Rob at Fidelity

"I enjoyed working in a culture that encourages creative thinking and is highly intellectually stimulating."

Current Position: Graduate
Business Area: Investment
Joined: 2008 (summer internship) 2009 (graduate)
Studied: Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics at University of Warwick

I wanted to work in the investment industry and knew that Fidelity was a well-respected company. I met some Fidelity representatives at a careers fair in Warwick and really liked what they had to say about their internship programme, so I applied.

As a summer intern I was with the company for eight weeks and there were two parts to my placement.

First, I ‘job shadowed’ a junior analyst who worked in the Pubs and Brewers sector Most of the work was centred around meetings hosted at the Fidelity offices, where CEOs and CFOs would come in and talk to us about their company’s performance. We’d then use that information, to update the company model, value the company and then decide which stocks to recommend to Fidelity’s Portfolio Managers.

For the second part of my internship, I carried out a research project on the seismic industry, which is a sub sector of the oil and gas services industry. I looked at supply and demand, the technologies involved, and performance forecasts. I even had access to brokers in Norway and a very helpful geophysicist. I then presented my findings to the equity team.

The internship helped me develop my analytical skills and showed me how to apply them in a commercial context. I’ve also gained an appreciation of the high level of detail required in good quality fundamental research. The responsibility I had, considering I was just an intern was fantastic and it really felt like I’d added value to the team.

I enjoyed working in a culture that encourages creative thinking and is highly intellectually stimulating. I look forward to submerging myself into it properly when I come back on the graduate programme.

During my gap year since the internship finished, I’ve been able to get a head start on my professional qualifications. I’ve completed the Securities and Investment Institute Interpretation of Financial Statements qualification – which Fidelity paid for. And I’m about to start studying for the Chartered Financial Analyst qualification – again funded by Fidelity.

Now I’m looking forward to meeting the other new starters on the global graduate orientation programme. Then I can start adding to the contacts I’ve already made through my internship.