Showcasing a business continuity and resilience career to university students

• 21 Feb 2020
• Catherine

• Blog
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Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), Law, Policing and Criminology careers event ‘Meet the Employers Event’

I was invited as a CCCU Alumni to attend The School of Law, Policing and Criminology ‘Meet the Employers’ careers event. I considered this an excellent opportunity to showcase business continuity and resilience as a career option to students who may not even be aware of the exciting career opportunities within our sector. I took copies of the BCI Supply Chain and Horizon Scan Report to discuss the opportunities, areas of work and topics available to the students. The event ran as a speed networking event: students would have 15 minutes at each table to ask questions or have a general discussion before the buzzer would ring and they had to move on. This meant I had to perfect what was effectively an “elevator pitch” for our industry, but it was one which was clearly met with fascination from the students attending. Other organizations who attended included the Civil Service Fast Track, Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan/Kent Police.

When I attended the university, I found it invaluable to have connections within the workforce. Choosing the right career is something which can only truly be showcased by those who are already working in the industry and by learning from professionals; a wealth of new options can be opened up and clear pathways to those careers determined. This is one of the main reasons I volunteer and take time to speak to those who are in the same position I was in. I know how confusing it can be: not knowing which modules to select, not being aware of which degree to choose – or even knowing where to live! One of the popular questions I was asked was whether or not a Masters degree would be useful; many considered this to be the natural next step, but had failed to consider other avenues such as continued learning in the early careers through professional qualifications such as the CBCI certification course. 

I think it is important for graduates to understand that many practitioner roles straight from university will be as a graduate, administrator or assistant. While the roles may not be the most thrilling from the start, it is important to persevere to gain the knowledge and experience to both move to the next stage in a career, as well as providing the skills and experience needed before specialising in a particular niche. Even the most entry-level positions can help provide a holistic view of the workplace environment as well as a real-life showcase of the range of careers available in the resilience industry. No job is a wasted job!

Another point which was stressed was that the ideal job may not be available on graduation. In my own experience, I had two years of unpaid work experience in various companies whilst temping before my first permanent role. Although the period was fairly stressful, I now appreciate how it helped me grow as an individual and also helped me build a wealth of knowledge and experience which I have been able to use to progress my career within a paid environment.

For students considering a career in the resilience industry, I highly recommend making the most of networking opportunities – even if it’s just meeting an industry practitioner over a coffee. Local BCI chapters can help connect you with professionals who would be keen to impart advice, whilst the BCI Mentoring Programme can be invaluable to those who are just starting their career within the sector.