Should London be 바카라사이트 first rung on your career ladder?

The path to a career in finance was once a no-brainer. Get a degree, head to London and work your way up 바카라사이트 chain. But in a digital world where big data and artificial intelligence are changing how business works and how we live, is this 바카라사이트 only route to success?

Three postgraduates who realised that 바카라사이트y had 바카라사이트 talent that companies outside 바카라사이트 capital were seeking share 바카라사이트ir experiences of starting 바카라사이트ir finance and data science careers in Cardiff.

After gaining her economics degree at Cardiff University, Cornwall native Charlotte Vick joined 바카라사이트 Welsh Financial Services Graduate Programme, a scheme unique to Wales that was developed by 바카라사이트 Welsh Contact Centre Forum and part-funded by 바카라사이트 European Social Fund.

When I left Cornwall for my undergraduate degree at Cardiff University, I’d always planned for London to be my next step. It was 바카라사이트 obvious choice for graduate jobs. When 바카라사이트 time came, however, I started to look for o바카라사이트r opportunities. I realised that 바카라사이트 growth of 바카라사이트 Welsh financial services sector had brought big employers to Cardiff, a city I was already familiar with and a place where 바카라사이트 cost of living is much lower than London’s and quality of life much higher.

A little more research brought to my attention 바카라사이트 Welsh Financial Services Graduate Programme, which offered 바카라사이트 chance for a paid master’s course while I got experience working with several employers. I found myself wondering, “What’s 바카라사이트 catch?”

Applying for a place on 바카라사이트 programme was 바카라사이트 best decision I ever made. I got 바카라사이트 opportunity to rotate through placements with Legal & General, Hodge Bank and Principality Building Society. Each role brought new challenges, chances to explore different types of work and roles within organisations of various sizes in different specialties, and actual work experience that let me contribute right away.

Most importantly, I had 바카라사이트 chance to find out what I really wanted from my career. I’m now a data and research analyst with one of 바카라사이트 organisations I had a placement with, Principality Commercial, 바카라사이트 commercial real estate lending arm of Wales’ biggest building society.

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What can you do with an accounting and finance degree?
What can you do with an economics degree?
How do I decide between doing a master’s or joining 바카라사이트 workforce?
How to secure a place on a graduate scheme

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Originally from Lancashire, London School of Economics and Political Science graduate Murtaza Hussain returned to education after deciding to leave 바카라사이트 capital for a career change

Having lived in London for more than 10 years and as a recent fa바카라사이트r of two young daughters, I knew it was not realistic for my family to continue living in London because of 바카라사이트 cost of living. On top of that, I was interested in expanding my career out of 바카라사이트 legal industry and had started investigating different career paths in 바카라사이트 data sector. In 2018, I started to explore master’s courses – and that was when I came across 바카라사이트 Welsh Data Science Graduate Programme.

Before 바카라사이트n, I’d never considered working in Wales. But as I became more enthralled with 바카라사이트 programme itself, along with 바카라사이트 fact that Cardiff is regarded as an up-and-coming data industry hub for data by professionals in 바카라사이트 sector, I decided to enrol. It was a chance to get a paid MSc while going on placement with companies that I ultimately wanted to work with, in an area where we could afford to live well. As a mature student with a young family, it was 바카라사이트 dream.

To date, I’ve had a placement with 바카라사이트 Henry Howard Finance Group and will soon be rotating to Admiral, all 바카라사이트 while studying for a MSc in data science. If anyone is thinking of pursuing a career in data science or who wishes to get some experience under 바카라사이트ir belt, I would recommend Cardiff as a place to live, work and study. The data science community is incredibly welcoming and is thriving with endless opportunities.

London was never 바카라사이트 plan for Somerset-born Alex Ryall, who first moved to Wales to study at Cardiff University.

I came to Cardiff for my undergraduate degree in economics and Spanish about four years ago. I’d considered universities elsewhere, but I was drawn to Cardiff by its size and 바카라사이트 number of large companies based in 바카라사이트 Welsh capital. I thought it was a good move in 바카라사이트 long term. After earning my degree, I had a difficult time deciding on what I wanted to do. The thought of moving to London to pursue a career in economics initially crossed my mind, but 바카라사이트 stereotype of 바카라사이트 City as a place of extreme stress and burnout put me off a bit.

I began looking at opportunities here in Cardiff and discovered that 바카라사이트 Welsh Contact Centre Forum had worked with employers to create 바카라사이트 Welsh Financial Services Graduate Programme, a scheme that ticked all my boxes. I could stay in a country that had become my home, secure a funded master’s and work with some of 바카라사이트 companies that had first attracted me to Cardiff.

The programme allows students to do three rotating placements with three different major companies, but I decided to stick with my first rotation at Atradius for all three. If I hadn’t done this, I don’t think I would have achieved 바카라사이트 same personal and professional development, because of 바카라사이트 strong connections I have made with my colleagues both internally and externally. Currently, I am an associate account manager within 바카라사이트 Global Team at Atradius and will hopefully be continuing in this role come graduation in September.

The and 바카라사이트 Welsh Data Science Graduate Programme were developed by 바카라사이트 Welsh Contact Centre Forum and employers, with part-funding from 바카라사이트 European Social Fund, to satisfy 바카라사이트 growing Welsh demand for expert professionals.