We caught up with Em after she secured her summer internship with Macquarie to discover how she found the application process, how she built her commercial awareness for the interview and her top tips for other bright members!
How was the application process for Macquarie? What was the toughest part of the application process or the bit that surprised you the most?
The application process was very efficient and smooth, with Macquarie replying promptly to me with their decisions after each stage. The quick progress made me feel more engaged with the application process and feel respected by the company as it can often feel disheartening when you apply for a role and don’t hear anything back for several months.
The toughest part was the video interview as the skills required do not come naturally to me. I found it hard to judge how I was doing without the immediate feedback that you get in a face-to-face interview.
How did you build your commercial awareness before interview?
I found reading the Business section on the BBC News website was helpful in researching relevant news stories and what their impact is likely to be on the economy and the industry. I also read Bright Network’s commercial awareness updates to get a different selection of business news.
How did Bright Network help you throughout your time at university?
I discovered Bright Network at the start of my second year at university and it helped me to find out which companies offered summer internship opportunities in the industries I was interested in, as well as when the deadlines for the applications were. I found it much easier and more effective than looking up individual companies and scrolling through their websites. It had the added advantage of introducing me to companies I hadn’t considered applying to.
I also used the Career Advice section of the Bright Network website to get advice on the specific sections of the application process which was very useful as I didn’t know what to expect from each new stage.
What are your three top tips for Bright Network members?
1) Apply for as many internships as you can (that you would actually want to get).
2) Be resilient if you’re unsuccessful and use it as a learning experience – each test or interview you do is great practice for your next one which could lead to securing a role.
3) Don’t underestimate how important it is to be prepared for interviews – you should research everything you can about the company and the position.
