Teach first, lead later.

Global financial services and England’s more challenging secondary schools may seem a world apart. But they’re closer than you think. And what you learn in one place will help you learn at the other. The Teach First program has been created to emphasize the similarities.

Although we’re proud to support it, Teach First isn’t a JPMorgan initiative. Teach First is a registered charity which has a very simple premise behind it: the country’s best graduates, before they start their chosen careers, spend two years teaching. It’s as simple as that.

But why should you even consider it? After all, two years is a long time when you’re eager to get started. Because you’ll learn and develop a whole range of skills that will prove invaluable to your long-term career. And the experiences you have and the relationships you forge will last a lifetime.

We’re not just talking about out-and-out leadership skills. After two years’ teaching children from challenging backgrounds, you’ll come out of it a much more mature person. You’ll be tougher, more confident and more resilient on one hand – and more willing to compromise and appreciate the value of taking risks than before. You’ll know when to step back, how to cope with pressure and appreciate the importance of a sense of humor. Plus, the more obvious benefits – if you can inspire a class of disengaged school children, you should be able to present to a room of important clients.

These are all vital skills to acquire. So how do you go about getting them? When you apply to JPMorgan, apply to Teach First at the same time. Then, provided you are accepted by both organizations, we’ll ask you to defer your entry to JPMorgan so that you can spend the next two years at a school in London, the Midlands or the North West.

So if you can help young people achieve their potential, they might help you achieve yours.
       
You can find more information at teachfirst.org.uk