We recently caught up with Neha about securing a technology industrial placement with Fidelity, top tips for the application process and how Bright Network helped in securing the role.
What stood out to you about Fidelity?
They really push for career development and personal growth, offering a wide range of training resources to help develop your skills and achieve your personal goals. This means I feel valued and able to achieve my best. I also liked that Fidelity's Technology Industrial Placement program provided the opportunity to gain a professional qualification in the CISI's Investments and Operations Certification: International Introduction to Securities and Investments, which is a great way to build my knowledge in investing and help me understand what the company does. This helped me feel proud and empowered to apply for the role with Fidelity.
How did you make your application stand out?
One thing I did to make my application stand out was to include any work experience I did over the years on my CV. I worked as a retail assistant and volunteered which demonstrated I have a range of transferable soft skills - this is very helpful when applying for a role. Having variety shows your employer that you have experience in different settings and can utilise those skills in your new role.
Additionally, in the interview stage, I showed a genuine interest in the interviewer by asking questions about them and their experience at the company so far. It's good to be curious and show personality as interviewers tend to have one-way conversations, so by asking questions at the end of your interview may help you stand out from others.
Want to learn more about improving your interview technique? Check out our Acing an Interview module so you can follow in Neha’s footsteps.
What part of the application process did you find the most challenging?
The most challenging part of the application process was the video assessment stage. I found this particularly difficult because I was not used to talking to a camera, and it is very different to how you would answer questions to a real person. It can be quite awkward since you can't read the other person's body language or tell if they're engaged with what you're saying but to overcome this, I ensured I had plenty of practice for my future applications.
Need some tips for perfecting your video interviews? Complete Video interviews: Your practice assessment to achieve your best.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
Bright Network was really helpful providing lots of resources to ensure you have the right knowledge and skills to complete the application process from start to finish. For example, I practised the aptitude and numerical tests to ensure I had enough experience doing these tests as these are an essential part of the application process, where many applicants usually fail.
Check out our practice psychometric tests, too!
Did you get any feedback in the past that helped you with your application?
Getting feedback on my CV was really useful, as this is the first thing recruiters look at when choosing candidates. I made sure there were no spelling or grammatical errors and that all my achievements and experience were up to date. Also, from completing previous applications, I learned what my weaknesses were, such as the video assessments, and ensured I practised so that I could do better for my next application.
What are your top tips for tackling tough interview questions?
My advice would be to prepare as much as you can in advance. Look into the common questions most interviewers ask, and practise answering them by yourself or with a friend. Of course, you won't know every question they could ask, but having done some preparation beforehand will definitely help.
Also, when it comes to questions you don't know the answer to, just be honest and say if you aren't sure instead of rambling on trying to think of an answer on the spot. Instead, you can tell them you aren't sure at the moment, but can find out after the interview and follow up with them in an email with an answer.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- Practice. If you aren't confident doing numerical tests or situational judgement tests, make sure to practice before submitting an application. There are lots of resources online where you can practise these skills to ensure you're ready to take the real test.
- Ask questions. This is your opportunity to find out more about the company and ask how your interviewer's experience at the company has been which demonstrates your enthusiasm and curiosity about the firm.
- Stay organised. Leave plenty of time to do your applications and find out when the deadlines are, so that you are not submitting them last minute, which could affect the quality of them.
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.
