Wondering what the Discover Careers in… series is all about? Well, to be frank, it’s about what YOU want it to be. The series was created to give you an opportunity to gain insight into careers in different sectors, directly from industry professionals and recent graduates. The speakers all share the story of how they ended up where they are today, and, more importantly, YOU get to ask the questions you’re dying to have answered!
What better way to get the juice on a potential career path?
Our recent DCI… session on Risk had a panel made up of four industry professionals with a range of backgrounds and experience, and some were King’s alumni:
- Rob Walker, Head of Information for the Security Assistance department of International SOS and Control Risks
- Scott Broughton, Regester Larkin by Deloitte
- Joe Frederick, Head of Geopolitical Intelligence at Anvil Group International
- Faraz Nasir, Head of Intelligence & Advisory Services at G4S Risk Consulting
There was also the opportunity to have hear from and speak with three recent graduates, who shared the story of how they transitioned from university to a life in the industry, and how they gained the relevant industry experience whilst at university.
If you feel like you missed out, there’s no need to worry! Here are a few takeaways from the event.
- The industry is incredibly competitive! Follow the advice from recent graduates and make the most out of your time at King’s. Having an internship or part-time job to gain relevant industry experience is likely time-consuming next to your studies, but if you can manage to juggle both; do it! Another tip from the recent graduates is to make contact with people in the industry. A graduate from King’s told us all about how he himself got an internship from networking with professionals at a King’s C&E panel event!
- Be persistent! Much like the last point we made but important enough to mention it twice. One of the graduates shared with us – and this by no means was an exaggeration – that she had sent out around 50 applications before ending up in her current position! She also advised us not to be afraid to bring “something else to the table”. Experience that might not seem relevant to you, might just be that something that will spice up your CV in the eyes of a potential employer!
- Find the right fit for you! After a student in the audience asked the panelists about the pros and cons of working in a large versus a small company in the Risk industry, one of the panelists had a clear message: Have a chat with someone from both types of company before you make the important decision about where you will thrive. While a large company often is more resilient, a smaller one might allow you to wear more than one “hat”.
- And, of course, it all depends on the job… While one panelists said having an extra language was a serious advantage, another said it was not as critical in his position. What they all could agree on, however, was that being diligent and passionate is key! Oh, and FYI, the companies all had some sort of entry-level recruitment or graduate scheme. Make sure to check that out!
Still wondering how to make the most out of a DCI… panel event?
Here’s one tip for you; come prepared! If you understand the basics of the industry the DCI… event and have a few questions prepared beforehand, you’ll be able to engage with the panelists or graduates during and after the presentations, and… you might come out feeling better suited to crack on with those job applications.
Finally, if you’re thinking about getting an internship or you’re in the process of applying for a job, these upcoming events might be of interest to you:
SSPP: Getting an Internship
Date: 27 November 2017, 18:00-19:30
Location: Strand: K6.29 (Anatomy Lecture Theatre)
Future Advantage: Interviews
Date: 30 November 2017, 12:00-13:00
Location: Waterloo: FWB 1.16
Assessment Series: Practice Assessment Centre with the Civil Service
Date: 6 December 2017, 12:00-14:00
Location: Strand: S0.03
Be sure to follow our KEATS pages if you’d like to check out the lecture capture of Discover Careers in Risk or any other DCI event you may have missed this semester.
Written by Silje Undlien, Third Year War Studies undergraduate at King’s College London & Marketing Assistant at King’s Careers & Employability.