings
covering over 21 major industry sectors that our leavers Source: Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017–2018
(data collected 15 months after graduation)
enter. There are many more – nearly 50 – detailed
briefings on our website, covering all the sectors in
this Guide and more. Briefings usually include sections Students who go into work after graduation, work in
such as: a wide range of sectors such as:
• Types of job. • Education
• Entry points. • Health and social care
• Skills and experience. • IT and computing
• Getting a job. • Government and public services
• External resources. • Banking and investment

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 25
DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

• Law also have time to assess their strengths and preferences

• Consultancy for later specialisation.
• Scientific research and development It’s important to consider which functional roles
• Media, journalism and publishing you might be most interested in. For some people, the
• Engineering and manufacturing function becomes their primary goal, so remember that
• Arts and heritage the same functional role can be found in many diverse
• Consumer goods and retail industries: charities need IT specialists, marketers and
• Advertising, marketing and communications HR managers as well as front-line volunteers, fundraisers
• Accounting and financial services and policy-makers. Data analysts are needed as much
• Civil engineering, construction and property in the advertising and retail sectors as in academic
And many more… Don’t worry if you’re not interested research, policy, finance and consultancy organisations.
in any of the listed sectors; we’ll try to help you find the Take time to think more broadly about where you
right sector and role for you. might find opportunities that you’d be interested in.
If you don’t limit yourself by exclusively targeting
Functional roles industries that seem to have the “right label”, you may
The industry or sector that someone works in is only be surprised at the possibilities you find – both as a first
one aspect of their career. Equally important is the career destination or a few years later.
role or function that the person takes on. Many larger For example:
companies offer graduate-entry programmes where • Aspiring journalists can learn valuable skills in a PR
the first two to three years involve rotation through a role in any sector, and by blogging.
number of different functional areas to provide a broad • Considering a career in IT? IT roles exist in virtually
grounding in the company and its business. Graduates every sector and organisation.

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

“
Don’t panic if you leave Oxford Why do some sectors seem more
unsure of your next steps! Many visible than others at Oxford?
graduates have no idea what they want to do Whether it’s the advertised listings in this
after leaving university. It can also take time to Guide, company presentations on our
find your first post-university job, so don’t get termly Events Calendar or sector-specific
discouraged. Bear in mind the Careers Service career fairs, you will probably notice that
recruiting firms within the four ‘City’ sectors
supports alumni as well as students, which is an
are highly visible in Oxford. So why do
opportunity definitely worth taking.
accountancy, banking and investment,
Hannah Shearer, Development consultancy and law firms stand out so much,
Assistant at Exeter College, if they each account for only a small proportion
BA History, Balliol College, 2014 of all the destinations of leavers?
There are a few reasons for this apparent
imbalance:
Changes in direction • In some sectors, such as media, retail,
It’s also true that careers develop over time. Whatever and FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods),
direction you start out in doesn’t tie you to that and energy, a few big organisations
industry or function for life. It’s quite natural for your dominate – and many are already
ideas to develop and change as you gain experience household names (BBC, Google, John
and find new interests, or as new opportunities present Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Shell and Unilever.)
themselves. These companies don’t need to advertise
A change of career doesn’t mean wasted time: most their names or brands to become known,
of your skills will be transferable to other careers. Some and students find their graduate
graduates choose to gain specialist expertise through opportunities unaided. In contrast, large
a graduate scheme, such as general management, ‘City’ firms can have significant graduate
marketing or accountancy, and use this as a stepping programmes but aren’t well-known outside
stone into an industry where graduate opportunities their field, so need to promote themselves
can be harder to find – such as in arts & heritage, more.
charities, or the creative industries. These first career • Smaller organisations – which account for
steps can provide both professional qualifications and the majority, perhaps 85%, of all graduate-
experiences that are highly valued, but which may be level jobs – generally have less predictable
hard to come by as a new graduate entering directly into recruitment needs, smaller recruitment
certain sectors. budgets, and may not have a ‘graduate
Read the alumni profiles included in the industry programme’ to promote. Instead they will
sectors of this Guide: they demonstrate that shifts in hire into specific graduate-level positions,
career direction are quite common, and that even a advertising these individual jobs as and when
radical change of direction is possible. positions arise.
The Careers Service only tracks leavers’ initial • In some sectors – such as, advertising, arts
career destinations using the official DLHE and and heritage, charities, international
Graduate Outcomes surveys. However, we have development, marketing and PR, and media
surveyed alumni ten years after leaving and this and journalism, only a limited number of
revealed that: ‘graduate schemes’ exist. A lot of recruitment is
• On average alumni had worked for three employers done from the network of people known to the
since leaving Oxford. company, often from people seeking relevant
• The sector in which alumni worked after ten years experience and visibility through volunteering
could be very different from the sector they initially (charities), or being runners/assistants
entered. (TV and film) or fieldworkers/volunteers
In recognition of the fact that careers are not fixed, (development). Paid and unpaid industry-
the Careers Service provides access for alumni to a large specific work experience tends to be very
number of our events and services for life. We also have important in these industry sectors and both
a careers adviser specifically working with alumni who direct approaches and speculative applications
can advise on decisions and strategies for managing are often expected.
career changes.

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

Routes into
graduate
employment
The Careers Service offers impartial advice on different approaches
to finding graduate-level employment. We can relate this to
different industry sectors and roles, and will not steer you in any
particular direction.

Within a sector, there are a typical set of recruitment

processes, but each organisation will manage its
vacancies and applications in its own way, so:
• Understand both the industry pattern and the

“
exceptions for the roles you are targeting.
• Be clear about timescales and deadlines from the
beginning. What can you offer an employer in
• Start your sector research with the 20+ short addition to your degree qualification?
industry briefings in this Guide. Each one includes Graduates who can demonstrate the
advice on recruitment processes and outlines ideas transferable skills most commonly sought by
on how to develop relevant skills, enriched by recruiters will find that they have a competitive
personal stories and advice from Oxford alumni, advantage in the jobs market. The eight core
and current opportunities from some of the major
employability skills that employers look for are
employers.
described here: www.careers.ox.ac.uk/develop-
• Talking to companies and people doing the work in
your-employability-skills. Use this resource
which you are interested can be invaluable. While you
to identify your own skills gaps, get tips on
can network all year round, the first few weeks of
Michaelmas term see hundreds of companies visiting improving your profile and boost your chances
Oxford every year for our career fairs and company- of job success.
led events. We are planning for in-person fairs once
again in 2022: Rebecca Ehata, Careers Adviser,
•
See Careers Term by Term for an overview of the Oxford University
recruitment year at Oxford.

28 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 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 Geography and reputation mean that recruitment
for 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 every provide opportunities countrywide.
year often have structured training schemes. These • Many thousands of small and medium-sized
generally last for one or two years and provide formal enterprises (SMEs) offer graduate jobs too,
training and development as part of a structured 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
Graduates gain a range of experience, specific skills, and industries. For example, Manchester is increasingly
a 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
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 ‘Summer Fair’ each Trinity
briefings for more specific information. term to meet some of these dynamic and rapidly
Oxford’s numerous Michaelmas term careers fairs expanding companies.
support this cycle. These, together with our other fairs Many job platforms allow you to search
in Hilary and Trinity terms, are excellent opportunities by region – including our own vacancies on
to meet a wide range of recruiters and alumni, to find CareerConnect – and you can search specifically
out more about their work and explore possibilities. for jobs in:
With a little preparation, they are also a chance to make • Scotland www.s1jobs.com
a good first impression and show your interest in an • Wales www.gowales.co.uk
organisation. • Northern Ireland www.gradireland.com
Many employers also run separate company Read the advice on working in different
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.
knowledge about that company and meet more people
from the firm. You’ll find these listed in the Events
Calendar in CareerConnect.

Individual graduate roles

Many, many more graduates join organisations to fill Unadvertised roles
a specific position rather than as part of a graduate A significant number of job vacancies are never
training programme. All types of organisations offer advertised or only advertised via social media. Employers
these direct entry roles, including employers with big often recruit people they know, who are recommended
graduate schemes. to them, or who approach them speculatively. In certain
Direct entry roles are advertised widely, generally sectors, such as media and advertising, networking is an
one to three months before a job starts. The best places essential and expected part of the application process
to start looking for vacancies include: for both full-time jobs and work experience.
• Individual organisations’ websites and, increasingly, Networking can help you understand the industry
their social media feeds. in which you are interested and uncover possible
• The Careers Service’s vacancy database on opportunities. For more information see our advice on
CareerConnect. ethical networking.
• National graduate career sites like Prospects, As you build your contacts and knowledge, you
TARGETjobs, and Milkround. develop the foundations to make well researched
• Industry professional bodies and specialist media speculative applications that are properly tailored to the
channels. specific needs of an employer.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 29
DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

Recruitment agencies
Recruitment agencies help organisations recruit staff
for a fee (paid by the company) by providing their
clients with quicker access to pre-screened and qualified
candidates. Agencies often specialise in specific sectors,
and if you have relevant experience they can be an
extremely effective way of finding work. Research
agencies in your field and select one or two to build a
relationship with.
If you are working with an agency, it is important
to remain actively involved in your own job search

Further
and continue to check employers’ websites and other
sources for vacancies.

Jobs from internships and work experience

study
Work experience and internships can be a great way
to secure a full-time offer. This is especially true for
companies offering internship programmes exclusively
for penultimate-year students: these are often used
as a core recruitment tool, with a successful internship
leading directly to a job offer for the following Taught masters’, research
year. Research by High Fliers confirms that at major
employers, nearly a third of positions are filled by
masters’ or doctoral degrees?
graduates who had already worked for the company. Our In the UK, Europe, North
experience suggests that in some specific sectors, such
as banking, this proportion can rise to as high as three- America or elsewhere?
quarters of graduate positions.
All companies – large and small – may offer work
Narrowing down your options
experience or internships. In line with the advice can be tricky.
for finding full-time positions, use companies’ own
websites, our CareerConnect jobs board, and graduate
recruitment sites. Speculative applications can also be Consider your motivation
highly effective, and sometimes firms will even create an • It might be to satisfy intellectual curiosity, to access
opportunity when approached directly. Read our advice a specific career or to change direction. Think about
online about making speculative approaches. what you need to know to assess how effectively
Specific opportunities for Oxford students include: potential courses can deliver your goals. Talk it over
• The Oxford University Internship Programme, run with a careers adviser if you need to.
by your Careers Service, which sources hundreds of
internships in locations around the world exclusively Talk to people
open to Oxford students. • Recommendations from Oxford academics in your
• The Micro-Internship Programme, run by the field.
Careers Service, offering voluntary learning and • People working in your sector of interest – find them
development opportunities in the vacation periods. on LinkedIn.
• The Oxford Hub offers a range of programmes to • Get in touch with prospective tutors and supervisors.
support both young people and the community –
go to www.oxfordhub.org or email hello@oxfordhub. Do your research
org. • Academic literature and conference proceedings to
For more ideas on how to find work experience and find key research groups.
short-term engagements, turn to our advice on: • Destination statistics for each course.
• Gaining Experience and Developing Skills • University rankings.
• Application Essentials • Research Excellence Framework assessments of
• Networking. research departments www.ref.ac.uk.

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

• Research Councils, www.ukri.org, fund some UK

PhDs by allocating funds to Doctoral Training
Centres or departments to distribute to eligible
candidates.
• Scholarships are listed on the graduate admission
pages of university websites. Check eligibility and
closing dates carefully.
• Graduate assistantships, and other opportunities
to teach or conduct research in your department
or college, may provide additional income. In the
US, they are a common way to fund study. Discuss
opportunities with departments.
• Sponsorship or employer support is relatively rare
but not unheard of in scientific and engineering
disciplines (for example, Industrial CASE awards –
via Research Councils – and Knowledge Transfer
Partnerships at ktp.innovateuk.org).

Studying abroad
Higher education is an international marketplace. You
might be tempted by lower fees charged in certain
countries, by the opportunity to improve your language
skills or by a centre of academic excellence in your
subject. Many universities in Europe offer courses
taught in English. Application schedules vary, so research
the differences carefully.
There are useful country-by-country overviews
Fees and funding at www.prospects.ac.uk and on GoinGlobal via www.
Costs vary but are likely to run to many thousands of careers.ox.ac.uk.
pounds. The Careers Service publishes advice on study in the
• Self-funding is the reality for many graduate USA and abroad, all available online.
students: savings, family support or loans.
• Postgraduate loans of £11k–£12k are available for
masters’ degrees in the UK. Loans of £26k–£27k are More information
available to residents in England for doctoral study at www.careers.ox.ac.uk/further-study/
UK universities. www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan.

Careers adviser Abby Evans answers equivalent, and many graduates with 2:1s successfully
further study FAQs apply for further study. However, a first class degree
might increase your chances when applying for
Do I have to do a master’s degree before a PhD? popular courses, and may help you secure funding.
Not always: it is possible to go straight on to a
PhD programme from a first degree course. This is How can the Careers Service help?
common in science and engineering in the UK. Some In addition to extensive information on our further
PhDs have a master’s year built in. However, in many study webpages, we also offer seminars on a range
continental European countries a master’s degree is of aspects of further study including Postgraduate
required to begin a PhD. Even in the UK, most arts, Study in North America and in Europe, Writing
humanities and social science students complete a Personal Statements. You are welcome to book an
master’s degree before embarking on their PhD. appointment with a careers adviser to discuss your
options, strategies for choosing courses or securing
Will I need a first class degree? funding, or to get feedback on your application
Most courses ask for at least a 2:1 class degree or materials.

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

Working
in different
countries
You may decide to work outside Consider your motivations carefully and research your
options thoroughly to understand what opportunities are
your home country as part available. You will need to be aware of requirements in
of a career with international terms of languages and qualifications and to investigate
any work restrictions. Visa options for working in the
postings, as time out after your UK are outlined in the next article.
studies, or as a planned long- Jobs with international opportunities
term emigration. Opportunities Multinational companies, multilateral organisations,
international development agencies and diplomatic
are numerous and many Oxford services may all offer secondments or transfers to their
graduates work internationally international offices after a period of time, or as part
of graduate training. Talk to organisations of interest to
at some point in their career. assess your chances of gaining an international posting
if you work for them. If you have wanderlust, a range
of organisations have graduate programmes that are
explicitly intended to give international experience.
Often these require fluency in more than one language,

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

and/or extreme flexibility regarding job location. student societies to advertise in-country roles.
Examples of such recruiters can be found in many Alumni from Oxford live all over the world, and are
different sectors, and include BMW (automobiles), Aviva often happy to give advice to current students. Use
(insurance), Unilever (fast-moving consumer goods), your college alumni office or LinkedIn to connect with
TUI (travel), Airbus (aerospace), Pandora (retail), and the them, or contact international alumni branches via their
Overseas Development Institute (ODI). websites or Facebook groups. See the earlier article on
If you are seeking short-term work in another Ethical Networking in this Guide.
country and an opportunity to experience international If you are an international student looking to work
environments, the Careers Service’s Summer Internship at home, maintain links with your home country. For
Programme provides opportunities across the globe. example, keep in contact with friends at university
there and join your national student society at Oxford
Time out after your studies for networking opportunities. Use the resources and
Taking some time out to travel after graduating can tips described above to research your options and
often be funded by working simultaneously. Depending stay in touch with relevant opportunities and
on your nationality, there are a number of visa schemes developments in your home country. Remember that the
to help you gain short-term employment outside your recruitment cycle and processes may be different
country of citizenship. Check with the embassy of 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
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
Other options exist for volunteering/work experience On, featuring profiles of 42 countries, a directory
where you receive bed and board: for example, teaching of employers, as well as international vacancies and
positions brokered by the British Council; VSO; WWOOF; internships.
Work Away. See the advice on Gaining Experience and • Our online briefing on finding work outside the UK
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
Many multinational firms visit Oxford’s career fairs. If looking to work in China, South-East Asia, the Gulf,
you are interested in working for one of their global Canada, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and India.
offices, ask their UK representatives how you can apply • EURES – a website listing private and public job
to work for the firm in a different or your home country. opportunities across all member states of the
Some international employers also visit Oxford to give European Union.
recruitment presentations (and may conduct interviews • If you know your destination, search for ‘expat’
here), so check CareerConnect’s online Events Calendar websites which may offer great advice and
regularly for details. opportunities to meet others who have made the
Many other fairs organised by international same transition.
recruitment organisations take place throughout the
world: some in London, while others are ‘virtual’ and
held online. Look out for details of these on the Careers
Service’s blog and weekly newsletter. More information
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/goinglobal
International networking www.myoxfordnetwork.com
Make the most of opportunities, while you are in www.gradlinkuk.com
Oxford, to develop your language skills and intercultural www.ec.europa.eu/eures
awareness by joining relevant international student www.graduateland.com
societies. Employers may contact international

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

Visa To stay in the UK to work after

your studies, international

options for
students will need permission
in the form of a visa. The rules
about working in the UK are

working in complex and change frequently,

so be sure to check for full and

the UK up-to-date information.

The University’s visa and immigration advisers give

regular talks at the Careers Service on the current
work visa options and can also cover individual queries.
Check our Events Calendar on CareerConnect for
details. Regrettably, the Careers Service’s staff cannot
advise on visas.

Graduate Route
The Graduate Route is an opportunity to remain in the
UK to work, or look for work, for two years if you have
completed an undergraduate, PGCE, or master’s Degree,
or three years if you have completed a DPhil.
You will need to have successfully completed your
qualification before you apply but unlike other routes
you do not need a job offer or sponsorship from the

34 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 DEVELOPING YOUR CAREER IDEAS

University or an employer. You must be in the UK to endorsed by the University or another authorised
apply and you must have a valid Tier 4 or student visa at endorsing body you will need to apply for a start-
the time of your application. up visa, which is valid for two years, via the gov.uk
The Student Immigration team has answers to website.
frequently asked questions about the Graduate Route
and you can check the gov.uk website for updates on Tier 5 for an internship in the UK
the launch and how to apply. You could apply for a Tier 5 Government Authorised
Exchange visa for an internship related to your degree
Skilled Worker Visa (previously Tier 2) for up to a year. This would normally need to be
Applicants are eligible for this visa if they have been sponsored by a third-party sponsoring organisation,
offered a job by an employer who holds a license and such as:
have been issued a Certificate of Sponsorship. • Access Tier 5: www.accesstier5.com or Tier 5 Intern:
The salary offered for Skilled Worker Visa applicants tier5intern.com
must be appropriate to the type of work and meet the • For Government information on this, see: www.gov.
minimum salary requirement. If you switch into this uk/tier-5-government-authorised-exchange
category from a student visa or within 2 years, your
qualifying salary could be 70% of the usual level. Other options
If your last visa was a student visa and you wish to Nationals from some countries may have access to
apply from within the UK you will have to show that you other routes for working in the UK, including a
completed a degree or at least one year of your DPhil. scheme for Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent
For more information on what is required see the Home born in the UK, and the Tier 5 visa (Youth Mobility
Office requirements. Scheme), both of which you must apply for from your
home country.
Start-up Visa
This visa is for students who have an innovative, viable
and scalable business idea for development in the UK. More information
Oxford University can endorse applicants each year and www.ox.ac.uk/students/visa/work
applications are made via the Careers Service. www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
We advertise details of the application process via the www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice
Careers Service’s blog and in our newsletters. If you are

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 35
GAINING
EXPERIENCE
AND DEVELOPING
SKILLS
Making time for extra-curricular activities alongside your studies
can not only be enriching personally, but professionally too.
Learning new skills and developing those you most enjoy will
contribute crucially to your overall employability as the majority of
organisations look for both academic qualifications and interests
beyond academia.

Graduate employers expect you to have both a solid

(predicted) degree class and strong employability skills
that you have developed at university.
On the following pages, we highlight the core
employability skills that recruiters look for, and
suggestions of how to build and improve these while
you are at Oxford. Additional job specific skills can

“
be expected for many roles as well, such as strong
numerical and analytical skills, or specific language and
technical knowledge or expertise. Despite the challenging academic
Recruiters tell us that they are generally impressed workloads, make time for
with the ability of Oxford students to display these skills extracurricular activities because the skills you
compared to other graduates. However, they stress learn here will be invaluable and help you later
the importance for Oxford students to develop and with your job interviews. Recruiters appreciate
demonstrate skills that are not necessarily developed the extra effort and time that goes into these
through their academic work – especially commercial
activities and enjoy listening to competency
awareness and teamwork.
examples related to outside academia.
To support you, the Careers Service run a number
of programmes to enhance your experience and work-
relevant skills, including insight schemes, internships and Dr Lakshmi Manjoosha Adapa,
personal development programmes. These are outlined IT Consultant at Accenture
in the guidance on employability programmes.

36 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 GAINING EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

Developing
3 Teamwork
Organisations want to know that
you can work in a group to achieve

core skills
something tangible. There are many
ways to develop teamwork skills,
including:
• Joining a sports team. There
are dozens of student-run sports
clubs, and many more for individual
colleges. See www.sport.ox.ac.uk
1 Initiative for inspiration.
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.
• 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
• 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.
student society. • Campaigning with Oxford SU. Campaigns promote
• Starting your own society, social enterprise or small many good causes, from mental health to racial
business. equality.
• Volunteering as a student representative for your course. • Becoming part of the student team that runs Oxford
Hub.
2 Communication
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
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.
• Securing corporate sponsorship for a club or • Brainstorming ideas for events or realising a themed
encouraging alumni to donate as part of a college ball.
fundraising campaign. • Lighting, set and costume design as well as
• Representing an external organisation as their Oxford performing and directing.
brand ambassador. • Creating ideas or work for The Agency, run by the
• Work experience in a customer service role. Careers Service.
• Write a regular blog on something that interests you, • Joining Oxford Entrepreneurs’ pitching event:
and record ‘likes’ and ‘click-throughs’ quantitatively. Idea Idol.
• Contributing articles or reviews to student
publications or contributing to Oxide Radio. 5 Planning
• Creating publicity materials for a charity. Employers will want to see evidence that you can
• Acting as secretary of a student society or your organise people and resources to achieve objectives and
Common Room. work to a deadline. Outside managing your studies, ideas
• Debating at the Oxford Union or the Oxford of how you can develop this include:
International Debating Society. • Organising a ball, bop, conference or campaign.
• Creating YouTube presentations or doing your own • Co-ordinating your Common Room’s annual elections.
podcasts on something of interest to you. • Organising a group or event to raise money for
• Volunteering to help with outreach and access charity.
events: assisting at Oxford open days, or visiting • Organising an away-day for a society, or an inter-
schools to encourage students to apply to Oxford. university match for a sports club.
• Volunteering to give a presentation in your college/ • Editing a student publication, such as a newspaper,
department on an academic project. website or yearbook.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 37
GAINING EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

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?
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.
• 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
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
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.
• Leading a team on The Oxford Strategy Challenge • Downloading professional software, such as Adobe
(TOSCA). Creative Suite, and seeing how proficient you can
• Encouraging students to apply to Oxford. become during the free trial.
• Familiarising yourself with another operating system.
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
based on feedback. You can demonstrate this by: Sign-on.
• Doing any extra-curricular activities or part- And if you are already quite skilled, you could try:
time work in addition to your degree. This will • Designing an app.
signal to employers that you can balance various • Making a website for a student society.
responsibilities and workloads. • Volunteering to help out your college IT officer.
• ‘Up-skilling’ yourself. Why not take a course at the • Joining CompSoc or attending Oxford Geek Night to
Oxford Language Centre, or a free computing course meet and learn from developers and designers.
at IT services during term?
• Setting yourself personal goals that require training 10 Commercial awareness
to complete, such as running a marathon. All organisations – including not-for-profits – will
• Participating in an organised charity challenge, such want you to understand the key factors behind
as the RAG Jailbreak or the ‘Three Peaks Challenge’. successful businesses. You can develop commercial
• Undertaking an extended research project as part of awareness by:
your academic studies. • Organising an event that has to turn a profit, such as
a concert, ball or a college bop.
8 In-touch and agile • Joining The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA) to
Academia is about specialisation, and many courses at get an insight into a local business.
Oxford are quite traditional and/or theoretical. Being • Suggesting ways to improve efficiency at work,
‘in-touch’ means being aware of the broader general resulting in time or cost savings.
context, and being sensitive to new and emerging • Attending the Careers Service’s Insight into Strategy
trends. Being agile means demonstrating responsiveness and Management programme.
to these emerging trends in a practical and productive • Negotiating with a local business to give a discount to
way. You can: members of a student society you belong to.
• Research the latest and potential future trends in • Taking part in a business case studies workshop run
your sector of interest. How will machine learning by the Careers Service.
influence sectors like banking and consultancy? • Joining relevant student societies, such as Oxford
How will machine learning automate the Entrepreneurs, or the Oxford Guild.
communication between people of different • Taking part in virtual investment competitions online.

38 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 GAINING EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

Joining
employability
programmes
The Careers Service runs several
programmes to help students
develop and practise the key
skills outlined in our article on
core employability skills.

The Oxford Strategy Challenge on consultancy and strategy experience with client
The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA) is a team organisations. Over a period of 4–8 weeks you’ll
based experiential learning event, with participants participate in a team on a project that’s important to
working on real strategy-focused client challenges over the client – it might be understanding what customers
a week. TOSCA is an opportunity for you to develop a value, a fundraising strategy for a charity, or ideas on
broad range of transferable skills including teamwork, how to promote their products and services to more
leadership, communication and business awareness. people. TSC currently runs termly, see our website for
These along with the client relationship experience, will full details.
help you demonstrate your potential in applications, on
your CV, and in interviews. You will be placed in a small
team providing consultancy on a client project. The (Dis)AbilityWorks
project you will work on will be important to your client, The Careers Service puts
an opportunity for hands-on client experience, and you inclusion and accessibility
will make a real contribution to an organisation. The at the front of everything
programme runs regularly throughout the year so check it does. We aim for all of our services to be
the website for current dates. accessible but, recognising some students prefer

“
bespoke support, we also offer a series of events
and workshops to advise and provide practical
[I] would recommend to anyone help and resources for students with a disability,
regardless of their career aspirations … neurodiverse condition, mental health need
the skills I gained from it were truly invaluable and/or long-term health condition. Events will
and could be applicable to any future career. be publicised through the Events Calendar on
CareerConnect and sessions are likely to include:
• Extended 1:1 guidance sessions.
TOSCA participant, 2022 • Talking to employers about a disability: if, how
and when.
• Developing confidence in your career planning.
The Student Consultancy • Developing resilience.
The Student Consultancy (TSC) is a more in-depth • Advocacy with recruiters.
experiential learning programme providing hands-

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 39
GAINING EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

Insight into… programmes

The Careers Service has established a series of
‘Insight into…’ programmes to accelerate students’
learning and provide direct experience of the
workplace and style of work in different sectors.
We offer a range of programmes highlighted
below and overleaf. For more information,
including how to apply, see the webpages for Our
Skills Programmes, and monitor our blog posts
and the Events Calendar on CareerConnect to
hear about new programmes.

Insight into Medicine Insight into Pharma/Biotech

If you are thinking about a career in medicine, spending This programme is specifically for science students who
time shadowing a doctor is extremely important. It can are interested in working in the pharma/biotech industry
help you decide whether a medical career is right for and includes online panel talks which focus on different
you, and will enhance your UCAS application to medical roles within this sector. Typically running each academic
school. If you have difficulty arranging your own medical year, this programme provides the chance to hear from
work shadowing, this programme enables you to spend a scientists working in biotech research who will talk about
day with a hospital consultant in Oxford. This programme the differences between academic life and industrial
runs in 9th week but not in every term – check the research, alongside those who have opted to use their
Events Calendar on CareerConnect. science away from the bench but still in the pharma/
biotech industry. As part of the programme we have also
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-medicine introduced a panel talk with speakers who work in the
Medical Communications industry.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-pharmabiotech

40 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 GAINING EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

“
Insight into Teaching
Whether you are considering a career in teaching or are Cherwell School were really
just weighing up your options, gaining an understanding accommodating and I got to see a
of life as a teacher in a school is very valuable. This variety of lessons through year group and ability.
programme allows you to learn more about the realities It was great to see different teachers’ styles and
of being a teacher through informal and insightful how the different sets changed: teaching the top
seminars, and connects you to local schools to spend and bottom of the year. I enjoyed chatting to
time observing lessons, shadowing teachers, and
the children – hearing what they enjoyed about
perhaps even planning and teaching a lesson.
lessons and what they hated.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-teaching
Insight into Teaching participant,
2019

“
Insight into Publishing
Insight into Publishing gives future publishing candidates Thank you for the brilliant answers
the chance to hear from professionals in the different and energy in these three Insight into
departments of publishing companies as varied as Publishing sessions. I feel so much clearer
HarperCollins, Elsevier and Oxford University Press. about applications and industry basics now.
Participants gain an insight into the future of publishing
and discover practical ways to make their job and
internship applications publishing-focused. It runs Insight into Publishing
over three sessions and is open to undergraduate and participant, 2022
postgraduate students from all degree backgrounds.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-publishing

Insight into Academia Insight into Strategy and Management

This seminar series explores topics relevant to those Our Insight into Strategy and Management programme
considering higher education roles in research, teaching is designed to demystify business and increase
and related areas. Open to current matriculated Oxford understanding of professional life to help students
University students, alumni and early career research become ready for employment. At the end of the
staff at the University. These informal sessions are programme you will be able to demonstrate to
intended to provide an open and impartial forum for you prospective employers a broader understanding of
to learn more about the reality of becoming and being business, strategy and finance principles. You will
an academic, how to position yourself for success, and also learn about matching your personal profile to
practical guides to job search and the application process prospective employers to help with career choices, and
in the UK and globally. All are led by careers advisers and how to apply the learning to cases and interviews.
we often invite early career academics and others to join
us to share deeper insights. For more information see www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-strategy-and-
the website. management

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-into-academia

More information
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/employability-skills www.careers.ox.ac.uk/the-agency
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/tsc www.careers.ox.ac.uk/insight-programmes

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 41
GAINING EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

Seven ways
to gain
experience
Work experience is an Work experience can be:

opportunity to explore your • A way to develop valuable skills and accomplish

something noteworthy.
options and learn new skills. • A chance to try out possible career directions.
• An opportunity to make contacts in fields that
interest you.
• A chance to earn money.
Work experience provides a valuable opportunity to
develop awareness and understanding of yourself: what
really interests you, how you like to work, and what you
find most fulfilling.
It also has a very important role in enhancing your
employability. In a study of major graduate employers
(High Fliers 2017), half of the recruiters surveyed warned
that graduates with no work experience were unlikely to
be successful in applying for graduate-level jobs in their
organisations. This is because work experience:
• Enables you to enhance and apply your skills.
• Provides evidence of your skills and achievements

“
that you can highlight in your applications and talk
about in interviews.
Make the most of every opportunity! There’s lots of work experience that you can do.
You never know where something is For example, student committee roles, volunteering,
going to take you, or who you might meet on summer jobs and individual projects. What you’ve
that journey. chosen to do already can be a useful clue as to what
other forms of work experience and ultimately, jobs,
Esme Herman, Anthropology, might be fulfilling, as outlined in the earlier section on
Magdalen College, 2020 Developing Your Career Ideas. Here are seven ideas to
get you started.

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

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 – international volunteering
experience in an organisation, usually opportunities with a development focus:
working on a graduate-level, structured project www.unv.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
any time of year, but most advertised opportunities students talks and tours at their place of work. These are
take place in vacations, particularly the summer. often offered to help students who are interested in the
Some organisations offer internships purely to industry make a more informed application, but are not
provide interested students with some first-hand offered in all sectors. Many major graduate recruiters
experience and do not expect to hire interns at the will run company presentations and events in Oxford or
end of the period. Others use internships as a core virtually, where you can learn about the organisation,
part of their recruitment process, particularly major their recruitment processes and meet their staff.
graduate recruiters, who often advertise summer
internships for penultimate year students in
Michaelmas term. How recruiters support equality and
The Careers Service also runs The Oxford diversity
University Summer Internship Programme, a unique Recruiters are very keen
scheme exclusive to Oxford students which provides to raise their profile
4–12 week funded summer work experience across with applicants from all
the globe. backgrounds and to dispel perceptions that
may deter applications. The best way to assess
2 Volunteer whether their projected image is ‘reality or myth’
Volunteering is a great way to develop employability is to speak with current employees.
skills and help others at the same time. As a volunteer A useful starting point can be the ‘buddy
you can work on projects or tasks that still use and and mentor’ groups or forums (such as, LGBT and
develop your skills, but you have the added benefit of BAME forums), which many organisations now
full flexibility and negotiable hours. promote.
Here are a few suggestions for finding volunteering An increasing variety of organisations are also
experience while at Oxford: establishing internship programmes, insight days,
• The Micro-Internship Programme – provides networking events and mentoring opportunities to
short-term learning and development experiences encourage a greater diversity of applications. Such
in Week 9 or 10 of each term based in organisations opportunities will be focused on groups which an
across the UK and beyond. organisation feels are under-represented in their
• Oxford SU – organises diverse fundraising employee profile; so check what is available in the
activities you can get involved in, including the industries that you are most interested in. There
annual RAG campaign. Oxford SU also wants may be opportunities that focus around gender,
volunteers for Target Schools and other programmes. ethnicity or sexuality, or for those from lower
See www.oxfordsu.org socio-economic backgrounds.
• Oxford Hub – a student-run organisation that acts You could also explore specialist organisations
as a focal point for charitable activity in Oxford. that support candidates from under-represented
It co-ordinates a variety of volunteering projects in groups, such as Creative Access, SEO London
many sectors. You can visit its website at or Rare. Alternatively, look for programmes run
www.oxfordhub.org by specific employers, such as the Civil Service
• Do-It – a web-based national database of Fast Stream’s Summer Diversity Internship
volunteering opportunities. Search for projects in Programme.
Oxford at www.do-it.org

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 43
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
Physics, Christ Church College,
2011

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
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
in order to actively participate, such as the health organisation premises. You might also be interested in
professions or teaching. organisations which offer seasonal work abroad (such
It is actually not difficult to set up shadowing yourself as Work Away or WWOOF), some of which run on an
in any industry. Contact the organisation or individual accommodation-for-work (work exchange) basis.
you would like to observe, and ask! If they are not able
to help, you could ask whether anyone might be willing 7 Personal projects
to have a conversation with you to help you learn more Depending on your goals, you might want to generate
about the work they do. your own experience. It could be:
• Managing a ‘fantasy fund’ to demonstrate your
5 Spring weeks/spring insight programmes passion for financial markets.
In an increasing range of sectors, organisations with • Creating a piece of work to add to your artistic
larger graduate intakes now run one- or two-week portfolio.
insight programmes targeted for first years (and for • Starting an entrepreneurial or charitable endeavour.
second years on a four-year course). These discovery • Using your technological skills to code a new website/
programmes often happen around Easter and usually app/ game.
have their own application process. In addition to See if there are any local organisations that might
offering participants industry insights and the chance to be interested in using your project to help their work,
meet recent graduate recruits, they frequently include or giving it publicity. Working with other organisations
some skills development, advice on applications and may will give you new contacts and might lead toward
lead directly to offers for summer internships in your referrals as well as increasing the scope for your project.
penultimate year of study. Some accept applications in These could all be added to your CV under ‘Relevant
Michaelmas, so start looking early! Experience’ or ‘Projects’.

44 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 GAINING EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

Making the most

of the Internship
Office
The Internship Office at the The Summer Internship Programme
This programme offers hundreds of summer
Careers Service offers a internship opportunities in locations across the
range of unique schemes that globe, all exclusively available to current matriculated
Oxford University students. They’re offered in a wide
provide Oxford students with variety of sectors, and often come with funding
research and professional work support or travel scholarships. There are opportunities
suitable for students of all levels of experience and of
experience opportunities with all years of study, from first-year undergraduates to
final-year DPhils. Internships can be in person or
organisations across the UK and remote.
around the world. Examples of funded opportunities offered previously
include:
• Internships with world-leading international
development organisations, such as the UN
Development Programme as well as development
charities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• Professional placements from multinational
organisations like Mitsubishi in Japan and consultancy
companies around the world.
• Scientific research internships with universities and
institutes in Brazil, Germany, Israel, Mexico and more.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 45
GAINING EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS

• Teaching positions in schools around the world. across the UK and beyond. Placements last up to five
• A wide range of arts and heritage internships. days, and take place in 9th or 10th week of each term.
The Internship Programme also offers access to The opportunities are open to all matriculated students.
placements in the UK, beyond the undergraduate Each placement offers the chance to gain useful insight
internship schemes of the major graduate employers. into a particular sector while tackling a challenging work
Many Oxford-based opportunities frequently feature project to gain key employability skills. Micro-internships
among these internships, with an increasing number are available in all sectors, from investment firms to
of placements available within Oxford University itself, consultancy, tech start-ups to heritage sites. Placements
including colleges, departments, the Bodleian and the can be in person or remote.
University museums.
The Internship Office ensures that every placement Mentoring Programmes
comes with appropriate funding or assistance with The Careers Service runs two mentoring programmes
travel or accommodation. The internships are advertised for undergraduate bursary holders. Both programmes
from January each year, with application deadlines from handpick experienced professionals to suit the mentee’s
February onwards. area(s) of career interest, and encourage collaboration
to explore aspects of a profession that may be of
Crankstart Programme interest. Mentoring can be a great way to gain different
If you are a Crankstart Scholar, additional funding is perspectives, insight into certain sectors and develop
available specifically for undertaking internships. You can key skills – among many other things.
apply for this at any point during your undergraduate
studies. Internships can be sourced through our regular
programmes, independently (directly with an employer)
or through our Crankstart Exclusive Internships, which
are advertised via a regular bulletin.
More information
The Micro-Internship Programme See the Our Internship Office section of our
The Micro-Internship Programme offers voluntary, website: www.careers.ox.ac.uk/internships
short-term learning and development opportunities

46 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
APPLICATION
ESSENTIALS
“
Good advice on applications
Tailoring applications to a handful of
organisations is better than applying a
applies to every aspect of the
scattergun approach. It can be tempting to copy process, from preparing your
and paste similar content but demonstrating
you understand the employer’s culture can
CV and cover letters through
help make your application stand out. Each to interviewing and assessment
application took me around a day and a half but
the time is worth it: there is a career at the end.
centres. And it is relevant
for any application, whether
Amy Rickwood, Future trainee it’s for further study, a small
solicitor, New College, 2019
charity, a graduate position
or an internship with a leading
multinational.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 47
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
the right mix of skills; and potential to grow and learn. role can be straightforward because these are often
• Explain clearly why you want to join their listed in the job description and personal specification.
organisation; and how you fit both the role and the Application forms often ask you to give examples of the
culture. specific skills sought. Even where these are not clear, or
Successful applications therefore grow from when making a speculative approach, you should try to
enthusiasm for an organisation and knowing you would identify which core employability skills are likely to be
be happy doing the job. Invest time in identifying your most important for the organisation.
preferences, motivations and skills. Research industry Effective applications are supported throughout by
sectors to target your efforts better; try to understand evidence – it builds credibility. Simply asserting that you
the culture and style of different organisations and the have a skill does not work, not least because anybody
skills and qualities sought. Talking to people working in can make that assertion! Consider the opposite example
the sector can really help to deepen your research. in the ‘Assertion or evidence?’ box.
For more detailed advice, see our section on Developing The examples you use in written applications and
Your Career Ideas. interviews can be drawn from a variety of activities,
Good research is vital and will help you stand out. as transferrable skills are developed in many situations
It lays the foundation for communicating clearly how – through your studies, extra-curricular activities, and
you meet the requirements for the role and fit the work experience. Choose examples that:
organisation. Before applying, analyse the advertisement • Relate to what you actually did, rather than what you
or personal specification to understand: might do in a hypothetical situation.
• What the job entails. • Show your personal contribution, even within a team
• Which skills are most important. effort.
• What excellence might look like. • Had positive outcomes.
All elements of your applications can then: • Are relevant to the employer – signpost this by
• Actively promote your strongest relevant skills and mirroring the language used in the job description.
abilities. • Are fairly recent (preferably in the last two to three years).
• Present evidence showing where and how you have • Allow scope for you to expand on if asked for more
developed and applied these skills and abilities. detail in an interview.
• Persuade your audience of your interest, From building your CV to answering competency-based
excitement and motivation for the role and their questions in interviews, you can add structure to your
organisation. evidence by using the CAR or STAR mnemonics.

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

Assertion or evidence? Demonstrating commercial awareness

I will make a strong contribution at [company’s Good candidates are able to: demonstrate an
name] because I am a good team player and understanding of an organisation’s core activities,
natural leader. products and services; the marketplace – including
Last spring, my leadership enabled our competitors; and how political and technological
student consultancy team to make robust change might affect their sector in future.
recommendations to our client, a local charity, • Learn about the sectors you are targeting.
on how to increase volunteering amongst sixth • Attend company events and career fairs, talk to
formers based on over 100 survey responses. alumni, join relevant student societies.
• Read journals and websites dedicated to the
sector.
Remember… • Find and follow professional bodies and
opinion leaders as well as companies and
Lastly, remember that recruiters are not mind-readers, organisations.
and frequently work to tight deadlines. Never expect • Be ready to discuss industry trends and
recruiters to infer how you fit their criteria. Instead, how current issues might affect an
make it easy for them to find the evidence they are organisation’s markets or strategy – and/
looking for. or their clients.
• Be direct and state how you meet the criteria clearly, • Read the (financial) news and follow one or
with lots of evidence to back up your claims. two major current affairs over time.
• Mirror the language used in their recruitment • Consider how organisations in the sector
literature to: compete with one another.
• Align your style to theirs. • Become comfortable with business
• Enable software used to scan applications to terminology and financial measures relevant to
match your evidence to the key competencies and the sector and role.
skills required. Gain first-hand experience and insight
• Highlight relevant aspects of your background, through our employability programmes and
knowledge and experience for each organisation and work experience. See our advice on Gaining
role. Experience.
• Reflect how your aspirations and longer term goals
align to the opportunity.

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

Equality and diversity in

the application process
Many students worry that Whilst you may fear that your circumstances will be
viewed negatively, for the recruiter they are often seen
recruiters will be biased, as an asset – for example, your problem-solving skills
fearing preconceptions about developed through having a disability may be much
higher than others. Ultimately, what matters is how
race, disability, ethnicity, you evidence your skills, motivation and competencies
gender, sexual orientation, throughout the application process – you are your best
advocate!
mental health conditions, Depending on your situation, and to prevent putting
yourself at a ‘disadvantage’ to others, you may choose
social class or age. to ‘disclose’, or be open about, your circumstances, so
that the recruiter can put in place adjustments/support
The reality is that recruiters want the ‘best individual for that enable you to demonstrate your potential at each
the role/scheme’ and are keen to recruit employees from stage of the application process (such as, extra time
diverse backgrounds, but are not always sure how to for online tests, specific software for visually impaired
demystify or prevent misconceptions. applicants, visiting the test centre before the day to
Many employers are proud to have robust diversity familiarise yourself with the layout and many more).
and inclusion policy and practice – look for indicators It is your personal decision whether or not to tell a
when researching organisations. These organisations recruiter of your circumstances. And, if you do choose
recognise and value the unique skills, experience and to share this information, you must also decide at what
attitudes that individuals bring owing to their personal point in the recruitment process (application, interview,
circumstances. They also understand that students with job offer or in the job) to do so.
a disability, health condition or those who have had to Everyone’s circumstances are different and
‘suspend studies’ are often concerned that they may be understanding your situation in this context can be
at a disadvantage in the recruitment process – that it difficult. Try not to pre-judge how recruiters might view
will not be fair. you from what you have read or heard in the media and
Applicants have protection in law. This will vary from others – instead, seek advice and more information
depending on the country you wish to work in but the to help YOU to make the right decision for YOU.
UK Equality Act 2010 protects you – at all stages – • The Careers Service has advisers who specialise in
from discrimination due to disability, age, gender, race, disability and diversity issues and can help you to
religion and beliefs and sexual orientation. It is worth decide if, when and how you might want to be ‘open’
familiarising yourself with the law – see www.gov.uk/ about your particular circumstances.
guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance and the law in • Approach the organisation’s recruitment team for
the country you’d like to work in. advice – this is an important part of their role.

50 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 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
the reader to respond
positively.

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
make it easy for the recruiter to find exactly what they
are looking for. Focus on their core requirements and Relevance
adjust or adapt your CV for each specific application. • Content is relevant to the position applied for –
this is not a list of everything that you’ve done.
• Content highlights your personal contribution.
Getting ready to create your CV
Clarity
• Create your long list of all your experience, • A well laid-out CV is inviting to read and easy
achievements and key dates. Transferable skills are to scan quickly.
developed and demonstrated in diverse situations, so • Use simple language – avoid jargon, acronyms
include: and technical details that may not be
• Educational achievements, prizes, awards. understood or provide too much detail.
• Voluntary, paid and unpaid work experience. • A standard reverse chronological format helps
• Involvement in societies, sports and clubs. recruiters as they know where to find what
• Additional interests and skills (for example, they are looking for.
languages; IT skills; music).
• For each application, identify the skills and Evidence-based
competencies required. • Provide evidence of your contribution and
• Select your most relevant experiences to demonstrate impact.
the skills and competencies required for the role. • Focus on ‘actions taken’ rather than
• Select your format – for most graduate positions, ‘responsibilities’ to showcase your skills.
a standard reverse chronological format is • Use numbers, percentages and values to
recommended (see Siân Magellan’s CV). quantify your impact and give a sense of scale
• Consider which headings are most useful to present to your actions.
your experience most effectively: • Avoid unsupported assertions or opinions.
• EDUCATION will normally be at the top.
• EXPERIENCE rather than ‘Employment’. Brevity
• Headings such as ‘POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY’ • Avoid paragraphs, as these are slow to read.
or ‘AWARDS’ can signal other important information. • Use bullet points to package information
• INTERESTS or OTHER INTERESTS AND SKILLS succinctly.
should be included to indicate extra-curricular • Avoid too much context, excessive detail or
activities and diverse talents. This section might unfocused material that will dilute the impact
include sub-headings such as Languages; IT Skills; of your most relevant messages.
Sports; and Music.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 51
APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

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!
Creative CVs • Finally:
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:
you to project something of your style and personality and • Will the reader get the gist of your application?
can demonstrate your ability and skill in communicating • Are your strongest skills immediately visible?
information clearly in a creative and striking way. • Check for jargon and acronyms, and over-long
bullets – edit vigorously.
Academic CVs • Is it the right length?
There is no upper limit on the number of pages expected • Some employers (for example, investment
in a CV for an academic post. Information should still be banks) expect just one page.
relevant, brief, evidence based and clearly presented. • Aim for a maximum of two pages, except for
If applying for a postdoc, fellowship, lectureship or an academic CV.
research assistant post, make sure your CV has:
• Sections for professional memberships, publications, Finally, finally!
and conference presentations/posters. Take a good break and then proofread – yes, again! – double
• A focus on areas specific to academia, such as checking for errors and typos. Save your CV as a PDF to
research experience, teaching experience and any ensure it keeps its beautiful formatting when you send it.
university/college administration or committee work.
• Details of successful bids for awards, grants and
collaborations. More information and examples
• Referee details – usually three – ideally academics www.careers.ox.ac.uk/cvs
who both know you and are recognised in your field.
It can take a number of revisions before you are
happy with your CV, and getting a second opinion can
be very helpful. It might all make perfect sense to you, Comments on Siân Magellan’s CV
but you could be surprised by the things that others may
question or not understand. Ask a friend to check it or Overall
meet a careers adviser for feedback. • Looks easy to read.
• Text and dates aligned, no full-stops and plenty
of ‘white space’ around text.
Final checks • Consistent use of headings, capitals, and bold
text provide clear signposting.
Once you think your CV is ready, we recommend a few • No jargon or acronyms that may muddle
final checks: understanding.
• First, ensure that you are putting forward your best • Numbers, percentages and values add clarity
case – that everything included is relevant. and give a sense of scale.

Bullet points
Applications outside the UK Separate bullet points cover a single idea, skill or
Expectations and conventions for what is activity.
acceptable in a CV varies between countries: Note: Siân has used Context, Action, Results
for example, a photograph is never included in a (CAR) as a structure for her Experience section.
resume for the USA, but is expected on a German • Context: Dates, organisation name and
CV. If applying outside the UK, research country- positions/role give sufficient context.
specific current practice, starting with: • Action: Bullets start with active verbs/skills,
• Our advice on Working in Different Countries. aligning these to left margin for ease of scanning.
• GoinGlobal country reports, free to use via • Results: Outcomes included to show how and
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/goinglobal. where Siân added value.

52 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

SIÂN MAGELLAN
Balliol College, Oxford, OX1 3BJ
M: 07685 314529 E: Siâ[email protected]

EDUCATION

BA Hons English, Balliol College, University of Oxford 2019 – 2022

• First year exam results: 2.1 (65 average)
• 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

St John’s School, Milton Keynes 2012 – 2019

A levels: French A*, English A*, Chemistry A, Geography A
GCSEs: 5 A*, 3 A, 1 B including A* in English and Maths

EXPERIENCE

WWOOF, Organic Farm in Haute Vienne, France, Volunteer (summer) 2021

• Independently planned and organised 2 months’ work in France
• Improved to near-fluent French, while learning food production chain process
• Developed good working relationships with 22 colleagues from 12 countries

Oxford University, The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA), Team Leader (Online) 2020
• Led a team of 5 students to develop marketing strategy for local start-up
• Designed and executed electronic and phone surveys, engaging 250 participants
• Presented recommendations to client; all implemented within 3 months and delivering
20% increase in sales within 6 months

EGM Analysis, Market Research Assistant (1 month internship) 2020

• Produced 8 accurate data tables to summarise previous field activities
using SPSS
• Presented daily key data summary to managers with a colleague
• Developed knowledge and interest in marketing and consumer goods

Red Lion Hotel, Newport Pagnell, Waitress (part-time summer work) 2020
• Provided professional, courteous dinner service in busy gastro-pub with 80 covers
• Maintained positivity and good working relationships in high-pressure service environment

Milton Keynes Hospital, Data Entry Clerk (part-time holiday work) 2020
• Developed administrative skills, and understanding of organisational processes
• Ensured accurate classification of records and meticulous proof reading
• Liaised with 6 hospital departments to compile datasets to tight deadlines

OTHER SKILLS AND INTERESTS

Languages: English – native; French – near-fluent; German – conversational

IT: Proficient in Excel and SPSS, WordPress, InDesign and MS Office
Music: Lead clarinettist in Milton Keynes Youth Band; member of National Youth Orchestra
Marketing Officer for Balliol College wind ensemble. Promoted concerts and
managed ticket sales, increasing audience numbers by 30% in the first year
Sport: Balliol College women's football team; training twice a week
Captain of St John’s School women’s football team (under 18s)
Travel: Extensive travel throughout Europe, including organising work placement
in France

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APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

Cover letters
Always submit a cover letter if you have the chance. Aim to be
focused and engaging. Make a strong and persuasive case built on
your research and supported with evidence linked to your CV.

The cover letter gives you scope to: This advice also applies if you are writing a speculative
• Showcase what interests and drives you, your letter or application, perhaps asking an organisation if
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
values and culture. to outline two or three areas where your core skills and
• Highlight your knowledge and strongest, most experiences best fit the organisation’s needs. Close with
relevant skills for the position. an indication of what you would like to happen next.
Try to sound professional yet conversational, rather
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
and avoid jargon they may not understand. Search online The outline letter opposite provides ideas about
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
While this may sound simple, your early cover letters focus and strong communication skills.
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.
When you feel your cover letter is finished, put it • Keep the tone and content professional –
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
As you read, listen to yourself: research and how you consider they differ
• Does it say clearly what you want it to say? from their competitors – do not cut and paste
• 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:
role? using a spell checker is not enough.
• If you insert a competitor company’s name, does the • Ask for feedback from a careers adviser.
letter still read the same? If so, try to differentiate
each letter more!
• Are there any sections that are hard to read or
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
 APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

Your address

[email protected]

Their address

Date

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
you will finish.

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
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
particularly attractive for you: back this up with evidence from your past, or link this to your broader
career plans and aspirations.

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
your accomplishments and the most relevant transferable skills you have for the role. If you have
good evidence for any ‘desirable’ traits in the job description, include this too. Even if you think the
position is out of reach, you may convince the recruiter you are qualified enough and able to do the
job – particularly if you demonstrate strong motivation elsewhere.

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
skill. Consider these examples:
• 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
[named Society] attended by [number] of people.
• 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
disadvantaged children through Oxford’s Schools Plus programme.

CLOSING PARAGRAPH: Keep it simple and clear. Thank the employer for their interest in your
application and reiterate your desire to join the organisation. If known, refer to the next step: for
example, 'I look forward to interviewing with [Company name] in two weeks‘, or ‘discussing the
position with you soon’.

Yours faithfully, (if you started ‘Dear Sir or Madam’)

or
Yours sincerely, (if you addressed the letter to a specific person)

Signature
www.careers.ox.ac.uk 55
APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

Application forms
for employment
and further study
Many applications, both for employment and further study, require
an application form. You are more likely to be successful sending
targeted applications, rather than a mass of near-identical forms.

Application forms usually include questions that

prompt similar content to a good cover letter and/or More information and examples
competency-based interview questions, such as: 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?
• Provide an example of a time when … [you have taken
a leadership role]. Applications for further study
• Outside your course, what extra-curricular activities For most courses applications are made direct to
are you involved in? each university. In Europe and North America most
• Which relevant transferable skills can you further study applications open during the autumn
demonstrate? with deadlines between Christmas and Easter, but
Draft your answers offline first, so you can: some do close earlier so check individual closing
• Bring your answers and job description to review with dates carefully. Some vocational courses have a
a career adviser at the Careers Service. centralised application system, notably graduate
• Thoroughly check for typos. entry medicine, teacher training, and some law
• Ensure you don’t lose your answers if the server courses.
‘times out’. Details differ, but you are likely to need the
• Create a bank of material to help you answer similar following:
questions asked by different organisations– but • Application form.
always tailor responses. • Personal statement and/or research objective.
• Review your answers before your interview. • Transcripts of university exam results.
Always follow the instructions given. Stick to the word • Two or three references.
count if specified. Use concise sentences and active • CV.
verbs. • Examples of written work.
Personal statements may be required if an • Results of standardised tests (such as, GRE for
organisation has listed the skills and experience needed the USA).
for the role in detail. Aim to show how you meet each • Payment of a fee.
item on the list. Be guided by their sub-headings and
consider using these to organise your own statement –
making it even easier for recruiters to find the evidence
they are looking for! More information
See our guidance on types of further study,
choosing a course, studying abroad, fees and
funding and www.careers.ox.ac.uk/further-study

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 APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

How to reflect the

same experience in
a CV, cover letter
and application form
For any application, you should lead with your best, most relevant
experience for the role. It is likely, therefore, that you will want to refer
to some experiences more than once in different elements of the process.

The paragraphs below illustrate how this might look strategy. Thirdly, and based on the combined skillset
for Siân Magellan’s TOSCA leadership experience in her of my team, I allocated roles to each member, covering
cover letter, application form and CV. research, survey design and implementation, budgeting
and reporting. Having established a way forward, we
1. Cover letter then agreed a timeframe for each aspect of the project.
While participating in The Oxford Strategy Challenge As team leader, as well as being responsible for survey
(TOSCA), I developed my leadership skills by leading implementation, I remained the focal point of contact
a team of five students to design and implement a with our client, keeping them up to date with all our
marketing strategy to increase sales for our local project implementation, key findings and asking for any
start-up client. I organised our meeting schedule, clarifications when required. I also kept in touch regularly
allocated roles to each team member, coordinated with each team member in between our team meetings
with the client, implemented our surveys and so that I could deal with any unexpected delays or
ensured that we delivered our recommendations on findings and keep our project on track. We delivered our
time. As a result of my team’s recommendations, six recommendations on time to our client, who welcomed
months later our client’s sales have increased by 20% and implemented them all. Six months later, the client’s
and I received excellent feedback both from the client sales have increased by 20% and our suggestions are still
and other members of my team. being followed.

2. Employer Application Form (EAF) 3. CV

Describe a time when you demonstrated leadership
skills: Last January I led a five-member team on The
EXPERIENCE
Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA), a programme
run by Oxford University Careers Service to build Oxford University, The Oxford Strategy 2020
commercial awareness and team skills. Within this Challenge, Team Leader (Online)

timeframe, my goal as team leader was to deliver a • Led a team of 5 students to develop marketing strategy
series of recommendations to our team’s local start- for local start-up
up client to increase its sales. First I organised a series • Designed and executed electronic and phone surveys,
engaging 250 participants
of meetings when all or most of us could get together • Presented recommendations to client; all implemented
to work on the project. Secondly I asked each team within 3 months and delivering 20% increase in sales
member to share their skills and insights into how they within 6 months

could contribute to developing an effective marketing

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APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

Recruitment
assessments
Psychometric and online not spend too long on any one question – if you get
stuck, move on rather than wasting time.
assessments were widely used
even before COVID-19 greatly Types of Assessments
Ability tests assess candidates’ potential, not their
increased virtual recruitment. knowledge. They are timed. Practice helps with
Online tests may be used as an familiarisation.
Numerical reasoning tests usually require only
initial screening stage or later GCSE-level maths, and typically require candidates
to extract information from charts and graphs, and
in the process, and candidates calculate percentages and ratios. If your mental maths or
may be retested at assessment calculator technique are rusty, start practising.
• Study different types of charts and financial reports
centres. in quality newspapers and the financial press.
• Attend the Careers Service’s numeracy refresher
sessions, advertised via CareerConnect.
• Brush up using maths revision games (for example,
BBC Bitesize: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize)
Recruiters use online assessments to screen large Critical Thinking Assessments (for example,
numbers of candidates. See the Careers Service’s Watson-Glaser CTA), and some verbal reasoning
advice on preparation and how to access free practice tests, evaluate your ability to extract the details
materials. To perform at your best in any assessment: and main points from a short piece of information,
• Practice first to be familiar with the test and sometimes requiring you to make logical inferences
styles of questions so you can focus on finding from the text. Effective practice can improve scores
correct answers rather than wasting time trying to by supporting familiarisation with question types
understand how to answer the questions. and with the range and subtleties of the distinctions
• Read instructions carefully and always use any you need to make. Use the free practice resources
practice questions offered by the recruiting company. on the Careers Service’s website linked above.
• Choose a time and place where you can focus You should also read broadly outside of your academic
without distraction. discipline (for example, technical and business journals)
In timed tests, work as quickly and accurately as to become comfortable with different written styles and
possible. Read questions and answer-choices carefully. language.
With multiple-choice questions, try to eliminate wrong Situational Judgement Tests (SJTs) use a multiple-
answers quickly; for example, by using estimates in a choice format and ask candidates to evaluate possible
numerical test to discard some options without working responses to work-related scenarios, or to identify
out every alternative. Keep an eye on the clock and do the best (and worst) options. Scenarios frequently

58 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

create a tension between achieving an objective (the

task), the resources needed, and/or personal and Equality and diversity: disclosure or
interpersonal issues that may need resolving first, or being ‘open’
which conflict with the organisation’s stated values. If you feel that you might
These tests require the candidate to make finely be at a disadvantage to
balanced decisions. others in the application
In-tray/e-tray exercises try to simulate the working and selection process (for
environment and can combine aspects of any of the example, in online tests or video interviews),
above (verbal; numerical; CTAs; and SJTs) in a time- owing to a disability, health condition or dyslexia
pressured environment. and dyspraxia, then contact the recruiter
Game-based assessments use simple electronic beforehand to discuss if the process
games that require no special skills (or preparation). can be adapted or ‘adjustments’ could be made
They can be engaging and fun, but remember they are for you, for example, by giving you extra time
still assessments! in the timed tests. Your experiences of
Personality and Learning Style assessments evaluate adjustments that are made for you at university
traits and work style preferences. They are usually not are a good guideline for what to ask for, or
timed, and there are no right or wrong answers. Answer advise a recruiter to put in place.
intuitively as yourself.

Further study applications: tests and interviews

Admissions tests are rare in the UK for Masters In the UK, interviews are common but not
and PhD programmes. However, some vocational ubiquitous. Not all Masters courses interview
programmes (for example, Medicine) do require test candidates, but most PhD programmes will. Vocational
results, and there may be tests to demonstrate your courses like the PGCE nearly always involve an
language capability. interview. If you are based in a different country, you
In North America, standardised tests are an almost won’t usually be expected to travel for interview: virtual
universal part of the application process. You will online and telephone interviews are now widely used.
most commonly come across the GRE, but others If you are interviewed, then expect a rigorous
exist and it is important that you check both which examination of your motives for applying to the course,
tests are required for your chosen courses and the as well as questions exploring your academic interests
cut-off dates for taking these. Research requirements and knowledge. Be ready to talk about dissertations or
early for any course you are considering. Due to other pieces of work, and keep in mind that this is also
Covid many paused GRE requirements, but it may be your chance to determine whether a course is right for
widely used for 2023 entrance. you – particularly important for PhDs.

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APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

Assessment
centres
Many employers believe that individual interviews can’t tell them
enough about candidates and prefer to use a range of selection
techniques incorporated into an assessment centre.

What to expect A typical one-day assessment centre may consist of:

Assessment centres (ACs) tend to be a few hours • Introduction and company presentation.
to a full-day in length and will consist of a range of • Psychometric testing.
selection methods such as aptitude tests, personality • In-tray exercise.
questionnaires, case studies, group discussions, spoken • A presentation.
presentations, one-to-one interviews, socialising (which • Lunch/socialising informally.
is still observed!) and meeting recent joiners. • Group exercise, solving a work-related problem.
In 2020–21, companies successfully moved ACs • Interview(s): ranging from strengths-based to
online and we expect many will continue to use virtual competency-based interviews.
ACs in future. The assessors will keep notes of how each candidate
Applicants will usually be assessed against selection performs. Try to stay focused and in the moment
criteria based on the company’s competency framework, throughout the day and stay positive even if you feel
which defines the core abilities, skills and behaviours you under-performed in an exercise, as most skills will
judged to be necessary for the role. These competencies be assessed in more than one exercise and assessors are
are likely to include key transferable employability evaluating your overall performance.
skills as well as company-specific competencies and/or
technical skills for some roles.
Typically, competencies include areas such as:
• Creativity, analytical skills and problem solving.
• Effective communication skills and teamwork.
• Business/commercial awareness. More information
• Ability to influence/persuade. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/assessment-centres
• Drive, initiative and flexibility.

60 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

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 focus on 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 – in a teaching or
1. Tell them who you are and what you are going to training type role play, for example, this could be
tell them. appropriate. Allow time for questions at the end if
2. Tell them. this feels appropriate.
3. Summarise what you have told them.

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 • Use the information given and help the group
brief. This really is not about winning or losing! clarify objectives and select decision-making
Successful teams work together. They find and use criteria. Use these to keep the discussion focused
the best contributions from across the whole team and on shared priorities.
good teamwork involves listening to, acknowledging, • Be assertive and persuasive, but also diplomatic.
and following through on the ideas of others: it’s about • Listen to what everyone else has to say, and try to
building on one another’s strengths and contributions. get the best contribution from each person.
But yes, you are being assessed, and assessors can • Don’t assume that shy or quiet members have
only judge you on the contributions they see, so it is nothing to contribute – ask for their thoughts.
important to get involved and make sure that your • Find the balance between taking your ideas forward
contribution is heard. Even if your ideas are not taken up and helping the group to complete the task.
by the group there are many alternative ways that you • Keep an eye on the time and overall objective of
can gain recognition – for example, by leading, facilitating, the exercise, and help ensure that the group keeps
generating ideas, encouraging, monitoring progress, re- on track and delivers against the brief.
capping/summarising, questioning, or analysing. • Wear a watch so you can still keep track of time if
• Get a good grasp of any information you are there is no clock in the room.

In-tray exercises
In-tray or ‘e-tray’ exercises are a test of your ability • Prioritise what is most important or urgent by
to deal with a real work scenario. You may be given scanning the information.
a simulated inbox full of emails, reports and other • Identify which items you need to complete during
correspondence – or it may start nearly empty, but the exercise (handling tasks that are both ‘urgent
you can expect additional emails to arrive during the & important’ as a priority).
exercise. • Select which items could be delegated/referred
• Employers are usually looking for you to prioritise to someone else and those that can be noted for
your workload, draft replies, delegate tasks and completion ‘later’.
recommend actions. • Highlight any resource constraints, conflicts
• Keep focused – time is often short, so work between tasks, or implications for the
quickly and avoid getting too absorbed in any organisation.
single aspect of this task. • If asked to draft a written response to any item,
Take care to: identify the main points of your response quickly
• Read the instructions carefully and thoroughly. and expand concisely on them.

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APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

Confident
interviews
If you have been invited to interview, you
have convinced the employer that you are
suitable for the role on paper. An interview
is your opportunity to confirm this
impression, and demonstrate that you are
what the hiring manager is looking for.

“
How to prepare
Remember interviews work both ways: Repeat the preparations detailed throughout this
you’re interviewing the prospective section, but in more depth. Re-read the job
company as well as being interviewed. description and candidate specification, and ensure
I built up a good rapport during my Arup that you understand the job and the competencies
interview and knew the people I’d met would required. Be clear about the points you absolutely
be great to work with but it definitely wasn’t like want to make, and practise building them into different
answers.
that for all other interviews. Don’t be afraid to
As a starting point, prepare some answers to
turn down a job offer if you don’t think it’s the
typical questions, and practise answering them aloud.
right fit for you.
Articulating your answers is harder than thinking them
over in your head, and saying them aloud will help you to
Tabitha Kennedy, Environmental sound more convincing and fluent on the day.
Consultant, Arup. BA Geography, • Be clear on your motivations: why you want to work
Hertford, 2016 for the organisation and do that specific job.
• Be ready to show commercial awareness:
• Consider how recent global events, current
affairs and the economy may affect the
organisation.

62 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

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.
Structure your responses with these
mnemonics:

Situation Context
Task Action
Action Result
Result

For example, use the STAR outline to:

First: Briefly describe the specific SITUATION
• Think about how the organisation competes in its you were in.
market, and how it compares with its competitors. Second: Describe the TASK you needed
• Read a quality broadsheet and be ready to offer to accomplish. Give only enough detail for the
an informed opinion on business and current recruiter to appreciate your contribution.
affairs. Third: Describe the ACTION(s) you took. Keep
• Prepare some questions (note them down) to ask at the focus on what you did rather than the efforts
the interview. of the team, even for a group project.
Lastly: Describe the RESULT. Based on
Support at the Careers Service relevant measures of success, outline what
• Sessions for improving your interview skills are held happened and what you accomplished.
each term, and dates and times are advertised in our When appropriate, probably within an
weekly newsletter and on CareerConnect. interview, you can extend this structure by
• Employer-led mock interviews are offered every including ‘E’ for EVALUATION (STARE):
term. You are able to make a recording to review at • Highlight what you learned from the
a later point, and the recruiter will give feedback to experience, or what you would change if you
help improve your technique. went through the process/experience again.
• You can also use a short discussion with a careers • Explain how this experience might be relevant
adviser to discuss interview technique or tackle some in the role applied for.
general interview questions.

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APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

Strengths-based recruiting Top tips for answers

More and more graduate recruiters use this type Try to use examples from different experiences,
of interview as they understand that employees such as your studies, work experience, extra-
will perform best when using their individual curricular activities and volunteering.
strengths. They aim to get the best out of you by • Be as clear as possible – many of us tend to
focusing on your natural aptitude, what you enjoy ramble when we’re nervous, so use specific
doing and what engages you. examples that provide evidence of your skills
In this type of interview, interviewers may and contribution.
ask a wide range of questions to get a good feel • Feel free to use examples already mentioned
of your personal abilities and will be looking not on your written application: the interviewer
only at what you say but also how you say it; to will not have memorised all of them. Be ready,
see if your tone, body language and expression however, to go into more detail.
demonstrate a genuine motivation. • Think about the structure of your answer to
They may ask questions such as: ensure you that get the relevant points across
• When are you at your best? clearly. For competency-based questions, use
• What are you most proud of? the STAR/CAR mnemonic.
• What do you do well? • A good interview is a dialogue, and you should
• What do you love to do in your spare time? take an active role in the conversation.
• How would a close friend describe you? • If you are not sure that you understand the
• How do you feel when working on a question, ask for clarification. Similarly, if you
disorganised project? What do you do in are wondering whether you have answered a
situations like this? question fully, you can ask the interviewer if
• How do you ensure you maximise your time to they would like more information.
achieve your goals and targets?
In order to prepare you will need to think about
your achievements academically, professionally and in • Take time to think before answering.
an extra-curricular capacity. What have you done that • Make sure you answer the question you have been
you particularly enjoyed – why did you enjoy it? Also, asked.
as with all interviews, think about the organisation • Structure your answer so it is easy to understand.
and the role you are interviewing for: does it allow • If you have finished – and the interviewer remains
you to use your strengths and natural talents? silent – don’t keep talking to fill the gap.
• Be positive in everything you say:
• Don’t make negative comments about previous
On the day employers or tutors.
• Plan your route and aim to arrive 15–30 minutes • If asked about something that went wrong, outline
early to settle down and relax. Plan what you will what you learned from the experience and how
do if there is an unexpected delay. Always have the you would handle it differently next time.
name and telephone number/email of your main • Aim to keep answers reasonably short – if there is
contact within the organisation. more that you could add, perhaps ask the interviewer
• Consider what you are going to wear: be clean, neat if they would like more details or further examples.
and tidy, and dress appropriately for the environment • Don’t let a friendly, informal interview style lull you
you would be working in. into a false sense of security: you are still being
• First impressions are important: be ready to say hello assessed.
with a confident handshake and steady eye contact. • Keep your answers professional, focused and relevant.
• Remember – you are on show from the minute you • Be aware of body language and try to maintain eye
arrive to the point that you leave. contact. This is particularly important in a panel
• Be polite and friendly (but not over-familiar) to interview, where eye contact can help you to engage
everyone you meet – receptionists, secretaries… all the panel members.
everyone. Arrogance or rudeness will be noticed and
will work against you. After the interview
As soon as possible after the interview, jot down
In the interview(s) notes of what was discussed, what you feel went
• Don’t be afraid of silence: well, and what didn’t go well. Consider how you could

64 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 APPLICATION ESSENTIALS

Prepare for the most typical questions Virtual and phone interviews
Employers will want to understand what your Some employers have reverted back to
interests are, what you enjoy doing, and how in-person interviews now that COVID-19
these relate to the position, so some questions are restrictions have relaxed, but some are still
quite common. They will want to understand what using virtual interviews, particularly for first-
motivates you and how much insight you have round interviews. Prepare for phone or virtual
into yourself, their company and the role – so be interviews as if for a face-to-face interview –
sure to prepare well and practise aloud for these don’t treat it any less formally.
FAQs. If you’re asked to do a video (or pre-
• Tell me about yourself. recorded) interview, you’ll be sent a video
• What attracted you to this company? link and will complete the interview via
• Why do you want this position? webcam. You’ll be asked a question, given
• What will you bring to this role? a short time to prepare, and then have to record
• Tell me about a time when you led a team/ your answer; you can usually pause between
completed a project/worked with someone questions but not after the question has been
you found difficult to work with. asked.
• What would you do differently if faced with
that (difficult) situation again? When preparing for the interview
• What do you consider your greatest • Ensure that you have privacy for the
strength? interview away from noise and distractions.
• …your greatest weakness? Ask friends or family not to disturb you – put a
• What has been your greatest achievement? sign on your door!
• Ensure your phone/laptop is charged, check
the signal/internet access, and/or that the
virtual platform the recruiter has invited you to
have responded differently and what you could add to use is working properly.
strengthen your answer(s). This will help if you are asked • Have your CV or application form available as
similar questions in future – including during a final- a prompt, as well as some paper and a pen for
round interview – if the organisation decides to drill making notes.
deeper into areas that have already been assessed. • The main difference between telephone
and in-person interviews is the lack of visual
Handling offers or rejections cues, but your body language is still very
If you’re offered a job and are still hoping to hear back from important as it affects your confidence and
other recruiters, look up the advice on handling offers performance.
on the Careers Service’s website. If you are still unsure, • Dress smartly, even for a telephone interview
discuss your situation with a careers adviser. If you are not – as this will affect your overall attitude and
offered the job, do feel free to contact the recruiter for confidence.
feedback – it can be really helpful. Most importantly, learn • Smile! By smiling, you will sound friendlier and
from the experience and try not to lose confidence. more confident.
• Use gestures as you would in a normal
conversation; this will help you sound livelier.
More information Vary your pace and pitch to avoid sounding
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/types-of-interview ‘flat’.
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/interview-technique • If there are any long silences after your answer
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/make-a-good-first- and you are not sure whether to continue, you
impression can always ask, “Would you like me to expand
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/case-study-style- further on that?”
interviews • You can stick post-it notes around your screen
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/telephone-video- if there’s some information you really want to
interviews remember during the interview – the recruiter
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/handling-offers can’t see them.
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/handling-rejection

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 65
 Banking and Investment .................................. 78

HSBC
Oliver Brophy ........................................................................... 79

Jane Street

INDUSTRY
Nicole R ..................................................................................... 79

Business and Management .............................. 82

SECTOR Procter & Gamble (P&G)

Catherine Haigh ...................................................................... 83

BRIEFINGS REED Specialist Recruitment Limited

Ann-Marie Jay ......................................................................... 83

AND ALUMNI Business with Purpose ..................................... 85

Deloitte Consulting

PROFILES
Jonny Walker ........................................................................... 86

B Lab UK
James Ghaffari ........................................................................ 86

The overviews over the next 70 pages give you a Charity and Social Enterprise .......................... 87
summary of each sector followed by revealing insights
from Oxford alumni about how they got into the sector, Unlocked
the skills they use day to day and how they made their Esme Herman .......................................................................... 88
applications stand out. This is an excellent place to start
your research. Asylum Welcome
Katie Forsyth ........................................................................... 88

Academia and Higher Education ...................... 68 Consultancy .................................................... 90

University of Oxford Innovia Technology

Oliver Hedges .......................................................................... 69 Runsen Ma ............................................................................... 91

University of Konstanz FTI Consulting

Dr Lena Rose ........................................................................... 69 Fred Hudson ............................................................................. 91

Accountancy and Financial Services ................ 72 Creative Industries .......................................... 97

Admiral Insurance Freelance

Sophia ........................................................................................ 73 Andy Laithwaite ...................................................................... 99

APR LLP IGG Mobile Games

Ian McFarlane .......................................................................... 73 Paoula Sobanda ....................................................................... 99

Advertising, Marketing and PR ........................ 76 BBC

Safa Dar ................................................................................. 100
The Value Engineers
Rachel Ballard .......................................................................... 77 Freelance
Esme Ash ............................................................................... 100
Mother
Melanie Eckersley ................................................................... 77

66 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Culture and Heritage .....................................101 Janus Henderson Investors

Larissa Wilson ....................................................................... 119
The National Trust
Katie Ramsay ........................................................................ 102 Government Legal Department
Olivia Phelan ......................................................................... 120
V&A Museum
Isobel Cockburn ................................................................... 102 Clyde & Co
Ewan Fraser ........................................................................... 120
Education ......................................................103
National Policy and Government ...................122
Secondary School
Imogen Hobby ...................................................................... 104 Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Sam Banks ............................................................................. 123
Oxford University PGCE
Joseph Drakeley ................................................................... 104 Ministry of Justice
Nicholas Linfoot ................................................................... 123
Energy, Sustainability and Environment ........106
Publishing ......................................................124
3Keel LLP
Josefin Malmberg ................................................................ 107 Penguin Random House
April Peake ............................................................................. 125
Element Energy
Alistair Duffey ...................................................................... 107 Osprey Publishing
Tallulah Griffith ..................................................................... 125
Engineering ...................................................109
Science ..........................................................127
DeepMind
Dr Markus Wulfmeier ......................................................... 110 Fishawack Health
Phoebe Hobbs ...................................................................... 128
Accenture
Dr Lakshmi Manjoosha Adapa .......................................... 110 Haseltine Lake Kemper LLP
Dr Lisa Rodermund ............................................................. 128
Health and Social Care ...................................113
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather
Barts Health NHS Trust Forecasts
Eleanor Sharpe ..................................................................... 114 Sam Hatfield ......................................................................... 129

South London and Maudsley NHS AstraZeneca

Alicia Graham ........................................................................ 114 Ulrike Künzel ......................................................................... 129

International Policy and Development ..........115 Start-Ups and Entrepreneurship ...................132

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Gotoco

Development (OECD) Richard Lloyd and Danny Parrott .................................... 133
Emile Rolland ......................................................................... 116
iLoF
E Co Mehak Mumtaz ................................................................... 133
Debasmita Boral .................................................................. 116
Tech: IT, Data, AI and Machine Learning .........134
Law ...............................................................117
Beamery
Outer Temple Chambers Matthew Noble .................................................................... 135
Courtney Step-Marsden ................................................... 119
dunnhumby
Jasper Hajonides .................................................................. 135

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 67
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

ACADEMIA AND Getting in and entry points

For academic roles: Networking during your DPhil/

HIGHER EDUCATION
PhD to hear of posts through contacts, and know people
to advise you on applications. Postdoc positions are
advertised year-round, but fellowship deadlines can
Working in the university sector offers a wide be up to one year before they start. Junior research
variety of professional roles from academic fellowships – most offered at Oxford, Cambridge – are
research to HR. highly competitive, and are advertised year-round, with
many open between February and April. Lectureships
Academia - a career in academic research and/or are advertised year-round for the UK (though often in
teaching – can be a stimulating career option, with line with the academic cycle) and from September to
the potential for significant autonomy and flexibility in December for North America.
your working life. It is a challenging route that demands For professional support roles: jobs appear
commitment to your area of research and to producing throughout the year, and are advertised on jobsboards
the publications, grant applications and projects such as jobs.ac.uk, as well as on university vacancies
expected by university departments. Competition for pages. For roles such as admissions and outreach,
roles often means several years of insecurity while trying recent student experience is advantageous, though
to find a permanent position. opportunities to move into professional roles extend
It is near essential to have a DPhil/PhD in order from entry-level to the most senior positions.
to gain a permanent academic position in the UK and
many other countries, though a small number of fixed- Extra-curricular ideas
term research-assistant or technician roles for Masters For an academic pathway:
graduates do exist. Following a DPhil/PhD, next steps • Before doing a DPhil/PhD, gain experience by
include a postdoctoral research position or a fixed-term supporting research in some way. Ask academics in
teaching contract; in some subjects it may be possible your field how you might assist, or get tutoring or
to move directly into a junior lectureship. Independent teaching experience with any age group.
fellowships offer a grant to develop your own research, • During a DPhil/PhD, get university teaching
so attract many applicants. Postdocs, fellowships, experience or tutor on programmes such as The
assistant and technical roles may last from six months to Brilliant Club.
several years. • Start building a network around your area of interest.
Early career academics often take on a variety of Join relevant societies, and attend Careers Service
roles as stepping stones to a permanent position, or talks on developing a professional network within
towards a ‘portfolio career’ with academic work one of academia.
several strands such as consultancy, editorial or advisory • Get your work out there; submit articles for
work. Permanent lectureship roles combine research and publication and help with outreach events.
teaching with administration duties, such as organising • Speak at conferences, or organise one yourself.
seminars and committee work. There are very few • Apply for internships with non-UK universities and/or
permanent teaching or research-only academic roles. industry to gain international and practical experience,
Professional support roles in universities typically for example, those offered by the Careers Service.
offer a stimulating range of activities, including
opportunities to develop policy and interact with For professional support roles:
academics engaged in cutting-edge research. The range • During your studies, get involved in extracurricular
of specialisms extends from HR legal and finance roles activities in your department or college.
through to research and teaching support, libraries, • Search the professional, managerial and support roles
catering, fundraising, publicity and more. These roles advertised on www.jobs.ac.uk to identify roles of
often offer greater stability than an academic pathway. interest. Most professional-support functions are

“
filled by university graduates.

Working at the interface of research,

teaching and action is very exciting.
Persistence, courage and being strategic are all More information
key to making academia work for you. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/academia
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/researchers

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

Oliver Hedges

“
Major Initiatives Assistant, Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach, University of Oxford.
BA History, New College, 2016

What: I started working for the University of Oxford a Education institution can
year after graduating. I have been in administrative roles be. There is such a wide
within the Sports Department, Medical Sciences and History of range of roles and skills
Art. I now work within Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach needed that every job
delivering two large outreach projects: Opportunity Oxford and has felt fresh. I personally
Foundation Oxford. These act as bridging programmes, allowing really enjoy project and event
disadvantaged students to improve their skills and potentially management and have been
gain a place at Oxford which they may not otherwise receive. It able to take positions that allow me
is incredibly rewarding to organise events and projects that help to explore these areas further.
others have the university experience that I enjoyed.
Advice: Be open to the different roles and careers you can
Why: After university I started applying for graduate schemes. have after leaving Oxford. Do not just focus on the ‘traditional’
It was only part-way through this process that I realised that Oxford career paths, as you may overlook something more
this was not the life, nor were these the careers, that I wanted. I enjoyable. You also do not have to settle on a career immediately
started my first job in the Sports Department almost accidentally; after leaving Oxford. Give yourself space to explore different
a friend recommended I apply for a sabbatical sports position. opportunities. Finally, when considering your career choices, you
During that year-long contract I realised that I wanted to stay should factor in the external factors and priorities you may have,
within the university environment, and within Oxford. Since as well as the career path itself. These could include where you
then, I have moved between departments regularly, and have would work; what the work-life balance is like; and whether it is
discovered just how varied and interesting working at a Higher compatible with everything you want to do outside of the job.

Dr Lena Rose
Lecturer, University of Konstanz (Germany); Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow, Centre for
Socio-Legal Studies, Law Faculty at Oxford, 2019–2022; DPhil in Social and Cultural Anthropology,

“
St Cross College, 2013–2019; MSc Migration Studies, Kellogg College, 2012–2013.

What: I am an anthropologist by training - my research interact with international

is situated at the intersection of migration, law, and colleagues, have time
religion. My work examines the tension between power, culture, to read, think, write, and
and religion in asylum processes of converts to Christianity in design projects at the
Europe, through ethnographic observation of court proceedings, forefront of your field, and,
interviews, and case law analysis. In my doctorate, I conducted depending on your area, translate
research among a Christian minority in the Middle East to results into real world impact.
understand how they navigated their belonging to, and also I particularly like my periods of immersive ethnographic research
shaped, ‘global Christianity’. I have published my work widely, which allow me to experience different life-worlds and deeply
provided expert opinions on BBC Radio 4, and am currently challenge my thinking and perceptions.
preparing my first monograph.
Cons: The financial return and long-term job security don’t
Career path: My career path has crossed a number of disciplines. necessarily reflect the high level at which you work, nor what you
I funded my DPhil through various scholarships and lots of work may have invested into your education and development. This is
as a research assistant, which took longer but added valuable generally true for the first ten years post PhD.
research experience. I was awarded a Leverhulme Trust Early
Career Fellowship straight out of my DPhil, which has allowed me Top tips/advice: Create a network of academics who share
to expand my research. your research interests from an early stage – present at
relevant conferences, publish in and beyond academia, and don’t
Pros: If you are passionate about your subject, being an academic be shy to reach out to scholars whose work you like; Twitter is a
is extremely stimulating; you get to teach bright students, great tool.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 69
 In-person
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY
CAREERS FAIR
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | 11:00-15:00
Examination Schools, OX1 4BG

Meet recruiters,
explore graduate
roles, internships
and full-time jobs,
and find out about
different career
options at Oxford
University's careers
fair for all sectors.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/oucf

Funded internship
opportunities, exclusively
available to Oxford
University students in
the summer vacation.
The Summer
Internship
Programme UK and international
internships available in
a wide variety of sectors,
carried out in person or
remotely.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/sip

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

ACCOUNTANCY various industries, especially the pensions, insurance and

investment sectors. Most successful candidates will have

AND FINANCIAL
a numerate degree (such as, mathematics, statistics,
economics), but students from other disciplines can
demonstrate their numerical ability by passing the

SERVICES Certificate in Financial Mathematics (CT1) exam.

Insurance
The financial services sector includes some of the Insurance is focused on protecting the value of an
largest graduate recruiters and offers positions individual’s or organisation’s assets, and has huge
across a wide range of functional roles (such breadth, including corporate insurance, personal
as, legal, HR and technology roles) alongside insurance, reinsurance, and life assurance.
financial and advisory roles. A high degree of Firms are similarly diverse. Employers are generally
comfort with numbers is important for finance- open to graduates of all degree disciplines, although
some employers have a preference for numerate degrees.
related roles, as well as key employability skills
such as communication, team-working, problem-
Getting in and entry points
solving and analytical skills.
Meet firms at our virtual careers fairs in Michaelmas
term and at company presentations, and monitor your
In many areas, graduates can expect to study for a target firms’ websites.
professional qualification alongside their work, which Accountancy: The large accounting firms open
provides a firm foundation for a professional career. Most graduate recruitment during the summer in the year
employers will pay for the training and routinely offer study before graduation. Positions in London fill quickly in
leave to trainees. Accountancy training normally takes three Michaelmas term, so apply early, whilst vacancies for
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
corporate finance, tax and risk. Accountants play a key programme’ is advertised.
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
organisations look for people with strong commercial areas of specialism, and application deadlines also vary,
awareness and good interpersonal skills – not just so research and prepare applications early.
‘number-crunchers’! There are opportunities in both
commercial and public sector organisations at firms of Extra-curricular ideas
all sizes. The larger organisations, including the ‘Big 4’ • Demonstrate your interest in the sector by becoming
(Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC), have broadened their active in related student societies – such as the
focus to provide strategic advisory services, and now Oxford Guild or the Oxford Finance Society.
also include large management consultancy practices. • Show your financial acumen as treasurer for a society
Chartered accountants provide professional advice to or JCR/MCR.
fee-paying clients, small businesses, large organisations, • Help run an event that makes a profit, from charity
and individuals – in areas such as audit, financial fundraising to a college ball.
reporting, insolvency and restructuring. • Apply to ‘insight days’ and ‘spring week’ programmes
Management accountants usually work in-house as a first year (or a second year on a four-year
(although they can be external), and their role is to degree).
advise an organisation’s senior management about the • Attend the Careers Service Insight into Strategy and
financial repercussions of business decisions, and to Management programme.
monitor corporate spending.

Actuarial work More information

Actuaries are risk management experts, applying www.careers.ox.ac.uk/accountancy
mathematical tools to assess the probability and risk www.careers.ox.ac.uk/actuarial-profession
of future events. Actuarial assessments are used in

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

Sophia

“
Business Development, Admiral Insurance
Classics, Exeter College, 2017

What: I joined Admiral’s general graduate scheme A financial services

in 2017 after graduating with a classics degree. company may not sound
Admiral is one of the largest car insurance providers in the like the best fit for a
UK with a presence in eight countries, including Spain, Italy, classics graduate; however,
and France. After completing the scheme, I accepted a full- my degree has helped me
time role within the business development team, which acts as in surprising ways during
an internal consulting function to help shape the future of the my career so far. I was able
business. to apply learnings from my
philosophy and logic modules to areas such
Why: I was initially drawn to the 18-month graduate scheme as pricing and IT, and I was able to apply my analytical and
because it encourages you to rotate around different areas of creative thinking to areas such as product development and
the business. I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do when I problem solving. If you’d told me during my first year that my
left university, so I was keen to join a graduate scheme where classics degree would help me to understand rating tables,
I was able to do a bit of everything. With a variety of different coding and product development, I don’t think I would have
departments and products within several different markets, I was believed you!
able to shape the graduate scheme to suit my specific interests,
which was a huge bonus. Advice: A career within financial services or insurance isn’t just
The length of the scheme was just right and it allowed for for graduates from numerical backgrounds; as a humanities
quick progression into a permanent role. The multinational nature student you have valuable transferable skills, so don’t be afraid of
of the business also meant there were opportunities to work applying.
internationally, which is something that I had always wanted in
my career.

Ian McFarlane

“
Actuarial Associate, APR LLP
BA Maths, Balliol College, 2017

What: As an actuarial student, my job is broadly Main challenges: Balancing

to predict and manage financial risks, largely in work and studying for
insurance, pensions or investments. At APR, most of our the actuarial exams is
work involves being placed in a client company, working very different to being
alongside the client’s own actuarial teams to perform this a full-time student, and
analysis, so that we can offer additional expertise and a fresh definitely takes some getting
perspective. Our work is important as we help these companies used to. My employer is very
protect and enhance their assets, which in turn protects supportive and has a generous
policyholders. allowance of study days (days you can
take off work to study in the lead-up to the exams), but it takes
Why: I always wanted to use the maths and statistics I’d learned a lot of commitment, so make sure you’re aware of this before
as a student in my work, and being an actuary is the perfect choosing an actuarial career.
career for that. The role is technically challenging and allows
for continuous progression, thanks to the variety we get from Advice: Before you apply, make sure you understand the job
moving around clients and projects – each one is different and as fully as possible – actuaries work in lots of different sectors
there is always something new you can learn. My organisation and the job is more varied than you may initially think. It’s also
has a strong and comprehensive training programme, with a lot worth looking into how the exams work and how much study is
of scope to tailor this to each person’s strengths and interests required – employers usually won’t expect you to study for these
as you progress. These opportunities mean that there’s always on your own beforehand, but they’ll want to be clear that you’re
a sense of moving forward and developing professionally – committed and informed.
I’ve learned a lot in just one year here!

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 73
Join our custom graduate program. Learn from the best and
define your own career path. Make immediate moves in the real
market in a real team. At IMC Trading, there’s no hierarchy and
no egos—just an open culture and unprecedented growth.
Start your career at the world’s most innovative trading firm.

GO BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

imc.com/careers
 The Oxford Guild Careers In Financial Services Arm
The multi-award-winning Oxford Guild is the largest society in
Oxford, Europe and the world as of 2015 according to The
Times, Forbes, Milkround and BBC. Our unrivalled track record
speaks for itself.
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CONFERENCES.
We are widely recognised for being the most established, dynamic,
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to apply for internships/jobs and are renowned for our experience.
We have demonstrated consistent success in providing effective
recruitment and brand awareness opportunities and services for
organisations we work with. We help a huge range of companies
from the Big 4 and Bulge Bracket Banks to top asset managers
and other leading Financial Services firms and more, to increase
the quality, diversity and quantity of their applicants.
We are the founders of the CollegiumGlobalNetwork which has 40+
universities across the world involved.
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
something special at www.theoxfordguild.com!

www.theoxfordguild.com

In-person FINANCE
AND MANAGEMENT
CONSULTANCY FAIR
Friday, 7 October 2022 | 11:00-15:00
Examination Schools, OX1 4BG

Meet a wide range of

recruiters, explore the
opportunities available to
Oxford University students
and graduates, and learn
about working in the finance
and consultancy sectors.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/fmf

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 75
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

ADVERTISING, arise, with a few offering specific graduate schemes

(and internship programmes). Applications for these

MARKETING AND PR
often open during the summer – deadlines can fall early,
some before the end of October.
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 in helpful to be visible and known: work experience
the UK, from specialists to multinationals offering is important, and speculative approaches for full-
services across the full span of communication time roles, internships or work experience are often
specialisms. welcomed as they demonstrate interest, motivation and
initiative.
These industries thrive on creativity, so think about
Employers look for creative graduates who have high- making your speculative approach a little different too.
level communication, analytical, and organisational skills Not all agencies want a traditional CV, and creative
and a keen interest in digital and social media. Different alternatives can sometimes be effective, such as an
roles at agencies commonly include creatives, account infographic or videographic CV. A website or blog are
management, strategic planning, media planning and good forums to showcase skills, and it is important to
buying, and production. use social media to keep in touch with agencies’ latest
Graduates from STEM subjects and people with work and to hear first about new opportunities – but
IT skills are increasingly in demand because of data candidates are advised to manage their own web-
analytics to unlock insights into customer behaviour, and visibility carefully!
the potential for application of AI (artificial intelligence) Agencies are not the only option however.
to exploit the rapidly evolving digital landscape. The Marketing and communication roles are needed in
sector offers numerous opportunities for social all sectors, and there are many prestigious graduate
media strategists, analysts, web developers, and user programmes with larger companies in brand
experience (UX) designers. management, marketing and market research (consumer
Fields of operation (and terminology) for agencies in business insight), and general management roles –
the sector overlap, but can be broken down as follows: deadlines often fall in November and December. You can
• Advertising uses paid-for space across all media to also gain experience as an in-house marketing assistant,
motivate people to buy products and services, or to for example with a charity or technology firm, as a
alter their attitudes. foundation to build on.
• Public Relations (PR) involves managing and
enhancing reputations (people, products or services), Extra-curricular ideas
principally by influencing the media. Tools range from • Get involved in the marketing of an event, fundraiser,
press releases to promotional events. or any aspect of promotion of a student society and
• Public Affairs is similar to PR but focuses on enhance your use of social media.
persuading policymakers to adopt particular • The Oxford Strategy Challenge, run by the Careers
viewpoints. Service, gives you first-hand practical experience and
• Marketing Agencies will advise on brand strategy, insight and often has marketing and communication
management and communications, and provide projects.
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
• 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
main cluster of agencies are in London. Large agencies
and PR consultancies are often international in scope, with More information
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
Most agencies recruit into specific roles as positions

76 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
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 as 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
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
Service event that I saw a talk given by TVE. It was like a penny makes the difference.
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
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.

Melanie Eckersley

“
Strategist, Mother
Fine Art, Lady Margaret Hall, 2015

What: I work as a strategist at a communications It’s great in that every

agency. Communications is a bit of a catch-all project is different; you get
term including advertising, PR and design; my role is all about to work with super creative
connecting the dots between brands, people and culture. For my people; it’s informal and
role, I interrogate what a brand wants to communicate and why, collaborative. But there are
what real people (‘consumers’) want or need and how the brand also some other elements
fits into wider culture. As a result, communications is key to worth bearing in mind: projects
aiding the growth of the business and ensuring the brand appears have tight deadlines, which can
desirable and truly relevant. Remember that tone deaf Kendall mean late nights; creativity is subjective
Jenner Pepsi advert in which she ‘solved racism’ by sharing a after all so you can’t be too precious about your ideas; it can take
can with police? Another way to describe my job is making sure a year of interning before you land a permanent job.
fiascos like that don’t happen!
Top tips: For budding copywriters and art directors – consider
Why: My job has a lot of parallels with working as an artist. doing an advertising course to help you pull together a ‘book’ of
When I attended The Ruskin School of Art, my art was often ideas, for example, Watford or School Communications Arts.
intended to be experienced in specific ways. I would consider For those interested in client servicing, strategy or
what I wanted to make people think and feel. Of course, people production, look up internships at agencies like Mother, Bartle
bring their own life experiences with them, meaning their Bogle Hegarty (BBH), Grey and Engine.
interpretation never exactly equalled my intention. But I loved The best tip I ever got was to reach out directly to people
the process of creating something and trying to get a stranger whose career you admire. Just ask if they have time for a virtual
to understand it, and that’s pretty much what communications coffee. People love talking about themselves! And the more you
strategy is all about. do it, the less weird it will feel.

77
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

BANKING AND merging with another company. This is known as M&A and the
function most readily associated with ‘investment bankers’.

INVESTMENT
This is a deals-based, high-profile function and often
the most competitive. Bankers in this area often work the
longest hours, and are among the most highly remunerated.
Opportunities in this sector are many and varied,
so if you are interested in finance you should be Getting in and entry points
able to find the role and firm that’s right for you. This is a highly competitive sector so proper research and
preparation are key to securing the right job.
Generally, this sector can be split into the buy-side and You don’t need to have studied a finance-related degree,
the sell-side, within which there are a variety of roles but it’s important to have a keen interest in, and understanding
offering very different remuneration, work/life balance of, the wider concepts within the banking industry and global
and skill requirements. markets. You also need a high degree of analytical intelligence
and the ability to build and maintain good working relationships
The buy-side (investment) in what can be a competitive and pressurised environment.
The buy-side make money for their clients including In order to secure a full-time graduate role getting
high-net-worth individuals, companies, governments, work experience is very important, and even a requirement
pension funds etc by investing their capital in various for some firms. It’s important to note that most banks, and
financial products. Their aim is to deliver higher rates of increasingly asset management firms, use their internships
return by devising effective investment strategies. as a major pipeline for their graduate programmes. Look
You may have heard of terms including hedge funds, for banking ‘spring weeks’ (typically one-week work
pooled funds, mutual funds etc. All of these fall broadly experience) in your pre-penultimate year and summer
under the asset management umbrella and have roles internships (8–12 weeks) in your penultimate year to gain
including fund managers, analysts, researchers and as much experience and exposure as possible.
operations analysts. All have different skill sets but as an Have a good understanding of application deadlines;
investment analyst you would typically conduct research these are usually in early Michaelmas term and often
and analysis to make decisions about which companies work on a rolling basis, (they are reviewed as and when
to start or stop investing in. people apply) so there is a benefit to applying early.
If you don’t get an internship in your penultimate
The sell-side (banking) year, all is not lost; a number of the large banks offer
The sell-side provide a market for their clients (the buy- ‘off-cycle’ internships for those who have just graduated
side) to purchase financial products; this is known as and smaller boutique banks, corporate finance houses
market-making. They also provide complementary research and trading firms offer less rigid recruitment processes.
and custodian services (the holding of assets). The market- See the more detailed briefing on our website for
making roles, often referred to as ‘markets’ or ‘secondary further information on the skills required and recruitment
capital markets’ include sales, trading and research roles. timeframes associated with the different job functions.
The sell-side also has another core function in helping
companies raise capital. This can be in the form of debt Extra-curricular ideas
(similar to you taking out a credit card or loan) or equity • Engage with employers at careers fairs, etc,
(selling a part of their company). These markets are especially in Michaelmas term.
often referred to as DCM (debt capital markets) and • Join and actively participate in relevant student
ECM (equity capital markets). societies: for example, the Oxford Alpha Fund,
Quantitative/Proprietary Trading firms, also CapitOx, the Oxford Guild, and the Oxford Finance
sometimes known as “electronic market makers”, are Society.
another significant part of the sector. These firms • Demonstrate your skills at managing finances by
develop trading strategies based on quantitative analysis overseeing your own fantasy fund or learn a valuation
using automated trading models, and typically hire methodology such as discounted cash flow (DCF).
graduates with masters and PhDs in STEM subjects. • Apply to ‘insight days’ or ‘spring week’ programmes in
your first year (or second year of a four-year degree).
Mergers and acquisitions and corporate
finance
The other function of investment banks and other specialist More information
corporate finance houses is to help companies to restructure www.careers.ox.ac.uk/banking-investment
through buying or selling parts of, or their whole company, or

78 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
BANKING AND INVESTMENT SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Oliver Brophy

“
Investment Banking Analyst, HSBC
MBiochem, Trinity College, 2020

What: As an analyst within Debt Capital Markets on but I just didn’t see myself
the Emerging Markets desk at HSBC, I advise clients in a career in science. I
across corporate, financial and public sectors in Central & Eastern knew I wanted to work in
Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, on raising debt capital from a fast-paced environment,
international investors, primarily through the issuance of bonds. one that placed emphasis
On a more day-to-day level, my work is broadly split into two on collaboration and
categories: client coverage and deal execution. The former teamwork, and have always
involves more “flow” style coverage, such as sending frequent been more quantitative and
market updates and new issue pricing levels to clients, as well analytical in my approach, so finance felt
as preparing more event-driven pitching materials, while the like a natural fit.
latter encompasses the entire issuance process, including the
preparation of legal documentation and marketing materials, Advice: Back yourself, back your skills and don’t be afraid of
arranging and running investor meetings, and final transaction the unknown. Many opportunities don’t require you to have
pricing and allocation. a specific background or knowledge-base, but rather the
ability to learn, to apply your existing skills and, perhaps most
Why: Having read Biochemistry at university, the answer to importantly, the willingness to do so. It can often be daunting
this question is perhaps not as immediately obvious as for trying something completely new, but getting outside your
some, but coming into banking from a non-financial background comfort zone is so important for personal growth, and not doing
is much more common than you might think. I really enjoyed my so can mean you miss out on fantastic opportunities that may be
degree and would absolutely still choose it if I had my time again, perfect for you.

Nicole R

“
Quantitative Trader
MMath Mathematics, Trinity, 2019

What: Market-making firms connect buyers with Working in a trading firm

sellers. A supermarket is essentially a market-maker; feels a bit like being in a
it connects food producers with consumers, and the consumer STEM department working
pays a premium for the convenience the supermarket provides on a problem set with your
and the risk the supermarket takes (the risk being that no-one friends. The big difference
wants to buy their food). Financial market-makers such as Jane is that the problems are
Street provide an analogous service, by facilitating the movement considerably more involved,
of financial products between market participants. usually don’t have tidy solutions,
I work as a quantitative trader, so day-to-day, I do a and the stakes are higher because you
combination of paying attention to live markets, researching, don’t get given the answer if you can’t figure it out. For me, it’s
and writing code. When I’m watching live markets, I monitor our satisfying to know that when you do figure something out, it
algorithms to ensure they’re doing the trades we desire, and react will have real-world consequences as opposed to just being an
to unforeseen circumstances and changing market conditions. Doing answer to an abstract problem.
research involves building new models or investigating new potential
trading strategies. Once the research is complete, I write code in Advice: Internships and in-house programmes are your friends!
order to implement the changes recommended by the research. It’s really difficult to know what a job actually entails before
joining, and internships are a great way to test out a job or an
Why: I wanted a job where I felt like I was still learning every industry with no strings attached. You also get the opportunity
day, and I definitely get that as a trader. Life as a trader involves to talk to lots of full time employees and learn about what they
reacting quickly to changing market conditions, as well as using like (and don’t like) about their work. Plus, you get to meet a
cutting-edge mathematical modeling techniques and technology. bunch of like-minded people - your fellow interns - and try out
The nature of the job means that there is always more to learn. something new somewhere new.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 79
 Oxford Alpha Fund
T E RMLY S T OCK P I TCHES
• Get the chance to research and formulate
rigorous investment analysis as part of a team
• Gain valuable feedback from top-tier industry
professionals

DE V ELOP Y OUR T ECHNI CAL S K I LLS

• Learn to analyse companies & portfolios, value
businesses, and build financial models
• Gain an exceptional understanding of business
fundamentals crucial to a successful career in
the financial industry

N E T W O R K I N G & S O CI A L S
• Become part of a vibrant and close-knit group
of students who are passionate about
investing
• Gain access to exclusive insight and recruiting
opportunities with top firms including Point72,
D.E. Shaw, Fidelity, and more

oxfordalphafund.com
Get in
Oxford Alpha Fund
Touch!
[email protected]

Da Vinci is a proprietary trading house

made up of some of the sharpest minds
and most passionate players in the
industry.

Our traders and researchers are competitive

and innovative. They work closely together
with engineers to maintain our edge and
bring new strategies to life.

READY TO CHANGE THE GAME?

VISIT OUR CAREERS PAGE.

davincitrading.com/careers

COLLABORATE INNOVATE CHALLENGE ACHIEVE

80 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 Main location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Main locations: London, New York, Hong Kong
About us: Da Vinci is a unique trading firm made up of some of the About Us: Jane Street is a quantitative trading firm with offices
brightest minds in the industry. We were founded in 2015 by a group worldwide. We hire smart, humble people who love to solve problems,
of passionate professionals who wanted to do things differently. Every build systems, and test theories. You’ll learn something new every
day, we work hard to build the best proprietary trading house in the day in our office-whether it’s connecting with a colleague to share
world through our innovative approach to trading, culture and tech. perspectives, or participating in a talk, class, or game night. Our
We identify opportunities based on short to medium-term strategies success is driven by our people and we never stop improving. 
and we provide liquidity to the markets. Our philosophy towards work Opportunities available: Full time and Summer internship
is best captured by “Be good, work hard and great things will happen”. opportunities are available in Quantitative Trading, Software
We are meritocratic by nature and believe in empowering our Engineering, Quantitative Research, and Business Development.
colleagues. We hire the most talented people, continuously challenge Graduates sought: Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics
them, give them room to experiment and provide everything they and other highly quantitative subjects are preferred. No finance
need to reach their full potential. experience is necessary. 
Opportunities available: Graduate roles for Traders, Quant Vacation work: Summer internships are available. We think of our
Researchers and Software Engineers internships as an investment in the future of Jane Street, and for good
Graduates sought: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mathematics, reason - a significant fraction of our new employees over the past
Physics, Quant finance, Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent several years were once interns!
Visa sponsorship: We sponsor visas for highly skilled migrants Application Advice: Applications are open all year round, but early
Application advice: We hire continuously for our key roles. application is encouraged. Please submit your CV online via our
Candidates are advised to apply through our website by uploading website. A cover letter is not required, however, you have the option
their CV and motivation: davincitrading.com/careers to add further info about yourself in the comments section of the
Email: [email protected] application.

davincitrading.com www.janestreet.com

In-person
With offices in London and New York, GSA combines a world-class JOBS FOR
MATHEMATICIANS
proprietary platform with innovative thinking to develop and deploy
systematic and process-driven investment strategies across all
asset classes, geographies and timescales. We are a collaboration of

CAREERS FAIR
approximately 160 people. Over 60% of our staff work in research
or on developing technology necessary to enable and monetise
our research. We are an eclectic mix of mathematicians, scientists,
programmers, economists and a great deal more. At GSA we reward
people based on merit and excellence, not necessarily on experience.
Tuesday, 15 November 2022 | 16:00-18:00
We avoid the bureaucracy of larger organisations and keep our Mathematical Institute, OX2 6GG
management structures flat. Decisions are made efficiently; changes
are implemented quickly. People who work here enjoy a culture of
trust, innovation and scientific rigour. It is a friendly, open place where
people are motivated because they enjoy what they are doing.
Explore the
Opportunities available: Quantitative Strategists, Software
Engineers, Algorithm Developers. 
opportunities
Graduates sought: Students of all academic levels from STEM available to
disciplines.  mathematicians,
Vacation work: Summer and off cycle internships available for interact with
penultimate year undergraduate or postgraduate students.
recruiters and
careers advisers,
and ask questions
to help your
decision making.

www.gsacapital.com/careers www.careers.ox.ac.uk/jfm

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 81
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

BUSINESS AND Other graduate schemes offer the chance to try

different ‘rotations’ over the course of typically two

MANAGEMENT
years before deciding to specialise. Competition
for these schemes can be intense. Many of these
opportunities will open in August and September with
From multinational companies to city councils, deadlines on a rolling basis. Students who have gained
business permeates all organisations. The range commercial insight via an internship or position of
of opportunities spans a wide range of functions responsibility during their degree are likely to be at
including strategy, HR, IT, finance, marketing, an advantage when applying for graduate schemes or
logistics and sales to name but a few. management roles. 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
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 teamworking. across the industry.
• Effective communication.
• Controlling finances and managing budgets. Extra-curricular ideas
• 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.
The opportunity to enter general management • Make use of the Oxford Foundry, the entrepreneurial
is often seen as a stepping stone that in time can centre for Oxford students.
either remain as a standalone function particularly in • Sign up for Insight into Strategy and Management,
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
be recruited by a variety of industries and sectors such account.
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
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 for • Become a campus ambassador for a large
business analyst graduate roles; for growing a business company (many employers advertise these via
(including sales), look out for business development CareerConnect).
executive roles. • Sign up for other relevant student organisations such
as the Oxford Strategy Group and Oxford Women in
Getting in and entry points Business.
Many organisations offer management positions
that 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
within them.

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

Catherine Haigh

“
Sales Account Manager, Procter & Gamble (P&G)
BA Human Sciences, Keble College, 2017

What: People often ask me how I ended up in sales In that year, I worked in
after doing a degree like human sciences – without Santiago (Chile) for three
having done a more specific degree. The answer, for me, is simple: months, back-packed
people. If you don’t understand your consumer, you’re not going around India and started
to get anywhere in sales. I currently work for P&G as a national filming a documentary.
account manager. I manage our Pampers & Gillette business with
Amazon and Ocado UK. Put simply, I sell the nappies to Amazon, Top tips:
and Amazon sell them on to the consumer. Within this process, • Double-check the key details. The
I have to forecast my sales (very tricky during the COVID-19 worst thing is to fire off an email only to
peak), negotiate with my buyer on launching new products, build realise two seconds later that you’ve addressed it to the wrong
longer-term growth strategies, manage my budgets and spend company or included someone else’s product. I unfortunately sent
day-to-day and build a good relationship with my retail partners. off my Unilever application with the title ‘Dear P&G’ – no surprises,
The revenue of these businesses is worth over £45 million a year, I never heard back. Ask the people nearest and dearest to you to
and I’m accountable for that number (great when it goes up; proofread your application. Family, friends, or a careers adviser –
harder when it goes down). most people will be happy to give your first stab at a cover letter a
read. A second set of eyes can make a world of difference.
Work experience: I completed a ten-week sales internship in • STAR – this is not just another annoying acronym. Situation,
my company’s Harrogate office in the long vacation between Task, Action and, most importantly, RESULT. Too many
my second and third year at Oxford, and the experience was applicants, when asked to provide a ‘A scenario when you did
invaluable. I got to work on genuine, meaningful projects and X’ are great at reeling off details on the situation, what the
received coaching. I was offered a sales account manager role problem was and the action they took. However, don’t forget
upon completing my degree, which I chose to defer for a year. to share the result of your actions.

Ann-Marie Jay

“
Business Analyst (IT Analysis and Design), REED Specialist Recruitment
Earth Sciences, Worcester College, 2017

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

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 83
 A 6-session programme designed to
demystify business and increase your
understanding of professional life.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/ism

84 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

BUSINESS WITH • Browse job adverts to understand which roles

commonly require further study and qualifications.

PURPOSE
Investigate career destinations of graduates as well
as the backgrounds of the tutors of further study
courses.
The phrase ‘business with purpose’ is not a new • Ask alumni and others working in your preferred field
sector in the traditional sense, but terminology for course recommendations.
that seeks to define the changes we are seeing • The vast majority of roles are advertised as individual
within the business world. opportunities – check organisations’ websites, as well
as sector-specific job sites such as B Work.
• Consider the issues that are important to you. Do
There has been a huge shift in the business sector over you want to work to minimise plastic use? Are you
the last few years, with a large proportion of companies interested in innovating materials to be more eco
putting a greater focus on sustainability initiatives, social friendly?
and environmental impact, and employee welfare. This is • Unilever, Danone and P&G are taking great steps to
sometimes referred to as ESG: environmental, social and move big business forward in this area. You could
governance matters. As well as this section, take a look also look at Patagonia and Finisterre (retail/fashion
at the business and management overview, charity and sector), Ella’s Kitchen (fast-moving consumer goods),
social enterprise overview, and energy, sustainability Triodos Bank (finance) and Kickstarter (community
and the environment overview in this Guide. and crowdsourced funding platform) for growth
A huge range of roles exist in this area, from examples. See the B Corp directory for a list of
operational, financial and managerial (for example, certified companies.
sustainability manager, supply chain manager), to
technical. Other roles use research or academic skills Getting in and entry points
(for example, climate science, sustainability knowledge, Competition for positions can be high so relevant
wellbeing at work), or involve consultancy, teaching experience on your CV is vital. Consider:
or training or technical skills (for example, material • Advertised internships and short-term seasonal jobs.
scientists, environmental scientists). • Asking directly about jobs, internships or volunteering
When conducting your job search, it is worth looking by networking and approaching speculatively.
at the structure of individual companies to see if the Positions may not be advertised widely (or at all!).
organisation takes sustainability, environmental, and
social issues seriously by embedding them within Extra-curricular ideas
company values and strategic planning. If there is • Join or follow the work of relevant societies such as,
someone in a senior position within that company who the Oxford Climate Society, or become a member
is charged with leading on strategy for sustainability, of your college’s Green Impact Team.
for example, this is a good indicator that the company • Seek out companies within the Oxford area who are
is looking at its suppliers, customers, environmental seeking to do business better. Look at OXWash and
impact, communities, and wellbeing of employees certified B Corp ClimateCare as a starting point.
alongside pure profit and shareholder interests. • Submit articles for publications on issues relating to
One way of showing that you are a ‘business with ‘business with purpose’.
purpose’ in a meaningful and recognisable way is by • Create a LinkedIn profile and follow business with
certifying as B Corp. In order to be certified, a company purpose thought leaders like Paul Polman (ex-P&G,
must undergo an evaluation process and impact Nestle and Unilever) and Colin Mayer (Said Business
assessment. These businesses are legally required to School) to keep up-to-date.
consider the impact of their decisions on their workers,
customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.
The majority of B Corps will also ensure their business More information
goals are aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development www.careers.ox.ac.uk/business-management
Goals. There is more information on B Corps on www.careers.ox.ac.uk/charities
bcorporation.uk. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/sustainability-environment
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/careers-with-social-impact
The following insights and advice can also help: www.careers.ox.ac.uk/entrepreneurship-social-
• Develop expertise and relevant skills in a different enterprise
sector before moving into a business with purpose.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 85
BUSINESS WITH PURPOSE SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Jonny Walker

“
Analyst, Deloitte Consulting
BA Theology & Religion, Worcester College, 2019

Why: I became interested in social enterprise towards the various teams within
the end of my time at uni. Business is great at a project and ensuring
innovating and finding new ways of doing things, but primarily progress is tracked and
focused on the pursuit of profit. Charity is brilliant at focusing commitments are delivered
on injustice in society, but isn’t always the most strategic in on time and to standard.
its approach. So, what if we could channel the innovation and
strategy of entrepreneurship to tackle issues of injustice in Advice: Balance purpose with
the world? In pursuit of this, I worked for a year for a social competence. It is important that
enterprise coffee roastery employing people coming out of you do the things you are most passionate
prison, followed by a year working for a member of the House about. At the same time, there is wisdom in acquiring the
of Lords leading large scale social reform ventures, before joining skills that will allow you to be most effective in those
Deloitte as an analyst. endeavours. It is worth not just thinking about what you would
like to do now, but about where you would like to get to, and
What: I currently work for an offering in Deloitte’s Human Capital what experiences, connections, and skills you need to get there.
Consulting arm called Major Programmes, which delivers large This might mean that you are not always doing what you are
scale transformation programmes, from helping businesses reach most passionate about, but you will be gaining the tools needed
their net zero commitments to working with the Government to serve your long-term vision. It may be tempting to settle at
on major capital infrastructure projects. My programme offers these points, particularly if the role offers good security or a
a broad range of both project opportunities and types of work high salary. I would therefore also recommend connecting
within them. This ranges from change management – enabling with people currently doing the things you would like to end up
business to adopt new technology through communications doing, both to remind you of your goals and to learn the lessons
and training, for example; to project management – overseeing they have.

James Ghaffari

“
Director of B Corp Certification, B Lab UK
PPE, St. Peter’s College, 2012

What: At B Lab UK, we are creating a community of I enjoy the pleasure

companies (B Corps) that want to put people and of working with those
planet alongside profit and redefine what it means to a successful who already understand
business. My role is to build this community by helping companies this imperative, and the
understand the importance of sustainability and manage the challenge of convincing those
impact of their operations on their employees, suppliers and who do not that we must
customers as well as society and the environment in general. make a just transition to a more
Working with these businesses across sectors is a great equitable and regenerative economy.
opportunity to understand the different ways in which companies
can create positive impact through their business models and it Advice: Don’t discount small companies and start-ups when
is always intellectually challenging to explore how sustainability looking for your first role. Working in these companies will expose
relates to food and drinks brands, construction firms or the you to a wide variety of different positions within the sector and
financial services industry, for example. force you to build a broad skill set at the start of your career. It
will also give you the opportunity to see a direct link between
Why: With a decade left to meet the UN Global Goals for the work you put in and the outcomes you create – something
Sustainable Development that define how we can meet the that can be trickier in a bigger organisation. Finally, start-ups
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
must harness the power of business to create positive change. company, so they can be fun and empowering places to work!
For too long, companies have been allowed to exploit people and So find the smaller firms doing the exciting and experimental
degrade the environment, but now many are realising this system things in the sector in which you want to work and send them an
can no longer work. email, as they can always use an extra hand.

86 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

CHARITY • Further study – many roles are accessible without a

further degree but this may be important for some

AND SOCIAL
roles, such as those in policy.
If you are considering further study as part of your
strategy, it is advisable to:

ENTERPRISE • Understand which roles commonly require higher

qualifications by reviewing job descriptions and
advertisements.
This sector offers: diverse roles; a chance to drive • Ask people working in your preferred area what
change; and the opportunity to work on a cause qualifications they have and which courses they
that matters to you. recommend for entry and progression (if any).
• Investigate providers and specific courses, including
the background of tutors and destinations of recent
Charities do not seek to make profits, and are usually graduates.
funded through donations and grants. Social enterprises
are businesses which trade for a social/environmental Extra-curricular ideas
purpose, reinvesting profits to further this purpose. Relevant experience is usually essential. Here are some
There is a huge range of causes served, and ideas to try while you are here at Oxford:
workplaces range from small start-ups to big • Explore volunteering opportunities through Oxford
organisations with a more corporate culture. Charities Hub, which also offers grants and training for those
and social enterprises have the same range of job wishing to try out a social enterprise idea, or find
roles as any organisation, such as marketing, HR, PR, opportunities using www.do-it.org or OCVA.
IT, project management, fieldwork, finance, policy, • Join a cause-related student society: get involved in
and research. Charities often also have an extensive projects and committee or leadership positions, or
fundraising or ‘development’ department. establish a new society serving a cause you care about.
• Participate in The Oxford Strategy Challenge:
Getting in and entry points charities and social enterprises are among the clients
The following options offer different ways into the seeking student advice.
charity and social enterprise sector: • Look out for Oxford Micro-Internships which are
• Internships – although paid opportunities are often based in social enterprises and charities.
advertised, internships are often offered as unpaid • Get involved with Oxford University Innovation social
volunteering. If it is not possible for you to volunteer, enterprises.
ask whether there’s any way they could make the • Look for the Skoll World Forum activities and the
opportunity more accessible: fewer days or hours, fringe events such as Oxjam.
or working remotely to allow you to accommodate
other paid work.
• Job opportunities generally will require some previous More information
experience, such as volunteering. Administrative, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/charities
project or case-work supporting roles can be a way www.careers.ox.ac.uk/entrepreneurship-social-
into the sector. Check organisations’ own websites and enterprise
specialist job sites such as Charity Jobs, Third Sector

“
Jobs, Guardian Jobs, Idealist and Social Enterprise UK.
• Contact organisations speculatively to find short-
term roles and entry-level work. The ‘learn, do, retire’ model of work
• Graduate schemes are relatively rare and have is no more and I think now it’s about
been affected by the loss of funding caused by the taking opportunities in their various
pandemic, but examples still include Gradunique (BHF forms, working hard but staying kind. If you’re
and Macmillan Cancer Support), Wellcome Trust and looking for experience in the third sector and
Cancer Research UK. start-up world, come and volunteer with us.
• Some people transfer into the charity sector having
gained skills and expertise in a private company first. Beth Kume-Holland, Founder and
This is particularly true of roles like accountancy or Company Director, Patchwork
legal work where the charity or social enterprise Hub
might not have the resources to train someone.

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

Esme Herman

“
Prison Officer, Unlocked
Archaeology and Anthropology, Magdalen College, 2020

What: Unlocked is a charity dedicated to reducing Prison life: Working in a

reoffending rates in the UK by increasing the number prison is about as far as
of professional, empathetic and innovative prison officers that you can get from studying
work within our prisons. I entered Unlocked via its graduate in the Bodleian Library,
programme. As an Unlocked graduate I work day to day as a but don’t let that put you
prison officer, face to face with prisoners, ensuring the smooth off! Yes, prisons can be
running of the system. I have been supported to undertake a dangerous places, but they can
Master’s in Applied Custodial Leadership, as well as been given also be places of great innovation
the opportunity to design and implement my own projects to and potential. Unlocked fully supports you
help reform the prison I work in, and to rehabilitate those in our in getting to grips with the environment and, before you even
care. start your training, you will be given the opportunity to go to a
prison for the day to see for yourself what it’s like.
Why: I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated. If I
am completely honest, I’m still not sure! I did, however, know Top tips: Make the most of every opportunity! You never know
I wanted to do something that I was passionate about, and where something is going to take you, or who you might meet on
something that would have a real impact on people’s lives. A year that journey. If something sounds interesting to you, go and try
into the programme, I am on the fence about whether I want it; if you don’t like it you can always move on knowing you have
to stay in the service long term, but either way, I am so pleased gained a lot from the experience.
that I made the decision to apply. The skills I have gained and the
experiences that I have had stand me in good stead for whatever
career move I make next.

Katie Forsyth

“
Education and Employment Coordinator, Asylum Welcome
European and Middle Eastern Languages (German and Arabic), Wadham College, 2020

What: I’m now working for an Oxfordshire based there certainly aren’t boring
charity called Asylum Welcome, after 18 months at afternoons sitting waiting
student charity KEEN. At KEEN, I was the Inclusive Communities for 5pm to come! I’m also
Manager, leading a movement for disability inclusion, and learning to move away
running a 1-1 buddying scheme for disabled young people. In from the more traditional
my current role, I coordinate education and employment support charity model of doing things
for refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, and other countries. I have for people, and moving towards
loved both roles, and find one of the joys of working for a small solidarity, doing things together.
charity the amount of responsibility you are given so early on. I’ve
learnt all sorts about strategy, partnership working, and the finer Top tips: At university, I was very involved with the student
points involved in running a charity! charity Jacari. Half my time with Jacari was spent seeing who
could build the highest Jenga tower, reading stories, and building
Why, and the challenges: What I love most about front line lego worlds in my role as English tutor to a refugee family with
charity work is also what I find challenging: every day is so varied, 3 young boys, and the other half of my time was spent as
and everything you do has a direct impact on someone else and co-president, running the committee, fundraising events and
their life. In my current role, there’ve been times when I’ve visited keeping Jacari going. If you’re thinking of going into the charity
a family to do an English assessment and ended up accompanying sector, my top piece of advice would be to find a charity you love
them to A&E. My role isn’t just a to-do list or set of tasks to get and try out several different volunteering roles in that charity.
through in a day, it is a real person’s life. It can be tricky to switch You’ll get a good picture of how a charity runs, develop a range
off at the end of the day knowing some problems remain unsolved, of skills, and get an idea of what kind of paid roles might be a
but it is great to see clients growing and settling into life, and good starting point for you.

88 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 THE OXFORD
APPLY NOW FOR

STRATEGY
CHALLENGE
Join this team-based
experiential learning programme
and take part in real strategy-
focused client challenges.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/osc

Voluntary, short-term
learning and development
opportunities available in
the vacation periods.
The Micro-
Internship
Programme Micro-internships last
between two and five days
and take place either
remotely or in person.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/micro

89
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

CONSULTANCY A few firms recruit all year round (for example,

Accenture and Newton Europe) or on a ‘rolling basis’,
reviewing candidates and filling positions as applications
Management consultancy offers variety, are received. Firms usually only allow one application
intellectual challenge and the chance to work in a year, and when applying for consulting at the Big 4
high performance teams with big-name clients. professional service firms this means deciding whether
to apply for their ‘management consulting’ or ‘strategy
consulting’ practice.
Critical skills include teamwork and communication, Internships are not offered universally (application
analytical and problem-solving skills, business awareness deadlines fall between November and January), but are
and the ability to deliver results. becoming more common. Commercial work experience
Consultants help client organisations improve their in any sector can help students acquire and display
performance by, for example: relevant skills and enhance business awareness.
• 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. Generally, you will
reorganisations and cost-cutting, and need to do a good job on every ‘case’ and an outstanding
• all points in between, such as improving systems and job on a couple of them:
processes, and building better teams. • Read our guidance www.careers.ox.ac.uk/
Graduates are expected to be active and productive case-study-style-interviews.
in projects from the start and can quickly gain experience • Attend case study workshops at the Careers Service,
across a wide range of industries. However, new entrants with student societies or run by companies.
should also expect long hours, extensive travel and lots of • Practise a lot.
time working on spreadsheet analyses and presentations.
Consulting firms range from large, multinational firms Extra-curricular ideas
working across many fields, to niche consultancies that • Become active in a student society, such as CapitOx,
may focus on a specific sector (for example, healthcare, the Oxford Strategy Group, Oxford Women in
media or financial services) or specialist area (such as, Business or the Oxford Guild.
IT, digital transformation, people and performance). • Sign up for Insight into Strategy and Management to
Broadly, firms work in two ways: introduce you to core business concepts and enhance
1. Strategy consultancy: Understanding and commercial awareness.
finding solutions to strategic problems faced • Check out the The Oxford Strategy Challenge
by an organisation: for example, understanding (TOSCA), a team-based, experiential learning
competitors; the market; and/or future drivers of event. TOSCA is a chance for you to gain hands-on
growth. Projects tend to be fairly short, and roles experience with local organisations. You’ll work in a
often involve significant travel. team on a project that’s important to the organisation.
2. Implementation consultancy: Developing a • Work as a consultant with societies: for example,
strategic idea or solution and making it a reality. Oxford Strategy Group, Oxford Consulting Initiative,
Projects tend to be longer than in strategy Oxford Development Consultancy, Enactus or 180
consultancy and consultants are often based at the Degrees.
client organisation and ensure that all elements of a • Get involved with activities that provide business
business – people, technology and processes – come insight, teamwork and demonstrate impact, such
together to deliver a successful outcome. as, leading on sponsorship for a student society, or
participating in team sports or outdoor pursuits with
Getting in and entry points different people, managing a recruitment drive for a
Competition can be fierce and the assessment process society or improving an event or activity within your
is rigorous, typically including aptitude tests (online) college.
and several rounds of interviews and/or an assessment
centre, plus partner interview. Once the process starts
it can move quickly, so prepare thoroughly in advance. More information
Use individual firms’ websites to understand their www.careers.ox.ac.uk/management-consultancy
recruitment processes and timelines, and plan ahead. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/management-
For full-time positions, applications at most firms consultancy-beyond-the-obvious
open in August or September and close in late October.

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

Runsen Ma

“
Innovation Consultant, Innovia Technology
MEng Materials Science, St Catherine’s College, 2020

What: Innovia is an innovation consultancy based people that I genuinely

in Cambridge that specialises in the front end of get along with is very
innovation. We work with companies to help them create, important to me and
assess and test ideas for new products and services. Projects being a relatively small
are done in multidisciplinary teams, so I get to work with company, I got to know
people from a wide range of backgrounds, including natural everyone quickly and felt
scientists, engineers, designers and behavioural scientists. very welcomed. In addition,
I’ve worked on projects from lots of different industries such I really appreciated the real
as surgical implants, sustainable packaging, apparel and food. responsibility given to me, even when I was
I’m always working on three to four projects at any given time an intern here. As the only materials scientist when I joined,
and these change every few months. Work has never been I was given the freedom to spend time on the new offerings
boring! that I could bring to the company, rather than trying to fit into
the system.
Why: I wanted a role where I could use my materials science
knowledge to solve real-life problems while also getting Advice: Don’t be afraid to try new things. Every consultancy is
opportunities to learn about new areas and develop new different in what they do, how they do it, the opportunities that
skills. are available and the culture that they promote. Think about
I originally joined my company as a summer intern in 2019. what is important to you and try to find a place that aligns with
At that stage I didn’t know much about consulting – only what your aspirations and values. Reaching out to people who work at
I’d picked up from conversations with friends and peers. Doing the firms that you are interested in for advice can be helpful for
an internship allowed me to get some first-hand consultancy gathering information. Internships are also great for exploring
experience while also giving me the opportunity to figure out different options and seeing what works for you and what
what was important to me in my future career. Working with doesn’t.

Fred Hudson

“
Consultant (Economic and Financial Consulting), FTI Consulting
Economics and Management, Keble College, 2020

What: I provide expert advice to clients, typically enjoyed a host of social

in the context of quantifying damages and valuing events – from lunches
assets such as companies and patents in high-profile litigation with my coach, to team
and arbitration cases. A typical case begins with us familiarising dinners and company
ourselves with the case to better understand what has happened. away days!
We draw on skills in economics, accountancy, and finance to
assess how the client has been affected and then construct an Advice: Everyone knows the
analysis which compares the actual position to a counterfactual importance of preparation for
position in which no legal breach has occurred, advising the court interviews, but take time to consider
or tribunal on the scale of the difference in order to provide an why you think the job is a good fit for you. Being able to
assessment of damages. articulate how your experiences demonstrate different skills is
vital to acing a consulting interview. Looking back at Oxford, my
Why: The breadth of projects I work on keeps the job exciting. experiences outside of university work, such as with the Oxford
In my first two years, I have worked on a case assessing the University Air Squadron, were integral to my success, as I had
impact of banking fraud, a multi-million-pound divorce case, a wealth of stories and ways to showcase my abilities during
and a pro-bono education project. Alongside work, I am interviews.
studying for the ICAEW Chartered Accountant (ACA)
qualification which offers a great change of pace. This is Top tip: Don’t be afraid to apply to a range of firms. Interviews
fully sponsored by my firm, and I also receive regular study are a two-way street and it’s important to engage with the
leave for tuition and exams. Throughout all of this I have interviewer and ask questions to find out if the firm is for you.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 91
 Apply Economics
to Real World
Issues

Visit our website

compasslexecon.com/
careers

Consulting Roles @ d-fine

We are a European consultancy firm focussed on analytical
and quantitative topics and the development of sustainable
solutions to bring about positive change for our clients.

What does d-fine offer you?

- Diversity: Work with clients on topics ranging from financial enginee-
ring and machine learning through to climate risk and healthcare
- International: Collaborate in project teams staffed across Europe
- Education: Acquire new skillsets to broaden your technical and
professional repertoire

Who is eligible to join?

Master’s or PhD-level graduates in STEM fields

How can I apply?

Please go to our Job Portal on our website www.d-fine.com

www.d-fine.com Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, London, Munich, Vienna, Zurich

92 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 Build a strategy
consulting career
unique to you
At EY-Parthenon, you can accelerate your
career and make a meaningful impact —
success as defined by you

Strategy realised

1.
1 Corporate & growth strategy: help our clients answer their most
EY-Parthenon is complex strategic questions by providing in-depth market, competitor,
a global strategy customer, and investment insights. We help our clients bring these
consultancy. recommendations to life in collaboration with the wider EY firm.
We challenge 2.
2 Transaction strategy & execution: help our clients realise their full
assumptions to design potential through fast-tracked, better-informed decisions across the
and deliver strategies whole investment life cycle. We are complete-business advisors covering
top line, cost base, technology, and cash management solutions.
that help improve
profitability and long- 3.
3 Turnaround & restructuring strategy: whether a business is in crisis
term value. We have or is simply facing an operational challenge, this team is experienced
more than 7,000 in helping identify and prioritise the most critical issues, stabilize the
business, establish a leadership and stakeholder consensus around the
professionals around solution, and deliver tangible results quickly.
the globe, working
across three areas We are looking for smart, nice, and driven graduates to join our corporate
& growth strategy and transaction strategy & execution teams in
of focus:
the UK.

To learn more about our career opportunities please visit ey.com/en_gl/careers/parthenon/join/uk

Find us and join the conversation

EY-Parthenon teams work with clients to navigate complexity by helping them to reimagine their eco-
systems, reshape their portfolios and reinvent themselves for a better future. With global connectivity
and scale, EY-Parthenon teams focus on Strategy Realized — helping CEOs design and deliver strategies
to better manage challenges while maximizing opportunities as they look to transform their businesses.
From idea to implementation, EY-Parthenon teams help organizations to build a better working world by
fostering long-term value.
© 2022 EYGM Limited. All Rights Reserved. ED None.
 In-person
FINANCE AND Consult with the
MANAGEMENT Oxford Strategy Group
CONSULTANCY FAIR Gain hands-on experience working
Friday, 7 October 2022 | 11:00-15:00 directly with clients on their business
Examination Schools, OX1 4BG issues.

Access exclusive development events

Meet a wide
range of recruiters,
with top industry firms.
explore the
opportunities Be a part of a community of like-
available to Oxford
University students
minded, ambitious individuals.
and graduates, and
learn about working
in the finance and
consultancy sectors. Applications open in 0th week of each term. Learn
more about the application process and our past
projects at:
oxfordstrategygroup.com
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/fmf

Untitled-19 1 03/08/2022 12:11:00

APPLY NOW FOR

THE OXFORD
STRATEGY
CHALLENGE
Join this team-based experiential
learning programme and take
part in real strategy-focused
client challenges.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/osc

94 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 About Us: We are a worldwide network specialising in technologies, The Oxford Guild Careers in Law Arm
applications and processes. With more than 10,000 visionaries, we The multi-award-winning Careers in Law Arm @ The Oxford Guild is
are defining the world of tomorrow. Be a part of it! a part of the largest society in Oxford, Europe and the world as
Founded in Turin in 1996, we have grown into one of the most of 2015 according to The Times, Forbes, Milkround and BBC. Our
renowned IT & Consulting networks. Through small, international unrivalled track record speaks for itself.
teams, we drive digital change. 100% FREE TO JOIN, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS, 120+
Our Culture: Flat hierarchies, open doors and open communication EVENTS ANNUALLY, 60+ SPONSORS.
are important to us. Come on in! A culture of trust and congeniality We worry about your career so you don’t have to!
awaits you. Everyone is invited to contribute ideas and spark BIGGEST SPEAKERS, EVENTS, BALLS, SOCIALS, TRIPS &
discussions – regardless of title or position. CONFERENCES.
Main Locations: London, Manchester, Chester, Sheffield, Henley-on- We are widely recognised for being the most established, dynamic,
Thames active and professional society on campus for students looking
Main Graduate Roles: Cloud Engineer | Data Scientist | Big Data to apply for internships/jobs and are renowned for our experience.
Engineer | UX/UI Designer | Software Engineer | Mobile Developer We have demonstrated consistent success in providing effective
| Technical Consultant | Business Analyst | Digital Transformation recruitment and brand awareness opportunities and services for
Consultant | Finance & Risk Consultant | Digital Marketing Executive organisations we work with. We help a huge range of companies
Internships: Please don’t hesitate to browse our careers page for from the Magic and Silver Circle to US firms, local firms and
available summer internships or contact us directly by expressing your more, to increase the quality, diversity and quantity of their
interest via email: [email protected] applicants.
Visa Sponsorship: Reply will sponsor graduates where required. We are the founders of the CollegiumGlobalNetwork which has 40+
Contact Us: [email protected] universities globally involved.
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
something special at www.theoxfordguild.com!

 careers.reply.com www.theoxfordguild.com

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 6,950 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

fticonsultingstudentcareers.com
/emea/efc/

www.careers.ox.ac.uk
01603_FTI_164mmx125mm_Recruitment Advert_Oxford Careers Guide_v2.indd 1 07/07/2020 16:48
95
 Teneo is the global CEO advisory firm Talented individuals wanted.
Working exclusively with the CEOs and senior Entry-level joiners begin their careers as Associate
executives of the world’s leading companies, Teneo’s Consultants (ACs), and quickly become involved in all
clients include a significant number of the Fortune 100 aspects of case delivery. Whether preparing proposals,
and FTSE 100 financial institutions and organisations. undertaking industry research, or drawing conclusions,
Teneo solves the most complex business challenges and you will be able to see the bigger picture.
opportunities, integrating the disciplines of strategic
communications, management consulting, risk advisory, We hire individuals with excellent communication and
financial advisory, and talent advisory. problem-solving skills and a proactive attitude. Our ACs
come from a wide variety of backgrounds. The key
Our Management Consulting division focuses on quality we are looking for is a positive attitude to working
answering key strategic questions for business and in a challenging environment, paired with a passion for
public-sector leaders through our mix of senior continuous learning. As such, all our team possess:
experience and rigorous analysis, combined with the
unique expertise that exists across Teneo. Examples of • Excellent teamwork skills, with the ability to work
ways in which we support our clients include strategy effectively alongside those from all backgrounds
setting and implementation, organisational design and • Strong communication, analytical, and problem-
governance, revenue growth, performance improvement, solving skills, and a high level of numeracy
pricing optimisation and programme management.
• Drive to take on the challenge of unfamiliar tasks and
maximise learning opportunities

Entry Level Recruitment

Teneo Management Consulting is looking for talented individuals to join us! We are currently open for applications to
our Entry-level programme until 9am 31st October. For more information and to apply for a position, please visit:
https://www.teneo.com/service/management-consulting/

RBB Economics offers career opportunities for entry level economists

Who are we? We give our staff the opportunities they sophisticated medical equipment,
RBB Economics is an independent need to flourish professionally, including financial services and sports rights.
economics consultancy specialising in early responsibility for our work product
and to engage directly with clients and Our requirements
competition policy. We are one of the
largest competition economics practices 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, The Hague, Johannesburg, However, we always offer our staff support, national team. If you have outstanding
Melbourne, Madrid, Stockholm, Paris, guidance and career progression advice academic credentials and flourish in
Düsseldorf and Helsinki. Our work from more experienced team members. the face of complex, intellectually
concerns the behaviour of firms with challenging issues then we would love
market power, and covers issues such RBB is meritocratic, not hierarchical to hear from you.
as mergers, vertical agreements, joint and offers a supportive and highly
sociable working environment that adds Qualifications are usually to postgraduate
ventures, price setting and the abuse
greatly to the enjoyment of working here. level, preferably with an interest in
of dominant positions.
industrial organisation. We are looking for
We work in dedicated, multi-national Our clients consultants with a range of quantitative
teams which combine the experience and analytical skills, and the ability to
RBB have built up strong relationships communicate complex economic concepts
and expertise relevant to each case.
with clients from all areas of industry and in a clear concise style.
This enables us to respond to our clients’
commerce as well as with all of the major
needs in a focused and flexible manner.
law firms specialising in competition law. To apply
We offer a hands-on service, supporting
Over the years we have been involved in
and working in partnership with our
hundreds of the most high-profile To apply, please fill in the online application
clients and their legal advisers.
competition cases around the world. form on our website http://www.rbbecon.
Our working environment com/working-at-rbb/
Our expertise is wide ranging, from
The work at RBB is stimulating, industries such as energy, mining and For general enquiries, contact vacancies@
challenging, demanding and rewarding. steel, to the manufacturing of rbbecon.com
www.rbbecon.com

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

CREATIVE Media and Journalism – Journalists, broadcasters

and directors form the public face of the sector, but

INDUSTRIES
there are many other roles. Researcher roles are popular
entry points for Oxford graduates: these can involve
fact checking content and finding people to appear in
Roles within the creative industries are extremely programmes. The impact of digital media is redefining
varied and encompass many sub-sections. both journalism and broadcast content, and having an
During this briefing we will focus on the most awareness of multimedia platforms and tools is now
popular amongst our students; the Fashion crucial for graduates seeking to enter this sector.
Industry, Games Industry, Media and Journalism, Performing Arts – Roles within performing arts can
Performing Arts and TV and Film. be either performance (musician, actor, dancer etc.) or
non-performance (set designer, sound technician, talent
agent etc.) based. Whichever route you decide, you can
Fashion – Roles within the fashion industry are be sure to use your creativity and technical ability. Most
extremely varied and it is important to remember that performance roles will be on a freelance or fixed term
there is more to a career in the industry than fashion basis.
itself. Roles within the industry include everything from TV and Film – The number of different types of
buying, merchandising, sourcing, finance, design and jobs is immense, spanning all parts of the production
garment technology, retail management, photography, process from commissioning, development, production,
event planning and lots more. post-production and through to distribution. Like the
Gaming – The aim of this industry is to develop, performing arts industry, roles within TV and Film are
publish, and distribute video games and interactive increasingly becoming “freelance” or fixed term contract
experiences across all digital platforms. Roles can be opportunities.
found within, but not limited to, animation, audio, game Remember, creativity can take many forms, so
design, production, programming, and quality control. you might also like to see information on working in
Advertising or Culture and Heritage – or any of the
many other sectors which employs creatives!

Further study
Further study may be needed for certain careers within
the industry that require technical ability before you can
undertake a particular role. Depending on the course,
completing further study might present you with the
opportunity to complete work experience as part of
your studies, for example, the NCTJ for journalism,
or the NFTS for people with some film and television
experience. In addition, completing a final performance
as part of further study within performing arts will
expose you to leading talent agents within the industry,
though this itself is not a guarantee that you will secure
an agent. It is important to do research and weigh
the costs and benefits for individual situations: some
people recommend them as a way to gain contacts
and experience, but others do not consider them as
necessary.

Getting in and entry points

Competition for positions can be high, so relevant
experience is vital. Most people need to start in an
entry level position, often as an intern or a ‘runner’,
for example. To gain this initial experience, think about
advertised internships and short-term seasonal jobs
which can provide you with great experience. In addition,
both paid and unpaid roles such as work staffing festivals

97
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES SECTOR BRIEFINGS

and events; front-of-house or promotional work; game • Join a relevant society, such as the Fashion Society,
testing, support for tours; and summer work with Film Making Foundation, OUDS or TAFF (for theatre
children and young people can provide great experience. designers and technicians).
Furthermore, it is important to establish and cultivate • Write a blog and/or produce video or comment
professional contacts because those interested in this pieces for other websites/products on topics of
sector will often need to find (or create) their own interest. Document your work on your own webpage.
openings by contacting individuals and organisations • Take every opportunity to contribute to all things
directly. See our advice on networking and speculative creative at university: student newspapers, Oxide
approaches, and take steps to develop and cultivate your Radio, perform in showcases, open mic nights and
contacts – some great opportunities can arise this way. productions.
For industry specific insights and roles see the below • For graduate careers in both journalism and fashion,
resources: candidates will need to build a portfolio of samples
• Gaming, TV and Film – www.screenskills.com. of your published writing/work, and a good record of
• Media and Journalism - www.journoresources.org.uk relevant work experience.
and www.theunitlist.com. • Shoot your own documentary, short-film (on your
• Fashion – fashionunited.uk/career-centre. smart phone), direct, produce, act, etc in a stage
• Performing Arts – See www.thestage.co.uk. For play.
performance-based roles, you can attend open • Design aspects of a game (demonstrating your ability
auditions that do not require an agent. Details can in the area of gaming you wish to go into).
be found on the Stage. Should you wish to work as
a professional actor, you will need an equity card
(www.equity.org.uk).
For a regularly updated list of jobs and internships More information
within the creative industries see creativeopportunities. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/acting
arts.ac.uk. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/creative-arts
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/journalism
Extra-curricular ideas www.careers.ox.ac.uk/music-and-radio
Plan ahead to get an edge on the competition after www.careers.ox.ac.uk/tv-film
graduation by accumulating experience whilst at Oxford.

98 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Andy Laithwaite

“
Actor Ordinaire
BA History & Politics, University College, 2014

What: I have fingers in many pies. First and foremost, Advice: One of the tricky
I’m an actor. Alongside that, I run my own business, things after leaving acting
The Actor Inside, which provides workshops and training to help school was coming to
people feel more confident presenting themselves on camera. I’m terms with the open-
also a writer, and I’m working on funding a London production of endedness of it all. At first,
my new feature-length play. As well as this, I’ve performed as a the realisation that I didn’t
singer-songwriter at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. have some recipe for success
Two years after finishing my degree at Oxford, I trained at to follow was terrifying, but it has
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Since all become a lot more fun since then. It
then, I’ve been represented by a creative talent agency, The has required me to develop my own self-management to a level
Production Exchange. unthinkable for me while studying. I don’t mean that in the sense
of self-discipline, but actually in the sense of letting myself be
Why: I loved acting in plays while at Oxford. I loved acting in plays led more by joy and genuine interest, rather than simply cracking
before university too, and had considered applying to acting schools the whip to get on with whatever seems like I ‘should’ be doing.
instead, but I’m glad I ended up where I did. In any case, I decided I think creativity flourishes when you can give yourself a lot of
while at Oxford that I wanted to become a professional actor and, love (that’s my cliché allowance).
after approaching some agents while still at university, thought that I’m also hugely indebted to an incredibly supportive network
acting school would be the best door into the industry. Who knows of collaborators and friends, for whom I am very grateful. I first
if it was, but it was definitely a life changing experience. met some of them through acting here.

Paoula Sobanda

“
Narrative Designer, IGG Mobile Games
MSt English (650–1550), St Hugh’s College, 2016

What: Why do billions of people play video games Top tips: In gaming you
on a daily basis? They want to be entertained and have to be bold and clear
challenged, surprised and delighted, infuriated and overjoyed, all with your ideas. Take any
while being transported to another world. So that’s what I deliver. idea, and think, how can we
It’s my responsibility to make every moment of the game make this bigger and better?
unforgettable for the player. I create game stories that resonate How do we make this level
with players’ emotions, aspirations and dreams. As a narrative even more exciting, this world
designer, I lead the full cycle of the story’s development. I design even more spectacular? How
craft the storylines that drive the player experience, create can we get players to resonate deeply with
the characters for players to adore or hate (or both), design this character? If you think something is exciting, it’s likely others
the aesthetic direction, and direct the art development and will react in the same way. The parts that feel too daring often
worldbuilding. I write all the game dialogues and texts, from the turn out to be what players love the most.
romantic leads to the most minor Non-Player-Characters. Most I previously worked in management consultancy, so I came to
recently I wrote and designed The Perfect Storm, a pirate game gaming with the mindset of a cultural analyst as well as a writer.
for women. This means that whether I’m designing a historical fantasy role
play game or a home renovation game, I connect it with the
Why: Personal fit is crucial when choosing a career. Studying zeitgeist and player’s motivations.
hundreds of years of the world’s best literature at Oxford gave Game development is hugely collaborative, and having great
me the skills I needed to take the pen into my own hand and working relationships with people across departments, from
write impactful narratives for our players. art to software to the producer, is crucial. Luckily, everyone
I also wanted a job that would make a positive impact. For is genuinely interested in creating the best experience for our
me, games are more than just play. At their best, when crafted players.
with real skill, creativity and care, games meet our deepest needs I’m always happy to meet others who are interested in the
and fulfil our fantasies. industry, so find me on LinkedIn if you’d like to connect.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 99
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Safa Dar

“
Script Editor, BBC
BA History, Mansfield College, 2018

What: I’m a Script Editor at the BBC, giving editorial forwarded me the listing,
input on dramas and comedies, including notes on and here we are!
scripts; having creative conversations with producers and
creatives; and – of course – a whole lot of reading. Tips: Be curious and
proactive – do your
How: After graduating, I researched various careers and came research, be curious about
across Creative Access, an organisation that aims to increase people and their jobs, don’t
underrepresented talent in the creative sectors. On their be afraid to reach out to those
website, I found a range of editorial jobs in the TV industry whose work you enjoy. I felt awkward
that I didn’t know existed, and realised that drama / comedy asking people who didn’t know me for their time, but there are
development spoke to me. After applying for various roles, many people who are very happy to share their experience with
I secured an Office Runner job at a production company, newer talent, and keen to pay it forward because they know how
where I helped with development and production tasks and inaccessible the industry can be. As long as you approach them
got to ask the development team about what their jobs considerately, rather than in a demanding way, there will be many
involved. A conversation with someone in the team led to my people willing to talk to you. And, as my career journey hopefully
next gig – through a contact of theirs I managed to get a illustrates, you never know where your next opportunity could
week’s work experience. Then the pandemic arrived. I used come from.
this time to email production companies asking if they needed My final (and underrated!) tip would be: start following
freelance script readers, or if they might be free for a 15 minute creatives and companies you admire – Twitter can be a great
call. I signed up to be a reader for several script competitions. place to hear about opportunities! I would recommend following
This built up my editorial experience (all paid of course). While I ‘The TV Collective’ to learn about opportunities, particularly for
was doing this, and applying for full-time jobs, the Executive I’d underrepresented talent. Facebook groups such as ‘People in TV:
done work experience with saw my current role advertised and Runners’ are also great.

Esme Ash

“
Freelance Assistant Producer
MSt in British and European History, 2017

What: I am an assistant producer, working freelance decisions about new roles

across observational and feature documentaries. and responsibilities. The
My role involves research, finding contributors, filming on nature of the industry also
shoots, and working in the edit. I started out as a BBC demands flexibility from
production trainee in 2017 and went on to work in journalism you; long hours, frequent
and current affairs, before going freelance to work on travelling or living on-
documentary projects. location and fast turnaround
projects often result in personal
Why: I have always had a natural curiosity about other people’s sacrifices. It’s not as glamorous as you
lives, and I love asking questions. In my job, I’m surrounded might think! That said, everyone makes their own path as there’s
by people, constantly finding and building relationships with no single route through the industry, offering freedom from a
contributors, and working collaboratively and creatively to tell predictable future.
their stories. The variety and breadth of experience I get across
different programmes is truly unparalleled, and I have met and Top tips: Most of my roles have come from recommendations
worked with people from all walks of life. and prospective emails rather than formal applications, so be
proactive and enthusiastic about reaching out to people and
Challenges: A key aspect of freelance work is the short-term companies you admire. Keep in touch with everyone you work
nature of the jobs you take, usually three to six months at a time. with — talent managers, producers, executives — so you’re
While it means you’re constantly on the lookout for the next in the front of their mind when they’re crewing up their next
contract, you can also design your own career trajectory, making production.

100
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

CULTURE AND help when seeking roles that attract strong competition.
It is important to research courses before signing up, so

HERITAGE
consider the following:
• Browse job adverts to understand which roles
commonly require additional study and which
Culture and heritage jobs can be found in qualifications are sought.
museums, public and commercial galleries, • Investigate career destinations of graduates, and
archaeology organisations, auction houses, tutors’ backgrounds, for courses you are considering.
venues, historic sites – and many specialist • Ask alumni and others working in your preferred
organisations. field which courses they took and/or which are most
respected.

This sector covers a huge range of roles, from artistic Getting in and entry points
(designers, performers, artists, writers) to ‘arts Competition for positions can be high, so relevant
management/administration’, requiring organisational, experience on your CV is vital. Consider:
operational and leadership skills. Other roles use • Volunteering with local culture and heritage
research or academic skills (‘curatorial, conservation organisations – seek out local museums (for example,
and specialist’ jobs), involve teaching or training (‘arts www.museums.ox.ac.uk) and heritage organisations,
education’) or technical skills. such as Oxford Preservation Trust.
Employers in this sector often rely on candidates to • Advertised internships and short-term seasonal jobs
seek them out, and there are very few graduate schemes. offer great experience, paid or unpaid (for example,
• The vast majority of roles are advertised as individual paid work staffing festivals and events; front-
opportunities – check organisations’ websites, as well of-house or promotional work; support for tours;
as sector-specific job sites such as Arts Jobs, Arts summer work with children and young people).
Professional, Museum Jobs, BAJR (for archaeology), • Asking directly about jobs, internships or volunteering
Heritage Daily, Creative and Cultural skills, etc. by networking and speculative approaches to
• A handful of graduate schemes exist (for example, organisations, even if there is nothing on their website.
Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and the Arts Fundraising • Positions may not be advertised widely (or at all!) so
Fellowships), but these are really unusual in this check websites and approach individual organisations
sector. directly.
• Do not just consider the big names. There are • Create your own professional portfolio/blog to
hundreds of smaller organisations, which often document your creative work and interests.
attract less competition. If you love the work of
a particular organisation, then sign up to their Extra-curricular ideas
newsletter for up-to-date information. Take advantage of the rich cultural life of Oxford and the
• Think about your local organisations and research University to try things out. For example:
within your region. • Join community arts projects: for example, explore
• Consider gaining experience with organisations www.oxonarts.info
providing specialist services to the culture and • Write a researched short article for Trusted Source
heritage world: for example, art investment, specialist on the National Trust’s website – exclusive to Oxford
legal and insurance firms, marketing and PR firms, University!
specialist IT or training companies, public sector • Try arts production or marketing; run events as ‘entz’
bodies and charities. officer for your college.
• Develop expertise and relevant skills in a different • Submit articles for arts, culture and heritage sections
sector such as, accountancy, law, marketing, of student newspapers.
teaching, or in graduate leadership schemes, before • Start something new: for example, establish a
moving to the arts later. performance group; create a heritage-style ‘audio
See the Careers Service’s briefing for more on guide’ to your college; write a blog; curate a sale of
specific roles, ideas on how to build experience, and links student art.
to external resources.

Further study More information

Further study may be needed for certain careers (for www.careers.ox.ac.uk/arts-heritage
example, curatorial or technically skilled roles) and it can

101
CULTURE AND HERITAGE SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Katie Ramsey

“
Policy Officer, National Trust
History, Brasenose College, 2019

What: I’m currently a Policy Officer at the National and renewable energy.
Trust, working particularly on climate change and nature My History degree taught
restoration. This means I work with senior colleagues and experts me to absorb information
to decide what the Trust thinks of new Government proposals, to quickly, find clarity in a
prioritise what policies we should be asking for from Government, muddle of conflicting views,
and to write persuasive arguments in favour of these changes. and present an argument
Before, I did a similar job for a small charity, The Heritage Alliance in a clear, convincing way;
(THA), and previously for the Country, Land and Business these are the key skills of a policy
Association (CLA), which represents farmers and land managers. professional.

Why: At university, I knew I wanted to both use the skills I had Top tips:
learnt in my degree, and to work for a company that aligned • Try everything! I took up every opportunity (and there are so
with my beliefs, so a graduate scheme (and the exams that many at Oxford) to try new things. I didn’t love most of them,
came with it) didn’t appeal. I tried lots of work experience and but I had some great experiences, and each one taught me a little
internships, but was feeling pretty uncertain about my career. I more about what I did want. I didn’t know policy existed, nor that
then discovered the policy sector during an Oxford-sponsored I cared strongly about biodiversity loss, or that archive work is
internship at THA, and later went on to work there. definitely not for me, until I tried them out and got a taste!
Policy allows me to work for organisations whose work I • Take initiative! I only secured my policy internship because
strongly support, whilst also being challenged to keep learning. of previous work I had done for other heritage organisations.
Every few weeks, the Government will announce a new policy I found one of these by googling ‘history internships’ and
and I will have to apply my skills to a whole new area; I’ve worked pestering the top result – a small company called Historyworks
on issues ranging from loneliness and ageing, to tree planting – until they replied to me.

Isobel Cockburn

“
Project Coordinator, V&A Museum
History of Art, Wadham College, 2017

What: I’m a Project Coordinator at the V&A Museum, an option and doesn’t mean
managing capital building works: these range from you can never go back – had
small redecorations to major multi-year projects and involve I not left, I don’t think I’d be
overseeing every element of a project. working in a museum now.
I was hesitant about
How: I’m certain the internships I did while at university were the becoming an EA again, but
reason I got my first job, which was as an Executive Assistant the V&A has always been a
(EA) on a heritage restoration project. Admin was not my long- dream so when I saw a role come
term goal, but I was grateful to quickly find a role which was up I felt like I had to go for it. I started at
in the sector, and which enabled me to move to London. I was the beginning of the first lockdown, which was an unusual time,
exposed to all elements of restoring and reopening a heritage but with everyone else on furlough I was able to work across the
site, and was able to learn what interested me (and what didn’t) division and get heavily involved in capital projects, which led to
by mucking in at every point. me being promoted to Project Coordinator last year. My slightly
After a few years at my first job I felt disillusioned with the roundabout route has led to a job I love that is underpinned by all
sector and wanted to see what a corporate role, with a higher my experiences, even the ones I thought were useless at the time.
salary and lower emotional investment, would be like. I ended up
in recruitment, and while I knew early on that it wasn’t for me, it Tips: Take advantage of everything Oxford has to offer by way of
helped me to shape my priorities and achieve a better balance in internships, work experience, lectures, events, exhibitions - the
my current role, advocating for myself and creating professional access and funding we are afforded as Oxford students should
boundaries while also not taking for granted the value of doing a be utilised fully, particularly if you don’t live in London and can’t
job I’m genuinely interested in. Diverting your career path is always work unpaid.

102 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

the Department for Education Apply portal; others take

direct applications.
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.

EDUCATION Others recruit recent graduates through graduate

assistant roles, particularly in boarding schools.
CareerConnect and the Times Educational Supplement
Education is one of the most popular sectors (TES) are good sources of vacancy listings for
for Oxford graduates. Diverse areas including independent schools.
publishing, policy, administration, charities Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and
and NGOs, psychology, arts and heritage and private tutoring are popular short-term occupations on
academia may be relevant if you’re interested in leaving Oxford, but can also be longer-term careers.
education. Here we look at teaching. A degree from Oxford may be the only qualification
needed for some teaching jobs, but experience is always
helpful for applications, and a TEFL qualification may
Teaching demands communication skills, energy and a make it easier to find work abroad.
commitment to inspire students. It offers an opportunity There are a few graduate training programmes in
to make a difference, to use your subject and to advance education policy and administration, some are run by
your career in a variety of directions. universities. For example, Imperial College has a long-
Teachers can rapidly specialise into managerial, standing graduate management and finance scheme.
pastoral or training roles in schools. Many also move into Education policy could form part of the Civil Service
education roles in other areas. Fast Stream or local government schemes such as the
National Graduate Development Programme. The TES
Getting in and entry points and the Guardian are key publications for opportunities
Teacher training options divide into two main types: in the education sector.
School-led: One- or two-year programmes based
in school, some salaried, others funded by loans and Extra-curricular ideas
bursaries. Examples are: Teach First, School Direct, • Observe teachers at work in local schools. The
Researchers in Schools, some School-Centred Initial government-run School Experience Programme
Teacher Training (SCITT), Premier Pathways, Engage offers time in schools. Alternatively, approach schools
Education, and some independent schools. directly to ask if you can observe lessons, or help in
University-led: Usually one-year programmes other ways.
based in university but with extended periods in • Get international teaching experience in the
partnership schools. For example, PGCE, PGDE, SCITT. summer vacation through The Summer Internship
Funded via bursaries (level varies with teaching subject) Programme.
and tuition fee loans. • Volunteer your time with local children through
Whichever route you choose to follow, it is important organisations such as Jacari, KEEN, Splash at Oxford
to gain some relevant experience prior to application. or Oxford Hub’s Schools Plus programmes.
Applications for most UK teacher training courses are via • Develop pastoral skills by helping with Oxford

“
University Scout & Guide Group, or volunteering with
Sexpression Oxford to promote sexual health.
Don’t assume that you will simply be a • Offer mentoring for UNIQ Summer School
good teacher because you have been participants, volunteer with Oxford University
to Oxford or that it will be a breeze Admissions or work with Target Schools to
because you know so much. Don’t get me promote access to university, or with OxFizz to
wrong, you will be an asset to any school you give interview practice, mentoring, or to run
work in, but so much of what will make you summer camps.
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
Wheatley Park School, Oxford www.careers.ox.ac.uk/teaching-in-schools

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 103
EDUCATION SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Imogen Hobby

“
Maths Teacher
BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Pembroke College, 2018

What: I’m a maths teacher at a comprehensive school Best bits: The reluctant
in Cardiff. I trained through Teach First and am now in Year 11 student who
my third year of teaching. began to take an interest
in maths after we explored
Why: I chose teaching because I wanted a career with a clear its importance for his
positive impact that would challenge me intellectually and chosen career; the Year 8
personally. You’ll quickly learn that your role extends far student who has started to
beyond imparting your subject knowledge. Seeing young talk through her emotions rather
people learn from you, both academically and emotionally, than lashing out; when a student
and develop over time is a huge privilege. There are loads of spots your ‘deliberate mistake’ on the board.
training routes, but Teach First was the right choice for me
because it’s hands-on from the start and has a strong social Top tips: Make sure you do your research before embarking
justice focus. on teacher training. It’s a good idea to spend as much time as
To succeed as a teacher in challenging schools, you will need possible observing experienced teachers to get a feel for the
a combination of excellent interpersonal skills and a love of your skills you’ll need. Lots of trainees worry about their subject
subject. Passion for your subject is a huge asset and you’ll find knowledge, but in my experience it’s the classroom management
that genuine enthusiasm will catch on with your pupils. I’ve also skills that take longer to pick up; talking to or observing great
really enjoyed the opportunity to embrace my silly side and have teachers is well worth the investment of your time.
perfected the art of getting a smile out of even the grumpiest of
teenagers with a cringe-worthy maths pun.

Joseph Drakeley

“
Trainee Secondary School Teacher (PGCE)
BA Physics, Oriel College, 2021

What is a PGCE?: A PGCE is a postgraduate certificate teach students a

in education. I entered my PGCE at the University of new concept and see
Oxford straight out of graduating from my Physics degree here. them brighten up. Not
There are quite a few different options for teacher training, but only is the course super
there were a couple of aspects that drew me to the Oxford rewarding, but it has also
course. The first was the opportunity to stay in Oxford for helped me improve my
another year. More importantly, however, was the impression I written skills, which, as a STEM
got during my interview that the department would be a friendly grad, were in dire need of help.
and supportive environment. Whilst the PGCE is far and away a more
Luckily, I was correct, and the department is indeed very challenging workload than my undergraduate degree, the sense
supportive; both my mentor and other staff are always happy to of success you get every time you step into a classroom makes it
chat, not only about the course, but also about life generally. worthwhile.

Why a PGCE?: When choosing a PGCE, the most important Advice: Go into the PGCE with an open mind. I initially thought
motivation is obviously wanting to become a teacher. The course that I would only want to teach Sixth Form, but throughout the
is tough at times and does require long working hours, and it is course I have found that I actually prefer to teach KS3 groups.
always helpful to be able to keep that original motivation in mind. Go into teaching being prepared that your plans might change
Those long nights are very worth the struggle when you get to and you will be setting yourself up for a much more enjoyable
experience. When preparing for an interview, be aware of what
you bring to the table. As a new graduate, for example, I focused
The sense of success you get every time you on being the same generation as students and therefore being
step into a classroom makes it worthwhile. able to relate to them. Everyone can bring something to teaching.
It is just about identifying what your ‘thing’ is.

104 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 Main locations: Nationwide
About us: We are an education charity and top graduate employer
fighting to make our education system work for every child.
Opportunities available: Graduate Training Programme (two years
with optional third year to complete a master’s degree). Unlock the
potential in children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds – and
The Summer the potential in you. Train with experts to become a teacher and
leader. Get a salary from day one in the classroom, boost your career
Internship and make a difference to the pupils who need it most.

Programme
Graduates sought: You will need: a 2.1 degree or above (2.2
degrees will also be considered); a degree or A-levels that satisfy the
curriculum requirements (see website for further details); grade C/4
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/sip or equivalent in GCSE maths and English for secondary teaching, as
well as science for primary teaching.
Visa sponsorship: Applicants will need to evidence the right to work
for the entire programme by 30 April in the year of starting the
programme. Neither Teach First nor a school can sponsor visas so
arrangements must be made independently.
Graduate salary: Competitive.
Funded internship opportunities in the Vacation work: Boost your CV and develop leadership skills with
summer vacation, exclusively available one of our two-day undergraduate Taster Programmes (please see
website for further details).
to Oxford University students. Application advice: Apply via our website
Email: [email protected]

UK and international internships

available in a wide variety of sectors,
carried out in person or remotely. www.teachfirst.org.uk/training-programme

The Oxford PGCE

• Train to become a qualified secondary school teacher (11-18) in

local, non-selective, state-funded schools

• Build on your own experiences

as mature, autonomous,
motivated graduates

• Apply cutting-edge theory in

the classroom to become a
research-informed teacher

www.education.ox.ac.uk/programmes/pgce
[email protected] +44 1865 274020

Untitled-18 1 03/08/2022 12:03:11

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 105
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

ENERGY, discipline, with closing dates towards the end of

Michaelmas term or early in Hilary term. Many also

SUSTAINABILITY
offer internships to students in their penultimate year
at Oxford. Look beyond the job title to establish if
sustainability is incorporated into a role.

AND The renewable energy and environmental industries

are dominated by small or medium-sized organisations

ENVIRONMENT with only occasional vacancies, and may require

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 Employers’ responses to questions about their
to make a positive impact and work for organisations approach to environmental sustainability are available
whose values mirror their own. through CareerConnect.
Environmental-awareness is not limited to careers
that are traditionally considered ‘green’. Existing Extra-curricular ideas
businesses are changing – consider the development • Take an active role in relevant student organisations
of electric cars, or moves to increase sustainability in such as the Nature Conservation Society, the Energy
retail. Sustainability is an issue for all sectors; a new Society, or Oxford SU’s Environment and Ethics
breed of firms exploiting the drive for business to campaign.
operate in a more sustainable way has emerged, but • Stand for election for your college JCR committee,
in-house opportunities also exist in large established many colleges have an environment and ethics rep.
organisations. This diversity means that well-defined • Volunteer with charities such as the Oxford
career paths in sustainability can be hard to find. Roles Conservation Volunteers, the British Trust for
may have sustainability as the core focus, a main Conservation Volunteers, or with sustainability
responsibility or just a small aspect. charities that work with Oxford Hub.
• See relevant sectors of this Guide for ideas to
Getting in and entry points develop skills for roles in engineering, finance and
The diverse nature of this sector is reflected in the marketing. If you are interested in a graduate scheme
wide range of possible entry points. Graduate schemes with a large energy company, see the Developing
offered by large companies and multidisciplinary Core Skills’ advice for ideas on how to develop
consultancies tend to recruit students from any leadership and organisational skills for project

“
management.

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

106 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
ENERGY, SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Josefin Malmberg

“
Sustainability Consultant, 3Keel LLP
MSc Nature, Society and Environmental Governance, St John’s College, 2019

What: As a sustainability consultant, I assess the get-go and work

the impact of organisations and systems on the directly with both senior
environment and create solutions for a more resilient and team members and clients.
sustainable future. Specialising in circular economy, I conduct
carbon impact assessments for individual products or entire Advice: Sustainability is an
companies, facilitate collaborations for preventing and attractive and competitive
managing waste, and carry out research and analysis to field. Identify an issue of
develop roadmaps for entire sector transitions to circularity. interest that differentiates you and
One day I’m processing data on a retailer’s packaging portfolio; seek out organisations and placements
the next I’m working on a survey exploring product consumption that allow you to explore that issue from
and user behaviours. different angles. Exposure to additional topics will come along
the way as environmental challenges often are related to one
Why: I wanted a job dedicated to solving socioenvironmental another.
challenges in a practical and tangible way. With this as a starting
point, I was drawn to specialist sustainability consultancies where Top tips: You are at Oxford; there are thousands of experts,
I could apply the principles and insights of my MSc research. innovators, and change-makers to learn from. Make the most out
I found out that being part of a smaller, rapidly growing and of this by reaching out to the people that inspire you. Ask how
mission-driven team also can be an incredible opportunity for they got to where they are and what advice they would have for
professional and personal growth, as you can get stuck in from you, and keep a notebook with insights.

Alistair Duffey

“
Low-carbon Energy Consultant, Element Energy
MPhys Physics, Hertford College, 2019

What: Together with my colleagues at Element Energy, • Be ambitious and

I work to provide clients with in-depth understanding apply widely. While
on the future of low carbon energy. My work focuses on the this sector is
alternatives to fossil-fuel heating in buildings. In my time here, competitive to get
I have worked on projects for local and national government, into, it’s also expanding
the energy industry, and a leading university. Most of my work rapidly as more
is quantitative modelling and analysis, using a combination industries, organisations and
of Python, Excel and QGIS. However, the consultant role is a policymakers begin to accept
generalist position, so I also write reports and do more qualitative the need for deep emissions reductions
research, as well as handling project management tasks like in the near-term.
running meetings with clients.
Consultancy: My experience is that job titles like ’consultant’
Why: I wanted a job where I could make a positive impact on hide a lot of variety in roles and responsibilities across different
climate change, while being challenged and using skills I had companies. Before applying, it’s worth putting some effort into
developed through my degree. I also saw consultancy as a understanding the following:
great way to gain experience and knowledge of the low carbon • What does a typical project look like for this company?
space, since I tend to be working on a new project dealing with a • What would my role be in delivering those projects?
different topic every few months. This should help in understanding whether you really want
the position, and what skills and experiences you would need
Advice: to highlight in an application. A chat with someone at the
• The low carbon energy sector is full of people motivated company before you apply is invaluable for this, but looking
to help solve climate change. It’s important that you can in detail through some recent reports on their website is also
demonstrate in your application that you are on board with useful.
that mission.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 107
In-person
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY
CAREERS FAIR
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | 11:00-15:00
Examination Schools, OX1 4BG

Meet recruiters,
explore graduate
roles, internships
and full-time jobs,
and find out about
different career
options at Oxford
University's careers
fair for all sectors.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/oucf
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

ENGINEERING Work experience is important, and it is worth bearing

in mind that the Engineering Science course at Oxford
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
significant contribution to UK productivity as well which will attend the Science, Engineering & Technology
as working towards mitigating the grand global Fair in Michaelmas term) often offer internships that
challenges of climate change, food security, will fit into a long vacation. Smaller organisations are
clean water and energy, artificial intelligence and often willing to offer work experience or internships
robotics. – check on CareerConnect or contact particular firms
speculatively to enquire. Internship opportunities are
usually advertised a little later than graduate jobs, with
The engineering sector contributes 26% of GDP to the deadlines tending to fall from December to February.
UK economy which is more than the retail, wholesale,
financial and insurance sectors combined, with 5.7 Extra-curricular ideas
million people employed in the sector across over • Join Oxford’s Engineering Society, Biomedical
600,000 engineering companies. Engineering Society or OxWEST (for women).
These companies are projected to have 265,000 • Join UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and
annual job openings between now and 2024, and there Development of Space).
is currently a shortage of qualified engineers graduating • Volunteer with Engineers Without Borders during
in the country. your vacations to build your skills and take part in
The engineering sector includes a wide range development projects. A branch has recently been
of organisations. This includes vast, multinational started at the University.
corporations right down to small, independent • Take part in Oxford University Racing, run by the
engineering companies and start-ups; for example, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, to find the best
58% of engineers are in SMEs with fewer than 250 race car. See [email protected]
employees. Some of the biggest recruiters of Oxford • Read, and write a guest post for, Developing
engineers are Arup, Atkins, Mott MacDonald, Rolls- Engineers, a blog written by young engineers.
Royce, BAE Systems and Jaguar Land Rover. • Share your passion for engineering with
schoolchildren to also showcase your enthusiasm to
Getting in and entry points future employers. There are a number of outreach
For technical engineering roles, a degree in engineering programmes organised by professional bodies and the
(or sometimes a related subject, such as physics, UK government, such as STEMNET.
materials science or mathematics) is usually required, • Join a professional engineering body as a young
and the average graduate starting salary is around member – or represent students on their board.
£30.5k. Non-engineering roles in these firms tend to • Enter the Institution of Civil Engineers’
offer similar starting salaries to their competitors in Communications Competition.
other corporate sectors. Roles are offered year-round,
but many of the larger graduate schemes have deadlines
closing each year around December/January.

“
More than 40% of UK electricity is
from renewable sources. Energy
consumption in the UK peaked in 2005 and
is now down to 1994 levels due to energy
efficiency. We need Oxford engineers to drive us
towards a sustainable future.
More information
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/engineering
Dr Mike Moss, Career Adviser, www.engineeringuk.com/news-media/
The Careers Service, University of 2017-engineering-uk-the-state-of-
Oxford engineering-published

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 109
ENGINEERING SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Dr Markus Wulfmeier

“
Research Scientist, 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 our ability employer, I was motivated
to build intelligent systems. My work focuses on the intersection by the possibility to create
of machine learning (ML) and robotics, which means that not all a positive impact, and the
of my work is done sitting in front of a computer. My average incredible team of colleagues
week is made up of: reading and writing publications; designing and friends at DeepMind.
algorithms and programming; testing ideas in simulations and on
real hardware; and many discussions with extremely smart and Advice: Motivation is key for
talented colleagues – the most enjoyable part. many aspects of life, and curiosity can be
an excellent source thereof. Every model gets improved (or
Why: I did not spend my undergraduate degree planning to move replaced) over time. Take some time to question the most basic
into fundamental research. However, I rounded off the degree concepts in your field and follow the line of reasoning that
with a stint as a visiting researcher at MIT. Experiencing the established them. There is a good chance that – depending on
responsibilities of a project related to NASA’s MER missions and your field – some of the core ideas will considerably change in
the creative work connected to it changed my mind in under six the next 5, 10 or 20 years.
months. There are two main perspectives that make my field
particularly interesting: Academia and industry: Academic and industrial research
1. Robots acting in the physical world can greatly benefit from positions will always differ in some aspects and you should get
ML to handle the complexity of real-world data. informed about which perspectives suit you the most. However,
2. The embodiment provided by robotics and the connected we’re living in an incredibly privileged time where the additional
access to rich and complex data can strengthen current ML benefits (such as, work stability) of industrial research in artificial
models, which rely on breadth and richness of data. intelligence come with very similar work.

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 work as an IT consultant Advice: After completing

at Accenture as part of the service management team. your PhD, don’t limit
We constantly design, deliver, manage, and improve the way yourself to academia
information technology is used within an organisation to ensure or feel demotivated by
the right processes, people, and technology are in place to help the number of rejections.
our clients. My job often involves conveying complex technical There will be very few
concepts from the development team to clients’ business process opportunities related to your
owners, and acting as a facilitator to design and implement doctorate but there are plenty of
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 an 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. 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, analysing 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
was a career change for me, but I really enjoy the variety in the roles I these activities and enjoy listening to competency examples from
undertake, and the multi-disciplinary teams that I work with. outside of academia.

110 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 The Technology Partnership
The space to invent.
ttp.com/oxford

We’re engineers, scientists and designers who solve

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In-person SCIENCE,
ENGINEERING AND
TECHNOLOGY FAIR
Saturday, 15 October 2022 | 10:30-13:00
Examination Schools, OX1 4BG

Find out about the career

options available in a
variety of technical areas
with organisations ranging
from leading global
companies to specialist
technology firms.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/set

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 111
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 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

HEALTH AND Training Programme (STP). Workplace-based and salaried,

the scheme trains people to become specialists in various

SOCIAL CARE
disciplines from microbiology to medical physics. Closing
dates are normally early in Hilary term.
Social workers can qualify via either an undergraduate
The UK health and social care sector employs over degree or a postgraduate qualification. Frontline’s
3 million people, of whom over 1.7 million work graduate programme (www.thefrontline.org.uk) offers a
for the National Health Service, and the rest for new route into children’s social work by providing a paid,
public sector employers (such as local authorities), work-based course in which participants simultaneously
the private sector or for voluntary organisations. complete a master’s in social work. Likewise, Think
Ahead (www.wethinkahead.org) have launched a similar
course in adult mental health social work.
The actual array of roles in the sector is vast, ranging Students wishing to train as psychologists in the UK
from doctors and NHS managers, to social workers. The need first to obtain the Graduate Basis for Chartered
allied health professions alone include a huge range of Membership (GBC) from the British Psychology
roles such as art/music/drama therapists, dietitians, Society (BPS). This may be done either through an
physiotherapists, radiographers, and speech and undergraduate degree in psychology or through a
language therapists. conversion course. Relevant work experience is then
required before embarking on a doctorate in clinical
Getting in and entry points psychology (currently funded by the NHS), or a
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
several UK universities, with some funding available. programmes, which are open to graduates of any
Applications for these courses are made through UCAS degree subject. The NHS programme allows specialism
and close in October, and entry requirements vary: some in general management, HR management, finance
only accept applicants with a degree in life sciences, management and health informatics. Administrative roles
some specify certain subjects at A-level. Most use are plentiful, and may be found alongside clinical roles
admission tests as part of the application process. at www.jobs.nhs.uk, or through many private sector
Alternatively, you could apply for a second, full degree in websites.
medicine through UCAS. These have much more limited
funding and therefore tend to be less competitive. Extra-curricular ideas
Many of the allied health professions can be entered • Volunteer with local charities and community
by undertaking a two-year postgraduate qualification. Use organisations to help the vulnerable or disadvantaged.
the course finder on the NHS Health Careers website to Pastoral experience is useful for all roles in the sector.
check entry requirements and available funding. A science You could initially do voluntary work on a hospital
degree is normally required, with some exceptions. An ward, through student-run community groups, or
alternative option for scientists is the NHS Scientist through Oxfordshire volunteering organisations.

“
• Get involved in Oxford SU Mind Your Head campaign
to promote mental health awareness.
In looking for other clinical • Become a Student Peer Supporter, a JCR Welfare Rep,
applications of psychology I came or volunteer for Nightline.
across the Improving Access to Psychological • Arrange some work-shadowing in a hospital or health
Therapies (IAPT) programme and immediately centre if you are thinking about graduate entry
realised I had found a viable alternative career medicine.
path. Active listening is a real skill and it can
be harder than you realise to sit with another
More information
person’s distress. Volunteering for a mental
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 113
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Eleanor Sharpe

“
Newly Qualified Speech and Language Therapist, Barts Health NHS Trust
BA Cell and Systems Biology, Exeter College, 2013

What: Speech and Language Therapy is an allied health things that really matter
profession which supports people of all ages who have to them; communication,
problems with communication and/or swallowing. You need a eating and drinking are such
specialised degree to be a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT), fundamental parts of our
but if you’ve already got a first degree, you can do an accelerated lives as humans! The breadth
master’s. I did the 2-year MSc in Speech and Language Sciences within speech and language
at UCL, and since September 2021, I’ve been working as an SLT. I therapy means it’s impossible
work with adults in a split post, meaning I spend part of my week to get bored – from infants born
with adults who have had a stroke recently (acute stroke unit), too early to know how to swallow yet,
and part of my week with any adult currently in hospital with a to deaf children, to teenagers learning to live with a stutter, to
communication or swallowing disorder (acute inpatients). I assess adults who’ve lost their ability to talk after a stroke. There are also
their communication/swallowing impairments and then form a lots of different options for career progression: clinical specialism,
treatment plan which could include strategies to compensate for the teaching, research and service management to name a few.
difficulties, or therapy to try to improve the underlying impairment.
Advice: If you’re interested, I’d recommend having a look at the
Why: I’m fascinated by how the body and brain work, but after Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
doing my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to work with website for more information. I’d also recommend getting some
people day-to-day, rather than in a lab. I came across the SLT role experience of working with people with communication disorders
somewhat by accident, and after spending time reading about it – I volunteered for the Stroke Association, with KEEN, and got
and doing some work experience/volunteering, I realised it was some work experience in a specialist school. For a very close-up
for me. I love my career because every day I support people with experience of the work, try getting a job as an SLT assistant.

Alicia Graham

“
Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, South London and Maudsley NHS
BA Experimental Psychology, Brasenose College, 2019

What: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies 30 patients each week

(IAPT) services were created to address the lack of through a range of group,
treatment options available for people who experience common one-to-one, and online
mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression. therapy programmes, so
Psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs) work in these make sure you can provide
services following one year as a trainee. I am trained through good evidence of time-
University College London (UCL), as well as working in an management skills and working
IAPT service, and will gain a PGCert in Low Intensity Cognitive to targets! It can be daunting to
Behavioural Interventions following completion of the course. My manage the safety of patients who present
day-to-day role involves triaging, assessing and treating patients with risk, and working with people who are distressed makes the
with common mental health difficulties using evidence-based role rewarding, but also stressful and emotionally demanding.
cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). There is a high turnover of PWPs, in part due to the intense
nature of the role, and in part due to the very useful stepping
Why: In my final year at Oxford I decided to pursue a career in stone that the role offers to becoming a cognitive behavioural
clinical psychology and therefore needed to gain some clinical therapist and getting onto the clinical doctorate course.
experience. I first heard about the role during my MSc, and
decided to apply as it seemed like a good opportunity to gain Advice: Make sure you understand what the role really entails
clinical experience but with more job security (and marginally and the type of patients you would be treating. Also, think of
fewer applicants) than assistant psychologist positions. practical examples of when you have managed your workload
well (thank you Oxford). Any experience working as a support
Pros and cons: The role is demanding and you quickly begin worker, a crisis line volunteer or in a primary care service would
seeing a high number of patients per week. I currently treat over be of great value.

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

INTERNATIONAL years’ work experience. The precise master’s course

title doesn’t always matter, but the course content/

POLICY AND
modules do. When making applications it’s important
to highlight the most relevant modules taken and
to illustrate that you have very good knowledge of

DEVELOPMENT the subject, research techniques, technical skills,

geographical regions, and relevant languages.
Research-driven organisations and many think tanks
Working in this sector involves developing policy, may require that you have undertaken further study
coupled with practical implementation, that to the level of a doctorate, as well as having several
empowers people across the globe to improve years of professional experience.
their lives. You can spend time at Oxford building up insights
into the sector and its range of organisations – both
to increase your chances of securing a job and to help
Practice areas are diverse and they encompass you work out which areas and employers are for you.
governance, healthcare, education, gender, disaster Most think tanks are open to students undertaking
preparedness, infrastructure, economics, livelihoods, short internships with them. These are not always paid,
human rights, and other associated issues. so you may need to try to set up shorter traineeships
You could be working in a think tank that seeks that you can combine with other paid work. The EU
to address issues of global concern; in your country’s offers longer five-month paid traineeships to recent
foreign service to formulate and implement international graduates. Internship schemes with larger international
policy; in the civil service of a regional organisation organisations are normally reserved for postgraduate
such as the EU; as a researcher in a political risk or students. Masters’ or DPhil students may also be
international development consultancy; or in an able to find paid part-time consultancy work within
international organisation (IO) such as the UN or World international development, or political risk consultancies
Bank. Alternatively, you could work for a global charity and think tanks – especially those students with sector-
(see the charity sector briefing for relevant advice). As specific knowledge, expertise, and language skills.
this is a popular sector, competition for employment can You can enhance your ‘insider’ knowledge of the
be intense, but it offers rewarding careers for those who sector and hear of upcoming opportunities by following
persevere. our networking advice. Talk to speakers and employers
at careers events and seminars, and network through
Getting in and entry points LinkedIn, or college development offices.
Entry straight from an undergraduate degree can be
difficult, as most organisations value specific expertise Extra-curricular ideas
or transferable experience – whether in the private, Spend as much time as you can gaining international
public, or charitable sector. However, there are some experience and knowledge. Spend a summer on the
graduate schemes available, such as the UK’s Diplomatic Careers Service’s Summer Internship Programme
Service Fast Stream. working on a relevant project, building your language
Direct recruitment into a permanent role is also skills, and getting to know a region. Also:
possible into NGOs and think tanks, but most require at • Write relevant articles for student newspapers,
least a master’s qualification, and sometimes one or two journals or blogs, to demonstrate that you can use

“
research to inform and influence opinion.
• Take a course at the Oxford University Language
A thesis project or one or two longer Centre, to develop or improve a second language.
internships are a great way to set foot • Join university societies related to development.
into the sector and show how you can add
value to an organisation. Top skills required
are: empathy; curiosity; creativity; flexibility; More information
frustration; tolerance; and humility. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/international-
development
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/international-law
Janita Bartell, Hygiene Specialist, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/international-
UNICEF organisations

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 115
INTERNATIONAL POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Emile Rolland

“
Junior Policy Analyst, OECD
MSc Modern South Asian Studies, St Antony’s College, 2016

What: My work is shared between the Governance and Sudan) to conduct

Network (GovNet) of the OECD, which brings together key informant interviews
governance practitioners and experts to explore and promote for our qualitative studies
more effective governance in developing countries, and the and to meet our partners
Effective Institutions Platform (EIP), an alliance of over 60 implementing projects on
countries/organisations that focuses on evidence-based policy the ground.
dialogue, knowledge sharing, and peer-to-peer learning on public
sector management and institutional reform. Tips: Specialise in either a particular
subject matter or a specific skill set to
Trajectory: After an internship with the United Nations Human gain comparative advantage and transferability. Transferable
Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), headquartered in Kenya, skill sets in demand include being able to conduct advanced
I settled in Nairobi for three and a half years, working first in the quantitative and qualitative research, notably through the use of
housing unit of UN-Habitat on normative issues around the right software (for example, Stata, SPSS, Python). Sectoral skill sets are
to housing and housing finance. Subsequently, I worked with related to different thematic areas in development (for example,
Altai Consulting on the Monitoring and Learning System of the climate finance, urban development), and will provide you the
European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for the Horn of entry point in the domain of your choice. Gaining experience
Africa. The latter focused on migration, with the company being in a developing country is crucial to better comprehend how
responsible for monitoring the outputs and outcomes of different international development project cycles function, as well as
projects as well as conducting different lessons learned exercises better apprehending ground realities. Finally, working in the private
to inform future programming in the region. This allowed me to sector for development consulting firms is likely to equip you with
travel in different countries (such as, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya a broader skill set due to quick turnaround and fast-paced work.

Debasmita Boral

“
Consultant (Climate Finance and Gender Mainstreaming), E Co.
MPhil Modern South Asian Studies, St. Antony’s College, 2017

What: I am a Consultant with E Co, a company focused website, which,

on delivering low-carbon climate-resilient solutions. alongside Devex,
I work primarily on adaptation and mitigation projects which Inspira and UNDP Jobs,
range from delivering climate-resilient WASH (water, sanitation is an important resource.
and hygiene) infrastructure to small island developing states I was fortunate to be guided
in the Pacific islands, to scaling up investment vehicles which by a great mentor and to work
finance the delinking of major commodity supply chains from alongside project development
deforestation. and implementation teams. Due
to having built this network,
Why: The climate emergency is here and has been for some time, I had the confidence to continue independently after
and has a particularly disproportionate impact on vulnerable completion and stay in Nairobi, which is a hub for environmental
communities whose carbon emissions are negligible and who are and climate change-related international organisations and
dependent on natural capital for livelihoods and subsistence. We NGOs.
are dealing with a threat multiplier that has the potential to undo
developmental achievements while exacerbating energy, food Tips: Sectoral knowledge is important, but transferable skills will
and water insecurity and gender inequalities. Justice and inclusion give you mobility.
have to be a key part of climate change adaptation, and this is Being at Oxford will help you develop a strong foundation
what motivates me every day. for methodologies and research skills – add on to it by picking
up sectoral knowledge, relevant languages, and professional
Trajectory: I began my career as an intern with UN Environment’s experience where your impact is clear and grassroots.
Gender and Safeguards Unit at their headquarters in Nairobi in The litmus test of your flexibility, skill and experience will
August 2017. This position was advertised through the Careers always happen outside of your comfort zone.

116 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

LAW opportunities to attend ‘Open Days’. Increasingly, free

to access online ‘internships’ are being offered by law
firms too. In many firms the formal vacation scheme
Intellectual challenge, a constantly changing also forms a vital part of the recruitment process for a
environment and the opportunity to effect change training contract.
are just some of the characteristics of the roles
available within the UK legal sector. Opportunities
are many and varied; you could be supporting a Barristers
vulnerable child, advising a government minister
There are approximately 13,400 barristers at the
or managing a newsworthy commercial deal.
independent (or self-employed) Bar, practising in
400 sets of chambers across England and Wales.
Solicitors A further 3,000 work in an employed capacity for
numerous organisations, including the Government
The majority (65%) of the UK’s 143,000 practising Legal Department and the Crown Prosecution Service,
solicitors work in private practice law firms; these vary as well as in commerce and industry. Barristers practise
enormously in size and specialisation. There tends to in a wide variety of legal areas such as family, criminal,
be a division between firms that serve the needs of intellectual property and international border disputes.
commerce and those that deal with clients with personal There can be considerable differences in the nature and
legal dilemmas. The remaining solicitors work outside lifestyle of a barrister’s work; some almost never appear
private practice partnerships in a whole variety of in court whilst others are in most days. Others may
different businesses and organisations. spend the majority of their time drafting pleadings and
opinions. However, advocacy remains a vital skill for the
Getting in and entry points barrister, and it is one of the most distinctive elements
A new system for qualification as a solicitor began in of this role.
September 2021. The aim of this new system is to open
up access to the profession and reduce the costs of Getting in and entry points
qualification. In the new system you will need to: The Bar Standards Board (BSB) have also completed a
• Hold a degree (or equivalent) – law or non-law. full review of education and training. This has resulted
• Pass two sets of centralised exams – the Solicitors in some changes to the qualification elements which are
Qualifying Exam (SQE) 1 and 2. designed to improve access, flexibility and affordability.
• Complete 24 months of qualifying work experience There are three components involved in qualification:
(QWE). • The academic component. You must have a degree
Employers and legal education providers and others and, if this is not in law, you need to take a law
are just beginning to integrate these changes into their conversion course (such as the Graduate Diploma in
academic, recruitment and training programmes. You Law), which covers the seven foundations of legal
are advised to keep up-to-date with developments by knowledge.
visiting the Solicitors Regulation Authority website and
asking law firms for their latest updates.
Careful research into whether this option is the
right career for you is vital. Wherever your final
destination you are likely to be investing many hours and
considerable dedication to further study and additional
qualifications after leaving Oxford. Historically there
have been approximately 5,000 training contracts
available each year; 90+% offered by private practice
law firms. The remaining positions are to be found in the
Government Legal Department, local government, legal
departments in industry and the Crown Prosecution
Service. This landscape may change with the increased
flexibility on QWE afforded by the new qualification
route. Short periods of paid work experience, known
as vacation schemes, are available at law firms during
the Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays, as well as

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 117
LAW SECTOR BRIEFINGS

• The vocational component. This is to provide you Other options in law

with the specialist knowledge required for practice
at the Bar. Previously known as the Bar Professional Many Oxford law students decide not to go on to take
Training Course (BPTC), there is now a greater choice the professional qualifications to become a solicitor or
of ‘Bar’ courses; some are available at significantly barrister, but are still keen to utilise their degree and do
lower cost than before. so through different sorts of legally related work. If, for
• Pupillage/work-based component. This is your period example, you are interested in compliance or corporate
of recognised training where you are supervised by governance, the role of company secretary might
a qualified barrister. The majority of pupillages are appeal. Secretaries are responsible for ensuring that an
undertaken with chambers and are divided into two organisation complies with standard financial and legal
parts (‘sixes’): the non-practising six months, during practice, so must have a thorough understanding of the
which pupils shadow a supervisor, followed by six laws that affect their work. If working with individuals or
months of practice when pupils undertake advocacy causes is more suited to you, there are options working
and other legal services. After this final stage of as campaigners, policy writers or case workers within
pupillage, a barrister can either apply for a permanent the third sector, NGOs and government organisations
position as a tenant within chambers, or seek a role working in areas such as immigration, housing, and many
at the ‘Employed Bar’ (such as the Crown Prosecution other social welfare and human rights related areas.
Service or CPS) or elsewhere. At every stage of Perhaps life in academia has caught your attention? If it
qualification, competition for places is intense. has, there will be options for you, with the addition of
Approximately one in five students who apply for further study, to work in teaching and research within
one of the Bar training courses will successfully higher education or other legal education providers or
complete through to pupillage. Careful assessment research institutes. These are just some of the possible
of your skills, motivations, and academic credentials, options!
combined with detailed research on the role will
help you to decide whether this is the right option Extra-curricular ideas
for you. Many chambers offer a few days of work • Join relevant student societies, such as the Oxford
shadowing in the form of a mini-pupillage, which can Law Society, the Bar Society or the Oxford Women
be extremely valuable. Lawyers Student Society.
• Get involved with mooting competitions or join a
debating society.
• Join the Oxford Law Faculty’s careers mailing list to
hear about events, mooting competitions and work
experience. Law and non-law students can sign up.
• Volunteer for a not-for-profit organisation to
help individuals, such as Citizens Advice or Asylum
Welcome.
• If you are a law student, consider the Bonavero
Institute Student Fellowships to contribute to a
variety of legal organisations or engage with the Pro
Bono Publico programme.
• Improve your commercial skills – get involved in one
of the Careers Service employability programmes
such as The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA), or
Insight into Strategy and Management, or apply for
an internship.

More information
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/barristers
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/solicitors
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/international-law
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/human-rights-public-
interest-law

118 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
LAW SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Courtney Step-Marsden

“
Barrister, Outer Temple Chambers
LLB Law (Jurisprudence), Somerville College, 2018

What: I am a barrister specialising in civil law, in be it a sport, drama or

particular, employment law and personal injury law. charity work. This will
After graduating from Oxford, I undertook the Bar Professional give you something to
Training Course at The University of Law, and then completed talk about in interviews
pupillage at Outer Temple Chambers. I started tenancy and help you evidence
in September 2020. I appear in the Employment Tribunal relevant soft-skills for
approximately once a week and advise on a wide range of the Bar.
different matters. • Funding: Training for the Bar
can be expensive (although recently
Why: Throughout my degree, I enjoyed examining legal problems the fees have been reduced). Look at applying for scholarships
and undertaking legal research. I also enjoy the self-motivation at the Inns of Court or advocacy scholarships at the Bar
that is required for a career at the self-employed Bar. course providers. The scholarships from the Inns can be very
generous, covering the cost of the Bar course. Also, consider
Top tips: taking a gap year after graduation to save some money and
• Academics: While at university, focus on your studies to perhaps gain some relevant experience, such as through
ensure that you get a high 2:1 or a first-class degree. working as a paralegal.
• Extra-curricular: Consider mooting or debating at the Oxford • Resilience: Getting pupillage is hard. It is very competitive
Union to build up your advocacy experience. Start looking at and you are likely to receive a lot of rejections. It can be
mini-pupillages to learn about life at the Bar. Do something demoralising, but persistence is key. Continue to build on your
that makes you unique and that you are passionate about – CV, network and apply for opportunities.

Larissa Wilson

“
Company Secretary, Janus Henderson Investors
Jurisprudence, Brasenose, 2011

What: I’m a Company Secretary at Janus Henderson to train at Lloyds Banking

Investors (“JHI”), which is a global active asset Group before moving to
management company. The role of a Company Secretary really the Post Office, HSBC and
varies depending on the type of organisation and sector that finally JHI.
you work in, but is always focussed on the Governance of the I was also able to
organisation – the system of rules, practices and processes by study for my professional
which an organisation is directed and controlled. qualification at the same time as
In general, company secretaries help boards to deliver good working, which whilst not without
governance and to meet compliance obligations. I’ve been lucky its challenges allowed me to get stuck into
enough to undertake a variety of company secretarial roles at a my career sooner rather than later.
variety of different organisations during my career so far – the
ability to easily move between sectors is a perk of the profession! Advice: If you’re interested in finding out more about a career in
My current role is focussed on supporting JHI’s UK Governance, take a look at the Chartered Governance Institute’s
regulated boards, overseeing Governance processes and website and attend a Governance Insight Day. The Institute also
driving improvements to Governance at JHI. In comparison, my advertises internship and trainee opportunities.
previous role at HSBC was focussed on Shareholder Governance, Having a strong soft skill set is just as important as your
which included ensuring that HSBC met its obligations in the technical skill set, if not more so, especially given that you often
jurisdictions it was listed, and supporting shareholder relations, have exposure to the most senior individuals at an organisation
various corporate events and annual reporting. from the very start of your career. Most roles will want someone
who can show that they can work well in a team, have good
Career journey: I had no idea what I wanted to do when I left communication and influencing skills, strong organisational skills
university – I fell into the profession when I was asked to perform and attention to detail – so try and include evidence of that in
the role at the start-up I was working for at the time. I went on your applications and interviews!

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 119
LAW SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Olivia Phelan

“
Lawyer, Government Legal Department
Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Lady Margaret Hall, 2016

What: The Government Legal Department (GLD) government lawyer opens

provides legal services to many central government up lots of opportunities:
departments. Our work includes defending the government in former Director of Liberty
judicial reviews, providing legal advice to ministers on new policy Shami Chakrabarti and
development, drafting new legislation, advising on commercial Supreme Court judge Lady
contracts, and negotiating international trade deals. This involves Justice Rose are former
public law, human rights law, international law, data protection, government lawyers.
equalities, procurement, employment, trade law, and much more.
Trainee solicitors and pupil barristers embark on two years Advice:
of training courtesy of the Government Legal Profession Legal • The selection panel won’t have a copy of your CV, and they won’t
Trainee Scheme. Departments involved in the scheme include know which university or school you went to, or what your grades
GLD, HM Revenue and Customs, and the National Crime Agency. are. The key is preparing for the online tests and assessment day.
You can also join GLD after training elsewhere. • Having any sort of paid job beforehand helps, whether
that’s working as a paralegal or as a shop assistant in Tesco.
Career path: The law has always interested me but a career in Understanding how to work with colleagues, when to ask for
corporate law never appealed and so I looked into other options. help, and responding well to feedback will get you a long way in
Before starting a training contract with GLD, I worked for a legal the application process. You can’t learn those skills in a textbook!
start-up and for the House of Commons Library. Over the course • Persevere. It often takes more than one attempt to get onto
of two years I worked for the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Government Legal Profession Legal Trainee Scheme, and
Defence, and Home Office. I was even lucky enough to be posted not all come straight from university.
to the British Overseas Territory in Cyprus for six months. I now • Understand GLD’s work. Read about judicial review cases and
work as an advisory lawyer at the Home Office in London. pay attention to new legislation. Our work is often in the news,
Unlike private law firms, GLD encourages lawyers to move so it’s a good idea to start familiarising yourself with legal press
subject area and department throughout their career. A stint as a and cases.

Ewan Fraser

“
Trainee Solicitor, Clyde & Co
BA Jurisprudence, Somerville College, 2019

What: I attended a vacation scheme at Clyde & Co This led me to look more
while studying for finals between Hilary and Trinity specifically at firms with
of my final year at Oxford and was lucky enough to receive my a reputable commercial
offer a few weeks before my first exam. I moved to London practice, and I came across
the following year to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC) my current firm. I was
before starting my training contract. pleasantly surprised a few
months later to find my old
Why: One thing which I have come to appreciate after leaving International Trade tutor talking to
Oxford is the breadth of work that firms can specialise in. It the firm as a guest lecturer. I half expected
is easy to fall into the trap of seeing all law firms as the same: him to start asking me questions!
dry paperwork that requires you to ‘sell your soul’. The reality
couldn’t be further from the truth. There are hundreds of firms in Top tips: I was incredibly lucky to find a training contract
the country specialising in everything from sport to intellectual before graduating, but this isn’t always the case. The nature of
property, family to real estate. university life does instil a sense of urgency which is undue and
Having failed to find a training contract in my second year I often harmful. When you enter the LPC you will note that there
didn’t know what to do with myself entering third year. I took are people of all ages and at different stages in their career. There
the Oxford International Trade module, however, and adored the is no rush: focus on passing your exams before you go sacrificing
course. It was case law heavy and, with that, a far cry from the time studying to find a training contract.
corporate work I had been led to expect from my subject.

120 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
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Saturday, 22 October 2022 | 10:30-13:00
Examination Schools, OX1 4BG

Meet representatives from

barristers’ chambers, solicitors'
practices, law course providers,
and many others, and explore
opportunities in the law sector.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/lawf

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

NATIONAL POLICY Individual, graduate-level vacancies in departments

will be advertised on the Civil Service website as they

AND GOVERNMENT
arise. Other routes in include temping and short-term
project roles.
Internships are not generally offered, apart from
Working in national policy and government offers the Summer Diversity Internship Programme (deadline
variety, new challenges, and opportunities to do in October) and Early Diversity Internship Programme.
something that has a big impact on the public. Some specialist programmes also advertise internships
This page concentrates on the sector in the from January to March. For example, Government
UK, but much of the advice can be extended to Economic Service, Communications, and Operational
careers across the world. Research.
In local councils, the Local Government Association
runs a two-year graduate scheme: The National
A career in this sector appeals to those interested in Graduate Development Programme (NGDP). This
making a social or legislative impact in their home programme aims to provide local government with high
country – working for a political party or think tank or calibre managers, training graduates through a series
becoming a civil servant at local or national level. of placements within councils. Participants can gain
There are currently almost half a million people in experience in policy and strategy, customer-facing roles,
the UK Civil Service, working in 250+ departments, and finance and operational positions. Since 2002, over
services, agencies. Local government is an even bigger 1,000 graduates have completed the programme, and
employer in the UK, with 1.2 million staff in over 350 many now hold influential managerial and policy roles.
local authorities. Direct entry positions can be found on council websites.
Civil servants are officially apolitical, informing The website www.w4MP.org is the primary
and implementing policies of elected representatives. jobs board for positions working with MPs, political
Graduates may also work directly for elected parties and campaigning organisations. There are also
representatives as advisers, researchers and internships, and speculative applications can also work,
assistants, which can be an effective route into a but many are London-based and may be unpaid.
political career. You could even stand for election as a
councillor or MP. Extra-curricular ideas
Think tanks are more concerned with policy than • Stand for your JCR/MCR committee or the Oxford SU
politics, but are sometimes aligned with a particular executive – or get involved in Oxford SU’s campaigns.
position on the political spectrum. They seek to influence • Enter debate competitions in societies or the Oxford
public policy and debate through their research, the Union to sharpen your communication skills.
media, and via direct contact with politicians and • Get involved with your local political party or student
organisations. For more about think tanks see the society branches and politics-related student societies.
‘International Policy and Development’ section in this • Join The Oxford Strategy Challenge (TOSCA):
Guide. Oxford City Council is a frequent client.
• Get involved with student societies and volunteering
Getting in and entry points through OxHub.
The Civil Service primarily recruits graduates through
its ‘Fast Stream’ – in fact 15 ‘streams’ ranging from
Generalist, Diplomatic Service, Houses of Parliament, Note: With the Government planning a 21%
Science and Engineering, to Analytics, or Project reduction in civil servant numbers, the Civil
Management and the Government Economic Service. Service Fast Stream recruitment programme is
The deadline for this falls in early Michaelmas term. not recruiting in 2022–23, although the Diversity
Fast Streamers usually gain experience in more than Internship Programmes are being run.
one government department and in more than one part
of the UK and can have opportunities for secondment
into the private sector, charities, and other public sector
organisations. More information
Some departments and agencies also run separate www.careers.ox.ac.uk/government-public-
direct recruitment schemes, including the Economic services
Service, Government Legal Profession, HM Treasury, the www.careers.ox.ac.uk/think-tanks
FCA, ONS, Security Services and GCHQ.

122 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
NATIONAL POLICY AND GOVERNMENT SECTOR BRIEFINGS

Sam Banks

“
Graduate Training Scheme, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
MMaths, Merton College, 2018

What: I am on the graduate scheme at the FCA, which Pros and cons: Graduates
regulates the provision of most financial services in the are given a lot of trust
UK. As I’m on the market oversight stream, my main focus is on and responsibility. I have
the UK’s stock markets, but graduates are involved in everything helped to interview
from preventing financial crime through to making pensions policy. company directors as part
My job has varied a lot across my different rotations. My of our investigations, and
current role involves programming and data analysis to help worked to develop the FCA’s
detect unlawful stock market activity, using the data we receive approach in new areas.
as the regulator. But in the past, I have worked on investigations The scrutiny we are under as a
into public companies’ behaviour, internal strategy pieces, and regulator means that it sometimes takes a little while to make
thematic work on companies’ reporting and governance. decisions. This can be frustrating at times, but it’s better than
making the wrong decision quickly. In spite of (or perhaps
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
knew I wanted to do something with more practical impact than could do, the organisation is really supportive of everyone having
pure mathematics (not too difficult!). I found out about the FCA’s a good work-life balance.
summer internship at the Oxford Careers Service Finance Fair,
decided to apply and was successful. I really enjoyed it and was Top tips: I would definitely recommend applying for summer
offered a place on the graduate scheme after the internship. internships – they’re a good way to get to know an
I really value the overview of particular industries that I get organisation, and can take the pressure off applications in
working at the regulator – in front line roles, you get to see how your final year.
different companies go about their business. I also enjoy the I think being up front about my motivations really helped me
different rotations on the scheme, which provide an opportunity – working in public life is about considering the right principles
to try different things out and learn new technical knowledge. and the people affected, as well as being technically good.

Nicholas Linfoot

“
Policy Lead, Ministry of Justice
BA History, Lincoln College, 2019

What: I am a Policy Lead in the Ministry of Justice. I opportunities, giving you a

lead a team responsible for designing and delivering lot of responsibility early
a range of pilots, policies and strategies covering health and on and deepening your
wellbeing for prisoners and prison leavers. Before that I was a knowledge. Lots of frontline
Prison Officer and manager in male and female prisons. work is challenging and
complex but gives you real
How: I had an unconventional route, first completing a placement resilience and plenty of good
as a Prison Officer through the Unlocked Graduates programme. stories! If you make the transition to
I had a Fast Stream offer but didn’t take it because I wanted the central Civil Service, it is rewarding to
to develop a frontline perspective and I valued the geographic bring your experience to shaping national policy.
flexibility that prisons provided i.e., not only being based in
London! I then advanced through the ranks before transitioning Top tips: There are several programmes like Unlocked, such
to the Ministry of Justice headquarters in late 2021. as, Police Now, which provide frontline experience, and policy
teams are increasingly filled by those who’ve completed these
Pros and cons: Frontline work is fundamentally people-focussed, programmes, recognising their specialist knowledge. Keep an eye
which means you build fantastic relationships, but it requires a out for taster programmes or events and spend time thinking
high degree of resilience. It allows you to gain a lot of experience about your values and how they align with the areas you want to
early on that many in central policy simply don’t have; whether work in.
that be in security, mental health, or working with women
or children. There is also a significant range of promotional

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 123
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

PUBLISHING Getting in and entry points

A few of the larger publishers run formal graduate
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,
resourceful nature, good organisational skills and and the majority of people in publishing start in
a passion for creating content? If so a career in administrative positions and work their way upwards.
publishing may be an interesting option for you. For any job, a demonstrated interest in the sector
is extremely important, and having relevant work
experience can be a real advantage. A few large players
The UK publishing industry employs 29,000 people offer formal internship schemes, but outside of these,
directly in the UK and is the largest exporter of books in you can make speculative approaches to seek work
the world. It divides into three main fields, with academic experience at any publisher.
publishing being the biggest of the three: CareerConnect is a useful source of vacancies for
• Trade or consumer publishing: fiction and non- jobs and work experience in the sector. Key external
fiction books that are published through the book job sites include The Bookseller, Oxford Brookes’ list of
trade to a general audience. publishing jobs and internships (they run three publishing
• Academic publishing makes scholarly research masters’ degrees), and the Independent Publishers Guild
available via texts and journals. (IPG) job board. Many companies, particularly smaller
• Education publishing produces school textbooks publishing companies and literary agencies, do not
and English Language Teaching (ELT) materials. formally advertise vacancies, which means you need to
There are a huge number of publishing companies get in touch speculatively to enquire and follow their
in the UK, with the three largest companies (Penguin social media pages.
Random House, Hachette Livre, HarperCollins) taking The Publishers Association website www.publishers.
around half of total UK customers sales. Other large org.uk provides lots of information on the industry, roles
employers include Macmillan, Pearson Education, Oxford and careers.
University Press (OUP), Bloomsbury, Simon & Schuster,
and Wiley, with many other smaller independent Extra-curricular ideas
publishers. • Join the Society of Young Publishers (Oxford).
Generally, the processes of publishing are divided into Run by professionals in the sector, it holds regular
editorial, design and production, sales and marketing, networking nights and careers events.
distribution, contracts and rights, and finance. Specific • Demonstrate interest by joining other related student
job functions range from commissioning editor to societies, such as the Oxford University Society of
content editor and marketing assistant to web developer Bibliophiles.
as the rapid growth of online and digital publishing drives • Gain experience by working for a student publication,
change across the industry. such as, The Oxford Student, Cherwell, Isis, The
There are also literary agencies, which act as Oxford Scientist, The Oxford Blue and so on. Many
intermediaries between trade publishers and writers. offer experience in editorial and technical roles.
Normally working in small firms, agents have exposure • Choose a topic you are interested in and blog about
to the whole publishing process: editing books with it. Developing a regular blog is a good way to
authors, convincing publishers to buy them, and dealing demonstrate relevant publishing skills.
with contracts and media enquiries. • Offer to help in your department or college, for

“
example, to support the production of conference
materials and reports, internal documents or
Try to get some work experience. As promotional material.
well as formal internships, publishers • Sign up for the Careers Service’s Insight into
may also offer work experience on an ad hoc Publishing programme.
basis. There are also many different areas that • Working in a bookshop will give you useful insights
work together to make a successful publishing into the consumer market.
company so consider all your career options,
such as marketing and finance as well as editorial.

Naomi Crookston, Publisher, More information

Oxford University Press www.careers.ox.ac.uk/publishing

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

April Peake

“
Commissioning Editor, Penguin Random House (PRH) and UK Chair, Society of Young Publishers (SYP)
English Language and Literature, Lady Margaret Hall, 2015

What: I’m responsible for commissioning new Cambridge University

audiobooks that are based on BBC radio material. I Press before progressing
identify potential audio collections, prepare detailed proposals for into academic-trade
commercially viable projects, pitch these audiobooks at internal acquisitions roles at
board meetings, and cost out approved projects for sign-off. Oxford University Press
Additionally, I support the publishing process by briefing covers, (humanities), Routledge
proofreading copy, and working closely with producers, agents, (social sciences), and
readers, and colleagues to produce the very best end products. Bloomsbury (visual arts).

Why: I enjoy market research, project management, building Advice: Publishing is competitive, so it’s rare to land a first role
relationships with stakeholders, and working in a team, which are which aligns to your degree subject or personal interests. When
all key parts of a career in editorial. The most fulfilling element of applying for entry-level positions, go for roles in any department
my role is the list-building. My specific areas of responsibility are that can give you an understanding of the business side of books.
the factual and comedy releases. In order to identify commercial Try to spend your early career refining a broad skill set, as that
opportunities for each genre, I have to understand the needs of way you’ll be better placed to apply for your ideal position. Once
our listeners. you’re in the industry, though, you might be surprised at how
many different paths there are!
Career path: I got involved in student journalism during my time
at Oxford and then I served on the board of Oxford Student Top tips: Internships are a super way to get relevant experience
Publications Limited in my final year. After a placement at Oxford onto your CV. If you don’t manage to get an internship, you can
University Press (OUP), I decided on publishing and applied learn about publishing by joining the SYP for free entry to their
for jobs in the academic sector. I started out as an assistant at events and by subscribing to The Bookseller for industry news.

Tallulah Griffith

“
Editorial Assistant, Osprey (part of Bloomsbury Publishing)
MSt English and American Studies, Wadham College, 2020

What: At Osprey, my role is both administrative and undertaken an internship or

editorial. I support the editorial team with a number training within publishing
of checks on covers, ebook editions and blog posts; sending out specifically, I could
freelancer contracts and complimentary copies of upcoming demonstrate an attention
publications; and compiling new book proposals for the publishing to detail, organisational skills,
meeting. Editorial tasks include proofreading and project managing and an ability to manage a
a small number of titles, as well as image research and licensing. complex workload.

Why: I am a part-time writer, and my job offers valuable editorial Advice: Be realistic, both about the difficulty of securing an entry-
experience in addition to an insight into the processes behind level job in publishing and about what the job will entail. A passion
getting work published. Long term, I would like to work in for reading is a good starting point; you will also need to have an
commissioning and take a lead role in list-building and working awareness of publishing as a business. The Bookseller, BookMachine
with authors to develop their manuscripts. and the Society of Young Publishers are all great resources. As a
cheaper alternative, the Oxford Careers Service offers an Insight
How: During my master’s, I gained experience writing and editing into Publishing programme, as well as the possibility of a mock
for student publications like the Oxford Review of Books and the interview session, which I found really helpful in my application
Broad Street Humanities Review. I then went on to do an internship process. Be aware that your first job in publishing might not directly
with Persuasion magazine, which I found through the Oxford align with your interests, but also that you may well surprise
Careers Service. I had also previously worked in an administrative yourself – many people set their sights on editorial roles on trade
position as a programme coordinator at Sotheby’s Institute of lists and later find themselves exposed to so many more options.
Art. This variety of experience meant that although I had not Most importantly, expect rejection, and roll with the punches.

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

SCIENCE In general, only major companies have graduate

schemes. The earliest deadlines are before Christmas,
but many recruit on a rolling basis. Gaining employment
There are many opportunities in this sector, with well-known firms can be highly competitive
including careers in research, creating (particularly in the pharmaceutical sector) and relevant
new technologies, developing or refining industry experience is always useful.
manufacturing processes, or innovating medical Many large firms offer internships to penultimate
solutions. So make sure you quiz Oxford scientists year students. More opportunities exist with smaller,
about the options while you’re here, as many less well-known companies, which usually recruit for
specific vacancies – either directly or through specialist
have connections outside academia.
recruitment agencies. Small scientific companies are
often clustered on science parks. Check their websites
Scientists are likely to be involved in research, for vacancies, register with relevant recruitment
development and analysis. Opportunities in industry agencies, and also make speculative applications for jobs
range from the research divisions of global companies and for getting work experience.
to niche technology firms. Other options include The availability of work in government agencies
government- or charity-funded research institutes, and independent research institutes varies according
hospitals, and university research. to subject. DSTL (Defence Science and Technology
Science and technology span diverse disciplines Laboratory) runs a graduate scheme across most
and so too does the range of opportunities in the scientific disciplines. DESG (Defence Engineering and
science sector. Roles for hands-on scientists exist in Science Group) is focused mainly on physical scientists
manufacturing, energy, medicine, pharmaceuticals and engineers. Independently funded research institutes
and biotechnology, environment, defence, aerospace, – such as those operated by Cancer Research UK and
transport, electronics, space technology, fast-moving the Wellcome Trust – are more common in life science
consumer goods (FMCG), and many more areas. disciplines. For some jobs it can be an advantage to have
The sector also needs science literate graduates who a relevant PhD, and some roles will require them.
can use their knowledge in other ways: for example,
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
public. as the Scientific Society, OxWEST (for women) or the
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
most suit you. For example, working in a small startup your department, Science Oxford or Oxford Hands-
technology company is likely to give a very different On Science (OxHOS).
experience from joining a large graduate scheme with an • Seek a summer research assistant position at your
established employer. department or through your tutors’ contacts.
• Write for The Oxford Scientist, Oxford’s science
Getting in and entry points magazine.
The first step for many scientists wanting to pursue • Become a student member of a relevant professional
a career in science is a PhD (DPhil in Oxford). Do not scientific society – many offer networking
be put off if a PhD is not for you at this stage; many opportunities.
organisations offer science roles that do not require a
PhD.

“
Make the most of expertise around
you. Quiz Oxford researchers and
lecturers about their career and collaborations
– many have connections that reach far beyond More information
academic research labs. www.careers.ox.ac.uk/pharmaceuticals-
biotechnology
Dr Abby Evans, Careers Adviser, www.careers.ox.ac.uk/science-alternatives
Oxford University Careers Service www.careers.ox.ac.uk/science-rd

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

Phoebe Hobbs

“
Senior Medical Writer, Fishawack Health
MBiochem in Biochemistry, University College, 2019

What: When I’m asked what medical writers do, my fast-paced pharmaceutical
simplest explanation is that we take data from clinical industry? Appreciate
trials of drugs and convert it into written materials to help working in a team while
doctors decide what to prescribe…but we do much more than having ownership over
that! One day you could be working on an abstract, poster, your projects? These are all
or review article; the next you could be meeting with global reasons I’ve heard for people
experts, writing text for a website, speaking to patients to gain starting careers in medical
their perspectives, or developing training slides to support writing.
your pharmaceutical clients. This job is highly rewarding if you
want to continue learning beyond academia, become a disease Advice: People come into medical writing from various
expert, and make a difference to patients. During my time in scientific backgrounds; medical knowledge and a PhD are
the industry, I’ve worked on a range of therapy areas including beneficial, but not required. The most important thing is that
haematology, rare autoimmune diseases, neurology, oncology, you enjoy writing and research. To get in, you’ll need to pass
and pulmonology. My involvement in disseminating COVID-19 a writing test; it is key to check carefully for errors, be
research during the pandemic made me especially aware of the scientifically rigorous, and create a clear story flow. Once
importance of my role. you have experience, your skills will be highly in demand.
For more information on the medical communications industry,
Why: Love research but don’t want to pipette colourless liquids the different agencies, and tips for applying, I recommend
for the rest of your days? Want to keep learning but can’t choose visiting firstmedcommsjob.com. Most agencies provide tailored
just one subject to specialise in? Enjoy analysing data but also training and career development opportunities, and some,
want to be creative? Passionate about advancing medicine? including Fishawack Health, offer internships and graduate
Keen to have a global impact and opportunities to travel? programmes, so look out for these if you’d like a taster of a
Liked rather than loathed writing your thesis? Interested in the particular role.

Dr Lisa Rodermund

“
Trainee Patent Attorney in Chemical and Life Sciences, Haseltine Lake Kempner LLP
DPhil Biochemistry, St Anne’s College, 2020

What: A patent attorney helps clients protect their Top skills for success: You
inventions and intellectual property by obtaining a have an eye for detail, great
patent. Patent attorneys are scientists by training, qualified communication skills and
to at least undergraduate level, with additional qualifications love learning more about
in intellectual property law. I am a trainee patent attorney in innovative technologies?
Chemical and Life Sciences at Haseltine Lake Kempner LLP. My You are a problem solver and
role involves assisting qualified patent attorneys in understanding good at time management?
exciting new technologies such as cancer and gene therapies, as Then a job as a patent attorney
well as drafting and prosecuting patents. Whilst I am learning a might be the perfect fit for you!
lot “on the job”, I am also studying for exams to become a UK and
European qualified patent attorney myself. Top tips: Pursuing a career outside of academia can seem a bit
daunting at first, but don’t be afraid to take the plunge! Talk
Why: I have always been enthusiastic about a wide range of openly about it to your peers and teachers, and make full use of
technologies, and during my PhD, I found that I have a special the great career services offered to you by the university. If you
interest in communication and science outreach. Work as are interested in patent law, contact current trainees through
a trainee patent attorney is extremely varied – each day is LinkedIn or email to chat about their experience. Taking the
different from the next. After focusing on a single project for exams to qualify as a UK and European patent attorney takes at
almost 5 years during my graduate studies, I really enjoy learning least 4 years. That’s why I would strongly recommend having a
about different research areas and inventions every week, whilst look at the training programmes and study support that different
at the same time using my communication skills daily. firms provide before you commit to training at one.

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

Sam Hatfield

“
Scientist, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
DPhil Environmental Research, Jesus College, 2020

What: I conduct research into different methods of finishing up, I was very lucky
simulating the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans on that my current position,
computers in order to improve the quality of weather forecasts. which is closely related to
In particular, I study the interface between meteorological my DPhil research, became
science and supercomputing, a burgeoning area of computational available, so I applied and
science that will have real importance in attempting to adapt was accepted.
to climate change. My day-to-day work involves computer
programming and data analysis, but also plenty of communication Advice: Firstly, remember that
with colleagues and at conferences. This makes for a good graduation is not the end of the learning
balance all round, similar to that of a postdoctoral researcher in process. In many ways I learned more about “how things work”
a university but without so much pressure to obtain funding and in the first year of my post-graduation job than the previous
write papers. eight years of higher education. Secondly, it’s perfectly okay if
you don’t know if the job you start with is right for you – it’s not
Career path: I wanted an application for my physics and a lifelong commitment. You will have plenty of other things on
computing experience with a demonstrable benefit to society, your mind when finishing your degree, so to begin with just try to
and chose the field of weather and climate prediction. Over find something that broadly suits you. Finally, when approaching
the four years of my DPhil I made sure to conduct research recruiters, try to have a clear example to demonstrate each of
that wasn’t just interesting to me but also topical, keeping in the skills that you are marketing. For example, a school outreach
mind my future career prospects. In tandem, I started to make talk to demonstrate communication skills, or perhaps an open
connections with researchers at my current workplace. As I was dataset you help maintain to demonstrate data analytics skills.

Ulrike Künzel

“
Senior Research Scientist, AstraZeneca
DPhil in Pathology, Lincoln College, 2017

What: As a scientist in early research and development Career path: After my PhD
in the pharmaceutical industry, I work on the very early I secured Medical Research
steps of the drug discovery process: the identification of new Council funding which
drug targets for a variety of diseases. The diseases I work on allowed me to stay in my
can vary depending on the project, and range from cancer PhD lab for an additional six
to metabolic diseases. Therefore, I research a variety months, before moving into
of different cell types and disease phenotypes which are my first industry position as
analysed with high-throughput fluorescent microscopes. My a scientist in a contract research
day-to-day job involves planning, performing and analysing organisation (CRO). CROs perform
experiments, meetings with my project team (which includes research and development for other companies, so I contributed
experts from other departments), group or departmental to several projects for different pharmaceutical companies. The
meetings, as well as operational tasks such as writing risk insight into the industry, as well as the research and project
assessments. My work is very collaborative, and I interact management skills I gained, helped me to secure my current
frequently with scientists from other disciplines that are position in a pharmaceutical company.
involved in the data analysis or experimental design. We also
collaborate with academia and attend and present at scientific Advice: Successfully applying for the first position outside of
conferences. academia is often difficult. It helps to be flexible as there are
many ways into industry positions. Consider taking a transition
Why: I chose a career in the pharmaceutical industry because step to reach your desired job, for example, through a CRO or
I wanted to apply the scientific skills that I had acquired at start-up company, to acquire more skills that are applicable for
university to projects that have an impact on patients. I also your next career steps. Use your network to learn more about
wanted to learn about the process of drug discovery and be the day-to-day work, as well as open positions in the companies
involved in novel exciting science applied to a variety of diseases. you are applying for.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 129
Join our custom graduate program. Learn from the best and
define your own career path. Make immediate moves in the real
market in a real team. At IMC Trading, there’s no hierarchy and
no egos—just an open culture and unprecedented growth.
Start your career at the world’s most innovative trading firm.

GO BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

imc.com/careers
 Insight into
Pharma/
Biotech
Find out
Visit aboutbiotech
a local research
careers from
company a panel
and find of
out
scientists working
more about research at a local
pharma/biotech
careers within company.
the
pharma/biotech industry.
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/ipb

In-person SCIENCE,
ENGINEERING AND
TECHNOLOGY FAIR
Saturday, 15 October 2022 | 10:30-13:00
Examination Schools, OX1 4BG

Find out about the career

options available in a
variety of technical areas
with organisations ranging
from leading global
companies to specialist
technology firms.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/set

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 131
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

START-UPS AND about market research, funding, recruitment, and who

your customers will be. As a self-employed person,

ENTREPRENEUR-
you will have flexibility and independence, but in
addition to delivering your service, you will need to do
business development (sales) to obtain new customers.

SHIP This is why many people choose to go freelance later

in life when they already have a network of contacts
that acts as a readily available customer base. In this
Becoming an entrepreneur is a popular aspiration respect you will need to consider how you market
for an increasing number of students, as is yourself, your business name, website, brand equity,
founding or working for a start-up or spin-out. competitive edge, etc.

The priority when it comes to a career search is to get More information

round pegs in round holes, and nowhere is this more
true than in start-ups and spin-outs. The adventurous Ideas
opportunists who will thrive in this activity are Enterprising Oxford: www.eship.ox.ac.uk
passionate and committed, and work to be not just Oxford Hub: www.oxfordhub.org
commercially aware but business savvy. Oxford Entrepreneurs:
There are many things to consider when starting a www.oxfordentrepreneurs.co.uk
business. A good way to understand all the business
elements is to complete a Lean Canvas, which helps Hands-on
you to plan out what problem you are trying to solve, Oxford University Innovation Startup Incubator:
what your solution is, who your customers are, how you innovation.ox.ac.uk/startupincubator
will be sustainable, and who your competition is. This OX1 Start-Up Incubator Programme:
provides a strong foundation to develop your business www.ox1incubator.com
further. Student Entrepreneurs Programme (StEP):
This will give a good first step for anyone thinking unistep.org
about starting a business.
Spin-outs, space and support
Working for yourself Oxford University Innovation: innovation.ox.ac.uk
There are many different ways to set up and run your Begbroke Science Park: www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk
business, depending on whether you want to have a OSEP: www.osep.org.uk
traditional for-profit business, a social enterprise, or a OxLEP Business:
non-profit, or something in between. Whether you www.oxfordshirelep.com/business
want to operate as a sole trader, limited liability

“
partnership (LLP), or private limited company (PLC),
there are plenty of resources in the University and
beyond to help you get started. You will need to think Oxford University Careers Service run

“
The Student Consultancy Programme
(now known as TOSCA) that provides student
Hone your persuasion skills. This consultancy to local businesses. As a student,
often comes down to being a good I joined the programme and worked with the
storyteller. Whether it’s applying for a job, Story Museum on opening up their coffee shop.
or motivating people to join your team,
many important decisions are made through
compelling stories. Being a good listener is Agne Milukaite, Founder,
equally important – to be able to mirror back cycle.land
people’s desires in ways that align with yours.

Sultan Murad Saidov, Co-founder,

Beamery

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

Danny Parrott and Richard Lloyd

“
Co-founders, Gotoco TEFL Adventures. Pembroke College, Oriental Studies (Chinese and Tibetan), 2015
(Richard) / St Anne’s College, Oriental Studies (Chinese and Modern Chinese Literature), 2015 (Danny)

What: We run a travel and education social enterprise back to China. Through
together called Gotoco; linking university students with Oxford, Danny arranged
funded education sector internships around the world. funding to do an MBA at
Tsinghua University and
How/career path: We met studying Chinese and cemented Richard joined a policy
our friendship and interest in China during our year abroad in research advisory in Beijing,
Beijing in 2012. Oxford Summer Internship funding allowed us to working principally with the EU,
return to China and teach English on summer camps during our UN and embassies in China.
university holidays, and Gotoco was soon born. After graduating
in 2015, we were keen to explore options that would bring us Danny’s tip: While studying is an important part of the Oxford
experience, you really shouldn’t miss out on the truly unique and
diverse world of opportunities on offer here.
While studying is an important part of the One of the highlights of my time at Oxford was the summer
Oxford experience, you really shouldn’t miss internship programme. There is nothing quite like it anywhere in
out on the truly unique and diverse world of the world.
opportunities on offer here. Richard’s tip: I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do after
university, except that I wanted to use my Mandarin and didn’t
One of the highlights of my time at Oxford was want to go straight into a corporate role. An internship grant in
the summer internship programme. There is my final year allowed me to spend my summer teaching in China.
nothing quite like it anywhere in the world. This led me to founding my own social enterprise, Gotoco, with
my two best friends.

Mehak Mumtaz

“
Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder, iLoF
MSc Biochem, St. Hilda’s College, 2012, DPhil Pathology, St. Edmund Hall, 2017

What: iLoF is a healthtech company which uses secured investment from

photonics and AI to develop next-generation digital EIT Health. The decision
biomarkers to provide screening and stratification tools for to leave consulting and
complex heterogeneous diseases. Our mission is to democratise commit to the venture
personalised medicine through rapid, cost-effective and patient- full-time was not a difficult
centric solutions. one to make, and despite the
roller coaster journey, I have not
How: I was always passionate about scientific discovery, which regretted it since.
led me to pursue a DPhil. Towards the end of it, I found myself
drawn towards the intersection between technological and Top tips: Make use of the Oxford ecosystem. There are many
life sciences, and was fascinated by the myriad of start-ups opportunities to find out what different careers actually entail;
and scale-ups spun out of the Oxford ecosystem. I ended up work on diverse projects; meet like-minded people; or gain
exploring this space as a health innovation fellow at Oxford, additional skills. Step out of your comfort zone, stretch yourself,
aiming to bridge the gap between technology providers, hospital explore and enjoy!
systems, research institutes, and patient organisations to improve Network – find and talk to different people, discover what
care for rare cancer patients. This was a turning point for me and their jobs are like, and most importantly develop authentic
provided a first taste of innovation and entrepreneurship. Driven relationships. These will last you well beyond your first few jobs.
by the desire to gain commercial acumen, I spent some time as a Don’t be afraid of failure. Often, fear of failure can hold
strategy consultant at EY-Parthenon, which opened my eyes to budding entrepreneurs back. However, think of the worst that
a different world. Soon after, I gained a place on a ten-week EIT can happen if you fail; you move on with some incredibly useful
Health ‘Wild Card’ programme, a European accelerator for health transferable skills, a bunch of friends, and lots of interesting
companies, where I met my co-founders, validated an idea, and stories for your resume.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 133
 SECTOR BRIEFINGS

TECH: IT, DATA, for new graduates, from an initial intensive ‘bootcamp’
to on-the-job development. Starting salaries, even for

AI AND MACHINE
those without technical skills, often exceed £30,000.
The IT consultancy industry is also growing fast.
Some major players operate globally, offering strategic

LEARNING advice, systems development and implementation. New

recruits can expect high quality training before being
embedded with clients to work on projects. But tread
Computing and IT jobs exist in all sectors and all carefully and understand the contract! Some firms offer
types of organisations – in fact, more than 40% ‘free training’ linked to a contracted 2-year period as a
of all IT professionals work outside the sector. consultant, but if you leave earlier they can demand very
large repayments (up to £20,000) for the training.

Demand for people is high and growing quickly, with Getting in and entry points
many entry opportunities open not only to those Companies visit Oxford throughout the autumn to run
with proven IT skills, but also to anyone with the right events and attend our SET Fair, Careers in Computing,
interests and potential. and Jobs for Mathematicians Fair. Deadlines tend to
Within the IT sector there is a huge range of jobs, fall either side of Christmas, running into late January/
roles and job titles - from software engineering, to February. However, jobs continue to be advertised year-
website production; cloud computing and systems round to fill empty seats.
development to cyber security specialists. The rapid Whilst computer science graduates are in high
expansion of AI, data analyst and data science roles is demand, many opportunities are open to anyone who
adding to demand. The sector also employs people across demonstrates potential and a keen interest in the field.
the full variety of non-technical roles – for example, sales Having technical experience is very useful, whether
and marketing, legal services, HR, and finance. acquired through your degree, self-taught or from your
Outside the IT industry, technical roles exist extra-curricular experience, so consider how you can
across all industries because computing, IT and data provide evidence of your interest and, if you struggle
underpin critical processes in nearly all organisations. with this, find opportunities to get involved now to gain
Some sectors recruit particularly heavily into IT roles, some experience.
notably in advertising and marketing, banking and
financial services, games development, consultancy, Extra-curricular ideas
manufacturing, retail and public sectors. In parallel, the • Join societies and attend events: try CompSoc,
growth in tech start-ups is creating significant extra Oxford Women in Computer Science (OxWoCS) and
demand for technically skilled graduates and, at Oxford, AI Society.
hiring is increasing in rapidly expanding fields such as • Enter competitions or attend a hackathon, including
‘data analytics’ and ‘FinTech’. the annual Oxford Hackathon.
The volume of employment opportunities for IT • Attend free courses run by societies and CodeFirst: Girls.
professionals is growing fast, and firms can struggle to fill • IT Services offers free access to LinkedIn Learning’s
positions. As a result, people with proven programming vast online library of video-based courses.
and analytical skills are highly sought after, and many • Try free, open source self-directed learning at
companies actively recruit people without technical skills www.codecademy.com and similar sites. Popular
who have the potential to learn and develop quickly once languages include C, C++, HTML, Java, NET, Python
in post. Companies provide excellent training and support and SQL.

“
• Showcase your programming skills on open-source
platforms such as GitHub or take part in competitions
Try to understand what you’ve enjoyed run by companies and via Kaggle.com.
about your studies so far. In my case, • Volunteer for an IT-related project/responsibility with
programming was a by-product of my research your JCR/society/club or local charity.
but turned out to be the basis of the rest of my
career.
More information
Dr Francis Newson, Scientific www.careers.ox.ac.uk/technology-data-
Software Analyst, Tessella machine-learning-ai

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

Matthew Noble

“
Data Scientist, Beamery
DPhil in Materials Science, Oriel College, 2017

What: I’m a data scientist at Beamery, a tech start-up needed. The mentorship
headquartered in London. We help teams to identify, of my colleagues meant I
recruit, and retain talent using our AI-powered platform. The had the support to grow,
AI and data science team researches and builds the AI models learn, develop and, most
used by the platform. Using cutting edge machine learning, deep importantly, to fail in a
learning and graph learning, we are able to tackle issues such supportive environment.
as ‘candidate matching to job vacancies’, ‘entity reconciliation’, Joining a start-up was
‘workforce planning’, and ‘likelihood to move’. a risk, the honest truth is more
start-ups fail than succeed; but with that
Why: After my DPhil, I wanted to keep researching and risk came reward. I’ve learnt and been exposed to so much since
investigating new problems with real impact. Data science was joining in March 2018; Beamery has truly spring-boarded my
at the intersection of mathematics and computer coding, my career by several years whilst giving me the opportunity to make
‘transferable skills’. I taught myself the gaps in my knowledge by a positive impact on the world.
enrolling in online courses at DataCamp and becoming an active
member of online communities such as Kaggle and Reddit. Advice: Not knowing the answer immediately is par for the
course. Trust in your ability to research the unknown and absorb
Challenges and experiences: When I first joined, there wasn’t an new concepts quickly – you have learned to do this at Oxford.
AI and data science team - I wasn’t ‘a’ data scientist at Beamery, Build proof-of-concepts, iterate, and stop once a minimum viable
I was ‘the’ data scientist at Beamery! However, I rolled up my product solves your current problem.
sleeves and wore my many hats as I built the solutions that were

Jasper Hajonides

“
Research Data Scientist, dunnhumby
DPhil Experimental Psychology, New College, 2022

Shifting focus: During my DPhil, I became increasingly studies. The critical

interested in pursuing a position in industry. I enjoyed and creative way of
my empirical neuroscientific research but was uncertain about thinking when it comes
continuing down this path. Industry seemed to offer much better to data-related problems
job prospects and conditions than academia and to still allow me readily transfers from
to do what I liked best: solving complex problems using large academia to industry
collections of data. positions. It is also great to
see that my data science work can
What: My work in data science at dunnhumby revolves around bring about noticeable changes in shops
using data to generate actionable insights for clients in the around me.
retail sector. Creating computational tools makes it possible to
optimise product assortments, adjust prices, forecast product Tips: Data science is a broad and rapidly evolving field. Make
sales, recommend products, and much more. As a research yourself aware of a wide variety of different methods and when
data scientist in my first year, I am predominantly involved with best to apply them.
developing new scientific approaches to existing problems. More generally, I recommend reaching out to people that
At any given time, I work on a number of projects that have do the type of work you would be interested in doing after
quick turn-over times (compared to spending 2 years on a graduating. This can help flag critical skills for your future job and
single project during my DPhil), which keeps work exciting and set the right learning goals.
stimulates learning on new computational methods, as well as
allowing me to build my knowledge of the retail sector.
Make yourself aware of a variety of different
Why: I wanted to move into data science because it was a good methods and when best to apply them.
extension of all the skills I had learnt during my DPhil and prior

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 135
 Main location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands The Oxford Guild Careers in Tech Arm
About us: Da Vinci is a unique trading firm made up of some of the The multi-award-winning Oxford Guild is the largest society in
brightest minds in the industry. We were founded in 2015 by a group Oxford, Europe and the world as of 2015 according to The
of passionate professionals who wanted to do things differently. Every Times, Forbes, Milkround and BBC. Our unrivalled track record
day, we work hard to build the best proprietary trading house in the speaks for itself.
world through our innovative approach to trading, culture and tech. 100% FREE TO JOIN, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS, 120+
We identify opportunities based on short to medium-term strategies EVENTS ANNUALLY, 60+ SPONSORS.
and we provide liquidity to the markets. Our philosophy towards work We worry about your career so you don’t have to!
is best captured by “Be good, work hard and great things will happen”.
BIGGEST SPEAKERS, EVENTS, BALLS, SOCIALS, TRIPS &
We are meritocratic by nature and believe in empowering our
CONFERENCES.
colleagues. We hire the most talented people, continuously challenge
them, give them room to experiment and provide everything they We are widely recognised for being the most established, dynamic,
need to reach their full potential. active and professional society on campus for students looking
to apply for internships/jobs and are renowned for our experience.
Opportunities available: Graduate roles for Traders, Quant
We have demonstrated consistent success in providing effective
Researchers and Software Engineers
recruitment and brand awareness opportunities and services for
Graduates sought: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mathematics, organisations we work with. We help a huge range of companies
Physics, Quant finance, Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent from Amazon, Facebook and iwoca to startups, scaleups and
Visa sponsorship: We sponsor visas for highly skilled migrants more, to increase the quality, diversity and quantity of their
Application advice: We hire continuously for our key roles. applicants. We also host regular workshops on technical skills,
Candidates are advised to apply through our website by uploading including ML and SQL.
their CV and motivation: davincitrading.com/careers We are the founders of the famous Europe2SiliconValley Trip and
Email: [email protected] CollegiumGlobalNetwork which has 40+ universities globally involved.
With world class speakers (including major CEOs to Nobel Prize
Winners, world leaders, top actors, musicians), and initiatives
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and intranet platform, become part of something special at www.
theoxfordguild.com!

davincitrading.com www.theoxfordguild.com

In-person
CAREERS IN
COMPUTING FAIR
Wednesday, 26 October 2022 | 15:00-17:30
Mathematical Institute, OX2 6GG

Explore full time jobs,

internships, and graduate
opportunities with top
employers in the IT and
computing sector.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/ccf

www.careers.ox.ac.uk 137
 Voluntary, short-term
learning and development
opportunities available in
the vacation periods.
The Micro-
Internship
Programme Micro-internships last
between two and five days
and take place either
remotely or in person.

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/micro

Da Vinci is a proprietary trading house

made up of some of the sharpest minds
and most passionate players in the
industry.

In trading, speed is of the essence and our

engineers work closely with traders and
researchers to make sure we are one step
ahead of everyone else.

READY TO CHANGE THE GAME?

VISIT OUR CAREERS PAGE.

davincitrading.com/careers

COLLABORATE INNOVATE CHALLENGE ACHIEVE

138 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
Join our custom graduate program. Learn from the best and
define your own career path. Make immediate moves in the real
market in a real team. At IMC Trading, there’s no hierarchy and
no egos—just an open culture and unprecedented growth.
Start your career at the world’s most innovative trading firm.

GO BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

imc.com/careers
OTHER CAREERS

Other careers
Beyond the industry sectors listed on the previous pages, there are
many more opportunities – some of them are quite niche, and some
are in rapidly expanding fields at the edge of current knowledge.

Do not feel restricted by the range of graduate jobs patent attorney, hydrologist, animator and company
that normally get promoted, and think creatively about secretary. Each profile offers links to professional
what would best suit you. Jobs exist now that were not bodies, sources for vacancies and suggested courses,
around a decade ago; from YouTube content creator and professional development.
to drone operator. Sometimes it can feel as though • Identify the professional body or society for your
everyone at Oxford ends up working in ‘the City’ but field of interest.
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 • Examine vacancies to understand the common
need to think more widely and be more creative in how requirements such as key skills, qualifications and
you source information, find contacts, and build and experience sought, as well as industry norms and
develop your network. If you are interested in a career terms (jargon).
that does not get much exposure around Oxford, the • Find websites for your niche, for example, working for
Careers Service is very happy to help: careers advisers an MP: www.w4mp.org; Space Internships Network
will be happy to work with you on a one-to-one basis to (SpIN) via the Catapult Programme: www.catapult.
provide support and ideas to help you move forwards. org.uk.
Even within the core sectors covered on previous • Use social networks to the full – follow bloggers and
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 to 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
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.
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
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
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,

140 www.careers.ox.ac.uk
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