Financial Markets Intern Review

I really enjoyed my placement with Hays. Having a strong group of interns around me really helped when the job got tough at times. Also working in the heart of London is a real bonus and being able to socialise in London was a major positive.

My role as an intern changed dramatically almost two months in, as I went from a researcher to an important part of the team with regards to collecting and analysing valuable market data that has been used to positively develop the business and win new clients, with that I feel valued as a member of the team.

Excellent support from my manager, every week having presentations on a range of topics from Investment Banking Compliance through to front office topics. He also invested a lot of time into how we can use this year to develop our career not only in recruitment but moving into financial roles in the city.

Very busy- most days you have to be in the office for 8am and not left until 6:30-7:00pm. Not a moment where you are spent twiddling thumbs, constantly on the phone, out of the office meeting new clients, candidates, producing job adverts, candidate/job sourcing or speaking with new clients. Extremely busy and sometimes can be very hard work, but worth it.

Thrown in at the deep end from day one and this works very well. Hays were very good at getting you on the phone and talking to candidates from the first day, at first it can be a very awkward and nerve racking thing but soon your confidence increases and I am now able to talk comfortably with senior directors at banks in the city.

It will help immensely with both. Studying a business and management degree at University I am able to first of all get an understanding of the financials of how a FTSE 250 organsiation is run. For example how much in actuals are going into a period, how much in sales are required for the quarter, how undercutting or exceeding a forecast can affect a business whilst also looking at how various management theories can be implemented. Furthermore the amount of training received on how to prepare for an interview and how to structure a CV will come in extremely useful for graduation. It has also really helped with my time management and will stand me in good stead for next year.

really good atmosphere- very close group of interns and managers. Good social/work life balance.

very well organised, first month was almost like a training camp, constant lessons, training seminars, interactive training on computers whilst balancing with actually getting involved in the job. Set us up to have a good year and then as we progressed further through the year we would be invited in to have refresher training sessions or an advanced session which helped keep us on top of our game.

the company invest a lot into you, as there is an expectancy for you to add value to the company straight away so they have to invest.

Hays would always be keen to have us back.

really good social life

London is an extremely expensive place to live an socialise, even more so on an interns salary. With rent taking up over half of my salary the end of the month can be extremely tight. I decided to rent in stratford, with a 30 min journey into work, With everything taken into account, travel card, gym, food, phone bill, etc I was not left with much money at all at the end of the month making saving particularly difficult, however if you were ever out with managers they would more often than not buy the beers which was always nice !

really good but very expensive.

not really, a couple of fun runs, 5 a side football occasionally.