Top tips from Aviation guest speakers
Top tips from British Airways & Menzies Aviation recruiters
I’m really looking forward to the upcoming guest talks and events planned at the University, particularly those on graduate schemes and employment opportunities!
Over the past couple of months, we’ve welcomed a wide variety of guest speakers to Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) from a range of aviation businesses. Most recently, we heard from Talent Acquisition Managers Ashley Mitich-Holmes () and Peter Gardner () – both of whom are also BNU alumni.
It was really interesting to see how both of their careers have developed since graduating into Talent Acquisition and Human Resources – an incredibly important function within the aviation industry, especially as we recover from the pandemic and recruitment levels increase.
They talked about how aviation job opportunities are slowly returning, but the competition is fierce. Whilst the key skills and experience gained studying an aviation degree will help to stand out, Ashley and Peter gave us some additional tips when applying for roles:
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Setting clear goals on what you want to achieve
By defining your career goals, you can focus on what steps you need to take to get there – whether that’s completing certain courses or training or gaining the relevant experience. Whilst it is good to be bold with these goals, you also need to make sure that they are realistic too.
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Put in the time and effort on job applications
When you’re looking for seasonal employment whilst studying or for work after you graduate, make sure that you dedicate the time to each application. Ensure that your CV and covering letters are well formatted, relevant and have been tailored to the job you’re applying for to boost your chances of getting to the interview stage.
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Building your professional network
This can be done through in-person guest lectures, conferences and events, as well as online on social media platforms like – by building up your contacts, you can learn even more about the industry and its current trends. At BNU, we can take advantage of various aviation memberships as part of our studying and join the Aviation Society, granting us access to many opportunities for growing our network.
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Looking beyond passenger roles
Whilst many aviation graduates may be drawn to looking at job opportunities with passenger airlines and airports, it’s important to remember that the industry is vast. There are a variety of roles within the cargo and freight sectors, consulting firms and government bodies (areas that are extremely important to keep goods moving around the world).
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Remaining optimistic
Applying for jobs can be stressful and time-consuming, but it’s important to remain positive throughout the process and keep thinking about the end goal!
Overall, it was very insightful to hear both Ashley and Peter’s perspectives on the current state of recruitment across the industry and how we can prepare for our future careers. I’m really looking forward to the upcoming guest talks and events planned at the University, particularly those on graduate schemes and employment opportunities!