After hearing about the opportunity on Bright Network social media, Debbie attended the Bright Network Festival. She then applied for the Barclays UK spring week through the Bright Network website, and has just received confirmation that her application was successful. She spared the time to tell us how she did it.
Why did you choose the Barclays UK Spring Week?
I chose Barclays because I noticed how broad their spring internships are. For example some firms have spring internships specifically for Asset Management and of course you can apply to more than one. However I found that for example Barclays having a 'Barclays UK' spring internship meant that I would get an insight into Wealth Management , Corporate Banking , Personal Banking , Business Banking , Consumer Banking & Barclaycard. This obviously provides far more opportunities than most other firms.
What was the toughest part of the application process? And your favourite part?
The toughest part of the application process was also my favourite part which was the video interview, because it can be very strange talking to an automated 'person'. However I learned to see the silver lining - there is no one else in the room and therefore you can't be thrown off by, perhaps, the interviewer’s facial expressions or gestures!
Were you surprised by anything in the process?
I was surprised by how simple the process was, for Barclays in particular , you just had to fill in the online form and therefore register your interest and if successful you were invited to a video interview and if successful an offer was on the table!
What three top tips would you give your fellow Bright Network members?
1. Be yourself, I surely believe that was a reason why I passed the video interview stage.
2. Be proactive, make sure you keep in contact with the recruiters.
3. Pick something in the news you're genuinely interested in and find a way to relate it to the firm, think about how it will have an effect on the firm. Commercial awareness is more about perspective than having the ability to retell a journalist's body of work.
What's your lucky charm or pre-interview ritual?
I always pray before I do an interview.
