Ria is a Mathematics graduate from Cardiff University. She secured a Programme Support Analyst Trainee role at Janus Henderson Investors in London, through Bright Network.
First, please tell us a little bit about yourself.
“My career path reflects my openness to go with the flow. Growing up, I never had a specific profession in mind, except for a short phase of wanting to become a lawyer because of TV shows.
I knew I wanted the experience of going to university, so chose a subject I loved. With my mathematical background and experience, I knew I wanted to work in the financial sector.”
What motivated you to apply for the role?
“What attracted me to the role was the ability to apply my experience gained in a previous role in an industry I was interested in learning more about.”
What was the application process like?
“The application process was relatively simple, with not as many hoops as some roles require nowadays.
The process enabled me to demonstrate my skills in an unrestricted way.”
How did Bright Network help you secure your role?
“Bright Network helped me to find filtered open roles suitable for my career goals in an accessible manner for a recent graduate new to the work force."
What was your application journey like?
“My application journey was very long. I lost track of the number of applications I made!
It can be difficult to keep motivated when the majority of companies don’t provide sufficient feedback as to why you didn’t secure a role or what they were looking for from a candidate.”
What have you learned from going through the process?
“I was lucky to secure a role at the start of my summer post-university. I know many don't have that so despite having applied to roles for months, it was shorter than expected.
I wish I had known to be more selective when applying, for example, only apply for a job you actually want, instead of applying just because they’re hiring.”
What are your tips for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
“The right job will find you, but I’ve learnt that persistence is key.
Look for a company that is a good fit for you, because culture is so important in enjoying your work.”
Tell us about the future. What’s next?
“For the future, who knows exactly what’s to come – I wouldn’t be where I am now without taking things as they come.
I’m hoping to have a natural progression of roles, which all vary, so I’m continuously learning.”
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