Could you run us through a realistic and unfiltered day in the life of an investor?

You were studying for a double degree in electrical engineering and business, what ultimately compelled you to view a career in investments as the right one for you?

To me, these degrees are highly complementary. Engineering trains you to get into the weeds and trains your problem-solving thought processes. On the flipside, business offers valuable business concepts that help you understand what makes a good business and trains your thinking around bigger picture issues of an industry or company. Together, these skill sets are very relevant for a role in investing. My first 2 years in university were exploratory, and I had not set my sights fully on a career in finance.

What eventually drew me to this career path is the fine balance between breadth and depth in terms of the industry knowledge and technical skills required for the job. The exit options that finance offered is also something I greatly valued, as I wanted to position myself for the many interesting career paths that may come my way. This led me to my internship with Deloitte, where I worked with the M&A Transaction Services team which piqued my interest around how businesses are valued, and the motivations behind certain investments. It was intellectually stimulating, and that propelled me to explore internships on the buy-side instead, which finally culminated in me taking on a full-time role as an associate at Temasek.

How did you secure internships in Deloitte as an M&A intern and subsequently a role in Temasek where you currently are working as an Investment Associate? What do these companies look out for in the recruitment process?

I would say expressing genuine curiosity and interest around the role I applied for and in general the nature of work that I expect to be doing. Being able to ask thought-provoking questions goes a long way in telling the interviewer that you have done your work and that you are genuinely interested in the role. Being able to offer insights and logical conclusions is also something that recruiters highly value.

Coming into Temasek after 2 internships with Deloitte, there were definitely some expectations around my knowledge of finance. It was important to display a logical thought process and be able to articulate views around certain investments. One should also be able to articulate what experience and knowledge they have accumulated from past internships.

What advice do you have for undergraduates seeking a career in investments? What didn’t you know before you got into this industry that you wish someone had told you? What would be a good way to start?

It helps to have a related corporate finance or investment internship in the summer prior, however, I would not say it is always necessary. If you are able to display genuine interest or curiosity around investing, that would still make you an attractive candidate. It is normal to be uncertain about your interests at the beginning, but the key is to develop and build that interest over time. It also helps to spend time reading up on investment-related news and discussing this with peers – why you think certain investments may be good or bad etc. These discussions serve as good practice for your future interviews and is also a great way to build your network of peers who are pursuing similar interests – this goes a long way in knowledge sharing and even career opportunities in future.

If you have bandwidth, you could also start learning financial modelling during your free time or through various online courses and university interest groups. This would give you a head start on the technical skills that are required for an investment role.

Ultimately, I believe that being a genuine person and always adopting a positive learning attitude will set you up well for any career you wish to pursue! 

Key to Success: "It is normal to be uncertain about your interests at the beginning, but the key is to develop and build that interest over time.”

Interviewer/Editor/Writer: Matthew Thia, NUS BBA Year 2 and Alicia Teo, NUS BBA Year 3