Insight Week Review

I thought it was a very enjoyable programme where I got to learn a lot about the firm and meet a lot of new people. In particular, I found the desk rotations very insightful and enjoyable. Also, the group project was fun as we got to debate our ideas with others.

Almost everyone I met on the trading floor would take their time to speak to us, even thought they were very busy during the fortnight. Everyone was also very helpful in answering any questions we had or allowing us to shadow them during the day. The programme itself is structured well so we make the most of our time at the firm.

I felt like I always had someone I could go to if I ever had a question I needed answering or wasn't sure about something, especially since we were assigned mentors. I think it was relatively easy finding someone you could speak to if there was a certain desk you were particularly interested in.

I doubt the knowledge I gained will be applicable to my degree course. However, if I were to go into a finance related career then I believe it could help me. I think the main transferable skills were teamwork, research skills and presentation skills. We also had an interview and presentation skills workshop which I think will be useful.

I think it was definitely well structured, especially since it is a programme that has been going on for several years. We knew at the start of the programme what our schedule was and were able to do whatever we wanted in our free time. There were only a few last minute add on activities which we weren't given early notice about.

Everyone was willing to help each other and there wasn't a competitive atmosphere. More so, we all became friends and I think there are a few people I will definitely remain friends with in the future. So, generally the atmosphere between the cohort was friendly and enjoyable. I think that the atmosphere on the trading floor was as one would expect in a bank.

The programme wasn't very personal training/ development focused. Instead it was an insight programme.

Unlike many other spring weeks at other banks, we were able to rotate at many different desks within securities. Therefore we were able to learn quite a bit about the different roles at the form. The spotlight sessions also enabled us to get a better idea about the different parts of the securities division. However, as we couldn't do any work ourselves we couldn't gain a true insight into what it's actually like working there.

The company has a very prominent, distinct culture as shown by their business principles. I think we got a very good understanding and exposure to this just by being on the trading floor for the internship. We also had a talk about the company culture and many people spoke about it throughout the 2 weeks. I think overall, the strong teamwork, integrity and client focused nature was evident.

I think I got a fair idea about what it would be like working here, and personally, I think it is a career path I would like to go into. Therefore for myself it was helpful in helping me decide my career path. I think that due to the high exposure to different roles in the firm, most people got a sense of whether working at this firm was for them or not.

The salary we got was definitely competitive and a fair amount for the hours we worked. Accommodation was also provided for those who didn't live in London which was also helpful. One return journey, be it flights or train were reimbursed for those who wanted and the procedure to do so was very simple.

I think the main focus of this event was evolved around networking and meeting other employees. During our free time we were encouraged to schedule meetings with other employees, either at their desks, or going out for coffee or lunch. On rotation and at events we also got to meet many people.

We had a couple opportunities to network in our class group, with interns in the different divisions. There was also a Women's breakfast networking event, Women's networking drinks and Female traders networking event. Therefore, personally I had many social networking events. However, I believe there weren't any for the guys.

We were briefly told about the wellness center, but the majority of finding out about this was done through talking with other employees and asking them.

I would most definitely recommend this spring week to a friend, though one interested in banking. I think the 2 week period allowed us to get a better understanding of this industry as opposed to most other spring weeks which are only for one week.