Past Events From Semester 1

The session aims to get you started thinking about your future and your next steps after graduation, including:

• offering you a model to approach your thinking in a more structured way
• showing what maths graduates go on to do
• briefly considering issues for international students wishing to work in the UK
• explaining how /when recruitment works in the UK
• outlining how the Careers Service and our resources can support you.

Presentation  

After your MSc Think Ahead! (1.61 MB PDF)

Analysts from the Government Operational Research Service (GORS) will be talking about the opportunities available as an Operational Researcher in the Civil Service:

GORS currently supports policy-making, strategy and operations in many different departments and agencies nationwide and consists of over 600 analysts, ranging from sandwich students to high-ranking Civil Servants.

Operational Researchers carry out the analysis that can help answer vital questions such as:

• How can we get the best quality health service with the available budget?
• How much money will be enough to create new jobs in industry?
• Is it better value to invest in a new school or a new airport?

This presentation is suitable for everyone interested to find out more about a career as an Operational Research Analyst in the Civil Service:

• undergraduates, postgraduates and post-PhD;
• studying a numerate subject (maths, physics, economics, engineering etc.)
• but please note that there are nationality requirements for GORS.

You can join GORS either as a placement student, through mainstream (standard) recruitment or through the Fast Stream. The Civil Service Fast Stream is a talent management programme for graduates who have the potential to become the future leaders of the Civil Service. 

More information on GORS and the Operational Research Fast Stream are available here:

• Apply for the Fast Stream: http://www.faststream.gov.uk/government-operational-research-service/
• GORS: http://www.operational-research.gov.uk/recruitment/
• www.linkedin.com/company/GORS

Presentation  

GORS (1.41 MB PDF)

Autumn is a key time for you to meet recruiters - at presentations, careers fairs and university open days. This session will look at:

• the value of networking to your career research and job search - and why it isn't scary
• careers fairs and presentations: how to approach speaking to recruiters
• using LinkedIn and Platform One effectively to help you.

Presentation 

Selling Yourself: Talking to Employers & Networking (1.49 MB PDF)

Learn from recent Edinburgh MSC Mathematics graduates about some of the jobs they have gone into.

What do they do now, how did they get there and how did their Maths degree help them? There will be a wide variety of sectors represented.

Each of the alumni will speak for about 8 minutes, giving an overview of their career so far and some insight into their current role. The speakers will then answer questions from  the audience.

The speakers are:

The session will look at how to write effective CVs and covering letters, crucial for applying for casual jobs, further study and increasingly required to upload as part of an online application for internships and graduate job.

It will consider:

• the function of a CV
• recruiters perspective
• what to include (and omit)
• different approaches - chronological vs. skills-based
• covering letters - their purpose and what to include in them

Presentation

CVs (1.89 MB PDF)

If you are considering applying to research degrees (e.g. PhD) after your MSc then come along to find out more! This session will help you think about key considerations, look at where previous Edinburgh first degree and MSc graduates have gone to do their research, explain how to find PhDs and cover a little bit about funding and applying.

Current PhD students will then introduce themselves and talk briefly about their experiences.The session will then conclude with your chance to ask questions of the current PhD students and/or the careers consultant.

Presentation

Thinking about a PhD (927.04 KB PDF)

A session for students in the School of Mathematics, which aims to demystify what graduate recruiters and MSc admissions staff are looking for in an effective application. In particular:

How applications fit into the graduate selection process;How to prepare;How to tackle some of the typical questions;How to approach the "blank box" in a job application, or statement of purpose in a postgraduate application.

Statements for Postgraduate StudyResources to help you.

Presentation

Applying to Graduate Jobs (927.23 KB PDF)

How We Use Machine Learning in Banking and How We Got A Job Doing It

Some of the Data Science and AI team from one of Lloyds’ Engineering teams will be giving a discussion on their career paths into professional data science, as well as presenting projects that they’ve been working on. This will be an informal talk where they’ll discuss the different ways each of them got into the field and how they use machine learning to bring real value in a large corporation such as Lloyds Banking Group.

Presentation

A session to share the work they do and how the skills you are acquiring at Edinburgh University can be transferred into the workplace and used at Moody’s Analytics.

The presentation covers a brief introduction to the company and an overview into one of their mathematical models and software, giving an insight into the day to day work in the company.

Moody’s Analytics will also be recruiting graduates, and we are looking for top graduate talent. MA have opportunities for students with STEM (science, technology, engineering & maths) backgrounds, but also for students with a more IT-focused skillset, including computer programming & software degrees. We will also cover some of the details of the graduate programme and how to apply, followed by Q&A.

Moody’s Analytics helps capital markets and risk management professionals worldwide respond to an evolving marketplace with confidence. The company offers unique tools and best practices for measuring and managing risk through expertise and experience in credit analysis, economic research and financial risk management. By providing leading-edge software, advisory services, and research, including the proprietary analysis of Moody’s Investors Service, Moody’s Analytics integrates and customizes its offerings to address specific business challenges. Moody's Analytics is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO), which reported revenue of $5 billion in 2019, employs approximately 11,000 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 43 countries.

Presentation  

Moody's Analytics (2.46 MB PDF)

Whether you are applying for jobs, internships or PhDs, you will almost certainly have to have an interview.  Most students get a little anxious about interviews, but you needn’t!

This session from the Careers Service talk about what recruiters are looking for and how to anticipate their questions, so you can prepare your responses and improve your performance – and confidence!

Presentation  

Preparing for Interviews (1.19 MB PDF)

A session for students in the School of Mathematics, to help you understand the two key approaches to searching for undergraduate internships and graduate vacancies:

• Reactive Approach - knowing where to find vacancy listings to apply to;
• Proactive Approach - discovering how to uncover the opportunities that never get advertised!

There is also be time for questions at the end of the session.

Presentation  

Finding Jobs and Internships (2.14 MB PDF)

Quentin Dhumeaux, Operational Researcher for the Government Operational Research Service (GORS) talks about what it is like to work in government and he will share his experience and the types of projects he works on.

About the speaker

Quentin has a BSc in Mathematics and an MSc in OR with Data Science from Edinburgh university, he finished his Masters and joined the Civil Service last year.

His team helps policy makers/ ministers to make informed decisions about Housing Benefit. The team is composed of Economists, Social Researchers, Statisticians and Operational Researchers working on a wide range of topics, from migrant access to benefits to the benefit cap.

His work focuses around the amount people receive from Housing Benefit in different accommodation. He has been doing data matching and analysis in SAS and Excel to understand claimant behaviours and to predict the impact of policies. More recently, he has been involved with estimating the cost of new COVID policies and monitoring changes in the data.

He will mention opportunities with GORS for summer placements and permanent positions.

Presentation: 

Working for the Civil Service (1.52 MB PDF)