Chaudhry on his traineeship at ABN AMRO
When Chaudhry started searching for his first “grown-up job,” he knew it wouldn’t be easy, but he didn’t expect it to be this hard. Despite his background in finance, breaking into the banking sector felt almost impossible. How did Chaudhry turn things around, land a role at ABN AMRO, and gain the skills, confidence, and support needed to thrive in his new career? He tells you all about it! 👇
The perfect timing
Chaudhry’s journey with Solid Professionals began unexpectedly. “I first tried to reach out to various companies in finance on my own, but I didn’t get the responses I was hoping for. I didn’t have the needed network in the Netherlands,” he recalls.
It wasn’t until a friend who had recently secured a job through Solid Professionals recommended him, that things started to change. “My friend shared my CV with Solid Professionals, and that’s when things started moving.”
An opportunity at ABN AMRO
From there, everything happened quickly. “Within two weeks, I went through the interviews and received a job offer for process and project enabler at ABN AMRO. At that point, I was out of the country, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. I came back for the job, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made,” Chaudhry says.
With his new role secured, Chaudhry began his career at ABN AMRO. This position challenged him to navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance and project management.
“My job involves implementing new regulations, specifically for the Sustainable Financial Regulations project, which includes about 21 new regulations. It’s a lot of analyzing complex information and ensuring it’s correctly applied,” he explains.
A love for numbers
Chaudhry’s strong foundation in finance began with a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Media Studies, followed by a Master’s in Business Analysis and Strategic Management from the University of Manchester.
“My Master’s focused on management consultancy and strategic planning,” he says, which fueled his passion for numbers and problem-solving.
His love for math started young: “Numbers always made sense to me,” he recalls. A childhood visit to a stock exchange cemented his desire for a career in finance. This early passion for numbers has driven his success in roles involving financial analysis and strategic thinking.
“I was unfamiliar with the internal workings of a bank, but the traineeship helped me step back and understand how it all functions."
Navigating a new role
Working in the change department of the risk division, Chaudhry quickly encountered a steep learning curve. “I had a solid understanding of finance,” he acknowledges, “but I was unfamiliar with the internal workings of a bank. Before this, my only exposure to banks was as a customer on the other side of the counter!
The traineeship was incredibly helpful because it gave me the chance to step back and really understand how the bank functions. The informative trainings at Solid Professionals helped me understand the overall workflow and the minds behind the operations. I can imagine it would be much harder to figure this out on your own.”
Chaudhry is grateful for his team at the bank, which he describes as diverse, international, and welcoming. “They have been generous in sharing their knowledge and are fantastic colleagues. Even though I’m the youngest on the team, I’m having a great time and learning a lot from them and their feedback,” Chaudhry adds. “I feel like I found like-minded people who share my passion and think the same way I do, which is great and makes me happy.”
“With Solid Professionals, you’re not a CV or a piece of paper, they understand you and care about your personal growth.”
Support makes a difference
A key part of Chaudhry’s positive experience with us has been the ongoing support he received. “I had monthly meetings with my Talent Manager, Sophie, who was always there to guide me,” he shares. “Even during emergencies, like when I got stuck in Morocco during the earthquake, they reached out to ensure I was safe. It really showed me they care about their employees beyond just work.”
The support extended beyond just check-ins. “Sophie helped me understand the Dutch working culture and even how to communicate better. I learned to tone down my emails and be more considerate, which was a big change from the direct style I was used to. With Solid Professionals, you’re not a CV or a piece of paper, they understand you and care about you.”
Die ondersteuning ging verder dan alleen af en toe een check-in. “Sophie hielp me de Nederlandse werkcultuur beter te begrijpen en hoe ik mijn communicatie kon verbeteren. Ik leerde bijvoorbeeld om mijn e-mails wat vriendelijker te maken en hoe ik beter kan samenwerken, wat een grote verandering was vergeleken met de directe communicatiestijl die ik gewend was. Bij Solid Professionals ben je geen cv of een stukje papier; ze snappen wie je bent en geven echt om je.”
Growth through targeted training
Chaudhry credits much of his professional growth to the targeted training provided by Solid Professionals. “The MBTI training helped me understand different personality traits, which improved my stakeholder management skills. The Mental Resilience training was crucial for maintaining my mental health in a challenging environment. But the Secure Base training was the most important for me,” he reflects. “It helped me establish a sense of security and belonging in a new professional environment.”
These trainings not only helped Chaudhry grow professionally but also personally. “They gave me tools to understand people better and adapt my communication style, which is vital when dealing with different stakeholders.”
The value of a diverse peer group
The value of a diverse peer group
During his traineeship, Chaudhry had the opportunity to work with a diverse, international group of peers. “It was great to collaborate with people from different parts of Europe and the world,” he says. “It enriched my experience and gave me new perspectives. I learned so much from my colleagues, not just about the work we were doing but also about how different cultural backgrounds can shape approaches to problem-solving and teamwork.”
Looking ahead
Looking to the future, Chaudhry is focused on growth within the banking sector. “My goal is to excel and climb the leadership ladder as much as possible,” he shares. “But I also believe in focusing on day-to-day tasks and trusting the process. If you keep your head down and work hard, the results will come. Rome wasn’t built in a day either.”
Reflecting on his journey over the past year, Chaudhry sees significant personal and professional growth. “I’ve learned so much about the banking sector, but more importantly, about myself. I’ve become better at expressing myself and navigating challenges. I can’t wait to see where I’ll be next year!”
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