This week we launched our U6 new on-line programme of advice and preparation for the increasingly demanding and competitive graduate recruitment processes that our leavers will encounter in the future.
 

Mrs Åsa Norrie, Head of Global Strategic Alliances with Aberdeen Standard Investments, St George’s parent and member of School Council, was our opening speaker on Monday 11 May. In an hour-long live presentation and Q&A session, she and one of her recent graduate recruits covered topics such as how to prepare for gruelling Assessment Centre interviews, the value of languages or of a year in industry.  

Over forty of our Upper 6 joined the online session, and asked some excellent questions. Some examples are below: 

• To what extent do you take into consideration the degrees that candidates have? 

• Do you recommend a year of industrial placement or summer internships? 

• Will postponing the internships from 2020 until 2021 have an impact on your internship intake for 2021?  

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Over the coming weeks, we will be hosting similar events featuring the law, manufacturing, technology and media. We are most grateful to our parents and alumnae who are volunteering their time and expertise to support this programme. 

Programme of Events

1. Virtual Live Speaker Programme - weekly live presentations with a guest speaker (every Monday at 1pm):

Week 1: 11 May - Åsa Norrie  

Mrs Åsa Norrie, Head of Global Strategic Alliances at Aberdeen Standard Investments.  

Mrs Norrie and her colleague Nicola Skrastin shared their tips for successful interviews in a competitive market.  

Week 2:  18 May – Laurent Guillaumin 

Laurent Guillaumin is a Business Development Director for a French Industrial company manufacturing cable. Laurent is going to give an insight into his business and link this with interview tips and advice, whilst bringing in the international angle. 

Week 3: 1 June – Gary Connel 

Gary Connel is a Chartered Accountant and currently Finance Director for a tech company specialising in Optics.  He is going to talk about his current interview process which is very much tailored to understand how the candidate will fit into the business as opposed to an interrogation of the candidate's CV.  

Week 4: 8 June – Alistair Drummond 

Alistair Drummond is Head of Litigation for DLA Piper. He is also on the graduate panel for the firm. Alistair's session will cover both intern (during studies) and post-qualification applications to global commercial law firms.  

Week 5: 15 June – Jane Turton 

Jane Turton is the CEO of All3 Media. She is also on the Board of a number of media organisations, a member of the Royal Television Society Board of Trustees and on the Edinburgh International Television Festival Board. Jane is going to talk to the girls about the varied path she took to get where she is today and life in the world of Media. 

2. Upper 6 Project: 'Perspectives on the Pandemic'

• This project studies some aspect of the on-going pandemic through the lens of the subject area the girls in U6 are going on to study at university/college or an aspect which particularly interests them. 
• The projects are completed individually or in groups.
• Contributions will be collated and publish in the future and they will be added to the school archive.

3. Online courses to help prepare for university life (free courses)

• 'Managing my Money for Young Adults'. Via OpenLearn
• First Aid
• Study Skills
• Subject-specific online courses