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What is the most important factor when applying for graduate as well as temping jobs in the City? In addition, could you please advise me on where to get professional help with my CV? Mohamed

Clare Harris replies: Much depends on the exact nature of the jobs you are applying for. Demonstrating that you are good at attention to detail if the job entails dealing with complex written or figure work will be important. Enthusiasm and understanding of the content of the work you are applying for, motivation for doing your best and good written and oral communication will also carry you a long way. My advice is to research the jobs well to distil exactly what is involved. Ask yourself what skills are needed to do the work and then think of examples that you can give that demonstrate times when you have utilised these skills. You should be able to think of around five core skills for the work and five examples from your past experience. You can generally get the best (free) CV advice from your university careers service. Many careers services will still see their alumni after they have left university, so it is certainly worth checking with them first. Many careers services produce helpful CV booklets which can be accessed online.

Hi Polly, loved Golden Handcuffs and although it depicted the City as being a testosterone-filled bear pit I still wish to be a part of it! I am 17 and am in my first year of A levels. I have a strong academic record and am head boy of my school. Iaim to study engineering at university. I am just slightly concerned by the stereotypical image of bankers in the City. The majority seems to be from a certain ethnic persuasion, ie, white. As a young black man will I find it difficult to integrate? Also, what inside tips (if any) would you be able to give me which will enable me to edge ahead of the competition so early on? S.Lewis

Polly Courtney replies: Hi S, I am glad you enjoyed reading Golden Handcuffs. When I wrote it, it was largely with people like you in mind: people considering a career in the City who want to know what it’s really like. It is fictional, but I deliberately kept it as true to my own experiences as possible. At times, I suppose it really did feel as though I was working in a "testosterone-filled bear pit". If you are wavering over whether or not to try the Square Mile (or to try anything, in fact), my advice would be: go for it. If you don’t, you may spend the rest of your life thinking "I wonder if I should have tried…", which is what too many people end up doing. But don’t go into it with your eyes shut. As a young female investment banker, I did experience sexism – not blatant bigotry but more a gentle undermining of my capabilities – and yes, white alpha males were certainly the dominant species among my colleagues. But things are changing, slowly. Every year, the number of minority recruits edges up, and I hope it is true to say that in the City, no one is judged on the colour of their skin. The Square Mile is not right for everyone, however. Racism aside, it is a very intense place to work. The six-figure salaries and prestigious titles don’t come for free, and as you’ve probably gathered from reading Golden Handcuffs, many junior investment bankers end up sacrificing their free time, their happiness and their health for the sake of their jobs. But the important thing is to know all this when you apply. As for tips to help you get ahead, I can only advise you to keep a good supply of Pro-Plus in your top drawer. As a junior banker, it's almost impossible to differentiate yourself from your peers. That, after all, is what all your peers are trying to do too, and that’s why City firms get so much out of their young employees.

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