Careers
We now offer a career service so that YOMs (either at university or looking for a job) can get advice or possibly even help from an older Old Millhillian. We have a growing database of over 50 OMs who would be happy to be contacted or to help in some way. We have helped several OMs recently with applications for summer internships, work experience and advice on writing personal statements.
All enquiries need to be made through the Club office. Call Shalaka Karlekar on 8 906 7949 if you wish to use this service.
Ralph Chiti (Presitley 04) graduated in 2009 from Imperial College London and was recently looking for work experience or an opportunity to enter the Finance industry. He writes:
'It was a tough time in the market and I had heard that the Old Millhillian’s Club was running a career service for Mill Hill Alumni. I contacted the Club and was put in touch with industry professionals who were also Mill Hill Alumni. John Cicale from ICAP helped me with my application and I have reached final round stages to join their graduate scheme, Richard Tray advised me to contact some of his old colleagues at JP Morgan, John Elliott set up a meeting for me with his son who works at Goldman Sachs, Emmanuel Ajayi asked if I wanted some experience at Standard Chartered where he heads up the Africa Foreign Exchange trading desk, Chris Vincent of Macquarie bank put me in touch with his friends at Credit Suisse and helped me strengthen my CV.
All in all, my opportunities now are endless and I have been interviewing and making progress at some top financial firms hoping to secure my dream job. The career service has opened many doors for me and I have made a fantastic network of contacts through the Club, I would advise any Ex-Mill Hill student to see what resources are available from the service and to realise how tightly-knit the Mill Hill community really is. I would also like to send a special thank you to all those who helped me with the names above being just a few from the long list. I will certainly want to offer any help I can and stay in touch with the Old Millhillian’s Club as to return the favour that they once offered me'.
Pippa Woodrow was helped by the Club to gain some work experience in law, here is an excerpt from her trip to Hong Kong (full article is in YOMS section)
I had decided to extend my trip over to Hong Kong as I had had an extremely generous invitation from OM Graham Harris to come and do some work experience with him at his criminal chambers on the Island. Suited and booted I found my way through the maze of shopping malls to one of the many tower blocks in central Hong Kong and found Liberty Chambers up on the 22nd floor. They had just moved into these offices and they were pretty swish... dark wood paneling and panoramic views out over central Hong Kong. Definitely not a deterrent from coming in every morning! I was so lucky to be able to join Graham’s gaggle of summer students. We were able to watch him on a number of different cases; all memorable for many different reasons I should not divulge too much about the work but the lunches he took us to were absolutely superlative. As a dim-sum beginner it took me a while to get to grips with the chopsticks, but my goodness that was some of the best food I have ever tasted.
Graham was incredibly generous and treated us to lunch whenever he could, sharing stories of Mill Hill and life as a barrister over food I couldn’t get enough of. All three of us ‘summer students’ felt so lucky to be with him in particular. He was so genuine, and so interesting to chat to, with a real sense of fun. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to him once more for taking care of me so well. Hong Kong was fantastic but I wouldn’t have had half the experience I did without Graham.
One of the highlights had to be a trip with Graham out the yacht of a billionaire in celebration of a case he had recently won. I was treated to a day of supping champagne and cake on the sofa’s of this enormous boat, going over to another of the island’s for an amazing sea food lunch followed by jet-skiing. A world away from Sri-Lanka but I could definitely get used to being a successful barrister! I managed to get a few more days hiking out in the mountains of Hong Kong. It is another Island that offers lovely beaches, mountains and stunning cityscapes all side by side.
I got to see the classic view of HK from the central peak when I was fortunate enough to spend a day in court with Judge Kim Longley (another OM.) He allowed me to spend the day with him in court watching his cases and chatting about my potential career in law. He had tons of useful insights and treated me to yet another lovely munch at the country club, I think it’s fair to say that I got spoiled in Hong Kong. Judge Longley even managed to persuade his son to be-friend me, after which the delights of ‘ladies night’ were unveiled: free drinks for girls on Wednesdays and Thursdays… I really think this is something we should introduce to Boris!
On my last day in chambers the new conference room was to be christened with a little soiree. Graham’s senior pupil and I were volunteered as the entertainment and so; we put together a little ad-hoc performance of west end numbers for everybody. Whilst it lacked a little polish, nobody seemed offended, and we managed to get our revenge on graham by forcing him to do the phantom of the opera duet with me! It was great fun being in Chambers and I met a great number of people with whom I hope I will stay in contact. It has only strengthened my inclination that the bar is somewhere I might like to be and since I have returned and begun my legal studies I keep that end goal in mind. I feel so fortunate to have been able to take this trip. On a personal and professional level this summer was an experience that changed me. It has given me confidence in my own capabilities and in the strength of my convictions going forward in a career in law. I want to be able to work with people as intelligent and genuine as those I met in Hong Kong and to help the people that I saw struggling in Sri Lanka. And maybe sing a few songs along the way as well!
My trip would never have been possible without the support of the Old Millhillians Foundation, and without the support and generosity of individual OMs. I feel so lucky to be part of an organization that will extend an unquestioning hand of welcome in any part of the world.