‘I had nothing to lose’ – Graduate lands Howden role after street pitch

Howden has offered a three-month internship to graduate Alexander Mani after his unconventional job search using a sandwich board in the City caught the attention of brokers and underwriters.

On 5 August 2025, Mani took to the streets of London with a sign advertising his interest in insurance broking. He said the bold move came after months of “gruelling” application processes that repeatedly ended at the final stage.

“I’d seen someone do it a few years ago outside Canary Wharf and thought, you know what, this is a really good idea. I’ve got nothing to lose,” Mani told Insurance Times.

“As soon as I ordered the sandwich board, I knew there was no going back. I’d made the investment — it had to be used.”

Within hours, commuters and market professionals had started conversations with Mani, including one broker that offered him a tour of Lloyd’s of London. He recalled: “Everyone was so, so nice. A lot of people came up to me saying, ‘You’ve picked the exact right industry to do this, because insurance is so welcoming and sociable.’”

Very competitive hiring market

The initiative quickly gained traction on LinkedIn after industry figures shared his story, leading to interviews, media coverage and coffee meetings with brokers and insurers across the market.

“The main advice I got was just to keep going,” Mani explained. “A lot of people said, look, it’s not your fault — grads everywhere are struggling to find jobs. The hiring market is really competitive right now.”

Howden confirmed Mani will spend the first part of his internship with its capital, advisory and placement team before joining the broker’s global specialty division.

Gigi G, talent acquisition lead for specialty at Howden, described the arrangement as a “fantastic example of how we can make a real difference by opening doors and creating opportunities for emerging talent.”

Mani said the experience has cemented his ambition to remain in the sector long-term. “In five years’ time, I can still definitely imagine myself in insurance. I can’t really see myself anywhere else, to be honest.”