Employee Stories

Pearl Chandra

Pearl shares her journey from intern to Credit Analyst

Pearl Chandra joined the Bank as an intern, and now works as an Analyst in Credit Trading. She shares what skills she’s learned on the job and how she was given the opportunity to interview our CEO, Bill Winters.

Where did you study, and what subject did you study?

Economics at UCL, London.

Did you always know what you wanted to do when you had finished studying?

I’ve always had an interest in the economy and how markets work so I wanted to work somewhere where I could continue to think logically, like an economist and put maths to use.

What drew you to apply to Standard Chartered? What made the graduate programme stand out to you?

As a British Indian, Standard Chartered’s huge presence in India and across the world stood out to me when choosing a bank that makes a difference globally. The graduate programme appealed to me as I wanted to be part of a large global firm whilst maintaining the interconnectedness and visibility of a smaller firm. This meant I could take on more responsibility, speak to senior leaders in the industry as a junior and gain exposure to a variety of products, countries, and asset classes from my very first day.

How has your career progressed since you joined us? Can you tell us about the learning and development you’ve received?

I really benefitted from the training provided to us ahead of joining the desk at the start of the graduate programme. The sessions were given to us by knowledgeable instructors who had worked in the market before and taught us concepts relevant to what we needed to know on the job. Upon joining my team, which is an Algo trading desk, I had the pleasure of learning to code on the job, with the support of my team, who provided me with tasks and help along the way as I began to develop a proficiency in coding. It has been an incredibly useful skill, and I recognise the unique nature of having such hands-on support from the people around me and being able to put the skill to use from the day I started, with little experience beforehand.

Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that has made you proud?

One of my proudest moments  was when I was provided with the opportunity to host a fireside chat with the CEO, Bill Winters. I was able to interview Bill within the first few months of joining, for a recruitment event aimed at students. It was a great experience which allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, increase my visibility in the Bank and stand out within my team, whilst learning more about the Bank and being able to ask Bill about topics I was interested in.

How would you describe the culture at the Bank?

My experience of the culture in the Bank so far has been very positive. Everyone has been very welcoming, kind, and eager to help me learn. I have been able to develop a variety of skills in parallel due to the diverse skillset of my team and their willingness to teach me.

I have also taken part in the Standard Chartered choir, which allowed me to branch outside of my business function and meet new people and represent the firm at the Carol Service. I can strongly say that firm supports a healthy work-life balance, and taking part in a firm-organised club helped me to do so and find a community within the Bank. 

Is working in banking what you expected it to be?

I would say that banking is more exciting, challenging, and diverse than I anticipated. Being able to learn about and experience financial markets from a trading floor provides a different perspective from my academic studies, and during such a turbulent year in global politics it has been an incredible experience to learn about the markets from my position as a Financial Markets Graduate.

What’s the best thing about working for Standard Chartered?

The most exciting thing about working for Standard Chartered for me is the unique position of being part of an established global bank whilst still being able to get the feeling of growth and innovation as the Bank is constantly growing into new markets, innovating their systems, and growing their client base. Being part of a team which is expanding into developed markets bond trading with an already established business in emerging markets bond trading provides me with the valuable view of a new operation from within in a reputable business.

Could you use three words to describe life at Standard Chartered? 

Fast-paced, exciting, and advantageous.

What advice/hints and tips would you give to someone looking to work at Standard Chartered? 

Don’t be too worried about gaps in your skillset or background, continue to be curious about banking and the markets and learn for fun. If you think logically, understand what you don’t know and are determined to fill those gaps, everyone here is willing to help you get there!

What sort of person would succeed in your team?  

Someone who is willing to take initiative and a zeal for automating processes/making things more efficient. My team is filled with people who are curious about the world economy, have thoughtful opinions on the market and are not afraid to get things wrong.