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‘More than just a degree: Improving
employability and commercial
awareness’
Gemma Minish
Company overview
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A global engineering and
technology company
working with clients in:
Defence
Security
Transportation
Aerospace
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About me
Graduate Development and Placement Programmes
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130
UK Graduate roles
 90 Engineering
 35 Business and 5 Finance
 35 internships and Industrial placements
Engineering Stream
 Various vacancies in Software, Systems, Cyber Security, Hardware, Electrical
and Electronic, Test and Integration, Microwave, Antenna, Electro- Optics, R&D.
Business and Finance Stream
 Three 9 Month Placements in different areas of the business
Interns and Placement Programme
 Various Engineering placements across our UK sites
 Available to all years.
 Penultimate years are eligible for a graduate role automatically
Aims and objectives
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Share best practice & ideas
How can students improve their
employability?
Insight into applications and
commercial awareness
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Employability
How can students improve
their employability?
Employability
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 Part time work experience
 Charity work
 Societies
 Internships
 Sports clubs
 Attending skills sessions
 Careers fairs
 Careers service
 Employer talks/site visits
 Research & Google alerts
 Learning and understanding
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Commercial awareness
Insight into applications
and commercial
awareness
Why do employers use applications?
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 First stage sort & ‘killer questions’
 Demonstrate skills or ‘competencies’
 Compare candidate to the competencies
required
 Ensure consistency in the process e.g. all
candidates are asked the same question.
Myth! Most employers do not use
a computer to screen applications.
Corporate Communications December 2010
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Example: What has attracted you to this opportunity?
What has attracted you to this opportunity at Thales?
‘Thales is a huge international company which has lots of different
project using different technologies. I would love to work for such
an innovative and forward thinking company that touches people’s
lives everyday. I have researched the company and there are lots
of interesting projects that I would like to be involved in. I am very
keen to develop my skills and I believe that Thales would support
me in doing this. I have been interested in Engineering since a
very young age and so I was instantly attracted to this role. I have
been studying computer science and I would like the opportunity to
put my coding skills into practice. I believe that their would be
plenty of opportunities for growth for graduates in such a customer
focussed company.’
What rating would you give the example??
Corporate Communications December 2010
Application questions- rating scale used at Thales
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1= Fails to meet the requirements
2= Fails to meet the requirements,
needs some improvement
3= meets the requirement, some
areas for improvement
4= meets the requirements
5= Exceeds the requirements
Corporate Communications December 2010
Practical Exercise
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 Think about what is good about the example
 Think about what is bad about the example
 E.g. anything missing? Spelling & Grammar.
 Is there anything that could be improved?
Corporate Communications December 2010
Practical Exercise
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How would we rate this example?
This example would
not pass!
Corporate Communications December 2010
2
Example: Positives/Negatives and Improvements
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Negatives/Improvements
 The answer is generic and doesn’t mention anything that is
specific to Thales. The example could have been written about
any large engineering firm
 If the candidate has researched the company then they should
be able to name and specify the projects of interest.
 What has led the candidate to believe that Thales is interested in
developing them? They could mention our GDP or our values.
 Spelling and grammatical mistakes
Positives/Improvements
 The candidate has mentioned their interests and refers to the
role they are applying to, however this could be elaborated on.
Corporate Communications December 2010
What should students include?
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Ensure the answer is specific to the company they are
applying to. Give specific examples
What interests you about the company in particular?
What interests you about the role you are applying to?
If applying to a Graduate Development Programme then
mention this.
If you are applying for an internship talk about the benefits
of doing this.
Mention how skills/experience relate to the role.
Check spelling and grammar.
Corporate Communications December 2010
Commercial awareness
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Can mean many things….
 Companies products, customers, competitors
 How the company is performing in the current
economic climate
 Understanding industry trends and how this may
affect the company
 Ability to use information when making decisions
 See the bigger picture of the organisation, understand
how departments work together and how you as an
individual impact on the company’s growth.
Personal Brand and behaviours
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Commercial awareness- personal brand & behaviours
Personal Brand and behaviours
 Showing respect to your colleagues
 Putting yourself out there- do more than just your job
description!
 Finding information for yourself
 Professional behaviour at all times
 See everything as an opportunity to develop
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Commercial awareness
How can employers and
universities help
students to improve their
commercial awareness?
Questions
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Thank you &
Questions…