Getting exposure as a management trainee at American Express -By Sophia Dhawan from FMS Delhi

My first interaction with American Express was through a corporate competition they had introduced before summers. It was a business simulation that we had all found really interesting and had also had a great experience participating in. It was then, during their pre-placement talk, that I got to know more about the company, their vision and value, how different they are from their competitors. This was enlightening, not just from the perspective of the various roles they were offering, but also in terms of how I saw myself align with the culture of American Express. I think that talk changed my entire perspective of the company entirely which later helped me join American Express as a Management Trainee.

My initial instincts

I come from a computer science background and during my undergrad, I had a particular interest in data mining, analytics and decision sciences. I always knew I wanted to work in a role which allowed me to play with data in order to extract tangible results and with the growing importance of this field, it was just the right fit. American Express presented the perfect opportunity for me.

Through some wonderful interactions with a few Amex employees, It was clear to me that the company offered a very unique balance between professional challenges and personal freedom. This opportunity of joining American Express as a Management Trainee was just too enticing to give up.

The selection process and the moment of truth

The process consisted of a case-based group discussion and a set of interviews. The interviewers asked questions about my interests as well as some based on logical reasoning. There was also a discussion about my short and long term goals. Overall, it was a smooth and comfortable experience that I enjoyed.

I was very jubilant and excited to have bagged a place as a Management Trainee at American Express. It was the validation of a lot of hard work and gave me a sense of pride.

My first day and the induction program

I had heard high praises about American Express offices and how good their orientation program is. Unfortunately, this year I couldn't visit the offices and we were on-boarded virtually. I have to admit, Amex and people at Amex made the best out of the situation.

On the first day, we got introduced to our team members and took care of a few formalities. We were given a 'Boarding pass' that chalked out our plan for the next few months. The onboarding experience really helped me ease into the organization and cushioned the disappointment of not being there physically.

Opportunities at American Express

The possibilities here at American Express are innumerable! Broadly, there is the Credit team and the Fraud team, where every function is further classified into strategy and modelling. The other arm of AmEx is the Enterprise Digital Analytics team. I'm a part of the New Accounts Acquisition team (CFR) and apart from working on various projects for my own team, I also got an opportunity to work with the Global Customer Analysis and Data Science team from the EDA department.

We are also given an option to switch teams time and again.

My growth

I started working with some international markets like Australia and Hong Kong, and now I'll be working with the Indian market. This has helped me understand market-level economics and gain deeper insight into the business impact of the strategic decisions we make from our end.

The work culture

The company culture is the best thing about being a part of AmEx. I have been working from home since April now but that hasn't impacted my 'integration' at all. I have flexible hours which help me manage my work schedule and take up some chores at home. My manager and senior leadership put heavy emphasis on a healthy work environment and make great work culture as their top priority.

I have not once worked out of office hours or worked over a weekend. My team is very cooperative as well. They make sure if I'm working on something, I understand the business context of the project and the concepts involved. This helps me visualize the impact of my work and allows me to be more productive. I generally have a lot of questions and I've seen my manager go the extra mile to clarify them.

Our team has scheduled a chit chat session over a cup of tea every other day. That's like the highlight of my day which brings a lot of positivity in all the members of the team.

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Sophia Dhawan - FMS Delhi

(Batch of 2018-2020)

Born and brought up in Chandigarh, she is an outgoing person, always ready to take on a challenge which involves putting together an event! She loves turning situations into caricatures and some of them have featured in magazines, newsletters and even AD campaigns!