We recently caught up with Sunny about how she secured a role with Ofcom, how she built commercial awareness before the interview and her top tips for Bright Network members looking to follow in her footsteps.
What stood out to you about Ofcom?
Ofcom's work on diversity and inclusion within the communications sector particularly stood out to me when I was applying. It seemed that they genuinely cared about increasing representation in broadcasting and their own company through the thorough research they conduct and the high standards they seemed to hold the industry to. The office culture also seemed really welcoming, as almost every person I spoke to at Ofcom mentioned the friendly colleagues as one of the highlights of working there!
How did you build your commercial awareness before the interview?
As Ofcom has such a wide range of responsibilities being a regulator, I tried to research the industry and company in a variety of ways. I subscribed to Ofcom's newsletter which provided me with regular updates about the industry and the work they were doing, as well as often checking Ofcom's social media. I also found speaking to colleagues already working at Ofcom was a really insightful way of finding out about the company's work. I made sure to keep organised notes about issues and case studies that particularly stood out to me that I could mention during the interview.
What would be your top tip to members going through the application process?
Focus on each application stage as it comes. It can be overwhelming thinking about all the stages ahead of you or the candidates you are up against but focusing on one step at a time really helped me. Making sure you have prepared as best as you can for that stage (even the earliest stages) will give you a greater chance of being successful and minimise the stress. As long as you gave it your best shot, there can be no negative result - you're either successfully through to the next stage or you've had some practice and built some resilience!
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
Bright Network was supportive in keeping us updated on the timeline of the application process, especially when shortlisting was delayed by Ofcom. I really appreciated these updates as not many companies do this and the waiting around is often the most nerve-wracking part. Bright Network also held a webinar a week before the assessment centre giving us a better idea of what to expect from the different exercises. I also found the success stories and company insights on the website useful for my preparation.
What’s been the toughest interview question you've faced and how did you tackle it?
"Tell me about a time you took a researched and analytical approach to a complex problem." I had to pause for a moment to think about how to answer this question, as initially I thought being researched and analytical had to be really complex or formal. However, taking a minute to think through my experiences helped me find a suitable example of where I had to adapt to remote learning as a teacher and how I had researched the best ways to do this. Remembering to stick to the STAR framework helped me deliver a clear answer and really understanding my experiences and the different transferable skills I've gained helped me think on my feet.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- It's easier said than done but try not to compare yourself to others! Everyone is working at their own pace.
- Preparation and practice will help you feel the most confidence going through any stage of the application process.
- Only apply to roles you are genuinely interested in, as this will motivate you to do well and will come across to employers.
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
