Jess' success story: Securing a graduate role at Wise

Jess is an International Management graduate from the University of Warwick. She secured a Graduate Finance Specialist at Wise plc in London, through Bright Network.  

In a few sentences, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

“I'm someone who's always been fascinated by how the world connects — probably stemming from my love of travel and growing up in a family that maintained close ties across different countries.

As a child, I was curious about how things worked on a global scale, from why currencies had different values to how businesses operated in different places. This curiosity naturally led me to pursue International Management at Warwick Business School, where I could explore my interests in global business, cross-cultural communication, and international systems.

My career path reflects my core values of connection and problem-solving. I'm drawn to roles where I can use my international perspective and analytical skills to tackle meaningful challenges. Whether it's understanding complex financial processes or finding ways to make systems more efficient, I'm motivated by work that has a real impact on people's lives.”

What motivated you to apply for your role?

“What motivated me to apply was the combination of the company’s mission and the specific opportunities within the Finance Specialist role. Having personally witnessed the frustrations my family faced with traditional international money transfers — with hidden fees, poor exchange rates and uncertainty — I was drawn to a company that's actively working to solve these exact problems.

The Finance Specialist position particularly appealed to me because of my background in International Management . I was excited by the opportunity to work with complex financial data and processes while knowing that the work directly contributes to helping people move money more fairly and efficiently across borders.”

What was the application process like?

“Wise’s application process was refreshingly straightforward and well-paced. After the initial screening stage, I was invited to an interview, which included preparing a presentation on Wise's previous year's financial results, which was a great opportunity to dive into the company and get familiar with the financials.

The Q&A portion was intense and put me on the spot, but in a good way, as it was a solid test of both my accounting knowledge and my understanding of Wise’s mission.

The interviewers were genuinely interested in my analysis and thought process, which gave me confidence that they were looking for the right fit rather than trying to catch me out.

Looking back, the whole process gave me a clear sense of Wise's culture and expectations, which made starting the role much smoother.”

How did Bright Network help you secure your role?

“Bright Network made job searching so much easier. I could filter through all the noise and focus on the industries and roles I was genuinely interested in.

Instead of scrolling through hundreds of job posts, I could search specifically for fintech companies and the types of positions that excited me.

That's how I found Wise. Without the platform's search filters, I probably would have missed it completely.”

What are you most proud of about your journey?

“Starting at Wise was pretty daunting, with imposter syndrome kicking in, especially when I found myself in important meetings right off the bat. Initially, I found myself questioning whether I belonged in those discussions and hesitating to contribute for fear of asking questions that might seem too basic.

What I’m most proud of is how I pushed through that and learned to embrace Wise’s non-judgemental and collaborative culture. The thing that struck me was how genuinely willing people are to help you out and solve problems together, even in those big meetings.

When I worked up the courage to ask what I thought was a ‘basic’ question, not only did people take it seriously, but it sparked productive conversations that helped the whole team, which has been incredibly rewarding.

This shift in mindset has enabled me to approach challenging discussions with confidence and enthusiasm. Now I get excited about contributing to those discussions and tackling challenges with my teammates, which is something I'm proud of in my journey so far.”

What have you learnt from going through the process?

“What I wish I'd known beforehand was that you don't need to get everything correct. I went in feeling like I had to have perfect answers to every possible question, but I quickly realised the interviewers were much more interested in my thinking process and how I approached problems than whether I got every detail right.

When I made mistakes or wasn't sure about something, they were genuinely helpful in guiding the conversation. The experience taught me that showing curiosity, asking thoughtful questions, and being honest about what you don't know can be just as valuable as demonstrating what you do know. It's about finding the right fit, not proving you're perfect.”

What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps?

“My biggest tip is to do your homework on the companies you’re applying to but don’t just skim the website. For Wise specifically, dive into their financial reports and understand their business model inside and out, as this preparation made a difference during my interview presentation.

If I could do anything differently, I'd have been less worried about having the "perfect" application and just applied to more roles earlier. Now, I realise companies like Wise value curiosity and willingness to learn just as much as having every single qualification ticked off.

In terms of resources, platforms like Bright Network were invaluable for filtering opportunities, but I also found LinkedIn posts from Wise employees incredibly helpful for understanding the company culture and getting a sense of the type of people who work there. The key is being genuinely curious about the work and not being afraid to show that curiosity.”

Tell us about the future. What’s next?

“What excites me most about the future is the learning journey ahead, particularly working toward completing my ACA qualification. I'm looking forward to the challenge of balancing professional study with hands-on experience at Wise.

The prospect of rotating to a new team within finance in the coming months is what I'm most excited about career-wise. Having built strong foundations in my current role, I'm keen to broaden my perspective and understand how different areas of finance interconnect.

In terms of long-term career ambitions, I'm hoping to become someone who can bridge the gap between detailed financial analysis and strategic business thinking. I want to develop the ability to not just crunch numbers accurately but to tell the story behind them and understand their implications for business decisions. Ultimately, I'm excited about building a career where I can contribute meaningfully to Wise's growth while continuously expanding my own capabilities.”