- Name: Alfie Duffen
- Role: Consultant
- Joined: July 2018
- University: UCL
- Degree: BSc Mathematics
"To be paid to learn such valuable skills was amazing."
Description:
How did you get the job and why did you choose to work at Kubrick?
I
found Kubrick through a graduate job website. The company and job
descriptions grabbed my interest and led me to their website. After
reading further into the company aims, I sent in my application. The
Kubrick recruitment process is a rigorous one, involving a video
interview, a telephone interview and a day long assessment day. The
assessment day consists of a range of tests to measure an applicant’s
capabilities such as business knowledge, problem solving and technical
skills. Even though it is lengthy and challenging, it was very rewarding
to hear that I was accepted onto the development programme.
What does your role involve?
Once we complete the four
month training period, we’re placed with a client in a role that’s
picked to match our abilities. We are with a client for the sole purpose
of solving their data problems. Most client placements are two years
long, meaning that we are able to fully deliver solutions and ensure
they’re effective. Because of the length of the placement we effectively
become an employee, integrating with the company and contributing to all
elements of the culture there. We could be working as part of a larger
team and be given specific responsibilities, or be given a project all
to ourselves. As such, activities and responsibilities will vary.
Whatever you’re doing, it will involve the application of everything
learned in the training. Importantly, we have to uphold the reputation
of Kubrick in everything we do.
What training have you received at Kubrick?
There is a 4
month development programme, which covers various pieces of software,
taught by experienced trainers. This includes software such as Python,
SQL, Tableau and Tableau. On top of this, there is a syllabus of
information on the world of data, which is covered in great detail to
prepare us for working on client site. There are various tests and
projects along the way, which helped in retaining and applying the
knowledge we had learned.
What does the training involve?
Kubrick Group is unique in
the paid training it offers. The programme takes place over 3-4 months
before you go on client side and teaches you everything you need to know
for your placement and more. There is a mixture of verbal and practical
teaching, and progress is monitored with regular tests and mini
challenges. There are also projects that require us to work with data
sets to solve real world challenges.
During the development programme, I have been involved in various
projects to support and aid my learning. These projects have given me
hands on experience of the application of the knowledge I’ve accrued
during my time with Kubrick. One of the projects involved working with a
real company, where we had to gather information and analyse it to
determine how they could improve the quality of their data. After
presenting in front of the company, they were very impressed by our
knowledge of the subject and plan on working with us more in the future.
What do you enjoy about your job?
To be paid to learn such
valuable skills was amazing. SQL, Tableau and Python are all used
widely, and the theory we learn to back up our technical knowledge in a
commercial environment puts us above most other graduates when we start
work. The learning environment is great fun, and when we start work with
the client we are given serious responsibilities that allow us to excel.
What challenges have you faced and what support has been provided?
Due
to the intensity of the course, there are times where the workload is
quite heavy. When these occasions arise, the trainers are very
supportive and provide us with the help and time we need to complete the
work to the best of our ability. The timetable for the development
programme is created to have peaks and troughs so there are varying
levels of intensity throughout the course. This means that when we have
more free time within the scheduled workload, we have the time to work
on our individual projects that build our portfolio.
Why do you like working for Kubrick?
I don’t think there is
anywhere else that would value my learning and professional development
as much as Kubrick does. I applied looking for new skills and a
challenging but rewarding work environment. I got exactly that, and had
a lot fun at the same time.