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Alum of the Month - August 2017

Elina Seimanidou

LSE offers a valuable source of knowledge and network, which I use as much as possible.
Elina Seimanidou.

Elina Seimanidou

  • Programme studied: MSc in Management and Human Resources
  • Year of Graduation: 2015
  • LinkedIn profile

We picked Elina as our Alum of the Month for August for her inspiring career story and active engagement in the alumni community. Read her profile to discover her three keys to success.

What’s your current job?

HR Graduate Advisor, Atos UK.

Where have you worked previously?

During my postgraduate studies at LSE, I conducted a 6-month consulting project for Legal & General Group UK, as part of my dissertation. I designed, deployed and analysed a survey on employee engagement and organisational change. Through this amazing opportunity I gained my first, practical experience in HR and in the UK, and a better understanding of how theory applies to practice. Prior to my MSc, I worked in Public Relations and Marketing Communication in the Greek Parliament, V+O Communication Consulting and in a leading private school in Athens, Ziridis.

How do you think your programme of study and your experiences at LSE prepared you for a career in HR?
The main reasons why I chose to study at the LSE are the same reasons why I was well-prepared for an HR career. Firstly, the programme’s top-tier education gave me a solid theoretical foundation. The CIPD training offered a competitive advantage against other candidates and a wide network of HR professionals to reach out to. Moreover, the ‘Links’ project offered hands-on HR experience and an interesting story to talk about with recruiters. Last but not least, the LSE brand on my CV has been opening several doors.
What were your experiences/challenges of finding a suitable HR related job and how did you overcome any barriers you faced?

My goal was to join an HR graduate scheme in the UK. This is challenging per se, due to the high number of applicants and the long, demanding recruitment process. My keys to success are: 1) Preparation: practice for the interviews and assessments (attend the Career Services Workshops - they are really useful); 2) Network: reach out to your connections and seek for advice and ‘inside’ info; 3) Resilience: you will probably fail before you succeed. So, keep going and don’t give up!

What are your fondest memories of studying at LSE and how do you stay connected as an alumna?

The group-project meet-ups before class! It was more of a chit-chat, than a class preparation. We had so much fun and we built strong relationships.

LSE offers a valuable source of knowledge and network, which I use as much as possible. I attend events and stay in touch with my classmates and professors via social media and local meet-ups. Also, I stay connected following LSE on social media. One of my New Year resolutions is to become a mentor for LSE students!

What has been your greatest achievement since graduating?
Getting my job offer! I tried hard to get it and from 5000 applicants, I managed to be one of the 90 Atos Graduates in 2016. 

What would be your advice to new graduates who are still looking for job opportunities?

Focus, use all of your resources, be determined, be positive, don’t give up and practice, practice, practice!