First Step Insight Programme student Review

The insight as part of the First Step Programme provided useful information about the different fields at Nomura, as well as the main divisions within Investment Banking and Global Markets which was very valuable as it is not a sector which can easily be accessed as sixth form students. The day was well structured and there was adequate opportunity for networking as well.

We were welcomed at reception and given individual name badges, and the tables were pre-assigned with name cards for all students, showing there was thought put into ensuring everyone was comfortable in engaging with other students. They were more than happy to take questions and everyone was treated very well and fairly.

There was limited individual support as all of the sessions were group oriented and so there were not enough staff members on hand to provide each student with guidance. However there did not feel to be a need for such support and the staff were willing to help if necessary.

There was an early session on emotional intelligence which provided insights into the soft skills required in such fields, however most of it was rather intuitive and not exceptionally useful. The CV writing session was also rather lacking in value added as a CV was required during the application process through which students were selected so everyone already had and knew how to write a CV.

There was a clear structured plan to the day and we were given a timetable of the proceedings in our starter pack, outlining what to expect. The programme ran efficiently and all staff members involved appear to know what was going to happen to ensure a smooth experience for the students.

All students had similar interests in finance, maths, economics or similar fields, and the analysts and associates from the firm were very professional but also comparatively young allowing for a more relaxed and comfortable environment than other professional firms, perhaps reflective of the culture at Nomura and the importance of social skills as well as intellectual ability.

The firm ran the emotional intelligence session as previously mentioned and also the CV writing session, however these were not particularly good nor useful, and there was very limited personal training and development. However the aim of the day was not so much to train us but to provide an insight into the work at Nomura.

There were presentations given by staff members who outlined their work at the firm, and the panel session provided insights into the work of four different staff members in different fields. The Q&A allowed for a personalised insight and the later opportunities for networking allowed us to learn about everyone's role at the firm.

We found out some of the differentials between Nomura and other investment banks when talking to the analysts and associates during the lunch networking however there was no dedicated group presentation on the topic, and only the small number of students conversing with that particular analyst would have heard about these differentials.

It provided a good amount of information which can be used in further research to come to a well informed decision. However there was not a distinct comparison between the roles within Investment Banking or Global Markets and so I was unable to use this day alone to help me decide.

We were not paid for the insight day unlike some other events, however for a one day event this was entirely fair as the firm had to devote resources towards us and provide us with valuable information. If travelling from outside London, we were informed we could have travel costs reimbursed.

There was an opportunity at the start of the day to meet and network with the other students on the programme, and each of the staff who presented encouraged us to add them on LinkedIn. There was a designated networking session with analysts and associates as well to find out more about their work and their time at the firm.

There was very little offered with regards to activities outside of work that are organised through work, however there are on site gym and fitness facilities and we were informed that staff are allowed to use these during the working day as a break from work if they so wish.

Yes