To find out more about life at Invesco, we caught up with Product Trainee, Jaime. Here she gives us an insight on the application process, what she's gained from the programme and her advice to fellow Bright Network members.
Why did you apply to Invesco?
After graduating from university, I wanted to gain professional experience in the financial services sector. I have always had an interest in business and finance and had previously interned at a bank, but never in the asset management industry. Thus, when I came across the investment 20/20 internship opportunity with Invesco, it excited me as a great way to gain exposure to a different field within the finance sector. Invesco is a reputable brand and the multifaceted nature of Product Development appealed to me, which encouraged me to apply to the role of Product Trainee at Invesco.
What was the application process like?
The application process began with me submitting my CV, followed by a self-recorded video interview where I had a limited time to answer a set of questions related to my career motivation, work experience and transferrable skills. I was then selected to attend a three-part assessment centre – introduction, group exercises and individual interviews – at Invesco’s London office. Other candidates and I were warmly welcomed by members of the HR team in the introduction and given the agenda of the day. It was then time for three back-to-back group exercises, all of which were team-based and involved problem-solving, which required a lot of interaction between candidates. The day ended with two one-to-one interviews with two Invesco employees working in Product Development and Marketing respectively, which was an opportunity for me to express my interest in the Product role.
What did you get up to on the internship?
Product Development, as a department, handles a huge variety of work, which means that I get the chance to work on different tasks and projects, ranging from a fund launch to a prospectus filing. I work with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, which means that I get a comprehensive overview of the business and the chance to meet people from various functions, stretching from front-line Sales and Investments to back-end Legal and Compliance. The level of responsibility I have undertaken as the most junior person in the department is beyond expectation. My work has been internally circulated to hundreds of people and externally used in meetings, and I have been trusted to work on things that create business impact, alongside the guidance and support from my manager and senior colleagues
What three tips would you give to fellow Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- Be open-minded: I did not have a background in finance before joining Invesco. I had the willingness to learn, interest in the sector and confidence in my ability, which was what drove me to explore an unknown territory despite a lack of technical knowledge and experience at the time. If you come across a career-development opportunity that interests and challenges you – why not give it a go?
- Get involved: Volunteer for a variety of projects to gain hands-on experience, take part in business groups (the Women’s Network, for example) and social events to meet people across the firm – take advantage of the network a large organisation such as Invesco provides.
- Ask questions: Being new to an organisation gives you free rein to ask questions: from the technical ones related to your day-to-day responsibilities to those on corporate culture, ask away sensibly. Asking good questions shows your eagerness to learn, helps you fulfil daily responsibilities to the required standard and open up conversations for building relationships.
Interested in finding out more about Invesco and the opportunites they have available? Check out their Employer Profile.