Job Hunting Student Stands Out
Standing outside Canary Wharf Tube station, undergraduate James was handed more than 20 business cards, received five emails from potential employers and secured a handful of interviews.
The Bath University student and job hunter was on the Wharf last Thursday lunchtime, suited and booted like the majority of workers, but with one difference - a giant sandwich board.
He said: "I thought people would laugh but they have been really positive. The application process for jobs makes it hard for employers to differentiate.
"I don't have maths A-level or an economics focused degree. The best way I can show evidence of the skills I have is by getting out there and being proactive."
James who got up at 4.45am to travel from Reading to London was congratulated by passers-by and at the point in his quest that The Wharf caught up with him, had not received any prank calls. At Bank station before he made it out east, a printer offered to make him up some additional business cards.
If you think all students do is sit around watching Deal Or No Deal and drinking cheap beer, think again.
James, 21, said he'd already been involved in setting up two businesses, one in his second year to help overseas students settle into univer-sity life and one scheduled to launch this year. The latter, he said, was so sensitive he was not allowed to disclose any details.
He said he had worked as an analyst for Orange, been a commercial intern for L'Oreal and had just returned from a graduate exchange programme in Oslo. But he said he was not content to rely on his CV to get a job.
He said: "It's not a last resort, it's an alternative thing. My primary goal is the boutique banks but if anyone wants me, I'm here. I want a client-facing role and the best way to test that is for someone to see me."
James was disappointed to learn he was not the first person to take this alternative approach to the application process. He was told a man in America had pulled a similar stunt. But James, on discovering that man had just held up a piece of paper, had the sandwich boards made up.
His slogan, "I am a 2011 Bath Business graduate. You have the ability to kick-start my career in banking. Talk to me," may show promise of a career in marketing, but James was adamant he wanted to work for a bank.
He said: "I want to really challenge myself, to be able to put everything I have into a job. I have worked elsewhere and found I wanted more from a job. I have an interview with Bank of New York Mellon at 2pm today."
As The Wharf was talking to James, his phone rang and a partner in a broking company invited him in for chat about a job with an immediate start.
James said: "Someone had seen the sign. I still want to finish university and make sure I get good grades. He said to call him back when I graduate."
James lined up a further eight interviews off the back of his self publicity, he is through to the second round for one job and is waiting to hear back from BONYM, but is confident he impressed the panel. He is still returning calls from prospective employers.
