We recently caught up with Bright Network member Chris fresh from completing his Maths degree at Durham and he kindly told us how he secured his graduate role with Sky. Read on to find out exactly how he did it.
What drew you to Sky?
After looking online and meeting Sky at graduate fairs such as Bright Network Festival, I realised there was a lot happening behind the scenes that seemed really interesting - Sky Sports' recent BAFTA for The Ashes was dedicated to the Sky departments who made it all happen.
I looked around for more opportunities to meet the team and found a Sky open day for their technology graduate scheme. After exploring their campus, which looks like a great place to work, and talking about the role with recruiters and current employees, I was certain I wanted to apply.
Have you always had your heart set on a career in tech?
I've always been keen on technology so my role as a Technology Graduate fits rather well! The other career paths I'd considered were quite academic and directly related to my degree.
I've spent the last four years working up to a Masters in Maths but I decided about a year ago that going further down that road isn't for me. This meant all my job applications were for tech roles and I was delighted to receive an offer from Sky.
What was the most challenging part of the application process?
Sky has an excellent recruitment process - they never left me in the dark, they were always upfront and honest, and the recruitment coordinators were always on hand to answer my questions (in contrast to some of the other companies I applied for!).
The process is quite simple for the general technology scheme: one online form, one telephone interview and one assessment centre. The application process for other roles with Sky may vary slightly. While it usually seems the assessment centre is the most challenging part, I'd already briefly met every recruiter by the time I got to the interview stage so it didn't feel too daunting and I knew what to expect.
For me the most challenging part was actually the initial application form. It's where the recruitment team sift out the majority of candidates. Don't underestimate this part of the process! Throughout your application, and especially during the early stages, you need to be your best and show you understand the company and the role, and never give generic answers that can fit any application.
What advice would you give to others looking to pursue a similar career?
There are so many companies offering technology roles - think carefully about which work environment suits you best. For example, do you want to work for a company directly specialising in technology, or perhaps for one with a slightly different focus? Either way, you'll be able to work on some very exciting projects. For me, someone passionate about entertainment and media, Sky made a lot of sense.
Also think about what type of company culture you'd prefer. You might not know until you go and meet firms - take every opportunity you get!
