Spring Week Intern Review

The insight week was a fantastic opportunity which I thoroughly enjoyed. A series of talks and presentations, from internal and external sources, explained the different parts to Rothschild and the technicals behind M&A and investment banking in general. In addition to the work aspects, the insight was balanced well with social elements such as afternoon tea with employees in different positions. Moreover, we spent a week volunteering with Body and Soul which was incredibly exciting whilst also rewarding. The culture of Rothschild has resonated with me and I would love to work here in the future!

HR accompanied us for the majority of the day and they were always happy to help. The whole week was planned incredibly well so that we didn't waste time. In addition to this, employees were happy to meet up for coffee after networking events which showed that they were willing to spend their time on us. In addition, we were all given the respect and freedom to stay after hours in order to work on our projects. We were treated as employees as opposed to liabilities and had access throughout the majority of the office.

Throughout the spring week, HR were always happy to answer questions. In addition to this, employees were happy to meet up for coffee and provided us with email addresses in case we had any questions after networking events. Moreover, we were all taught about the fundamentals of investment banking and M&A which allowed for us to work on our projects with the required knowledge. All degree backgrounds were accommodated for and we were also provided with guidance packs.

The insight programme was incredibly useful due to the fact that the projects we were working on, replicated what we would be doing as an analyst in a few years time. The spring week also allowed for us to experience the Rothschild culture which was incredibly welcoming and accommodating. In addition, activities such as "How to read the FT" were invaluable and I will be using skills I developed during the programme in the future.

Every day was jam packed with activities ranging from volunteering, talks, project work and networking. We were given a schedule for the whole week and the week ran meticulously. We were given plenty of time to: experience the culture of the bank; gain knowledge about the industry and specific roles at Rothschild; network with a range of employees (from analysts to assistant directors); and to work on our project.

The insight was very entertaining throughout the week. The Monday ended with a social which helped us to get to know fellow spring interns. Talks and presentations were always engaging and allowed for plenty of questions at the end. In addition, analysts and the employees always had an accommodating sense of humour which balanced well with the seriousness of the tasks we were completing.

Rothschild hired an external speaker from Fitch Learning to teach us about investment banking. In addition to this, they provided us with skill sessions such as "How to read the FT". Moreover, the firm had fantastic networking events such as afternoon tea with assistant directors.

The insight was incredibly helpful to understanding what a full rime role at Rothschild would involve. Not only were we able to network with numerous analysts, we were also given the opportunity to shadow analysts from various teams and sectors which provided us with a variety of perspectives. Moreover, the project work we were set over the week replicated a simplified project an analyst would be working on which was valuable. The project work was interesting and allowed for us to experience some of the roles analysts carry out on a day to day basis.

Throughout the week the culture of Rothschild was emphasised and explained. This is one of the key reasons I would like to complete my summer internship at Rothschild. The uniqueness and benefits of the culture were expressed by analysts but also directors throughout presentations and networking events. Moreover, it was something we were all able to experience whilst working in the firm. The atmosphere in the offices was completely different to what I had expected and the welcoming nature of the firm was refreshing!

The spring week was planned such that we were given an insight into a wide aspect of the firm. Presentations included introductions to the different parts of Global Advisory but also additional divisions of the bank such as Private Wealth. The wide exposure we had to different divisions, sectors and teams was valuable in so far as it allowed us to start having an idea about which team we would like to join.

Interns who lived outside of London were provided with £100 a day for accommodation costs. In addition to this, we were covered for Lunch everyday.

Yes! We had numerous opportunities to network with a wide range of employees from analysts to assistant directors. In addition to the preplanned networking events, we were given the freedom to email employees and meet up with them for coffee. Finally, we were able to meet with employees during our shadowing session.

The networking opportunities were well organised and provided us with numerous opportunities to meet employees at the bank. They ranged from lunch with analysts to afternoon tea with assistant directors and were incredibly relaxed. With regards to the social aspect, on the first day we were taken to a bar with our fellow interns which was a fantastic opportunity to bond and get to know our peers. The social included activities and puzzles too!

Yes, were given a talk about Community Investment which highlighted the emphasis the firm places on volunteering and helping the wider community. In addition, we were able to experience volunteering ourselves by spending a morning at Body and Soul.

Yes! I already have recommended this insight to a friend due to the fact that the week was planned incredibly well and was insightful. The week allowed for me to confirm my career choices whilst also exposing me to the Rothschild culture.