Update: Exams & Work experience

Hello everyone. I feel so bad for not blogging for so long but I must admit not much has been going on lately. I've been so consumed with revising and completing my final A Level exams so I haven't been extremely involved in much.

I just wanted to do a post just to show that I definitely haven't abandoned my blog. I just have a couple of updates:

1. Firstly, from the beginning of July I'll be starting my unpaid work placement at HSBC that I previously blogged about. I think I initially mentioned that it was a one week placement but after talking to the branch I will be working at I managed to extend it to two weeks which is great! At the end of the placement I will be sure to do a blog post about what I got up to.
2. I've finished my A Levels!!!!! This is an extremely huge relief for me. The past two years have been so intense especially the last couple of months but I'm done now and and I hope I've worked hard enough. Now, I'm awaiting my results to find out if I've got into my first choice university, University of Surrey  or my second choice, University of Kent. If you want to know more about that follow the link http://madetoaspirehigher.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/results-day-7th-march-2013-ucas-update.html where my choices are explained.
3. I'm just awaiting confirmation at the moment but I should be starting my virtual work experience throughout the whole of July. Yes, virtual work experience. I first heard about it through an email I received from Directions which is an online career service (http://www.directions.org.uk/). The virtual work experience is done through a scheme called Get In. Get On. I don't want to talk about it too much but I will do a blog post on it at the end of July.

That's all for now but like I previously mentioned my next blog post should be about my work placement at HSBC. I'm currently on my summer holidays and I know it's really important for me to relax but I'm trying my best to make it as productive as possible. I still have a job and I will be getting back into volunteering to complete my retail skills certificate after I took a break for exams.

Until next time :)

Deutsche Bank 'I Have a Dream' Program interviews

I was a bit hesitant when I was making the decision whether or not to publish this post. When I started this blog I knew that I wanted to give the best advice and share my journey into finance even if it included some downfalls so I guess it's the best decision to post this even though I'm a little disappointed.

I recently applied to Deutsche Bank's I Have a Dream Program which gives final year A- Level students an opportunity to take part in a paid placement in one of the banks divisions. I was attracted to this program because I am interested in a career in investment banking so I thought this program would provide me with an excellent first step into the career. The application consisted of the usual personal details, education, work experience details and a few questions such as, "Why do what to work in an investment bank?"

I really wanted to take my time with this application. There was a word limit on each of the competency sort of questions so it was really important that I answered the question to the best of my ability in order to display my interest. To do this I made sure that I also got advice from my college's careers adviser. When I was ready I sent off my application. I actually expected it to take a couple of weeks before I got a reply but less than a week later I received a call from Rare Recruitment. Rare Recruitment are involved in the program as they'll provide ongoing support and personal development for the students that have made it onto the program. They told me that I was successful and had made it into the first round on interviews. Afterwards, I received a follow up email providing me with details of the interview.

HSBC Work Experience Placement Offer & Telephone Interview Tips

Hello :) So it's been a while I guess since I last did a post and I did mention that I would do one on telephone interviews. Before I begin I have some good news. I have been offered a place on the HSBC work experience placement.

This unpaid placement lasts for one week during July where I'll get:

• An insight into HSBC's strategy, its history and its values
• Experience of actual jobs that I'd be doing if I came to work for HSBC full time
• An opportunity to work on an actual project and share my ideas with management
• Tips on interview technique and presentation skills
• Feedback and ideas on how I can develop myself
• An opportunity to network with other employees in the amazing world of work

I'll also gain:

• An invaluable insight into what it's like to work in financial services
• An opportunity to come back for more work experience
• An opportunity to keep in contact with HSBC

Results day: 7th March 2013 & UCAS update

For students that live in the UK we all know that yesterday was results day!!! Yes, I was definitely dreading it but I must say I was the calmest I've ever been in comparison to previous results days. Let me start with what I got:

Mathematics C3: A

Economics Unit 3: A

Economics Unit 2: B

Government & Politics- Governing the USA- Unit 4C: U

As you can see overall I didn't do too bad but I did fail my politics exams. It felt like deja vu because I was in the same position this time last year when I failed my first politics exam. At first when I saw the grade I wasn't that hurt because I was so mesmerised by my grade in Economics. I absolutely didn't expect to get an A because I never got to finish the exam which I was really upset about at the time. It's pretty scary that I have failed politics and I only have one chance to make it right but I'm really grateful that I have people around me that believe in me which is great!