What path did you take to build your career in Financial Services?
"My route in doesn’t feel particularly typical! I studied Geography at university as when I was applying, I hadn’t a clear career choice. After my first year, I started to think that Financial Services may be a career I’d be interested in, and so I spent time researching and writing to potential Investment Management firms to try and get some summer work experience.
Eventually I received an offer from a firm in London, working over the summer holidays. I soon learned that it was a career I wanted to pursue and so spent the next year or so looking at graduate programmes. Unfortunately, I wasn’t successful securing a place, so I graduated from university without a job in the industry lined up."
So how did you secure a role?
"It was as simple as writing to firms in the big cities, looking to see if they had any opportunities coming up, and at the same time, I started studying for industry qualifications on my own. Finally, I heard from a local firm who informed me that there was an admin related role coming up. I jumped at this opportunity to gain more valuable experience. Whilst working in the team, I tried hard to demonstrate my keenness for the investment side.
A few months, later they said they were looking to hire a trainee Investment Manager and asked whether I would be interested. This was very fortunate as I was able to begin the training process and undertake further study and exams for the next few years, until I reached the Level 7 CISI Chartered Wealth Manager qualification."
Any advice for those starting in the industry?
"Just being open to continually learning. It’s important to put yourself out there when looking for opportunities, and even if it is tough to begin with, remaining persistent and motivated is what I took from it all I think!"