Harry's success story: Securing a graduate scheme at Vodafone

Harry is a Mathematics graduate from the University of Bath. He secured a role on the Data Discover Graduate scheme and is now a Data Scientist at Vodafone in London, through Bright Network.  

First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

“When choosing my A-Levels, I found myself drawn to more technical subjects which led me to choose Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Economics.

This naturally sparked my interest in pursuing Mathematics at university. Initially, I considered a career in accountancy, but after completing several statistics modules and spending a placement year as a Data Analyst for a recruitment company, I discovered a genuine passion for working with data.

The data field is incredibly diverse, encompassing roles such as Data Scientist, Data Engineer and Data Architect. A graduate scheme that offers exposure to these different paths felt like the ideal way to explore my strengths and determine where I’d thrive most.”

What motivated you to apply for your role?

“The Data Discover Graduate Scheme appealed to me because it was advertised as a rotational scheme consisting of two 6-month placements followed by a year-long placement.

The idea that these roles would be in different teams allowed me to gain exposure to different areas of the business and work with a diverse group of individuals.

Vodafone appealed to me as a company because it’s a global brand. We only really know about the UK operations, but there’s so much more to the company in terms of what it offers other markets, such as products like Vodafone TV.

I was really interested in learning more and found myself excited at the prospect of making an impact in a large company.”

What was the application process like?

“The application process was very straightforward. After submitting my CV, I was invited to complete an online assessment that consisted of two games and recorded answers to a few interview questions.

I was then invited to the online assessment centre which included three sections: a strength-based interview, a podcast-style interview aligned with Vodafone’s pillars and finally a group-based exercise to see how we worked in a team.

I would recommend researching a company’s values and pillars before an interview to help align your answers with areas that the interviewers may be looking out for.”

How did you prepare for the interview?

“To prepare for interviews, I made sure to read more about Vodafone’s history, both globally and in the UK. I researched some recent news articles about the company and any notable technological breakthroughs.

I also practised some common competency-based questions online to have some key points and scenarios ready in the back of my mind to use if prompted during the interview.

For online interviews I wouldn’t suggest having written prompts as interviewers can usually tell when you’re reading off a script and you should aim for the interview to flow like a normal conversation.

One piece of advice I received was to build rapport with your interviewer where appropriate, as this helps you feel more relaxed by getting to know each other a little more.”

How did Bright Network help you secure your role?

“Bright Network was very helpful as I was regularly sent new jobs straight into my inbox.

Vodafone was the first role I applied to when I was looking for a graduate role, so I owe it to Bright Network for helping me find the perfect role.”

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

“In terms of applications, I’d recommend having a proactive mindset and starting early in the academic year; companies tend to start recruiting from around September to ensure they can choose the best talent.

I also recommend keeping track of the companies you have applied to in a spreadsheet, so you can see how many applications you have in the process and whether it’s best to continue searching.

In terms of starting a graduate scheme, I think the best advice I can give is to be open-minded. It’s just as important to learn what you do like as it is to learn what you don’t like so that you have a clearer vision of a role that’s best suited to your interests." 

Tell us about the future. What’s next?

“After one and a half years on the graduate scheme, I was lucky to offboard early as a Junior Data Scientist and, one year later, I was promoted to Data Scientist.

I’m now getting used to my new role and looking forward to exploring new areas of modern data science such as agentic AI and continuing to learn from my more senior peers!”