Investment Banking Summer Analyst Review

The internship was extremely well-managed by HR and the respective teams we were placed in. The people were great, both fellow interns and team members across the group I was put in. Overall, the experience was rewarding and a fantastic way to spend 10-weeks over summer

As mentioned, a key aspect of why I enjoyed the 10-weeks at HSBC was the people. You fit in very quickly and everyone makes an effort to make sure that you are comfortable.

For the majority of the time, those I worked with were very happy to take the time to explain the project as well as teach me new skills - this was something that was very rewarding and motivating. However, this was not always the case and there were times where the task at hand was not well-explained or well-guided.

Since we were only spending 10 weeks with HSBC, most interns were very hungry to learn. The first two/three weeks in the office workload allocation was uneven across the team, with some interns helping with live deals and others doing nothing at all. However, toward second half of the internship I think everyone was extremely busy - in a good way.

This varied from task to task, as well as who you were working for. There were times where I provided work directly for a director/MD, with one instance of attending a client meeting.

In terms of learning more about a career in investment banking and developing the skills you need to succeed in the industry the internship with HSBC was outstanding.

The office always had a buzz about it, given that there was so many people on one floor. Although some could argue that this is a bad thing as it reduces individual exposure, I found it was the opposite. Working alongside such a huge numbers of colleagues under one roof makes you feel part of something. Overall, a great environment.

As mentioned, the internship was extremely well set up by HR - all the way from the application and interview stages to the farewell event at the end of the 10 weeks.

We had a week training at an external venue in Canary Wharf in the first week where we learned both soft and technical skills to help us in our roles. This was furthered by a number of lunch and learns with MDs across the business as well as other team-specific learning sessions.

HSBC is growing its investment banking division in certain areas - making it an exciting and relevant place to pursue a career in finance.

The social scene was good, there was an extremely diverse group of interns and colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds. I have made some good friends out of the internship and hope to stay in contact with them in the future!

The cost of living in London is inherently high, I commuted from the family house in West London so I was lucky in that regard. A large amount of interns took student accommodation over the summer, which from what they told me was a easy and comfortable situation.

The nightlife itself in Canary Wharf is good for drinks within the sociable hours of the early evening with a wide array of bars and restaurants. Travelling into Central London does not take a long time if you wanted a night out.

Since we were only there for 10 weeks, many of us didn't get the chance to explore the sports teams (they have teams for just about anything - e.g. their own Boathouse on the Thames) - however I am aware that HSBC is a fantastic place if you want to get involved sports. There are also plenty of volunteering opportunities, where all the interns did spend the day doing community work in Mile End Park for a day.