A recent graduate with a 2.1 in Economics from the University of Southampton, shares insights into how he secured a £50K graduate job in Business and Commercial Banking at Lloyds Bank.
Hi, I'm Ayden, a recent graduate from the University of Southampton with a 2.1 in Economics. In this article, I'll share how I landed a Business and Commercial Banking job at Lloyds Bank, a role that now pays me £50K a year. Let's dive in!
Business and Commercial Banking is crucial in providing support to businesses, ranging from small enterprises to large multinationals, to help them achieve their goals. The division serves thousands of businesses, from small enterprises and mid-market companies to large multinationals and offers the chance to learn about what business needs are and how business needs change over the growth cycle of that business. This presents a unique chance to gain insights into business decision-making processes across various scales, ultimately allowing me to broaden my expertise and skillset to cater to the diverse needs of businesses.
For me, adding value and creating solutions for clients is incredibly fulfilling. Working with businesses of all sizes and providing bespoke solutions, such as business loans and invoice finance, excites me. While I've honed my skills in managing client relationships and delivering value, the chance to do so for businesses across the UK economy is what truly sets this opportunity in Business and Commercial Banking apart.
One product, Invoice Finance, offers early access to funds tied up in unpaid invoices - Whilst you're waiting for invoices to be paid by customers, you can get up to 90% of the invoice cash advanced to you within 24 hours, providing businesses with quick cash when they need it most.
One of the most appealing aspects of Business and Commercial Banking is the variety of work it offers. The economic and business environment is ever changing for clients and therefore I believe your work should be too. The ability to work across four rotations within the division, for example, on the frontline with the relationship management teams, assessing credit decisioning within the credit and risk teams, or managing products that service clients within product management and strategy and propositions teams, excites me! the chance to gain exposure across various industries like Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Technology, and Financial Services is invaluable. It not only allows me to develop a robust skillset to thrive within the division but also offers the opportunity to specialize in an industry that aligns with my interests and passions.
The rotational aspect of the graduate programme is so important to me because over the course of 2 years and four rotational placements, I'll have the chance to gain a breadth of experience and develop the knowledge and skillset required to succeed in the Business & Commercial Banking division. I am excited to gain experience working directly with clients in the Relationship Management team seeing how they support businesses in this challenging economic environment. I am looking forward to support the risk and credit teams in assessing lending decisions for all business sizes, and also to learn more about the range of products and services the division offers to clients.The rotational aspect of the programme will allow me to understand the different business areas within the division and ultimately roll off into the area I most prefer from the experience I have gained.
The division serves thousands of businesses, from small enterprises and mid-market companies to large multinationals and offers the chance to learn about what business needs are and how business needs change over the growth cycle of that business.This is important to me as I feel that the best way to speed up the UK's economic recovery is to work directly with UK business especially within the SME faction. Helping support SME's will be fundamental to the UK's economyThis is important to me as I feel that the best way to speed up the UK's economic recovery is to work directly with UK business especially within the SME faction. Helping support SME's will be fundamental to the UK's economic recovery as small and medium sized businesses make up around 99.9% of the UK private business sector. Gov.UK showed that the UK private sector at the start 2022 had around 5.5 million UK private businesses of which 99.9% were SME's - 5.47 million small businesses and just under 36,000 (35,900) medium sized businesses.
The opportunity for professional certifications, such as the CFA, alongside the graduate scheme, demonstrates Lloyds Bank's commitment to nurturing talent and fostering growth. By investing in my professional development, Lloyds Bank not only enhances my skillset but also prepares me for future leadership roles within the organization. This emphasis on continuous learning and development is something that I value greatly and am excited to pursue during my time at Lloyds Bank.
Securing a £50K graduate job in banking wasn't just about showcasing academic credentials; it was about articulating my passion for banking through specific knowledge.
👇 Globally competitive salaries. Diverse work environments. Work/Life balance.
