8th August 2023
Jacob Boot-Handford
Job Title: Trainee Pension Administration Consultant
Job Location: Amersham
University: Bangor University
University Course: English Literature and Spanish
Why did you apply for Barnett Waddingham?
When I read the job advert, I was intrigued at the possibility of trying lots of different business areas as I had graduated recently and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I hadn’t considered working in pensions previously but was interested in the prospect of working for a company which seemed to have lots of opportunities to develop new skills alongside gaining new qualifications.
What was the recruitment process like?
It was a very quick turnaround. I applied, had an interview and had started within a week to ten days after applying. I had applied quite close to the start of the graduate scheme. The recruitment staff I spoke to were professional and friendly which helped me decide to accept the job offer.
What have been your highlights?
Getting the opportunity to network with colleagues around the business is a fantastic opportunity which not everyone in the company gets. Trying different businesses areas such as PAST and CRM has made me much more well rounded as well as providing an opportunity to change up the day to day routine.
What have been your challenges?
Adjusting to working a full-time job from being a student can be a challenge. Its important to take the opportunity to be in the office as much as possible as this will help with the steep learning curve which everyone faces when starting a new career.
What advice would you give to a student following in your footsteps?
Fully embrace any opportunities which you are presented with. Be patient in the beginning as the amount of information you have to take on board can seem overwhelming, however, BW is the best place to start of a career as a pensions administrator due to the friendly colleagues, opportunities to progress, and no blame culture.
