Calvin M.
About me
| Calvin M. | |
| Economics and Related Studies | |
| Economics | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Alcuin | |
| 1995 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Partner | |
| Independent corporate advisory firm | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Finance and consultancy | |
| Small business (0-49 employees) | |
| 2015 |
More about Calvin
Like this profile?
Add this profile to your favourites so you can return to it later from your account.
A day in the life of a Partner in the United Kingdom
Do your research and work out your strengths and how you can present those to potential employers, remembering you may need to adapt your message to different audiences.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
Independent corporate advisory firm
What do you do?
Advise companies and shareholders on strategy, corporate transactions and investments
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I became an Army Officer after school and then came to university. After university, I became investment banker, joining the mergers and acquisitions advisory department of a major bank. At the time, it was a highly attractive career choice. Over the years, I have broadened my experience to the wider banking industry and gained international experience working in Asia. I think having international experience will be increasingly important, as well as understanding the changes and longer term trends in any industry.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Yes, the financial sector has gone through huge changes as a result of regulatory and market pressures, and will continue to change at pace due to technological changes.
Describe your most memorable day at work
My first two days of work after the graduate training programme were spent filling envelopes with documents to be sent to potential investors on a major deal. It was dull and not why I wanted to be a banker. I got on with the task at hand, ensured each envelope was filled and addressed correctly and on time. I made sure I updated the senior managers and asked details about the deal. I was subsequently asked to work on that deal and it was one of the most high profile deals of the year and gave me exposure to leading business figures and Government. My message is that nothing is 'beneath' you as a graduate and even the smallest or most mundane tasks contribute to the bigger picture. In the early years, treat everything with enthusiasm and search out the interesting work and colleagues.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I played Squash for the university and subsequently became President of the Squash Club and Secretary of the Athletic Union. There were are number of changes within university sport at the time and I was able to gain experience of influencing decisions within a large, complex organisation. I also remained as an Officer in the Army Reserve and was an instructor at Leeds University Officers' Training Corps.
What would you like to do next with your career?
I would want to do one or two more big leadership/management roles
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Your weak point is lack of experience. Do your research and work out your strengths and how you can present those to potential employers, remembering you may need to adapt your message to different audiences.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Anything...fire away!
Next steps...
If you like the look of Calvin’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Calvin a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Calvin to be your mentor.