Spring Insight Intern Review

Very much so. The content of the week was very interesting and informative. The HR team who organised and ran the week were very friendly and helpful, answering any questions that we had and keeping us busy. There were lots of opportunities to meet bankers - including analysts and directors. The talks and seminars that we received were pitched to the right level and all of the speakers took time to answer questions and give insight into their backgrounds. A challenge was set for the final day - this was enjoyable, challenging, and very rewarding.

A great deal. The HR team had gone to considerable efforts to make the week as useful and enjoyable for us as possible. Right from the start we were provided with itineraries and notes, making us feel like a real effort was being made for us. The bankers at Rothschild were all very keen to talk to us and make time for us. Two shadowing sessions were really helpful and every analyst I met was happy to take some time to chat about what they did and where they came from. Meeting with the directors was worthwhile and it was a nice gesture that they took time out of their day to spend with us. At the challenge presentations which we delivered on the Friday, a panel of about 10 senior bankers listened and questioned us. This made the task feel worthwhile and I appreciated the fact that they wanted to listen and engage with us.

A lot. The HR team were on hand at every moment of the week, either facilitating the day's activities or just chatting and answering questions. There were a number of presentations from bankers on a range of topics about finance or M&A. A number of presentations were also dedicated to interview skills and what we could do to boost our future applications. Everyone to gave a presentation took some time to answer questions and steer us towards where we could learn more from. All of the bankers that we met really engaged with us, told us a lot about their backgrounds, and gave us ideas on how to proceed after the spring week.

Not studying for a finance related degree, a lot of the content from the presentations were not relevant to my degree. Perhaps the most useful part of the week in this respect was the presentation skills workshop. An external trainer came in and gave us a 3 hour session on how to improve our presentational skills. This was hugely worthwhile. I had previously considered this a strong point of mine, and it was very helpful to see where to improve and learn some tips for how to deliver a more engaging and smooth presentation.

Very. As mentioned, an itinerary was provided at the start and I immediately saw that the week was going to be busy. Activities were organised for every day - there wasn't a moment from 9-5 where we were left wanting for something to do.

Excellent. The HR team were very welcoming and made a real effort to get to know us over the course of the week. Every day they were there to meet us and stayed with us throughout the day. During a morning volunteering session we got to spend some time having fun and getting to know each better. The other participants in the programme were also great. I didn't meet anyone that I felt unsure about, and I think this is testament to Rothschild's recruitment. As someone with no finance background, I was nervous about how I would feel, but everyone else on the programme was so friendly. As for the bank itself, the atmosphere is great. As mentioned, everyone that we met made an effort with us, which made the week that bit more enjoyable. Even in the lifts, people made an effort to ask what we were doing and how we were finding the lift. All of the analysts and directors that we met seemed genuinely happy for us to be there and they were enthusiastic about spending time with us.

A lot. From the start of the week we were given presentations about banking. These were not so much "this is what we do" presentations, but more case studies and examples of their current work and the processes and thought that goes into what is done at Rothschild. The presentation skills workshop was perhaps the most useful part of the week in terms of training. The facilitator for this was excellent and he made a real effort to help us in presenting. The techniques that we were taught were so helpful and I will use them throughout my degree and career. We each had to give a presentation, were filmed, and then this as played back. While an uncomfortable experience at the start, no one laughed or was made to feel silly. Instead, it was an excellent opportunity to learn from each others mistakes and by the end everyone felt much more comfortable with presenting. The challenge that was set was very useful. At the end of the week we had to present our work to senior bankers and take 10 minutes questions. We were provided with opportunities to work on our presentations throughout the week. Some of the presentations that we received were geared towards how to do our own presentations and any bankers we met were happy to give their thoughts on what we were doing.

A good understanding. The best way to understand what life would be like was through talking to analysts. They were very realistic about what the job entailed and gave us a really good insight into their lives and what they thought of life at Rothschild. They also answered any questions that we asked, no matter how trivial they seemed. The lunch with senior bankers was useful in hearing about what would be asked of us in the start of our careers, and what would change throughout our careers. It was worthwhile to hear from them how the job changes with progression through the bank and also about the opportunities that there are within Rothschild. I was interested to hear that there was the opportunity to move between sectors in M&A to gain a broader exposure or to work on something that interested us. It was also good to hear about the work that the bank does from day to day and that were we to join, we would have immediate exposure to a huge number of deals made each year.

Many. On the first day we had lunch with a number of analysts. They were all very friendly and curious about who were were, where we came from, and what we studied. Each one was happy to take a whole range of questions from us and gave us the realities of the job and what it entailed. We had two showing sessions with analysts for a few hours at a time. Each analyst got to know us at the start and then took us around their department, showed us what they were working on, and introduced us to their colleagues. Everyone that I met was happy to exchange contact details and help or answer questions in the future. The lunch with the directors was an excellent opportunity to get some exposure to senior bankers. I was apprehensive about this, but each director that I met was perfectly friendly and helpful, giving career advice and detailing how they progressed through their careers.

Without a doubt. The organisation and effort that was put into the week was excellent. The activities and opportunities that the week provided were second to none. Everyone at Rothschild is friendly and happy to help. There were many opportunities to learn more about a career in banking and while many of the presentations were geared towards M&A, other department also had a chance to present to us and give an insight into their work. Rothschild also very kindly paid for my travel and accommodation. I would not have been able to take part in the week if they had not done this, so I was very grateful to them The application process for the week was challenging, but during it I was put t ease by the HR team and the interviewers.