We chatted to Arthur, a Bright Network member on an Internship with global investment manager Schroders. Read on to find out about his experiences at the firm and his top tips for anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I have just graduated from University College Cork in Ireland where I studied Finance. I'm on the internship programme this year before returning to university to complete a Masters. Coming from a finance background, I have always been interested in Asset Management and couldn’t think of a better place than Schroders to learn a bit more about the industry.
What stood out to you about Schroders?
One of the main things that attracted me to Schroders is their market-leading position within the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) space. I am very interested in ESG and from my few weeks at Schroders I have quickly learnt that they genuinely take ESG and sustainability seriously.
Also, the people are great! They genuinely want you to learn and succeed throughout the programme - you're encouraged to get involved in different projects and you are constantly supported throughout the summer.
What is the culture like at the firm?
Generally, I think the Financial Services industry has a bit of a bad name in regards to culture - but this definitely is not the case at Schroders.
It can be daunting to join such a large organisation but everyone is very welcoming and supportive here. And this is not only the case with my direct team but it exists throughout the entire business. In most cases, you can reach out to anyone from any division and they are more than happy to have a chat with you.
What’s your favourite aspect of your role at Schroders so far?
I've really enjoyed the global nature of the firm. Schroders has offices across the world and working with people from a variety of countries is a great experience.
Also, the training and development sessions that are organised are very beneficial - there are numerous events throughout the programme which really help develop your soft skills.
What would be your top tip to members going through the application process?
Before you even apply, spend time researching each business division and figuring out which best suits your interests - there's no point applying for a role that you won't enjoy!
Before the interview do your research about Schroders and the wider industry and be able to demonstrate this knowledge. However, I think one of the most important aspects of getting the job is your personable skills and how you conduct yourself in the interview. It might sound obvious, but you’ll be with the team everyday and they want to work with someone that they can get on with - so in the interview be confident and try and make a good first impression.
Finally, your degree really doesn’t matter, I know I studied finance but the majority of my intern cohort don’t come from a finance or an economics background - so if you have an interest in in Asset Management, don’t let your degree put you off applying.
Did Bright Network help you secure this role and, if so, how?
While Bright Network didn’t directly help me secure this role, they definitely helped me network and learn more about the application process. I attended the Bright Network Festival and internship programme where I met lots of different people from Schroders. After these events I reached out to them on LinkedIn and everyone was more than happy to talk a bit more about their role and the application process.
Keen to find out more about Schroders? View their profile here!