Stepping Away: Ayush

Posted on: 22 October 2025 by Richard Finch in Class of 2024

Ayush is a Class of 2024 MEng Mechanical Engineering graduate who now works at ICG as a Risk Graduate.

How did you hear about your role and why did you decide to apply for it?

I was approached by a recruiter who informed me I could be a good fit for the role.

How did you get to where you are now?

During my time at university, I realised quite early on that while I enjoyed certain aspects of Mechanical Engineering, it wasn’t something I could see myself doing long term. Around the beginning of second year, I became increasingly interested in finance and decided to explore that direction.

That summer (June-August 2023), I interned at BNY Mellon in Liverpool as part of their Internal Audit team. It was a great introduction to the industry — I gained hands-on experience at a large financial institution and got a real sense of how different teams operate. While I enjoyed the internship, it also helped me realise that audit wasn’t quite the right fit for me, and that I wanted to explore other areas within finance.

From there, I committed to making the shift. I continued with my studies while researching different areas of finance, developing my skills, and applying to graduate schemes for September 2024. The process was incredibly tough — I applied to over 150 roles and spent hundreds of hours preparing for interviews, completing online assessments and learning from each rejection.

Eventually, a recruiter reached out to me on LinkedIn about a role in Risk at a firm called ICG. I applied, went through the process, and was fortunate to receive an offer. Despite receiving a few offers elsewhere, in the end I chose ICG where I’m now working as a Risk Graduate.

Even after securing the grad role, I still wanted to keep learning and broadening my experience. That’s why I chose to do another 8-week summer internship — this time at Weatherbys Private Bank, working in their Private Clients team in July 2024. It was a completely different environment and gave me great insight into another side of the finance world, helping to round out my understanding of the industry.

Looking back, it’s been a journey full of learning, persistence, and a willingness to try new things — and I’m really glad I stuck with it.

Your favourite experience as part of your current role?

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about my role so far is being part of a small and supportive team. It’s created the perfect environment to take on real responsibility early on — I’ve been able to get stuck into meaningful work from day one and have had the chance to take ownership of tasks that genuinely add value.

At the same time, the culture at ICG really encourages learning from others. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to connect with people across different teams and functions, which has given me a much broader understanding of the business and how everything fits together.

The graduate training programme has also been a real highlight. It strikes a great balance between structured learning and on-the-job experience, and I’m currently studying for the IMC qualification as part of it. It’s been a great way to build a strong foundation and keep challenging myself as I continue to grow in the role.

The most challenging part of your graduate journey?

The most challenging part of the journey has definitely been navigating the transition from university to full-time work — especially in such a fast-paced industry. Going from lecture halls and coursework to managing real-world responsibilities, deadlines and stakeholder expectations has been a big shift.

There’s also a lot to learn, very quickly. As someone who didn’t come from a traditional finance background, I’ve had to put in extra time outside of work to get up to speed — whether that’s studying for the IMC, brushing up on technical knowledge, or simply getting familiar with industry language and processes.

That said, while it’s been intense at times, it’s also been incredibly rewarding. I’ve learned to be more proactive, ask better questions, and be comfortable not having all the answers straight away. It’s definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone — but in the best possible way.

What's your #1 piece of advice for future grads?

If I had to give one piece of advice, it would be to build resilience — especially during the application process. It can be long, exhausting, and full of setbacks, so it’s really important to stay patient and keep perspective.

Start early if you can — especially in finance, where graduate roles often open a year in advance. For example, ICG will be opening applications in September 2025 for roles starting in September 2026. Being aware of these timelines and getting your applications in early can make a real difference.

Also, try not to limit yourself too narrowly at the start. You might have a specific role or area in mind, but being open to different types of opportunities can improve your chances and help you discover paths you might not have originally considered.

And most importantly, don’t take rejections personally. I lost count of how many I got, but each one helped me improve. If you’re lucky enough to get feedback, take it seriously. Use it to refine your approach, adapt, and keep going — persistence really does pay off.

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