Clara is a BSc Business Management and MSc International Management graduate from Cardiff University. She secured a ACCA Trainee, Administrator in Business Recovery role at Menzies, through Bright Network. 
First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
“At school I really enjoyed GCSE Business, so naturally I decided to study it at A-Level.
I loved the subject and then decided to continue studying it at university. I performed well in my university accounting modules, so thought I’d be well suited to an accounting graduate scheme.”
What motivated you to apply for your role?
“Firstly, the fact that Menzies supports you in achieving your ACCA was a big selling point for me!
Another motivation was that I loved the culture at Menzies. The office is incredibly friendly and everyone is really supportive. Everyone at Menzies is very collaborative which I really enjoy.”
What was the application journey like?
“I prepared by researching the position, the ACCA and the business’s core values.
It’s always important to mention the values in an interview. I think I was the most nervous for the interview as that was the final stage of the process for me, but it went really well and I just focused on being myself.”
How did Bright Network help you secure your role?
“I used to check updates from Bright Network and also check my Bright Network emails to save any job opportunities I liked.”
What are you most proud of about your journey?
“I'm most proud of getting through the first stages of my ACCA accounting exams, during my first 6-8 months at Menzies.
Menzies were really supportive and the ACCA exams were a big adjustment, as the last accounting exams I'd done were back in second year of my Bachelor's degree!”
What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
“I think my best advice for applying to Menzies is to demonstrate in the interview that you are capable of studying and working. Use your past experience such as managing university work, part-time work, or society commitments to demonstrate that you're organised and good at prioritising tasks.
Managing your workload and being able to successfully prioritise is a big part of the job and the ACCA. I think it's also really important to research the department you're working in to understand if it's right for you and to tell your employer in the application process what motivates you to join that particular department.”
What have you learnt from going through the process?
“Menzies were really interested in the societies and volunteering positions I'd done at university.
I've always known that it's important to go above and beyond and stand out from the crowd, but I think I was still surprised about the level of interest.
My advice to anyone applying would be to think about what sets you apart and what have you done outside of university to demonstrate that.”
Find industrial placements, graduate jobs and more at Bright Network.
