Strategic Connections: Key Insights from Our Employer Forum
I'm Sarah Cook, the Director of Employer Relations at Imperial Business School. My team and I are dedicated to forging powerful connections between our outstanding MBA and MSc students and top-tier organizations, ensuring our graduates land career opportunities that make the most of their talent and expertise.
Every year we get together with our key employer partners at our Employer Forum, sharing trends, insights and tips for attracting talent, getting great speed to value, and meeting expectations on both sides.
Event Highlights: Dialogue and Discovery
We were privileged to host representatives from an impressive array of companies, including Accenture, Amazon, HSBC AM, L.E.K. Consulting, Richemont, TikTok, and many more. Attendance demonstrated strong and diverse demand for Imperial talent across numerous sectors and a key highlight for many of these employers each year is the opportunity to hear directly from our students participating in our MSc and MBA panels.
What really stood out was hearing directly from the student panels. The students’ honesty and insight into what motivates them, how they navigate the recruitment process (especially using AI), and what they truly value in an employer were incredibly useful in informing our hiring processes. Last year, one of the panellists made such a strong impression that we ended up hiring them!
Anna Walsh, Henkel.
Many thanks to our panellists on being a consistent highlight. Our MSc students included Itai Dzinotyiwei (Finance), Grace Gubbay (Climate Change, Management, and Finance), Hari Kandiah (Management), Chandler Liu (Strategic Marketing), and Yasmin Ryan (Global Health Management). Our MBA panellists included Riya Shaha, David Driskell, Reika Taura, and Arshween Kaur.
This is also a great opportunity for our work and strategy to be influenced directly by our employer partners. Through facilitated sessions with representatives from the Careers Consultant and Employer Relatoins teams, as well as a shdowcase from IDEA Lab we were able to share and capture insights from employer partners.
It was a valuable opportunity to connect with industry professionals and hear about the fantastic initiatives at Imperial Business School to stay aligned with evolving market needs, both for educational and professional purposes.
Ramtin Amintafreshi, Unison Investments.
Key trends
- Beyond Technical Skills: Employers consistently emphasized "soft skills" like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. They seek adaptable candidates who contribute strategically across functions in dynamic environments.
- People Skills in the rise of AI: These soft skills were especially important with the rise of AI, both in the recruitment process and in the workplace. Ability to use AI would be key in the workplace but recruiters shared that they could tell when AI was used significantly in application or interview. And once again face-to-face networking was highlighted as a great way to make connections that cut through and be memorable for future opportunities.
- Thriving in the Evolving Workplace: The rise of hybrid and flexible models demands strong self-management and digital collaboration. Our digitally savvy graduates are perfectly positioned to excel.
- The Power of Diverse & Inclusive Teams: A strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) was evident, with companies actively seeking talent from all backgrounds. They recognize diverse perspectives drive innovation—a principle deeply embedded at Imperial.
Direct from the Source: Employer and Student Advice
We captured candid insights from both employers and students. Recruiters stressed the value of connections, with one sharing, "Referrals are gold; they fast-track our hiring process. Network relentlessly." Another advised, "Make yourself memorable. Tell recruiters something specific about you." A key challenge employers face was also highlighted: "We're seeing a lack of patience for immediate responsibility. Resilience and adaptability in ambiguity are more critical than ever. Be resourceful!"
Our students also shared their thoughts. One urged, "Offer us a chance to demonstrate our value before discussing right-to-work." Another expressed a clear desire: "We want the opportunity to show you how we can impact your business quickly." Reinforcing London's appeal, a student noted, "London is a top destination for us."
These insights offer a powerful roadmap for your career journey as an Imperial student:
Cultivate Patience & Resilience: Recognize that significant responsibility comes with consistent value and adaptability. Focus on making an impact from day one.
Lead with Value: Make a strong first impression by highlighting your specific skills and enthusiasm, showcasing your potential upfront. Understand how your unique background strengthens diverse teams and be ready to articulate this value.
Sharpen Adaptive Skills: Actively seek opportunities within your program and extracurriculars to hone your communication, collaboration, and strategic problem-solving. Refine your digital collaboration and self-management.
Lastly, Quantify Your Impact and clearly articulate how your projects and experiences translate into demonstrable skills and tangible results. Our Career Consultants can support you with this and offer expertise to you during your job search.
Our team is dedicated to fortifying Imperial Business School's employer partnerships, opening doors to exceptional opportunities for our students. I strongly encourage you to leverage these insights as you build your career.
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