Following a recent careers seminar, one business graduate began a promising career with a Chartered financial planning firm
In October 2018, a careers seminar was held at Nottingham Trent University with a panel of insurance and financial planning professionals sharing their career journeys. As a result of the seminar, graduate Daryl Sivell secured a financial administrator role at DGS Chartered Financial Planners.
Mr Sivell said: “At that time, I was a final-year business student faced with the dilemma of not knowing what type of career I wanted to pursue. I had gained a Level 3 certificate from the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investment from the previous summer, but I still had no idea as to how to develop this into a future career.
“After the presentation, I worked up the courage to go over to speak with Nick Onslow, Chartered financial planner and director of Russell Ulyatt, who was on the panel. After nervously introducing myself, his kind response put me at ease. He handed me his card and offered to look over my CV, to see if any improvements could be made.
“I have met Nick now on several occasions and have maintained regular contact with him. It is through his mentorship and advice that I was able to grasp what I had to do after my graduation, to become a financial adviser.”
Career path
Mr Sivell continues: “Since graduating, I have driven myself towards starting this new career path alongside my diploma studies. After what seemed like forever, sending out CVs and applying to jobs online, I eventually came across a local Chartered independent financial adviser – DGS Chartered Financial Planners. I immediately sent in my CV despite there being no advertised openings.
“I also phoned the offices of DGS, simply to enquire as to there being any positions available or the possibility of them being interested in hiring me as an intern for a short period of time. I was informed there were no current positions available, however, they were interested in talking to me as they liked my CV and were encouraged by the fact I had followed it up with a phone call. I was elated.
“The day finally came for my first interview – I was met by a wonderful woman named Dorit Weinberg, adviser support manager, who immediately made me feel at ease. After about a week or so I was asked to come for second interview; this time it was with the director of the company, Stephen Piacenti. I was more nervous than before but need not have worried. Stephen, just like Dorit, put me at ease and made me feel like I could just be myself.
“It was a few weeks before I received a phone call back from DGS, telling me they were going to create a trainee administrator position for me. I was over the moon and immediately informed Nick Onslow of the fantastic news.”
The PFS thanks Dr Vangelis Tsiligiris, principal lecturer in finance at Nottingham Trent University, for working with us and the panel of professionals comprising a cross-section of the profession that took part in the careers seminar at the university.
For more information, email: EducationPartnershipCoordinator@cii.co.uk
Vivine Cameron is education partnerships executive at the PFS
