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Careers with GlobalConglomorate
Hear from our employees
Its a good idea to include testimonials from disabled people who already work for you among those you post on your site. This helps reinforce your message that you welcome applications from disabled people and gives an idea of the kind of opportunities for career development open to them in your company.
Rather than use fictitious testimonials we have included these real-life testimonials from disabled employees of Gold Card members of The Employers' Forum on Disability.
Helen Smith Reporter/Production journalist - Anglia TV
Why did you decide on a career in the media?
After losing my limbs to meningitis I found myself appearing on more and more TV programmes and shows. From taking part in these I decided working in television was a career I would enjoy and could still do in spite of my disability. Prior to having meningitis I was a research scientist and Ive found the skills I learnt for this career transferred pretty well to news journalismboth jobs are about research and not giving up until youve got what you want!
What is the most enjoyable part of your job?
I really like going out reporting and meeting all sorts of different people. The most rewarding part is when I do a report about someone and then their life actually changes for the better because of it.
What is the toughest?
I would say the long hours I have to work and the long drives. Norwich to Northampton and back seems to take forever.
Would you recommend your career choice to others and why?
Its the sort of job where everyday is different and you never know what is going to happen next. One minute nothing is happening and then a story can break and its panic stations to get it on the next news programme.
What is the best piece of career advice you have ever been given? Did you follow it?
Coming into journalism with virtually no experience I have tried to follow nearly all the advice Ive been given by colleagues. However, I think the best advice I was given is to follow your instinctsthey havent failed me yet.
Of the people you see currently working in TV, who do you most admire?
Julie Fernandez. She is one of the few people with a disability to succeed on national television.
What is special about your region?
Anglia Television was broad-minded enough to take on someone who didnt conform to the usual TV stereotype. They have worked with me to overcome problems as they have arisen and have enabled me to start my career in news journalism.
Amar Latif - Commercial Finance Manager BT
University attended - University of Strathclyde
Degree obtained - BSc Mathematics, Statistics and Finance
Age - 28 years
Amar Latif spent the third of his four-year degree course at Queen's University, Kingston in Canada, returning to the University of Strathclyde for his final year. He spent a ten-week summer placement with BT and joined them permanently on graduation.
BT is a supportive employer offering a wide range of opportunities.
Graduate scheme
I joined the graduate scheme with BT Mobile. This involved study for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountancy qualifications, and I have now qualified as a Management Accountant. I am registered blind, and use speech and Braille technologies.
After the initial induction, I started as a Finance Manager in Commercial Accounting, assisting a number of departments. I helped to establish budgets, worked on business cases and controlled expenditure. I calculated the cost of a brand new, 11 million call centre. This involved considerable responsibility and BT encouraged me to rise to the challenge.
Central finance
I later moved to Central Finance, where I set up a new reconciliation process, implementing solutions to eliminate discrepancies. One of my solutions reduced a process time from four weeks to just four days. It was gratifying to see my innovations put into daily practice.
BT Retail
I then joined BT Retail Commercial Finance. Here I was responsible, among other things, for pricing up corporate bids with a potential value of 100 million, and presenting these to the Board. I received a tremendous amount of recognition and support from all my colleagues.
BT Global Services:
I now work as a senior Finance Analyst within Global Services providing financial support to the Storage product line. This involves working very closely with the Sales Channels and external Suppliers to make critical pricing and investment decisions to maximise our revenue and profit.
Ingenuity
Because of my limited eyesight, I sometimes have to evolve innovative ways of approaching tasks and, occasionally, these prove more efficient than conventional methods.
Challenges
I have enjoyed the challenges so far at BT, and I have benefited from the encouragement and the open-door policy. BT is always open to new suggestions, is prepared to talk through ideas with flexibility, and is always keen to work with employees in order to help the individual realise their potential.
View BT is always keen to work with employees in order to help the individual realise their potential.
