We sat down with Hannah, Ellen and Amanda from our Early Careers Resourcing Team to find out about their careers, what they love about BDO and some top tips for candidates looking to join one of our programmes.
How would you describe your career path in a nutshell?
I graduated Exeter University in 2017 where I studied Geography. I left University and travelled for six months then I started a HR Graduate programme. Once this was completed, I started working in Early Careers and have been doing this for the last 3 years!
Can you describe your current position?
I work in the Early Careers team as a Resourcing Adviser, I manage the recruitment for the Southeast and Southampton. We recruit Graduates, School Leaver, Industrial Placements and Summer Internships.
What do you like the most about your current position?
It is exciting helping students and Graduates find a position and work at BDO. It is extremely rewarding supporting them throughout our recruitment process and when they succeed and get the position. I also enjoy the culture at BDO and working in such a supportive team!
What advice would you give to a potential candidate based on your career experience?
Always be yourself. Make sure you have prepared for your assessments and done research into the company and role you have applied for.
Which achievement are you most proud of?
My greatest achievement is gaining my degree at University back in 2017!
How would you describe your career path in a nutshell?
After finishing school, I worked in a technical Marketing role but I always had a strong desire to travel. A friend suggested Cabin Crew as it would combine my love of people and cultures while hitting my travel bug! After 3 years of flying, I saw an opportunity to continue flying but to also try something new in a Recruitment role - I then found the recruitment bug and spent many years recruiting for a wide variety of roles across all levels. During COVID I was made redundant and saw this as a fantastic opportunity to try something new as there weren't too many recruitment roles. I trained as a vaccinator and loved being a part of getting the country out and about once again. I missed recruitment and after searching for the right role, I found my current position as a Resourcing Adviser with a great team at BDO.
Can you describe your current position?
Managing the end to end recruitment Early Careers recruitment process for specific area of BDO, actively supporting the attraction strategy to hire great talent. Managing the end-to-end Early Careers recruitment needs across London and our Regional Offices. I support the development and implementation of a recruitment strategy which supports the hiring needs of each of our business streams, ensuring robust and future focused hiring decisions, through a great candidate experience. I have the opportunity to develop my skills and expertise both within the organisation and through volunteering opportunities.
What do you like the most about your current position?
Helping students find their first opportunity in their career is the best feeling. Working with an organisation that not only talks about supporting it's employees but also lives it; making work/life balance, a reality. I am surrounded by a friendly supportive team and get the opportunity to work and network from a rather cool building in Baker Street!
What advice would you give to a potential candidate based on your career experience?
We will work for a fair few years and it's really important to find a role that you enjoy and within an organisation that resonates with you. By being your true authentic self, you know that the recruiters have seen the real you and you’ll know, you haven't pretended to be something you're not. It’s also really important to know what you would like and need from a role and an organisation so do your research, look at the websites and ask further questions if you need to. Hopefully by doing this, you'll find a career and an organisation that fits you and your aspirations."
Can you describe your current position?
I am a Resourcing Adviser within the Early Careers team and help School Leavers, Summer Interns, Industrial Placement and Graduates into starting their careers at BDO.
The Early Careers goal is to provide a seamless, experience to both candidates applying for our programmes and our internal stakeholders, adding value at every stage of the process. I work with key business and HR stakeholders to deliver quality hires into the firm, whilst ensuring an excellent candidate experience throughout.
What advice would you give to a potential candidate based on your career experience?
I knew from the moment I first read the BDO website that the company was right to me as the core values align with my own.
The BDO Culture report illustrates the firm’s commitment to creating a positive work environment. We spend so much of our time at work it’s important that you enjoy the environment where you work.
Work life balance will impact your overall wellbeing. I can confidently say that working at BDO has made a positive difference to all aspects of life, I am surrounded by a team of great people!
Which achievement are you most proud of?
Career change – after 6 years I decided to completely change my career, starting a completely different role within a new company, in a new industry. At the time it was daunting, but I am incredibly pleased I took the leap.
How would you describe your career path in a nutshell?
It took time but I found my way!
What do you like the most about your current position?
The culture at BDO is top but when I reflect on the jobs that I have had and the hobbies I enjoy most, they are all centred around working with people. I love the buzz of meeting others and this role supplies that fix - whether that be prospective candidates at a Careers Fair, candidates at an Assessment Centre or colleagues at BDO. Outside of the workplace I spend most of my time at my CrossFit gym and enjoy Music Festivals – I love the community feel!