FDM Academy launches speed hot-seating initiative for graduate trainees

FDM Academy launches speed hot-seating initiative for graduate trainees

The UK’s largest IT graduate employer, FDM Group, held an unusual networking event for its graduate trainees and sales staff last week at its London office.
 
FDM is renowned for its Academy programme, which combines the sought after combination of industry centred training and real commercial experience.
 
Successful candidates receive 12-16 weeks of training within a specialised field of IT before being placed onsite with one or more of FDM’s 200 blue-chip clients for a minimum of two years.
 
Although the company provides thorough interview training and soft skill workshops, the employer held its latest event to strengthen ties between its graduate trainees and those responsible for securing them a job placement.
 
FDM Recruitment Manager, Madeleine Field, said, “We have some of the most hard working and polished graduates within our Academy. However, to ensure that these graduates receive placements that are right for them as an individual, we believe in creating strong relationships between our trainees and sales team.”
 
FDM trainees, who were close to being signed off to work on site, were allocated a three-minute slot in order to “sell” themselves to FDM staff and provide an insight into their academic history and backgrounds.
 
The FDM sales team was impressed with the quality of the presentations, which the group felt were confident, of high quality and often quite amusing.
 
FDM Sales Manager, Paul Ames, said, “We knew we had some really talented trainees in the Academy but seeing them present so well really brought this home. We definitely feel that this event has boosted our ability to serve these graduates on an individual basis and would recommend a similar event to other graduate recruiters.’
 
A networking slot at the end of the event also allowed trainees to discuss their career options with the sales team and gain an insight on what to expect on their work placements.
 
FDM, which was awarded the title of ‘The Best technical Graduate Recruiter’ in 2010, will be rolling this initiative out internationally in the coming months.
 
And with training academies in Brighton, London, Manchester, Frankfurt and New York, the impact this scheme will have on IT graduates across the globe will certainly be great.
 
For more information about the FDM Academy Programme please visit www.fdmacademy.com