Summer Intern - Structured Products Team Review

The internship was an enjoyable experience from start to finish with an excellent work-social life ratio. The day-to-day work was challenging but rewarding at the same time, and encompassed a wide range of activities stretching from updating existing yield charts to learning the ins and outs of liability hedging. I really enjoyed presenting on two 'hot topics' during the eight weeks, giving insight to my team on current market trends that were underpinned by independent research. Conducting research also ensured that there was always something to get on with when my workload was light. The fantastic experience was made so by my very friendly Structured Products team and sharing the journey with my fellow interns.

My colleagues met and exceeded the WTW core values of Integrity and respect! I definitely felt valued and part of the SP family while working in both the WTW London and Reigate offices. As I reached the final four weeks of the internship, I was given some meaty technical projects that tested my hard skills (updating a liability proxy and undertaking client cashflow analyses) and I truly felt that I was adding value to the team! Working on computer coding for the first time with my colleagues was extremely beneficial in adding to my technical skillset.

I was delighted with the constant support and guidance from not just my people manager but from all of my SP colleagues (including my buddy). With the flat hierarchy at WTW and the fact that all Investment professionals were on the same floor, I truly enjoyed asking many relevant questions to both analysts and senior consultants. Plenty of training sessions were an excellent incentive to bond with every colleague in SP on a one-to-one basis, and paved the way to deepen my understanding of the whole spectrum of work in SP. My colleagues were always open to answer my questions and offer superb advice over my internship - this is testament to the second-to-none work culture at WTW!

Overall, I was happily kept busy with a range of projects during the two months and my team made every effort to maintain my exposure to as many SP activities as possible. The dynamic shifted from the first to second half of the internship with a progressive journey from training slides and introductory tasks to more active projects such as monitoring and updating liability proxies.

I was given a great deal of responsibility during the eight weeks. When being asked to complete a task/project, I was told the basics of how to go about completing it but my colleagues expected me to draw knowledge from independent research and gauging how SP tasks of a similar format were drawn up, comparing methods in the process. I feel this sharpened my resourcefulness and enabled me to learn through first nature rather than being explicitly told what needed to be done. In a nutshell, I was delighted to be treated like a member of the team from my colleagues rather than an intern.

I am very pleased to have developed a diverse pool of soft and hard skills over my Structured Products' internship, with the former dealing with client interaction (general work etiquette) and the latter with the more technical aspects. This skillset will certainly provide me with a strong foundation to pursue the CFA qualification post-university (which WTW brilliantly subsidises). I have very much enjoyed being part of a dynamic and collaborative work environment in WTW Investment and know I will maintain a strong work ethic and research ability in my final year of university.

Willis Towers Watson prides itself with a 'work hard, play hard' philosophy and everyone I have liaised with in WTW Investment has shared a strong work ethic combined with an easygoing and friendly attitude - it's the perfect balance! Colleagues from SP and many other investment teams were happy to catch up and talk about exciting developments in their field. At its core, the atmosphere was dynamic and it was brilliant being in an environment where all employees brought the best out of each other and worked as a unit. The 'dress for your day' work code and flexible working hours were also a huge plus point.

I believe the Investment Learning team set the internship up very well. Events such as the Intern Question Time and the Intern Campus Project enabled us (me and the other interns) to broaden our horizons and speak to colleagues from a range of Investment lines of business (LOBs). The work shadowing in different teams brought a different viewpoint and enabled me to see the bigger Investment picture, so to speak. The Investment, Hawaii-themed Summer Party and the two SP socials gave a superb opportunity to bond with my colleagues outside of the workplace!

A core value at WTW is striving for excellence and this is evidenced through the second-to-none training and development program for all Investment LOBs. In SP specifically, I experienced nine training sessions in total which solidified my knowledge of the technical aspects of my work in the team. My personal investment was also exhibited after each of my two presentations, where my team asked me many thought-provoking questions that truly tested the applicable side of my findings. In a nutshell, I would not have grown as an Investment Analyst if it were not for my colleagues.

I would be privileged to work for Willis Towers Watson again! Graduate schemes that really invest in an individual (CFA/acturial qualification support etc) are hard to come by and this sets WTW apart from other leading financial firms. I strongly believe that one can springboard their career at WTW through the company's robust and extensive development prospects. Being part of a firm that has firm values in wok excellence, client focus and a brilliant work-life balance is a massive selling point for me.

WTW has a brilliant social scene and this is maintained by the Investment Social Committee that collaborates regularly to bring engaging social activities to all teams on the floor. To name a few examples, after-work drinks, team socials and a Hawaiian-themed limbo competition really bring excitement to the workplace! These presented a great bonding opportunity with my fellow colleagues too.

London does have a price tag with many social activities but travel is cost-manageable with TFL. Fortunately, living in London with my family was a plus-point as I didn't have to rent accommodation. Bars in Central London are known to be rather expensive but, in the grand scheme of things, this was only a minor matter. London bars and other social spaces were a great way to network in an informal setting, so the cost was very much justified.

London boasts a fantastic Nightlife in a very central hub. There are many pubs, clubs and bars around Holborn and this can give one a much needed chance to unwind on the weekend. The city is a honeypot site with many different attractions to explore, and these can be used to break away from the 'hustle and bustle' of day-to-day work.

There were many opportunities on offer for after-work activities during my internship. The SP team organised two brilliant socials, with one being Italian dining and the other, a good ol' competitive game of shuffleboard. These were both on Friday evening, so it was a truly enjoyable closer to the week!