Rayyan is a second year Economics student at Lancaster University. He secured an Industrial placement as a Finance Intern at Network Rail in York, through Bright Network. 
First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
“I'm an Economics student who's always been eager to hit the ground running and leave a positive impact on those around me. Getting this placement in a vital part of public infrastructure has given me the perfect opportunity to do this, whilst being able to continue learning everyday in the process.
When I was younger, I actually grew up in the Middle East with a completely different environment around me, and I wanted to be an astronaut or footballer!
Of course those were pretty polar opposites, and so as I grew older I managed to strike a balance between the two extremes by deciding to go into an Economics related career. This stemmed from my experience of Economics at A-level which ignited my passion and convinced me to pursue it further at university.”
What motivated you to apply for the role?
“Network Rail as a company struck me as having a friendly but hardworking atmosphere, and I wanted to be a part of that.
As someone currently engaging with environmental economic policy and through experience helping my local community, I share the same passion and goals as Network Rail. Also, as a frequent commuter, taking over 11 trains weekly in the North West, I understood the consumer mindset.
Growing up abroad exposed me to different railway systems, providing insights into innovative practices that could be applied in the UK. I really just wanted to start getting my foot on the ground and leaving a positive, lasting impact and I believed this was the perfect opportunity to kickstart that."
What was your application journey like?
“The application journey was pretty strenuous at first, as it was one of the first applications I remember doing almost 5 months ago now. I researched the company thoroughly, alongside making sure my general aptitude practice was up to date. From then on, it was as simple as being myself, not having any expectations apart from making sure I tried my best, and the rest worked out accordingly.
At first, I was most nervous about the assessment centre, however after attending mock assessment centres, I managed to (almost!) beat those nerves, which helped me perform at my best in the real assessment centre.
I was also nervous during the presentation process, as I'd worked hard to get to this stage, but I also made it imperative to keep in mind that I was meant to be there. It's good to have the mindset that not everyone is against you, even in the assessment centre. I truly wanted all of us there to succeed, and I think that's the mentality you have to have in those situations.”
How did Bright Network help you secure your role?
“I've been using Bright Network extensively for a few years now. Starting with the various digital insight events, I then attended Internship Experience UK which helped me add valuable experience to my CV.
With my application to this placement, Bright Network provided me with all the information and assistance I needed in order to apply.”
What are you most proud of about your journey?
“I'm most proud of the perseverance I had to keep going regardless of how overwhelming the application process initially seemed.
There were so many online assessments, interviews, and aptitude tests to get through, that receiving rejections after putting in all the effort could be disheartening. But I didn't let that get to me, I kept going no matter how hard it was and in the end I'm grateful it paid off.”
What have you learnt from going through the process?
“I learnt that industrial placements are in very high demand. There are a lot of applicants for each role, so you truly have to stand out the best you can by getting engaged in extracurricular work, or by attending events which can give you the edge in the application process.
One final bit of advice I have to anyone starting with their application journey is to not take rejections personally. There are thousands of people applying so you have to keep reminding yourself that it's not over until it's over.
Rejections aren't a sign that you aren't good enough, it's only that they found an applicant more suited to that specific role. All you have to do is keep searching until you find a company that who's looking specifically for someone like you."
What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
“I think one tip I would give is to create a spreadsheet from the start to keep track of all your current applications.
Another tip would be to just be yourself – everybody says it but it genuinely is true!
Finally, checking Bright Network weekly helped reassure me that I wasn't missing out on any new applications that might've popped up.”
Tell us about the future. What's next?
“I'm looking forward to learning from industry leaders everyday, whilst being able to leave a lasting positive impact. I look forward to helping others on their journey, just as so many helped me on mine.
I can't wait to grow with the company and hopefully return for a graduate role after university.
Looking further down the line, working in a leadership role is something I'm keen to pursue and I'd love to get more involved in supporting Bright Network and other networks who support students through these processes which can seem daunting at first, but through their help, become a lot easier.”
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