Work experience plus academic learning adds up to better prospects

Undergraduate finance student Ciaran McAuley has just completed the Barclays Finance Experience and has been selected for a summer internship - here, Ciaran explains how strong work experience really matters in today's job market. 

I got involved in the Barclays Finance Experience by applying through the business school. I was unsuccessful a couple of times in my second and third year, but I kept applying and was eventually accepted this January. 

The experience involved spending six weeks on the Barclays campus during term time. We were introduced to different areas of the bank and heard from a range of guest speakers, from Operations Directors to the Head of Corporate Banking. In the final week, we had the opportunity to network with them directly. 

A key part of the programme was working in a team to design a new financial product for Barclays. We researched, developed, and presented this idea to an audience of senior directors, employees, and other participants at the end of the programme. 

The most valuable part of the experience for me was the emphasis on communication and being encouraged to speak up. Public speaking is something I hadn’t done enough of before, so presenting in front of a large audience was a big step. 

I also really enjoyed working with a completely new team and taking a project from initial idea through to final presentation. That experience felt very real and closely reflected how teams operate in industry. 

The whole experience linked closely to my academic studies, particularly in areas like derivatives, risk management, and financial markets. 

Seeing concepts like futures, forwards, and hedging strategies being discussed in a real-world context made everything feel much more relevant. It motivated me to push harder in my studies, knowing how directly they apply in practice. 

I came away with a much clearer understanding of Barclays’ culture and how large organisations operate. 

It also gave me a big boost in confidence, particularly in terms of public speaking and contributing ideas within a team environment. 

I’m looking forward to taking part in a summer internship with Barclays too. I applied though an open application process for an internship that was on the Barclays website. I had heard about the opportunity from people who I’d spoken to and I knew thousands of people would be applying. 

Being offered the internship came from a combination of hard work, networking, and preparation. 

I spoke with several professionals at the Vice President level to better understand the roles and gain insight into the application process. I also completed a psychometric test where I performed strongly, which led to being invited directly to the final stage assessment centre. I was delighted finally to be offered the internship. 

The internship is within the Operations division, although I don’t yet know the exact team. I’m hoping to be placed in an area such as fixed income so I can apply my academic knowledge. 

I’m most looking forward to meeting new people, getting hands-on experience, and developing a better understanding of what working in finance looks like day-to-day. 

I think it’s extremely important to gain experience through opportunities like the Barclays Finance Experience, work experience and internships. In today’s market, having strong work experience is essential. 

Internships not only help you stand out in applications, but they also allow you to figure out what areas you enjoy and where you perform best. That clarity is invaluable when making career decisions. 

I’ve really enjoyed my time on the course so far. It has provided a strong foundation in finance while also offering practical opportunities to apply what we learn. 

Access to resources like the Bloomberg Trading Lab and market simulation programmes such as AmplifyME have stood out, as they bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. 

About Ciaran McAuley

Ciaran MaAuley is an undergraduate finance student at Strathclyde Business School. He has completed the Barclays Finance Experience in partnership with Strathclyde Business School.