Carly photo

Carly

  • University: University of Leeds
  • Degree: BA French and Maths
  • Year of internship: 2008
  • Stream Joined: Actuarial Consulting – Pensions Summer Internship

Why did you join Aon?

I liked Aon’s way of working. There was a visible bond and feeling of mutual support between colleagues and managers. I think it’s important to have the right balance between working hard for success and having a good relationship with colleagues. Aon encourages this working environment.

What did a typical day involve for you?

My 10-week summer internship was spent in the Actuarial team in Birmingham, the summer before my graduation. I took on the role of a new graduate recruit, which meant completing a variety of tasks. These included both calculations such as transfer values and consultancy-related work such as writing and amending reports for clients. I also attended a Trustees’ meeting, and was involved in all stages of the meeting process, including agenda preparation and follow-up work.

My internship gave me a tremendous grounding in the pensions industry. For example, I worked on the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) assessment period, and I learned about how the PPF works and the tasks required before it can accept a pension scheme. It really put into context what I’d previously found out about actuarial work. It was also useful speaking to students who were taking exams, to find out more about both the study package offered by Aon and how they managed the work-study-life balance. I enjoyed my internship so much I applied to the Graduate Programme and am now a full-time Actuarial Associate Consultant.

Neil photo

Neil

  • University: Imperial College, London
  • Degree: Chemical Engineering
  • Year of internship: 2010
  • Stream Joined: Investment Consulting – Pensions Summer Internship

Why did you join Aon?

It’s difficult to know where to start! I’ve massively improved my understanding of the various investment assets and instruments, the economic and business environment, what makes a good investment strategy, the importance of the client relationship... and much more. That’s what comes when you spend a few weeks with a company that has such a breadth of exposure across countries and industries.

What does a typical day involve for you?

I mainly assist Analysts and Consultants in putting together Quarterly Monitoring reports and strategy reports, although I have been involved in quite novel pieces of work. If you show you’re willing to learn, people will go out of their way to share their knowledge. There are training workshops to complement your practical experience.