Dr Nabeel Anwar

Consultant, Actica Consulting

Tell us about your current job. Describe what you do on a typical day.

I am a management consultant, specialising in supporting the public sector with complex, sensitive and mission-critical projects under tight timelines and high-risk conditions. Working for a trusted partner in the UK public sector, I help deliver digital-transformation programmes from strategic planning stage through to implementation. As a consultant, I liaise with architecture, data, cyber, transformation and engineering specialists to deliver complex multi-year digital projects. I provide strategic advice and programme delivery support to allow UK public sector bodies to be more efficient, effective, and secure. My activities in a typical day can involve meetings and workshops with the client and stakeholders, research and data analysis, preparing and delivering presentations and reports.

What were the best things about your course?

The best things about my Chemistry degree were the ability to put theory into practice and the interdisciplinary nature of the subject. The opportunity to use what I had learnt in lectures and tutorials and bringing it to life in a laboratory was invaluable in my understanding of the subject. In addition to being a quite sociable and collaborative way of learning, the experimental skills and experience gained in the laboratory prepared me well for my subsequent PhD research. As chemistry draws knowledge from other disciplines like physics, and mathematics and has applications in biology and material science and beyond, I enjoyed the varied nature and broad scope.

How do you feel your degree helped you get a job after graduation?

A Chemistry degree has helped me develop many of the soft, transferrable skills that are typically valued by employers and which are also useful for further study. I learnt how to become an independent and critical thinker who can apply my current understanding to solve new, complex problems. Applying theory into practice in the laboratory, I improved my ability to plan projects and organise and manage my time effectively. As a result of laboratory and research experience, I feel confident in gathering and interpreting evidence to support my ideas and arguments to draw robust conclusions.

What skills from your degree do you think you use most in your current job?

My Chemistry degree taught me how to approach complex, ambiguous problems in a structured way. As a consultant, I use the analytical skills I developed in my studies to break down complicated issues into manageable components. The degree also developed my quantitative and data analysis skills, allowing me to interpret trends, assess uncertainty and make evidence-based recommendations and conclusions to clients. I also learnt how to communicate complex ideas clearly, through written reports and delivery of presentations, giving me the confidence to explain and translate technical and abstract concepts to non-specialist stakeholders.

How has your career developed since graduating from the University of Birmingham? Did you need to take additional training on top of your degree?

I obtained my Computational Chemistry PhD from the University of Southampton, in collaboration with AWE/UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). My doctoral research focused on leveraging high performance computing to perform large-scale quantum mechanical simulations of nuclear fuel materials. The outcomes of my work have been recognised with publications in peer reviewed scientific journals in the fields of condensed matter physics and materials science, as well as at numerous presentations at international conferences. As part of this EPSRC-funded Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) PhD programme, I also earned an MSc in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry from the University of Oxford.

What advice would you give to current and prospective students looking to work in your sector?

There is a hierarchy of consulting firms based upon perceived prestige, focus and size. Finding a consulting role at the most prestigious firms is extremely competitive, as these jobs offer very starting high salaries. However, this often comes at a cost to work-life balance, where you and your contribution might be less visible as part of a very large corporation. While some consultants thrive in this very competitive work environment, others would be much better suited to more specialist or boutique consultancy firms. Regardless of their size or perceived prestige, consultancies are interested in applicants who can solve complex or abstract problems and articulate their thoughts in a logical and structured way to non-specialist audiences. You will need to demonstrate in your applications your ability to work in fast paced, corporate environments, where the situation and circumstances are changing rapidly.

What would you recommend students should do at university, over and above their academic study, to make them more employable in the graduate market?

To be more employable in the graduate market, I would suggest students consider how they can improve their transferrable skills through building practical experience. Internships and industrial placements, and even part-time work or volunteering are all good ways to apply and improve their real-world skills. Getting involved with societies and sports can also help develop your teamwork, communication and time-management skills, which are highly valuable attributes for employers. Take advantage of any networking opportunities such as careers fairs, alumni events and employer talks, to better understand different industries and build professional connections.

Did you take advantage of support services offered by the University for example Careers Network and Wellbeing, and if so, what impact did they have on you?

I took advantage of the University Careers Network by visiting several careers fairs which took place throughout the academic year, where I could directly speak to employers and learn about potential paths I could pursue with my degree. The careers fairs exposed me to a range of different industries, which improved my commercial awareness. Attending talks by employers, organised by the School of Chemistry and College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, I learnt about careers directly related to my degree. Seeking tailored advice on my CV and cover letter writing from the careers advisors also increased the quality of my applications, improving my chances in a competitive graduate market.

Why did you originally apply to Birmingham?

I applied to Birmingham as the campus was one of the most appealing of any other university I visited. I loved both the look and feel of the campus as well as the extensive, state of the art, modern facilities all housed within one walkable site. The students had a strong sense of community and belonging which generated a positive atmosphere for learning and developing. I was also looking for an institution which has a strong reputation for research-led teaching, so that I could learn from world-leading experts, in a cutting-edge research environment.