Student insight: Navigating the online job application process

MSc Management of Information Systems & Digital Innovation ambassador Sarah shares her experience of navigating the online job application and recruitment process during her MSc year.

Congratulations on successfully securing a role after your MSc. Can you tell us more about the role?

I will be joining Accenture as a consulting analyst at the London office. Accenture is a leading global firm that provides both management and technology consulting services. As a consultant, I will be working across a diverse range of projects and industries, developing digital transformation and technology solutions for clients. I have always been passionate about the role of technology and the large-scale impact it can bring to society, businesses, and our lives. I am very excited to join Accenture and start my career in technology consulting upon the completion of my master’s course.

Tell us a bit about the online recruitment process for the roles you applied for.

The application process, especially for banks and consulting firms, involves the submission of online application forms (sometimes including CVs and cover letters), aptitude tests (numerical, abstract reasoning, verbal reasoning tests), pre-recorded video interviews, and Assessment Centres. The whole process can take up to 3-4 months. It is also important to note that the graduate scheme recruitment starts 8-12 months in advance.

From my experience, the performance in the first three stages much depends on one’s preparation and practice. For the aptitude tests, I practiced with at least 3 mock tests every day over the summer break. Moreover, I used the photo booth in MacBook or Zoom to practice and record myself to get used to the pre-recorded video interview setting.

As my first experience of attending an Assessment Centre was in-person at the office 2 years ago, having a virtual Assessment Centre was new. However, I felt much more relaxed as I was in an environment in which I feel most comfortable. In terms of activities, the in-person and online activities were quite similar. The Assessment Centre often consists of tests, group exercises, presentations, and final interviews. At all 3 Assessment Centres that I attended this year, candidates were informed what actions to take and who to contact should we encounter any technical issues. It was also great to witness that all firms were very understanding and showed their empathy towards those who had technical difficulties.

How has CareersPlus supported you online throughout your MSc year?

I’ve been extremely well supported by the CareersPlus team throughout my job applications, from having access to useful resources and to attending online one-to-one career coaching and interview preparation sessions. Of all the invaluable resources, I found the one-to-one session with a Career Coach the most helpful. I’ve done a couple of CV and cover letter checks tailored to each job application, and multiple mock interviews with my Career Coach. The opportunity to practice interviews and the advice I had received were extremely helpful not only in improving the interview skills but also in boosting my confidence.

At the virtual careers fair event that was held in October 2020, I was able to talk to the recruiters of the companies that I had applied to, getting useful insights and application tips from them. Moreover, we had a number of careers events for MSc Management of Information Systems & Digital Innovation, organised by the course director and the CareersPlus team. It was such a great opportunity to connect with our alumni, learn about their work, and get advice on the next steps after graduation. All the support and events were conducted online, either in Blackboard Collaborate or MS Teams, seamlessly.

To discover more about the support Warwick Business School’s CareersPlus team can offer throughout your MSc year, visit our Careers pages.