Job hunting decisions and tips
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Graduate jobs in finance: why students should consider alternative routes into the industry
Students who want to work in finance should think outside the box and make their own opportunities to break into the industry.
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How to get a graduate job in retail banking or insurance if you don’t have a numerical degree
You don’t need a numerical degree to get a job in retail banking or insurance. Most employers accept graduates from any degree discipline into these finance roles.
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Getting a graduate job in retail banking, insurance or tax with a 2.2
The finance employers that accept job applications from graduates with a lower second degree, and how to explain mitigating circumstances.
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Applying for finance graduate jobs in your final year? Your survival guide
How to balance work, study and play with applying for banking, insurance, actuarial and regulatory vacancies.
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A graduate job in investment banking or insurance: which should I choose?
What are the differences between graduate jobs in investment banking and insurance and how do you work out which one is best for you?
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How to get hired as a graduate actuary, by Lane, Clark & Peacock LLP
We spoke to Carla Lakey, partner at Lane, Clark & Peacock LLP, to find out how graduates can break into and succeed in the actuarial profession.
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Which finance career would suit me?
Discover which sector of finance would best suit your graduate career.
Applications
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How to write a graduate CV for retail banking, insurance and actuary jobs
Showing on your CV that you can exceed targets and build good relationships will make you a graduate that financial services employers want to interview.
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Acing online application forms for insurance, retail banking and actuarial graduate jobs
Essential advice on answering questions on application forms for insurance, retail banking and actuarial graduate jobs.
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Speculative applications for actuarial, financial planning and insurance loss adjusting jobs
If you want a graduate job or work placement in insurance loss adjusting, financial planning or actuarial science, consider making speculative applications as well as applying to graduate and internship schemes.
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Answering the 'why us?' question on financial services application forms
Many graduate application forms for retail banks, actuary and insurance jobs ask something along the lines of ‘why do you want to work for us?’ Here's how you should answer.
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‘Why Swiss Re?’ and ‘Why reinsurance?’ Answering key application and interview questions
Thorough research backed up with your own examples will help you tackle these questions.
Interviews and assessment centres
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Example interview questions for retail banking, insurance and actuarial graduate jobs
Prepare for your finance interview with these typical interview questions, which have been asked by the likes of RBS, Lloyds Banking Group and others.
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Succeed at graduate assessment days for retail banking, insurance and actuary jobs
Many financial services recruiters use assessment centres to select the best graduates. Here’s what happens and what you can do to impress assessors and senior management on the day.
Skills and competencies
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Graduate employers want client skills as well as numeracy in their actuaries
You probably expect to use numerical skills in an actuarial graduate job, but you'll need to be good at working with others and dealing with clients too.
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How graduates can convince finance recruiters that they have leadership potential
From retail banks to investment management firms; organisations across the finance industry seek graduates who have leadership potential.
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The top skills retail banking, insurance and actuarial employers want
To get a graduate job in financial services you need to convince recruiters that you have the skills to do the job well. But which of your skills should you be making a big deal of in your applications and interviews?
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Commercial awareness: what retail banking, actuarial and insurance employers want you to know
Improve your business knowledge to stand a better chance of thrashing the competition for that coveted financial services graduate position.
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Emotional intelligence – a must-have for financial services graduates
HSBC and Willis Towers Watson are among the many employers in retail banking and insurance that highlight the importance of emotional intelligence. It’s a quality that’s easily forgotten because it’s not explicitly requested or graduates don’t know what it means.
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Customer service in retail banking: what graduates must know
Develop a proper understanding of what customer service is and you will impress retail banking recruiters.
Internships and placements
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Getting work experience and internships in retail banking, insurance, regulation or actuarial science
Advice on applying for internships and placements in finance, as well as how to make a good impression during your work experience and what options are available.
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How to get a banking internship and turn it into a graduate job
We spoke with Claudia Evans, intern turned retail banking and wealth management graduate at HSBC, to find out what you can do to turn your internship into a graduate role.
Pay and progression
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The benefits of working in finance
Many students and graduates already know that financial careers can be very lucrative. But what are some of the other advantages?
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What salary can a graduate expect in retail banking, actuarial and insurance roles?
Annual salary is one of the most important factors graduates consider when applying for jobs or schemes in financial services. Will it be enough? What perks are included? For the lucky few with more than one job offer, which company pays more?
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How to succeed in your first financial services job
Once you’ve got your graduate job in finance, how can you ensure you impress and progress up the career ladder quickly? Our panel of actuarial and retail banking professionals give you their advice.
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How I went from theology student to global head of business at Willis Towers Watson
Toby Wemyss tells us how maximising opportunities at Willis Towers Watson led to him becoming a global head of business.
Training and qualification
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Professional bodies and qualifications in banking, insurance, pensions and actuarial science
You've secured a graduate job, but the learning doesn't stop there. Here's a rundown of the key professional bodies in financial services and the professional qualifications they offer.
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Professional qualifications: what to expect from your actuarial, insurance, pensions or retail banking career
Your financial services graduate job may offer you the chance to qualify with a professional body. Graduates at Lane Clark & Peacock LLP, Aviva and Lloyds Banking Group tell us what it's really like to study alongside full-time work.
Areas of work
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Retail banking: graduate area of work
Graduates working in retail banking roles deal with personal finances in a fast-paced environment that's all about excellent customer service. If you're a natural innovator and people person with managerial aspirations, you'll fit right in here.
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Financial planning and wealth management: graduate area of work
Financial planning is a growth area with high pay-offs for top professionals. Caspar Bartington, relationship manager at the Chartered Insurance Institute, talks to TARGETjobs about this relatively unknown career.
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Risk management in finance: graduate area of work
Risk managers control the risks taken by financial services organisations. Attentive, inquisitive graduates with a head for numbers and the ability to anticipate the future are well suited to this area.
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Actuarial: graduate area of work
Actuaries evaluate complex risks. This is a career area suited to highly analytical, numerate graduates who can communicate well and keep a strategic eye on the future.
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Insurance: graduate area of work
Insurance professionals protect both individuals and companies against potential financial risks. Innovative, positive-thinking graduates who are keen to get to grips with both numbers and people in a constantly changing environment would fit well here.
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Insurance loss adjusting: graduate area of work
For the right graduate, insurance loss adjusting provides an interesting job: the graduate is part fraud spotter, part technical expert.
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Regulation and compliance: graduate area of work
Graduates working in financial regulation or compliance roles ensure good practice across the industry and protect consumers. If you're an organised, adaptable graduate with an analytical mindset and a keen eye for detail, this could be the area for you.
Job descriptions
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Corporate banker: job description
Corporate bankers provide advice to commercial and private clients about a variety of financial matters and promote financial services/products, to help these clients run their operations.
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Insurance broker: job description
Insurance brokers are responsible for identifying and organising suitable insurance cover for commercial organisations and private clients.
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Insurance claims inspector: job description
Insurance claims inspectors work on behalf of insurance companies to determine the level and validity of insurance policy claims.
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Insurance risk surveyor: job description
Insurance risk surveyors assess the potential financial risk posed by offering insurance cover for items or sites and provide underwriters with information about how to reduce risk or whether insurance cover should be offered.
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Insurance underwriter: job description
Insurance underwriters analyse risk in insurance proposals, determine policy terms and calculate premiums on the basis of actuarial, statistical and background information.
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Pension scheme manager: job description
Pension scheme managers coordinate the effective operation of company/employer and insurance company managed pensions schemes.
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Actuary: job description
Actuaries use statistical techniques and mathematical skills to assess the probability of an event and its financial consequences.
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Retail banker: job description
Retail bankers are employed by major high street banks to undertake the strategic and day-to-day management of their branches.
