Tosin’s insight into securing an internship with Lockton

We recently caught up with Tosin about how they secured an internship with Lockton, making an application stand out and their top tips for Bright Network members looking to follow in their footsteps.

What stood out to you about Lockton?

It was their culture. I spoke to a few people who work in insurance on LinkedIn, and they tended to say that the culture was good in this type of firm. Lockton have an entrepreneurial culture, for example an employee started a business outside of work, so it stood out to me as a firm that really values its employees. They invest in their employees and try to make everyone feel valued. I’d never really thought about working in insurance before, but what I’d heard about the culture really resonated with me.

How did you make your application stand out?

I researched the general company. My role was advertised as a general internship, and you then get placed into a particular area during the application process. I wasn’t researching professional financial risk at that time, and my research was more general – what insurance is and what an insurance broker does. Through this, I tailored my CV to meet the requirements of the internship.

To get into the internship, I did a numerical test and a personality test. It’s good to prepare for this properly. For me, the tests weren’t really relating to the internship as such, more as a test of your mathematical ability and verbal reasoning. If you’re going through the process, practice these tests! Make sure you’re up to date on GCSE maths and understand the process.

I applied in December and got the offer in February, so the application process was around 2 months. It was quite an involved process! But everyone I spoke to at Lockton was lovely and helpful. They kept me updated on the stage I was at and when they wanted interview. I never felt out of the loop. I always knew the next steps in the process.

If you want to practice psychometric tests here, including verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and logical reasoning tests.

How did Bright Network help you secure the internship?

I’d been on Bright Network since my first year of university. I started by researching general career advice. The CV templates in particular really helped me.

I always got the impression that Bright Network want to see people improve and push their members to succeed. When I applied for another role through Bright Network, I was put on a great programme and was recommended specifically to the company. Because of this, I felt Bright Network really value their members. I went to Internship Experience UK with Bright Network as well!

I’ve spent a long time on the Bright Network website getting advice about what to do on your internship, how to convert an internship into a graduate offer and other general advice.

What are your tips for tackling tough interview questions?

Don’t start talking straight away! It’s better to think out what you want to say and pause so you can think of an answer. Try not to just say the first thing that comes to mind. That being said, be honest. It’s okay to say if you haven’t learned something or don’t have a skill they’re looking for.

What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?

• Now is the time in your career to apply for anything in your sector! Don’t shoehorn yourself into a niche area. But remember, it’s quality over quantity with applications. Take the time to tailor your CV and practice numerical tests.
• Research the companies well. If they ask you why you want to join the company or work in the sector, have three good reasons in the bag. This shows you’re prepared and keen.
• Don’t underestimate the power of a speculative application. There’s likely to be a company out there willing to take you for the summer! Email companies you’re interested in because you never know what might happen.