Investment Operations Trainee Review
at abrdn
School Leaver Programme
Finance
London
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
5 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
My role covers a range of departments, which means that it will often vary what i am doing each day. I complete a number of daily, weekly and monthly tasks as well as ongoing project work that the whole business may be working on. The main tasks I carry out are within the Investment Operations team, however I also regularly get involved with the Central Dealing and MPS.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I really enjoy my programme, the people I work with are great and the work I do is very rewarding which I think helps a lot. Even though the company has been going through a lot of change recently, the communication to employees and support available has been excellent. I look forward to hopefully a long future with the company.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Yes definitely. Over the past six months I have developed and learnt a wide range of new skills. I have definitely become a more independent worker, and now look to solve problems without having to rely on my colleagues. I would also say that I have become more confident in giving training/ leading sessions and meetings.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The programme is very well organised. There is a lot of guidance and help in place available to new employees, as well as regular catch ups with managers and colleagues. It is not overly bureaucratic though, which is good as it allows me the freedom to gain exposure to work that I want to do and develop my skills.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
As previously mentioned, I have regular catch ups with my team manager and line manager which are very useful to track my progress and answer any queries that I have. I don't have regular catch ups with my mentor as we work closely on a day to day basis anyway and are therefore not required.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
I receive a lot of support around my qualification. I finished the required module for the programme early, and have since been allowed to go on and complete the second, and soon the third of the full IOC. Any queries that I have had have been handled with care and support.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
The knowledge that I have gained whilst completing my qualification has been very valuable in being able to understand the inner workings of the industry and company.Everything i have learnt has been very applicable and I look forward to continuing my development with the company, both professionally and personally.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
At the moment there aren't too many extra curricular activities, mainly due to the lock downs that have been in place in the UK. However I look forward to the activities that I can take part in when we are back in the office.There are however societies and networks that often put on events and webinars for members which are very useful.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend abrdn to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The company on a whole is excellent. They pay great attention to the employee's needs and wants, and are very flexible with working hours and holidays. There is always room for someone to grow and progress within the company if they are willing to put in the work, which I think is very important for young people with high aspirations.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to abrdn?
During the interview stages just make sure to stay relaxed and be yourself. At the end of the day the interviewer is a normal person, so the more genuine you can be, the better chances you should have. Also be inquisitive about the firm, ask about the company culture etc. as this will show genuine interest.
