20 Grad interview
“If all you are told on a project is ‘that was
excellent’, how do you know what to do
Catherine’s formula
to improve? Simply being told you’re really for suCCess
good doesn’t help you achieve the next
step in your career.” Catherine adds: “For
n Go beyond your job description –
reach higher. Try to do work that gets
the last three years I’ve assessed directors
you noticed at a higher level.
for promotion and it’s really helped me to
focus on what sort of skills are necessary n Network – get to know as many
for management and leadership success.
people in your industry as you can,
Things like developing commitment,
and even those outside of it. You never
know when someone will need you or
creating a vision and bringing a team along
help you.
are all crucial.”
n Watch others who do their job well and
Catherine says that watching and learning
learn from them. Similarly, take note of
from others at work is essential if you want
behaviour or actions that are ineffective.
to emulate the best performers. “Role
n Get mentoring from someone with a lot
models are very important. You need a
of experience and seniority.
range of people to draw from so you can
choose which way you’d like to work”
n Learn from mistakes – they are just
as valuable as the successes.
Breaking glass ceilings
n Diffuse disagreements by putting
Catherine has reached the top in what
yourself in the other person’s shoes
many people would see as an industry
to understand their problem.
populated mainly by men, especially at
senior levels, so has her gender been a
n Honesty and tact are crucial – be
help or a hindrance?
straightforward in all dealings.

n Be enthusiastic and have a
She says: “Being a woman has done me
‘can-do’ attitude.
no harm at all. Being young and female in
a male-dominated insurance world means
people remember you.
and don’t know. Here, everything is “It comes down to a lifestyle choice. I
assessed in a structured way on skills do work hard and do an awful lot, but
“For today’s graduates and women at
and competence so I don’t think there’s I have always had some boundaries – I
Deloitte it’s an equal playing ground – no
a glass ceiling in terms of age. It is all to try to keep the weekends as my own.”
business today can afford not to be.
do with ‘are you doing the job that you She adds: “I could cut down my hours
Everyone is viewed on their skills and merits.
need to be doing to justify your grade?’ but the parts of the job that would end
In the senior grades there are more men than
I’ve never been held back by age or being up going would be those that I enjoy the
women, but this will change as the more
female because my progress has been most – the business development and
balanced graduate intake moves upwards.
based on my skill set. I’ve always been keeping in touch with contacts.”
respected for what I’m doing.”
“Everyone’s very acutely aware of trying
Catherine has achieved more in 13 years
to make sure the glass ceiling doesn’t
Catherine is now heavily involved in talent than most people will do in their entire
exist. The challenge is helping women to
management so she’s ideally placed to careers, but she insists she still has a
have career paths that develop as their
know what targets those embarking out on long way to go. “I love the challenges
life changes. There’s no reason anyone
their careers should aim for. and there’s a lot of variety. The job is
can’t be equally successful with the same
never the same – you’re always juggling
amount of effort and opportunities.”
“As a new graduate, you should put effort balls. I get real highs and lows from
Catherine adds: “The thing I found more
in and be enthusiastic,” she says. “Go pitching. I love the thrill of the chase, and
of a challenge was age rather than being
the extra mile but also define what your the euphoria of winning a large pitch is
female. When you’re 27 and your senior
barriers will be – it’s quite a skill to create fantastic. Similarly it’s pretty tough when
clients are in their 40s and 50s it’s very a balance you’re happy with. Everyone’s you lose out.”
hard. They did take me seriously but I had capacity in terms of how much they want
to work that bit harder to prove myself. to work is different. You need to work
out where your boundaries sit but also
For more information about careers
“As you get more experience you become acknowledge that this will have an impact
with Deloitte visit www.deloitte.co.uk
more confident about what you know on what you can achieve.
gradjobs.co.uk
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