Tag: Employer Insight

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Careers programmes

Shape Your Future with Employer Insight Visits 

Employer Insight Visits (formerly Work Shadowing Week), give Queen’s students the opportunity to spend a day in participating organisations to get an insight into an organisation and sector and observe professionals in practice. 
 
Employer Insight Visits will take place from Monday 30 March – Thursday 02 April 2026. 
 
The objective of the visit is for you to gain important real life organisation insights into work and have the chance to engage in meaningful conversations and observations in a workplace setting. 
 
The day itself will involve but not be limited to, a facilities/site tour, opportunity to ask questions of the team, to include lunch and observe some work in action. Transport is provided to the Employers premises. 
 
Employers Taking Part in Employer Insight Visits 2026  

  • ALMAC 
  • ARUP 
  • Baker McKenzie 
  • Cooneen Group 
  • Foot Anstey McKees  
  • Funds Axis 
  • Henry Brothers 
  • Kukoon Rugs 
  • McQuillan Companies 
  • Oxford Instruments 
  • PwC Ireland 
  • RSM UK 
  • SAM Aerospace 
  • Sumer Accountants 
  • The Keystone Group  

Queen’s students can apply to take part in Employer Insight Visits via MyFuture where all these opportunities will be advertised until 06 March 2026. 

Find out more about the programme and apply: 
http://go.qub.ac.uk/employerinsightvisits 
 
Remember – applications will close on 06 March 2026 so get applying! 

This is what our students had to say about 2025’s Employer Insights Visits, (formerly Work Shadowing Week):

Kirstine Dela Torre, International Business with French Student at Queen’s University Belfast

“So grateful to have taken part in the Work Shadowing Week with Energia Group! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with open arms (and a goodie bag), and I got to spend the day with the Micro Energy – Renewables team. 
 
It was eye-opening to see how much technical detail and teamwork goes into making renewable energy solutions work in real life. Energia Group’s commitment to making a difference was evident in every conversation. 
 
A massive thank you to Careers, Employability and Skills at Queen’s University Belfast, Lynsey Foster and to wider Energia Group for making this experience so insightful and welcoming. As a student navigating the early stages of my career, this experience reminded me that the future of energy is bright – and it’s powered by people who care deeply about impact.”
 
Eoin Loughran, BSc Geography student, Queen’s University Belfast

“I had a fantastic experience attending a work shadowing day with Energia. A big thank you to the welcoming and knowledgeable team for sharing such valuable insights into the energy sector. 
 
It was especially rewarding to see firsthand how EVs and solar panel technologies are being implemented in real-world projects, bridging the gap between the theoretical knowledge I’ve gained during my undergraduate studies and its practical application. 
 
I’m very grateful to Careers Queen’s University Belfast and to Lynsey Foster for organising this opportunity.”

Nikita Jain, MSc Finance Student at Queen’s University Belfast

“I had the pleasure of attending a Work Shadowing Day at Sumer Northern Ireland, organised through Queen’s University Belfast. It was a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the firm’s operations and learn from such a welcoming and knowledgeable team. 
 
A big thank you to Lynsey Foster for guiding us through this experience, to Careers Queen’s University Belfast for providing such a valuable opportunity and to Shannon Savage for walking us through the day. Grateful to everyone at Sumer NI for hosting us and making the day so engaging!”

Krupali Thakur, MSc Artificial Intelligence, Queen’s University Belfast

“Had a fantastic day at BT Group, an experience that truly brought the world of work to life!

From exploring BT’s rich legacy and its broad ecosystem, including Openreach, EE, and Plusnet to hands-on tech sessions, it was a day full of inspiration and learning.”
  

Hitesh Gidwani, MSc Finance, Queen’s University Belfast

“Had the amazing opportunity to shadow professionals at PwC Belfast as part of Queen’s Work Shadowing Week 2025! 
I had the chance to explore PwC’s dynamic work culture, learn about account verification, auditing processes, and discover how their core values shape everyday operations. 
 
A big thank you to Lynsey Foster for leading this initiative and to the Careers Queen’s University Belfast for making it possible, and a huge thank you to PwC and PwC Ireland especially Rachel Kelly for graciously hosting us. 
 
The experience was packed with insightful conversations, a networking lunch with PwC professionals, and an exclusive office tour giving us a first-hand look into the day-to-day life at one of the Big Four.
 
Grateful for the exposure, inspiration, and connections made!”



Categories
Careers programmes

Stock Market Challenge 2026 Winners

stock-market-challenge-2026
stock-market-challenge-2026

Our popular Stock Market Challenge returned on 28 January 2026 to provide the opportunity for Queen’s students from any course background to gain real-world experience of analysing markets and making investments.

Stock Market Challenge is a fast-moving and exciting stock market simulation game called Finance Lab Pro owned by SolutionSim, who were our hosts for the evening at the Queen’s Computer Science Building.

Set in a fictitious world financial market this competitive game gives participants the opportunity to experience analysing the market and making investments.

The best part is you do not have to be studying a finance related subject or have any specialist knowledge of finance!

It’s a game of strategic thinking and pressured decision so the students got to demonstrate many of the skills necessary for business life, including, team-working, problem-solving and critical thinking.

Students taking part enjoyed some pizza and networking with the Employers also taking part on the night, with prizes including insight opportunities with the participating Employers. This Careers programme is also Future-Ready Award accredited through the Combined Route so students who took part can apply for this award before they graduate. 

We want to give our thanks to the Employers that took part, Deloitte, Kainos, First Derivative, Funds Axis and Grant Thornton and thanks also to our delivery partner Liam Barnes at SolutionSim, and to everyone who took part and made it the success that it was!

Congratulations to our Stock Market Challenge 2026 winner Cadhan Nelis, you played a great game! And congratulations also to the runners up and everyone who took part in the popular competition.

List of Stock Market Challenge 2026 Winners and Runners Up:

1st Place – Cadhan Nelis, Queen’s Computer Science ,with William Gordon from Deloitte.

2nd place – Diarmuid Lawell, Queen’s PPE, and Robin Smyth, Queen’s PPE,  with Hannah Flemming from Kainos.

3rd place – Kyan Cassidy, Queen’s Finance, and Oliver Billing, Queen’s Applied Maths – with Joanne Marron, Aoibhin McKinney from First Derivative.

4th place – Alex Dunne, Queen’s Aerospace Engineering and Colm Daly, Queen’s Aerospace Engineering – with Hannah McCloskey, Phoebe Callista from Funds Axis.

5th place -Yash Somaiya, Queen’s Aerospace Engineering, and Neha Hendre, Queen’s Business Management – with Conor Gallagher, Jason Smyth from Grant Thornton.

6th place – Rosaleen Grant, Queen’s Finance and Trading, and Harry Jackson, Queen’s English student.

Categories
Careers programmes

Students Tackle Real-World Problems Using Design Thinking

real-world consultancy programme

May 2024 saw the return of our interactive Real-World Consultancy Programme, with students  gaining  a different type of work experience by providing a consultancy service to real clients and working on a real challenge that those clients face.

The Queen’s University Belfast  students from different disciplines were  facilitated through a Design Thinking process to resolve the client’s problem with hosts Patricia Flanagan and Michaelle Dolan of Rejig.

The students applied the design thinking process, tools and mindset to live challenges provided by companies including, Aflac Northern Ireland, BDO Northern Ireland, Gig Grafter Limited, KPMG Ireland, The Phoenix Education Centre, and SureCert.

The busy and interactive programme ran over four days and provided a great opportunity for students to develop highly valued Design Thinking skills prior to them going on to take up a placement, internship or a graduate role.

A massive thank you to Patricia Flanagan and Michelle Dolan of Rejig for coming in to the host the programme, to our Careers Consultant Ludovica Piccinini for overseeing the programme, and to all the employer partners and our amazing students who took part, making this year’s programme a resounding success.

We are already looking forward to Real-World Consultancy 2025.

Below is some feedback from employers and students who participated on the programme.

Thanks to Ludovica Piccinini and Patricia Durkin for the invite to the Careers, Employability and Skills at Queen’s University Belfast Real World Consultancy Programme.

It was great to spend some time at Queen’s University Belfast this week with a team of highly talented students that attempted to resolve a KPMG Ireland business challenge focused on corporate citizenship.

Well done to all the participants and a special shout out to Michael, Majd, Lauren, Ruth and Muhammad for their efforts on our challenge this week (expertly stretched by Patricia Flanagan and Michelle Dolan as always!).

Paul Braden, KPMG, Ireland

Recently, I had the pleasure of taking part in the 2024 cohort of QUB’s Real World Consultancy Programme. This programme allowed me to work in teams with individuals from diverse disciplines with the end goal of providing consultancy services to real life clients.

My team was partnered up with Emma Shaw from Phoenix Education Centre. Emma alerted us to the challenges she was facing and gave us feedback and valuable guidance throughout the process. As a group we came up with innovative ideas to mitigate against these challenges and provided solutions and recommendations that could potentially be implemented by Emma.

Many thanks to Patricia Flanagan and Michelle Dolan for your valuable guidance throughout the program and enabling us to utilise our imagination to obtain useful solutions.

Amith Varghese, Queen’s University Belfast MSc International Business student

Recently, I took part in the Real-World Consultancy Program ran by Careers Queen’s University Belfast. My group got the chance to tackle a real-life problem presented to us by Aflac Northern Ireland; “How Might We Develop Future Tech Talent in NI.” Our group came up with innovative solutions after being introduced to a new way of thinking “Design Thinking” developed by Stanford University. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Deivydas Sakys, Shubham Soni & Akinyemi Folasewa and a huge thank you to Isabel Stacey & Jason Brennan from Aflac Northern Ireland who helped us throughout the week.

Paddy Latimer, Queen’s University Belfast, International Business with Spanish student

This immersive 4-day program equipped us with ”Design Thinking”, a problem-solving approach developed by Stanford University. Patricia Flanagan and Michelle Dolan guided us through the process.

The program was a series of incredibly interactive sessions with dozens of fun activities that fostered invaluable knowledge about design thinking. We learned the importance of stepping outside our comfort zones, fostering group creativity, and embracing empathy.

The program instilled valuable skills in storytelling, identifying key concepts like divergence and convergence, and the importance of inclusion. It also highlighted the power of reformation, building connections, and empathetic listening. Overall, this program provided an exceptional platform to apply our knowledge and prepare us for the professional world.

Riya Anandpara,  Queen’s University Belfast MSc Marketing student
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advice Career planning employability Employer Panels Graduate success

IoD Young Directors Forum with nijobfinder

Embarking on a career journey can be both exciting and daunting for university students. With the ever-evolving job market and increasing competition, it is crucial to gather insights from experienced professionals who have successfully navigated their own career paths. Recently, we had the privilege of hosting a panel discussion with industry experts, Gavin Annon, Claire Brannigan, Connor Diamond, and Steve Lazars, who shared valuable advice and personal anecdotes about their professional journeys.

Embrace Mistakes and Take Risks: Gavin Annon, Sales & Marketing Director at Mount Charles Group, emphasized the importance of making mistakes and taking risks. He encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones, as normal is no longer the norm in today’s competitive job market. Gavin stated, “Please do go make mistakes because nothing’s perfect…you’ve got to make those mistakes and take risks.” Embracing mistakes allows for growth and learning, ultimately helping individuals discover their true capabilities.

Define Your Own Path: Claire Brannigan, Founder of Skinakin Ltd, highlighted the significance of intentionality in shaping one’s career. She emphasized the need to be intentional about where you’re going and what your why is. Claire shared her own experience, stating, “It was only when I started to take a step back and say, ‘What do you want to do? What’s your interest? What are you good at?’…things started to change.” By aligning your career choices with your values, interests, and strengths, you can find fulfillment and success.

Develop a Diverse Skill Set: The panelists emphasized the importance of developing a diverse skill set. Steve Lazars, Director & Founder of Ethnic Minority Employment & Entrepreneurship Network, urged students to broaden their horizons and gain experience across different sectors. He shared, “Putting myself out there actually gave me certain tools, contacts, and understandings about bringing solutions to the product…find some innovative ways of finding solutions.” A diverse skill set enhances adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and brings added value to any role.

Focus on People Skills: While technical knowledge is important, the panelists stressed the significance of people skills in career growth. Claire Brannigan stated, “The things that will really help accelerate your career is the human side of your skill set…being able to communicate effectively, negotiate, and understand different cultural norms.” Developing strong interpersonal skills, such as effective communication and adaptability, can set individuals apart and open doors to new opportunities.

Embrace Curiosity and Continuous Learning: The experts highlighted the importance of curiosity and continuous learning. Connor Diamond, Head of Digital Insights & nijobfinder.co.uk at Mediahuis Ireland, encouraged students to continually set and review goals, both professional and personal. He emphasized the value of pursuing hobbies and interests outside of work, as they can bring joy and enrich one’s life. Steve Lazars added, “Stay curious, join the dots across different domains, bring value back…always be a detective and solve problems.” Embracing curiosity and a thirst for knowledge can lead to innovative thinking and contribute to career success.

Summary: The event provided invaluable insights for students navigating their career journeys. Panellists emphasised the importance of taking risks, finding the right environment, developing a diverse skill set, staying true to personal values, and fostering a positive attitude. These key takeaways will empower students to make informed decisions, adapt to a changing job market, and embark on fulfilling and successful careers. Remember, embrace mistakes, seize opportunities, and let your values guide you.

Find more careers advice here.

Categories
Business Careers programmes Employer Panels Employer Q&A Employers STEM

Student Testimonials: Women in Business: Women in Tech

Northern Ireland’s leading tech companies & organisations came together for the 6th Women in tech Conference.

This empowering event, sponsored by MCS Group gathered role models who innovate, challenge, and embrace technology. From inspirational women who have achieved great success within the sector, to influential entrepreneurs who shared their journey throughout the world of tech from both local and global perspectives.

The day was be filled with feature speakers and panellists, providing attendees with industry-focused learning and face to face access to a high calibre of education and development experts on the conference theme of The Climate of Change.

Hear from Folasewa

I was privileged to meet and listen to some accomplished and inspiring women at the Women in Business Tech conference at the Titanic Belfast. The journey started when I heard about and enrolled in a networking and career development event organized by my prestigious university; Queen’s University, Belfast.

This was a three-day event, and my key learnings for those three days were; organizations need you as much as you need them, putting yourself out there, how to pitch yourself within a short time, and finally, keeping the right network and always staying in touch with them. The conference exceeded my expectations as I enjoyed every part of it, most especially the session anchored by Dr. Niamh Shaw my major takeaway from her speech was nothing just happens, you have to put energy into the things you like.

overall, my striking takeaway is to Deliberately create my Brand.  not to forget to mention that I attended this conference with some great minds, with who I would love to stay connected. finally, special gratitude to my university and the organizer Deirdre, whom I was privileged to share a table with. she has a very bold and eloquent charisma, worthy to emulate, and also Nikky for this highly impactful opportunity.

Hear from Chimwemwe

Why you took part in the Women in the Business programme?

It is always exciting to be in a room full of women with similar interests, encouraging each other to be better. I was hoping to understand and get an insight into how easy or difficult it is for women to enter the industry, especially in Northern Ireland. To network and learn from the guest speakers on their experiences as I am about to start applying for jobs to kick start my career.

What you enjoyed most?

Hearing all the different experiences and lessons from the ladies,  I made new connections and friends, and Niamh Shaw talking about her dream of becoming an astronaut.

What key piece of advice you will take with you?

Be the woman you want to become!

Categories
Careers programmes employability Employer Engagement Employer events Employer Insight Employer Q&A MyFuture MyFuture App

Employer Quick Guide to the MyFuture Virtual Careers Fair (VCF): During the Fair

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR REPRESENTATIVES OFFERING ONE-ON-ONE CHAT:

  1. Each representative who has been set up in the employer virtual booth for 1 on 1 chat will see a red “View Chats” box icon appearing in their MyFuture account against the relevant fair one hour before the fair goes live. Click on this to enter your unique 1 on 1 chat area and familiarise yourself with items explained her n this and other guidance.
  2. Remember that you will be using the MyFuture built in video chat to meet students for 1 on 1 chats only, so make sure to accept this option when you go live and do not use Teams, Zoom or other conference meeting software alongside this.
  3. When you are ready to meet students, switch your chat Online, if you need to take a break, switch to Busy (do not switch to Offline until you are permanently leaving the event.
  4. Once the VCF goes live at the start time (not before), students will begin to join 1 on 1 chat queues These will show in the “Upcoming” tab in your chat view. You will see the “Start Chat” option is red for the student at the top of the queue (click on that and follow join instructions).
  • While you are talking to a student, you will also see Icons to open text chat and share screen under the incoming video. You will also note a meeting time countdown. When this reaches 0 the meeting is automatically closed. However, employer reps (not students) will also see an option to extend chat by a further 2 minutes when the 2-minute point is reached.
  • When chat is completed, click “End Chat,” make any notes (students do not see these) and start chat with the next student at the top of the queue.
    • Note re: student behaviours at VCFs: Some will join 1 on 1 chat immediately, others elect to go to group or other 1 on 1 chats first. Should you invite a student into a 1 on 1 chat, and they do not accept within 2 minutes, you can click “End Chat” and move to the next student (you will see the meeting timer starts to countdown just before they join you to let you know that they are about to come on screen.)

AFTER THE FAIR:

· Switch your status to “Offline.” You will still be able to view your “Completed” chats and notes. Employers also receive an emailed CV pack and 1 on 1 notes relating to students who elected to share their CV and/or the notes from completed 1 on 1 chats.

For more tips and advice ahead of the fair, visit our Employer Resources here

Categories
employability Employer Engagement Employer events Employer Insight Employer Q&A MyFuture MyFuture App

Employer Quick Guide to the MyFuture Virtual Careers Fair (VCF): Prepare for the Virtual Fair

Staff helping student at computer

PREPARE FOR THE VIRTUAL ELEMENT OF THE SPRING FAIR:

SET UP YOUR VIRTUAL BOOTH AT LEAST TEN DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE FAIR:

  • One representative sets up the virtual booth by logging into their MyFuture account and going to “Events & Fairs”>Virtual Event at Career Spring Fair>”+ Register”.
  • Complete the fields to set up your Standard booth. We advise that 5 minutes is suitable chat time for 1 on 1 (there is also option to extend time during a live chat).
    • Note that 1 on 1 video chat is built into the MyFuture VCF
  • You can add more than employer representative for 1 on 1 chat to help to move students through the busiest employer queues more quickly. Those who do not already have a MyFuture employer account will receive an auto-email with access to a limited account to enable them to join the live fair – ask them to look out for this.
  • Set up your Group Chat instructions by using the HTML text formatting tools to advertise a time schedule of short talks (max 20 minutes) with hyperlinks to Teams/Zoom or other connected virtual meeting that a colleague, who is not simultaneously involved in 1 on 1 chats will deliver. This chat type is very popular with students and can be repeated at scheduled intervals during the event.
  • Once you have set up your booth, click Review and Confirm, followed by Confirm to save and submit for approval by Queen’s CES. Should you wish to adjust your virtual booth later, go back into “registration,” scroll to the bottom on the page and click “Modify,” before reviewing and confirming again.
  • You and your colleagues (please communicate/share invite and guidance to them) will also be invited to a 30-minute training event (will be recorded). The following 2-minute video also provides a useful overview for participating employer representatives on how the 1 on 1 video chat works.

For more tips and advice ahead of the fair, visit our Employer Resources here

Categories
Career planning Careers programmes employability Employer events Employer Insight Employer Q&A Employers Graduate recruitment Graduate Recruitment and Placement Fair MyFuture MyFuture App

Student Quick Guide to MyFuture Virtual Careers Fair

Man Working at Computer

PREPARE FOR THE FAIR:

CLICK ON “MEET THE EMPLOYERS”, CHECK & EDIT YOUR PROFILE:

Browse the employer booths to check on who is coming, star your favourites and set up your profile (Tip: Upload your CV via your profile to share it with relevant employers).

AT THE LIVE FAIR:

CHAT WITH EMPLOYERS VIA LIVE VIDEO CHATS – YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS:

  1. GROUP CHATS: Just click on Group Chat for the relevant employer in the list to view instructions/click on meeting links.
  2. ONE-ON-ONE CHATS: Some employers are offering both 1 on 1 and Group chats. You can join up to three 1 on 1 chats at a time. Make sure to check your progress/wait time through 1 on 1 queue(s).

TIPS FOR MANAGING YOUR PROGRESS IN ONE-ON-ONE QUEUE(S)

  1. JOIN QUEUES WITH DIFFERENT WAIT TIMES. MyFuture will keep your place in each of these for you. When you see your wait time is down to 5 minutes – you are next and could be called in at any moment! You can check on your progress up through 1 on 1 queues via the tab beside “Meet the Employer Exhibitors”.
  2. STAY ALERT TO A QUEUE WHERE THE WAIT TIME IS DOWN TO 5 MINUTES OR LESS. When the employer is ready, you will see a “come in and meet me” invite from them on your screen in their queue. Just click it and follow the join instructions to take you into the 1 on 1 virtual meeting room.
  3. WARNING: If you do not accept/click on the invite within two minutes, the employer will move on to the next student in the queue.
  4. YOU CAN ALSO MANAGE YOUR TIME BY ATTENDING A GROUP CHAT IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR A 1 ON 1 QUEUE WITH A WAIT TIME OF MORE THAN 20 MINUTES

OTHER TIPS:

YOU CAN ALSO BROWSE THE EMPLOYERS JOB ADVERTS AND PROFILE VIA THEIR VIRTUAL BOOTH (including during the days before the fair goes live)

NEED SOME TECHNICAL HELP DURING THE 3.30PM TO 6PM ONLINE ELEMENT OF THE SPRING FAIR?

  1. Technical help will be available to students for the duration of the online element of the Fair via the Careers Service booth Group Chat.
Categories
employability Employer Engagement Employer events Employer Insight Employer Panels Employer Q&A Employers Graduate recruitment Graduate success

Autumn Fair: Employer Q&A

“What do employers look for in students and graduates for employment?”

“Its very much understanding what each individual has done with their life, not just their academic life. So, its understanding where they have worked in teams, being able to work with different people, how they have been able to manage projects” – Mark Shimmings, Deloitte

“It’s really important for students to try their best to speak to as many employers, putting themselves out there and see if they can do volunteer days, work placement opportunities different things like that because it really gives you a great idea of the industry that you want to go into and the different people you can meet and also helps to build your confidence with talking to different people and professionals” – Eilish Crickard, ESO

“A lot of our interviews as about your collaboration, your teamwork, your communication skills” – Claire Brennan, FinTrU

“We look for people who can put into practice what they’ve learned and can take a practical approach and a very personable approach to what we do” – Brian Moss, Worthingtons solicitors

“You see a lot of amazing CVs but its not really just about what you’ve studied and what you’ve done its about being able to apply those skills, being able to communicate with people… its really important to try different things  and put yourself out there and just try build your CV because lots of people have a degree nowadays so its trying to find that niche that will make you more attractable to employers” – Eilish Crickard, ESO

“Obviously, a degree is important in a lot of the roles but not all of them but yes additional to that, its how they utilise what they’ve done through their life as well as their degree and can align the skills that they’ve learnt in order to use those in their roles moving forward.” – Emma McCourt, NIE Networks

“We don’t expect people to have working experience but there are so many transferable skills from the clubs, societies.” – Niamh Heaney , FinTrU

“Extracurricular activities such as the, you can see everywhere here about the clubs and the societies that’s very important for us at Baker McKenzie as well, we have so many clubs and committees, so if they have any information like that on their CV, again just makes them stand out a little bit more.” – Sarah Fowler, Baker McKenzie

“Why do employers come to QUB campus for recruitment?”

“Queen’s produce some really excellent graduates and it’s the range of graduates that come out of Queens within Deloitte we are looking for a wide range of skills and Queen’s equips the students with those range of skills, not just academic but softer skills that we are looking for” – Mark Shimmings, Deloitte

“The reputation the university, the quality of the teaching is all huge positives for coming specifically to Belfast, and to Queen’s.” – John Paul Cooney, Bank of America

“There is a number of Queen’s students that are already working for us and that their dedication, enthusiasm and desire to work for our business is just amazing and we love having them on the team, they’re great fun and absolutely know their subject” – Helen Sayers, Cooneen Group

Categories
Career planning Careers programmes Employer Engagement Employer events Employer Insight Employers Graduate success motivation Strengths-based interviews Student experience

6 things we learned about resilience from our Employer Hotseat

Successful student with fist in the air
Beth MacDougall, EY

Beth MacDougall from EY delivered a session on Resilience. Here are the top takeaways.

Its normal to be nervous

“The one thing that terrified me literally more than anything was what am I gonna do for work. How am I gonna go into the workplace with this really strange title, this really long list of symptoms? And a degree that I don’t know how to be of use anymore and no experience. I was completely shook. I was absolutely terrified because all I wanted to do was work.”

But Beth goes on to say…

“I wish that I could go back to myself six years ago and say it’s going to be okay. It’s gonna be fine.”

Challenge = Change

“I learned that it is absolutely OK to challenge things in a process or on an application form, or in a procedure that you feel like you’re going to make you feel disadvantaged or unfair. There were plenty of times in an application form that actually will ask you to disclose a disability way before the ‘do you have a disability question’…that was my first lesson that it’s okay to challenge things. And that it’s the only way that we’re going to change things, by challenging and by asking the questions.”

People’s opinions are not your reality

“I remember the first time that I spoke with someone about my disability in a workplace, they actually told me that I was a health and safety risk, and it was selfish of me to be wanting to work in a workplace environment, after speaking to me for all of 2/3 minutes. I just wanted to have a conversation and explain, you know, but I can do this! But then why do I have to explain something? Why am I defined by this label that I have attached to me?”

Beth then speaks about how working as a recruiter allows her to speak to a range of people from all works of life

“We can learn from so many different people by having those conversations and again as recruiters we are in that position where we can constantly speak to a diverse group of people and learn from every single one of them. Giving someone a voice, really means that person is going to be able to bring their true authentic best self to the workplace.”

Play to your strengths (and find out how to play to your strengths!)

“Strength-based recruitment was definitely my friend…We might not have as much experience as persons who don’t have disabilities because it’s been harder for us to get that 0r maybe we’ve needed to take a break at times”

“So strength-based recruitment for me was so powerful in terms of I knew I didn’t have the experience that probably everyone else applying for this job did. I actually had no recruitment experience. I had plenty of student experience, plenty of mental health, well-being, events, development – but it was all dotted around different areas. I could only get small different bits of experience in different ways. I didn’t really know how to combine that. Until, I spoke to someone who help me do that”

Be proud and honest of who you are

“My interview at EY was actually the first time I ever disclosed my disability in an interview, outright. First question, “what are your motivations for EY” – well I have a disability. Straight up there. I’ve heard about this and this is why I did it because EY’s brand was all about a culture of belonging – our world your way. And I really truly believe that. I could see the images I could see the stories and I could see the things EY were doing to support people like me.”

“70% of people with a disability actually have an invisible disability which brings its own challenges. You can hide that until you get into your workplace, but if without disclosing a disability it’s very hard to get the support that you might need to be able to thrive and employ yourself the way that you want to.”

Who you are will show in what you do

Beth speaks about how people with different disabilities are often overlooked for employment and workplace stigma towards those disabilities

“People with disabilities are the largest pool of untapped talent. And that is because we do have, again those natural barriers, and sometimes that natural stigma of – traditionally disabled has meant something that someone cannot do.Whereas I would challenge that… people with disabilities are nature’s greatest problem solvers. We have to learn to live in a world that isn’t actually built always for us. We have to find different ways to do things. Which kind of brings me to my final point in terms of people with disabilities are some of the most valuable workforce that you can bring into an organisation. Those qualities of resilience communication, because you’re constantly having to communicate things, and ask for things and explain. Problem solving, creativity innovation, you name it, a person with a disability has to show that every single day in their life.”