Spring Week Attendee Review

I truly enjoyed the Spring Week in Investment Banking & Risk at the J.P. Morgan. The programme was very well structured and even if intense, time really flew as presentations and activities were really interesting and easy to follow. Social events at the beginning of the week, especially on the first day, really helped all of the interns settling in and relaxing, creating the right background for learning and a positive atmosphere that lasted for the whole day. The insight was informative, fun and intense, leaving us with the impression that every minute of it was really well invested.

I really fell valued by J.P. Morgan throughout the spring week, right from the weeks before coming when the firm showed to be very accommodating with the logistic arrangements. It was clear that the firm values its interns and truly consider this insight as a platform for finding early talent. Putting aside all of the investments they had done on us, from refreshments to social events and gadgets, what was more impressive was the feeling that employees, even senior ones, really were interested about you and willing to spend time talking with you and help you find your way into a career in banking.

There was a fair amount of guidance during the insight. Firstly, the programme was really structured, so there was not much time for walking around or feeling lost. Every member of Human Resources and the employees involved in the activities were really willing to help and answer even the most basic questions. Most importantly, every team of interns was allocated an employee as personal mentor that helped a lot with some of the tasks we were assigned and was ready to answer any of our questions.

Some of the skills developed on the insight will be valuable assets at university. For example, we were given a lot of tips on how to be an effective, confident presenter, which may prove very useful when approaching assignments and group tasks. Also, with some activities requiring people to step up of their comfort zone, you could see how many interns became much more confident by the end of the week. Most importantly, I would say the most important intake of this internship was commercial awareness and understanding of J.P. Morgan and Investment Banking. We now all have a very good general picture of what the industry looks like, what makes J.P. Morgan stand out, and we also have acquired some technical skills for financial analysis through some interactive workshops and group works.

The insight was very well structured. Comparing it to other spring weeks, J.P. Morgan Spring Week had a dense schedule, with lots of different activities sometimes extending until the evening. I personally feel that this is positive, as every minute of the Spring Week was well invested and it was very difficult to “get lost“ and lose focus. On the other hand, some people feel like some more free time for wandering about and meeting employees independently/spend time with other interns. Overall, I think lot of effort was put into the organisation of the week and every part of the day had been designed with care.

The atmosphere was definitely the best part about the Spring Week. I think that many interns started the week as nervous as they were excited. This was the first step into investment banking for many, and a big chance of kick-starting your career. This could have led people to be nervous, very self-conscious and competitive, but this wasn’t the case. The layout of the week allowed people to bond, have fun and relax on the first day, which created a positive atmosphere that lasted for the whole week. Therefore, most people were at their ease and not afraid of asking questions/expressing their opinion. J.P. Morgan’s culture seems to be very collaborative and supportive and this somehow reflected on the atmosphere at the Spring Week.

As mentioned before, the firm invested a lot in training, both in terms of skills-development and financial knowledge. Presenting and public speaking were particularly important during the programme, we were given a lot of tips on how to be a good presenter and had a chance to apply them when presenting in front of our fellow interns as well as some senior employees. On the commercial awareness side, a case study provided the right tool for learning a lot about what an investment banker daily work looks like, as well as how to carry out some simple company valuation.

The insight made us understand what J.P. Morgan employees are expected to in different divisions, what skills are required, and what tasks are performed on the job. It was a very good insight for a week long programme, however a summer internship is probably fundamental for getting a better idea of what the commitment levels and tasks of the job are like.

It helped a lot. Before the spring week it was hard to think of “culture” as a concrete concept, it was pretty much abstract and I struggled to understand the differences between similar firms. It was hard to find people that were not very friendly and polite, instead of being much more senior. After a week spent at J.P. Morgan, I think I really have a good understanding of its culture, which is very supportive, focused on team-work and commited to excellence and respect of fellow employees and clients. than you.

I would definitely recommend this insight to a friend. I think J.P. Morgan’s Spring Week is particularly well-suited for people that already have an idea of the business line they would like to work for and want to have a more in-depth overview rather than a very broad presentation of the industry and firm. Furthermore, I believe that few firms value Spring Weeks as much as J.P. Morgan, and can offer you as good tools for developing your skills and knowledge of the industry.