ECS alumni advise students on 'Winning the Job you Want'!

ECS alumnus Matt Hobbs was one of five graduates who provided advice and support to ECS students at the first of our new series of Careers Conferences.

The event – ‘Winning the Job you Want: What you need to know about applications, interviews, and corporate culture’, featured leading recruiters Raeeka Yassaie of Imagination Technologies and Sally Cranstone of Lockheed Martin, as well as ECS alumni Matt Hobbs, Simon Kampa, Mike Austin, Carly Wilson and Philip Whittlesea.

Matt, who graduated MEng Electrical Engineering in 2004, has been working for BP for seven years and is one of the Lead Electrical Engineers on a project in Azerbaijan. Matt provided advice on shaping up to competency questions and on assessment centres.

Simon Kampa did both his undergraduate and PhD degrees in Computer Science at ECS, which he joined in 1995. He is now Managing Director of Critical Software Technologies which is based at the University Science Park. Simon spoke on the value of PhD research.

Mike Austin, who did Electronics at ECS and graduated in the 1980s, provided ‘Three reasons not to join a start-up’ – despite the fact that he has recently founded his fourth start-up, Triggered Messaging, which provides digital marketing technology, and is based at the University Science Park.

Recent graduates Carly Wilson (MEng Computer Science 2011), and Philip Whittlesea (MEng Computer Science 2012), tackled ‘What I wish I’d known before I started work’. Carly works for PA Consulting, and Philip joined Snowflake Software in Southampton on graduation.

The event was intended to ensure that our students are best prepared for the application and interview process, for both summer internships and graduate jobs. It was the first event of its kind in ECS and we will be building on its success in the future. Other events are currently taking place to provide information to MSc students on CV preparation, international student visas, and preparing for the Careers Fairs.

The ECS Engineering and Technology Careers Fair takes place on 12 February 2013 and over 50 companies are already booked to attend, with many ECS alumni likely to be on the stands. Places at the Fair can be booked through Joyce Lewis.