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Graduate scheme summer school "a brilliant idea"

13 October 2009

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Cover of UCL Careers Service's annual programme ucl.ac.uk/careers/" target="_self">UCL Careers Service

UCL Careers Service's new graduate scheme summer schools have found favour with former students and employers alike.

The service introduced the summer schools last month to equip UCL students and graduates with the skills and knowledge essential for successfully landing a job in this year's particularly competitive graduate labour market. 

Each three-day, intensive course included:

  • labour market information
  • application techniques
  • practical assessment methods
  • a networking lunch with company representatives. 

Graduates at a range of major employers - including Barclays Capital, Grant Thornton, Procter and Gamble and Transport for London - spoke about their own experience of starting their career in a graduate scheme.

The first summer school was attended by 34 former students who graduated this past summer. These students are receiving a free and enhanced GradClub service thanks to the Economic Challenge Investment Fund from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

The students' views

"The Graduate Summer School gave me answers to questions I wouldn't have thought to ask. It was as useful for making me think of new ways to impress employers as it was for giving me advice on the traditional approaches…It was also really helpful to chat to people who were on graduate schemes and get their advice."
Robert, BA European Social and Political Studies

"What I personally found valuable was the chance to talk through the 'code of conduct' at careers fairs: we were given useful tips for networking with prospective employers which may significantly enhance our chances of getting that elusive graduate job."
Alena, LLM

"I learned how to create a CV that would better showcase my skills and experience and capture employers' attention, as well as how to formulate cutting edge applications."
Ayomi, MA Comparative Business Economics

The industry perspective

"This event and the overall support UCL are giving to recent graduates/current students is very beneficial and provides them with a head start before the market goes live. The advice and expertise given by UCL staff was very relevant and covered the main aspects of graduate recruitmen. The additional feature of a panel of graduates who have been there, done it and are now employed on graduate schemes was key as it is something UCL students can relate to and the opportunity to then have a chat over lunch with them plus HR staff was invaluable."
Mohit Malik, Graduate Consultant, Transport for London

"Running a summer graduate school for UCL students is a brilliant idea. This is an opportunity for them to learn more about how graduate programs work and for us to meet them and tell them what we are looking for. We will definitely be part of it again next year and we strongly encourage students to take part in those kinds of event as it will help them to improve the quality of their application."
My Anh Nguyen, Procter and Gamble

"The summer event was well organised and it was great to meet such enthusiastic students and to be able to provide them with an insight into the opportunities at Grant Thornton. The students were asking informed and knowledgeable questions specific to an accountancy career. It was a good opportunity to meet at UCL which is local to the Euston office and build relationships with the students.  The summer school event is really focused on building knowledge and skills to aid the students."
Richard Herbert, Audit Trainee, Grant Thornton

A further summer school was held for 40 returning students, who will be preparing to apply for graduate schemes during their final year.

To find out more about the full range of support UCL Careers Service offers, follow the link at the top of this item.

 

UCL Context

In April 2009, UCL announced an unprecedented £3.8million package of activity designed to prepare UCL students for entry into the difficult employment market this year, and to support London businesses during the economic downturn. HEFCE provided £500,000 of finance for these activities, which include additional investment in UCL's Careers Service to ensure graduates have access to professional careers support for at least one year following graduation.

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