Starting out

When I first applied to Hargreaves Lansdown, I had little practical work experience. My application centred on my interests, academic record and enthusiasm to work in such an entrepreneurial company for some of the sector’s brightest minds.

What didn’t occur to me at the time, but which has become a real feature of my day-to-day experiences, is the level of interaction graduates within Hargreaves Lansdown have with senior management. My hope was to work for some great people, but actually I’ve constantly been working with them.

Whether it’s been presenting to our CEO, delivering research notes to the Chief Investment Officer or simply having a desk across from a board member, there really is constant exposure to the people driving this business forward. For a recent graduate looking to start a career, these sorts of opportunities are priceless.

As a business, there aren’t many better in the UK and by the time you finish the scheme, you will have had a chance to work in seven different departments with each shedding a different light on the factors behind Hargreaves Lansdown’s success. Despite my obvious biases, I would challenge anyone to find a more rounded and complete graduate scheme.

From the moment I joined the Hargreaves Lansdown Graduate Scheme, the sense of diversity and responsibility I would be faced with was apparent. Within a couple of months, I was working in the Operations Oversight team with members of senior management, leading an efficiency project.

I really enjoy diving into an area of the business and learning as much as I can for a few months, knowing that I will shortly be doing something completely different, building up my knowledge base and experience. Even day to day our tasks vary, as we are continually encouraged to take on side projects, further developing our skillset and internal network.

The appraisals we receive at the end of each rotation are really helpful in building up a picture of my strengths and weaknesses, and helped to shape the profession and focus of my career path within HL; the flexibility of the scheme caters for these personal developments.

I have been hugely impressed by the community feel at HL; from one rotation to the next, the links you build up with senior members of the business and the relationships created with colleagues never fades.

I am proud to have been a part of such a unique and elite scheme, developing alongside a small number of fellow graduates, and all within such a successful and fast growing company.

Above all else, the Hargreaves Lansdown Graduate Scheme provides opportunity. Opportunity to work closely with directors, undertake genuinely important projects, and build a successful career. Crucially, at every stage the scheme is tailored to the individual’s needs and aspirations.

When I joined, I did not know what part of the business I would be best suited to. Close mentoring and in-depth appraisals have helped me to understand where I want to be. My initial rotations took me through Investment Research, Operations and a managerial position with our Client Records department. Through these varied roles I gained a wealth of skills, experiences and contacts.

Having developed an interest in project work and IT development, I was given the opportunity to spend three months as a Project Manager, overseeing the system improvements that HL implements. I am now a Solutions Analyst / Researcher in the IT department and excited to be on a career path that would have been unavailable and unknown to me had I not joined the HL Graduate Scheme.

Hargreaves Lansdown does not take many onto the scheme each year and so it truly feels as though they are committed to your success. The current and previous members of the scheme form an excellent network which I believe will drive the company forward in the future.

For me, just as important as the scheme is the company itself. Working at a successful and a growing company gives me opportunities for my own success, and Hargreaves Lansdown ticks the box perfectly. It is one of the top performing public companies in recent years and it continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. It is one of the great success stories of recent times and I am proud to be a part of it.