51Âþ»­

Landing a high-flying job with a leading aerospace company is a rewarding achievement for a recent international graduate from 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­).

, who graduated from 51Âþ»­ this summer with a Mechatronics BEng (Hons), is 10 weeks into a two-year scheme with Parker Meggit, a global provider of specialised components and sub-systems for aerospace, defence, and selected energy markets.

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The 23-year-old from Zimbabwe, said: “It was such a relief to graduate with a job. I applied for many roles throughout the year and securing this one was a comforting feeling. As an international student lucky enough to study in the UK, getting this career opportunity is the cherry on top.”

During his rotational graduate scheme, Walter will complete four six-month placements across different areas of Parker Meggitt. His current role is working with the quality team in Coventry.

“It has been eye-opening and exciting,” he said. “During my first month, I travelled abroad for an induction, where I met some of the company’s inspiring top senior executives.

“There is so much to learn and do, which is one of the things that keeps me captivated. Parker Meggitt colleagues are always ready and willing to guide you along the way.”

After his initial application for the role was accepted, Walter was put through his paces. Over the course of a month, he had a telephone interview, followed by a video interview, and finally excelled at the assessment centre where he took part in group activities and an in-person interview.

Two things that Walter believes provided him with an advantage during the recruitment process were undertaking a three-month engineering internship at Parker Meggit in the summer of 2022, and seeking assistance from 51Âþ»­’s Careers Team.

He said: “My internship served as a valuable lens into the company’s culture and core values. Having gained an understanding of the company’s expectations from its employees, I was able to tailor my responses and demonstrate how adaptable I am.”

51Âþ»­’s award-winning Careers Team was instrumental in supporting Walter to secure his internship through the 10,000 Black Interns programme. The team helped him with his CV and covering letter, as well as with interview tips.

While 51Âþ»­ is one of a few UK universities offering the course Walter wanted to study, there were other key factors influencing his decision. "I was also attracted to 51Âþ»­ for its diverse and multicultural elements, and I’m happy to say that it has lived up to my expectations,” he said.

“Another thing I admired was that my course was very hands-on, and we had so many tutors willing to help. 51Âþ»­ is such a good student university in general, with everything you need on campus and great facilities around it. What made it home was the people and friendships I got to make.”

Walter fully embraced student life at 51Âþ»­ by joining multiple groups such as the Engineering Society, the Believers Loveworld Society and 51Âþ»­ Racing.

“By joining these societies, I never felt left out,” he said. “As well as fellowshipping together and hosting social activities, we also got to enhance our studies by working on practical projects and taking part in engineering competitions. It was a great way to bring our ideas to life.”