Summer Analyst - DCM Review

I had a really insightful experience that provided a lot of learning throughout, with the first week of training in particular, and continued to learn throughout. Additionally the regular HR events helped to make the experience more enjoyable as a whole alongside the day to day working activities. I believe I learnt a lot and decided it is definitely a career path I want to pursue

I was regularly given work throughout, even if required to push for it on occasion, and this work was both meaningful and was included as parts of projects that went to clients. Further to this colleagues regularly tried to ensure I was involved in conversation outside of work, and everyone was very approachable

Management took time to both meet with me, in order to ensure I was getting along ok etc. and also took time to teach me about DCM, bond pricing and other aspects. Further to this the buddy system meant there was always someone less senior to ask any questions or queries to about the work set.

Most days I was very busy from the time I started work until I finished, which was sometimes rather late, due to my department choice there was more emphasis on busy when in, but in for less time in total. This meant that each day was filled with regular work and tasks througout

Some of the work that I was given was clearly used as part of pitches and other projects that were received by clients, and this helps to illustrate the level of responsibility I was given and trust that was placed in my work. However some of the time the tasks I was given seemed just to be there for an intern to do to fill time, so it was not always the case that there were high levels of responsibility

As I have finished my degree the skills will not be overly useful in this regard, however as I hope to pursue working in this or a similar area in the future. Presentation skills training, and practice through the project, that we were given throughout will also be useful whatever career I choose to pursue, as presentations are a regular part of most jobs that are client facing.

This was due largely to the team around me as they were always interacting and having fun around completing work. Further the nature of the floor, with most of the IB employees all on the same floor led to a noisy and interactive work environment not dissimilar to a trading floor. This also meant you were interacting often with people you had met over the ten weeks.

HR had organised everything very well, with regular lunch and learn sessions to meet senior business people as well as social and CSR events throughout, they also put on extra events as the internship progressed such as meeting the co heads of Global Banking for breakfast which allowed great exposure to high level business members.

Regular training throughout, and the initial week was very through especially as it took 10% of the total time we spent at the firm

Yet to find out whether or not we have received offers to join, but feedback throughout, at mid and end term reviews, as well as during the presentation feedback run through was largely positive, with a few points of constructive criticism that were minor tips of areas to work on.

Due to the large number of interns ~ 60 of us in Global Banking and Coverage, Friday nights were always lovely if you wanted them to be, with a group of people always out and around. Canary wharf also has a large number of bars, which means finding somewhere to meet is easy, the caveat of course being the price and relative expense of drinks etc. In the area and London in general

London is expensive as would be a expected

London has great albeit expensive nightlife and canary wharf has lots of bars around

I didn't personally, but I know there were cricket matches/dragon boat races/rounders etc. Available if you had the time outside of work to arrange these activities without affecting your team and the required work