As we prepare for our professional careers after completing our Master’s, gaining insider insights and networking with industry leaders is invaluable.
The University of Edinburgh Business School facilitates such opportunities through events like the Employability & Careers Expo 2025. With panels, workshops, and networking sessions, the Expo served as a crucial bridge between education and employability.
I attended three sessions — here are my key takeaways.
How to succeed in assessment centres
Victoria Brice from Blick Rothenberg, a tax, accounting, and business advisory firm, shared insights on excelling in assessment centres.
The process begins with an application, followed by an online assessment (using Bryq) testing numerical, verbal, and logical skills, plus personality traits. A screening call precedes the final assessment day, which may be in person or virtual. Candidates also receive company presentations and, in some cases, an office tour.
Assessment centres vary across companies, but at Blick Rothenberg, the structure includes:
- An introduction to the organisation.
- An individual interview (covering situational, competency-based, and motivational questions).
- A group exercise assessing teamwork, communication, and critical thinking – where balancing between standing out and allowing others in your group to contribute is key; they are observing how well you manage this!
Victoria stressed preparation: researching the company (especially their values to see how well you align, and incorporating these into your responses), the role and associated professional qualifications; understanding personal motivations; and connecting with employees if possible.
Candidates should also prepare thoughtful questions (it is a two-way conversation!), dress appropriately, and request necessary adjustments or additional support in advance. Practising responses with family or friends ensures a natural delivery.
During the session, we applied this by pairing up for a 10-minute mock exercise, practising the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for structuring answers effectively.
How to ace an online interview
The session, led by Mia Eickhoff, Industry Manager at Google, was engaging, light-hearted, and energetic. We discussed how to prepare specifically for online interviews, including what that preparation entails and a day-of-interview checklist.
For a large company like Google, online interviews are a cost-effective, time-saving, and practical recruitment method. However, before COVID, Mia noted that Google flew applicants to Dublin for in-person interviews.
To succeed in an online interview:
- Test your tech (laptop, Wi-Fi, lighting, headphones) in advance.
- Research the employer and prepare small talk (e.g., location, work-from-home experience, passions).
- Dress appropriately (elevated, solid colours; avoid stripes and complex patterns) and minimise distractions (silence your phone, inform others to avoid interruptions).
- Set up a professional environment (good lighting, neutral background, comfortable chair).
- Check time zones and prepare relevant questions, such as 'What is important to you as a manager?' and 'What are your expectations for the first 60 days?'
- Use post-it notes or a cheat sheet for quick reference.
- Structure responses using the STAR method.
What is consulting?
This session, hosted by CAPCO, provided valuable insights into consulting as a career:
- Consultancy is very reactive; its operating context varies year by year.
- Consultants are brought in to enable change within organisations.
- Consultancy involves understanding evolving ‘languages’ (for example software development in 2020, AI in 2025) and helping clients transition and adapt.
- Being comfortable with discomfort is key in consultancy – leverage your available avenues of resources.
- Consultancy fosters an environment of self-accountability, time management and control, and trust-building with leadership and peers. Ultimately, individual autonomy and respect are qualities that you build for yourself throughout your career.
Overall, the Employability & Careers Expo 2025 was filled with valuable insights across a diverse lineup of sessions, including UN careers, finance, and sustainability panels. The event provided an excellent opportunity for students to learn not only from their peers but, more importantly, from industry leaders.
My main takeaway is the importance of people—how you interact with them, build meaningful connections, and create value for both colleagues and clients.