Insider profil
Keen to receive questions about
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!
Career path
Careers Lead
First Central
From 10/2021 to 11/2024project support officer
Self employed
From 09/2020 to 09/2021Administration Coordinator (for CAMHS Academic Programme)
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
From 07/2020 to 09/2021Company
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).
Marco D
Operational Excellence Deployment Manager
Top Insider Advice
I am a strong believer that opportunities are there for people if they have the work ethic and desire to seek them out. Having not gone to university, I chose to get my foot in the door of a company and seek out opportunities for careers once I was there. My advice is to research various roles within a company and find a few that interest you. Reach out to colleagues who do that role and find out what skills and experience are required and put yourself forward for opportunities to stretch yourself. Additionally, look for colleagues who are in senior roles and present themselves in a way that aligns with your values and ask them for advice!
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.
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.
