I Got Hired: Business Operations Senior Associate at London Stock Exchange Group

Posted on: 7 November 2022 by Richard Finch in Graduate stories

Edward Freer is a Class of 2021 BSc Geography graduate who is now working as a Business Operations Senior Associate at London Stock Exchange Group.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE ROLE?

Whilst I was still studying at the University of Liverpool I gained work experience in two successful summer internships with the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and Refinitiv. I was subsequently offered a Business Management Analyst role at LSEG after I graduated, which I was delighted to accept. I have since moved into my current role as a Business Operations Senior Associate.

HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?

Through hard work and determination! In my first summer internship at LSEG/Refinitiv I had very limited knowledge and experience, but I sought to collaborate well with others and tackle every challenge with a positive mindset. As a result, I learnt a tremendous amount in my summer internships which gave me a good foundation to build my career upon after graduating.

Whilst I believe my hard work has got me to where I am now, I was also fortunate to work with people who were willing to invest time and energy in young talent. I wanted to repay those who gave me opportunities and in turn, I delivered on some key initiatives.

It is important to have a strong network of people around you both in and outside of work. I would personally like to thank Alex C, Ruby Mc, Yusuf M, Chris Z and Liz H, in particular, for their guidance and investment in my career. My family's ongoing support is also truly valued.

YOUR FAVOURITE EXPERIENCE AS PART OF YOUR ROLE?

One of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my role came recently through the completion of an AgilePM Foundation and Practitioner course. This involved 4 days of training with professionals from a variety of industries and backgrounds, most of whom had 10-20+ years experience. However, I felt at ease discussing Agile project management with my peers, which demonstrated to me the depth of industrial knowledge I have gained since graduating. It was a big encouragement and showed me that you don't need years and years of experience to operate on the same level as more experienced people! That is not to say that experience does not have its value where it can be drawn upon.

I am fortunate enough to work in a great team, within a supportive and positive business operations community. I have really enjoyed meeting colleagues in various offices across the UK and I am looking forward to a trip to Bucharest in Q4 to meet our Romanian colleagues!

THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR GRADUATE JOURNEY?

Studying and graduating during covid was a challenge! My first day as a graduate at LSEG began by switching on my laptop in my bedroom and joining a Teams call - a stark contrast to my first day as a summer intern where I walked into a fancy office in Canary Wharf!

It was difficult to network in the first few months of my career, however I took initiative to reach out to people and began to form working relationships online, before finally meeting many colleagues in person. The office environment has vastly improved over the last year!

TOP THREE TIPS FOR OTHER STUDENTS?

1. Seek advice from people who have been and done it. They can give you direction in your career.

2. Always be willing to learn and don't judge someone else's opinions to be wrong instantly - they are probably coming at it from a different angle.

3. Have a positive mindset and a 'can do' attitude