21-year-old SERC graduate secures employment with Amazon

Hard work and dedication has paid off for SERC business graduate Sean Branniff who has secured employment with Amazon as a Graduate Manager.  

Sean, who graduated from the College in September, decided to enrol at SERC after attending an open day and, after talking to the tutors, enrolled onto the Liverpool John Moore's University BA Business Studies course.

Following a rigorous selection process by Amazon, Sean is now experiencing first-hand the role and responsibilities of a Graduate Manager and getting a better idea of how the industry operates, a challenge he is thoroughly enjoying. 

Speaking about the course, Sean explained that it has helped him gain invaluable knowledge and skills. “SERC set me up for success. During my studies I completed numerous workshops which helped me to develop my interview skills, presentation skills and practical business conduct. I also enriched my studies by gaining an extra qualification from the Institute of Leadership and Management which helped me to stand out from the crowd.”

He continued “I enrolled at SERC for a few reasons. Firstly, it gave me the opportunity to learn and understand better thanks to the smaller class sizes. Secondly, the campus atmosphere is relaxed, and you are encouraged to ask for help.  I also got the opportunity to travel to Wroclaw, Poland. The trip gave me an insight into how business is conducted in a different country.”

He said he decided against university due to the expensive tuition fees. He said “After completing my A Levels, I decided to enrol onto the Liverpool John Moore’s University Business Studies Degree which SERC offer locally. The course is fully accredited by Liverpool John Moore’s University and this gave me the opportunity to gain a degree qualification but at a much lower cost than going to university. Also, as the tuition fees are much lower than university and I was able to live at home, I saved £1,000s over the duration of the course.”

Sean said “I was ecstatic when I was offered the job, it's something that shouldn't happen to people like me.

“The recruitment process involved 3 main stages. I completed math and logic tests before being invited for a video interview. After successfully completing these stages I then was invited for an interview. The interview consisted of being questioned by four separate people over a 4 hour period.

“I am loving my new role. Amazon are excellent to work for. The drive to change and innovate is at the forefront of employee thinking. This leads to an exciting and diverse working environment where processes change constantly. My goal is to become an operations manager within the next few years.”

Course tutor Suzan Donnelly explains: “At SERC we are committed to providing students with valuable development opportunities which allow them to improve their employability skills, add to their knowledge and explore their potential. I am delighted that Sean has got this amazing start to his career. It is just the beginning of a great career for him. That is the beauty of having your local college on your doorstep.”

The 21-year-old Dromara man, who is now based at Amazons impressive 800,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Swansea, said that he would ‘strongly encourage others to consider SERC as a first option as the skills he gained at College helped him secure his dream job.’