Data & Analytics Assistant

Michelle

Economics

Placement (10 Months+)

Association of British Insurers

What was the application process like?

It was simple, there were no online tests or a cover letter, just a handful of online questions relating to the role. Applications are reviewed anonymously so everyone has a fair chance of getting an interview, regardless of experience.

What was the interview process like?

It was made up of two stages; the first stage was an Excel test followed by a face to face panel interview. The second stage was a more relaxed telephone interview lasting around 30 minutes. I also met the current interns more informally.

What advice would you give to students applying for your role?

Make sure you research the company; you don’t have to be an expert, but it will be useful to understand the ABI’s purpose in society and examples of their work. Additionally, tailor your application to match the role and responsibilities for this job.

How much responsibility do you have?

We are given a lot of responsibility, from start to end of each data collection, the onus is on us to manage and keep track of the whole process. The final data files are also published under our names which further enhances our responsibility.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

We have full responsibility of the regular data collections we work on so if I don’t like how something works then I can change it. As a result, I’ve built new files and improved older files in order to match my way of working.

What has been your biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge of this placement was trying to understand the longterm savings market and terminology, at times it felt like learning a completely new language! Of course, as I gained more experience in the job, it became less of a challenge.

How has this experience exceeded your expectations?

I did not expect the placement to be so well organised by the ABI nor did I think I would be given this level of responsibility. Colleagues at the ABI are also all friendly and welcoming which is always a bonus!

What is the office atmosphere like?

The ABI office has a relaxed and easygoing atmosphere, I've never had a moment where the office environment made me feel stressed or unable to focus. Our hub was also a great area to have non workrelated chats with colleagues who don’t sit around you.

What activities are there outside of work?

There are plenty of opportunities outside of work at the ABI; games night, mini golf at Swingers City and our Christmas Party at Savage Garden are just a few events arranged by the Sports & Social Committee in the past year.

How promising are the graduate prospects?

Graduate prospects are limited to when jobs become available due to the size of the ABI. However, the skills I have learned from this placement makes me feel more optimistic and employable, regardless of the career path I choose in the near future.