In the second article of the series considering what it is really like for women working in the City, I will be exploring the idea that there has been huge change in the City and that it is no longer completely male dominated.

The idea of the City being a men’s club was quite realistic in the past, however, it seems that in recent years it has been massively changing, especially since the #MeToo movement which shed a lot of light on all of the overt and engrained sexism that still exists across the world, especially in the workplace. After speaking to women who work in the City from investment banks focused on UK growth and mid cap companies and corporate […]

In the first article of the series considering what it is really like for women working in the City, I will be showing that there is a chance for a social and a family life alongside a job in the City as the long hours are not always constant.

It is a common preconception of women looking towards a career in the City, especially corporate finance, that hours will constantly be long, and it will therefore be difficult to juggle a social and family life with this kind of strenuous work. Throughout my interviews I learnt that although the work is hard, and hours are long it is not always constant, as work comes in ebbs and flows, and it is […]

Many of our clients at Alan Mitchell are very focussed on building the diversity of their corporate finance teams and are extremely keen to recruit women to join them.  This got me thinking about what it is like to be a woman working in the City.  Is the old boy’s network still prevalent?  Can women achieve the work/life balance that is so important?  Are companies really implementing “women friendly” working practices?

I have interviewed a number of high profile and successful women working in the sector and my findings have been enlightening and interesting.  I will be publishing articles each week on the key findings from these interviews highlighting the common misconceptions of being a woman in the City and what […]

“Diversity in all forms creates a broader basis for both understanding and decision-making,” – Misty Frost, the CEO of Carrus.

 Women make up half of the world’s population but have been consistently underrepresented in the workplace and especially so in financial services and the City. However, it is being shown repeatedly across the world that having more diverse boards and companies leads to better decision making and positive outcomes.

A 2015 report from the McKinsey Global Institute backs up the correlation between workforce gender diversity and positive outcomes such as increased revenue and profits. It shows that when women are participating in the economy at the same level as men as much as £20 trillion – or 26% – would be added […]

If you are new to the job market for any reason – you may be a new graduate or just never had to actively look for job opportunities – then understanding how a recruitment consultant can add value to your job hunt is crucial.

Recruitment consultants are intermediaries, but should also be hugely knowledgeable intermediaries. They should know their clients and their market inside out, which is invaluable in assisting you to find the perfect job, and then there is so much more that a good recruitment consultant can offer you:

• Insight into different companies and their work environment
• Advice on whether the company would suit what you are looking for
• Market and sector knowledge to help guide you on decisions […]
  

Front Office Investment banking is a very competitive career sector to get into and M&A and Corporate Broking are two of the most sought-after areas for graduates and early career professionals looking to enter.

They offer an excellent career path with promises of:

• High salaries
• Consistent bonuses
• Interesting, market focussed work
• Client contact
• Variety

So, for many reasons this high-pressure high reward sector is very selective on the entry requirements to building your career.

Essentials you need to have to develop your career in Corporate Finance are:

• Strong academics – strong A Levels
• 2:1 or above degree from a Russell Group University
• Internship experience – preferably within Corporate Finance or another banking arena
• Strong IT skills – Excel etc. – preferably some financial […]
  

First things first – do not panic. In the current market redundancy is very common nowadays and particularly in the banking sector. There is no stigma attached to being made redundant and it should not affect your career development and options available to you.

Make the most of any resources offered to you by your employer but you also need to explore other sources.

You need to take immediate action:

• Review your CV
• Get in touch with a reputable recruitment consultant
• Review your LinkedIn profile
• Start exploring your own network of contacts
• Get job hunting – consult online job boards – www.efinancialcareers.co.uk is the best one for Investment Banking opportunities and LinkedIn is a great job search resource
• Do your research – […]
  

Interviews are an opportunity for you to impress a potential employer, find out more about the opportunity and decide if it is something you are keen to do.

Above all, it is an opportunity for you to sell yourself and progress your application for the vacancy through to offer stage, when you can start making some real decisions.

There is lots of advice out there on what to make sure you do to impress at interview; but there are also 3 golden rules to stick to of things that you should not do:

1. Never be negative – steer clear of negativity about companies, individuals, teams or your reason for leaving – be constructive and honest but keep comment concise and in no […]
   

Congratulations! You’ve got the interview! Now is your chance to make to most of this opportunity. An interview is your chance to:

• Make a good impression – he time to sell yourself
• Show off your achievements and show you are the best person for the job
• Sell yourself
• Detail your background
• Find out lots more about the opportunity, where it may lead you etc.
• Find out more about what is happening in your market and sector
• Decide if you like the company, job and people

These are very important aspects but never forget an interview is an opportunity to achieve so much more:

• Get a good idea of what the role involves
• Gain an understanding of the company – culture, future […]