Stephen originally took part in the Law Summer School at Durham University, however ended up pursuing a career in trading – read more about how he got there below.

What led you to apply for your programme and what was your experience like? 

“My form teacher recommended the programme to me – I was undecided on what to study at the time, so I thought it was worth a shot. I successfully got onto the Law Summer School at Durham University. At the time, I was blown away by the programme, and all the experiences it offered. I met so many amazing people during my week at Durham and the lecturers were inspiring. I did, however, learn that law wasn’t for me after this week! Instead, I realised I wanted to study economics, and over time I decided I wanted to pursue a career in trading.“

How did your path develop after the programme? 

“When I got my A-level grades, I sadly fell short of my offer for Durham. I went through clearing and decided on the University of Kent as I had support networks nearby. I really enjoyed my time there – I was involved with a lot of societies, including the Investing Society. This was really valuable in providing me with connections and gaining more knowledge about getting an internship. I found my summer school experience helped me here – I had the confidence to speak to lecturers in my first few weeks about what I needed to be doing to kickstart my career. I also studied for my CFA (Charted Financial Analyst) on the side while I was studying for my undergraduate – it was something I had researched, and thought was a good idea. 

After my first year, I secured an internship in healthcare consulting – I knew it wasn’t quite what I wanted to do but I also knew it was important to get something on my CV. After this, I was able to spring onwards using this experience to get an internship at Santander after my second year.  

I started out my career as a data analyst, and then just before the Covid-19 crisis I was able to make my breakthrough into trading.“

Tell us more about your career. What was your experience of securing work experience like?   

“I started with internship and spring week applications straight away in September of my first year – it was a real slog. I had to be consistent and dedicated to it. In the end, it was a combination of luck and hard work that got me my first bit of work experience.  

There’s a wide range of tests that you have to do to get internships. I developed a routine where I would spend an hour on test practice, then finishing up applications – often multiple a week. This was a much harder process in first year than second year – by that point I had learned how to structure my job search. I had a spreadsheet to track all my applications and managed to get further in my second year applications. I’ve always been motivated as a person, but it was tough to keep going during this process. In the end, I focused on the fact that it was a job I knew I would love, and an area I really wanted to go into.  

For anyone going through application season now, I would really recommend practising the aptitude or other online tests you’ll need to do, as much as possible. If you want to go into finance, narrow down what you want to go into through research online, and then learn as much as you can about these areas – to demonstrate your dedication. It’s worth doing a deep dive and looking for areas you might not have heard of such as structured finance. These can be just as demanding and lucrative, but with far less oversubscribed application processes.  

If you secure an interview or assessment centre – write up a big list of possible questions, and practice answering them out loud to yourself or with a friend.  The rejection you experience during application season is tough – lean on those around you. My mum was a huge support for me during that time – reach out to anyone you are close to so they can support you. Keep in mind that it is a marathon, not a sprint.“ 

What does a typical day in your role look like?  

“I’m a quantitative trader – I develop algorithms that are responsible for buying and selling stock on the market, so I monitor and develop what the algorithms are doing. I start my day catching up on what is happening in the world and understanding the context. My role uses Python a lot – which I actually didn’t learn at university, so bear in mind you can always learn new skills! I use datasets to check whether you can make a predictive signal from what has previously happened in the market, to then predict what will happen in the future. Once we’ve built something we think might work, we need to monitor how it behaves in practice and check that it is working right. I enjoy it a lot – it’s competitive, and allows you to work closely with other people, problem-solving as a team.“

Is your professional network important to you? How have you built up your network? 

“This was something I initially struggled with, as I hate asking people for help. When I was between jobs realised the huge importance of having a network. I would advise other alumni not to be afraid to ask for help. It’s always worth making the connection with people: you don’t know how they might be able to help you, or you might be able to help them. In particular, getting some to look over your CV if you’re in the midst of job applications can be a huge help.“

What advice would you give to younger Sutton Trust alumni wanting to go into your sector? 

“For those interested in trading specifically: it doesn’t matter where you come from, but you do need to know at least one high-level programming language. For those wanting to go into finance more broadly: do your research and understand the different niches available, so you can prove your interest in a particular area.  

A general piece of advice I would give is not to hesitate to message people on LinkedIn – they can be a great source of knowledge and might make a small comment that could point you in a completely new direction, but one that is right for you!“

Want to inspire others with your story? Get in touch with us at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you.

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