Whilst in her final year at QMUL, Hana has secured an exciting place on the Vodafone Discover Programme in the technology division. Read why Hana chose this role and how you can follow in her footsteps.
Why did you choose Vodafone and this role in particular?
I chose Vodafone because I actually interned for Vodafone the previous summer. I really enjoyed the internship and was learning a lot, such as Agile methodologies, the next big thing of the IOT, future plans of 5G and the use of Artificial Intelligence. Everyday I got to see something new and see the full development cycle of a product/software. I was able to observe and be a part of a cross functional team working together to achieve a common goal for a project, the teamwork and effort put in at every step was truly admirable.
Vodafone truly offers a diverse experience, their global reach is incredible, support for personal training and development is readily available and the people are so friendly and open to share their views.
I specifically chose the Technology area because I am a technology enthusiast, I love my phone, my Airpods, Alexa is amazing and I’m a crazy app hoarder. It is a fundamental part of all our lives and makes things so much easier. I wanted to be part of the process in providing customers with a solution that could help simplify tasks and enhance user experience. So where else better to start than Vodafone?
What was the hardest part of the applciation process? And your favourite part?
The hardest part of the application process for me was the video interview because it is really weird to speaking to yourself and not a real person. Normally, with a face-to-face interview you can bounce off the interviewer. But on camera you can’t really do the same.
My favourite part of the application process, however, was the Assessment centre, it was nice to see the Vodafone headquarters and meet all the other applicants. I was able to see if it was the environment I wanted to be in for the next two years.
Were you surprised by anything in the process?
I was very surprised at how calm the application process was, even though the interviews and assessment centre were a bit daunting. The recruitment team were very supportive and friendly about the whole thing. Vodafone also offers a lot of insight into the application process through their instagram page, with video tips on how to tackle interviews and have current graduates giving their updates on how the graduate programme is for them. Overall, very informative.
What three top tips do you have for fellow Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
Tip 1: Go to your chosen employers events, this allows you to really get to know the company and show that you're interested.
Tip 2: Follow their social media pages, to see the most current projects/initiatives the company is working towards.
Tip 3: Socialise! Don’t shy away from other applicants at the assessment centre, get to know them, support them and wish them luck! We have all been stressed out through the entire application process. So we all deserve a good pat on the back and an extra push. Be good to people and good will come to you.
What was the toughest question you faced at interview?
My toughest question I faced at an interview was: What would be the one thing you would change about our firm/company? DON’T PANIC! The way I tackled this question was by saying how I would identify the problem i.e. I will have to settle in the company first and if I did spot a problem, how I would approach to proposing this change e.g. by planning and research.
