We recently caught up with Alex about how they secured a European Corporate Finance internship with Mizuho, how they made their application stand out and their top tips for following in their footsteps.
What stood out to you about the firm you secured a role with?
Mizuho has an excellent culture of being incredibly team-oriented and working closely with clients to find the best, sustainable solutions. Whilst Mizuho’s operations are vast and span across the globe, the working culture is incredibly warming and supportive, giving junior positions more influence and hands-on experience, which is unlike any large investment bank.
How did you make your application stand out?
Mizuho’s application process is more human-oriented compared to other application processes, so I showcased transferrable skills, experience and passion for the field. From the process, I learnt that the firm looks more for a cultural fit, so really showing and demonstrating team-work skills, interest and knowledge were my priorities in the application process.
What part of the application process did you find the most challenging?
The assessment centre was certainly a challenge; however, I had prepared well which allowed the interviewers to hear and understand my thought process. Giving a presentation and the questions regarding the topic were very specific, but thanks to my preparation I could answer the questions confidently with large amounts of insight.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
The Bright Network website has a huge amount of resources for applications, interviews and tests, which certainly improved my preparation for applications.
Did you get any feedback in the past that helped you with your application?
Most of my feedback was regarding mock interviews and conversations with students, graduates and current employees within the financial industry. The most important thing was to prove your worth and show that you would succeed in the environment of the firm. This mostly relates to passion, interest and hardworking, whilst also showing intuition and insightful solutions or answers.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- Prepare as much as you can for all interviews, tests and assessment centres.
- Know the company as best you can. Understand what drives their employees to work and why they work for the company. Culture is hugely important, and a firm won’t hire you if they don’t believe you are a good fit.
- Don’t be disheartened by rejection. The industry is incredibly competitive so always take the positives from any applications, and look where you may have fallen down. Using external opinions is always helpful.
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
