Year 2: Applying for

Internships & Work

Experience

Helen Vaughan
Placement & Internship Adviser
h.vaughan@imperial.ac.uk


Session aims
This session will cover information to improve your ability to:

Research employers and opportunities
Understand what employers / recruiters are looking for
Know your selling points
Realise what makes a stand out CV
Excel at cover letters and applications
Tailor your applications to specific employers and opportunities
Action plan for the next steps you need to take
Why start preparing so early?
Company Deadline
PwC Actuarial 30 October 2014
GCHQ (Mathematician Student Scheme) 9 November 2014
Oliver Wyman 10 November 2014
AWE Materials Science 27 November 2014
JP Morgan 30 November 2014
Bank of America Merrill Lynch 4 December 2014
EDF Trading 24 December 2014
UBS 31 December 2014
Shell 31 January 2015
PwC Assurance Tax / Consulting 27 March 2015
Before you get started
C
A
R
Clarity
Awareness
Responsibility
Doing your research and networking
Build
Contacts
Interact
Gain
Insight
LinkedIn
Imperial Alumni
Events on
campus
Online groups
Professional
bodies
Proactively
network
Build
relationships
Prepare
questions
Political
Economic
Social
Technological
Legal
Environmental
Finding opportunities
Company websites and social media
Events on campus
Job boards and professional publications
Sector guides
JobsLive (www.imperial.targetconnect.net)
Proactive / speculative search

Many opportunities are unadvertised
More formally advertised internship opportunities for penultimate years
Research companies to contact directly
Build your profile on LinkedIn
Take note of the following when applying speculatively:
Find a
specific
contact
Know where
you could fit
into the
business
Direct &
tailor your
app to that
function/
department
Research
company
show match
& motivation
Evidence!
How could
you benefit
them
Make your
availability
clear
Keep track
of
applications
Making speculative applications
A 10 week programme in London and Glasgow runs from early/mid-June through early September. The internship provides
a real-world, project based experience that will demonstrate first-hand what it's like to be a technologist for a top financial
firm. Summer Analysts who excel may receive an offer to join the Full-Time Technology Training Programme. Based on
their skills, Analysts will be matched to available projects within a Development or Infrastructure team:
Responsibilities:
Development Teams: our development teams design, develop and maintain applications used by our business units.
Daily activities include meeting with clients to gather and analyse requirements. They make system design decisions,
evaluating, integrating, and developing necessary software, and then test and deploy applications to production.
Developing high-performing, low-latency electronic trading systems, and evolving complex workflows and life-cycle
management capabilities are just some of the projects available for developers.
Infrastructure Teams: our infrastructure-facing teams develop cutting-edge systems to run our business. Our engineers
provide tools, applications and platforms such as the Firm's networks, computing hardware, operating systems and
databases for the Firm's trading applications, mobile applications and other end-user applications. They also engineer
the Firm's websites, manage the Windows plant, and develop client reporting delivery systems.
Qualifications/skills/requirements
currently pursuing an undergraduate degree or graduate degree in Computer Science, Computer of Electrical
Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or a related technology/science/engineering discipline.
outstanding academic achievements, and are on track for a 2.1 honours (United Kingdom).
familiar with the foundations of at least one programming language: e.g. Java, C++ or C#.
a good understanding of operating systems (Windows or Unix), data structures, databases and algorithms.
excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
excellent communicator and team player.
fluent in English and you demonstrate interest in technology.

Providing evidence
Competency Example
Communication Giving talks to prospective students as a
college/department representative
Teamwork Running an investment banking event for the
student finance society
Analytical Analysing a companies to invest in for a fantasy
stock portfolio
Problem solving Devising a programming solution to a technical
problem as a project assignment
Organisation Creating a schedule for mathematics tutoring
Creativity/innovation Creating new marketing to recruit members for the
Malaysian society
Adaptability Succeeding in the UK education system
Commercial awareness Coming up with a new idea for managing stock in
the shop where you work
What a CV / application shouldnt be
Generic
Unclear purpose / intent
Unplanned / rushed
Disorganised / Illogical


What a CV / application should be
Targeted to an organisation / department
Allow you to stand out / be achievement orientated
Show motivation and match for the opportunity
Demonstrate understanding of the role and organisation
Get you to interview / assessment stage

Writing your CV
Clear layout to highlight most relevant experience
Logical and easy to follow structure
Use of bold and bullet points to focus on key points
Consistent font throughout

Action verbs at the start of bullet points
Check spelling and grammar UK not US spelling
Be concise

Give evidence and examples
Include results, achievements and quantifiers for impact
Avoid jargon

Visual
Impact

Language

Content
Writing your cover letter
Key paragraphs:
Why you are writing
Why you
Why the company
Why the role
Summary closing paragraph

Page 17
Teamwork
Analytical &
Programmin
g Skills
Why this
job
Summary
of
suitability
Why this
company
Leadershi
p
Showing your motivation
I was really attracted to working at Credit Suisse not only because of the
opportunity to discover a new world with one of the leading global
investment bank, but also because of its excellent reputation and
recognition in the finance industry.
I was particularly attracted to the culture at Morgan Stanley for two
reasons. Firstly, from speaking to graduates at a skills workshop at
Imperial College, I learnt about the level of support with regards to
career development within the business. Specifically I liked the
opportunities to meet people across the business through the diversity
networks. Also, I was really interested in reading about Morgan
Stanleys Foundations, particularly the Global Health Alliance and the
opportunity to do outreach work as an employee of the firm. Having
volunteered at several charities, including Oxfam, raising funds for
childrens health projects around the world, I would like to work for an
organisation that has a similar commitment to making a difference.
Ask yourself if you understand:
What you will be doing day-to-day?
What you will be doing in the first six months/ first year / first few years
in the role?
How your career will progress and what training or experience will
enable this to happen?
What skills, qualities and experience you have that make you well
suited to the role?
What the organisation does (products, services) and who their clients
are?
Who their competitors are?
What differentiates them from their competitors?
The culture of the organisation?
Challenges they face and trends in the sector as a whole?
What, if any, action they are taking as a result?

Application Forms
Why do employers use them?
Easily screened as they are in standard format
Questions are relevant to that employer
Can deter casual applicants
Can test written communication
See how interested you are in the opportunity / company, what
research youve done
Competency-based

Creating STAR examples
S
T
A
R
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Steps to making an application
Save a copy
Read case studies on role
Prepare skills examples
Prepare motivation
Think career aspirations
Research the company


Read the instructions
Check closing dates
Draft answers
Save work regularly
Check with Careers
Save a copy of form
Check form with Careers
Proof read
Submit online
Before starting While completing Prior to sending
Some example questions
Describe a recent development in the banking industry. What
implications might this development have for the division to
which you have applied? (300 word maximum) (Barclays)

From the research that you have done on our industry, how
does Barclays differentiate itself from our competitors?
(300 word maximum)

Please explain your motivation for applying to J.P. Morgan and
more specifically for an Internship in Investment Banking
(200 words)



Please describe a recent task or project where you have shown
personal accountability and used initiative to exceed
expectations (JPM).


Describe the strengths you possess that would contribute
towards you being successful in the role and business you are
applying to. Please identify valuable skills, experience and
attributes that would support your application.
(JPM 150 words)

Dont forget the STAR technique when answering these!
Some common mistakes
Situation Situation Situation
Too detailed on situation; summarise this quickly
Not explaining the HOW
Focus on the actions you took, the skills you used
The royal we
Avoid lengthy sentences which describe what the group did; focus on your role
Indirect language
When I won the elections for the president of the waffling on society we held an event to
recruit new member
When President of the Waffling Society I organised a new members recruiting event
Not answering the question
Focus on the skill theyve asked for; example should relate to question
Internships and Student Visas
20 hours per week during term time
40 hours per week out of official term time
Check with International Office
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/international/
Action planning
Consider career options and make decisions
Research relevant opportunities within your sector of interest
Find out closing dates for application for this year and next
years schemes
Draft & perfect CV, application and applications
Get these proofread / checked
Make your application in a timely manner
How the Careers Service can help
Department Drop-Ins Monday 12 1pm, MLC 2

In Careers Centre
20 minute consultations
Afternoon seminars, daily
5 min CV checks
Recruiter in Residence
Employer-led skills workshops
Lunchtime talks
Employer presentations


Upcoming Events
Maths Career Speed Dating this Thursday evening! (23 October)
ICU Careers Fair Today
Engineering Careers Fair 23 October
Consulting Forum 30 October
Science Forum 6 November
IT& Technology Fair 13 October
Manufacturing Forum 20 November
Charities & NFP Forum 27 November
Science Careers Fair 29 January
Internship Fair 19 February
Any Questions?
Thank you!
Helen Vaughan
h.vaughan@imperial.ac.uk


Visit the Careers Service:
Mon Fri:10.00 17.15
020 7594 8024 Level 5, Sherfield Building
Book most appointments on JobsLive