Meaghan Krohn completed the MSc Environmental Policy and Regulation in 2013. She is now an Environmental Defence Fund Climate Corps Fellow for Syniverse:
“LSE alumni events have helped me get interviews and allowed me to meet interesting people who may be great resources for future career moves. LSE Careers has also been a great resource in helping me refine my resume.“
Find out more about Meaghan and her experiences on the LSE graduate destinations web pages.
Nikolai completed the BSc Economics in 2011. He is now Senior Consultant for Oliver Wyman.
“I was looking for a role that would provide me with new challenges on a regular basis, allow me to have impact early on and work in a team. Consulting combines these three points very well.”
Find out more about Nikolai and his experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Shakira Chanrai completed the BSc Government at LSE in 2012. She is now Marketing Associate for Fidelity Worldwide Investment.
“Coming up with an idea is one thing; the ability to effectively socialise the idea with internal and external stakeholders, as well as obtain buy-in from senior management, is very important to succeed.”
Find out more about Shakira and her experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Daniel completed the BSc in accounting and finance in 2012. He is now an analyst for Morgan Stanley:
“My BSc Accounting and Finance has proven to be a strong competitive advantage in my current role as an IBD analyst. The tough LSE exams taught me to manage my time carefully and prioritise accordingly, which is vital in this business.“
Find out more about Daniel and his experiences on the LSE graduate destinations web pages.
Anis Abdullah completed the BSc Accounting and Finance at LSE in 2011. She is now a Senior Associate for PwC.
“As you have to work with a range of people and personalities, joining societies can be a sociable and relaxed way to learn to adapt to different people and make friendships that can last.”
Find out more about Anis and her experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Sahil Bans completed the BSc Management & Employment Relations at LSE in 2011. He is now an Analyst for Goldman Sachs.
“Whilst you’re at the school it is good to get some experience through springs & summer internships, even if you get rejected by all of them, the interview experience is valuable. “
Find out more about Sahil and his experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Christian Burke completed the MSc in Politics and Communication at LSE in 2011. He is now a Senior Strategic Advisor & Executive Assistant for the Ontario Public Service.
“I chose this job as it provided an opportunity to work with some of the leading policy developers in the OPS and to lead some entrepreneurial and cutting-edge policy initiatives that are having a significant impact on the province.”
Find out more about Christian and his experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Lawrence Coppin completed the BSc Environmental Policy at LSE in 2011. He is now a Technology Consultant for PwC.
“The best aspect of consulting is the exposure to multiple clients and industries which gives you an excellent breadth of business knowledge from the offset of your career.“
Find out more about Lawrence and his experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Shania Hassan completed the MSc in Development Studies at LSE in 2011. She is now a Consultant for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP).
“The UN provides an excellent learning opportunity amongst a cohort of brilliant experts and professionals. Each individual is committed to the cause of development. “
Find out more about Shania and her experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Jacob Hipps completed the MSc Economic History at LSE in 2011. He is now a Senior Manager in Global Supply Chain Strategy for Walmart.
“I keep a long-term view of career goals and try not to be too linear about my progression toward them. If the goals become a reference point, the intervening experiences can be invaluable in gaining perspective on what you originally set-out to achieve.“
Find out more about Jacob and his experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Joe Hoover completed the PhD in International Relations at LSE in 2011. He is now a Lecturer in International Politics at the City University London
“I chose to go into academia because it provides me with a great deal of freedom to structure my own time and I can focus on research that I find stimulating and rewarding. “
Find out more about Joe and his experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Alison Johnston completed the PhD in European Studies at LSE in 2011. She is now an Assistant Professor in Political Science at the Oregon State University.
“Take advantage of the research opportunities and get started early – if you want to enter academia, you’re going to need all the research experience AND research outputs that you can get because it’s a tough job market.“
Find out more about Alison and her experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Martin Karlsson completed the BSc International Relations at LSE in 2014. He is now an Adviser for European Affairs for the Swedish European Office.
“I help my employers to get the most out of the EU and to influence the policy process to ensure that European policy fits my employers’ needs.”
Find out more about Martin and his experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Guest blog by alumnus Lee Bailey, MSc Development Studies 2012-2013 and Director of Communications at the Natural Resource Governance Institute:
I recently had the pleasure of returning to LSE to speak with a number of students about their interests in the international development space, as well as communications work. As the director of communications at a policy institute/NGO, I felt I had some useful advice and tips to share. With the hope of benefiting more students, I’m sharing the same ideas here, in blog form.
Getting experience
Far and away the most common question younger LSE postgrad students seem to ask concerns the old chicken-or-egg conundrum of needing experience to land that first position in your desired field. Even entry-level jobs seem to require some relevant experience – so how do you get the experience, without having already had the entry-level job? The most common answer to this question is “get an internship“, which is valid advice. But beyond that, how can a student showcase his or her experience and/or familiarity with a topic such as international development?
Social media
Luckily, the internet has evolved to help. Twitter is an excellent way to follow and engage with “communities of practice” – and even to make something of a name for yourself among targeted employers. I recommend that students establish Twitter handles that they can use to follow the prominent individuals and organisations in a given field. After the student has learned the basics of Twitter and observed how people in the sector use it, he or she can start engaging through retweeting and posting original thoughts and informed comments. You can use the “about me” section of the Twitter registration to shape a profile that gives people the right impression – here is where you assert your interests and specialties. Don’t exaggerate or over claim – just be honest. “LSE postgrad working on gender and humanitarian issues” is a credible, strong statement for example (better for professional purposes than “Man U supporter and Candy Crush addict.“) I recommend that students who already use Twitter for social purposes consider establishing a separate handle for their professional/academic pursuits. Maintaining a Twitter feed that is suitable for both social and professional audiences is possible, but it can be tricky.
Having a visible track record on Twitter can demonstrate to an employer that you have a history of thinking about and engaging in issues relevant to the sector. All the better if the feed links to interesting content – especially if it’s your own. This is where a personal website or blog can come in handy. A blog can function as a repository for content you’ve generated, even if it’s relatively low-profile. You can post student essays and papers, and link to anything you might have published in an LSE journal, newsletter, or blog. LinkedIn is also a great place to share this content. Employers will understand that you may not have a long track record professionally, but will appreciate that even as a student you’ve engaged in the issues and promoted your own ideas. The idea is to convey that you’re a budding specialist, rather than new to it all.
Networking
Another piece of advice I share is “attend events“. LSE’s London location means that those interested in international development and affairs have an active calendar of events on which to draw. Yes, we all know “networking” is important, but most LSE students don’t tap the pool of institutions in London from which to build a network. Put yourself on the mailing lists of NGOs and think tanks like ODI, Global Witness, Chatham House, and others; not to mention the relevant departments of institutions like LSE, SOAS, University College London (UCL), King’s College London, and Oxford University. At events, ask questions in Q&As, and don’t be afraid to approach experts after panel discussions. Tell them who you are, what your interests are, what interest you about them, and ask for their business cards. If your interest is in communications work, find the staff who are organizing the event, compliment them on it, and learn more about how their communications operations function.
Your CV
When it comes to actually applying for positions, the best piece of advice I got (from Shaun Harris of LSE Careers) was to be sure to include the “profile” segment at the top of my CV. Akin to the self-positioning on Twitter I mentioned before, this is a free-form space for you to promote yourself in exactly the way you want to be seen. As an employer myself, the first thing I look at is an applicant’s CV, and the top of the first page is of course what I see first. If he or she persuades me there to keep reading, then that is a major gain. Again, be truthful, but assertive. “LSE postgraduate candidate, with working knowledge of aid transparency initiatives and demonstrable research and communications skills” is much stronger than “LSE student seeking position in international development.” You should tailor these statements to the job or organisation for which you’re applying. Also, if you can share in your CV any quantifiable results – whether in your desired field or another one – that is very impressive to employers. Whether they pertain to your research, your track record increasing social media followings, or hits on your blog, numbers sometimes speak louder than words.
Hopefully these tips will be help with the search. Good luck!
Dimitrios Lais completed the MSc Global Politics at LSE in 2011. He is now a PhD student at the University of York.
“Do not let certain ‘imposed’ career routes guide your whole experience, but, at the same time, do cultivate those qualities that will lead you where you really want. “
Find out more about Dimitrios and his experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Sophia Latsos completed the MSc Economic History at LSE in 2011. She is now a Research Analyst at the European Central Bank.
“I chose to work for the European Central Bank because I truly believe in the project of the European Union and that of the common currency.”
Find out more about Sophia and her experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Nimisha Dua completed the MSc International Employment Relations and Human Resource Management at LSE in 2012. She is now a Manager Organisational Development at ConAgra Foods.
“Human Resources is dynamic and ever changing with organisations increasingly giving HR a role to play in aiding business performance and recognizing HR professionals as business partners. .”
Find out more about Nimisha and her experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Yimo Yang completed the MSc in Management Science at LSE in 2012. She is now a Senior Associate at China Securities Co.
“Investment bankers recognise LSE and to a certain degree you are ensured an interview with investment banks if you are a graduate from LSE.”
Find out more about Yimo and her experiences on the graduate destinations web pages.
Rachel Lim completed the MSc in Management Science at LSE in 2012. She is now works in Corporate Finance at Employees Provident Fund.
“I managed to brush up my networking skills at LSE and gained insight of the relevant skills and qualities that employers are seeking for.”
Find out more about Rachel and her experiences on the graduate destinations web pages
Vijay Tiwari completed the MSc in ADMIS at LSE in 2012. He is now works as a regional manager at Macquarie Group/AT&T.
“Do not limit yourself to 1-2-3 things, LSE has tons of things to learn and explore on campus. Cash the brand LSE as much as you can!”
Find out more about Vijay and his experiences on the graduate destinations web pages
