Human Resources/Personnel Manager
Entry to the profession is by several routes partly dependent on your specific degree:-a general graduate training scheme where you move in to HR after placements in various departments, a pre entry post graduate qualification in HR management, a specific HR graduate scheme or general work in an HR department which leads to the opportunity for management training. Entry is competitive so relevant work experience or a placement will be valuable. In addition, any roles which demonstrate good interpersonal skills, integrity, negotiating skills, organising ability and business awareness will be of benefit. You will need to study for the CIPD while working so check with any potential employer what provision they make.
Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development – CIPD (www.cipd.co.uk)
People Management (fortnightly magazine) www.peoplemanagement.co.uk
www.personneltoday.com
The Personnel Manager’s Yearbook (annual) www.apinfo.co.uk/pmy/
Banker
Most vacancies are in the clearing banks. No post graduate qualification is required but work experience is desirable. You will need to show a good academic record and leadership, analytical and creative thinking skills. Competition for graduate schemes is strong. On the job training will be supplemented by professional exams arranged by the Institute of Financial Services (IFS). The skills and qualifications are highly transferable to all areas of banking such as investments or personal financial advising.
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/FinancialSB
Bank of England (www.bankofengland.co.uk)
Financial Times (www.ft.com)
The Economist (www.economist.com)
Financial Services Skills Council (www.fssc.org.uk)
Institute of Financial Services (www.ifslearning.com)
Retail Manager
The job’s main focus is to improve performance by increasing profits and turnover. It involves wide ranging areas of HR, logistics, finance, marketing, advertising and customer service. Many of the big companies’ graduate schemes have closing dates early in the academic year. It is worthwhile sending targeted speculative applications to smaller organisations.
The Appointment (www.theappointment.co.uk)
The Grocer (www.grocerjobs.co.uk)
www.retailcareers.co.uk
www.retail-week.com
www.inretail.co.uk
www.retailhumanresources.com
Accountant
You enter the profession as a graduate trainee but to qualify as an accountant you will need to study for the professional examinations. All prospective accountancy trainees must be aware of the demands of studying while working potentially long hours. Your management degree from LUBS might give you some exemptions from parts of the exams but this depends on which modules you chose to do. There are four types of accountancy qualifications – chartered accountant (ACA), chartered certified accountant (ACCA), chartered management accountant (CIMA) and chartered public finance accountant (CIPFA).Spend time researching before you choose the sort of career and qualification you want to aim for. There are a wide range of companies, local or national or international, who offer varied and excellent training packages. Think carefully whether you want to work for one of the blue-chip organisations, public or private sector, a medium sized company or a smaller firm which might serve a niche clientele.
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/AccountancySB
www.accountancyagejobs.com
www.students.efinancialcareers.co.uk
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) www.accaglobal.com
www.accaglobal.com/theview for an up to date list of training schemes
Association of Practising Accountants (small and medium sized firms) www.apa-uk.co.uk
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) www.cimaglobal.com
www.cimaglobal.com/opportunities2 for latest training vacancies
Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) www.cipfa.org.uk
www.cipfa.org.uk/students/prospective/vacancies.cfm (up to date training opportunities)
Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) www.icaew.co.uk
Civil Service Fast Stream
This is an accelerated development programme for high calibre graduates. It takes two years and crosses a range of over 170 government departments and agencies preparing you for a career at a senior level of responsibility. Competition is fierce and you need to show competencies such as initiative, self reliance, commercial and political awareness, team work and analytical skills. There are opportunities for undergraduate placements and visits. The ratio of successful applications is 1:40 but you can re apply. Applications are on line and the recruitment starts early in the academic year.
www.faststream.gov.uk
www.careers.civil-service.gov.uk
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/GovernmentSB
www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Health Service Manager
The NHS is the largest employer in Europe and their management training scheme is 6th in Times Top 100 graduate employers. There are 3 schemes available – human resources (2 years), financial management (3 years) and general management (2 years). There are also schemes available in the private sector. The management role is to control and monitor the cost, delivery and quality of health care services. Recruitment starts early in the academic year and is very competitive. Strong personal and academic qualities are required.
www.futureleaders.nhs.uk/
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
www.bupa.co.uk/jobs/asp/graduate_recruitment
www.bmihealthcare.co.uk Britain’s largest independent healthcare provider
Health Service Journal (www.hsj.co.uk
Public Sector Recruitment Weekly (www.opportunities.co.uk)
Recruitment Consultant
The roles are demanding and diverse as a recruitment consultant has to have good sales and marketing skills to attract client companies as well as excellent interpersonal and business skills to find suitable candidates for their vacancies. The job is demanding and can be stressful as it is sales and target led. Potential candidates need to be confident, ambitious, goal orientated, and able to cope with decision making and responsibility. There are no formal qualifications but initial induction and skills courses will be intensive. It is a growing industry and has over 100,000 employees.
Recruitment & Employment Confederation – REC (www.rec.uk.com
www.careersinrecruitment.com
www.lifeinrecruitment.co.uk
www.yesrec2rec.co.uk/vacancies.asp
www.listenrecruitment.com
Management Consultant
An organisation brings in management consultants when change is needed. Their role is to assess the business and how it is run then make suggestions to improve productivity, competitiveness or business performance. You will need to show skills such as resourcefulness, confidence, business awareness and the ability to see the bigger picture. There is a wide range of management consultancy companies, many of the smaller ones specialising in a niche market such as charities or transport. Most firms offer new trainees an excellent salary package but expect you to show commitment and work long hours to tight dead lines. New graduates will spend probably 2 years as an analyst before taking qualifications such as CIPD, CMC or an MBA supported by the firm.
Institute of Business Consulting (www.ibconsulting.org.uk)
Management Consultancies Association (www.mca.org.uk)
www.mindbench.com
www.managementconsultancy.co.uk
Top Consultant (www.top-consultant.com)
Local Government Administrator
Most local councils participate in government led training schemes. The National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) is a 2 year graduate training scheme. Entrants apply to a particular local authority and build experience by moving across departments. A 2:1 degree is required. Suggested work experience would be admin, IT or clerical.
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/GovernmentSB
National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) www.ngdp.co.uk
www.lgcareers.com
Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators (www.icsa.org.uk)
www.lga.gov.uk
Institute of Administrative Managers (www.instam.org)
Marketing Executive
Marketing is one of the most popular choices of graduate careers. All organisations – public and private, small and large, commercial or not for profit, need marketing expertise. The job roles vary depending on whether there is a product or a service to sell, or whether it is awareness of an issue. There are also career opportunities available in marketing agencies that plan strategies and campaigns for clients who have no marketing department of their own or who need some extra marketing support. Work experience is very important and it is possible to do a marketing postgraduate course.
Chartered Institute of Marketing – CIM (www.cim.co.uk)
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/advertisingsb
www.brandrepublic.com/marketing
