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Hey future apprentices, interns and graduates, this week’s email contains:

  • Important news from the past few days (Talk about this in interviews!)

  • Weekly advice from an actual intern who just got hired

  • This week’s open positions!

WE ALSO HAVE THREE ADVERTISERS AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET APPROVED SO WE KNOW ITS A HUGE ASK BUT IF YOU COULD CLICK EACH LINK THIS WOULD BE A HUGE HELP.

Let’s get into it 👇

AI in HR? It’s happening now.

Deel's free 2026 trends report cuts through all the hype and lays out what HR teams can really expect in 2026. You’ll learn about the shifts happening now, the skill gaps you can't ignore, and resilience strategies that aren't just buzzwords. Plus you’ll get a practical toolkit that helps you implement it all without another costly and time-consuming transformation project.

REAL-WORLD APPLICATION NEWS

(Split into Finance, Tech, Engineering, Law & Markets - so you can use whatever fits YOUR path.)

💼 FINANCE

UK Regulator Reviews AI’s Impact on Retail Financial Services
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has launched a review into how advanced artificial intelligence could reshape competition, market structure and outcomes in retail finance. The review won’t immediately introduce new rules, but could shape future regulation of digital finance, AI systems and consumer protections.

Interview Tip:

“The FCA’s AI review shows how digital finance is evolving and why regulators want to ensure tech is safe for consumers - which is key in discussions about innovation and risk.”

💻 TECH

Meta Reports Strong Earnings, AI Investment Remains Central
Meta beat expectations in its latest quarterly results, highlighting strong revenue performance driven by ongoing AI investments and infrastructure expansion. The company plans to invest up to $169 billion in 2026, mainly on AI systems and data-centre capacity, even as it scales back metaverse-focused divisions.

Interview Angle:

“Meta’s results show that strategic investment in AI infrastructure can drive growth even in competitive markets - a strong example of balancing long-term bets with short-term performance.”

🛠️ ENGINEERING & INFRASTRUCTURE

Wall Street Index Breaks Records on AI Optimism
The S&P 500 rose above 7,000 for the first time this week, propelled by optimism around AI spending and strong earnings expectations from major tech firms. Commodities also saw big swings, with gold falling and oil prices rising amid market rotation.

Interview Tip:

“Record indices highlight how investors are pricing in long-term AI innovation - but the swings show the need to understand macro drivers, not just headlines.”

⚖️ LAW & MARKETS

US Consumer Confidence Hits Lowest Since 2014
The Conference Board reported that US consumer confidence dropped sharply to its lowest level since May 2014, driven by rising economic unease and uneven income gains. Investors remain hopeful about future growth tied to tax cuts and deregulation ahead of upcoming elections.

Interview Phrase:

“Falling consumer confidence demonstrates how sentiment can diverge from market performance - showing the difference between economic fundamentals and investor expectations.”

AI is all the rage, but are you using it to your advantage?

Successful AI transformation starts with deeply understanding your organization’s most critical use cases. We recommend this practical guide from You.com that walks through a proven framework to identify, prioritize, and document high-value AI opportunities. Learn more with this AI Use Case Discovery Guide.

INSIGHT FROM A RECENT INTERN

1. Connect News to Business Decisions
Don’t just summarise headlines - explain why this matters for employers.

“The FCA’s AI review matters because it could change how banks use algorithms - and that affects risk, compliance and strategy.”

2. Use Precise Terminology
Recruiters value candidates who use sector-specific language like market structure, regulatory review, consumer outcomes, AI infrastructure and macro sentiment — it shows fluency.

3. Practice “Cause → Effect → Recommendation”
Structure answers in three parts: what happened, why it matters, and what you’d do.

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RESOURCES TO GIVE YOU AN EDGE

🚀 Get In Prep - Structured prep for interviews & assessments

If you’re applying to apprenticeships, internships or graduate programmes and want focused preparation, Get In Prep helps you:

  • Practise real interview & assessment formats

  • Build structured answers using frameworks employers use

  • Train for numerical, situational & behavioural tests

  • Improve confidence before you apply

👉 Explore it here: getinprep.co.uk

OPEN POSITIONS

Company

Industry

Expires

URL

AON UK LIMITED

Law

Closes in 28 days (Wednesday 25 February 2026)

POLICY IN PRACTICE LIMITED

Tech

Closes on Monday 9 March 2026

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK LTD

Finance

Closes in 30 days (Friday 27 February 2026)

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK LTD

Law

Closes in 30 days (Friday 27 February 2026)

Cummins Ltd

Tech

Closes on Sunday 8 March 2026

Trade Remedies Authority

Tech

Closes in 18 days (Sunday 15 February 2026)

Cummins Ltd

Engineering

Closes on Friday 6 March 2026

Cummins Ltd

Engineering

Closes on Friday 6 March 2026

IT'S LOLLY LIMITED

Tech

Closes in 27 days (Wednesday 25 February 2026)

Parsons Chartered Accountants

Finance

Closes on Monday 2 March 2026

Mercer & Hole

Finance

Closes in 22 days (Friday 20 February 2026)

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC LIMITED

Engineering

Closes on Friday 27 March 2026

United Utilities

Tech

Closes in 25 days (Monday 23 February 2026)

United Utilities

Tech

Closes in 25 days (Monday 23 February 2026)

United Utilities

Tech

Closes in 24 days (Monday 23 February 2026)

Fix Auto Manchester East

Engineering

Closes on Thursday 5 March 2026

SIEMENS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

Engineering

Closes in 28 days (Friday 27 February 2026)

United Utilities

Engineering

Closes in 24 days (Monday 23 February 2026)

United Utilities

Engineering

Closes in 24 days (Monday 23 February 2026)

XPS Group plc

Law

Closes in 14 days (Friday 13 February 2026)

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