Summer Intern Review

I enjoyed the internship very much. I got the chance to see almost all the teams within the division, and had the chance to interact with them too. It gave me a much better idea of how the organization on a whole works together to achieve a greater aim. The work assigned to me was very meaningful and required contemplation and use of skills and thought. It isn't purely excel work. I had many opportunities to shadow my line manager and received timely feedback on all my work.

My colleagues all took the time to explain concepts to me, and even stayed behind after work to discuss ways in which I can improve on my project. They expect a fair standard of work to be produced, but are willing to guide you to achieve the best outcome. I was able to contribute actively to my desk with the projects I worked on, as they have helped me to constructively build a tool that would enhance efficiency on the desk.

Every one on the desk is willing to extend help and advice, and is never too busy to give help. My managing director also took time out to point out ways in which I can tweak my project to make it more directly applicable to a certain part of the business. It was very constructive and he was patient enough to explain how exactly I could present the work. that said, they do not spoon feed, but will push me to ask questions and seek answers out.

I had daily and weekly tasks, which I do concurrently. It was not unmanageable, but required some tenacity and time management skills. I had time to do a daily commentary, sit in on daily meetings, shadow my line manager, work on daily tasks and do extensive research for the weekly task. It was a diverse mix of projects that contributed in different ways to my learning and understanding of the desk and business.

because interns were not licensed to liaise with clients directly, we did not deal actively in those confidential aspects of the business. however, I had many opportunities to offer help and contribute ideas. My manager checks my work but does not question my abilities or capacity to deliver a good piece of work. The responsibility gave me lots of ownership over my work and motivated me to do my best.

There are many nuances in the business that can only be discovered through hands on experience in this industry. this internship has broadened my horizons and dispelled any misconceptions I had about the nature of the work and the skills needed to do a good job. the training was relevant and has made me more precise in my thought and work action plans. the guidance I received was stellar, and it has definitely sharpened my intuition about the industry.

it was collaborative and full of positive energy. all the teams work together to come up with ideas. they listen to one another and are very open-minded. they are open to questions from interns and I never feel uncomfortable asking for help.

there was a good balance of meetings, daily tasks, trainings, talks, personal development workshops and discussions with other people in the business. I gained a well-rounded idea of how to contribute actively to the workplace, and felt well-equipped with the ability to tackle the challenges and tasks assigned to me.

we had very good motivational speakers, personal development workshops, excel trainings etc. we also got to use the Thomson Reuters Eikon app, which worked well enough for me. I had enough data to work with. I also felt more confident in facing obstacles and stepping up to tasks. the workshops also helped us with teamwork, networking and values. it was overall a really balanced program.

Apart from events beyond the reach of our control, everyone seemed keen on hiring interns and making sure that interns felt welcomed. they gave us meaningful work. the prospects seem bright as long as one works hard and shows enthusiasm. I feel in control of the way things are going, and that hard work pays off.

yes, we had intern drinks and networking events with other members of the organization. we also had meetings on a weekly basis that involved different people each time. this opened us up to many opportunities to meet people beyond the desk we were working on, and we were encouraged to speak to as many people as possible. there is also a female drinks event, which was specifically for women to find out how it is like working at UBS. that was very special and meaningful.

It is quite expensive because it is the City, but socialising is usually paid for by the company. Living around UBS can be quite expensive and the housing allowance was not really sufficient to cover costs for 9 weeks. From my understanding, other firms give up to twice the housing allowance that UBS provides. I think that can be an area of improvement. the food choice is also quite limited and can be rather overpriced.

it is near Shoreditch, so there are plenty of bars and restaurants that one can visit to socialise with other interns or people in the bank. it is very bustling and there is no lack of activities to do. despite the hustle and the bustle of the city, it feels safe and decent. I enjoy being in this location as there is a lot of positive energy from all around.

there are not many events organized outside of work, but there are lots of opportunities for interns to take the initiative to suggest activities. some of us watch the euro cup together after work. it was a good way to get to know each other better in other settings. I think UBS could have a company event on the weekend, as it would be a good way to enhance the culture.