Finlay's success story: Securing a graduate role at WSP

Finlay is an Environmental Economics graduate from the University of York. He secured a Graduate Environmental Consultant position in the Environmental Management and Assessment team at WSP, through Bright Network.  

First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

“Both my mum and dad are dairy vets, so I grew up surrounded by countryside that I’ve always felt is worth protecting. This inspired me to study Environmental Economics at university, where I explored the challenges facing our environment and how we can best address them.

I knew I wanted to work for a company that actively contributes to environmental protection and is industry leading in doing so.

When the opportunity arose to work in Environmental Impact Assessment at WSP, I was excited by the chance to contribute to some of the UK’s largest developments across multiple sectors. The scheme has significantly deepened my understanding of environmental consultancy and helped me refine the areas I’d like to focus on as I shape my career.”

What motivated you to apply for your role?

“The opportunity to work on projects of varying scales across sectors that genuinely interest me was a major draw. I saw it as a chance to explore different areas and fine-tune my interests within environmental consultancy.”

What was the application process like?

“The application process was quite straightforward and accessible. The process involved CV screening, a psychometric assessment and an assessment centre.

Whilst the psychometric assessment was a similar format to applications I’d previously taken part in, the assessment centre was more interactive and gave plenty of opportunity to showcase my enthusiasm for the environmental field. Because of that, it was actually more enjoyable than other assessment centres I’d attended.”

How did you prepare for the application process?

“I prepared by researching WSP and technical aspects of the job role, along with practising psychometric tests and using my connections to help me with CV amendments and interview practice. The best advice I got for the application process was not to undersell yourself or your achievements!”

How did Bright Network help you secure your role?

“I joined Bright Network while searching for graduate roles after university. It helped illuminate the wide range of environmental work available at WSP and provided valuable career advice through the aptitude test and interview stages.”

What are you most proud of about your journey?

“I’m proud of the way I dug in and did not let a few rejections get in the way of my desire to work in the environmental industry.”

What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps?

“My advice would be to reach out to early career professionals working at WSP, as it’s something I wish I’d done, as people are more than happy to help.

Given WSP’s diverse business areas, connecting with current employees can be a great way to understand the requirements of different roles and tailor your application accordingly.

Additionally, I’d recommend reading Bright Network’s guidance on psychometric tests and familiarising yourself with the types of activities typically included within them. This will help you stay calm and answer more accurately during assessments.”

What have you learnt from going through the process?

“The key lessons I learnt in the application process are to tailor your CV to individual roles, to get familiar with psychometric testing and to remain calm and collected during the interview stages.”