Young Co-operators: Our Young Grads

Reece Leel, Diversity & Inclusion Partner

JUST APPLY – they say “if you are applying for a job that you can do EVERYTHING for, you are applying to the wrong job” and I think this holds true in any developmental role. Ideally, you want to apply for a job that you will be learning new skills, characteristics and behaviours, so actually a job description that looks a little scary can also be the perfect one for you – don’t feel out of your depth, just apply! Having an interview, even an unsuccessful one, is progressive experience!

It’s never too early or too late - No matter what age or level you are, what qualifications you have, and what your current job role is. You can always learn something new and/or learn new skills, which can contribute towards a future job role that you wish to apply for. There is no limit on what age you can start learning skills towards your future career.

Utilise - “The best things in life are free”. A lot of the time, people think that going to university and gaining additional higher education qualifications guarantee you a good job. Whilst it is true that higher education can open a lot of doors of opportunity, there is no guarantee of a good job. Conversely, just because someone does not have higher education qualifications, it does not mean they will be rubbish at a job.

There are endless amounts of FREE resources out there right under our noses, my biggest resource is YouTube, where I learn anything from excel spreadsheet formulas to computer coding to news updates. Keeping your knowledge and learning constantly at a point of growth, whilst using free resources to do so, is great, and keeps you highly employable without any cost other than time and commitment. 

Shani Knight-Cross, Procurement Manager

Be prepared – Be ready to showcase your skills and what you can bring to Midcounties, think about how our DOES values align with your own beliefs and what examples do you have to demonstrate these? Knowing what the application process looks like will also help to ease any nerves you might have so don’t hesitate to contact Midcounties to ask any questions about the format, interviews, locations etc so you can be confident in what’s expected of you.

Be bold – A mentor once told me when I felt out of my comfort zone that it was good to feel that way and will build character, and she was certainly right! Some of the best moments in my career have stemmed from pushing myself that little but further than I thought I could. The application process itself is a really good opportunity to expose yourself to colleagues, interviews, assessments and you’ll learn a lot along the way. Don’t be afraid to be courageous and take the first step forward in applying.  

Be yourself – The most important advice of all. Be true to your authentic self, regardless of any pressure to act otherwise. In my own experience, I was concerned that my skills wouldn’t shine through as I had a more introverted style than other candidates. I was tempted to act very differently than I usually would to be heard in a group task, but I found a way of using my individuality to my benefit and helped the group to solve the problem we were set. Be proud of who you are and show the value you can personally add. 

Callum Dunne, Digital Content Co-ordinator

Experience

Going from university and straight into work can be daunting, and employers know this too. The more experience you can get the better, as this shows that you have developed your interpersonal skills, worked in a professional environment and most importantly that you are willing to work. This experience doesn’t necessarily need to be in the field you’re applying for (although it helps), it could be bar/restaurant work, admin roles or even volunteering!

Be Yourself

When applying for a grad scheme it’s easy to get overly focussed on who your potential employer wants you to be, however what makes you stand out from the rest is you and your personality. You of course need to be professional and polite, but don’t forget to let your own personality shine.

Persistence

I know from personal experience how tough it can be for applying for grad schemes, after having numerous applications declined, going to assessment centres with 20-30 other people and walking away empty handed. On reflection, I see all of these experiences as a positive (even if it didn’t feel that way at the time) because these experiences will teach you what went well and what didn’t and help you to develop and ultimately help you land the grad scheme you’ve been searching for!