I Got Hired: Programming Analyst at Cognizant

Posted on: 24 November 2023 by Richard Finch in Graduate stories

Jaskirat Kaur is a Class of 2022 MSc Biological Sciences graduate, now working as a Programming Analyst at Cognizant.

During my final year I actively looked for graduate roles on LinkedIn and Handshake to practice applying for graduate roles and to see what was out there.      

During the summer of 2021, I had completed an internship in a Health Tech company. This opportunity allowed me to apply skills from my degree to a new and unfamiliar industry.

I really enjoyed this experience as I was able to use my medical knowledge and research skills to contribute to a project with significant potential in improving healthcare. This consequently led me to continue to seek opportunities to develop my technical abilities and apply my skills to similar work.

Being part of a graduate scheme that allows you to retrain from any background has meant I have been able to meet a diverse range of amazing individuals. This has made starting a new job, in a new city that much easier and more fulfilled.               

Completing intense training in front and backend languages in just 8 weeks as a complete beginner was definitely challenging but extremely rewarding. I feel really lucky having the opportunity to have been trained on the job and to be able to continue learning after university.

My top 3 tips for current students:

1) Give it a go - Consider all opportunities, large or small, they will only add to your experiences and will help you to work out what you want to do and what you DON'T!

2) Practice - being able to sell yourself is a skill in itself, the more you practice applying for roles the better you will become at it

3) Use the Career Studio! Get your CV updated and make use of cover letter reviews, plus advice on keeping your LinkedIn profile up-to-date.

Jaskirat completed her BSc Anatomy and Human Biology degree at the University of Liverpool before progressing to postgraduate study, completing her Master's degree in Biological Sciences in 2022. While studying at the university Jaskirat took part in the UpReach Associate programme, funded by the Careers & Employabilty team.