Spring Week Intern Review

I enjoyed the insight to a high extent since it provided me with in-depth knowledge about the financial industry, taught me the functions of different business areas within Investment Banking, and allowed me to gain hands-on experience in a leading Investment Bank.

I enjoyed my conversation both with junior and senior bankers at Barclays during networking sessions, and every person I met was extremely friendly and approachable, making me feel valued at the company. Moreover, the HRs were extremely helpful in addressing concerns, making me feel like I am a part of the company.

I received a lot of support regarding tips on summer internship application and things to take into consideration when choosing a division/business area within banking. Moreover, I received so much guidance Barclays representatives from different divisions on technical knowledge (such as how to value a company).

I believe the communication, analytical, technical, and collaboration skills developed through the Spring Week Programme will assist me not only in applying for future jobs but also in many other aspects in my daily life. Technical skills certainly will assist me in mastering mathematical/modeling techniques. The interpersonal skills will help me in university and beyond when I network with different people.

The programme is highly organized as there is a very clear schedule put together by the HRs, which can be accessed through a mobile phone app. Every day is packed with a variety of sessions related to both Banking and Sales and Trading. Thus, the areas of knowledge covered are very broad and comprehensive. Every event turned out smoothly without delays.

There was a very welcoming atmosphere during my insight, which can be attributed to the friendly environment at Barclays. Both junior and senior bankers from different business areas were extremely approachable when we asked questions. There is a sense of belonging as all interns in my group helped each other and collaborated in group projects.

I believe the company invested a lot in junior leadership and development, which can be witnessed through them organizing events for senior bankers to share their experiences, networking sessions with managing directors in different business areas, and case studies to prepare us with the technical knowledge required to excel in banking.

The insight program gave me a clear idea of what kind of tasks to expect to have a full-time role with the company since there are multiple panel sessions that touch upon the daily life and duties of a junior banker, which gave me an insight into the different roles within banking.

The insight improved my understanding of the extremely inclusive, diversified and friendly company culture through organizing events for spring interns to network with junior and senior bankers. Through conversing with multiple Barclays representatives and through interacting with them during case study sessions, I learned more about company cultures and values.

The content of the day was very valuable as it covered a wide range of business areas within banking, providing us with an idea of not only how much technical knowledge we need for a specific role but also a hands-on experience that made me understand the differences in future career paths.

I was reimbursed expenses in the form of a one-off payment that covers my travel and food expenses during Spring Week, including transportation fees during daily commute as well as meals outside required work time. Moreover, Barclays also provided free accomodation and airport return transfer for interns that live outside London.

There were numerous opportunities to meet and network with other Barclays employees coming from different banking divisions every day, in the form of networking dinners/lunches as well as panel discussion sessions. The employees I networked with range from junior and senior leaders in many different business areas (M&A, ECM/DCM, etc).

The networking and social event opportunities were a great chance for me to learn more about the experiences and stories of different bankers at Barclays, which not only gave me a better understanding of the company cultures but also the opportunities Barclays provides to its junior bankers. Moreover, the networking sessions were really well organized since business representatives cover multiple business areas and industry/country teams.

Yes, I would definitely recommend the Spring Programme to friends since it is a highly structured and organized programme that allows interns to not only understand the differences between different divisions within banking but also give them an insight into what the daily life of a job in finance entails.