We recently caught up with Amelia to chat about how her career is going. She told us about securing a role with DC Advisory, from what initially drew her to DC to the tips she has for you to succeed.
What first drew you to DC Advisory?
Being a mid-market firm, it meant I would get a lot more exposure to clients and the deals that were happening in real-time, which is one thing that initially drew me to DC. It also meant they would be able to dedicate time to me and my development during the internship, which was an essential factor. Everyone I spoke to said about the inclusive and friendly atmosphere at the firm, where you were always supported but also pushed to do your best by your co-workers, which was comforting to hear.
How did you make your application stand out?
I’ve taken every opportunity I could to help improve my CV over the years, from helping as a course representative at my university to undertaking additional online courses to build my knowledge. Alongside this, I’ve always held a part-time job whilst studying, which has taught me a lot of soft skills that can be transferred over to the role I highlighted during the interview. During the process, I also explained my way of thinking when answering questions so they could see exactly my way of thinking and so could correct this if needed, which I think helped.
What was the most challenging part of the application process?
The most challenging part was all the rejections I received in the application process for summer internships. Admittedly it knocked my confidence, and I thought I would never end up getting one! But each firm looks for something slightly different in their applicants to suit the company culture and role, so you just need to persevere and find the company that suits you best. Each application brings an experience that you can use for the next one.
How did Bright Network help you secure the role?
Internship Experience UK offered by the Bright Network that I undertook last summer in Investment Banking and Asset Management, I think, was key to helping me secure the role. It allowed me to hear from people in the industry about what they are looking for and top tips for interviews which were incredibly helpful when going through the process. The tasks I had to complete on the internship gave me an advantage for the assessment days as I had previously conducted similar tasks and had been given examples of what firms are looking for.
What’s your top tip for tackling touch interview questions?
My top tip is to acknowledge and admit when you don’t know something instead of trying to make up an answer. My interviewers appreciated my honesty, and I took notes of the things I didn’t know so I could go home and research them, and this proactiveness on my part helped me secure the role too. I think explaining your thought process behind the answer you are giving is also really useful, especially if you don’t know the answer, as they can figure out how your brain works and how this would transfer over to the role.
I worked with a mentor before my application, who helped me to build my own USP. She provided beneficial insight into what banks like to see on applications and the way of thinking, which was invaluable to me when applying to the different internships. Also, completing online tests that simulated the ones I needed to do for the applications helped a lot as it allowed me to see where my strengths and weaknesses were and allowed me to improve.
What are your three top tips for any Bright Network members wanting to follow in your footsteps?
- Take every opportunity you can, it is all experience, and you never know when it may help you
- Admit when you don’t know something, people will respect you a lot more for admitting it instead of you completing a task incorrectly and causing issues later
- Be confident in yourself. In the interviews, you are trying to sell yourself and your skills, and if you don’t believe in yourself, why should the firm
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
