Chengxuan Li: My internship in Financial Services

Hello, my name is Chengxuan Li. I'm currently in my final year studying Financial Computing BSc (Hons) on the XJTLU 2+2 programme.

Read my blog in English

My internship role and responsibilities

During my internship at StoneX Group Inc., my role focused on information technology governance, risk management, and compliance (IT GRC). StoneX is a financial services company that provides services including commercial hedging, global payments and securities. My primary responsibilities were to participate in managing IT risks, defending against cyber security threats, and ensuring the legality and compliance of internal technology usage within the organisation.

Through this internship, I not only enhanced my professional skills in IT governance, risk, and compliance, but I also learned how to communicate and collaborate effectively in a fast-paced, diversified financial services environment.

A typical work day on my internship

During my internship, my daily work schedule combined project work, training and meetings. Since I was new to the industry and this specific field, a lot of training and learning was required. I usually engaged in project work in the morning, attended different training courses in the afternoon and participated in cross-time zone meetings.

Overall, my internship experience was a process full of learning and challenges. I not only improved my professional skills in IT governance, risk, and compliance, but also learned how to communicate and collaborate effectively in a diverse and cross-cultural environment.

How my internship has helped my future study and career opportunities

My internship experience built a solid foundation for me in the field of risk management and allowed me to accumulate valuable practical experience. This experience is crucial for my application to graduate programmes and my future career development.

For applying to postgraduate programmes, this experience has enhanced my practical operational capabilities and theoretical knowledge. Especially the experience in IT risk management, which will help me to further explore related fields in my future studies. Regarding future work, this experience not only improved my technical skills but also strengthened my cross-cultural communication and team collaboration abilities. These skills are highly valued in the Financial Services industry. Particularly in a globalised business environment, my experience working in a multinational company will be a significant advantage in my future career.

My advice for XJTLU 2+2 students looking for an internship in the UK

Firstly, Applying early is key to securing internships in the UK. Given the intense competition for positions in big companies and popular industries, it's very important to plan and apply in advance. It is strongly recommended to start looking for internships at the beginning of the academic year, as most companies recruit interns for the following summer in the autumn of the previous year. Additionally, being patient is crucial. The process of applying for internships can be long and challenging, often requiring applications to multiple positions and multiple rounds of interviews. Throughout this process, it's important to stay positive and not give up easily if you face initial rejections.

Secondly, don't be afraid to face difficulties. During the application process, you may encounter challenges such as cultural differences, language barriers, or work permit issues. In the face of these challenges, it's important to remain determined and look for solutions, such as improving language skills and understanding work visa requirements. Additionally, actively utilise resources, like your school's careers centre and participate in career fairs and seminars organised by your school. These are excellent opportunities to connect with employers and understand industry trends.

Finally, ensure that your resume and covering letter are tailored to the positions you're applying for, and actively build your network. For instance, through professional social platforms like LinkedIn. These can provide valuable information and potential internship opportunities.

Read my blog in Chinese

来自2+2 BSc Financial Computing 专业的李承轩，分享了他暑假期间在StoneX Group Inc公司的实习经历。

自我介绍：

大家好，我叫李承轩。我从西交利物浦大学的 2+2 项目转入利物浦大学，目前正在攻读金融计算专业的最后一年。

请跟大家分享一下你的实习经历以及你负责的工作？

在StoneX Group Inc.的实习期间，我担任的角色是信息技术治理、风险管理和合规（IT GRC）方面的工作。StoneX是一家金融服务公司，它包括商业对冲、全球支付、证券、等服务。我的主要职责是参与管理IT风险、防御网络安全威胁以及确保组织内部技术使用的合法性和合规性。通过这次实习，我不仅提高了自己在IT治理、风险和合规方面的专业技能，还学会了在一个快节奏、多元化的金融服务环境中有效沟通和协作。

请分享一下你实习的一天是怎样度过的？

在实习期间，我的日常工作安排结合了项目工作、培训和会议。由于我刚接触一个新的行业和领域，所以需要大量的培训和学习。我通常在早晨参与到项目工作中，在下午参加不同的培训课程，以及参与跨时区会议。

总的来说，我的实习生活是一个充满学习和挑战的过程。我不仅提高了自己在信息技术治理、风险管理和合规方面的专业技能，还学会了如何在一个多元化和跨文化的环境中有效沟通和协作。

你在这次实习中有哪些收获以及这对你申请研究生或事业规划有什么帮助？

我的实习经历在风险管理领域为我奠定了坚实的基础，同时让我积累了宝贵的实践经验。这段经历对于我申请研究生课程和未来的职业发展都至关重要。

对于申请研究生课程，这段经历提升了我的实际操作能力和理论知识。特别是在IT风险管理方面的经验，这些都会帮助我在未来的学习中深入探索相关领域。对于未来工作而言，这段经历不仅提升了我的技术技能，还增强了我的跨文化沟通和团队协作能力。在金融服务行业中，这些技能是非常受欢迎的。特别是在面对全球化的商业环境时，我在跨国公司的工作经验将是我职业生涯中的一大优势。

请给想要在英国找实习的2+2同学一些建议？

首先，提早申请是获取英国实习机会的关键。由于大公司和热门行业的实习岗位竞争激烈，提前规划和申请非常重要。强烈建议在学年开始就开始寻找实习机会，绝大部分公司会在头一年的秋天招聘第二年夏天的实习生。此外，保持耐心也非常重要。申请实习的过程可能既漫长又充满挑战，通常大家会需要申请多个职位，并经历多轮面试。在这个过程中，我们需要保持积极态度，不要因为初期的拒绝就轻易放弃。

其次，面对困难时不要害怕。在申请过程中，可能会遇到文化差异、语言障碍或工作许可等问题。面对这些挑战时，要保持决心，同时要寻找解决方案，如提高语言能力，了解工作签证的要求等。此外，积极利用资源，比如学校的职业服务中心，参加学校组织的招聘会和研讨会，这些是与雇主建立联系和了解行业趋势的绝佳机会。最后，确保简历和求职信都针对申请的职位进行了定制，并积极建立人际网络，比如通过LinkedIn等职业社交平台，这些都可以为你提供宝贵的信息和潜在的实习机会。