We recently caught up with Nick who discusses securing an Investment Banking Analyst role at Rothschild & Co. Nick explains why he decided on starting his career at Rothschild and shares some top tips for fellow members to follow in his footsteps.
What stood out to you about Rothschild & Co?
Rothschild & Co is a leading financial services company with a storied 200-year history; in fact, the current office is located on the same land where the bank’s offices were first established in 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars. I was enticed by that fascinating history and thought I’d like to become a part of it.
Another attribute that stood out to me was the independence of the business model. Unlike other banks, which buy and sell stocks, bonds and other financial products at the same time as advising clients, Rothschild & Co’s business model relies solely on providing the highest quality independent advice, which avoids conflicts of interest and ensures that you as a banker have only one job: get the best possible outcome for a client. That means the role is directed, focused, and rewarding.
How did you make your application stand out?
I think any good application needs to answer three questions very clearly: why you are interested in the company, why are you interested in the industry and why are you the right person for the job. This was the recipe I followed for my application. Let me dive a bit deeper into how I think about each of these aspects.
On the first: why are you interested in the company? A good application should highlight your knowledge of the firm you are applying to in detail. Do your research! What divisions does the company have, what do they do, and which are you particularly interested in? Has the company been in the news recently for an intriguing reason? If so, mention that. And for investment banking in particular, has the company recently made any acquisitions? What do the acquired companies do, and what does that tell you about the company’s strategy? Thinking about these types of questions—demonstrating on your application that you have done your research and have thought about the future of the business you are applying to—can be a real differentiator.
Second, why are you interested in the industry? A good answer to this question will connect to your own personal experiences and interests. Is it simply because it is prestigious, or is it because the type of work that you would do in the industry is something that will interest you? Not only does providing a well-thought-out answer to this question help you show your commercial acumen, but it also shows that you’re intellectually curious, which is a key part of being successful in finance.
Third, why are you the right person for the job? This is where your past experiences will really shine. Of course, internships or jobs in a related field will be helpful. But that isn’t the only way to stand out; you’ll want to show that you are a team player, detailed orientated and able to deal with complex issues and can provide numeric evidence to support your achievements—all of these can be demonstrated without necessarily having a finance background. The key here is to ‘show, don’t tell’. Don’t just assert that you are a team player or are very driven. Provide some proof points that will show the reader of your application that you can excel if given the chance.
What part of the application process did you find the most challenging?
Interviewing authentically is often a difficult part. How do you come across as polished and professional but also down-to-earth? It’s a delicate balance to strike, and one I have previously had trouble within my applications. Initially, I’d try and come across as an overconfident financial guru, which did not play well. It took a bit of time to find the right balance. Ultimately, I found that the right approach is to be clear about your intentions, confident in your background and humble (not insecure) about your level of knowledge.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
Bright Network has some useful preparation resources. For instance, the ‘career advice’ section of the Bright Network website has a number of tips and tricks for tackling interviews and assessment centres. I reviewed these resources before sending in applications and gleaned a few helpful strategies for my interviews.
Additionally, Bright Network runs an awards program called Society of the Year. This is a prestigious UK-wide competition to which university societies across the country can apply to be crowned category leaders nationwide. At university, I was an executive within the business society (LSE’s Business and Investment Group), which won in the ‘Impact on Campus’ category. The awards ceremony was a thrilling opportunity to meet driven, like-minded students and be recognized for excellence, not to mention a chance to get my name out there. It was formative experience during my time at university and an application turbocharger.
What are your top tips for tackling tough interview questions?
Prepare in advance! Have a trusted friend or family member interview you under realistic circumstances, and have them ask the tough questions, especially the ones you have had trouble within the past. Getting these answers right in a practice environment will help you nail them in the interview.
Also, I’ve always found that the STAR technique is invaluable for answering competency questions, the dreaded parts of interviews that start with ‘tell me about a time you…’. Bright Network has some useful resources laying out the details—in brief, the STAR technique is a powerful strategy for how to structure your answers to these questions. Brainstorm 3-4 situations you’ve been in that demonstrate your resilience, ability to deal with failure and ability to manage a team. Following the STAR technique, you can then use those 3-4 scenarios for just about every permutation of a competency question you could ever encounter—no more awkwardly attempting to conjure up a story that speaks to your interviewer’s question.
Did you get any feedback in the past that helped you with your application?
The best advice I ever received on how to tackle an interview is simply to be yourself, which sounds like a useless cliché. But it isn’t. Firms are looking for individuals —who will be a team player and be able to meet business requirements and deadlines. There are a few dos and don’ts that I was taught which I found helpful to keep in mind when interviewing to make my personality come across in the best possible light:
Do make a good first impression on your interviewer. Throw in an interesting detail in your response to the opening question, the ‘tell me a bit about yourself’.
Do speak confidently and clearly.
Do come prepared with a list of tailored questions that you can ask at the end of the interview—if you can ask a few conversation starters, you’ll make a great impression.
Don’t try to impress your interviewers with buzzwords that you don’t fully understand. This will more likely than not come across as inauthentic.
Don’t mention other firms that you are applying to in an interview. Focus on the company where you are interviewing. If asked, you can indicate that you’ve applied to other firms in the industry, but you should always pivot back to speaking about what interests you regarding the firm you’re interviewing at.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- Research. Study for your interviews in the same way you would study for your exams—maybe even harder. Get acquainted with the lingo, take notes on the company and how you relate to it and read application tips and tricks on the internet. If you’re this far into the article, you’re already on the right track.
- Network. Compared to sending out applications directly, the time you spend networking and having conversations with folks in your target industry has 3 to 5 times the return on investment. The people you speak to will: (i) help you to tailor your application to each company and (ii) open up new routes into the company you cannot access via traditional channels.
- Keep the faith. Applications are a grind. There will be many twists and turns, mini successes, and major disappointments along the way. Don’t feel bad about being rejected—even the best candidates will rarely see a success rate above 10% (even those who brag the most about their career successes). Keep at it; not quitting is half the battle, perhaps more.
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.
