The Halcyon Launchpad Series: Raj, G12

Welcome to The Halcyon Launchpad Series! 

We sat down with three of our students who have officially secured exciting professional opportunities starting in the coming months. While their career paths vary—spanning economics, technology, and journalism—each student shared a common drive to turn their academic passions into real-world impact.

Today, we are kicking things off by highlighting Grade 12 student Raj, who was recently offered a prestigious degree apprenticeship with Barclays.

When asked about the beginning stages of the application process, Raj shared that he built a strong foundation by ensuring his CV and cover letter were tailored specifically to each position. His strategy differed slightly from his peers; he submitted his application the moment the window opened. Raj was prompted to take three different assessments: numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, and then finally a values-based test. These were scored based on both speed and accuracy. For Raj, who enjoys maths, his numerical reasoning test was easiest for him. He also emphasised that while the numerical and verbal tests are critical, it’s crucial not to underestimate the importance of the values-based assessment. For the role he was offered at Barclay’s, demonstrating alignment with corporate values, like resilience, was vital.

When asked what he is most excited and nervous for, Raj expressed excitement for the opportunity to work in an impact-driven role that directly engages with and affects customers. He is also looking forward to using new technologies and learning how businesses can shift to become more effective and efficient. Ultimately, as he navigates this transitional phase, Raj is looking forward to learning the professional skills required for the workplace and the technical knowledge necessary to build strong commercial awareness in the banking industry.

As for his nerves, he noted that adapting to an office environment will be a significant transition from high school. However, Raj is confident that these nerves will fuel his motivation to prepare over the coming months, whether that involves taking courses on new technologies or staying keyed into market news.

Reflecting on his four years at Halcyon, he feels that the school community helped him develop resilience. Throughout the application process, he faced rejection from various companies, but the skillset and confidence he built at school helped him push through. Raj also highlighted how Halcyon’s Model UN, Debate Day, and starting the economics society on campus strengthened his communication skills, which he knows will serve him in this role and beyond.

As for parting advice to other students interested in this career path, Raj encourages them to keep applying! He noted that while university applications often focus on just a few choices, the job market requires applying to a wide range of companies and remaining resilient in the face of rejection. Raj expressed that people shouldn’t hesitate to connect with others and try to learn as much as they can from their experiences. 

Wishing Raj the best of luck in his apprenticeship!