Peter Rollins
Civil Engineering graduate Pete Rollins is now one step closer to his ideal career after being given the opportunity to work for a market leading accountancy firm as part of the GO Wales Graduate Academy.
Like many underemployed graduates, Pete was working as a sales assistant when he applied for the course at Trinity Saint David in Lampeter. After a number of part time jobs in shops and bars Pete wanted to focus on something that would set him apart from the thousands of other graduates looking for work. He said;
“I thought I lacked both experience in the area I wanted to focus on for my career and some of the skills that recruiters look for in potential employees. The Graduate Academy offered not only a chance to gain an internationally recognised qualification, but also the possibility to gain a placement in my chosen field; a great chance to get that all important step on the career ladder.”
After studying for a Civil Engineering degree Pete decided to pursue a career in accountancy after covering similar concepts as part of the course. The four week work placement that was arranged for him as part of the Graduate Academy offered a chance to gain fantastic experience with top accountancy firm Grant Thornton. Pete continues;
“I gained a great insight into the running of a top professional advisory firm, learning a considerable amount more than any company website could tell you! I've been able to develop effective working relationships with colleagues and was given real responsibility for current cases they were working on. I was able to talk to the HR staff who gave me great inside information about the application process which will be invaluable come September. As daunting as it all seemed on the first day, I feel much more confident in my own ability to be able to work in this sort of environment and have developed a number of key contacts.”
Pete highly recommends the Graduate Academy to other graduates who are either unemployed or working in a job that doesn’t offer any prospects;
“Before I felt like a very small fish in a big sea of graduates, but the course has helped me gain a much better focus and has made me realise the skills that I have to offer recruiters. The fact that last month I was working as a sales assistant in a shop and I now have experience of working in a top accountancy firm proves testament to the success of the Graduate Academy!”
