Intern Review

This insight programme was a very valuable experience for me. Through the week I had the opportunity to shadow two different divisions, attend presentations and case studies about the functions in different areas of the bank, as well as network with the employees in a more formal environment. For all the above reasons I would definitely reccommend applying for this experience.

We were given speeches (and even networked) with some of the most senior people within the bank. They repeatedly stated how important this event is for them as they use it as the main pipeline for their summer internship programmes. The insight week was very well organised and a lot of attention has been put in making sure that even the smallest details are taken care of.

The amount of opportunity to learn and ask questions exceeded my already high expectations. After each session therewas a surprisingly active Q&A session. There were also many networking opportunities with people from all around the bank who were keen to speak to us. Finally, the HR team was constantly around to help with any issues.

I learned a lot about the structure of the bank and the way it conducts its business. Special attention was given to Global Corporate and Investment Banking which was my first choice for shadowing. This knowledge will help me a lot when applying to summer internships and full time positions within the finance industry in the future. It also helps me understand the culture of investment banks in a better light.

The insight was organised with care and a lot of attention was given to making a structured and simple schedule. First day we had a number of presentations and speeches, followed by a team building exercise and a networking reception. Next two days we shadowed our divisions of choice and had a networking dinner with more senior staff. Fourth day we had various tests, gave a group presentation and followed some more speeches. Last day was reserved for fast track opportunities and assessments.

People were a lot more relaxed than I expected before starting the insight. There were many of them with prepared questions for each of the presentations and a lot of energy for networking, but in general, they were also ready to help and engage in an out of topic conversation if approached. The employees of the bank were very friendly (even during the assessment interviews) and interesting to talk to.

The event was well organised and it was obvious a lot of care has been put into it. There was no lack of food and drinks throughout the day, the presentations were carefully made in a way to be simple to follow and interesting to talk about and we were provided with the materials and firm's merchandise at the beginning of the week. However, apart from the networking dinner, not many opportunities outside of the office were provided.

The event was a great simulation of how it is to be a part of the firm for a week. Not withstanding that, it was not possible to get a real feeling of the workload and work-life balance as we were there for just a week and not expected to contribute to the actual work of the bank.

Throughout the event I got to learn about the type of people that fit best into different roles within the Bank of America Merrill Lynch. I was given the opportunity to shadow some of the employees of the bank during their normal working day and this also allowed me to get a real feel for the general culture of the bank as well as the routine of the employees.

Before participating in this event I was unsure of the industry in which I want to start my career. Now that I participated in and completed this event, I am more likely to apply and try to make a career in the finance industry. It was mostly the quality of people working at the firm and the profile of their clients that made me interested in working for the company.

I was reimbursed for all the reasonable expenses during the week. These included return flight tickets from my university to London, accommodation for the duration of the event and the weekly Oyster card. We were also provided with breakfast and lunch each day + a networking dinner during the week.

There were numerous networking opportunities with employees from all the different divisions of the Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Networking events provided a great opportunity to ask about the concepts not well understood during the presentation and to ask personal questions which are more appropriate for an informal environment.

The amount of employees coming to participate in networking events was high so it wasn't a problem finding someone to talk to. They were happy to share their experiences from the bank and tell us why should we choose to intern in their division. Food and drinks were servedduring every networking event.

Apart from volunteering there weren't many outside opportunities mentioned. Most of the hobbies and interest I found out about were through the networking events, and most of them seemed to be outside of the work. However, there were many opportunities for further learning and mentorship, which is great for junior employeesat the bank.

I would definitely reccommend everyone to apply for this event. It is a valuable opportunity and can help you understand what banking is all about. After a week spent at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, one will have a lot clearer picture of why (or why not) to work at a global bank and what are its main benefits.