Her Finance Future

Back in April, I had my first-ever ‘ real ’ job interview for a finance internship – not just a 15-minute ‘tell me about yourself’ chat, but a two-hour interview, split into competency-based and case study segments. In my previous post, I covered preparation techniques . Here, I’ll share my actual interview experience! Competency-Based The first part focused on scenarios and past experiences, for example, “a time I had to make a difficult decision, and how I approached it”. Many questions were ones I hadn’t specifically prepared for, so having a range of different experiences to draw from was important. I found myself improvising, and even sharing some personal struggles I faced in the workplace when adjusting to a managerial role (something I never expected to share with a potential employer). The whole process felt conversational, and my interviewer was intrigued when I mentioned my involvement with ‘pole fitness’ at uni! Any interests can be great conversation starters. Showcase y...

Jumping straight into interviews with big companies as a student with limited experience can be daunting, so I’m here to share my experience in preparing – and some tips that helped! General Interview Season Staying updated with industry news is important year-round, but realistically, even more relevant in applications season. I made it a routine to follow FT headlines and listened to industry podcasts for a deeper insight into market trends and surrounding discussions. If you’re new to finance, the Market Maker podcast by AmplifyME is a great place to start! It’s designed for students, breaking down technical content into a conversational format.   A Few Days Before After researching the role and creating a list of the company’s values and the key skills required for the job, I referred to my CV to write a list of relevant experiences , or anything I found to have professional value. I listed group projects, breaking them down by skills and lessons learned, and did the same with...

When I first heard lecturers talk about networking, I used to laugh and think, “what even is networking? That will never be me” . I never understood the concept of attending events to speak to people that I’d never heard of, couldn’t relate to, and wouldn’t know how to approach. However, over the last year, I’ve attended conferences, insight days, and even networking specific events. Here’s what I’ve learned:   Networking Doesn’t Have to be Serious Networking doesn’t have to be formal events involving people in suits, it can be as simple as attending society events, speaking to people on your course or even chatting to friends with connections in the industry. There is so much to learn from everyone’s unique experiences which should never be overlooked! Whether its hearing about someone’s experience working abroad in New York or someone’s friend who works at Morgan Stanley, these casual conversations can offer surprising insights into different career paths and open your mind to ...

Breaking into the financial industry as a student can feel impossible. Internships are competitive, and finding ways to differentiate yourself in applications can be tough. But guess what? There’s so many things you can do beyond searching for practical banking experience to boost your employability and stand out to employers. Here’s what worked for me: Join Societies (And Committees!) Get involved in societies, especially if they’re career-related. Even better though, apply to join the committee! This will put you in direct contact with industry professionals when it comes to events. It’s an excellent way to build a solid network (with both students and employers) and guarantee your place at invite-only events! Plus, it shows passion, which looks great on applications.   Attend Insight Days and Career Events Sitting through hours of panel discussions might not be at the top of your list, but these events will give you so much to discuss in your interview. You’ll not only learn wh...

Hello lovelies! Just a quick introduction to my blog! I’m here to share a small series of short posts to help you level up in your career journey and land that internship – whether you’re just starting out or want a little boost! I'm a third-year finance student who was a little late to the game and (very nearly) missed out on so many key opportunities that helped me with progression. This time last year I didn't know how to network , I never attended events, and I knew absolutely nothing about the financial industry and markets. Fast forward to now , I organise events and communications for the Women in Banking and Finance Society at my university and have gotten so much more active in my personal career path. I’ve learned so much over the past year, and even though I’m still figuring things out, I’m excited to share what I’ve learned along the way!   Here’s the thing I wish I learned sooner: you don’t need one massive experience to stand out. Experience comes from a series...