Corporate Banking Summer Analyst Review

There was a very wide range of tasks which we could assist in, which made everything more enjoyable. Outside of work, HR provided a wide array of networking opportunities, as well as speaker events that allowed us to interact with and learn as much as possible from the senior members of the bank.

Everyone was very helpful and encouraged us to ask lots of questions. They staffed us on tasks which directly contributed to the overall team's strategic objectives, and this demonstrated the value and belief placed in us as interns. They were also very happy to meet for coffee and give internship advice.

Supervisors were very helpful in providing us with long term projects, as well as with regular opportunities to discuss progress and goals. Half way through the internship, we were given a review in which we could be given concrete goals based upon anonymised feedback from colleagues, and this allowed us to focus on key target areas for improvement.

Workflow is always partly dependent on clients' needs and requirements, however our team was very keen on being active rather than reactive, which meant that as interns we could provide value through longer term research projects, which would support the team's strategic goals and build upon their long term value proposition.

Interns were both given large amounts of responsibility to stretch them, but were always given appropriate support to compensate for this. Responsibilities including reading through recent earnings reports for companies and summarising them for senior bankers, which would enable them to be armed with the most critical information in their interactions with clients.

The networking skills which are developed during the internship are undoubtedly invaluable independent of the profession one finds oneself in. Furthermore, the financial modelling skills are useful through the finance industry. Inversely, the skills gained from an essay based degree are tremendously helpful given the large amount of writing one finds oneself doing in an internship.

Our team had a very relaxed atmosphere, which allowed a variety of personalities and styles of working to flourish. Everyone worked very hard, however people also made themselves available to provide advice and answer questions, be that about working in finance in general, or about a specific matter.

Everything was very well organised. We had a training week at the start of the internship to get us accustomed to the banks processes, to introduce us to financial theory, and to allow us to meet the other interns. Afterwards, we met our teams, where we were given projects that we could work on throughout the internship.

The firm invested heavily in its interns, through providing networking events, as well as in-depth training in the first week. Personal development represented a key strategic initiative from the dedicated human resources team, and this is evidence by the depth of internal training resources made available both to interns and full time staff.

The firm is evidently committed to providing clear pathways for internal progression within the company, as full time analysts are given the chance to have a placement at a separate team or geography for their third year. Staff are encouraged to move laterally as a chance to experience more areas of the business.

Quite a few internal social events were provided, and we also had the opportunity to meet other interns and colleagues for drinks outside of work. All in all, the social scene was relaxed, and people were able to socialise outside of work as much or as little as they wished.

Naturally, as is to be expected, the cost of living and of socialising in London, and particularly around Canary Wharf, is not an insignificant encumbrance. However, this expense was measurably offset by the generous salary offering, and the fact that many of the social events were provided by the company.

Generally the office was quieter at night, and although this meant there was less opportunity to interact with colleagues, it also meant it was a good chance to get a head start on the next days work, as well as to interact with our global network of dedicated relationship managers in different time zones.

London is a big place. Accordingly, there are opportunities to get involved in many different clubs, sports, whatever one's interest might be. The bank is very keen to encourage its staff to become well-rounded individuals in this way, and therefore Saturdays are protected days, meaning special permission is required to work in the office those days.