Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Investment Professionals at Abrdn
Abrdn's graduate program offers a two-year rotational program with "meaningful work," allowing recent graduates to explore asset management and the firm to assess fit; the program is preceded by internships, providing a crucial vetting process for potential hires.
Entry-Level Jobs, Graduate Programs, Asset Management, Internships, Financial Careers
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Edwin Gutierrez
Head of Emerging Market Sovereign Debt
Abrdn
UC Berkeley
MS Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Political Science, American Studies
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Abrdn offers a graduate program with two-year rotations and four different roles to help students learn about the asset management industry and the firm.
2. The program is a good way for students to determine if a career in asset management is right for them, and for the firm to identify suitable candidates.
3. Students typically start as interns before being considered for the graduate program, allowing the firm to assess their skills and potential for meaningful work assignments.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
My firm has a great graduate program, similar to what some other firms offer. The program begins after graduation, with participants completing rotations around the company for two years.
During this time, they undertake four rotations, allowing them to truly get to know the industry and our firm. This period also helps us get to know our graduates and assess their potential for permanent hire.
Equally, it's a chance for these individuals to determine if a career in asset management is something they wish to pursue. This may not be a natural path, especially for students in California, who I believe are a significant part of our target audience.
Many students from the East Coast are already familiar with the finance world, as it's a common background for many of their parents. This is less common in California.
Our graduates typically start as interns the summer before the graduate program, or even a year in advance. This internship period is how we vet talent and decide who to offer a place in the graduate program.
During the graduate program, our participants engage in meaningful work. It's not simply about tasks like photocopying, fetching food, or dry cleaning.
Ultimately, our program offers a valuable two-way experience. Graduates can discover if this career is the right fit for them, and we can identify promising talent.