KATY SPICER, 24, a deputy branch manager on the Royal Bank of Scotland’s retail graduate scheme.

“I worked as a cashier at the Halifax while studying for my law degree. When I realised that I did not want to be a lawyer, it made sense to do a banking traineeship. I chose Royal Bank of Scotland because it has a well-structured scheme and I wanted to know that my career development was being looked after. So far I have done a lot of branch work, which has developed my management skills. My next placement is on the project board, supporting staff who are progressing from being cashiers to becoming managers.”

JEMMA KING, 24, assistant human resources business partner at Royal Mail.

“I had not planned to join Royal Mail after completing my master’s in HR but a friend who worked there told me about its two-year graduate training scheme. At the interview we got the chance to meet graduates who had joined the year before and to ask them the questions that you can’t really ask an assessor. It helped to get the message across that the business wanted us to be sure that we would be happy working there. It is easy to forget that a job interview is two-way process; this showed that they wanted to impress us as well.”

REBECCA MANN, 25, trainee solicitor, Herbert Smith, an international legal practice.

“I went to university in Sydney and had not been to the UK before I arrived here for my job interview. Herbert Smith recruits people from across the world. I came here to work because trade litigation, the area in which I want to specialise, is much bigger and better developed. Deals come through London from everywhere. I have had some great professional opportunities since joining. I spent six months in Brussels, the capital of trade law in Europe, and at the moment I am seconded to Coca-Cola.”

GEMMA BROWN, 25, graduate surveyor at Jones Lang LaSalle, which specialises in real estate services.

“I used to work for a bank, where I dealt with investment in property, and I discovered that I really enjoyed its tangible nature. Since joining JLL 18 months ago I have worked in a variety of departments. I found retail particularly interesting because it is such a dynamic market. It also offers opportunities to work overseas. One of things that appealed to me about this role is the support available – the company paid for me to complete my master’s degree and gave me time off to study.”

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