Graduate Case Studies - George Idicula - Real World Diversity - Ethnic Minorities - Ernst & Young
George Idicula, 24, graduated with a Masters in information systems engineering from Imperial College, London. He was born in Sokoto, Nigeria, before moving to the UK to attend secondary school. He works in corporate finance for Ernst & Young.
What's your background?
I attended Bradfield College boarding school near Reading before I went on to further education at Imperial College in London. I knew I wanted to work in a dynamic and exciting industry, with access to a range of countries, people, projects and experiences. After speaking with one of my tutors, who worked at Ernst & Young, I realised that a position on its business advisory programme could give me all that and more.
The programme promised intense vocational training and development as well as personal development.
How did you handle your job hunt?
After realising I wanted to apply to Ernst & Young, I researched the company and the job
opportunities that were available there. I actually found out about the company's business advisory programme while I was on a summer school course looking at finance and management accounting at the London School of Economics. I then went on to complete the on-line application and got through the interview process before I found out I had been successful. I now work in the transaction advisory services department and I'm studying for my chartered accountancy exams.
Did you face any barriers?
No. To be honest, I think it helped me and I feel that, nowadays, a diverse background can only be a benefit. So many companies have international operations and corporates are constantly looking to acquire overseas staff. Employees with diverse backgrounds are becoming more and more beneficial in terms of understanding cultures, which is a key aspect of any deal.
Any tips for fellow graduates?
Start applying early, and set aside some time to churn out the many applications you will have to fill out. Identify your top jobs, the ones you feel you'd love and enjoy the most, and then spend a fair amount of time getting those applications absolutely perfect. Once they are done, focus on other jobs you'd enjoy, these will take less time and you'll find you can
pick bits from your first applications. Before going to interviews, try to speak to someone in the know about the job and company you're looking at - the problem will be finding that someone. Finally, don't be afraid to ask about the culture of the company; it can be vital to ascertain how well you will fit in there.
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