Josiane's Story
BSc (Hons) Finance and Accounting
In 2022, Josiane was studying for a degree in Finance and Accounting here at ARU London after the decision to pursue her ambitions later in life. She was always drawn to finance and had strong numerical skills, so took the opportunity to gain a qualification in the field after finding the right time to do so in her life.
Josiane anticipated simply getting a qualification but found that she gained much more than that from her degree. She attributes her success to the support network that she had at ARU London from her peers and faculty. The great staff on the Wellness and Employability teams helped her realise her full potential and apply for positions at some of the most reputable banks and finance corporations in the world. She attributes the employability team to teaching her the resilience to keep applying for positions, despite the competition and giving her the confidence to know that the right job will come along eventually.
After working closely with the careers team to reformat her CV in a 1-2-1 appointment, Josiane was elated when she landed an interview for a role as a Personal Assistant for the Technology Department at the Bank of England.
Within her application, she was asked about what employable skills she had gained in her degree. Josiane was able to provide a lot of great evidence that she had built transferable skills which would prove valuable to the role. These included:
- Problem-solving in projects and group work
- Time management and efficiency with assignments
- Confidence and resilience in her studies and personal life
The team were most impressed as they knew finance and numerical skills were only half of the role's demands. All these soft skills were critical, as the job entailed complex diary management, which required someone extremely solution-focused and driven to adapt quickly to challenges that might come their way. Josiane had proven her abilities with all the great work she had put into her degree here at ARU London and managed to secure the role.
Josiane explained that her success in the interview was helped by the lovely team here at ARU London, such as her lecturers, who encouraged her to remain driven and helped her navigate a highly competitive job market. Josiane is starting at the Bank of England and is thoroughly enjoying her role.
If you are inspired by Josiane’s story and you would like some support, please email employability@london.aru.ac.uk- whether you are a current student or alumni the Careers Team is there to support and empower you on your career journey.