Student Review

I really enjoyed the Insight Week, and left feeling inspired. The best part about it was not only that we got to have a first-hand insight into the bank and the way that it works, but also to meet other students who excel in their field and whom you can learn from. I feel like I made friends, developed my network and confidence, as well as learning more about the company I am interested in working for.

I felt valued because of the extent to which they involved me in the company. We were given keycards and allowed to explore the company, and we were shown what it was really like to work there by the staff. We felt like they had really chosen us to be there because they cared about us and valued us as potential candidates for the bank. If there was one thing that could be improved would be to cater more to the needs of those involved who had special dietary requirements. There were a few vegans there, including myself, and there was nothing available for us to eat, which meant I had to buy lunch nearly every day. The only thing we could eat was leaf salad, which is not enough to fill one up for the day.

I think this was something that could be improved. We were all there together, but there was little guidance throughout the week, we just saw each other every day and sort of bounced where we were off of others in the group. There wasn't really anyone keeping track of where we were at with regards to the insight week. I think that the bank was very supportive of the group as a whole, but there wasn't really much individual support.

I think the main thing I gained was the interaction with other high-achievers, which inspires me to think in different ways in the future. I will carry forward the skills I acquired this week into my studies in the future. I am also now more knowledgeable about the working environment that exists in places such as Bank of America, so this will give me more direction and focus in my future studies and I can more accurately prepare myself for what I want to do when I graduate.

The Insight was well-structured, and I feel like they really packed a lot into the time available. We did a variety of different activities which was good. In addition, we were treated to a meal in a restaurant by the bank which was really nice and meant that we could connect with other people on the programme and staff in a more informal setting which was very helpful. If there was one improvement it would be to remove some of the stupid activities, or cut down their time, because it felt like we wasted time on stupid activities like building lego and doing personality tests.

The atmosphere was good because the other students were very hard-working and keen to succeed in the Insight Week and so this was inspiring and pushed everyone else so that the level of work in group activities was very high. There was an atmosphere that was friendly and I made some friends during the week. However, there was also an atmosphere of competition and competitiveness and sometimes it felt like some people were just concerned with success and were not being nice people, however the majority of people were very nice.

I believe that the firm invested a lot in our training and development, with regards to the way we present ourselves and the kind of skills that help you when you give a presentation or are working on a project as a group. However, the firm didn't really give much training with regards to technical skills or development. Saying this, they did guide us in the sort of technical skills that would be useful so that we could develop them in our own time.

The bank gave us a good insight into what it would be like to have a full time role with them through a variety of different ways - we did shadowing, which meant that we could see what real employees' day-to-day lives were like. A lot of other students that I spoke to on the Insight Week said that they wished we had had more time to shadow staff, and some said they had not had the opportunity to shadow at all, so this would definitely be a point for improvement. We also had Q&A panel sessions which meant we could ask the employees exactly what we wanted to know from them, and this gave us a better understanding of their role.

This Insight did a very good job of helping students understand the company culture, and company culture is really something that is important to Bank of America. We learned about all of the things that are unique to BAML that make it what it is, and helps employees to stay connected and to really enjoy their job. All of the employees who worked for BAML seemed very proud to work there, and even those who had worked at other banks rated it as their best workplace so far, simply because of the company culture. I like that BAML are very keen on diversity in all forms and encourage it within the bank.

It was quite helpful, as it showed me the reality of all those things that I had been thinking about before but was not sure about. It provided me with real understanding of the work of the jobs I had been interested in before, which was very helpful. I am still not completely sure about my future career path, but doing this Spring Insight Week was definitely a good idea as it helped give me some more understanding and will help me with future decisions.

I did not incur expenses because I live in London, but I know that those who travelled from elsewhere had their accommodation arranged for them, and transportation costs were reimbursed. I know that BAML wanted to encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for the Spring Insight, and so they made all the necessary arrangements so that that could happen. Having people from such diverse backgrounds really made the week more interesting.

There were lots of opportunities for networking and meeting the employees of BAML in many different forms. On the first night we had a networking drinks and snacks evening. This was a good introduction to the employees of the bank on our first day working there. We also had a careers fair on the second day, however during this some of the employees were a little stiff and I found it hard to talk to them. On the third evening we had a dinner at a restaurant with the staff, and during this week got to meet staff from all different levels in the bank which was quite nice.

The events were very good because they allowed us to talk to staff in a more informal setting than when we were working with them in the daytime. We also felt like we were treated well because they provided nice food and drinks for us (although there weren't that many choices for vegans). Some staff were very friendly and chatty but some were a little cold and stiff, so this was quite varied, but generally the staff were very friendly and helpful.

Many external activities outside of work was something that was very prevalent at BAML. We heard of different networks that existed to give employees a chance to voice their opinions - there is a women's network, a volunteering scheme where BAML help out schools in underprivileged areas, an LGBT network, and other similar schemes. BAML also provide charity schemes, such as giving breakfast to children in the UK who would otherwise go hungry. Apart from this, we heard about BAML sports teams and events, and BAML trips such as a departmental ski trip.

I would definitely recommend this Insight Week to a friend, simply because of all the things I have been able to learn during this week. I feel like it pushes you to another level as you see the quality of applicants who are out there. I have met some very interesting people, and learned lots of things that I would not have learned otherwise. I really have had a great week!