Anya is a Psychology student from the University of Birmingham. She secured an industrial placement role as an Early Talent Recruitment Assistant at Moore Kingston Smith in London, through Bright Network. 
First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
“I'm currently between my second and third year, undertaking a placement at Moore Kingston Smith within the People Team.
I study Psychology at university, which I chose because I enjoy the subject but also knew I wanted to keep my options open.
You learn so many transferrable skills in Psychology such as data analysis, communication, problem solving and attention to detail (to name a few), which makes it a good degree subject to take if you’re not totally set on what you want to do yet.”
What motivated you to apply for your role?
"I researched the firm prior to applying and found it incredibly insightful looking through what the firm does, what services they offer to clients and recent news about Moore Kingston Smith.
Whilst I wasn't applying for a client facing role, I wanted to get a broader understanding of the firm and how my role would contribute. From hearing testimonials from current employees, the common message was how great the firm's culture was.
Everyone I heard from had said how inclusive, friendly and social the firm was. This was extremely important to me, as this is my first time in a corporate setting and I wanted to know I was entering a supportive environment.”
What was the application process like?
“The process began with an online application, followed by online video questions that assessed attributes such as commercial awareness and competencies like adaptability. In conjunction with this, there was a test portion in which numerical reasoning, analytical and problem-solving skills were all assessed. This section was surprisingly enjoyable and I received an insights report upon completion, so even if I hadn't secured the role I would have walked away with some useful feedback.
The next stage was a first round interview held on Teams with the Early Talent team, which consisted of competency-based questions assessing things such as my willingness to learn and teamwork, and of course a chance for me to ask any questions.
The last stage was probably my favourite. It was a final stage interview in the office and was such a good opportunity to meet the team, as well as look around the office. I was very impressed with the recruitment process as it was smooth and I had a key contact that I could always reach out to, should I have any questions.”
What are you most proud of about your journey?
“A placement year wasn't meant to be a part of my course, however I was very determined to get some industry experience before leaving university.
For a while I wasn't able to get a clear answer as to whether I was able to take a year out to complete a placement meaning I started my applications later than most. This became overwhelming as I was aware that many people had already gotten a long way through recruitment processes, or in some rare cases already secured a placement!
I felt like I was falling behind my peers, however I didn't let this stop me from trying, Bright Network was really helpful when it came to applying as I could clearly see what roles were available and all the necessary information in an easy to digest way. Safe to say when I got the offer I was over the moon!”
What have you learnt from going through the process?
“I learnt that interviews can be enjoyable! Before both of my interviews I was super anxious, but they ended up being my favourite parts of the process.
They felt conversational and so I quickly settled in, it was also a great opportunity to ask questions and gain insight into the firm first hand!”
What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
“Practice! I’d never completed an online video assessment before and it can be strange, but practising by filming yourself answering competency questions can really help you settle your nerves and focus on the questions.
Additionally, as cliché as it sounds, be yourself! It’s important to know that the company is a good fit for you!”
Tell us about the future. What’s next?
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Moore Kingston Smith and have learnt so much. It has been the perfect way to get insight into the corporate world before I graduate.
I’m excited to take the skills I've learnt at Moore Kingston Smith back with me to university and complete my third year.”
Find industrial placements, graduate jobs and more at Bright Network.
