Lucy's success story: Securing a graduate role at Diageo
Created on 30 Oct 2025
Lucy is an International Relations graduate from University of St Andrews. She secured a graduate role as a Key Account Executive with Diageo in London, through Bright Network.
First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
"I studied International Relations at the University of St Andrews, but it was my part-time job at Jo Malone that really sparked my interest in sales and customer-facing roles. That experience showed me how much I enjoy building relationships, understanding customer needs and driving commercial outcomes.
Combined with my academic background in global perspectives, this naturally led me towards a career in commercial sales where I can work with people, think strategically, and make an impact."
What motivated you to apply for your role?
"I was motivated to apply to Diageo because of the scale of the company and the strength of its portfolio of world-class brands. I knew it would offer the chance to learn and grow within a truly global business.
What confirmed my decision during the interview process was the people. I found everyone I met to be supportive, inspiring and passionate about what they do, which made me excited to be part of the culture."
What was your application journey like?
"My application journey was challenging but rewarding. I prepared by researching Diageo and its brands in depth and by practising competency-based interview questions so I could link my experiences back to the role.
I was most nervous about the assessment centre, but I found the interviewers to be supportive and encouraging, which really helped me perform at my best.
Along the way, the feedback I received reminded me to stay authentic and let my personality come through, which made a big difference."
How did Bright Network help you secure your role?
"I discovered the Diageo Graduate Scheme through the Bright Network platform, and the job board made it easy to explore the role and apply directly.
I also found the company insights and resources on the website really useful for understanding what employers were looking for, which helped me feel more confident during the application process
Without Bright Network, I may not have even known about the scheme, so it was a key step in connecting me to the opportunity!"
What have you learnt from going through the process?
"Going through the process taught me the importance of preparation and staying authentic. I was surprised by how supportive and people-focused the interviews felt, which made it less intimidating than I expected!
The process was quite thorough, but that gave me confidence that the role would be a great fit.
Looking back, I wish I'd known earlier that being yourself is just as important as having the right examples prepared."
What are you most proud of about your journey?
"I'm proud of staying resilient and committed throughout the application process, even when balancing applications with my studies and facing setbacks along the way. At times it was challenging and a bit overwhelming, but overcoming those moments gave me confidence and a real sense of achievement.
Securing my role at Diageo showed me that perseverance pays off and made the whole journey feel worthwhile."
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