Alex Correia

NAME Alex Correia
WORK EXPERIENCE HSBC Investments
DEGREE English, Oxford Brookes University (2008)

When I came back to Jersey after my second year at university I didn’t know what sort of career I wanted to go into. However, I realised that work experience in the financial industry would open many doors for me. Doing temporary work via a recruitment agency seemed a good way to help decide what sort of role I would be best suited to within the finance world. It was helpful to use an agency as I could get an overview of several jobs and what my role might be before choosing a placement.

Getting to know the industry

As part of my work experience I did background checks on banking clients to establish whether they were legitimate or not. I was also responsible for putting together detailed information on clients for investors. I learned a lot about how offices operate and how companies are structured, which will always be useful in my future career. It was great to feel part of a team and to meet new people and, after living on a student budget, the weekly payments were a major perk!

This month-long placement inspired me to go into investment as a career. I spoke to industry professionals while I was there to get advice on how to get into the industry and made contacts that I’m sure will help me progress.

Top work experience tips

I think that it’s important to make the most out of your time at any job. My advice to students on work experience would be to let loose, allow yourself to become relaxed around the people you work with and as well as getting to know the job, immerse yourself in an environment you may not be familiar with. You never know where the experience might lead.