Westminster Kingsway College student Amy got experience and insight of the working world through her paid internship at Investment20/20, and one-to-ones with mentor Shamir from E-factor. This is her story.
London student Amy Yang started her Career Ready journey “ambitious and eager to learn”.
“I had limited experience and knowledge of working in an office,” she says. “I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to develop the practical skills needed to navigate a corporate environment.
“I didn’t fully understand the expectations or day-to-day dynamics of working in an office, and I lacked confidence in how to apply my abilities in a professional context.”
Now, at the other end of the programme, she feels much more confident.
“My internship at Investment20/20, along with insight days at BUPA and PA Consulting, gave me an invaluable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of how businesses operate,” she explains.
“I’ve developed important skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving in a real-world context. Additionally, the mentoring I received has not only clarified my career goals but also helped me build professional relationships and navigate opportunities with greater confidence.”
Learning the ropes
Amy’s internship saw her join the team at Investment20/20 – which works with firms to promote entry-level talent, diversity and inclusion inthe investment industry.
“My internship has been incredibly valuable in helping me develop both personally and professionally,” Amy says.
“I had the opportunity to create content for LinkedIn, participate in team projects, and observe daily operations within a fast-paced environment. I learned how to apply my academic knowledge in a professional context, gaining real-world experience in social media marketing, client relations, and teamwork.
“I honed my communication and client-facing skills through meetings and project presentations. I also improved my time management by balancing tasks like updating Salesforce data alongside my SWOT analysis project.”
Networking and insights
As well as learning new skills, Amy also gained insight into different career paths by meeting colleagues from different teams.
“My highlight was definitely the one-to-one meetings with professionals from various departments,” she says. “This gave me the chance to build my networking skills, and these sessions offered invaluable exposure to different roles and inspiring career journeys, broadening my industry understanding and providing practical insights.
“It opened my eyes to the fact that there are multiple paths to a successful career—you don’t need to follow a traditional route or study something specific. As long as you’re eager to learn, you can achieve your goals.
“During myinternship, I was exposed to client relations and business development, which are areas I’m now very interested in pursuing.”
Staying on track
Throughout the Career Ready programme, Amy had support from mentor Shamir Sanghrajka, Senior Vice President at E-factor.
“Having a mentor provided me with accountability and direction, especially when I faced uncertainties about my career path,” she says. “It kept me on track, helping me set realistic goals.
“Knowing I had someone invested in my progress encouraged me to stay focused, refine my skills, and work towards my future goals.
“Shamir also broadened my perspective about career options and potential paths within the industry. He showed me the value of client relations and business development, which has influenced my focus on pursuing degree apprenticeships and roles that involve client interaction and business strategy.”
Planning for the future
Amy’s workplace visit to PA Consulting also helped her see what working in consulting might be like – an industry she aspires to work in.
“Seeing the environment firsthand and meeting people from different roles within consulting was really inspiring,” she says.
“The workplace visits allowed me to network face-to-face with professionals and gain invaluable advice. Working on team projects during the visits taught me about effective teamwork and helped me see how different roles collaborate in real-life settings.
“I’m now in my last year of A levels, preparing and applying for degree apprenticeships and university.
“Career Ready has been instrumental in equipping me with real-life work experience through a four-week paid internship. It gave me a chance to apply the skills and knowledge I learned from masterclasses and my mentor in a real corporate setting, which has prepared me for my next steps.”
