Maddie's success story: Securing a graduate role at Janus Henderson Investors

Maddie is a Computing and IT graduate from The Open University. She secured a role as an IT Service Desk Trainee at Janus Henderson Investors, through Bright Network.  

First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

“I’ve always been passionate about IT and technology, but never believed a career in this sector was realistic.

I worked in various customer-facing roles after leaving school and always had the ambition to do something relating to my interests, but I just didn't know where to start.

During lockdown in 2020 I saw that The Open University offered remote computing degrees, so I finally decided to apply and study what I loved.”

What motivated you to apply for your role?

“I chose to apply at Janus Henderson because I was drawn to their strong reputation as a global asset management group and the opportunities for growth.

The company aligns perfectly with my skills and career aspirations and I saw it as a great opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and progress in my career.”

What was the application process like?

“The application process was fairly straightforward and enjoyable. It started with Bright Network, where I found the job listing.

From there, I completed a series of online tests, before being invited to a video interview, which I was quite nervous about, but the team were so friendly and encouraging.

I left the interview feeling relieved and eager to hear back, and I then received an offer for the role!”

What are you most proud of about your journey?

“I never thought this career would be an option for me when I left school, as I took an unconventional route to get to my current role.

I realised while working in hospitality that my real passion was in IT, so I enrolled in a Computing degree with The Open University.

It was challenging working alongside my degree, so I'm proud to have graduated and secured the role I was hoping for!”

What have you learnt from going through the process?

“The process taught me important skills for interviewing and making a good first impression.”

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

“I found volunteering to gain work experience really valuable and it was a key talking point in my interview process, so I'd recommend volunteering if you can.

During the application process, the best advice I received was to just be myself and talk as much about soft skills as well as technical skills.

If I could have done anything differently, I would have believed in myself more and applied for roles like my current one sooner.”

Tell us about the future. What’s next?

“I’m looking forward to developing my skills in my current role and learning from the experienced professionals in my team.”