Sophia Cox

Country: United Kingdom
Sector: Commercial Banking & Credit
Job title: Associate
Subject of study: Mathematics and Economics
Year of graduation: 2013
Type/Level of study: Undergraduate

Current Employer/Organisation Name

JPMorgan

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

Working in the Finance for leading American Investment Banks.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I love working with multinational corporations to provide them with a range of financial products to help them maintain and grow their business. The role is very diverse, as we are always adapting to the clients needs.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

Netball club.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

There was a wide range of models to choose from.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

I liked that the university was in a small town and on a campus as it felt like a community. The social side of Exeter was great, so many events, parties and sports socials. I made friends for life at Exeter and still see my them on a weekly basis.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

It was a well regarded university, in a nice part of the country.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Interpersonal, multitasking, organisational skills.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Be proactive with applying for spring weeks, internship programmes and graduate jobs. Most students that join the top investment banks have taken part in the firms internship. It’s a highly competitive environment so you must complete as many applications as possible (10 +) to increase your chances of getting a place. Also apply as soon as the application process opens, as the companies fill their spaces as soon as possible, so often little are left at the end of application period. Additionally, the majority of places are given to students from the top 5 universities (Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial, Durham etc), so you need to show prior experience in the industry to try and make you application stand out.

What are your plans for the future?

To continue to progress in my career in Investment Banking.

 

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