My graduate programme journey at Cerillion

Cerillion’s graduate scheme seeks the brightest and best to join the team and foster their professional development as they advance through the company ranks and deliver cutting-edge software solutions to our customers. Current Graduate Business Consultant, Shreeya Sharma, shares her experiences.

The final year of university can be a stressful, overwhelming time, with pending deadlines, thousands of words of dissertation to write, and on top of that, applying to graduate schemes for your first job – not the most fun! But all those hours searching and applying on LinkedIn are suddenly worth it for that one acceptance email.

A graduate scheme can be the best way to bridge the gap between education and the world of work. Whether you’re a fresh graduate or have some experience in the workplace, there’s a gradual process of understanding a role and its requirements, and a graduate scheme makes this process a lot more comfortable.

If you’re considering applying to the UK graduate programme at Cerillion, and have no idea what is in store, then do not stress; hopefully, I can give you some insight into what to expect and key takeaways from my time here so far.

The interview phase

I graduated from the University of Southampton in July 2024 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics – perhaps not the most obvious of backgrounds for a career in telecoms software! But by this time, I knew I’d already been accepted into Cerillion’s Graduate Programme.

I was overjoyed; their graduate scheme had really stood out to me for the company’s commitment to innovation, and broad spectrum of telecom operations that the company covered. It seemed like the ideal opportunity for me to develop and apply key skills in a dynamic, comprehensive environment. I was also drawn to the company’s global reach, and the chance to work on projects with a far-reaching impact across multiple countries.

The interview stage consisted of an online interview and an Assessment Day held at the head office in London which, looking back, was quite enjoyable. Of course, my nerves were all over the place, but we tend to forget that interviews are a great way to present yourself to the company.

I remember completely dreading the presentation-based task but came away feeling like it was the most interesting part of the day. So please – do not get into your head about it! Everyone was genuinely so willing to listen and approachable, it helped me feel less nervous which improved my performance overall.

First steps

We started the graduate training programme in August. Initially, I was apprehensive that my lack of prior related knowledge would be a hindrance; my modules in Chinese Politics were hardly going to help in a software company! However, I found that the transferable skills from my studies, like problem-solving and effective communication, proved to be incredibly valuable, but what matters most is a willingness and enthusiasm to learn, rather than the specific course you have studied determining your success at the role. It was reassuring to see that the training programme acknowledged how people brought different academic qualifications and work histories to the table.

Training was a good balance between technical, product-based and soft skills, all of which are integral to the role of Business Consultant. Sessions covered a wide variety of topics, including product-focused sessions on CRM Plus and Enterprise Product Catalogue, as well as technical sessions covering Linux and SQL. We were provided with many opportunities to complete tasks based on the sessions we attended, each accompanied by comprehensive support and guidance whenever we had questions.

We delivered presentations in small groups covering topics such as Agile and Waterfall methodologies in software development, as well as on projects Cerillion was engaged in. It was beneficial having the chance to refine our communication and presentation abilities in a relaxed atmosphere. My product-based knowledge significantly improved as I spent time working with CRM Plus and its different functionalities.

It’s such a great feeling to look back and think that, only a few months ago, everything seemed so unfamiliar, but now you can positively contribute to a project. It’s fulfilling to know you are at a company where there’s room for personal growth, as well as professional.

Customer experiences

I joined my first project in September; I shadowed two wonderful consultants, one of whom also came through the graduate programme previously, who both provided me with so much support along the way. This proved to be an incredibly valuable experience, offering me the freedom to complete tasks individually while also providing guidance when I needed it.

In October, we had the amazing opportunity to go to Bulgaria for further training at Cerillion’s Sofia office, and a chance to get to know the team over there. We spent 10 days receiving comprehensive training on analytics, billing, charging, and much more – so much that I may need an entire separate blog just to recap the Bulgaria trip!

We’d explore Sofia in our free time, and they took us to a beautiful restaurant in the mountains above Sofia. The team was so incredibly welcoming, treating us to local delicacies, traditional music, and dance. It was truly a memorable visit, and really gave us an opportunity to bond further – much more than a Teams call would!

After our Bulgaria visit, I started work on my second project. Although, I hadn’t been part of the project from the beginning, the team was equally as helpful and supportive. To increase my knowledge of CRM, something I was working on before, I worked with the Testing team in executing test cases related to the product. It also gave me a chance to familiarise myself with other Cerillion products such as Self Service; I could really feel myself becoming more confident in this time, building my technical proficiency as I had been given more exposure on Linux and the database.

Throughout my experience on both projects, I’ve consistently felt comfortable communicating with my project managers and team members, which has made transitioning as a new graduate smoother. People are always willing to take time for a call when needed, and that bit of help makes a significant difference. We often underestimate the importance of a company’s working culture and environment, but my experience at Cerillion has showed me what a difference it can make, not only to your learning and performance, but just simply how you feel in the office.

Company culture

What I appreciate the most about Cerillion is the people, all of whom are genuinely so receptive to your feedback and always ready to offer support when needed. Since the programme began, we have had one-on-one sessions with our line manager, providing an opportunity to openly discuss our progress, highlight areas of success, and identify aspects we wish to improve or change.

There’s a fantastic sense of community and togetherness because all the grads have been through the same process. Often, we take strolls at lunchtime (they order in food on office days – sometimes there’s Nando’s!), it’s always so lively and vibrant outside, thanks to the office being in Covent Garden. This carries on after work too – whether it’s company drinks, dinners, karaoke or salsa, we’re always attending such fun events together, it’s a great way to wind down and bond.

I hope this has given you a little snippet of my time here so far. I may be biased, but being completely honest, I really do recommend Cerillion’s graduate programme – the skills and knowledge that you gain, it’s an incredibly positive working environment and the motivated individuals really make the company what it is.

Find out more about our UK graduate programme, including details of how to apply.