MSc Operations and Supply Chain Management graduates speak to current students about career opportunities

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MSc Operations and Supply Chain Management students were recently given the opportunity to meet successful alumni from their programme.

Professor Andy Lyons, Director of Studies for MSc Operations and Supply Chain Management, introduced the four graduates to the current students and explained the guest talk was an informal platform to learn about graduate opportunities for the MSc programme.

The first speaker, Yahya Hussain, graduated from MSc Operations and Supply Chain Management in 2011 and joined the Airbus UK graduate scheme in 2012. Yahya discussed how his experience on the Airbus graduate scheme allowed him to work in multiple departments. Yahya advised the current students to “become familiar with the company’s recruitment process. If you know what to expect at an assessment centre, you will then be able to practice.”

Also at Airbus UK as an Environmental Officer was the second speaker, Kimberley Ellis-Stephenson, who graduated from the Management School in 2012. In her role, Kimberley looks at the legal compliance of the company and considers the environmental factors of Airbus’s production. Kimberley explained that she “used the University’s network when looking for graduate opportunities” and starting applying for graduate schemes in the December of her MSc programme.

Lucy Everington also spoke about her graduate experience. After coming from an engineering background, Lucy graduated from the MSc Operations and Supply Chain Management programme in 2008 and completed a PhD at the Management School in 2013. Lucy now works at Jaguar LandRover UK and said: “Often a company will have the business behaviours they look for in their employees on their website. It is worth doing your homework and look at these if they are available to prepare examples for each.”

The final graduate to speak was Ali Taghizadegan who graduated in 2014 and is currently completing a PhD in the Management School. Ali explained that he worked with local SMEs during his MSc and was offered managerial roles but chose to return to education to complete his research.

Following the talk, students were given the opportunity to ask questions in a Q&A session.