Employee Stories
Jake Charters
Performance sports set me up for a career in banking
About your journey
Did you always know you wanted to pursue a career in banking?
I studied at Nottingham between 2017 – 2019, and when I started, I didn’t think I would pursue a career in banking as had incorrect assumptions about the required skills and type of jobs involved in the industry.
How did your time at university help prepare you for your career?
Nottingham provided a great place to learn skills associated with high-performance and self-responsibility. The Performance Sport programme was very useful in promoting valuable skills that prepare you to succeed in your career post-university.
How did your internship with Standard Chartered shape your career with us?
Following an insight presentation that Standard Chartered gave to students at Nottingham, I was successful in my application for the internship programme, and then received an offer to return on the graduate programme. Since then, I have continued to progress within the Bank.
Insight into banking careers
What does your current role involve day to day? What do you enjoy about it?
I currently manage the Compliance risks that arise from the Markets business. This involves reacting to fast changing events and understanding a broad range of financial products and their associated risks. I enjoy the fast-paced nature of the Markets business and that no two days are the same.
What is the best thing about working for Standard Chartered?
The culture that colleagues within Standard Chartered share. It is a very supportive environment, and a lot of emphasis is placed on encouraging the younger generations to make positive changes to the Bank.
How has your career developed since joining the Bank?
The Bank’s various Early Careers programmes have provided a clear pathway to progress, and the programme has a very good reputation within the Bank. Those who deploy from such programmes are highly valued by the various teams in the business.
What’s been the most surprising thing about working in Banking?
The broad range and depth of roles that are involved within the industry.
Advice for current students
What skills or experiences, outside of your degree, have been most useful in your career to date?
Playing sport to a high level has been very useful given the overlaps in the skills required to be successful in both sport and wider career aspirations.
How can students stand out in their application?
Understand what makes you unique and highlight the benefits of this for others to see.