Branching out and finding your fit in banking
Avni Arora’s co‑op journey reflects the power of exploration, embracing new roles across IT, banking and consulting to refine her interests and building a strong foundation in finance and analytics.
Avni Arora (she/her) is a fourth-year Mathematics student majoring in Mathematical Finance who highlights how branching out through networking and trying new roles helped her find opportunities while discovering her likes and dislikes.
Avni’s co-op journey
IT Co-op, Atlantic Packaging Products, Scarborough, ON
Avni was responsible for managing the company's database systems while debugging anything in the system that was technically incorrect. She also conducted company reports and made sure data was accurately recorded.
TDI Small Business Insurance Product Management Co-op, TD Bank, Toronto, ON
She played a key role in expanding TD’s presence in the small business insurance market. Avni contributed to data analytics concerning the market, reported on current statuses and performed a large amount of market research.
Wealth Pricing Co-op, TD Bank, Toronto, ON
Avni worked in the wealth management department where she set client fee rates based on portfolio size and complexity using data analytics to keep pricing competitive. She also streamlined manual processes by creating automated workflows, reducing tasks that took hours down to minutes.
Actuarial Intern, Milliman, Chicago, IL
While working in their Chicago office, Avni helped close deals by reviewing client portfolios, checking their risk levels and analyzing their current investments. She also put together client presentations, recommending ways to reduce risk and explore different investment options.
Q&A with Avni
What would you say has been the most rewarding thing about co-op?
“I think for me it's been having that opportunity to explore different things. I started in information technology (IT), little did I know I wouldn't actually enjoy this. I ended up going into banking and that led me to give consulting a try. I think having the opportunity to try different industries, get exposure to different things and figuring out where interests really lay is a useful aspect of the co-op program.”
“I know a lot of people stick to one thing once they have their first co-op and are not open or don’t want to explore different career paths. I would say for me personally, because I have tested a lot of new grounds, it has helped me figure out what I really want to do and what I don't want.”
“Some students are afraid to try different things, but I would say don't be afraid because this is the time to try everything you want. Since you're not fixated on something in your career yet and you're still learning and figuring yourself out, it’s the ideal time to explore different options. Don't be afraid to try new things!”
What sort of challenges did you face during your co-op terms?
"Picking up new skills on the job all the time. I had to learn what to do and pick up everything very quickly because none of my roles really aligned with one another.”
“Then, because I was still figuring things out and wasn't completely sure about what I wanted to do in my career, I intentionally took on new challenges to learn what best aligned with my skills and interests. This takes effort because you're trying to learn new things all the time and constantly adapt to new environments."
"You have to be quick with it because as soon as you're out of one job, you're looking for the next co-op. You have to be a fast learner to pick up the skills in a short period of time and be on the grind all the time, which I think is really rewarding, but also stressful at times.”
What advice would you give to a co-op student who wants to stand out during their job search?
“Networking is one of those things that I always hype up because it's difficult for somebody to figure out who you are as a person through a piece of paper. The feel someone gets from knowing you and getting to talk to you is quite different.”
“Waterloo is really good for networking opportunities in the sense that there is a club for everything and everyone. Go to any single one of those places and talk to people, learn about what they're doing, what steps they're taking in their career and see if they have any connections. There's always a way to figure things out around here! Go talk to people because you never know; one door could always open another.”
What would you say is the most interesting thing you've done while on a work term?
“Interns don’t usually get exposed to client meetings, so I specifically requested that this be something I get to experience which was really interesting. There was a project that I worked on that got taken to the client and I got to see first-hand how that was being translated in an impactful format.”
“Then, the clients naturally had a lot of questions and I learned that being ready to answer them is a big part of consulting. I saw that it's okay for people to say they don't know the answer, which I thought was really daunting at first. I never imagined going into a client meeting and saying, ‘oh, I don’t know what this is’. I know now that it's better than throwing any words around because, at the end of the day, you're working for them, so you don't want to say something and not be able to back it up.”
What influenced you to work abroad?
“I've always wanted to get exposure to working in the United States because I want to work long term in New York. I thought working in Chicago would be a good place to start because I've heard that New York can be overwhelming at first.”
“It was also nice to get exposure to working in a big city and getting used to being by myself in a new country. You learn how to be independent and get a feel for different work cultures and ways of working."
"It's good to have exposure to different work cultures because it helps you see what certain environments are like and if working elsewhere is a good fit for you. It helps you figure out if you're more efficient in a different setting and what kind of workplace suits you best.”
What’s next for you?
“I figured out now that I'm really interested in finance and want to keep my doors open for that. I currently have an internship offer from a finance team from a hedge fund, so that might be my next step. I figured out that I enjoy financial analysis, but also the aspect of communication and it seems like investment banking is one of those areas that allows you to do both. I’m going to try to pursue roles for that as I think it would be a good fit for me. Beyond that I plan to continue networking and building connections.”