Spring Intern Review

The insight was indeed, as the name itself suggests, very insightful. The coordinators were very friendly and made sure to give us an all-rounded experience of working in the technology sector in J.P Morgan. From holding networking events, workshops, and even coding challenges - the wide variety of activities constantly kept me interested.

The coordinators did a wonderful job of maximising the 5 days we spent at J.P Morgan. Every minute was planned in the week's agenda and the company was also generous in booking our transport, accommodations, as well as arranging for breakfasts and lunches. I felt very lucky to be able to be a part of this insight programme. However, they could have maybe smoothened the initial socialising by having us engage in ice breakers to get to know one another better.

With a well organised schedule for the 5 days, as well as friendly campus recruiters - I felt very settled in and comfortable in terms of guidance. The employees we met during the work shadowing were also very friendly and full of useful information about working in J.P Morgan. However, the coding challenges were difficult at times, especially since I had a basic level of coding expertise. This made me a bit lost and misguided at times, but working in well-balanced groups did ease the process.

I developed networking skills by initiating conversations with the other insight students, graduates, employees, and even senior managers. This helped me develop my soft skills which is a crucial element not taught in any academic degrees. I also learnt about the agile methodology and it is applied in the operations of J.P Morgan. My favourite part was learning about UX and UI design, which was a field I had no idea existed in technology until we were presented on it.

Everything was according to plan during the 5 days in J.P Morgan's Spring into Technology. From the check-in time in the hotel to the various activities planned for us. The booklet with the schedule was also very informative and useful since I prepared for each day accordingly. Nothing could be better!

The general atmosphere was a healthy blend between fun and competitiveness. During some of the coding challenges, the groups did get competitive, however, everyone made sure to have fun at the same time. The pace of every activity planned for us was not too fast or too slow, allowing us to learn effectively along the way.

From the dress codes, to the networking events - J.P. Morgan surprisingly had a very relaxed, yet professional company culture. The employees we work shadowed also brought us to the floor devoted for the food court, gym, spa, and other amenities for employees which really showed how much the company values its employees.

While J.P. Morgan did not pay us for the insight, they generously arranged a nice accommodation and transport for those who lived more than an hour away. These were all conveniently booked through Carlson Wagonlit Travel. The company also provided delicious meals for breakfast and lunch, as well as hosting dinner in two of the social and networking events.

J.P hosted a social in a nearby restaurant on the first day with an open bar, which was a great way of breaking the ice with other students. They also hosted networking events with graduates, senior managers, and other employees throughout the week, which was really enjoyable.

While we did delve into a lot about how employees work and manage projects internally, discussions about the employees life outside work was prevalent yet limited. While we were presented on the "code for good" and "force for good" projects, I did not find out much about how employees spend their time after work.

I would definitely recommend this insight to anyone interested in finance or technology. It is a very holistic experience, allowing you to not only learn its applications, but also meet other like-minded individuals that can tell you more about it. It was certainly a week well spent with J.P Morgan!