Group session with EY
By Tim Daglish, law student
Future Connections is an annual programme run by the University of Nottingham’s Careers and Employability Service, designed to support students from widening participation backgrounds in building career confidence and developing meaningful professional networks.
The programme includes a trip to London, giving students the opportunity to connect with alumni and employers.
The programme
This year’s programme involved a pre-trip workshop focused on networking skills, followed by visits to the offices of Microsoft, Bloomberg and EY.
During these visits, we heard from alumni, took part in a consulting challenge and built valuable industry connections. The programme concluded with a post-trip workshop, where we reflected on everything we had learnt.
After reflecting on the experience, here are some of my key tips for achieving meaningful networking.
Be prepared
One of the most valuable parts of the programme was the opportunity to listen to and network with Nottingham alumni.
Knowing who we would be meeting beforehand allowed us to research the alumni and prepare purposeful questions linked to our own aspirations. This mirrors many networking events, where you will often have an idea of who will be in attendance.
After listening to Microsoft UK’s CEO and University of Nottingham alumnus, Darren Hardman, many students asked questions based on research they had carried out on both Darren and Microsoft UK. These meaningful questions led to more impactful conversations and allowed students to present themselves positively.
The tips we learnt in the pre-trip workshop also helped us understand how to actively listen, lead a networking conversation, and maintain connections by staying in touch on LinkedIn.
Be curious
A key takeaway from the programme was the importance of being open-minded. As we were exposed to a wide range of potential career paths, from consulting to technology research, avoiding pre-conceived ideas was crucial to getting the most out of the experience. Approaching each conversation with curiosity meant we were able to learn and absorb as much as possible.
Many students felt inspired to consider career paths they had not previously thought about, after hearing from alumni who demonstrated that there is no single, fixed route to success.
Step outside your comfort zone
In our final session at EY, we were set a consultancy challenge designed to mirror tasks applicants may encounter at an assessment centre.
During the 45-minute task, each team had to create a 10-minute presentation based on a hypothetical client case centred on AI. This involved developing and pitching solutions, while responding to additional challenges introduced by EY employees to test our problem-solving skills.
Presenting in front of EY partners was certainly daunting, but it pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped build my confidence in concise presenting and professional communication.
Make your goal setting SMART
In the post-trip workshop, we reflected on our experiences and learnt how to turn them into meaningful career goals. One of the key methods introduced was SMART goal setting, which stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.
One of the most valuable pieces of advice I was given on the day was that while rejection is unavoidable, it can be mitigated by taking proactive steps to improve your skillset and build your ambition.
Using the SMART method for your career goals allows you to focus on your own journey, take advantage of any networking you have done and make purposeful progress towards where you want to be.
Participating in the Future Connections Programme was an amazing way to connect with alumni and leading graduate employers.
If you’re interested in building your experience through similar opportunities and developing transferable skills to boost your CV, visit the ‘What can I do?’ page on the Careers and Employability Service website today.
Posted on Tuesday 3rd March 2026