After growing up in the Devon countryside, I studied Accounting & Finance at LSE before working a short stint in private wealth management, then moving back to London to join Insight. I’ve been at Insight for just over three years now, having completed my two-year Investment graduate scheme and joined Insight’s Fixed Income Group as a Credit analyst.
Why Insight Investment?
When applying for roles within institutional asset management, I sifted through plenty of application and company web pages. Insight always stood out as having a collaborative work environment and flat company structure, a high calibre workforce and a strong focus on ethical behaviour. These factors were particularly apparent in each interaction I had with Insight prior to joining, and even more so during my time at the firm. My team are always friendly and more than happy to help when I have questions or need support, which is essential when starting out in a career, with the notion of an ‘open door policy’ very much evident – I sit next to my manager and other senior team members who always make time for me.
What opportunities outside of your role have Insight Investment enabled you to be a part of?
I have been part of the Insight charity committee for most of my time at Insight. We work together as a small group from across the firm (across divisions and geographies!) to primarily raise money and awareness for our current charity partner, The Make-A-Wish Foundation (MAW). This involves helping to organise a monthly charity raffle within the office, as well as arranging and promoting a number of sponsored sporting and other fundraising events. Insight also provides up to 2 volunteering days per year to allow employees to volunteer and support a charity of their choice, so I have had the pleasure of attending the MAW office in Reading to provide assistance and gain a ground-level understanding of some the fantastic work that they are doing.
How did you build your commercial awareness before the interview?
I primarily tried to keep up to date with current political and financial news. I did this little and often over a period of time, which helped to gradually build up my knowledge rather than trying to cram in information the night before an interview (this does not work!). When I found something that interested me, I read in more detail. If I didn’t understand something, I looked it up on Google and Investopedia (very useful site!). I did this at both a macro and micro level. This also gave me plenty to talk about during my interviews and showed a true interest in specific topics. Commercial awareness also includes understanding the basics of the firm and role you are applying to, so I made sure to look at Insight’s website resources. One good piece of advice I had on this front was that the interviewer doesn’t expect expert knowledge, just a demonstrated interest and a drive to learn.
What top tips would you give to graduates applying now?
Be sure to research the company values and other available sources on our website. Rather than simply reciting these values or any facts you may find, think about examples in your past where you demonstrated them yourself and be prepared to talk about them (research the STAR framework, it helps to provide an organised answer), demonstrate them during any assessments, and even frame your CV accordingly at the initial stages. Moreover, think about if you truly resonate with the firm values and with the people you are interacting with; the application process is also for you to find the right firm and role for your own preferences. Finally, relax and be yourself. Easier said than done, but just know that all the Insight representatives that you meet are on your side and just want to get to know the real you.