Spring Intern Review

The week was very enjoyable as it gave us a good exposure into Investment Banking and what exactly it entails. The HR were very friendly and had organised the week very effectively, ensuring that the processes ran smoothly and that everyone knew what the structure of the week was like. A lot of fun workshops and a great trading game was organised, which were exciting ways about learning more about markets and M&A. There was also a great social event on the Monday, which allowed me to get to know more about my colleagues as well as the employees of the bank.

Very much valued. At the beginning I expected for us interns to be treated like nuisances, simply because I didn't think we were important in the grand scheme of things. I am happy to say I was completely wrong, because we were treated very well and given lots of importance by the bank. There were many talks and workshops conducted by important and senior members of the bank that had spared some of their time to teach us. During the work shadowing I was able to talk to many members of the bank, from junior analysts to senior members, learning from their experiences in the industry.

Lots and lots of guidance. There were many skills sessions run by members of the bank, covering all sorts of important skills needed to do well in the industry. This includes group exercises, an educational trading game, workshops as well as the shadowing. The HR did their best to support us and ensure we were well looked after, having organised a variety of interesting and helpful events. There were also panels of graduates who we could ask questions to in order to find out more about the industry. When the activities were being run, there were many people available to assist and support us in case we were stuck or if we needed some advice.

My skills were developed considerably by this experience, as I learnt how to present in front of important and senior people in the banks. The huge amount of pressure was something I was able to handle as I got to practice presenting and then answering questions which challenged my opinion and viewpoint. The trading game and ICS workshop helped my understanding of the markets and how exactly they worked. Meeting and talking to employees in the bank improved my knowledge of what exactly happens in a day to day basis in the bank and how current affairs can affect the markets and businesses in general. It will assist my understanding of how economic events will affect the markets (I am doing an Economics degree so it is quite useful for me). Furthermore learning exactly how to present myself in a professional manner is a skill I will use for life.

Very well structured and organised. I expected UBS to be very systematic and organised about the insight week but even then, I was very impressed by how the HR was able to organise such a variety of events. Its not only this, but also the transition between events was swift. Everyone kept to their timetables, which meant there weren't any significant delays in anything, which is amazing. We were given multiple breaks, where food and drinks were provided for us. The work shadowing I found was quite well organised too, with each intern having their own buddy who they shadowed during the whole time.

Friendly, very friendly. We were genuinely cared for, with us being given lots of breaks along with food and drinks. All the graduates and other members of the bank took time out of their busy schedules to talk to us, and they were not only knowledgeable, but also incredibly nice. The atmosphere was calm, with everyone including my fellow interns being approachable and nice. If we had any questions they were all answered patiently by the HR. The HR was also accommodating in case you had any additional requirements, as I did. All in all it was an amazing spring week where the people were amazing and also incredibly friendly. It truly felt like it was a close knit community.

The firm invested in us very heavily, with there being lots of workshops and events which improved our skills, knowledge and understanding of the markets. The work shadowing was also incredibly useful as it exposed us to exactly what work is like in the industry. Furthermore there was an educational trading game which told us a lot about what it is like to trade in the markets.

It was quite significant. What I will say is that the only way you can completely understand about what it is like to work in a full time role is if you actually work in the role itself. But considering it was only a week long it was incredibly helpful and gave us a huge insight into what a full time role will be like.

It was by far the most informative when it came to UBS's culture. I think culture is probably the most important thing when it comes to working in a company. There were the 3 keys to success, which talked about the culture of UBS and what exactly they expected of people working there. The idea of being client focussed and working in a team was something that was emphasised, and with good reason. All in all I know a lot about the company's culture from the spring week, which is great.

Very valuable, I have almost made my decision in terms of whether or not I want to work in an IB role in the future. The fact that so many members from different divisions in the bank were able to give talks about what they do was incredibly helpful. Not only did UBS cover the particular division I applied for, but they gave an overview of all the divisions, in case I became interested into something else later on, which was very useful.

Other people got reimbursed as they travelled or stayed in accommodation, I lived close by so I just walked there.

Yes, there were many opportunities to network. There was a networking lunch with recent graduates who decided to work in UBS. During work shadowing I was able to meet many other employees of the firm, which was amazing. The group also got to meet many senior members of the bank, as they often gave talks about the divisions they were heading.

They were very good opportunities. The social event was on Monday and it was in a nice bar with food and drinks provided. We got to network with each other and to talk to the HR. The networking lunch allowed us to meet all the other members of the bank (The recent graduates).

Yes, the networking lunch in particular was where I asked the employees what they got up to when outside of work. I got varied answers including bars and partying. Since the UBS building is right next to so many restaurants people just hang out in those restaurants or bars. UBS is placed in quite a prime location so that helps. People also go skiing or lots of other things. It has a great work-life balance for most.

Yes I would, it is so helpful if you want to find out more about the industry and about UBS particularly. It destroys a lot of the traditional myths about what IB is like and it gives you quite a lot of exposure into what IB actually entails. The opportunities given to interact with all the employees, both junior and senior, in the bank are invaluable. The skills workshops are also incredibly helpful in developing your skills which is so helpful in the future.