Transparency – vital for diversity

7 May 2021

At Springboard, we believe that transparency is one of the most important factors for promoting diversity in job applicants. Applicants from minority backgrounds may be less likely to have existing connections in the industry, who they can speak to for advice. The ability to speak to someone with first-hand experience of an industry is extremely valuable for the candidate, to get their questions answered and help them to visualize day-to-day working life. This will help the candidate imagine whether this could be the right career path for them. It will also help them to effectively prepare for an interview if they choose to apply.

University careers panel

Springboard recently attended a panel on technology consultancy for the Cambridge University careers service, alongside other local consultancies including Cambridge Consultants and TTP. The audience of around 160 people was made up of undergraduates, PhD students, alumni, and post-docs. The panel answered questions sent in by audience members, such as “What is technical consultancy?” and “What most surprised you about consultancy?”. When asked what attributes a candidate needs to succeed in consultancy, Heather from Springboard answered “The most important attributes are good technical skills and good communication skills. You need a “can-do” attitude, as you may often be asked to work on something completely new to you.”

Careers fair for wider community

Springboard also attended a virtual careers fair ran by Form the Future CIC for 16 to 19 year-olds. We joined over 40 companies from across the Cambridgeshire region to inspire young people about their future careers. As well as presenting an example of an exciting STEM career to young people considering their options, we were also able to promote our year in industry placements. The EDT’s year in industry scheme is a year-long paid internship for students in between finishing their A-levels and starting university. We are an enthusiastic supporter of the scheme. We already has three students lined up to start this summer and applications for the 2022-2023 internship will open in the autumn.

Just have a chat

For those wanting to learn more about life at Springboard and technical consultancy in general, we welcome you to get in touch for a casual chat. In the present climate we have been having chats over video call, but traditionally we might meet for a coffee or offer an invitation to visit our labs for a tour. If you think that a career in technical consultancy might be for you, but you would like to know more, then please get in touch!

— Heather Jameson