Training: One of the best things about Baillie Gifford is the amount of responsibility that new graduates are given from an early stage. Right from day one analysts get to contribute to research and debate within their small team. On the job training is therefore crucial and it's very reassuring to be able to turn to the person next to you, who can often have over 20 years' experience in the market, with a query. I found that my CFA training provided me with good theoretical backdrop to supplement my day-to-day learning. Day-to-day office life: Once you are given a sector to follow, you have quite a bit of freedom to go off and investigate an issue that intrigues you. This aspect of the job requires a good deal of self-motivation but is very rewarding. As you gain experience, you work out how to sift through vast amounts of information and pick up the key points. It's great how quickly you become the expert on something within your department! Every day really is different because there are so many different parts to the job: reading up on your sector; writing company notes; meeting companies and analysts; chasing up breaking news; and writing economic reviews. Edinburgh Social Scene: As the firm has grown, so has the social calendar. There are loads of fun events throughout the year which provide a great opportunity to get to know people from other departments. The civilised attitude to working hours means that you can really switch off and enjoy your evenings. It is so much easier to meet up with friends in Edinburgh compared to London. Positive Experiences: One of my highlights has to be travelling to Japan. It's really useful to meet the companies that you look at on their home turf and see what they are actually doing. I found spending two weeks immersed in such a different culture fascinating. The chance to go on an Outward Bound weekend is another great opportunity that Baillie Gifford provides. It's another good chance to meet new people from around the firm. Achievements: I was really pleased to complete my CFA examinations. It was hard work but it's great to have a globally recognised qualification.
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