Dear Career Coach

I have been applying for graduate opportunities in financial services and have been invited for interviews with two firms.  What advice can you give me in preparing for these interviews as I really want to work in this sector but I am getting nervous as the time approaches?

Firstly, well done on getting through the first stage of the selection process and for getting the interviews. Your next challenge is to use these opportunities to expand on your CV – which must have impressed them if you made the cut – and to show the companies in question that you have what it takes to do a great job.

What are graduate recruiters looking for? Much like any recruiter for any kind of role, graduate recruiters are looking for candidates who have the right set of skills, are highly motivated, and are the right fit for the culture of the company they are hiring for.

In preparing for an interview you should therefore focus on how you can demonstrate the above.  Understanding the skills needed for the opportunities you are seeking is critical, and calls for you to do some detailed research. If, for example, you are interested in investment banking, make sure that you have a clear idea about what it involves and the kind of skills that are likely to be sought.

Along with other sources of information, reading through the company’s website will give you an idea of the structure of the company, its core areas of business and the type of clients that it works with.  Many companies include profiles of employees and information about what’s involved in their roles.  Doing your research will demonstrate to the recruiter that you are aware of the business environment that you want to work in, the current issues facing the industry and key competitors in the sector.

For graduate opportunities within the financial services sector, there are some key skills that you should be ready to demonstrate.

Prepare examples of specific instances when you have used these skills and be ready to expand on anything that you have included in your CV.

As graduate opportunities tend to target younger applicants who may have relatively little work experience, recruiters are looking for clues for their requirements in your CV.  They will be interested to note the activities that you have been involved in, whether within employed roles, internships, voluntary activities or during your education, as these provide additional information about your personality and what really motivates and interests you, and whether this makes you a good fit for their company.

You can overcome your nervousness by being well prepared for the interviews so that you are able to make the most of the opportunities they offer.

All the best!