Yue Yin

Assistant Manager, Commodity Futures Agency

Tell us about your current job. Describe what you do on a typical day. 

I currently work in a well-known organisation in the futures and derivatives market. My main role is to closely monitor market risks of some commodity futures such as aluminium, and promote futures markets to attract more industry investors. What I usually do at work is data analysing, programming, sometimes planning roadshows and writing all sorts of reports. 

What were the best things about your course?

You are fully supported in terms of academic study, extracurricular activities and your life in Birmingham. If you have any sorts of issue in your study, whether you have some assignment questions, or you feel that some parts of your course could be improved, you are free to talk to student representatives, the lecturers and senior staff.

My course, Mathematical Finance, was very well-structured. If you think carefully about your choices of selective modules, those important skills, methodologies and ways of preparing for a job in the finance industry are covered. 

What skills from your degree do you think you use most in your current job?

Programming skills,  logic and creative thinking, and attention to detail. A solid background of mathematics and statistics is your foundation to a career in finance.

What are your top tips for securing a job in the United Kingdom or your home country?

Make good use of your time from your first day in the University. Think what you should do during your time in the University to make you more competitive. Then develop a plan of what you could do academically, such as making a wise choice of your selective modules, and what you could do in your leisure time, for example, improving your language abilities, volunteering in the Guild, and taking internships. If you are still confused, have a talk with your lecturers and Careers Network team.

Be brave and confident to explore all those opportunities mentioned above, such as taking part in a competition or designing your own event. Yes, you may fail at times, and I personally didn’t succeed every single time. But the experience of trying something is the process that makes you stronger. Doing nothing is leading you to nothing. Imagine that you are in an interview, and the interviewer asks what you did during your studies, and you have a lot to share. That will make you stand out. Because the employer cares more about whether you can be productive and solve real life problems, than just your ability to pass an exam.

Remember to take a break sometimes and relax yourself. Don’t stress out. Being happy and healthy is your top priority. 

How has your career developed since graduating from the University of Birmingham? Did you need to take additional training on top of your degree? 

It's only the first year of my career, but it has gone well so far. Additional training on top of my degree is needed, because whilst the degree did cover the futures and derivatives market in terms of the mathematics behind it, the trading logic and economic intuition is not explained in depth. However, the ability to learn new knowledge fast, developed throughout my degree, has been a great help.

What are your fondest memories of the University and what would you say to anyone currently considering studying at Birmingham?

Delivering a speech as student representative in the graduation ceremony. That is my fondest memory. When I entered the Great Hall and looked down from the stage, that was truly something different! When I finished my speech and walked off the stage, welcomed by a thunder of applause, this is the most beautiful memory and I will never forget it.

Making my own table tennis event. We had around 30-40 students and lecturers getting engaged in this event. It was nice to see people have a good time in an event crafted by myself and the Guild of Students.

What were your favourite things about Birmingham the city? How did it compare to your expectations?

Life is usually quiet and affordable. I spent couple of years in London before I went to Birmingham. Life in London is getting increasingly unaffordable! If you want to visit London for fun, it does not take too long on the train from Birmingham New Street.

What extracurricular activities did you get involved in as a student? 

There are countless opportunities for extracurricular activities, including all sorts of sports, student groups, events and competitions. Feel free to explore them or maybe you can craft your own event. 

Please tell us about your experience studying and living away from home.

To be honest, studying and living away from home could be difficult. I spent most of my time in London during the pandemic, fully disconnected from a social life due to social distancing policies, fully away from home as there were almost no flights to anywhere around the world. With pressure of academic study added on, yes, life could be very difficult. But that is also the fascinating part of studying and living away from home. Yes, it could be unhappy, stressful, full of all sorts of miseries, and yet the joy or happiness might be so little compared to them. But where does joy come from if there’s no sense of frustration? It is the departure of family and friends that make the reunion joyful. It is the pressure and negative issues that make me grow up as an independent individual, that make me truly feel the peace and relief after overcoming them and the next time facing them.

Studying and living away from home gives you a chance to feel who you really are and who you really want to be. Only by yourself can you taste the sweet and sour of living in a completely different society. And if you do have issues with studying in a foreign environment, being away from home, or any other mental health issues, the Wellbeing team are there to support you.

Why did you originally apply to Birmingham?

To be honest, I wanted to explore a new environment. I thought I had enough of living in London. Then I visited a couple of universities such as Warwick and Manchester. But the campus and overall life quality in Birmingham impressed me, so I decided to apply to Birmingham.