Business Discover Graduate Review

All 3 of my rotations on the graduate placement involved some degree of project management, presenting to senior stakeholders (right up to Director level), preparing research and analysis. My tasks in my roles looks different each day, although all 3 jobs included a mixture of online calls, in person meetings, time out of calls to learn and put together materials etc..

The program really developed my confidence in leading professional conversations, facilitating complicated discussions with a range of stakeholders, and presenting to important or large scale audiences. I have not only had the chance to practice in many different environments but even had training courses dedicated to this with a professional coach who could guide me. Main transferrable skills developed over 2 years: project management, stakeholder management, professional communications, strategizing, time management & prioritization.

Yes ! Each time you rotate roles there is a small grace period whereby you learn your new role/team/skills, but quite quickly they begin to trust you leading projects etc. on your own and being responsible for products/workstreams/projects, but still ensuring you have a good manager who understands your level of background experience (in my case, none), in case you need support or guidance anywhere. I found the grad scheme really enabled me to adapt my roles for what I personally needed to work on and grow in skills wise.

I had 3 phenomenal managers, all of whom understood how to be a good people manager to someone inexperienced yet eager to learn. Everyone in the company has 6 month and 12 month reviews relating to goals you set with your manager, so there were plenty of opportunities to discuss strengths and areas of opportunity to grow personally and professionally. Most experienced employees in Vodafone are more than happy to help offer additional support, mentoring or guidance to the graduates if you mention it to them, which I personally found more useful than the dedicated youth HR team purely because they have so many people to look after and less subject knowledge/experience outside of a HR role.

I really enjoy the company culture here. It is very centered around psychological safety and good well being, with lots of 'networks' you can join eg. LGBTQ network or Women in Business etc. There are plenty of opportunities to network and get involved with people outside of your team for charity volunteering days, coffee and cake mornings, Spirit days (learning an development focued)

Loved it, would do it again in a heart beat. I have recommended it to multiple people from university who have since applied after seeing what great opportunities I have been given from this whilst being paid well in line with similar placements elsewhere.

Yes

Be yourself in the interviews ! Although being professional is a crucial part of business, there is such a friendly atmosphere here so I would say they are looking for who you are and what potential you have to offer us as opposed to what exactly you have done already. Do not be put off if you have no office experience or have taken some time out, or even don't have a first in your degree - they really are after good potential and if you can show them this in the interviews it won't matter who scores best on a piece of paper.