Sales and Trading Summer Analyst Review

The internship was enjoyable with my colleagues being a particular highlight. I was fortunate enough to develop a strong relationship with my team which allowed a two-way relationship to develop whereby I learned a lot from them, but I was also able to add value and engage with the team as if I was employed full time.

Very much so. I was in a fortunate position to be given work which could add genuine value to the team if properly executed. This meant that I was able to work with my colleagues on an individual basis and develop strong and hopefully lasting relationships. They also always had a lot of time for me to answer my questions and explain concepts and ideas.

My team were very supportive and my line manager was always willing to answer questions. I was also given a lot of independence and room to develop projects as I saw fit, which gave me the opportunity to prove my worth. Thus, the balance of support and independence was spot on

There were days where I had to manufacture work out of thin air, mostly in the first few weeks. But after a few weeks, when I had settled in and earned the trust of the team, there was always work to do. However I was rarely overloaded with work. The team used my judgement.

A lot. Everything I could legally do, I was allowed to. I was given plenty of projects and opportunities to add value to the team. It is also important not to underestimate the important responsibility of ensuring the team is well hydrated with coffee and biscuits. If you can't do that right, its unlikely the team will trust you with greater responsibilities.

The ability to work hours longer than I ever have in my life will undoubtedly be useful in the final year of my degree and beyond. My networking and presenting skills were also greatly enhanced, primarily through practice and experience, but also as a result of workshops and training sessions HSBC provided

The office was a very welcoming and open environment. I was able to approach my colleagues with ease as long as I timed it right. Emotional intelligence is important in an office environment. My desk were also very open, always available to answer questions and ensured that I participated in work events external to the office

The internship was run excellently. The team in HR did a really fantastic job on matching our skill sets to the relevant teams. HR also ran numerous events which enabled us to interact, network, and ask questions of very senior colleagues. There were also several social events with other interns which helped develop a strong relationship with our peers.

The firm invested in us heavily. We had presentation and networking skills sessions for several days. The presentation skills sessions were particularly useful and incorporates skills that can be applied to everyday life. Our access to senior colleagues also required a heavy investment of time on their part, and I am certain it was not the same at other firms where I had friends who did internships

Future employment prospects within the organisation are very appealing. It is a business that is well situation for the future of banking and future of the global economy. Mobility is high within the firm and there are plenty of opportunities to also work abroad which is an option I would certainly consider

Yes, we liked to have fun!

Working in Canary Wharf was inevitably expensive. But my colleagues were very generous, frequently buying me food and drink.

Fun

There were many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work. HSBC owns a sports club which employees have access to at a heavily discounted rate. Similarly, the onsite gym is the largest corporate gym in Europe. Moreover, I socialised with colleagues and other interns regularly. This was fun and important to stay fit and healthy