Jennifer is a Law graduate from the University of Exeter. She secured a graduate role as a Commodities Search Consultant through Thurn Partners in London. 
First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
“Before joining Thurn Partners, I studied Law at the University of Exeter. At A-Level, I studied Economics, Politics and English Literature, but decided to study something new at university as I was unsure of what career path I wanted to take.
Prior to starting university, I took a gap year to explore my options and worked in a yogurt shop while deciding on a subject to study.”
What motivated you to apply for your role?
“I loved that this role would let me interact with different people every day. The people-facing aspect really excited me and I also appreciated the firm’s culture.
Talking to the team gave me a sense of how collaborative they are, and being a relatively young company, it felt easy to relate to everyone. The chance to relocate to New York was a huge bonus, and knowing they’d cover my visa made it even more exciting.”
What was the application process like?
“The application process at Thurn Partners felt thorough compared to other search consultancy firms, which typically involve just one or two interviews. However, looking back, it made complete sense as it gave me invaluable insight into the role’s daily responsibilities and helped me assess whether Thurn was a good culture fit for me.
The first stage was an introductory chat with the internal hiring manager, where I shared my background, why I’d be a good fit and learned more about Thurn, including the day-to-day responsibilities of the role.
Next was a two-hour timed sourcing task where I was given a client brief and asked to find two strong candidates who met the required expertise and experience, explaining why they’d be suitable. The task also included drafting an outreach message to engage the candidates. While my law background gave me some writing experience, figuring out how to craft a message that would genuinely grab their attention was a new challenge, and I had to get creative with it.
The third stage was a mock candidate call, which I found the most daunting. I’m used to being on the other side of the phone, answering the questions, but this time I had to ask the right questions while confidently selling the role to the ‘candidate’. It wasn’t entirely smooth sailing, as I faced some tough questions, but it showed me how much I enjoy the people-focused aspect of the job.
The final stage was a 30-minute presentation to our Director Luke and our Head of People Izzy. It was an exciting opportunity to meet the firm’s leadership, gain insights, and ask plenty of questions!”
What are you most proud of about your journey?
“I'm most proud of my journey to becoming a commodity search consultant and breaking free of the self-sabotaging thoughts I had about my future. After graduating with a law degree, I felt stuck and uncertain as I knew I didn't want to pursue law, and without a clear career path outside of it, I started to believe I wouldn't be able to find a job.
By doing my own research and speaking with professionals across different fields, I was able to see other opportunities and career paths available to me. Each conversation and piece of insight helped me realize that the world isn’t limited to one route.
The process wasn’t easy, but every small step built my confidence and showed me that my skills and interests could lead me somewhere meaningful.”
What have you learned from going through the process?
“The application process gave me valuable insights into the day-to-day aspects of the job, helping me decide if it was the right fit. While I was initially surprised by the number of stages, I now see how useful they were in confirming my decision.”
What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
“My biggest piece advice is to stay open-minded. You might think there’s only one career path for you, but you could end up discovering an entirely different industry you love.
Resources like Bright Network and LinkedIn helped me explore other industries, which ultimately led to my role at Thurn Partners. Networking was also key! Talking to people introduced me to new career options I hadn’t considered.
If you feel lost, reach out to your university’s Career Services and ask for guidance. I didn’t take full advantage of this, and it made it harder for me to explore different paths. Asking questions and seeking advice can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
Finally, don’t hesitate to pursue a profession that piques your interest, even if it’s outside your initial plan. The worst that can happen is hearing no, but you also might just land your dream job.”
Tell us about the future! What’s next?
“As part of the newly established commodities team, I’m excited to help build and grow the desk.
I look forward to connecting with more clients, strengthening relationships with our existing ones, and working alongside my manager and colleagues to make the desk as successful as possible.
I’m also eager to expand our commodities team in New York, fostering new client relationships there. Being relatively new, I’m focused on developing my current skillset and hope to progress into a more senior, decision-making role where I can make a greater impact on the company.”
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