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What did you study at university?

I studied Business Management with Accounting and Finance at Nottingham Trent University. I realised very early on the management side was of more interest than finance.

Where did you first learn of the Graduate Scheme?

When I began looking for graduate roles, I was looking at operations management positions. I wanted something fast paced but was not particularly focused on any specific sector. I came across bet365’s and decided to look further into it. As a big sports fan, I knew the brand and when reading about the role it was one that really interested me.

How did you find the assessment centre?

With it being my first formal interview for a graduate position I was not sure what to expect but I was very impressed with how the day was laid out. As soon as I arrived, I began conversations with colleagues of mine now that had been with the company for a long period of time. This was a theme throughout the day, and it was particularly interesting in my interviewing hearing about their experiences and what opportunities the business had opened for them. In addition to the interview, we completed a numeracy test as well as some team building exercises which were well organised and tested your ability to think clearly and concisely under pressure.

I left the assessment feeling as though I understood what the role would entail and the type of person they were looking for. Fortunately, I did not have to wait too long to find out the outcome.

How did you find relocating to the area and the support you received?

The move to Stoke was seamless and the company were extremely supportive in arranging housing. This allowed me to focus on getting used to the role and the surrounding area and not having to rush into finding a place of my own. Within this time, two other graduates moved into the property and shortly after we found our own house together. I was very appreciative of this, and it is definitely a benefit that not many companies would look to offer.

What was your favourite part of the graduate scheme?

The rotations were extremely useful to understand how the wider operation functions. I had the opportunity to spend time with both customer facing and supporting teams which allowed me to build a well varied network which continues to assist me in my current role today. In addition to this, the mentor programme was invaluable to me. To meet with senior management on a frequent basis gave me an opportunity to understand their path within bet365 and to seek guidance within my positions at the time as well as mapping out my next steps within the company.

Did you know what area of the operations you wanted to work within?

From the outset, I really enjoyed customer service and the fast-paced ever-changing nature of the department and company really interested me. The size and diverse nature of the department is quite unique to other departments also, and the opportunity to manage a larger team I thought would have the greatest impact in honing my managerial skills. I am an avid sports fan so the opportunity to utilise my knowledge in this area and working in accordance with the sporting calendar is something that came very natural to me and I felt at ease with. In addition to this and the primary reason for returning to customer service was from the positive management role models I had around me. There was plenty of examples of graduates returning to the department and progressing quickly; something that I was very much focused on.

From the outset, one of the reasons I took the role was from the opportunity to work abroad. From speaking with my peers and managers, a lot of these opportunities opened up for those within customer service and this was not something I wanted to miss out on.

Tell me about your current role and the journey you’ve had since completing the scheme.

Following my rotations, I returned to Customer Service and took up the position of Customer Service Supervisor. Within three months of being in the role, an opportunity was advertised for a year secondment to our New Jersey office to assist in the upskilling and growth of the department. I registered my interest and fortunately I was successful.

I spent the next 12 months working closely with the US Supervisor team before being promoted into my current position of Customer Service Deputy Manager which I have been in since January. The opportunity to experience a different culture and play a role in improving standards and performance is something I am particularly proud of.

Having the opportunity to work in one of our other sites and assist with establishing it as an independent entity has been crucial to my personal development. Understanding our customer base and how we operate in the US has opened my eyes to the scale of the business which is something I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Being able to train and up-skill my colleagues has allowed me to enhance my knowledge and capability in the role which is now assisting me to thrive in the Deputy Manager position.

I now look forward to moving across to Denver to assist in the opening of our new office and the opportunities and challenges it will bring. It really is satisfying to look back on the opportunities I have already had within my short time with the company, and I look forward to what is to come in the future.

One aspect of the role I have really enjoyed is the opportunity to be directly involved in the development of our staff of all levels, this is extremely rewarding and in my current position I am able to oversee the development of the department with regards to progression and succession planning.

How would you describe the opportunities you’ve been presented with since completing the scheme?

I have been really impressed with opportunities that have presented themselves from my time within the company. My focus since joining the company was to fulfil the position that I was completing to the best of my ability and from these certain doors have opened which is really pleasing.

Any tips for those applying?

I would encourage anyone that is thinking of applying to complete their own research to ensure they understand what it is that they are applying for. I would suggest reaching out to other graduates that have been on the scheme to understand their takeaways and to get a feeling whether the position is right for them.

What university did you attend?

I studied Criminology at the University of Liverpool.

What is your favourite food?

If I had to pick one food, I would probably say sushi. There are so many different types of sushi, but you definitely cannot beat a bit of sushi! It’s good, as it’s a healthy food, and not fast food, but then again, I still love fast food.

What is your favourite film?

I really like thrillers; my favourite thriller is Seven. I liked it because I guessed everything that was going to happen in the film. Another film I really like is Shutter Island, if you have not watched it, you need to watch it! I don’t want to give too much away as there is a surprise in the plot. Leonardo DiCaprio is in it, and he plays a detective, if I talk about it and you’ve not watched it, it will ruin the film, all I am going to say is that it’s a must watch film.

What did you do after university?

I went on a few holidays, I wouldn’t necessarily say travelling as such, but I had the opportunity to go and visit one of my university friends in South Africa, it was lovely to visit my friend and explore the country at the same time. Whilst there I climbed Table Mountain, however as I went in September when I got to the top, I couldn’t see anything. I went on safari, and almost saw the big five, buffalos were the only one I didn’t see, however I have seen the other main ones, so I cannot complain. The food there is some of the best food I have ever had. We went to a local restaurant, and I had the best steak I have ever had, it was melted in your mouth, it was incredible. This is one reason I would go back, as I’m a massive foodie. When I was in South Africa, I explored Cape Town, and I travelled to Johannesburg. Following on from my time there, I made a couple of trips to Spain, one of which was. Barcelona. I love Barcelona, it is my favourite place to go in the world, I’ve been there three times, I love the beach, the place, it’s just amazing.

Do you have anything exciting coming up?

I’m planning on going on holiday again, however I’ve just come back from Spain and Portugal. Whilst away we travelled from Lisbon, went round to Lagos and onto Albufeira. I love the culture, and the food of these two countries. Whilst aboard I did cave kayaking which was a different experience, and some of the restaurants had all you could eat sushi, which was really good. The next destinations I want to visit are Turkey and Morocco, but I need to wait a little while.

Interesting fact about yourself

When I was exploring Western Australia, I got lost in the outback. We were staying in a beach side town, which it had taken ten hours to travel to, and we went out one evening and started chatting to some locals who originated from the UK. When we were leaving the destination, I didn’t exactly follow the right path, as I thought where we were staying was one way, and my boyfriend thought it was the other way. After walking for 30-40 minutes, I’d realised I’d the gone the wrong way; luckily, I saw lights in the distance and followed them, where I found civilisation, and a local took me back to where I was staying.

If you could have dinner with a famous person, who would it be and why?

It would probably be Lady Gaga. Not only is her music amazing, her style and attitude iconic, but she uses her platform to advocate and give a voice to marginalised groups.

What’s your biggest achievement so far on the bet365 Operations Management Graduate Scheme?

I would say that my biggest achievement so far would be successfully completing my training and induction, reaching a stage where I am more independent, and can confidently tackle a variety of customer queries. I overcame moments where I doubted myself and can confidently say that the colleagues I have met so far really helped me in overcoming these moments of self-doubt.

What university did you attend?

I studied Biomedical Science at Leeds Beckett University. I went to Leeds due to the student city culture, there was always lots going on and a variety of sports I had rugby, football and the cricket on the doorstep.

Did you relocate for the position?

Yes, although I studied in Leeds, I originate from St Helens; when applying for this graduate scheme, I knew a relocation to Stoke would be required.

What’s your favourite film?

It has got to be La La Land, I don’t know why this film is my favourite, however, I do love Ryan Gosling as an actor. I love the film, especially the ending of it, when they don’t get together and they should, it’s just emotional.

I know I’ve already provided one of my favourites, but another film to watch is Everything Everywhere all at once, it’s a mind bending sci-fi, I like different films, it’s won loads of awards and is a definite must watch.

What do you like doing outside of work?

I love playing golf; it’s a great way to socialise with my mates too, especially when I go back to Liverpool. I’m a big fan of American Football and NBA; I can sit and watch the NFL for hours and I’m engaged throughout. I enjoy running, and going to the gym, I would say these are the things that take up a lot of my spare time.

Although, football is a huge passion as well, should time permit, I want to start playing again. The team I support, and follow is Man City, the reason behind me supporting them is when I was younger, I wanted to be different and support a team which wasn’t Liverpool.

What is your favourite food?

You can’t beat food! It’s the greatest thing in the world. If we’re talking about my favourite food, it has to be a burger, I like to think of myself as a burger connoisseur. The best burger I ever had was in Vietnam, as I went back packing there after university.

Provide an insight into your travels

I went to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. I also decided to go to Japan for two weeks by myself, once I had experienced this beautiful country, I went back to Thailand to explore the islands, moving over to Singapore, The Philippines, and Qatar. My favourite destination was Japan; however, I would love to go back to Vietnam, whilst there I did the Ha Giang Loop which is a four-day road trip on a motorbike, that has to be the best thing I did out of the whole six months. Not forgetting that I caved through the fourth largest cave in the world, I love stuff like this, I absolutely love the adrenaline.

What’s an interesting fact about yourself?

I was born in America and moved to the UK when I was younger. Being able to have the opportunity to spend my school holidays in Florida and going to Disneyworld was an amazing experience.

If you could have dinner with one famous person, who would it be?

It would have to be Lebron James for his famous Taco Tuesdays; he is the greatest athlete of all time, and I would just like to be able to tell people that I have had the opportunity to meet him and talk about how he’s been at the top of the game for the last 20 years.

What’s your biggest achievement so far on the bet365 Operations Management Graduate Scheme?

My biggest achievement so far is seeing my team progress/develop due to the result of my developing/coaching. I took over a team of new advisors and watching them improve into feeling comfortable in the role, makes me proud.

What university did you attend?

I studied Biomedical Science at Lancaster University. The reason I chose Lancaster was because it was one of the few universities I had visited prior to applying, and I liked the look of the campus. Being from Manchester, I did not have a huge appeal to go to a big city university and wanted somewhere fairly relaxed, yet still in the north.

Did you relocate for the position?

Yes, however I didn’t live too far away from Stoke, and was familiar with the area. I have played pool here quite a few times with my university.

What’s your favourite film?

That’s not an easy question, it depends on the genre; growing up as a child my favourite film was How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. My mum is very much into rom coms, and we used to watch it all the time. In terms of a trilogy, I would say Men in Black, however the Equalizer trilogy is probably my all-time favorite as I think Denzel is the greatest actor of all time.

What do you like doing outside of work?

I’m a huge pool and snooker fan, I enjoy playing in the local pool hall, it’s my love outside of work, I didn’t realise until university how good I was, and I’ve been asked to play in a local team from July.

When I relocated to Stoke the season had already started, however I can now get stuck in, and be involved competitively. In my spare time, I like going to the gym, watching TV series, playing chess, however my main love is pool and snooker.

I like to venture out of Stoke to go and see my friends from university too; Stoke is really good for its transportation links, you can go anywhere in the UK, with it being centrally located, either by driving or getting the train. I do enjoy my music, and I like to go to raves and events, I’m really into my drum and bass, house and techno music.

What is your food favourite?

My favourite food is probably a curry, the spicy the better! Vindaloo is my favourite, however it can depend on the curry house, as sometimes they’re not that spicy. I acquired a love for spice over the last three years, I was never a real fan of hot and spicy food when I was growing up.

If you could have dinner with a famous person, who would it be and why?

It would probably be Elon Musk, as I would love to gain a better understanding of his philosophies when creating a successful business, and how he is able to effectively manage his time across the different companies that he owns. I would also love to hear about where he thinks technology will lead us to in the future and what he thinks the world will look like in 10-20 years.

What’s your biggest achievement so far on the bet365 Operations Management Graduate Scheme?

I would say my biggest achievement so far on the Graduate Scheme would be the connections that I have been able to make across the company, given the relatively small amount of time that I have worked here. I feel I have built trusting relationships that I have been able to rely on for guidance, and advice whenever required, which also brings even more enjoyment to the scheme itself.

What university did you attend?

I studied Business and Criminology at Bath Spa University. I choose to go to Bath because I loved the city, but also the countryside feel. It felt like it was the best of both worlds as I have lived in the countryside all my life.

Did you need to relocate for the Graduate Scheme?

No, I live locally, meaning I did not need to relocate for the scheme.

What is your favourite food?

It has to be a roast dinner with all the trimmings. My favourite is a beef dinner with two Yorkshire puddings, not forgetting cauliflower cheese, cauliflower cheese is one of the best parts.

What is your favourite film?

This is one question I need to think about, however, if I had to pick a favourite film, it would probably be The Notebook, I love a classic romantic story, but it does make me cry.

Tell me an interesting fact about yourself

I’ve skied since I was three years old, and I’ve had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in France with my family. When I was 18, I broke my back sledging on the lugee. I went sledging one afternoon, it was icy, yet sunny, and I was on a plastic sledge; when I was going down the lugee, I hit a mound and injured myself, cracking one of my vertebra; I was unable to travel home in the traditional way, so I had travel flat in the back of a car for 17 hours, although this has not deterred me from continuing to ski.

What did you do after university?

Initially, I decided to do a ski season in France, as you can tell, I just love skiing. At the time I wasn’t prepared for the corporate world, and wanted a break before focusing on my career. After France, I went to Australia for three months, exploring the East coast, with the best part being the great barrier reef, snorkeling is incredible there. I cannot put into words how surreal it was to witness how the coral was breathing.

Once I had explored Australia, I knew my travels were not complete, so I came home for a week, and then decided to venture to Italy to be an au pair. I went to an area in Tuscany called Forte dei Marmi, it was such a beautiful and amazing place to live. I looked after a 13-year-old girl working Monday to Friday and had weekends to myself. I was living my best life. When I was there, I met a bunch a girls who had all moved to au pair. We travelled round Italy, visiting Rome, Pisa, Milan, and other areas, it was just incredible.

Anything exciting plans that you have up and coming?

At the moment I’m saving for a house; I’m looking to buy a renovation to put my own personal touch to, but that’s a while off yet.

If you could have dinner with a famous person, who would it be and why?

It would definitely be Winston Churchill, to be able to ask him about his life, how he got to the position of Prime Minister and how he dealt/made the decisions he did with the pressure which was on his shoulders.

Do you have a favourite book?

My favourite is It Ends With Us, it’s a very well written and gripping book. (I finished it within a day!)

What is your go to family board game?

Monopoly – I am very competitive; however, I am that competitive that it is not allowed to be played in the family household!

What was your favourite subject at school and why?

Economics. I loved learning about all things relating to the economy, such as interest rates and why they have such a big impact on the economy.

What’s your biggest achievement so far on the bet365 Operations Management Graduate Scheme?

I would say that my biggest achievement is proving to myself that I can do it. Going from university to a full-time job in a field which you have never experienced before is very daunting but, also I have found it very rewarding. It has allowed me to believe in myself and feel ready for the next steps in my career.

What is your role at bet365?

My role at bet365 involves working across both the Corporate and International Tax teams. The responsibilities I have in this role can be quite varied, from supporting in the collation and analysis of financial information for the UK tax returns to assisting in advisory work for our growing presence in international markets.

Tax compliance is a huge part of the team’s role within bet365 and the world of tax can be very dynamic, with new regulations and challenges emerging regularly. Members of the tax team here are always very keen to get you involved in new projects, so there is a good balance of both compliance and advisory responsibilities and a constantly changing scope of work.

Is this your first role with bet365?

Starting my career after the pandemic presented a unique set of challenges not normal for most graduates, including a year without work or structured studying due to lockdowns. Re-entering work and studying after such a long time off and entering a new environment seemed daunting. However, the Tax Team and wider business have been nothing but amazing, doing everything possible to make me feel welcome, comfortable and equipped to succeed in my first professional role.

What training did/do you receive to support you with you role?

The formal qualifications you will study for as a Tax Graduate is the ATT and CTA which is fully funded and arranged by bet365 as part of the graduate programme. The support I’ve received during my studies so far has been great, everyone within the team has been through professional studying so not only have a wealth of technical knowledge to help me understand the content and the experience of how to get the most out of my studies, but also the challenges I will face juggling work and learning.

There has also been numerous opportunities for personal development within the business, with dedicated programmes that focus on my own goals and have helped me gain skills that will benefit me both personally and professionally.

What is the most challenging part about your role?

There are many aspects to the role that can be challenging at times, with the nature of tax compliance you are never too far away from a deadline, meaning you need to be organised and have the ability to manage and prioritise workloads. The consistent stream of new projects and markets brings with it puzzling questions and complex topics, it can be difficult at times to take these challenges on and getting used to being out of your comfort zone while you work towards a solution.

What is your biggest achievement so far at bet365?

My biggest achievement so far is of course passing my ATT Personal Tax exam in November. Working full time and studying in your own is challenging and although achievable requires a lot of effort. Having now passed the first exam this has given me the encouragement and belief to take into the next and get one step closer to becoming qualified.

What do you enjoy about your team?

My favourite part of working in the Tax Team is definitely the people. On a daily basis I get to work with and learn from colleagues some of whom have upwards of 35 years of experience, so it’s been very valuable having such knowledgeable people willing to mentor me through the role and industry. The team have always been keen to include me in important meetings and projects that involve first hand collaboration with some of the leading figures in the company, which has been an invaluable way to learn and grow.

Would you recommend bet365 – if so why?

Absolutely, bet365 have always done as much as possible to support my personal and professional growth. Their commitment to invest in their staff has always been clear in not only my experience, but also in other people I have spoken to around the business.

What tips would you give to somebody applying to bet365?

Be sure to prepare by researching about bet365 as a business, the gambling industry and how it relates to the world of tax. Don’t be put off applying just because you haven’t had any specific experience in the field of tax or finance. I studied Law at university but applied because I always had an interest in business and finance, so I took the leap and haven’t looked back since. Part of what makes the team work so well is that it is full of professionals from mixed backgrounds and disciplines.

We are currently recruiting for passionate and ambitious marketing graduates to join our rotational Marketing Graduate Programme.

The programme is a comprehensive rotation through key Marketing departments where you will gain an understanding of the processes behind the brand’s positioning, identity and communications and media strategy.

Working in an industry leading global operation the programme offers graduates a unique opportunity to gain valuable insight and understanding of how our multi-platform sites, offered in over 20 languages, are planned an managed.

We caught up with Alper Ozan, who is currently on the Graduate Programme working as a Sports and Betting News Content Producer, to find out about his experiences so far and to give you more insight into what your future career could have in store.

How did you join bet365?

I first became aware of the bet365 Marketing Graduate Scheme when attending my University Careers Fair. The team on the stand were very helpful and answered any questions I had regarding the programme. I applied shortly afterwards as I felt that my degree in Marketing, and the placement year I completed in my relevant field, would stand me in good stead for the initial interview and assessment day. The onboarding process was great as we were trained alongside other marketing graduates. This helped to create long lasting friendships and work relationships as it was a very inclusive experience and definitely helped me to settle in.

What’s the best thing about the Scheme?

The best thing about the scheme is the amount of departments you get to experience and key learning opportunities provided. You get to be involved in the more creative areas such as Video Content and Sports and Betting News, as well as more organisational teams like Marketing Support and Marketing Delivery which may be better suited for some people.

The opportunities you get are also endless, with rotations in both the Malta and Gibraltar offices, you are given a better understanding of how bet365 operates at a global scale which allows you to think outside the UK bubble.

Support training:

The support you receive from the team is great, you will have monthly catch up meetings with a mentor from senior management and a ‘buddy’, who is a former graduate. Both are extremely useful for reflecting on your current rotation and having someone to talk to. During the first week we had a very enjoyable training experience which was inclusive to all employees regardless of prior betting knowledge.

What were your impressions of the business?

When I first started at the company, the size of the office and amount of people was quite daunting having come from an SME. However, I quickly learnt that even though there are so many people, you get to interact with many diverse groups which is a great way to network internally.

It can be quite easy to feel pressure especially when talking to senior management but it was nice to find that everyone was so friendly and open to questions regardless of their role.

What do you do now?

Although I am relatively new to the scheme, I have already been involved in so much! I am currently in Sports and Betting News as a Content Producer which involves creating engaging sports content to drive traffic to the main site. This has included Fantasy Premier League Gameweek articles and updates to specific events such as Zhang vs Joyce 2.

In my previous department I was an Analyst within Marketing Support. The team is essential in providing a clear structure and timeline for offers being released and I was able to manage my own projects from start to finish, conversing with all marketing teams to organise a successful timeline for all marketing to be delivered efficiently.

Would you recommend the Marketing Scheme?

Definitely. Having also spoken to previous graduates, who are now in more senior positions, there is a very clear route for progression which is perfect for someone looking to grow with a company that takes care of them.

What advice would you give to someone looking to apply?

If you have a strong work ethic and an open mind to different roles then you will thrive at bet365. The company invests heavily in its graduates and it’s very clear they want you to succeed and move further up the ladder. During your interview and at the assessment day just be yourself and remember to work as a team.

We caught up with Charlotte Addison who joined the Finance Graduate Scheme in May 2022. Relocating from Harrogate, Charlotte has settled well in her role at bet365 managing to pass 5 accountancy exams whilst spending time in 2 different areas of the Finance functions.

What do you do at bet365?

I currently work within the Management Accounts and Statutory Reporting team. The team prepare Management and Statutory accounts for approximately 100 different entities across the Group whilst ensuring both internal and external deadlines are met in relation to audit deadlines. Currently I work with a jurisdictional focus on our Maltese entities. I assist with the preparation of periodic management accounts and conducting checks to ensure accuracy of data, which allows management to make timely and informed decisions.

What do you enjoy about your current role?

I enjoy working in management accounts as I appreciate the analytical nature of the work and take satisfaction from posting journals that will help to contribute to the finalised financial reports. One of my favourite tasks is using financial data to create an exchange summary which then can be used to analyse the effect of changes in exchange rates over the period. The positive work environment throughout the team further enhances my overall enjoyment of the role.

What is the most challenging part of your role?

One of the challenges I encounter within this role is when posting period-end journals. As we approach the end of each period, there is an increased workload with tight deadlines to ensure that all financial transactions are recorded accurately. The time sensitive nature of the process can sometimes lead to a high-pressure environment, with attention to detail needed to prevent errors.

What is your biggest achievement so far?

I think my biggest achievement so far would be completing the CIMA operational level earlier this year as achieving this qualification is important to me as it should help me progress within the company. Whilst I still have several more exams to pass, I have the encouragement and support from the senior management team and my colleagues to complete the next two levels and become fully qualified.

What training and support has been made available to you?

bet365 offer a comprehensive study package where funding and resources are available to provide me with the best opportunity to allow me to complete my CIMA qualification. There is also the opportunity to participate in a personal effectiveness programme, which involves attending workshops for a wide range of modules which focus on enhancing personal and professional skills. Additionally there is direct support and training from my line manager and encouragement throughout the team which is especially important when rotating into a new role.

What do you enjoy about working for bet365?

I genuinely enjoy working for bet365 as I find the work engaging with lots of opportunities for development as the company continues to grow year-on-year. There is a positive working environment with great support from management who are always there to help and share their knowledge. I also enjoy the fact that we not only work well together as a team but we are encouraged to socialise with organised events throughout the year.

What made you choose bet365?

I chose bet365 as I was impressed by their graduate scheme with the opportunity to rotate through different teams within finance which would allow me to gain a wide range of experience. I also liked the fact that the company is a leader in its field and known for looking after their employees, offering great employee benefits. For example I was offered a relocation package at the beginning of my employment which helped me settle in quickly.

Would you recommend bet365?

I would definitely recommend working at bet365 as there are lots of career development opportunities within the finance department and scope to gain a wide range of experience. I have really enjoyed my first year here, the dynamic work environment, interesting tasks, and supportive team have made it a fulfilling experience.

What is your role at bet365?

I am a Junior Software Developer working in the Site Services team. Our team is responsible for both the website and the apps, covering the sports and in-play sections. So far, I’ve been focused on frontend web development, but I’ve had the opportunity to do app development for both Android and iOS with plans to do more in the future, as well as starting some backend development. Our team consists of frontend, backend and app developers which allows us to work on a variety of projects at once. The work we do consists of adding new features, bug fixes and reducing technical debt in our software.

Is this your first role with bet365?

This is my first role within bet365. I did a placement year elsewhere as part of my degree, so I had some experience working which helped my transition into the workplace after my graduation. Entering the workplace after university can seem daunting but I was supported from the start at bet365. I was encouraged to take time learning the technologies and systems, which was helpful when working with a much larger codebase than any I had seen at university. Everyone in my team has been very supportive, ready to help me at a moment’s notice with questions that I may have. Soft skills are especially important in the workplace, with communication being vital when consistently working in collaborative environments.

What technologies do you work with?

As I’ve been focused on frontend web development to start with, I’ve predominantly been using Typescript and CSS. The apps are written in Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS, which has allowed me to gain experience working with these. Backend development uses Go, which is a programming language that I’ve never used before. Fortunately, we have lots of training resources for all the technologies we use, which has allowed me to quickly learn anything that is new to me.

What training did you receive to support you with your role?

When I started at bet365, I was given time to complete a custom made bootcamp which reflected a simplified version of the bet365 system. I undertook a range of tasks alongside reading documentation which allowed me to gain a full understanding of how everything works. At every step I was supported by teammates; I received feedback on all the tasks I completed to ensure that I fully understood what I had done and the best approach for each task. I’ve also been given time to complete Pluralsight courses, allowing me to further develop my skills in areas that interest me.

What is the most challenging part about your role?

One interesting challenge, which is not something that I did at university, is the regular context switching. I work in a variety of areas across the site and will often be working in a few different ones at any one time. I need to context switch between these different areas and my understanding of different parts of the system to allow me to effectively utilise my time. For example, I may receive feedback on my code changes for one piece of work at the same time as finishing another, so I need to recall the work that I previously did on a completely different area to allow me to continue working. Working like this has allowed me to greatly improve my skills as a software developer, I need to quickly understand the purpose and logic of a section of code by reading it. It has also encouraged me to write more readable code and improve my communication skills as my prior messages can act as reminders to the work I completed.

What is your biggest achievement so far at bet365?

When starting at bet365, I was initially focused on support tickets. This allowed me to work on a wide range of different parts of the site, fixing bugs in a variety of areas. Since then, I have begun to work on projects, which brings about new challenges. My biggest achievement so far has been the work that I did on the in-play cricket bet builder project. I was the frontend developer for this project, working closely with the backend developers in my team. I was given the freedom and responsibility to decide the best approach and solution to the challenges that we faced, undertaking regular discussions with the backend developers to agree upon our solutions.

What do you enjoy about your team?

The thing that I enjoy most about my team is that everyone is happy to help and always support. If there is ever anything that I don’t fully understand, the entire team is willing to answer any questions I have which has been hugely beneficial in my development and growth. The support of my team has allowed me to learn quickly so that I can pick up any new challenges that come my way.

Would you recommend bet365?

I would recommend bet365 for a new graduate. You will be supported from the start with bootcamps available as training and continual help throughout once you have finished the bootcamp. There are constantly new things to learn and exciting things to work on.

What tips would you give to somebody applying to bet365?

Make sure to be interested in a broad range of topics with a specific focus on what you’re applying to. For example, you may be an enthusiastic iOS developer so ensure you have a deep understanding there but don’t neglect your knowledge of wider software engineering and other technologies. Spend some time researching bet365 and the gambling industry, it can be useful in your application process, your interviews and when you start!