Graduate jobs: Think harder

Human Capital delivers the strategic advice our clients need to manage, incentivise and engage their people in the ever-changing world of work. Read more about Human Capital.

Select the employee's image above to discover what you could expect within your first two years or what our more experienced consultants have achieved in their 10 years with Mercer.

Joanna, Reward Analyst, Human Capital

Sep 2008
Joined Mercer as a Rewards Analyst and went on the induction

Dec 2008
I passed my probation period and began working on a long-term research partnership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Mar 2009
Went on my first client meeting. I really enjoyed being involved in a discussion of key compensation issues for our client first-hand.

Jun 2009
Was given the opportunity to work on a workforce sciences project focusing on talent management. This was really interesting and I appreciated the chance to work within other areas of human capital.

Sep 2009
Started working towards my professional qualification - an MSc in HR Management with CIPD accreditation. I was also assigned as 'Buddy' for our new graduate, and it was great to support them and hand on my knowledge.

Dec 2009
I managed my first entire project. I really enjoyed the responsibility, as well as the opportunity to develop my report writing and client-facing skills.

Mar 2010
I was promoted to the next analyst level. This was an incredible achievement for me, and it acknowledged how far I felt I'd come since my first day in human capital.

Jun 2010
Completed the Graduate Programme and the first year of my professional qualification. I also published a research report that I'd been involved in from the very start. It was great seeing the final product distributed to HR professionals across the UK.

Skip to top

Laura, Consultant, Human Capital

Sep 2001
Joined Mercer's graduate scheme in Human Capital

Mar 2003
Promoted as a specialist consultant in the Flexible Benefits team.

Jul 2004
Gained Masters in HR, and CIPD qualification.

Jan 2005
Transferred into our Talent and Reward consulting specialism to build on my own interests and areas of consulting strength.

Mar 2006
Promoted to Associate. I was now managing pieces of large projects or own smaller projects in the Talent and Reward area. I also took on people management responsibilities as line manager for six of the analyst team.

Mar 2008
Promoted to Senior Associate. This brought responsibility for business development and sales, as well as consulting and people management activities across the UK Human Capital team.

Skip to top

Investment Consulting advises clients on their institutional investing. They provide strategic thinking on everything from initial structure through to portfolio monitoring and risk management. Read more about Investment Consulting.

Select the employee's image above to discover what you could expect within your first 18 months or what our more experienced consultants have achieved in their 10 years with Mercer.

Katie, Investment Analyst, Investment Consulting

Jan 2009
Joined Mercer as a graduate in the specialist Performance Reporting team.

Mar 2009
I attended specialist technical training sessions. Began studying for the CFA Level 1 exam.

Jun 2009
Moved into an Investment Analyst role. I was sad to leave my old team mates but the new team were extremely welcoming. I was looking forward to more client interaction too. Passed the CFA Level 1 exam - phew!

Sep 2009
New Investment Consulting graduates joined. It was great to be able to pass on my knowledge.

Dec 2009
Attended my first manager selection event. It was really interesting to hear the presentations, and a great opportunity to build better relationships with the investment managers.

Mar 2010
Gave my first formal client presentation at a trustee meeting – a fantastic learning experience.

Jun 2010
Investment Consulting interns join. We welcome them with a drinks event followed by a summer rounders tournament - great fun!

Skip to top

Vanessa, Consultant, Investment Consulting

Sep 2002
Joined Mercer’s Retirement, Risk & Finance Business as a graduate in the Windsor office

Mar 2005
Promoted to Senior Actuarial Analyst. In this role, I gained more project and client management responsibilities.

May 2007
A busy year! Joined the Investment Consulting business in the London office, qualified as an Actuary and was then promoted to Consultant. This meant developing a client portfolio where I was lead consultant, while providing support on larger and more complex clients.

Mar 2010
Promoted to Senior Consultant. As well as client responsibilities, I am involved in producing intellectual capital for the business as well as presenting at conferences.

Skip to top

Outsourcing help clients overcome the complex challenges of managing employee pensions and benefits schemes through providing a streamlined, cost effective service to a wide range of clients. Read more about Outsourcing.

Select the employee's image above to discover what you could expect within your first 12 months or what our more experienced consultants have achieved in their 10 years with Mercer.

Nauka, Trainee Pensions Consultant, Outsourcing

Sep 2009
Joined Mercer as a graduate in the Outsourcing team based in Manchester. Went on the induction - a great opportunity to chat with the Head of Outsourcing and meet the other graduates.

Dec 2009
Began studying for Advanced Diploma of Retirement Provision through the Pensions Management Institute. This was very interesting, and really useful in understanding more about the work I do.

Apr 2010
Attended my first trustees meeting. I’d been heavily involved in the preparation for the meeting, so it was very gratifying to see everything come together and the meeting in action. I also sat my first two PMI examinations.

Jul 2010
Thankfully passed both exams and am now looking forward to the next steps at Mercer!

Skip to top

Lucy, Consultant, Outsourcing

Sep 2000
Joined Mercer's Human Resource Operations Consulting Practice as a graduate fresh out of university. Worked with the team on large project-based reviews of pension and HR processes.

Feb 2003
Moved jobs due to a location change and took on a position as an Assistant Employee Benefits Consultant.

Oct 2005
Rejoined Mercer’s Bristol Office as a Deputy Client Service Manager in the Outsourcing Scheme Management Team, supporting the team in the delivery of services to clients.

Apr 2006
Became qualified as an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute.

Apr 2007
Started to take responsibility for several small clients.

Apr 2008
Promoted to Associate Client Service Manager, with additional clients to manage.

Apr 2010
Promoted to Senior Associate. I’m now responsible for delivering technical consulting advice and management of services to eight of my own clients and supporting a Managing Consultant in the delivery to a global client.

Skip to top

Retirement, Risk & Finance
Retirement, Risk & Finance helps high profile clients manage, redesign and optimise their retirement plans in response to changes in the workforce. Read more about Retirement, Risk & Finance.

Retirement Service Centre

The Retirement Service Centre, in Belfast is a rapidly expanding unit of specialist technical analysts within Retirement, Risk & Finance. Working with the consulting offices, the centre delivers high quality valuation and data analysis on a global scale. Read more about Retirement Service Centre.

Select the employee's image above to discover what you could expect within your first 8 months or what our more experienced consultants have achieved in their 10 years with Mercer.

Tom, Actuarial Trainee, Retirement, Risk & Finance

Sep 2008
Joined as a graduate and went on the corporate induction - good opportunity to get to know the other grads.

Oct 2008
Took various internal training courses to get up to speed with tasks in the office. Started tutorials for exams.

Jan 2009
The next step of the graduate development programme - another chance to develop consulting/business skills and meet up with people from other offices.

Apr 2009
I sat two actuarial exams.

Jun 2009
I passed both exams – brilliant! Two down, plenty to go. Settled into the role and made good progress. Worked on a range of clients and picked up some interesting pieces of work.

Sep 2009
The new graduates started. As a 'buddy' to one of them, I was responsible for their initial settling in and am the main contact and source of work. Also got back into serious study and sat two more actuarial exams in October. Most people were sitting exams at the same time, so there was great support from everyone around me.

Dec 2009
In the run-up to Christmas, exam results were (cruelly) announced. Fortunately they went well and I passed some more – great! My buddy passed her first ones too.

Mar 2010
With new graduates now responsible for my old tasks, I took on more challenging work. A new year, a new exam sitting, so study started in time for the April 2010 sitting. I also attended the last stage in the graduate development programme, which focused on softer 'business' skills.

Skip to top

Andrea, Consultant, Retirement, Risk & Finance

Sep 2000
Joined Mercer's Retirement, Risk & Finance business as a graduate.

Sep 2002
Promoted and started to check work for more junior colleagues.

Jan 2004
Became the lead support on several clients, reporting directly to the scheme actuary.

Sep 2004
Promoted again. Gradually took on the lead support role on more clients.

Dec 2004
Qualified as an actuary.

2005
In addition to my lead support role, I took on managerial responsibility for the Brentwood office valuation team.

Jun 2007
Team leader for a team of c.10 people alongside existing client role.

Nov 2007
Became a Scheme Actuary and gained first Scheme Actuary appointment. Continued as lead support on other clients and provided non-actuarial consultancy advice to a number of clients.

Jul 2009
Moved to London following the closure of the Brentwood office. Took on three further Scheme Actuary appointments, plus I'm the lead consultant role on one of these.

Mar 2010
Promoted.

Skip to top

Annmarie, Retirement Analyst, Retirement Service Centre

Jan 2010
Joined Mercer as a graduate and went on the induction - a good chance to get to know the people you started with.

Feb 2010
Completed four weeks of dedicated technical training, which left me feeling really confident about taking on my first piece of client work.

Mar 2010
Prepared work for actuaries in three different UK offices of three of the country's largest companies. The experience I'd gained so far was amazing.

Apr 2010
Sat my first actuarial exam. Fingers crossed!

May 2010
Joined the Retirement Service Centre People Committee - I represent junior employees on the people management committee.

Jun 2010
I was appointed as training lead for our office. I was now coordinating training across the Retirement Service Centre and helping to prepare and deliver our graduate training.

Jul 2010
I passed my exam. I was delighted!

Aug 2010
I can't believe how much I have developed in eight months. There really are no boundaries to how quickly you can progress on this graduate scheme!

Skip to top

Thomas, Team Leader, Retirement Service Centre

Sep 2001
Joined the Belfast Retirement, Risk & Finance Consulting team as a graduate.

Jan 2003
I worked as part of the team involved in setting up the initial processes for completing valuations remotely, which would eventually be the Retirement Service Centre.

Jan 2004
Promoted to take on a more supervisory position, managing three people.

Jan 2005
Joined the Retirement Service Centre within Belfast as a team leader.

Mar 2007
Gained a lead training role within the Retirement Service Centre.

Sep 2009
Given responsibility for interviewing & recruitment within the Service Centre.

Skip to top