Spanning a range of sectors from banking, tech and law through to government, medicine and policing, organisations participating in Early Career Immersion Week 2020 include NatWest Group, KPMG, Gate One, BT Group, Facebook, Trowers & Hamlins LLP, the British Sikh Doctors Organisation, the UK Civil Service and the Metropolitan Police.
The week-long virtual event, which will kick-off on 19 October, will give a ‘warts-and-all’ view of working in each sector, with organisations providing the kind of deep immersion that isn’t always available at traditional career fairs, including mock interviews, assessments and role plays. The session will also provide insight into what graduate schemes are available, how to make a strong application and what career trajectories look like. Students will also hear from recent graduates and apprentices who talk through their journeys so far.
The event is aimed primarily at BAME students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, however other students who would benefit from the support are welcome to attend.
Amrit Bahia, event organiser and Director at NatWest Group, said: “Having done this for the last couple of years, it is clear to us that students aren’t always aware of the various opportunities and schemes that exist out there.
“Many end up making the wrong decision or getting left behind because they haven’t had the benefit of support that may be available to others – a socioeconomic issue that is more prevalent in BAME communities. They are not confident pitching themselves and don’t realise that large organisations such as banks have a lot of departments where you don’t need a finance-related degree.”
In previous years the career immersion event took place over one evening in London, and students were limited by the number of rotations they could do. This year, the event will be spread over the course of a week starting from 19 October and will be presented virtually using Zoom.
