Experian |

What made you consider this career path following your studies?

After studying my undergrad in Biomedical Science, I worked as a Systems Analyst and during this time got to meet quite a few software engineers which piqued my interest in the area. I shadowed a few of them to see what they were working on and truly understand what it was all about. This then led me to teaching myself to code in my personal time and found that I enjoyed building projects and using innovative technologies. After completing my masters, I then knew I wanted to go into software engineering as a role and now had the relevant skills behind me.

What does your day-to-day role involve?

I work in 10-day sprints so I will have several tasks assigned to me for that sprint. Day-to-day working can vary quite a bit but generally it will involve attending stand ups to check in on team sprint progress, coding solutions to whatever project I’m working on and providing support or getting help from colleagues.

I get to use a range of programming languages such as: Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, SQL and PHP and will typically work on projects which span multiple months and will have take ownership of particular sections of that project. Throughout the project I get to talk through the viable solutions I’ve come up with and then share these with my Product Owner to see if it fits the requirements of what’s needed.

What stood out about Experian and why did you apply?

I was researching Graduate Schemes whilst at University and Experian had quite a few graduate roles which gave me a positive inclination that they had integrated the programme into the business as a whole. I wanted to find out more about the Graduate Scheme so reached out to a graduate who had been on the programme the previous year. She really praised her experience at the company which only made me more eager to apply. I also checked out Glassdoor reviews for software engineers and the comments left all mentioned aspects that I was looking for in an employer.

Furthermore, the graduate role I was applying to really stood out when I learned about how much data I would potentially get to work with. This was a great opportunity to learn about engineering with large data which I particularly enjoy. I also learned about the plans to move to the cloud and understood that the company valued using newer technologies when they provided better solutions, than outdated ones.

How do you feel the Early Careers Development Programme has helped with your learning journey so far?

The Graduate Scheme has meant that I’ve felt eased into working life with a ton of support as I progress my way through my software engineering journey. The Early Careers team have held sessions focussing on certain aspects of working life. Notably, there was a session on resilience which I found useful as it demonstrated how to prioritise work depending on how urgent and important a task is. This has helped me in my role as I am often assigned multiple tasks at once and now feel I can approach these methodically.

Furthermore, graduates have had the chance to attend Q&A sessions with executive members of the company, specifically the CFO, which helped me in gaining a better understanding of what it takes to lead a larger business. This was applicable in how I can take the lead on an engineering project.

The sense of genuine care from the Early Careers team has been incredibly useful. I’ve felt supported through regular check-ins with the team, as well as them taking on regular feedback we give so they can make amendments to the development programme along the way. Alongside this, the social aspect has allowed me to get to know other graduates and has helped to build networks within the company.

What has been a key achievement/stand out moment so far?

I felt proud of an engineering project which involved building a fully functional API. I was tasked with building the API from the ground up with some technical framework that was given. Although this was challenging, it allowed me to develop skills through practice which I valued a lot.

The project exposed me to different coding languages and technologies such as Python, JavaScript, SQL and Java which was great as it allowed for a wider use of skills and got me to upskill in all the languages instead of just one. I was also responsible for my own time keeping throughout the 3-month project and really enjoyed the hands off approach as it meant that my team trusted me to get the job done.

Ultimately, it proved that I could develop and build products for customer use and was very satisfying to see it go from a barebones structure to being used by my clients a few months down the line.

What's one thing you now like about Experian that you didn't expect before you started?

I wasn’t expecting everyone to be so helpful and caring. I believe that the people around you can really make a difference in how you perceive a job and the environment at Experian has been amazing through everyone I’ve met and got to know.

I’ve really come to appreciate the trust I’ve felt since I began. My manager and the team I work in fully trust my abilities and asked me for input and my thoughts from the start of the Graduate Scheme, which made me feel valued immediately. My Chief Technology Officer has mentioned multiple times that if we ever have any ideas of what product we could build or which technology we could utilise to come and share with him - which was completely unexpected and amazing to hear.

The company is also great at keeping everyone involved with what’s going on. I didn’t expect to receive newsletters from my department that kept me in the loop with what products are being updated and how other projects are coming along. Also, there’s a beehive in the car park!

What made you consider this career path following your studies?

After having studied a breadth of different subjects at university and learning about what I like, I realised I didn’t want a career that would limit me to just one area of focus. I was looking for a career path that would stretch and challenge me to keep learning new things whilst making a positive contribution.

Having seen the job description for Project Management – I was immediately drawn to the role. Namely, project management allows you to work with people from different departments, on projects ranging from small scale improvements to global transformations, and each day brings a different problem to solve. The planning and organisational aspects resonated with my personal strengths, and I could see myself thriving in a role that requires constant engagement and interactions, whilst also allowing for individual work. The most rewarding aspect is that it allows for creativity in how you can approach different issues and make improvements to processes, making it easier for others in the future.

What does your day-to-day role involve?

There is no typical day-to-day routine as the role mainly involves responding to changes or challenges that arise within the projects. Having said that, there are some constant elements which include reviewing project reports every 2 weeks, attending risk and dependency meetings, reviewing, and updating the project plans, and ensuring all projects adhere to the governance framework.

There are also areas that stretch and challenge my skills, such as the creation and maintenance of a finance tracker, a communications strategy, and opportunities to present to stakeholders. Overall, the interpersonal aspect of the job is key in terms of being able to manage stakeholders and communicate with other project managers effectively. It therefore involves leading meetings, creating presentations, and getting updates from the wider team.

What stood out about Experian and why did you apply?

The main area that stood out about Experian was their culture. When doing my research it was evident that every employee is valued and this was only reinforced throughout the application process.

I was also drawn by their top ranks in various workplace awards and high employee reviews on online platforms, where current employees praised the working culture, work-life balance, and overall job satisfaction. It was key to work in a place that valued me as an individual, and it was evident that there is a real focus on individuality here. Experian makes every effort to help with personal or professional development while recognising and celebrating people’s achievements.

It didn’t feel so daunting to work in such a big organisation, thanks to the homely and supportive atmosphere within the teams.

How do you feel the Early Careers Development Programme has helped with your learning journey so far?

Being part of the Early Careers Development Programme has made a real difference to my experience as there have been opportunities to interact with the other graduates and apprentices, attend training sessions and network with people from around the business. The Early Careers team provide a breadth of development opportunities, such as learning about personality types at work, workshops on improving hard & soft skills as well as podcasts and presentations on topics ranging from resilience to career progression. The training sessions are especially useful, as I have been able to apply the content to aspects of my own role. For example, a training session on giving and receiving feedback has helped me to stand out during end of year reviews and has helped me to strengthen my relationships with colleagues within my team.

The social aspect of the programme has also helped me to meet new people and make connections across the business, while providing a support network that I can feel connected to. The Development Programme has been a crucial instrument during my first few months, as they ensure we are not thrown into the deep end without guidance, support, and opportunities for growth.

What has been a key achievement/stand out moment so far?

One of my key achievements was the creation of a brand-new quarterly newsletter for our team. Although I received support and guidance throughout this activity, I was also given the creative freedom to explore the most effective way to communicate our messages in a simple yet engaging manner. This allowed me to experiment with different formats and use different software tools to arrive at the best design. It was very rewarding to see the management teams trust me with owning the newsletter and I have picked up many soft skills in the process. As a result, after sending out the newsletter, I received positive feedback from our executive stakeholders – which gave me a real sense of pride! Others have also started to align to a similar format which encouraged our team to start thinking about our overall brand within the organisation.

What's one thing you now like about Experian that you didn't expect before you started?

One thing that surprised me is the positive atmosphere within the business, especially when I am in the office. I had imagined it to be a very serious, corporate office with little socialising. I was however pleasantly surprised to see that it has a very relaxed atmosphere, with friendly people of all ranks sitting together in an open plan space. There aren’t separate offices for the management, which makes me feel more connected to the organisation as a whole, with no barriers between employees. The positive culture shines through the entire organisation, so everyone feels welcome and included in all aspects of the business.

What made you consider this career path following your studies?

As much as I enjoyed my degree, I realised quite early on that I didn’t want to move into a career in politics. I’d always been aware of graduate schemes, so I began to look around university fairs / online forums at what options were available to me. As a driven individual, I was keen to start earning a competitive salary and begin climbing the career ladder. Although I had no background in business throughout my studies, I was keen on the idea of working for a big company and sales stood out to me. I began selling fruit and vegetables at local markets when I was fifteen and I absolutely loved the buzz of it. Therefore, years later looking at graduate schemes, the sales roles caught my attention.

What does your day-to-day role involve?

The sales graduate role sits within Midmarket which in essence sells to businesses with a minimum turnover. My first role has been based within the Telemarketing team which is responsible for generating new business leads and once converted pass on to a sales specialist. The role really exposes you to all areas of the business, covering a variety of products and selling to multiple industries. Day to day, we work on campaigns set to generate new business. For example, selling background checks to HR teams, B2B data for marketing teams to better understand their customers, or fraud checks to financial services. My role is to find contacts to sell these services to, to gain initial interest and give an overview of Experian’s services. I’m responsible for finding out any challenges that my clients are facing, and show them how Experian’s data solutions can help. Every day I am speaking to new people and businesses via phone calls, LinkedIn and email. I then organise a second meeting with an internal sales specialist, who will go into more detail on the product / pricing etc. It’s great to join these calls for my own development. The role also entails attending events, so face to face selling. The events are great and definitely one highlight of the job, representing Experian and promoting our data services across the country.

What stood out about Experian/Why did you apply?

I was really intrigued by Experian – I’d seen the adverts on TV and understood it to be a credit agency. However, when researching more into the company, I realised this was the tip of the iceberg. I was particularly interested in our ID & Fraud solutions and marketing data. I soon realised there was huge learning potential in the role, because it was completely different to anything I’d ever studied. I could see that Experian performed well in surveys for treating their staff well, and since working here for a year I certainly agree. It's a FTSE 100 company, so you're working with / selling to huge companies every day and learn so much from this. The role is also based in Nottingham which really appealed to me - I had friends studying in Nottingham and I loved visiting, it really is a great city for young professionals and I would definitely recommend!

How do you feel the EC Development Programme has helped with your learning journey so far?

The Early Careers Development Programme is a great enrichment alongside your day to day role. The intro week is a brilliant insight into Experian as a business - it's great to meet all of the grads and begin to network from different areas of the company. After the intro week, there's regular sessions with the grads and apprentices, covering anything from presentation skills to teambuilding. It's great to spend time with the Graduate cohort throughout the year, and we've even had some external days out. The CSR challenge was the highlight of the EC Development Programme for me. This is a 6 week challenge, where each team has to raise £500 for a charity of their choice. My team chose Medical Detention Dogs, so put on a bake sale / sponsored hike. It was great to spend time closely working with people from different areas of the business, and it's a really rewarding project.

What has been a key achievement/stand out moment so far? Soft Skill or Technical or Project you have been involved in.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my first year as a Graduate Sales Associate. I've gained a lot of confidence when speaking to clients, both over the phone and face to face. My biggest achievement is hitting over 100% of my appointment target in my first year. Overall, I’d recommend the role to anyone interested in a target driven sales role – it’s been a fantastic experience and I look forward to continuing my career within the Experian sales team.

What made you consider this career path following your studies?

I was unsure on which career path I wanted to follow when I began searching for roles. All I knew was that I loved numbers and wanted to utilise my degree.

Once I started reading into job descriptions more, I soon realised that the ones which excited me the most combined maths and technology, enhanced my employability, and offered plenty of opportunities for progression and expanding my knowledge.

The Finance Graduate role at Experian ticked all of these boxes, offering the chance to analyse numbers using a variety of systems, whilst simultaneously working towards becoming a qualified accountant through an apprenticeship, at an innovative multi-national company committed to growth and process improvement.

What does your day-to-day role involve?

In the Finance Team, we work in monthly cycles, so the work I do tends to change throughout the month. At the beginning of the month, we are focussed on ‘closing the books’ for the previous month and updating forecasts for the remainder of the financial year. The latter part of the month tends to be more project-focussed, working on process improvements and other tasks which don’t have strict deadlines.

The majority of my tasks involve variance analysis – looking at unexpected or large changes from month to month, or year to year, and finding the reasons why these changes have occurred – but there are plenty of other tasks too, such as posting journals, testing that controls are working effectively and loading data into our systems.

In my first year I have supported and lead a variety of projects, from automating labour-intensive processes to creating models which track and forecast some of our largest costs and have been able to see some of the positive impacts my work has had on the business.

Alongside the BAU (Business as Usual) tasks, I am studying for my CIMA qualification as an apprenticeship through Experian, so I have time set aside each week to complete learning and revision. There are also a whole host of training, networking and social events organised by the Finance and Early Careers Teams which are great ways to work on personal development, get your name out there and have fun!

What stood out about Experian and why did you apply?

Having completed my studies in Nottingham, I loved the city and wanted to stay in the area. Before applying I had used Experian to see my credit score but had no idea about the other (much larger) side of the business, developing technologies and products to help businesses and consumers alike.

Being such a large, global company means that Experian are able to offer plenty of opportunities for development, progression and sometimes international secondments, which really appealed to me. They were also offering the opportunity to become a Chartered Global Management Accountant as part of the role (for free!) which was a huge selling point.

How do you feel the Early Careers Development Programme has helped with your learning journey so far?

Having never worked in a ‘proper’ (9-5 office) job before, the Early Careers Development Programme has been the perfect steppingstone between studying and the ‘real’ world of work.

It offers opportunities to rotate through different areas of the business, so I can see where I feel most at home and offers support with all the things that can feel really daunting on your first day in a professional office environment.

Once you’re past those initial scary few weeks, which weren’t scary at all, the Early Careers Team provide a range of workshops and sessions to meet other Graduates, share experiences and develop soft skills. In particular, the Personality Workshops have been a great way to understand yourself, and the ways you work best, whilst also having opportunities to network, present to a small group and work in a team.

What has been a key achievement/stand out moment so far?

In my first rotation, I shadowed and supported a process which involves sending our OCF (Operating Cash Flow) position to senior members of the Global Finance Team. Before starting at Experian, I had never even heard of Operating Cash Flow, but within a few months I was able to understand the process and investigate certain variances, speaking to colleagues across the business to understand the changes.

When a colleague was unexpectedly out of office, I was trusted to lead the process, looking into some unexpected movements, and providing a high-level summary to senior stakeholders, despite not even being 6 months into my time at Experian. It was nerve-wracking but felt empowering that my line manager believed in me and my ability.

What's one thing you now know/ like about Experian that you didn't expect before you started?

How amazing the culture is. Everyone who I have met and worked with has been so friendly and supportive from day 1, always there to help you if you are struggling, support you with development opportunities or just to have a chat! The company as a whole is extremely flexible and employee-centred, with the focus being on the quality of work, not how or where you do it.

Why did you pick an apprenticeship over other higher education study routes?

The CIMA qualification I am studying as part of the apprenticeship is a Level 7 qualification, which means I had to have already completed a degree, which I did at university. I chose to continue studying on an apprenticeship because I love learning new things and deepening my understanding. This programme offered a unique opportunity to gain an additional qualification and boost my employability without having to pay for it and being given time during working hours to study and sit exams.