Isobel:
I'm Isobel Foley, I'm 19 and I'm an apprentice at J.P. Morgan, based in the heart of Canary Wharf, London.
I remember my first day at JPM, I was very nervous, but also really, really excited. In joining as an apprentice, you are not alone. There's 20 other people who are also having their first day, which is a great support system. Once inside, I was greeted by my buddy, which immediately made me feel more at ease.
Kieran:
Hi, I'm Kieran, I'm your apprentice buddy, nice to meet you.
Isobel:
Nice to meet you, I'm Isobel.
Kieran:
Please, follow me.
Isobel:
I'll speak to you more about the buddy apprenticeship later.
I sit on a trading floor with around 200 other people who work in FX, commodities and technology.
The J.P. Morgan apprenticeship scheme is ideal for those who are interested in a career in financial services and who want to work towards getting a degree. The fact that I get to earn without building up any student debt meant that this was an easy choice for me.
Co-worker:
Hi, Isobel, welcome to the team.
Isobel:
My team were really friendly and got me involved straightaway. I was surprised by how much responsibility was given to me as an apprentice.
The training that I was given was very thorough. I work in an FX and commodities e-client service role. We work very closely with our sales team to ensure that the client experience with J.P. Morgan runs as seamlessly as possible.
You get one allocated study day each week to work towards your qualification, as well as always time to meet your buddy.
Every J.P. Morgan apprentice is allocated a buddy. This is someone who's been through the program, and can act as your support system, and they can offer you guidance with both your career, and the study aspects of the apprenticeship.
And on the first day you get to have a tour of the building. There's a restaurant, a gym for those who do, and a sweet shop for those who don't and also a medical center, just in case, and there's a coffee shop with great views, where you can catch up with all your friends.
So that was pretty much my first day. I hope that this gave you an insight into what a J.P. Morgan apprenticeship might be like. And you never know, maybe one day, it could be you introducing a new apprentice as a buddy.
Mariam:
Hi, I'm Mariam and I'm the new apprentice.
Isobel:
Nice to meet you, I'm Isobel, I'll be your buddy. Welcome to J.P. Morgan