Name: Holly Johnstone
Training scheme: Commercial Management Graduate Scheme
Current position: Rotation no. 7 (Retail Sales)
University: University of Edinburgh
Degree: MA (hons) Economics and Politics
What was your motivation for applying?
I knew that I wanted to work in the financial services but with the banking sector being challenged from every angle I felt asset management offered more opportunities. M&G specifically attracted me because of the business wide graduate rotation programme that it offers. I felt it was a great learning opportunity that would open my eyes to all the different functions of an asset management business and would allow me to make an informed decision about which direction I wanted to take my career.
What are you up to now?
I am now in month 14 of 18 and in my penultimate rotation, so I am currently looking for a permanent role. Although I have an idea of where I would like to end up, it is a challenge to decide on the best route as each business area has such an interesting but different offering.
What's your verdict?
The programme has been everything I hoped for in terms of exposure to different business areas. There are naturally highs and lows with a rotation programme as some placements are bound to interest you more than others. However, I believe that if you try to get the most out of each rotation you will be rewarded with a fantastic learning opportunity that enables you to understand a business end to end and results in an invaluable network of people across the business that others who have been at M&G for many years cannot compete with.
Name: Davide Andaloro
Training scheme: Commercial Management Graduate Scheme
Current position: Fund Managers Assistant (Macro Investment Business)
University: Bocconi University (Milan, Italy), Copenhagen Business School (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Degree: MSc in Economics and Management of Innovation and Technology, MSc in Management of Innovation and Business Development
What was your motivation for applying?
I believe that we are in the most interesting years that the asset management industry has ever experienced: there have been more changes within the industry in the past few years than in the previous 20. Change spurs learning. What’s more, the industry is becoming more and more important for the future of all of us. It is extremely interesting to see how fast the industry is changing and it is exciting to be an active part of this change. Investors’ behavioural patterns are changing, triggered by economic and market conditions.
I saw this job post online, both on Milkround and on my university (Bocconi) internal website. The way this programme was structured allowed me to look at the industry from different but complementary angles, and to build "hands-on" knowledge by working with different teams within M&G. I believe this programme is an excellent starting point for those who aim to build solid roots and would like to work in the industry in the long term.
What are you up to now?
I completed all my rotations and I successfully managed to settle into the Macro Investment Business team. My knowledge of economics has been of extreme importance in obtaining this position. The "macro" investment style, tightly coupled with behavioural finance elements constitute to me a binomial of enormous interest. In this team it is amazing how much one can learn!
What's your verdict?
Extremely positive. The rotations were very valuable and I am extremely happy to be in MIB now. The corporate culture and atmosphere are great, and everyone is always happy to help. I truly recommend this programme.
Name: Brian Sng
Training scheme: Commercial Management Graduate Scheme
Current position: Client Relations Associate
University: London School of Economics (LSE)
Degree: MSc Philosophy of Science
What was your motivation for applying?
I wanted to work in a large, reputable asset management firm, and specifically wanted to learn as much as possible about how an investment management firm works, and thought that this unique scheme at M&G was a good way to achieve that. It is designed to give you broad exposure and unique insight into how the different cogs of the machine work.
What are you up to now?
After going through a year of rotations, I decided to relocate to M&G's Asia office, taking up a role as a Client Relations Associate in my home country of Singapore, supporting the sales and distribution of M&G's funds in Asia. The role involves servicing existing clients, and developing new relationships with private banks and other intermediaries in Asia.
What's your verdict?
The Commercial Management Scheme is an excellent way for people new to the industry to get a good insight into the many moving parts of an investment management firm. In the scheme, I worked with the following teams: i) M&G Asia, ii) Fixed Income, iii) PRUPIM, iv) Investment Specialists. This exposure had helped me to achieve my initial objective of learning how an investment management firm works, and gave me the valuable opportunity to explore which area of the business I wanted to work in. I would highly recommend the programme.