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Top Insider Advice

If you’re applying for an Early Careers role such as a Graduate or Apprentice scheme, hiring managers won’t expect you to have a whole host of work experience to draw upon. They will, however, be looking to understand what kind of person you are, what skills you have, and what makes you tick! So don’t be afraid to talk about the sports team you play for or manage at the weekend, the examinations you’ve racked up for playing a musical instrument, your involvement in a community group or your passion for learning foreign languages!

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Career path

Careers Lead

First Central

From 10/2021 to 11/2024

project support officer

First Central

From 09/2020 to 09/2021

Administration Coordinator (for CAMHS Academic Programme)

First Central

From 07/2020 to 09/2021

Company

What do you like about your job and the company?

It’s so rewarding when we match an ambitious person just starting out on their chosen career with a role that will let them make real inroads into where they want to get to... particularly when the role is aligned with a structured development programme where they’ll gain industry-recognised professional qualifications along the way.

Greatest achievements

Since I joined First Central in October 2021, I’ve worked with business leaders to continue the great Early Careers work that was already going on. I’m also delighted to have introduced new Graduate or Apprenticeship roles to several teams that weren’t previously offering any such opportunities (including Data & Analytics, Technical Support, Data Operations, Data Science, Procurement & Supplier Management, Legal, Risk and Compliance and Finance). I’ve also just agreed our first ever undergraduate sandwich placements for this year (in Underwriting and Claims & Fraud).

Other insiders

Adam W

Product Manager

Top Insider Advice

It sounds obvious, but sometimes it can be easy to perform the actions required for your role in a way that doesn’t best amplify your strengths. Be acutely aware of your own strengths and play to them, putting together a development plan for areas of improvement. I’d recommend developing your strengths too. Just because you’re naturally good at something doesn’t mean you should rest on your laurels. Have a mindset of wanting to move from the top 10% to top 1%. Always welcome feedback too whether it’s positive or constructive. Don’t take constructive feedback negatively, to be imperfect is to be human. We all have areas we can improve on.

Joe M

Leadership Development Business Partner

Top Insider Advice

My advice would be to grow and develop with the business and don’t box yourself in with one particular career route in mind as other career paths can open up.

Kerry D

Head of Home Underwriting

Top Insider Advice

Be open to change and grab opportunities that come your way to help you grow and develop yourself. Always have a growth mindset and don’t close down opportunities because you’re afraid that you can’t meet the challenge. Pushing yourself outside your usual skill set will help increase your confidence and show you what you’re capable of.

Discussions with Lauren M
What is the dress code?
in Career Tips·mercredi, mai 3, 2023
1 response
85 views
How much holiday will I get?
in Career Tips·mercredi, mai 3, 2023
Picture of Julia
2 responses
93 views
In what ways will my career progression be supported?
in Career progression·mardi, avril 25, 2023
Picture of Ali
2 responses
93 views
What is the work-life balance like in your role?
in Career Tips·jeudi, mars 23, 2023
Picture of Kerry
Picture of Marco
5 responses
191 views
Can you share a story where you supported a colleague's personal or professional growth?
in Career progression·vendredi, octobre 4, 2024
1 response
15 views